#Diego Strex

[mr-atomicrain]

So I have a question, Does anyone know who Diego Strex is from Welcome to NightVale cause I couldn't really find anything on him on Google and he's commonly shipped with Kevin so I'm just curious on who he is?

[palmtree-art]

....so.. you're telling me that it WASN'T dana singing roar by katy perry!?!?! IT WAS FEY!!?!!!!!!?!?!?!??!

I SPENT 4 YEARS THINKING IT WAS DANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M NOT CRYING WHAT??

[weepylucifer]

Hmmm okay. I think we can theorize why, on a characterization level, Kid Kevin wants to kill Adult Kevin until the cows come home, but as someone who has witnessed these things, I reckon we should also maybe consider what's going on at the meta level

I'll explain through a little retrospective, for those who haven't invested any thought in Kevinology. From Triptych onward (at the latest) Kevin has been a widely beloved character, subject of many fanfics. When the Mudstone Abyss dropped, it was highly controversial to the crowd who had become very attached to various fanons: A) one where Kevin already had an OC boyfriend (Diego, or similar) and B) one where Cecil and Carlos take pity on Kevin, take him into Night Vale, unbrainwash and "adopt" him. A) is not important right now. It is to B) that we shall turn our attention.

I think Finknor noticed, since obviously they're on social media, that the Mudstone Abyss was unpopular at the time for not giving Kevin an unbrainwashing arc where he becomes nice, soft, sad, adorable and childlike and/or turns back into Pre-Strex Kevin. Instead, they portrayed Kevin as a complex adult man who is trying to reckon with a traumatic past but frequently does so in unhealthy and harmful (to himself and others, especially others) ways, and who is struggling to consolidate said harmful coping mechanisms with new adult responsibilities (a partner and step-son). People did not know what to do with this. They had existed in a fanon where trauma survivors are expected to turn back into their Before Selves at the snap of a finger, where trauma makes you sad, and soft, and uwu, and unambiguously better, for years at that point. I think that's why we didn't get any new Kevin episodes for a long, very long time. (Charles and Donnie have gained a handful of fans since. But I cannot overstate how hated they were initially.) I think now, with The Boy, the writers have decided it is time to address the issue.

Things can go several ways now:

Kid Kevin kills Adult Kevin and "make[s] a fresh start". The people finally get what they wanted: Kevin as a cute little kiddo who gets raised in Night Vale and gets doted on by Cecil and Carlos (and bonus Tamika!). The unpopular adult version from Mudstone Abyss onward is erased. Charles and Donovan, idk, are never heard from again. We have set right what once went wrong.

Kid Kevin and Adult Kevin reach some sort of agreement and part ways without a fight. The outcome can be the same: Kid Kevin returns to Night Vale, Adult Kevin is just never really relevant again. The fandom can forget all about him. We have set right what once went wrong.

Adult Kevin kills Kid Kevin. Unlikely, also a bit anticlimactic.

They manage to resolve the conflict in a poignant way that doesn't pander to thee most annoying subsection of the Desert Bluffs fans, showing that they stick to how they chose to develop Kevin in Mudstone Abyss and that he has a right to exist even though Cecil and parts of the fandom do not really like him. Holding out hope for that one personally, but who knows 😬

[videntefernandez]

Definitely keep going, onwards with general infos on the Creel family!

You got it boss

So like they're obviously very inspired by the strex family because I loved that whole thing and I'm sad it's over. I'm going on a nostalgia trip.

The dad, Richard Creel, is mexican but was born in america and has always been wealthy. He was an exchange student in germany where he met Karsten in High school and they've been best friends since then. He had a small loan of 10 million dollars from his parents and founded Creelcore which was initially just a robotics company (they made Babsy, who was the first nurse at the hospital). He had a boy with his first wife (José Luis, Joe for friends) but then divorced and married Diana. They had Diego and Diva who are 5 years apart in age.

Dick is the diplomat in the family, he's extremely social and could make friends with anyone. He's the first one to try the peaceful approach before resorting to violence, but he's also the first one to say "Fuck the rules". He's a party guy like Karsten and the backyard barbecue gets absolutely wild. This happens weekly. He also goes golfing weekly and they have family dinner and church on sundays (they say they're catholic for public image but their true patron is La Santa Muerte).

This is already super long so I won't get too deep into it. The mom, Diana Contreras is from Sonora Mexico which is a state that has a huge problem with drug cartels. Her family was killed and she was trafficked during her youth, until she executed the leader and took over the gang. She went through several people like that using her feminine wiles, which earned her a ton of enemies so she had to flee to the US where she met Dick and they fell in love. She already had a background in drugs, so she and Joe started the pharma branch of the company (running both the legal and illegal side) And they created the happy pill which makes employees like Kevin stay content and compliant at their jobs.

She's the ice queen, hates social gatherings and is having an affair with her robot assistant.

Joe is first in line to inherit the company, he's married with 3 kids and has a robotic eye prosthetic after losing his while playing as kids (he was the kind of problem child who stole cars and freed animals from the zoo only to hunt them down himself, and when Diego arrived it was double trouble). But the eyepatch is more intimidating so he also wears that. There's maybe more but this is already so long lmao

[thevoiceofdesertbluffs]

early night vale fandom made diego to be in charge of kevin because they didn't like yhe fact that lauren, a woman, was kevin's supervisor/basically in charge of him back in the strex days.

[alexalmonds]

Who knows how Diego from the Strex was created? I just asking, 'cause i saw a lot of some old drawings and fics of him

[theweirdspacejellyfish]

Diego x Kevin fic recs

Essentially human by My_Own_Infinity - 1,524 words and oneshot

Summary: Diego gets Kevin a present, but wants something in return.

The yellow dress by Throughthebarbedwire - 832 words and oneshot

Summary: Kevin wears a dress for the first time in a long time, and Diego walks in on him trying it on.

The curious case of Diego strex by My_Own_Infinity - 1,048 words and onehsot

Summary: A forgotten birthday brings up insecurities and resentments that Diego thought he had buried for good.

Kevin, meanwhile, is absolutely clueless.

Controlling love by TheSilentUnderworld - 1,712 words and onehsot

Summary: Diego doesn't say he love's Kevin Directly, but Kevin knows he does.

Saudade by The_Kawaiiest_Cannibal - 8,132 words and onehsot

Summary: There was a history between Diego and StrexCorp's new owner, an outrageously rich and mostly nude angel. Now that Diego has to work closely with the new owner, his relationship with Kevin is being affected in a way he could never have imagined.

Cooperation by onesickmind - 5,968 words and 2 chapters/incomplete - dark

Summary: Diego is given an employee to correct. How long can they maintain a balance between torture and love?

Moving day by Witcher_Heart - 554 words and onehsot

Summary: Diego pulled Kevin up to his office for this?

A surprise visit by orphan_account - 774 words and oneshot

Summary: During the daily broadcast, Kevin is greeted by a rather special visitor.

Precious, cherished, loved by onesickmind- 3,844 words and oneshot - dark

Summary: Kevin and Diego's first time.

[lady-marianela]

Kevin & his partners.

1. Kevin and Vanessa: during #48 ‘Renovations’ while Kevin talks about what begin employed by Strex Corp is like, he mentions a girlfriend. The fandom decided that said girlfriend is none other than Intern Vanessa from episode #19B 'The Sandstorm’. I think it had the potential to be a really cute ship, but I feel like she either died during the takeover or they were forced to break-up, because romance in the workplace is unprofessional.

2. Kevin and Diego: I found this fandom super late, like I remember that when I started listening and was around episode #5 'The Shape on Mission Grove Park’ they uploaded the first episode of the Mudstone Abyss arc, so I didn’t get to be part of the #CreateYourOwnDesertBluffs!Carlos fun, but I do like all the differents DB!Carlos our fandom has come up with. And while I liked the idea that Evil!Carlos and Kevin loved each other, I feel like my 'Diego’ would have had a different relationship with Kevin, like, unlike Cecil and Carlos who love each other and all that, Kevin wouldn’t reciprocate his affections, because he would know in the bottom of his heart (despite any re-education he may have went through) that Diego represents everything that Kevin hates and I don’t think he could have loved him.

3. Kevin and Charles (+ Donovan): Finkor made us really wait for it, but yeah, Charles the theologist a.k.a Canon DesertBluffs!Carlos. I mean, everybody jumped at his throat for the Donovan thing (even me) but let’s leave Kevin to be happy for once and give Charles the benefit of the doubt, okay? To be honest, I wonder if Donovan is a foreshadowing for something that has yet to happen in Night Vale?

Anyways, I hope you guys liked this thing ❤

[fallow-horn]

I highkey love Diego and Kevin more than I love myself whoops

Anyway I headcanon that Diego was raised Catholic and still celebrates Christmas along side of All Smiles Day. Kevin doesn’t really get Christmas but damn if he isn’t enjoying it. Kevin totally made that scarf by the way

[thistimebutbetter-aesthetics]

                                            Isn’t it good to be a Bluff?

                              Kevin Free and Diego Strex (WTNV) Aesthetics.

[manynarrators]

Charles, Cecil, Diego - Kevin

Wed: “I would wed C... Ch-Cecil. I almost said Charles, and part of me would. But he’s... he’s not Carlos, and I don’t know if I would be able to not compare them a little. Cecil understands what it’s like to be a Voice- we could be happy.”

Bed: “Charles, of the doubles, it would always be Charles. You sent me two doubles of Carlos, and my own double?”

Behead: “Diego. I knew him, and I knew what he was- is capable of. His hands, his voice, I can still recall him in my dreams. If I could have ever been anything more than this, it was him that let that other path rot.”

[videntefernandez]

Ah yes the Strex family, it is sad that it's over. I still remember seeing the drawings of them that you always did. Tho I don't really remember all of the members, I was a pre-teen back then lmao. ANYWAYS can we get more info on Diana?(she's starting to grow on me)

It's hard to believe how long ago that was!

But yeah, some cool facts about Diana:

She's extremely distrustful of everyone. Her best friend is her daughter in law.

One time they went to a party on a private island and in the middle of it she took the yacht, leaving the rest of the family stranded.

She ruled the cartel with this kind of pink sparkly rifle that somehow made its way into Diego's collection later.

She has survived several assassination attempts, though her kids claim it was just "an accident"

She and Dick met when she was his dealer, she still smokes.

After everything she went through she's very supportive of other women, but with Diva she's extremely demanding. She wants her to be the best she can be, but sometimes it comes off way too strict.

In a way she's Karsten's mirror. While Karsten was the critical parent to Diedrik, Diana is like that For Diva, it's just another way they run parallel lives.

[weepylucifer]

there are folks out there intent on living like it's still year 2 of night vale... rip to them but i'm different

[mudstoneabyss]

grr evil capitalist scientist so prim and proper and love gun and Strexcorp. then just hey this is Charles he's a theologist hes poor and he has a 5yo son and he's moving here to become a teacher and raise his family :] he doesn't know what the hell a strex is he's been in a ghost town for the past ??? years

I am thinking about it Charles is so unlike Diego it's comical

[spellboundcities]

I’m not sure which I hate more; The idea in general, the startling realization that this song fits scarily well, or the fact that I just spent three hours drawing this (per @videntefernandez‘s recent ask)

I’m screaming

Screencap that I referenced under the cut

[kevin--of-desert-bluffs]

I've always seen ships with Kevin as like. Both he and his partner are objectively horrible people but they are very good to each other ("You brought me the still-beating heart of my enemy? BABE, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE! :D :D :D")

That would be absolutely fine! Kevin in an 'Addams Family' style relationship where they're both utterly devoted to each other and equally strange but turned up from 'a bit kooky' to 'actually this is messed up when you really look at it, but in that charming Night Vale way' would be perfect! (Else just keeping the man single). But the canon has Kevin, during his most vulnerable time post-Strex, when he could have been healing, put into an emotionally abusive relationship. Charles repeatedly manipulates Kevin into staying with him and raising a child with him to the point where we actually see Kevin get angry and talk about how he doesn't like what's going on. Kevin's reasons for staying with Charles are shallow, based on not wanting to be alone, finding Charles physically attractive and unhealthy Smiling God related reasons. In fandom people often ship him with his 'boss' from Strex. Ya know, the guy responsible for taking over Desert Bluffs, physically disabling Kevin, mentally breaking him and changing his whole personality, subjecting him into enslavement for years etc and the fandom has him continue this abuse physically, emotionally and psychologically and worse than that, acting like Kevin be ok with it or somehow 'equal' when realistically there is a clear power imbalance not in Kevin's favour. If only more people just had him with someone cutely messed up but good to Kevin. But 'Diego' or equivalent and Charles aren't these people and that's what makes it hard for me to be ship-positive lol