Although they have been in each other's presence before, Ky and Ryan finally meet other today. Just some more cute, supportive interactions between new friends, as Ky tries to pass along the generosity Rudy offered them at prom. ^_^
The page is mostly pretty straightforward, so I don't have a whole lot to add here. But I was wishy-washy about one detail. I realize it's a little late to ask now, but I have no idea if it'd actually be considered "weird" to lend out one's binder. I don't know if it's an innocent act like lending a shirt to someone, or if it might raise a few eyebrows like lending your underwear to someone. I'm sure people's opinions on this matter may vary, but for purposes of the story I'm choosing to approach this from the most innocent angle possible.
Friendly reminder that Rain is now available in French (courtesy of the translation of my friend, Mia)! We're up to twelve chapters now live as of this weekend, and more will go up every Saturday. ^_^
While I know most of you can and probably do already read in English, the option is there if you're bilingual, or if you know anyone who is more comfortable reading in French that you think might enjoy the story. I invite you to share this with anyone you think this might benefit. ^_^
Never commented before, but this feels appropriate since I have a bit of knowledge in the subject lol
I'm a trans man and know a few others from my city or around me. It might be because in Brazil we're pretty casual about physical contact, but there were two friends who offered to giveme his spare binder (back before I had one) and let me take a look at old binders he grew out of.
So I'd say it's not uncommon, but different people have different thoughts on it. To me, it's pretty realistic that Ky would lend her binder to Ryan
Not certain about lending, but there was a monthly social event I used to go to that was organized by a trans guys support group. On multiple occasions they brought a Rubbermaid bin full of binders that they gave to guys that needed them. They also put on a pool party, and I brought a bunch of pairs of swim trunks for guys that needed them.
binders can get pretty sweaty, which might make some people uncomfortable with sharing, but my first binder was a hand-me-down! otherwise I would just wonder if ky and ryan are the same size? I’m assuming that won’t be a problem for plot convenience, but having a too small binder can be pretty uncomfortable and dangerous :\
Yeah, I was wondering that too. Although maybe the reason Ky never wears this one is she was cautious on the sizing for her first binder and realized she need a size smaller so this is just a backup? (I did this.)
As a trans guy, this interaction seems sweet. Binders can be hard to get since you can only find them online and at specific places like GC2B or Windworks or... that’s kind of it. For Ryan, this is a big deal.
It's pretty normal to swap clean binders! Many, many young trans dudes get a used binder as their first binder. (Also, everyone assumes you can't go in a pool with a binder under a shirt but you totally can, if it's a good binder. I've done it in public pools and no one has looked twice. Not a story critique just a tip to other trans guys haha)
I do hope that these kids do know about the dangers of over-using binders, or using too-tight of binders. Friend of mine very much overused theirs and was worried they wouldn't be able to have breast reduction surgery due to complications. (luckily they could, and they feel a lot better now <3)
Possible complications of improper binding (using a binder too long, doubling up binders, using ace bandages instead....) can be breathing dificulty, broken ribs, and other issues in the chest cavity.
Here's a good quote that sums it up: "That said, even a dedicated binder is not without risk, and binding improperly or for too long can lead to chest and back pain, rib bruising and fractures, shortness of breath, overheating, and skin damage." (from https://www.prideinpractice.org/articles/chest-binding-physician-guide/)
And I want to be clear. I'm not telling people to not use binders. Use them! But I believe in informed consent, where you know the risks of what you do and make your own decision.
I really hope that Ky learns this the easy way because binders are rather important for genderfluid folks where at least one gender wants tits and at least one wants flat. I'm just glad that most of mine are okay with tits and I don't have to worry about wearing a binder half the time.
I wouldn't phrase it as "cringe" but have to agree, in my experiences as a trans guy I've never leant a binder to anyone due to sizing being so important. Like punctured lungs and cracked ribs important.
But you have to think about the people who read this comic, particularly younger trans men, who might run into trouble from thinking borrowing a binder or wearing an improper size is okay
I'm a trans man (who just got top surgery this past week, so no more binders for me! - once I'm out of this surgery binder, haha) and when I first started transitioning, a friend of a friend gave me a bunch of his old binders to try on to see if they would work for me. They fit perfectly, and I ended up wearing them until I got surgery. I'd say as long as they're clean, there's nothing weird about offering to let someone wear your binder. There's sort of a sense of solidarity about that with trans masc folks/AFAB NB people who bind.
Recently discovered that I am also Gender Fluid except that my gender only goes between female and agender/gendervoid and even when I am feeling void of gender I still prefer female pronouns and mostly still like presenting as female, I don't know if when I get boobs for my crippling chest dysphoria it will give me an opposing dysphoria for HAVING a chest but I am willing to roll that dice.
have you heard of the term genderflux? its where your gender 'intensity' changes i suppose, like you fluctuate between agender and girl for example, and its the intensity that changes. 0% girl, 50% girl, 100% girl, ect.
i dont know if im explaining this well at all, id recommend looking it up, and im sorry if im stepping out of line! i dont mean to say you arent gender fluid, just hoping to introduce you to a term you may not of known, in case it does turn out to be accurate
im glad you discovered yourself! good luck with your transition :D
Yeah, you're explaining it right. I'm genderflux and that comment sounds a lot like me. I always look like a guy and prefer to be treated like one. That said, I don't have a girl mode at all, just guy modes of varying intensity and some days no gender at all.
(As for pronouns, I'd use they/them on the not so binary days if I could but my language doesn't have them. He/him is always at least partially ok.)
Also, I just realized. Ky got saved by Ruby at prom. Now, she's spreading the good will to Ryan, who also got helped by Gavin. This comic makes me so happy ;') <3 <3
Yes, but that has never stopped him calling himself Ruby any time he's dressed as a girl.
Given that the circumstances being described in arkathenia's comment resulted in Rudy being Ruby for the rest of the night in question, it seems an appropriate use of the name to me.
We're not exactly sure what Rudy prefers to be referred to as when referencing past crossdressing events. He does go by Ruby while crossdressing, so it wouldn't be abnormal to refer to him dressed up, as Ruby. It's a person to person thing that we don't know specifically, though we probably should just say Rudy to be safe.
literally this entire friend group is just friends helping friends, all the way back to even before Rain got there. she was jsut a catalyst that increased the scale.
Oh, darn. I there a good way to compliment a trans guy for something that's usually considered feminine? Ryan's been downright adorable when he gets excited, but it feels wrong to put it like that.
guys like being called adorable too. at least i do. no one calls us adorable because people think its a feminine word, but i absolutely LOVE it on the rare occasions its said to me. same with words like cute, or actions like being brought flowers or shit. any expression of positive emotion towards a guy, or even jsut the knowledge that said guy is allowed to express his own emotion, is usually favorably viewed by those not poisoned by too much toxicity.
Oh, aye. Speaking as another cis guy, messing with preconceptions and society's standards is a hoot. If a cis dude likes it, so much the better; if not, it can still be done in good fun, and the guy could probably do with having his views shook up a little anyway.
But I also know that for a lot of trans guys, presenting & being seen & treated as a guy isn't a matter of furnish pants, operate door, but a major difficulty & worry. They probably loathe reminders of femininity. It's true, we should let guys express themselves, and if we think they're being girly, call them girly, nbd, who cares? Doing it about trans guys still makes me feel like a total dick, even as a compliment.
or... we remove the ideas of "adorable" or "emotional" from any sort of gender binary as a whole. less "this man is acting girly by showing his emotions" and more "this man is showing his emotions." remove the ideas from gender entirely so no one needs to feel uncomfortable being called them, regardless of gender.
that's fair, and also it's worth noting that i have discovered i am actually genderfluid since the posting of this. still like being called adorable though.
As a transmasculine enby, the only thing that worries me is that Ky is much smaller than Ryan, so I don't know if using her binder would be safe for him. It's very dangerous to use the wrong size, so I hope they both have that in mind.
Wait, if Ryan gets a binder that works at least temporarily, gc2b at least says that their binders are good to swim in (though mention you should hear a size up if you're doing strenuous activities). That would mean that if, say, Gavin had an extra pair of swimming trunks for him to borrow, it might be possible for him to get in the water.
As a genderfluid person who binds, I don’t think it’s weird to offer to lend a binder to a friend, but I would worry about whether or not it’s the right size. Sizing is very important and it can be dangerous if it’s the wrong size
I'm a trans man and know a few others from my city or around me. It might be because in Brazil we're pretty casual about physical contact, but there were two friends who offered to giveme his spare binder (back before I had one) and let me take a look at old binders he grew out of.
So I'd say it's not uncommon, but different people have different thoughts on it. To me, it's pretty realistic that Ky would lend her binder to Ryan
But ahhhh. So wholesome. <3
I do hope that these kids do know about the dangers of over-using binders, or using too-tight of binders. Friend of mine very much overused theirs and was worried they wouldn't be able to have breast reduction surgery due to complications. (luckily they could, and they feel a lot better now <3)
And I want to be clear. I'm not telling people to not use binders. Use them! But I believe in informed consent, where you know the risks of what you do and make your own decision.
that is... not safe
Sizing is important
i dont know if im explaining this well at all, id recommend looking it up, and im sorry if im stepping out of line! i dont mean to say you arent gender fluid, just hoping to introduce you to a term you may not of known, in case it does turn out to be accurate
im glad you discovered yourself! good luck with your transition :D
(As for pronouns, I'd use they/them on the not so binary days if I could but my language doesn't have them. He/him is always at least partially ok.)
Given that the circumstances being described in arkathenia's comment resulted in Rudy being Ruby for the rest of the night in question, it seems an appropriate use of the name to me.
guys like being called adorable too. at least i do. no one calls us adorable because people think its a feminine word, but i absolutely LOVE it on the rare occasions its said to me. same with words like cute, or actions like being brought flowers or shit. any expression of positive emotion towards a guy, or even jsut the knowledge that said guy is allowed to express his own emotion, is usually favorably viewed by those not poisoned by too much toxicity.
But I also know that for a lot of trans guys, presenting & being seen & treated as a guy isn't a matter of furnish pants, operate door, but a major difficulty & worry. They probably loathe reminders of femininity. It's true, we should let guys express themselves, and if we think they're being girly, call them girly, nbd, who cares? Doing it about trans guys still makes me feel like a total dick, even as a compliment.