Without The Game

The Administration #3.95

by Manna Francis

Another short story in The Administration series.

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Romance, Erotica

6 pages, Online Publication

About the author

I'm the author of The Administration Series, a near-future SF dystopia published by Casperian Books. You can find the series in paperback, e-book, or (partly) on line at the Mannazone website.

I've been writing original slash since 2002 — or homoerotic fiction, m/m romance, yaoi, as you prefer. Original slash is my personal term of choice because I feel it best represents my writing in terms of style and what readers can expect to find there. Individual stories may or may nor be sexually explicit.

Reviews

[Penny Well Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, it is shocking how such a short story can be so powerful.

It was so close, so close for them to finally vocalize some feelings, but alas they were left unsaid, pity; however, their feelings were heard, there is that.
Lovely.

"Just us" - Toroth.



My reviews of The Administration series’ books:
Book 1: Mind Fuck - 3 Stars
Book 2: Quid Pro Quo
Book 2.1: Unlucky Break - 2 Stars
Book 2.2: Friday - 3 Stars
Book 2.3: Pancakes - 5 Stars
Book 2.4: Surprises - 4 Stars
Book 2.5: Family - 4 Stars
Book 2.6: Mirror Mirror - 4 Stars
Book 3: Games & Players - 5 Stars
Book 3.1: Game, Set - 4 Stars
Book 3.2: As Long As It Lasted - 3 Stars
Book 3.3:Fuck of the Day - 3 Stars
Book 3.4: Wine, Women and Cushions - 2 Stars
Book 3.5: Playing with Fire - 5 Stars
Book 3.6: All Work and no Play - 3 Stars
Book 3.7: Gee - 2 Stars
Book 3.8:Shopping & Fucking - 5 Stars
Book 3.9: Pool School - 3 Stars
Book 3.95: Without the Game - 4 Stars
Book 4: Control - 4 Stars
Book 4.2: Wait For It - 4 Stars
Book 4.3: Caged - 5 Stars
Book 4.4: Unaccustomed as I Am... - 3 Stars
Book 4.5: Helen - 4 Stars
Book 4.6: Shopping, No Fucking - 4 Stars
Book 4.7: Losing It - 4 Stars
Book 4.8: Coming from America
Book 5: Quis Custodiet - 3.5 Stars
Book 5.2: Gratuitous Kink - 4 Stars
Book 5.3: Then and Now - 4 Stars
Book 5.4: Friends in the Right Places - 2 Stars
Book 5.5: Smoke & Cameras - 4 Stars
Book 5.6: Sunday - 3 Stars
Book 6: First Against the Wall - 4 Stars
Book 7: For Certain Values
Book 7.1: Family Values
Book 7.2: Boy's Toys - 3 Stars
Book 7.3: Make it a Surprise
Book 7.4: Prodigal
Book 8: Blood & Circuses
Book 9: Corpora Delicti
Gratuitous Epilogue

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without the Game is a quick story that holds huge power and emotion! Behind the action. Between the lines, words, and pauses. You can feel Toreth’s concern and more (Hell, if they won’t say the words, I’m not going to either!) in his anger and ultimatum to Warrick.

Think about what Toreth is saying or not saying here! I just want to scream it! :)

”Toreth waited through the silence of Warrick trying to paraphrase something he thought was going to panic him. These days they both knew what the pauses meant, and sometimes he felt like telling Warrick that he might as well go ahead and say whatever it was.”

[LenaRibka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who was thinking here with his dick?

Surprisingly NOT Toreth!

It was one of the shortest sequels but one of the best!

And not only because of this new matter of fact.

It was tender and sweet and just good and

"Without the game.

Just us."

[Irina Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, god. *melts into a puddle on the floor*

This is just a scene - an argument, more precisely. But it's so full of meaning.
A concerned, even tender Toreth; a slightly out of control Warrick. We're starting to see the real feelings here, people, and it makes me so fucking ecstatic. And I want more.

With every story, I get more addicted to TA. I guess I should start worrying, but I can't be bothered.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warrick's getting a little too obsessed with the game, Toreth's concerned and decides to put the breaks on for a bit. Great for once to see a caring side to Toreth, and it's not often that Warrick needs raining in.

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Administration story. Toreth is really freaked out about Warrick and can't even admit it to himself. He is so out of touch with his emotions he doesn't really think he even has any other than anger. It's interesting to see Toreth's struggle to comprehend feelings at all, and I think with each story I understand him better. I know some people are just getting sick of his inability to deal with being in love, but I think it's really complex and I think Francis has done it well.

Toreth really does have antisocial personality disorder which makes it extremely difficult for him to relate to or care about other human beings. But it's not the black and white disorder that we think of when we hear "sociopath." It's a spectrum just like any other mental health disorder. For an interesting take on it, read (or listen to, it was great being narrated by the author) The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry. It's really funny but also very interesting and informative. (This is not the only source I have for my opinions on sociopathy.)

I think Francis has done a great job of understanding this mental health disorder and just how much it would take for someone like Toreth to feel something close to love, and whether it's even possible for him to love like the rest of us do. I've worked with a lot of kids with Reactive Attachment Disorder which exhibits similar symptoms so I guess it's easier for me to understand Toreth. My permanent daughter has it and she's not even as well functioning as Toreth. She does not and is not capable of comprehending love in a normal way at all. So this all feels real to me.

Anyway, in this one I finally believe that he really truly cares about Warrick and would be really upset to lose him. There's a line in here which I misread the first time but I realized is basically him saying, "I'm afraid that Warrick is too wrapped up in the game to care whether it's me he's doing it with and I don't want that for either of us--it terrifies me." This is different than when he's just jealous because he sees Warrick as a possession. This is Toreth realizing that Warrick's wants and needs matter to him. In a normal person I'd say he loves him; so maybe not quite but close. I think Warrick is seriously effed up for being in love with a guy who can't ever give back what Warrick needs but then again, he does love Toreth in his own way and he's accepted that he can't change Toreth but wants him anyway. I guess as long as his self-esteem isn't affected by it then it's not so messed up.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

RE-READ 2021
Just us. Two words that pack so much meaning in their world.
Just. Us.


I'm melting a little here..
I didn't think I would ever be proud of Toreth,
But yeah, I believe I am...
Bravo T, bravo

[Ilhem · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You don't even notice any more that it's me there with you"

[Lenore · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No game. Just us." Way to go, Toreth. I love you a bit more after this one.

[Sun · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Without the game. Just us…"

*sigh*…Yup, I wanted this…

[Lisa Arbitrary - AttentionIsArbitrary M/M Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~~

Exceptional. Finally, am I seeing a turning point? The un-said still kills me but it speaks in volumes.

~~~

Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:


http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com

[Camilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whattttt??

They finally decide to do it without the game, and we dont get to see it.. ???

But whyyyy?!?

[Frau Sorge (Yuki) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how Toreth cares about Warrick. Even if he makes it he cares for himself. "Just us." I loved it.

[Danny Tyran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is Toreth the guy everyone says he is a psychopath? I think Warrick is not better. Obsessive over the Sim, obsessive over the cabinet, what's next?

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Finally! A story that actually makes me like Toreth, who'da thunk it??

"Without the game. Just us" Aww, Toreth. who knew you could be so sweet?

[Trix · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprising turn of events!

I had no idea Warrick would become obsessed with the cabinet. And Toreth, so caring and thoughtful of Warrick's state. I think that shocked me the most. To see Toreth so worried about Warrick, suggesting they leave the game alone. Maybe Toreth can delude himself but from the outside, all his actions and words scream "love and emotions". I just melted when Toreth (Toreth!) proposed they stay away from rough games and just be the two of them.

And I have this weird thought: had Warrick done this on purpose to test Toreth?

I can't wait to see what happens next.

[Vivian ♪(┌・。・)┌ · Rating 5 out of 5]

As strange as it sounds, I was really happy and kind of glad when I read this one. The notion of Warrick becoming obsessed is so unlikely at first glance.. but then you keep staring at the idea in your head and it becomes more and more believable and honestly there's something about watching Warrick spiral slightly out of control that is extremely - I don't know - feels-y? Who knows what the feeling is. Too many feels! And Toreth's concern was just.. *happy sigh*.

[La*La · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read on December 18, 2014.
Re-read on July 10, 2015.


It always surprises me to see Toreth play safe...I'd expect him to think only of himself.

It was nice that he was concerned about Warrick so much, though.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

No game-no cabinet--just us-- loved it

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost want to say, "Who are you?... And what the hell have you done to Toreth?"

But you know what? I knew he had it in him. I'm not giving up on you Val, embrace the love baby, just go with it, feel it...you can feel it can't you?

No?

Pfft - I didn't think so :(

[Wency · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far this is the short story where Toreth hadn't annoyed me. Even for one fleeting second. What an achievement for his part! Unfortunately though, Warrick annoyed. His fetish is becoming an obsession in which they had a long talk about it.

[Elizabetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can they play without the game? Warrick’s obsession with it takes dangerous hold while Toreth’s concern grows. Who knew? Toreth has concerns. All the tables get turned and it all still hangs together. It is love; it’s besotted love.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet! I love Toreth!

[Pianisuparse · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 'For something short Francis sure packed in a shit load of emotion. SO many words unspoken, but from their actions we hear very clearly how far these two have come, whether they admit it aloud or not. Seeing the desperation of both Warrick and Tor, how concerned Tor was for Warrick... a thing of beauty. Its also pretty amazing that Francis can get a 5 star out of 6 pages. Great fucking writing' stars.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Toreth actually conveys some emotions over Warrick. I think overall he's afraid of how it would affect him and his job, but he is very adamant towards Warrick. Warrick also shows a completely different side of himself - the addictive side - but thankfully Toreth is able to convey to him the seriousness of what's going on.

[AtenRa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww ❤️
Btw, hat's off to Warrick. He's playing Toreth like a fiddle and he has no idea. The freaking senior para investigator!
This is is going to be sooo interesting, can't wait!

[Simple · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much said between the lines.

[Joana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I loved this side of Toreth.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

In which we are reminded that although he's more "normal" than Toreth, Warrick does have some pretty amazingly poor judgment sometimes.

Francis is an amazing writer. Show me someone else who can write emotionally intense, sexually sizzling erotica with English blokes who say things like "just be sensible" and "Thank you for making me see the situation more clearly."

[Marlobo ♥ epilogues · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is not a single word that is not significant in this short episode . Right when I was thinking that Toreth was giving a master class of selfishness, one sentence only changes the sense, the main cause that inspire it.

The closing words melted me ipso facto