To expand more on "take what I can get," another big part of Raven's conflict is that he really does often feel that anything he can get with Yuri is the best that he can get. While he does really want a dedicated romantic and sexual relationship with someone, he has like zero faith in himself to manage that, especially at the moment. So sometimes he's like... okay yes this is not the dedicated relationship I idealize and really want in my heart, but it is sex with someone I care a lot about, and that's a hell of a lot better than anything I managed before, whatever the downsides. MAYBE I SHOULD JUST ENJOY IT FOR WHATEVER IT IS LIKE EVERYONE KEEPS TELLING ME?
That is another thing that makes him feel like the feelings in their relationship are really uneven, though, because obviously that is not a concern for Yuri! Yuri has stated that plus or minus sex with Raven makes no difference to him, whereas for Raven it is functionally the difference between the best thing he's had ever and nothing. Add that to the romantic feelings or lack thereof on each of their parts and you get why he reacted so negatively to Yuri suggesting they could be on equal footing.
And that imbalance of feelings makes him feel really vulnerable. Although again I don't think that would really bother him as much if he felt like Yuri was... taking advantage of the vulnerability? To make his feelings into a terrible sex analogy, it is like he has stripped and laid himself out naked and wanting for Yuri, and Yuri is just sort of strolling by casually going "sure, do whatever you want, I don't care either way." The core problem here is not that he's naked and Yuri's not—while potentially awkward and obviously not equal, that could also be the opposite of a problem in the right circumstances. So likewise the problem is not the feelings imbalance being present exactly, it is that Yuri is not being a very attentive top about it. :|a Feelings top. THIS IS CLEARLY THE BEST ANALOGY EVER.
Because yes he loves Yuri a lot and now that they've had sex kind of wants to have sex with him all the time, and so even more than Yuri not returning those feelings he feels like Yuri is not even... appreciating them. Or him. Except when they are actually having sex and he can do things for Yuri, which is pretty much the most amazing feeling ever. And Yuri obviously enjoying himself with him and Yuri saying he wanted to get screwed senseless has reassured him that the desire in the relationship is not completely one-sided. BUT SEX CANNOT BE ALL YURI WANTS, Raven has no clue what he's doing with men and obviously cannot be the best lay ever. So that is why he keeps asking what Yuri wants... because he very much feels like he is in the more vulnerable position in this relationship, and would be pretty much willing to try just giving Yuri whatever he wants from him! Even if that's... camaraderie, occasional mild affection and sex on days that are a multiple of three. Or whatever. Knowing that he could try to settle himself to being happy with that much. But Yuri keeps saying that there's nothing he wants from him. :x Or that he just wants to do what Raven wants. And Raven is like... but what I really want is completely unreasonable to ask someone who doesn't want anything from me. IT MAKES IT HARD TO COMPROMISE.
I really am sorry Raven has so many feelings. But you better reverse me.
no subject
To expand more on "take what I can get," another big part of Raven's conflict is that he really does often feel that anything he can get with Yuri is the best that he can get. While he does really want a dedicated romantic and sexual relationship with someone, he has like zero faith in himself to manage that, especially at the moment. So sometimes he's like... okay yes this is not the dedicated relationship I idealize and really want in my heart, but it is sex with someone I care a lot about, and that's a hell of a lot better than anything I managed before, whatever the downsides. MAYBE I SHOULD JUST ENJOY IT FOR WHATEVER IT IS LIKE EVERYONE KEEPS TELLING ME?
That is another thing that makes him feel like the feelings in their relationship are really uneven, though, because obviously that is not a concern for Yuri! Yuri has stated that plus or minus sex with Raven makes no difference to him, whereas for Raven it is functionally the difference between the best thing he's had ever and nothing. Add that to the romantic feelings or lack thereof on each of their parts and you get why he reacted so negatively to Yuri suggesting they could be on equal footing.
And that imbalance of feelings makes him feel really vulnerable. Although again I don't think that would really bother him as much if he felt like Yuri was... taking advantage of the vulnerability? To make his feelings into a terrible sex analogy, it is like he has stripped and laid himself out naked and wanting for Yuri, and Yuri is just sort of strolling by casually going "sure, do whatever you want, I don't care either way." The core problem here is not that he's naked and Yuri's not—while potentially awkward and obviously not equal, that could also be the opposite of a problem in the right circumstances. So likewise the problem is not the feelings imbalance being present exactly, it is that Yuri is not being a very attentive top about it. :|a Feelings top. THIS IS CLEARLY THE BEST ANALOGY EVER.
Because yes he loves Yuri a lot and now that they've had sex kind of wants to have sex with him all the time, and so even more than Yuri not returning those feelings he feels like Yuri is not even... appreciating them. Or him. Except when they are actually having sex and he can do things for Yuri, which is pretty much the most amazing feeling ever. And Yuri obviously enjoying himself with him and Yuri saying he wanted to get screwed senseless has reassured him that the desire in the relationship is not completely one-sided. BUT SEX CANNOT BE ALL YURI WANTS, Raven has no clue what he's doing with men and obviously cannot be the best lay ever. So that is why he keeps asking what Yuri wants... because he very much feels like he is in the more vulnerable position in this relationship, and would be pretty much willing to try just giving Yuri whatever he wants from him! Even if that's... camaraderie, occasional mild affection and sex on days that are a multiple of three. Or whatever. Knowing that he could try to settle himself to being happy with that much. But Yuri keeps saying that there's nothing he wants from him. :x Or that he just wants to do what Raven wants. And Raven is like... but what I really want is completely unreasonable to ask someone who doesn't want anything from me. IT MAKES IT HARD TO COMPROMISE.
I really am sorry Raven has so many feelings. But you better reverse me.