>>Both of them are repeatedly described as mostly straight, so if that
>>physical attraction is there, it needs to be shown, or it will be
>>assumed _not_ to be.
>So noted.

>Funny story, though. A few years ago, when Symphony No. 2 was
>just wrapping up, we had a visitor here on the boards who took us to
>task at some length for implying too much. It was really
>rather amusing - well, here,
<snip>

goodness, that got a lot of traffic. I was in my second week at basic training, by the timestamps.

>So for a new user to pop in and take us to task for, essentially, not
>implying enough? Well, you can see why we might've found that... a
>bit funny, and a bit irksome, at the same time. :)

Yes, I can see that ^_^

>>Their interactions read `good friend' more than `lovers,' contrasting
>>the deep UST of the TV series and movie.
>I can't speak to the movie, or what any of the TLAs you've used in
>your posts mean (I suspect they're artifacts of a scene I'm not
>into?)

UST: unresolved sexual tension.

>but attempting to glark this one from context, I have to say I
>didn't take a lot of that away from the TV series. To me, Utena seems
>to spend most of the series going "What in the hell am I
>doing?" more than anything else.

and `why the heck am I doing this' and the occasional `why the heck am I watching Anthy like that'

>>Page of Swords is the first place _since_ their honeymoon where
>>they show anything more than affection and loyalty.
>To be fair, most of the intervening time takes place off-screen...

True.

>But I see what you're getting at. I have, perhaps, been remiss in
>this regard, though it was not a deliberate omission. If anything, it
>stems from my own unconscious assumption that the matter was
>established and settled to the point where it didn't need to be
>reinforced

It doesn't need _much_ reinforcement, just enough to show that they do find each other attractive, not just comforting and trusted.

The way they interact already would be enough if it wasn't for the way they're nearly as affectionate towards their friends as they are towards each other, so there's no contrast, if you get what I mean?

>and anyway, I was busy trying to establish other
>matters to a similar degree (that is, in a way, what the whole Fourth
>Symphony's "background hum" is about, after all).

Yep. You do a good job showing that both of them find Corwin attractive, but skimp their attraction for each other.

>So, yeah. Didn't leave it out on purpose, but it can be argued, as
>you have, that it did get left out.

If you did leave it out on purpose, that could make a good story too, but I think it'd take a bit more work.

I firmly believe one can be freinds with someone one's attracted too, and in love with someone one isn't attracted to. I also believe that the first state is a lot easier to maintain . . .

>Unrelatedly, you're on the ground in-country right now?

Baghdad.

>I think that's a first here.

interesting, that ^_^

> We've got quite a few military or ex-military
>readers, but we only tend to see them on these boards when they're
>stateside (or aboard ship - we do get the occasional swabbie :).

I'm not surprised, really -- both stateside and shipboard tend to be a lot more stable than out here.

We've managed to have internet most of this tour, which is good . . . but maybe I'd get some writing done if I didn't.

>Stay safe, inasmuch as it's possible over there.

I'll do my best.