MPL Ep 34 - Behind-The-Scenes chat (Patreon)

So like I said in the high-res artwork post, I made some dialogue edits, nothing too major that would add new information to the episode. Except for this one panel, where Poppy adds that 'they barely know each other'. This is something I decided to emphasise on (not sure if it'll help, but I can try lol), because I noticed a small number of people being up in arms about Tora withholding the truth about his situation from Poppy.

So yes, I strongly agree that lying, or not being honest in a relationship, with your partner, is completely NOT okay. I expect nothing less than full transparency and honesty in my RS with my hubby, and vice-versa. 

But just as much as that, we also need to keep in mind that Poppy and Tora are barely even friends, and most certainly NOT!!!! in a romantic relationship, where there is a mutual need to be honest and transparent. I'd go as far as to say it is a HUGE, HUGE dating red-flag (to me, at least), especially at the start, for this person I'm dating to be constantly getting in my face about personal, private matters I'm not ready to talk about - I would honestly run the hell away from Poppy if she started doing that. And I really hope this is something people will understand. PEOPLES RESPECT MY PRIVACY PLEASE!!!! <-- Lol, my inner-Scorpio is screaming. Honestly though, I've been in this situation several times (been on both sides of the coin, in fact. Not fun), and it was a nightmare and very toxic. It also screams of a very deep lack of trust / insecurity issues, which is NO-BUENO.

Anyway because of this, I feel that Tora has a right to his own privacy, and not wanting to reveal to Poppy more than he's comfortable with. And even then, being fully transparent and honest, even in a long-term RS is not always possible! A personal example - my hb does finance/corporate/sales-related work. Some of the projects he works on tend to be *very* sensitive topics for him to talk about, for a variety of reasons. And when he says he doesn't want to talk about it, I respect that. Period. Likewise for myself - like when I read a particularly shitty comment lol and I'm fuming, and hubby wants to talk, but I just clamp up and refuse - he respects that too.

Granted I know the information Tora is withholding could potentially get Poppy into trouble. But let's not forget that the man is doing EVERYTHING he can to keep her out of trouble. This is a very very unique (and yes, dark and kind of twisty) situation and I don't think common dating 'rules' should apply, in this instance.

Last but not least - when Poppy talks of how she respects his right to privacy, it is so, so, so much more than that, for Tora. Because this man has lived all his life with every shred of RIGHTS, taken away from him - starting from the point he was made a Balthuman 'belonging'. So having Poppy affirm that Tora has a right to his privacy, to me, is indicative of a validation of the very basic rights that this poor, poor soul has had robbed from him, and been deprived of, all his life (imma go cry now).

This turned into a long-ass rant but I swear, I'm not even half as angry as I might sound😂😂It's just a topic I find very interesting and feel quite passionately about. And since MPL is all about relationships, let's TALK relationship! <3