I do not think that counts as manipulation. It would if you had Mari going without band-aids, Yuu storming off in protest, and Mari only just then putting them on to appease her. Instead, she already arrived wearing them. She is clearly embarrassed, but that is her thing, it is obvious she is just as into it as Yuu is, that is what I meant by them being equals.
I'm just nitpicking at this point, but she clearly says "like hell I'm gonna do this", so it's not something she wanted to do at first. The kind of manipulation you're talking about is happening in the restaurant scene, though.
In terms of pleasure, like you say, they're equals. It's clearly a win-win situation. But in terms of power dynamic aone, I think they're not : Mari enjoys being toyed with and "tormented" by Yuu, even though she doesn't want to do it at first, she likes being "forced" into doing it. Even outside their play, Yuu seems to be bossing Mari around, but that doesn't really differ from every other couple, I guess.
Remember, at the end, she was downright disappointed Yuu worked over only one of her nipples. It is a play for them, but it is also blatantly obvious they care for each other, best exemplified by chapter 71.
Yes, that's what makes it even more enjoyable. The reversal and the fact that Yuu may very well be the more vulnerable one in the end is also pretty cute. So perhaps their power dynamic changes with time, contrary to what I'm saying.
Important to remember is that it is a role-play, so there is no actual control over anyone (as in, making someone do what they do not want to), nor is anyone being manipulated.
Role-play requires rules, a controlled environment, a clear beginning and a clear end. Mari and Yuu are doing it as it comes, with no apparent rules or only implied ones. It looks more like a game of dare with both of them enjoying to see how far one will push it and how far the other will go. Hence why I think Yuu is manipulating Mari and is the dominant one in their games (also the spanking is a quite strong indication as well). Sadly, I feel like I'm getting way too much off-topic despite the interesting dynamic of the couple.
Being manipulated means you are steered in a particular course that you would not otherwise choose, and you are being steered by someone else, without you actually noticing it.
That is what is happening minus the last part, I guess that's where my idea of manipulation differ and, perhaps, where I wrongly use the word. They also mention the malicious side of the act, even though it's not always the case.
last edited at Jan 19, 2018 11:04PM
