Love

xth13teenx - A Different World

 The moment in which military comradeship turns into affection and love is beautifully captured in this image rendered by xth13teenx. It's part of a grand series which imagines Chris Redfield, the legendary character from the 'Resident Evil' games franchise, falling in love with his colleague Piers Nivans and setting up home with him. Their romance is charted through all the mundane things couples do together and their loving intimacies and it's all set against the context of the dangerous tasks they are sent on and the demanding physical training it involves.

This Art which portrays a relationship between two strong, gay men as complete, joyous and life-enhancing is refreshing and very, very welcome. 

By way of contrast, Steve Walker's art which I featured at mitchmen last year, though pretty and romantic, always seems to have an undercurrent of loneliness and doubt.

There's a large gallery of work by xth13teenx at Deviant Art

Dangly Things

Cavin Knight

 Summer seems a long way off in the Northern Hemisphere but where these Aussiebum swimming trunks come from, it is the height of the season. Laces on swimming trunks had a serious purpose in the old days when trunks were made of natural fibres that sucked up water and created a drag that could unclothe the unwary. Low waisted designs are still vulnerable, lacking body curves for waistbands to cling to. In general though these days laces are more decorative in nature, but allowing them to dangle risks the same thing happening if a mischief-maker takes a fancy to grabbing them. Cavin here seems to be grappling with a stray hand of his own although I hear he's not averse to letting them drop in the right situation. 

Model: Cavin Knight, Photo by Mark Henderson