Reviewer: SunshineSally (Signed) · Date: May 13, 2015 12:40 PM · On: Unspoken Words

I am so gutted this is almost over ahhh

Reviewer: Minoloushe (Anonymous) · Date: January 04, 2010 09:20 PM · On: Unspoken Words

I think you already know most my thoughts the issues in this chapter by now!  I wasn’t exactly nervous about reading this, but one of the parts I love most about WNWM is that the D/s elements are character / relationship driven. That the D/s develops out of the dynamic between Brian and Justin, rather than being something that’s necessarily explicit or that they’ve actively sought out because it’s sexually intriguing (as the initial motivation). So I was wondering if by making it more obvious in this chapter that subtlety would be lost. It wasn’t – I really, really liked the way it was explored in session with Dr Stevenson. The questions he put to Brian and Justin didn’t make it seem too sudden, but rather teased out the “secret knowledge” which Justin has previously mentioned and Brian has gradually become aware of. I loved that Brian was initially hesitant to discuss it while Justin was more confident; I thought that was really consistent with their behaviours generally. Especially because Brian only became comfortable enough to openly acknowledge his feelings once he and Justin were in physical contact and sharing the same chair (you’ve heard my thoughts on the idea of Brian’s use of “physical communication” ad infinitum already). I also think that the initial hesitancy both Brian and Justin have in discussing it with Dr Stevenson has nothing to do with their discomfort about the relationship itself. Rather that because it’s a dynamic that developed “naturally”, out of their day-to-day lives, it’s simply strange to start trying to explain it or attach labels to it; possibly also because the D/s aspect of their relationship is so strongly linked to intimate, domestic moments between them (such as the chair and Brian’s “hour”) that it feels like discussing it with a third party is an invasion of their shared emotional space on some level. In that context sharing the same chair in therapy become even more significant because it references their domestic intimacy. The examples both Brian and Justin gave Dr Stevenson in trying to explore the dynamic of their relationship wonderfully take up the various plot points of earlier chapters. They are the perfect stepping stones for bringing us to this point. I loved that Dr Stevenson’s own unfamiliarity / uncertainty gives the readers an entry point into exploring how Brian and Justin function as a unit. The personality of Dr Stevenson was very strong and I felt like I got a better sense of him as a character than from the earlier chapters. It all came together like a beautiful and intricate puzzle, and I loved it!

Author's Response:

I'm glad it didn't lose all of its subtlety and become "clunky"... I agree that their initial hesitance was not really due to the D/s side of things. I think it was heavily influenced by the fact that they were in a public office, and as you say, only once they were physically reunited could they explore the topic. Dr. Stevenson's choice to simply accumulate the evidence from past session discussions helped a great deal because then nothing was exactly a revelation, since it had been said before in the same space.

Yeah, when I realized how Dr. Stevenson knew about so many plot points, that's when I knew just how to resolve the "D/s reveal" problem! Suddenly it seemed so simple, especially because I'd always intended him to discuss it with them at some point (just not necessarily so very early on). 

Thanks so much, though thanks is certainly not enough............. *smiles*

Reviewer: BluvsJ (Anonymous) · Date: January 03, 2010 01:19 AM · On: Unspoken Words

Amazing... if you think about it..they have been drifting into a sort of dominate /submissive role with some of their "coping" techniques... restraints..etc.. but... I am worried that one of the reasons that Brian... is willing to "submit" himself.. to Justin's  "Guidance" and decision making... is to make up for the fact that Brian never received... Love, Guidance, Nurturing.. from his parents when he was little and needed it most.... and as crazy as it may seem... I think their new "relationship"  is just a substitue for Jack and Joanie with a twist..

Author's Response:

*smiles* I just finished my little dissertation to you on this subject, but I'll summarize for everyone: 

This is a really, really good point. I never really thought or wanted this to convolute their relationship with Brian/Joanie's relationship or anything.... Justin's role will basically be to support the decisions that Brian finds difficult to make emotionally (i.e., to support "Beautiful"), so he won't be doing just what Justin wants... it'll be much more collaborative, but Justin will help Brian do what he knows he should (as Brian talked about the decision to call in from work as one he probably wouldn't have made but knew he should have, in "Unspoken Words."). 

Rest assured I'm thinking a lot about this and I hope Dr. Stevenson will help me figure it all out! Thanks so much for getting me thinking about this; I certainly want to be careful not to twist this into something unintended! :)