Shades After 031
Mmmm grotty shared student kitchens…
I finally got around to adding all the Shades of A Kickstarter merch to the store- if you missed out on the kickstarter and wanted some Fabulous POOF pants, a bottoms up mug, character merchandise or the book itself you can grab them here:
http://www.khaoskomix.com/shop/en/49-shades-of-a
Ahhh yeah the tough questions and stuff about being ace. “Am I asexual if…?” Still have those periods of doubt in my own life, so idk this page in particular hits home for me.
It’s kind of awkward, especially if people already view your relationship in a negative light, though JD didn’t seem to have issues before.
I’m guessing their reaction is more of a kneejerk/protective best friend one than one of ignorance or malice, so that’s…Good, I think? Better than momwar and family kind of refusing to listen to Anwar about his relationship with Chris. Hopefully JD listens, it seems like they will since time has passed and their friendship with ‘War has been evolving.
Wait, when did they have sex? Did it happen offscreen or is Anwar talking about the masturbation?
This was my reaction too. I was like “whaaa…when did…did I skip a couple pages?” I’m honestly still a bit confused. If he’s not referring to holding Chris while Chris was masturbating (which I wouldn’t think he would be…but maybe?) then I feel like that’s kind of a big event in Anwar’s life to have happened entirely offscreen with the first mention of it being here. But hey, I guess that’s how comic narratives work sometimes. Maybe we’ll get flashbacks?
I think he is referring to when he held Chris while he was masturbating. Sex goes way beyond just penetration.
Don’t get me wrong, I used to go “Wait… WHAA?” when I would hear people say what I just said, but after having growing more comfortable with the whole idea of sex and actually getting to learn more about it, it’s true. It’s not just about grinding up against someone or shoving something into somewhere. There’s a strong connection you have to have with your partner for one (heck, this even applies to one-night stands) and going through any sexual activity with another partner (masturbating in this example) can be seen as sex.
I know it still might not make sense to a lot of people, but that’s also sort of the point: everyone has a different opinion on what sex is and what it isn’t, even if you’re ace. Hell, I’M ace and still hold onto the belief that sex can be preformed and experienced in different ways. Just some food for thought c:
I had sex once, nearly 30 years ago. That’s how I found out I was asexual.
Aw, it’s cute that JD got so defensive over him.
I sort of get War’s frustration because it seems that lately a lot of people around him are assuming a bunch of stuff between him and his relationship with Chris, but I feel like he can’t really blame JD for their outburst — a couple of pages ago he admitted himself that the old him would have run the heck away from the situation/relationship he’s in with Chris, so the fact that he’s becoming more comfortable in sexual situations would sort of seem out of character, especially to someone he’s close to and knew about his previous uncomfortability.
Plus, JD’s assumption is coming from knowing (or maybe also assuming) that War and Chris’s relationship was pretty much a celibate one before today, so they know this stuff is new territory for War and they’re afraid that he’s probably being pushed to it unwillingly, unlike Momwar that already assumed right off the bat that War was having sex for money, even BEFORE they even actually HAD sex at all!
So again, I sort of get his aggravation because I know this isn’t the first time someone asked, “IS HE FORCING YOU TO DO THIS???” but I hope he understands that JD and his mom are coming from completely different areas when they ask this.
Bless you, ‘War.
I’m so glad he has someone to ask about this. Hopefully when he manages to get all the words out he’ll stop worrying. I also love that JD is so wicked-protective of him. Though they really should chill for a sec and let War get the words out. They know how hard it is for him to speak at all. :p
But, as ever, this comic continues to make me feel light and bright on a grotty Monday morning.
I don’t normally like those types of undies (I’m a boxer briefs person myself) but I may make an exception to have poof on my butt.
JD, while I’m sure Anwar will appreciate your eagerness to be his white knight in retrospect, I think he would sound a tad more upset if Chris pressured him into sex and needed you to save him.
On the other hand, I can see them feeling a little “wtf is this shit!?!” After the crap Anwar put them through with their sexual relationship
What is Anwar talking about? He had sex with JD, and he still identified as asexual, so, how is sex with Chris different … did Anwar actually enjoy holding Chris? That is an interesting theory. I guess having a kind of sex where he is not responsible for his partner’s pleasure, and is not required to pretend excitement, is way more relaxed than what he had with JD. (I do count this as sex – there was an orgasm and the informed consent of two adult partners. )
Thanks for doing a sex positive asexual story. Far to many of us question ourselves being asexual over stuff like this, so it is really nice having this openly talk about it.
Is it possible that JD is trying to compensate here for feeling like they pressured Anwar into unwanted sex when they were in a relationship? Or confused since Anwar had very firmly established that he didn’t like/want sex before? I can kind of understand a reaction like that in context.
When JD got angry I expected to see the chopsticks go snap!
I know Anwar’s confusion firsthand. Yeah, while they don’t have to be, and usually aren’t, mutually exclusive, sex as a behavior and sexual attraction can be two different things.
Just my personal experience on the matter ^_^;