October 2024
By Chris Chi
Sharing stories about us
| Hello beautiful people, How do you deal with your past, your memories? Do they hold you back or do they give you strength and shed light on the path providing guidance? Luis asked me the other day if my past, more specifically, those memories with my husband, would jeopardize my searching for new relationship, new love. I had thought about it before he asked me. “Where am I now on this journey to start a new life?” In a way, the new life has already started, no matter if I want it or not. And “What does it mean that there’s someone new in my life now?” There might be easy answers, but I told Luis that I don’t have conflicting emotions. The memories are here and I cherish them, but they don’t hold me back. On the contrary, when I think about my husband, all I can think is that he would be happy to see me happy and see me to love and to be loved again. We constantly evolve, our life too, because of the past and these memories. I am not the same me anymore. And, this experience has become a quintessential part of me. I can only be true to it and to myself. While navigating through the last two months’ duties, work and take care of myself, I hardly had time to do other things. Now, winter is here. Hopefully things will calm down a little and I will be used to this rhythm. Maybe, it’s time to plan a holiday. |
MEMORY
| This photo, together with a few others, sits quietly in the folder named “VSCO” on my hard drive. It’s taken 6 years ago in 2018. I remember vividly that encounter and the moment when I pressed the shutter button, and of course, the guy in front of my lens. This photo, and others, were digital. I took them and uploaded them on my phone, edited with VSCO app, then shared them on Instagram, a process that I don’t do anymore. Ironically, I can compare this digital process, to the meeting of guys, fast and disposable. Well, not that disposable, I guess, since they are saved on my computer and I still have memories of some of the meetings. But you know what I mean, they come and go, some of them leave a trace and some vanish like thin air. You met the guy, spent a great time, and thought it was something special, but like the song goes “but it was just the sex though…I got a feeling that it’s time to let it go.” Suddenly, this distant attitude, and the old story of “I have met someone” started to ring. Years later, he’s still single, lamenting miseries of life and the cruelty of love. I sigh and don’t have much to say, just wonder why we do this to each other and why we do this to ourselves. |
MANU IN BRUSSELS
He came to Brussels and quitted everything for love. For love to himself, to his desires, his aspirations. To become the version of himself closer to that one already dreamed. And in the first week of the rest of his life he found that guy who years ago had been the most desired in the crowd. Life must be patience, he thought.
He found him, they matched and then met. With the Cretan too. Such a hot way to start that new path.
And they laughed and played. And the morning found them out soaking the sheets. And he embarked on another trip towards new eyes and shapes.
Again, they were just two strangers spoiling themselves like two mates, who emptied their hands of disappointments and fears and filled them with affection. With desire. In few minutes they played to be lovers, pretending somehow be the life-lasting one for the other.
_ How many years have you been together? People asked.
_ We met 24 hours ago. They replied with the biggest satisfaction all over the ocean.
Pretending to have a routine to scape from. Holding hands as the happiest guys in the city. Cuddling in the dark and in the shadow. Caressing grey beards in the sunrise and the sunset. Waking up together. Breathing together.
_ My fetish is your smile.
And he felt special in that homogeneous mass of figures and music.
And they promised madness, and they kept the promises. And he poured tenderness and they confused their bodies in a long squeeze like two lovers. It’s like they had known each other even before having met. Like in that Italian film, they thought that time and space won’t get in the way.
But that illusion passed as the storm passes. And he continued looking for his soul in other bodies, enormous hairy chests, enormous naughty nights. Never ending glances in the arcades. And again holding hands in the open air and tying their legs in that bed lined of passion. And this one also left. Other sailor. Other fantasy.
But again the unbearable attraction of new lips, new napes, new armpits … was diluted, melt, evaporated.
And building on his complexes and insecurities, he realised that in the end he was always himself. But having harvested this collection of smells and sweats, of moans and drops, had made him more authentic, closer to the version of himself that he always had dreamt of.
And a new Monday came. Again the first of the rest of his life, which started with a coffee and a sigh.
MARIO MARIO
I met Mario and his husband Carlos in our GYM. They are from Porto and moved to Brussels to work here. Both of them are charismatic and athletic. From time to time, Mario posts GYM photos on Instagram. But I was surprised when they announced the creation of twitter and only fans accounts. “Why not?” They said. I volunteered to be their camera man for their only fans content. They agreed. Mario was a bit shy and nervous. That’s cute. I think, it’s nice to be whoever you are. When Carlos joined him, it all went smoothly and naturally. It was fun.
FEATURED ARTIST: Nathan zhang
Tale of Men EVENTS
| Since June, the Tale of Men nude drawing session has been taking place monthly in Brussels. It’s really nice to have people form this little community and come together to practice the art that they love. Personally I am terrible at drawing. Nevertheless, I am proud of being able to organizing this and to learn from the other artists. We want to expand this community and have more people join us. If you are interested, and know people who might interested, please spread the words, or even better, come and join us on Sunday 24/11. Register for this event here. |
TALE OF MEN ZINES
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