I didn't read this but just realised Muskrat dated a 36yr old at 17, and for that he has my respect. When I was 16 I used to mingle with a 24yr old, I was old enough to know the consequences at the time and I don't regret what I did. It was hardly "manipulative", there are some instances where people from different ages just click and shit happens. Though I will say that society seems to give less of a shit when the roles are reversed, as guys are basically seen as down-to-fuck the second they reach their teens, and most of us are tbh.

I looked a lot older at the time too (was basically growing beards since 14) so a lot of people seemed to mistake me for someone older. She did know my age but I definitely didn't look prepubescent or anything. So it's not like she was attracted to me because I looked like a child.