Caged

The Administration #4.3

by Manna Francis

Another short story in The Administration series.

Toreth is bored, so Warrick takes him to the zoo.

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

12 pages

First published May 20, 2009

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 5 out of 5]

So simple as a Sunday spent at the Zoo, so deep as the ocean.

Warrick's and Toreth's day at the Zoo was a beautiful and sad insight into their relationship. Emotional, passionate, full of sacrifices and yet hopefull.

The caged panther is a brilliant and accurate analogy to Toreth. Caged by his past, blind to his present and condemning his future, truly sad and incredibly dangerous.

Their talks, their dialogues were absolutely fantastic. Warrick thinking about kids and what he would be willing to sacrificed in his life in other to have Toreth, Toreth finally opening a bit about his childhood, the panther helpless to repeat over and over again the same patterns, well... it was heartwarming and heart-wrenching.

Beautiful

"There was nothing she wanted of the world around her, and no unpredictable events that required a reaction, so eventually she ceased to respond to it."

My heart is breaking for them both.



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 5 out of 5]

Toreth at the zoo! Haha…

Caged is a spontaneous, adorable Sunday afternoon trip to the zoo with Warrick and Toreth filled with sun, smiles, observations, and revelations.

I loved seeing these two spend time just being together. Strolling, watching, and learning. Letting the day slowly unfold exhibit to exhibit with fun, hilarious, teasing ease. Manna Francis brings the day alive with people watching, childhood memories, and the warm sun on your face. But the way Toreth and Warrick watch and study each other through the day was my favorite part! Warmed my heart and made me smile. Haha….Toreth’s reaction to children never fails to make me laugh out loud!

Then… we meet the panther.

”Probably because she hasn’t noticed yet that things have changed.”

This beautiful animal’s “tightly contained energy”, pain, and air of danger trigger a powerful image and comparison that will touch your heart with beauty, sadness, and fear. Very powerful interaction that gave me chills. Listen to the way Manna Francis describes the panther’s energy: “a desperate determination never to surrender to stillness and death”. *chills* Just a few moments, but a punch and vibe that will remain with me.

Toreth’s response to the zoo (especially to the panther & flamingoes) and Warrick’s patience, care, and reaction to Toreth--cracked my heart wide open!

[LenaRibka · Rating 5 out of 5]

4, 5 stars

As I'd seen the title I thought that we would be introduced to a new game accessories in their collection of sex toys.

How I was wrong! ..

And how I am glad that I was wrong!..

[yaishin · Rating 3 out of 5]

i almost expected Toreth to just fuck off and ignore Warrick's existence for a few days. also don't think it didn't slip my notice that they'd essentially gone on a date🌚.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warrick and Toreth spend a number of hours together without having sex! A miracle!

This story starts out light, with jokes about Toreth's short attention span and ever-recurring complaints of boredom, and ends on a more serious (and rather touching) emotional note.

Francis's depiction of the caged feline reminded me of Rilke's poem "The Panther."

His gaze has grown so worn from the passing
of the bars that it sees nothing anymore.
There seem to be a thousand bars before him
and beyond that thousand nothing of the world.

The supple motion of his panther’s stride,
as he pads through a tightening circle,
is like the dance of strength around a point
on which an equal will stands stupefied.

Only rarely is an opening in the eyes
enabled. Then an image brims
which slides the quiet tension of the limbs
until the heart, wherein it dies.

[DayDreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toreth didn't say anything at all as they walked. However, he was whistling. Usually a good sign, if hard on the ears.

LMAO Everyone is always complaining how out of tune Toreth is.

Toreth smiled, as predatory as anything they'd seen during the day, but without the reassurance of a barrier between them.

[Irina Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toreth is just... so absurd. And volatile. And, honestly, hilarious.
It's funny how most of my "reviews" of TA start with a mention of Toreth, because even though he tends to steal the spotlight, in my head Warrick is right next to him on a podium being showered with virtual flowers, because he's just so bloody wonderful.

Anyhow, this story was: too short, just long enough, amusing, sad, and thought-provoking (but that just sounds so universal, doesn't it? Well, it's gonna make you think about Toreth. And pity. And loneliness). Manna Francis standard, isn't it?

A note: you don't just get bored during sex with Warrick. How the hell even, dude.

[SueC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. I loved this.

Caged shows us Toreth in all his complex glory. Childlike and brattish one moment and then insightful and intense the next. As for Warrick, he continues his quiet, thoughtful study and appreciation of Warrick in all his weird and wonderful ways.

And finally, finally Toreth is giving more of himself to Warrick. A few sentences of information/memories regarding his family and childhood... when will this panther learn that things have changed for him too? But W doesn't push, he just gently manouvers T with utmost care.

They are perfect for each-other.

This may be one of my favorite short stories in The Administration series.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bored Toreth, a creative Warrick, children milling around, pink flamingos, a caged panther—sad, but beautiful and dangerous—and through all this: knowledge and trust and need... and total attunement to each other.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another story where Toreth manages to make me both love and hate him simultaneously.

You'd think he'd be able to stop thinking about his dick during a trip to the zoo, but no! smh.

[Lenore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the analogy with the caged panther and Toreth's interest in pink flamingos.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

RE-READ 2021
I love how their relationship (shhh, don't tell Toreth) has evolved.
I also happen to love the zoo.
Big cats always captivate me too.


Toreth is bored...what's new? But at least he's turning to Warrick instead of away from him during these moments. Warrick takes him to...the zoo. There's someone special he wants Toreth to meet. Toreth sees right through Warrick though. This is exactly why they are so good together. I love the almost domestic feels. Almost.

[Sun · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I'm bored"...what are you, 10? C'mon, Tor, grow up a little...

In any case, a day at the zoo proved to be kinda sweet. Cute how they took turns choosing what to see next.

And Toreth at the panther cage: guess he isn’t as oblivious to what everyone thinks of him after all.

Back to the flamingos…

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh BRAVO Ms Francis BRAVO!!!



I'm almost struck dumb and speechless! What a similie, what a moment! True characterisation in it's simplest form, but not simple at all!

Brilliant, beautiful and utterly heart-breaking.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toreth and panther--so much said in such a short story

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love them doing normal stuff for a change. Even these little books are packed with observations of these two. Loving it still.

[Elizabetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leave it to Manna Francis to turn an innocuous trip to the zoo into something more. Between Warrick’s R-rated daydreams as he focuses on Toreth, instead of the caged animals…

Warrick closed his eyes, imagining Toreth’s body, powdery with dried salt. Blond hair bleached a shade lighter by the sun. Blue eyes squinting against the dazzle from the sea, softening the hardness of his face. Tanning skin, with perhaps a touch of sunburn along his shoulders— just a little something to stroke soothing lotion over. He smiled at the picture…

As he ponders the similarity of his lover to a beautiful caged panther…

She was in beautiful condition, coat glossy, muscles flowing under her skin as she moved and turned, moved and turned. That only made it worse, that such a healthy specimen could be so sick. [But] Unlike many of the other cages, there was no sense of being watched back. It was possible to map many things onto the flat, yellow eyes—restlessness, rage, boredom, despair, madness, a desperate determination never to surrender to stillness and death—but nothing that touched the viewer, nothing that connected to anything outside the animal’s own mind.

When Toreth discovers Warrick’s comparison between him and the panther, and his pity, he pounces…

“…if you went in there with it…” His hands slid up, circling Warrick’s neck loosely. “It’d tear your fucking throat out…That’d teach you not to feel sorry for things that don’t fucking need it.”

Previous to this, I’d have said I was team Warrick. At least he knows what kind of caged Toreth he’s dealing with. But it’s perfectly clear that Toreth is aware of it too. Despite what he does for a living, or maybe because of it, Toreth’s made a place for himself outside his cage and wastes no time apologizing for it. I think I’ve moved over to team Toreth.

[Boycop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again an incredible short story by Manna Francis. Toreth is simply a brilliantly written character and the dialogue hilarious and so spot-on. The near-psychopathic attributes of Toreth are unintentionally funny (especially when I find the same qualities in myself - woops!)

As always, try not to read this out of sequence.

[Connie Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a break from TA and some not-so-awesome books that I DNF'ed, its nice to be back to Toreth and Warrick and Manna's terrific writing. Love the dynamic between these two and watching their feelings for each other grow. Toreth continues to resist the relationship but he is slowly opening up in very subtle ways.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I'm bored."

[La*La · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read on December 18, 2014.
Re-read on July 11, 2015.

Oh, this was brilliant.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the places they could go, I would never picture Toreth... TORETH! at a zoo. Surrounded by creatures he can't stand (and I don't mean the caged animals). Fun little story that gives more insight into Toreth and Warrick.

[Joana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel terribly sad after reading this, I don’t know why but I do.

[Pianisuparse · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 'Who knew a trip to the zoo could be so fucking good. More of that perfection that happens when Toreth and Warrick let go of all the other distractions, and just are ... together' stars.

[Simple · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like these easy, precious moments.

[paracosmere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Toreth and his excuses just say you'd like to go on a date and Warrick would be happy to oblige and accompany you but no kidding though that panther comparison broke me a little

[booh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are they on a date…

[Marlobo ♥ epilogues · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first thought at the end was: "So?" The second was that this installment was a little boring, no pun intended.

I'm sorry to dissent with most the opinions but the panther parallel didn't work for me. I reckon that a panther comparison is an always attractive standard, but in this case seemed to me that the connection is very tenuous and twisted. I think that's not so much that Toreth lives locked-up in his own enclosed reality —phenomenon more associated to schizophrenia if I'm not mistaken— but instead he pays no attention to the other people's feelings.

I'm beginning to believe, according to what I'm researching since I started TA, that Toreth has some sociopathic features but he's not a total sociopath.

Flamingos and what they triggered seemed to me much more intriguing and significant, a topic that I suppose we'll find later on again

Or maybe I didn't understand a shit.

[Rebe]

In which Toreth and Warrick go to the zoo, talk about their childhoods, and, as always with Toreth, avoid saying that they're in a relationship even in the middle of doing fluffy relationship things. The most significant part of the fic is probably when Warrick compares Toreth to a caged panther. Francis basically makes deep metaphors about Toreth's emotional hang-ups, particularly related to his past. Wasn't my favorite fic in the series by far, but it does have some character-development moments that make it a good idea to read.

[Mich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toreth is bored so you took him to the ....zoo? Come on War...how well do you know your man? I was a little disappointed that T didn't manhandle W in front of the panther cage. However, the "sharing" time in front of the flamingo pool at the end was shocking. Our Toreth does have the capacity for human emotion. how about that??