The timeline in my head is pretty vague, but yeah, it was a long time. (Not that Jon had Stephen every night -- other correspondents have come and gone, and of course he has travels and events and things.)
I tried to make Stephen as untraumatized as realistically possible by Jon's various abuses. He still has a deeply messed-up mindset, and would get shredded by any other owner. But he wasn't pushed beyond his limits in the past, and since we know through the Power of Authorial Fiat that Jon is really changing his ways, we know he'll get actual respect going forward.
Sad in the sense that Jon doesn't have a healthier relationship to go to instead? I can see that. At this point, though, his bond with Stephen is a more solid thing; it's not that Stephen is the backup sex option so much that spending time with Stephen (with or without sex) is what both of them want most, and what they get to do whenever Jon doesn't have another obligation.
Thank you for the thorough feedback! That's the best kind of reward :D
Re: #10, again.
I tried to make Stephen as untraumatized as realistically possible by Jon's various abuses. He still has a deeply messed-up mindset, and would get shredded by any other owner. But he wasn't pushed beyond his limits in the past, and since we know through the Power of Authorial Fiat that Jon is really changing his ways, we know he'll get actual respect going forward.
Sad in the sense that Jon doesn't have a healthier relationship to go to instead? I can see that. At this point, though, his bond with Stephen is a more solid thing; it's not that Stephen is the backup sex option so much that spending time with Stephen (with or without sex) is what both of them want most, and what they get to do whenever Jon doesn't have another obligation.
Thank you for the thorough feedback! That's the best kind of reward :D