: Re: How can I indicate that a particular relationship between two male characters is purely brotherly (Philia) rather than romantic (Eros)? One of the four forms of love Greek philosophy recognised,

@Karen856

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Explore your setting
What is your setting? As a modern Greek, when a man is married, nothing short of kissing the other man on the mouth will make me suspect sex between them. Because normally (all exceptions deeply respected) marriage in a modern setting signals for me: „I have very strong personal, emotional and sexual interest in this person“ and hints (be the addressee male or female) simply cannot break that expectation (if for example I see a married friend spank a woman’s/man‘s ass, I will assume it is a joke. If I see him squeezing that ass ferociously, I will assume he is intent on breaking his marital vow).
Is marriage forced in the setting? Homosexuality concealed etc.? Is homosexuality highly en vogue, so that we would likely know about it, if it were the case?
What marriage rites did they participate in? Many (for instance Christian rites) emphasise fidelity. Are your characters true to their words?
Use dialogue
What tone do your characters use? If they are Rambo-asshole types you can have one say:
„I hate when my wife is away in Connecticut and I can’t give her a pl…ing for three months!“
Or:
„If you keep looking at that woman’s ass like that I’ll tell your wife and you’ll have to ‚hand wash‘ for weeks“.
Or you can have a wife say it:
„Keep staring at that youngster and your spaceship won’t hangar ever again!“
Obviously my English slang is not as good as my Greek slang, but you get the idea.

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