#charles and edwin are straight up not having a good time

[technically-human]

The Case of the Devlin House (Reverse Verse!) as commissioned by @i-am-as-normal-as-you-are everyone thank Haunted!

The father of the Devlin family murdered his wife and children one night, and no one knows why. While investigating the case, Edwin finds a letter from the eldest daughter, in which she expressed her desire to go to college to get away from her father... and closer to the girl she loved. The family has been stuck in a loop since that awful night, and now Edwin is too.

Bonus:

[majorlb]

It's kind of nice hanging out with the boys when they don't have cases, but this is the first time that Charles had been lounging about with her alone since their kiss and subsequent 'break up'. If you can honestly break up with someone you never dated in the first place?

She's doing homework, asking questions at times that he answers while he lays on the bed, fiddling with something that looks like a frankensteined rubixcube and a snowglobe. Looking at it directly makes her eyes water, so she gave that up a while ago.

It's nice, and suspiciously quiet, which probably means that Charles is thinking deep about something and needed a place to do it, without Edwin asking questions.

She truly feels like a detective at times. Which is also why she knows that letting Charles decide when to talk works better than pushing when he's like this.

And she doesn't really have to wait that long, just until she's finished with all her assignments. Or maybe he was waiting her out.

"Edwin told me he's in love with me." and I don't know what to do goes unsaid.

"Huh, I thought you'd be the one to crack first." Truly, she did. The moment they told her that they weren't together but acted like the way they were, she thought it was just a matter of time. The fact that it was Edwin who spilled first is a surprise.

"You love him, he loves you. So why are you sulking?" Unless she should quit the detective business just as she's starting. What if Charles isn't in love?

"I'm not sulking! I.. told him I couldn't say it back, but that we'd figure it out. I do love him. I'm in love with him."

This is giving her a headache. "You're in love with him but said you can't say it. Why?"

It takes so long for Charles to answer that if she didn't know better she'd think he'd fallen asleep.

"What if.. What if I mess it up..? What if I hurt him?"

Head. Ache.

"Why would you?"

"I don't know! Maybe I wouldn't notice, maybe one day I'll look up and realize that I destroyed the person I love the most in the entire world and I didn't realize until it was too late! Maybe-"

Maybe I'm like my dad.

She can hear it in the shaky breath he takes. Charles thinks that if he let's himself be in love with Edwin, he'll destroy it all.

This was way heavier than she initially thought it would be. Honestly, she's not entirely sure she's equipped to have this conversation in the first place. But she doesn't know if there are any trauma specialized therapists out there who can see ghosts, so she's all Charles has at the moment.

So she gets up from her desk, sits down on the edge of the bed and pries one of Charles hands away from the rubi-globe-thing, to hold it in her own and stroke her thumb over his knuckles.

He might not be able to 'feel' it, but she thinks it's the thought that counts.

"Charles. Listen to me very carefully when I say this. You are a good person. You are kind, and loyal, protective and sweet. I don't think you could hurt Edwin. I don't think you would either. You marched straight into Hell for him"

"You tried to go too"

"Yeah, but I'm a crazy person. You're just crazy about a person."

It makes him snort and suppress a giggle, so she knows she's on the right track.

"I mean it, though. If you let yourself be in love with him, how much is really going to change? You'd still be Charles and Edwin, Dead Boy Detectives. Partners and best friends. You'd just also kiss an obscene amount"

"Hey!"

"You can feel each other, don't even deny that productivity would go down a lot"

He doesn't. And when she glances at his face, he's smiling, if a bit wistfully.

"Really, though, do you honestly believe I'd let you hurt my friend, Charles? I'll kick your ass."

And- score! She made him laugh, so she lays down beside him and looks up at the ceiling also, waits for him to catch his nonexistent breath.

"I'm going to tell him. When I get back to the office, I'm going to tell him."

"Good! And I'll come visit in like....what three days of smooching should be enough for you guys to start with, right?"

"Crystal Palace Surname Von Hovenkraft! Give me a week, at least."

"Deal!"

[asidian]

Alright. It is time. Buckle up.

Why you should be watching Dead Boy Detectives: the targeted-specifically-at my-readers edition.

Meet the leads, our two ghost boys:

Edwin Payne: Fussy, repressed intellectual type from the Edwardian era. Exceedingly gay for his partner and best friend. Tortured in hell for seventy years on a technicality because he was ritually sacrificed as a prank gone wrong. Endearingly awful at people and dealing with emotions or his own wants.

Charles Rowland: Impulsive, people-pleasing wildcard from the 80s. Heart eyes 24/7 at his best friend but has zero self-awareness. Badly abused by his asshole of a father. Beaten to death because he saved a kid from bullies. Endearingly awful at sorting his own emotions or talking about his problems.

Some highlights:

/slaps hood you can fit so much trauma in these two

Both leads get sobbing breakdowns that happen on screen. The actors are incredible at crying

Both leads get much-needed hugs

The absolute devotion between the two of them. The shared history that lives in their dialogue and how they work together like people who have been each other's Most Important Person for literal decades

I mean, I'm talking in-canon Orpheus and Eurydice reference level of devotion here

The protective way Charles puts himself physically between Edwin and damn near every threat in the show

They're just fun together. Their interactions and banter and how they work as a team is a delight

Their shared plot arc literally involves them learning to talk to each other and communicate more so that they can be there for one another about their respective issues

The symbolism. God. They are metaphorically and literally one another's light in the darkness

But what about stuff that isn't the main duo? Just wait, there's more:

This show is unabashedly, unapologetically queer. It's there in the text and the subtext. The whole show lives and breathes it

So many good, complex, well-written female characters. The Bechdel test gets blown straight out of the water in episode one and they never look back. Headstrong amnesiac psychic learning to be a better person! Quirky meta commentary matchmaker! Cynical lesbian butcher! Delightfully sadistic witch! They are all amazing.

[audience voice] But I'm here for the hurt/comfort. How can I whump ghosts? Worry not, my friends. Canon has you covered. Not only are there ways, there are ways that happen on-screen. The hurt/comfort and rescue are also on-screen. Yes, it is amazing

Absolute chaos, really cool supernatural cases and creatures, a surprising amount of humor, charming writing, and a cast that absolutely nails it on the acting and chemistry

There is an extremely suggestive trickster type who is also the king of cats. He's a cat in human form. He hits on Edwin nonstop. Charles gets blisteringly jealous

All of the leads have well-thought-through, fully developed, emotional character arcs. They're all messy and flawed and sometimes lash out in their pain, but at turns can be incredibly supportive and kind and loyal

A character who is a crow who is also a boy, who is tortured by his witch/creator and also is crushing hard on one of the leads

There are so many incredible details in the setting, costume choices, prop decisions, etc. that you only catch after you know what it's laying the groundwork for. The level of care that went into this show is phenomenal

It's only eight episodes. The time investment barrier to entry could not possibly be lower

Anyway, tl;dr, if any of this sounds appealing to you, you should give this show a watch.

Dead Boy Detectives is well worth your time. It's easily my favorite show in years.

[bellsmess]

Whenever someone calls Charles Rowland straight, an angel dies.

What straight guy tells his best friend who just confessed to him that there's no one else – no one – he would go to Hell for. And that they have forever to figure out what that means. You don’t get his repressed bisexuality like I do!

Even modern bisexuals (I may or may not be speaking from personal experience) are oblivious to the fact they're bi because heteronormative roles are so engraved in our minds. When you're attracted to other genders, it's easy to miss a same-sex crush, only then to realise that oh, it wasn’t just admiration, it was attraction.

Charles, having grown up at the height of the AIDS crisis, with an abusive and probably homophobic father, killed by racist bullies? That would make anyone repress any gay feelings. Especially if you experience crushes on people with a different sex to you.

Charles sees Crystal and takes his chance. He's enamoured with this smart, strong-willed, pretty girl who can see him not only in a physical sense, but pays attention to him. He longs to be loved. Then he says the infamous "That sounds alot like you, doesn't it? Maybe that's why I like her so much" line. What an icon. And he compares himself and his best friend to the greatest love story of all time, Orpheus and Euridyce's.

When Edwin confesses to him, he doesn't rule out the possibility of returning these feelings. He knows they're already devoted to each other. They've already had 30 years of companionship and solving cases together.

"As long as I have my best mate and a case to solve, I'm good."

Being with Edwin is simple. They solve cases, help others, run away from Death. It's a simple existance. Charles gave up eternity to be with Edwin, because he was kind to him when he was dying. Charles finds him fun, wants to protect him, knows that Edwin is a kind and good person. One that Charles wants to be.

"Bad guys don't worry about being bad guys. And you, Charles Rowland, are the best person I know."

Crystal's role is very important in changing the dynamic between Edwin and Charles. Not only because Charles falls for her, but because she opens them up. She digs out their repressed feelings and trauma. Charles finally deals with his dad's abuse, his happy-go-lucky mask falls. She points it out to Edwin. Charles kept it up so well because Edwin didn't press it, but Crystal does. And Charles finally lets himself process what happened to him, and how that affects his relationships.

Charles never saw genuine love between his parents, and that affects how he views relationships. It impacts how he forms them, too. But he's a loverboy, he longs to be loved, he falls easily. Why wouldn’t he fall for someone who stuck to his side for 30 years?

Crystal and Monty's roles mirror each other – they help the boys figure out their feelings and desires. Crystal makes Edwin jealous that there's someone else Charles cares about in the same sense he cares for Edwin. The Cat King helps Edwin discover desire, Monty – genuine love. As Charles' and Crystal's relationship kickstarts (albeit ends as quickly) and Monty persues Edwin, he discovers the depth of his feelings.

"These complicated feelings that you have? They're for Charles."

I would love to see their wants explored more in the future season(s, hopefully multiple). Charles giving into desire with Desire of the Endless' guidance? Yes please.

I simply cannot believe that anyone would doubt Painland/Payneland endgame. They're everything to each other. They're a constant presence, reassurance, and love. Platonic, romantic, it doesn't matter. Their bond is so deep and genuine that immortal beings see it and leave them be, in the afterlife they chose for each other. Their love is so deep it transcends planes: from mortal plane to Hell, it leads Charles to Edwin. Charles is not Orpheus, when he turns around to hear Edwin out on the staircase from Hell, he manages to get him out. And they have literally forever for each other.

[falling-star-cygnus]

Dead Boy Detectives AU where Edwin just cuts his whole fucking hand off to escape Port Townsend instead of sticking around -> you cannot tell me that the boy that spent 70 years getting ripped apart would have qualms about severing his limbs to do it again

i wrote this on a whim tbh, because I couldn't pick another fic idea and spitballed into the void and VOILA✨ -> ao3 fic: here please leave a comment or reblog if you enjoyed!!!

SUMMARY: Edwin spent over 7 decades in Hell. There is no way one silly bracelet is going to keep him stuck in another. He just has to make sure Charles doesn't try and stop him...

alternatively: Edwin cuts his hand off, Charles is put in time-out, and Crystal freaks out- not necessarily in that order

"Charles, stand here a moment."

His partner makes a little 'oh-!' noise as Edwin drags him by the elbow to a brightly lit corner of Crystal's room. It was quite lucky that the shadows didn't seem to stretch here- even at night.

He wouldn't want to frighten him, after all. Just occupy.

"Annnd why am I being put in time-out?" Charles asks, though already resigned to his fate.

Curious, but not uncomfortable.

Good.

"Because, Charles, you possessed a witch."

Honestly.

"Oi- you bound a cat, mate!"

"Then if it appeases you, I will stand in the corner next," Edwin huffs, only half sarcastic, "Now think about your actions."

The Edwardian ignores it when Charles rolls his eyes. He has done far less for his partner's benefit before, after all. Something tells him that he will have a lot more to think about once it's his turn in the corner anyway.

At least- if Charles has anything to say about it.

When Edwin grips the handle of their iron dagger, he thinks that- yes. Yes, he will have something to say about it.

But he is not staying in this drowsy town on the whim of some irrelevant feline. So he can say whatever he likes back home.

"You two... are so weird."

Ah.

He had forgotten about her.

Well.

"Crystal, are you squeamish?" he had been, after all, before Hell [quite literally] beat it out of him, "Charles, face the wall."

His partner stops glancing over his shoulder with a huff.

"I was eating raw fish out of a dumpster literally last week," the psychic shudders out, her nose wrinkling at the mere memory, "I think my stomach will be fine."

"Good."

Beating the squeamishness out of her could be avoided then. Not that he would actually go through with that. It would make Charles sad. And, begrudgingly, Edwin supposed... well.

They were friends.

Edwin brings the blade to the gaudy bracelet, just to give it a customary attempt. Predictably, neither sawing at it nor trying to lever the blasted thing off works.

On to his original plan then.

"Mate, what're you doing?" his partner asks, rocking from heel to toe as his charming inability to keep still rears its head.

"You'll see in just a moment." the Edwardian sheds his jacket and glove. Rolls up his sleeve.

"What-?"

Before Charles can turn around, and before Crystal can catch on, Edwin brings the iron dagger straight through his wrist.

clink, thump.

The severed limb hits the floor.

"OH MY GOD!?" Crystal screeches, scrambling away from it like it was some unruly bug. Rude.

It was just a hand.

"Edwin!" His partner sweeps into his space, his tone worried and angry but not surprised. He wouldn't be, after all.

He's seen Edwin do worse for less.

And that was precisely why he was sentenced to the corner.

Charles gently squeezes the stump now, trying in vain to stem the weeping blue ectoplasm and dust seeping onto the floor. What a mess...

"Shit- shit, Edwin, why would you- It's okay, you'll be okay.. just-"

..right.

At that moment, Edwin seems to snap back into himself. Into the present and out of the clinical detachment that comes with seeing and feeling a piece of him ripped away.

Charles was not detached from these things.

Oh dear.

Edwin presses his remaining hand first to his partner's shoulder and then pats his way up to his neck then cheek.

"Charles- Charles, look at me," he coaxes, pressing their foreheads together insistently, "Charles."

The Edwardian waits until those puppy like eyes meet his own, watery and terrified and worried. They keep glancing down at what's left of his arm.

His hands shake around the stump.

Edwin presses forward until his eyes are all Charles can see, and exaggerates an unneeded deep breath. He waits.

And waits.

And then-

"I'm okay," he breathes into the scant space between them, once Charles has calmed somewhat, "Alright? I'm okay."

"It doesn't hurt?"

"Not at all."

It really didn't. Hurt wasn't really a word that could be applied to Edwin's injuries anymore, after all. It.. stung, maybe. Barely. But it wouldn't hinder him in anyway.

..mentally at least.

It'd be harder to read like this, actually, the Edwardian thinks mournfully.

"You're thinking about your books, aren't you," Charles lightly accuses, his voice still far too shaky and fragile for Edwin's liking.

His partner should never sound like that again.

"Am I that transparent?"

And that gets a watery chuckle out of the bright boy, just as it should. Charles often liked it when Edwin parroted things they'd seen or read together back at him.

That particular line had come from a motion picture. One that his partner had wanted to watch with him in the theatres.

If those sticky rooms could even be called theatres..

Edwin leaves out most of the sarcasm that had originally coated it.

"S'alright," Charles chuckles at him, bringing up one hand to cup the gloved one on his face, "I'll just read to you then while it heals. Make it fair, yeah?"

Edwin's chest warms, an almost impossible surge of fondness pulling a laugh from him.

"I look forward to it, then."

"This is really cute and all," Crystal cuts in, leaning into the Edwardian's line of sight from behind Charles.

She looks vaguely sick.

"BUT YOUR HAND IS STILL ON MY FLOOR!"

...so much for not being squeamish.

[coloursflyaway]

i'm finally going through the comments on heaven to no one else but me (i'm so sorry for the delay, btw, but i was gone over the weekend and you guys were SO sweet that i wanted to take the time to reread everything and make sure i'd respond properly) and i just had A Thought.

i've been putting charles through the ringer lately, which i love doing, because that boy suffers so prettily. but how about a fic in which through magical hijinks charles loses his memory, and edwin is the one left behind?

and charles is like he always is, which is bright and happy and clever and wonderful, and he takes to edwin like he did last time ("so we're best friends? that's pretty cool, i never thought i'd get a best friend this clever! how do you put up with me?") and he's the same, but also, he's not.

because all the time they had together changed charles, just like they changed edwin, and there is something impossibly nostalgic about seeing charles like this, like a snapshot of thirty years ago, but at the same time, it's the most painful experience of edwin's life, because charles has forgotten everything about what made them them.

the synergy isn't there anymore, the ease they usually move with together, the references to older cases and the inside jokes they have.

one time, edwin holds out his hand on instinct; charles asks, "huh? what do you need?" instead of putting their magic screwdriver into it.

edwin doesn't do it a second time.

and there is a beauty, maybe, in watching charles get to know him again, but god, it breaks edwin's heart every second of the way.

and they go through remedy after remedy and nothing works, and edwin has to face the possibility that he might still have a best friend, but he'll never get His Best Friend back, and it's not enough to destroy him, because charles is still there, but god, it is close.

(charles, at the same time, is baffled by everything edwin knows about him and how close they must have been and is this really everything, is edwin keeping something from him? did they - he can hardly think it, because surely it can't be true, this doesn't happen to him, he's not worth of this happening to him - kiss? is this why edwin looks at him so dejectedly when he thinks charles doesn't notice?)

and charles keeps asking questions, like he is trying to figure something out, until one day, he kisses edwin. straight on the lips, a hint of a question in the curve of his mouth, and edwin is both overwhelmed and devastated, because this is what he had been hoping for before charles had lost his memory, and yet he cannot enjoy it now, because it's not His Charles; and yet he cannot pull away, because it is Still Charles and edwin loves him in any way he can.

it feels like cheating somehow, but what if he'll never get charles back, what if this is all that is left of their friendship now?

so he kisses back anyway, and when charles smiles against his lips, edwin thinks maybe, just maybe, it could be okay.

only that a few days, or maybe a few weeks later, something happens and charles suddenly looks at him and he's Back, edwin can see it in his eyes, and -

-and how can he explain this to charles now, that he let himself be kissed by charles when he was not himself, how can he look charles in the eyes when he knows that he has taken advantage of him like this, has he gotten his best friend back now only to lose him again because he couldn't control himself around charles and-

-and charles smiles at him, says, "hi. good to be back. i missed you."

and he takes edwin's hand, who still cannot speak, cannot think, and presses a kiss to the back of it.

"guess i just had to start all over again to realise i could absolutely fall in love with you, huh?" he says, and he looks at edwin like he used to a week ago, like he used to a decade ago, and edwin is crying before he knows it, fingers curling around charles' to hold onto him.

"did you?", he asks, and charles just laughs, sweet and happy and safe.

"oh absolutely. although i think i might have started thirty-odd years ago."

[brainrotbee]

Payneland Promptfest Day 2: Falling under an enchantment

~

Edwin took a deep breath and looked at the sack of flour sitting across the office. He'd been using it as a practice dummy for so long that it was covered in scorch marks and green sludge.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Charles asked, hiding behind the couch as instructed. He needed to be out of the way in case something went wrong.

"A delirium spell could prove incredibly useful in the field," Edwin said, flipping through his notes for a final time. "I just have to perfect my aim before I can use it."

"What if-"

Edwin crossed his arms. "Are you doubting my magical capabilities?" He knew Charles was just trying to protect him but magic was the one way Edwin could return the favor. "Right." He took another breath and concentrated. "Caligo cadre." A sickly yellow light appeared long enough for Edwin to wonder what he'd done wrong before it backfired and enveloped him.

"Edwin!"

Time slowed down and everything took on a warm hue. It was as if he was swimming through honey. Honey? What an odd thought. Edwin's head hit the floor but the pain barely registered. He was too focused on how the normally straight lines of the ceiling were beginning to distort, looking like cursive letters instead. Had they always been so wavy? It was nice to look at.

Charles ran over and helped him up. He cupped Edwin's face, looking for signs of damage. "Are you ok?"

Edwin smiled dopily. "You're so beautiful." He hadn't meant to say that but the words had come out anyway. It was true so what was the harm?

Charles frowned. "What?"

"It's cadere," Edwin slurred. "I said cadre." He laughed to himself. Somehow, the difference between the two words was the funniest thing he'd ever heard.

Charles knit his brows before a look of realization came over his face. "Delirium spell," he said. He looked back at Edwin's distant eyes. "Oh." He grimaced. "Bollocks." He looked around before hoisting Edwin up in his arms and walking him over to the couch.

"I'm high up now," Edwin noted. He wondered what would happen if he fell. It seemed likely that he would just fall through the floor. Nothing seemed quite solid anymore.

"You're high now," Charles joked. He set him on the couch and kneeled to be at eye level. "Edwin, I need you to tell me if there's any cure or antidote or if you're in any danger."

Edwin thought for a moment. Danger sounded bad, very bad indeed. Why was Charles talking about such horrid matters when everything around them was so wonderful. The office had never been warmer or--what was the word--hazier. "I love your face."

Charles smiled in spite himself. "Thank you but that's not very helpful." He grabbed Edwin's notebook that had fallen to the floor and turned to the page that had been open. "Delirium Spell: temporary inhibition; great for defense." He sighed in relief. "You'll be alright."

Edwin closed his eyes. The room was beginning to rock and it was not pleasant to watch. "Good." He rolled over and reached sluggishly in Charles's direction. "Will you sit with me?"

Silence, with the exception of a faint ringing. The floorboards creaked followed by Charles's soft voice. "Of course."

It was a bit awkward to arrange, especially since one boy had no control over his body, but they managed to get comfortable enough on the couch. Charles pulled Edwin's head into his lap and they waited together.

Hours later and gritting his teeth from the pain of his headache, Edwin took out a pen and furiously crossed Delirium Spell out.

[alexwilltellyouthings]

Ok I have so many thoughts about painland ending up canon or not and I. Just.

Listen I AGREE that their bond goes beyond being romantic or not. It's obvious, it's beautiful, I love it and I love them and their friendship and I truly do think it is important that media has this kind of relationship portrayed.

But.

But.

I would be lying if I said I wouldn't be disappointed if it doesn't turn romantic. It involves a lot of things.

1: I want Edwin to have that. He'll still be happy without it, yes, but god can't he have that? He's been through so much. He had a speedrun through his sexuality issues and confessed in hell. Like wtf. Can't he have that???

2. Bisexual Charles would actually be so important to me. And yeah he can be bi and not in love with Edwin but come on lol. The thing is, there's not many bi men in media. Even less bi men figuring out their bisexuality. Even less bi men figuring out their sexuality when they were raised in the 80s and knowing their best friend is in love. Do you see how many layers exist here? How amazing his story could be? Charles has so much we still don't know about him. And yes, I would like that one of those things could be something I relate to. Besides trauma. Call me selfish. And like he's so bisexual coded it would be offensive for him to be straight I'm sorry.

3. They exist in other universes. Let them be platonic there. Let them be romantic this one time.

4. I know falling in love with a straight person is a very common story and I don't think it's wrong for it to happen in a show, but honestly, it's not what I sign up for when I'm watching queer stuff. Think Our Flag Means Death. It probably changed my brain chemistry because anything less than that gets really hard to swallow. I know, we all have queerbaiting trauma, and I know this wouldn't be the case, and it never claimed to be something as queer as OFMD. But I got so attached that... Well, I wouldn't stop watching if this happens, but it wouldn't sit well with me. It's a bitter feeling, you know?

5. They didn't have anything be explicit, but come on, they did set us up. Charles got jealous at Monty, and only Monty, for that matter. I wouldn't say his thing with the Cat King is necessarily jealousy, more like protectiveness, but that can be disputable. And both George and Jayden said more than once that Charles' response to the confession let things open. So I mean if that door wasn't closed, then please don't close it now! The road until things happen can be long, dramatic, tortuous, whatever, there's many ways to tell a love story. But if I'm sitting for it, then I don't want to get shot in the face later on (unless it's for plot reasons which ok).

6. Have I mentioned that bisexual Charles

Anyway I feel kinda bad for wishing so much they get romantic because I see and agree with the whole platonic discourse. But yeah those are all the reasons why I can't stop myself. Have a good day everyone

[edwin-paynes-bowtie]

Post because I just found out that my Cancellation vs No Payneland Endgame poll has caused a lot of drama on certain blogs and I never meant for that to happen.

I'm sorry to anyone who was hurt by it. It wasn't my intention.

But, just so people know:

My strong belief that I'd rather have the show stay canceled than Payneland not be endgame isn't exclusively because of the joy the ship brings me.

It's also not because I don't think people's friends are less important to them than romantic partners, and I'm shocked that people think I believe that.

It's definitely in part because I like imagining their future. They're my comfort ship, and I love that they will always be best friends over anything. I want to see that friendship take a new shape, and I want to see them love each other in every way.

I understand relationship anarchy and 'no hierarchy' stuff, but the show has been clear that Edwin and Charles are each other's most important person no matter what. Relationship anarchy is not true to their specific dynamic. Having someone come between them ruins the best thing about their relationship/friendship. They are each other's.

Also, expecting them to be exclusively platonic is unrealistic because Edwin already canonically has romantic feelings for Charles. There is currently a discrepancy in how they love each other (canonically - I would argue that Charles is extremely in love, but hey, to each their own.) I think it would be disingenuous to the characters and their development for them to not be together. I also think that the show did a good job of convincing me that falling in love with Charles helped Edwin overcome his repression - pulling back from this love feels like backtracking and quashing those feelings down.

Additionally - and this is just true - if Charles and Edwin were straight, no one would say they should be "just friends." Their getting together would be a given. The way that the story is set up would make this feel like adjacent to a massive DestielJohnlock queerbait, even if Edwin is canonically gay.

(Also, I find it extremely weird that some people think it's progressive - or anything other than extremely regressive - to keep them as "just friends." We have seen that story a million times on TV. QPR may not be an oft-used term, but it's an oft-depicted concept used in media with closely-bonded pairs of men.)

It's also in large part about the show's writing.

So far, the show has been very much about Payneland, about the power that loving Charles romantically has had on Edwin. It's about their bond. To de-center that bond in favour of another love story would be... bad writing. Plain and simple. A version of DBDA where Payneland isn't endgame is a version of DBDA with inconsistent writing, the world's longest game of gay chicken, and a very jumbled plotline.

"I'd rather the show stay canceled than have Payneland not be endgame" isn't a devaluation of their friendship. For Gods' sake, I ship them BECAUSE of their friendship's strength. It's a statement that "I would rather have this show remain canceled now than have the writers fuck it up with inconsistent plotting and a devaluation of the bond that makes the series special" and "I'm sick of being borderline queerbaited."

And, yes, for God's sake, I'd rather have my cute comforting post-canon headcanons. Sue me.

[wordingg]

Proud Parents

Dead Boy Ween Day 5, prompt: family

Summary: Crystal is insistent that she doesn't need the dead boys to attend her graduation ceremony. But, Charles and Edwin would never let Crystal go alone.

AN: I got like halfway through this one and realized that schools in the UK probably don't have graduation ceremonies the same way American schools. They might not even have graduation ceremonies at all. BUT I HAVEN'T MISSED A DAY YET AND IM NOT GONNA START NOW SO YOU'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF. okay thanks.

“You guys can’t come to my graduation, okay?” Crystal said firmly.

It was a little hard to take her seriously when she was standing in a veritable ocean of clothes and shaking what looked like a very fancy sunhat at them, but her expression was very serious.

“My parents are going to be there and I don’t want any weird ghost shit going on, okay?” Crystal added. She threw them an exasperated look when both boys just stared at her with folded arms.

“They said they’re going to be there?” Charles asked with a raised eyebrow.

“They gave a very firm maybe, which is practically a yes for them,” Crystal snapped back.

Charles frowned at that, but Edwin spoke over whatever he was planning to say.

“Of course, if you don’t want us to attend your graduation ceremony, we will respect your wishes,” Edwin said benevolently.

“Thank you, Edwin,” Crystal said, with a pointed look at Charles.

“You’re quite welcome, Crystal,” Edwin said with a polite nod.

Crystal disappeared back into her walk in closet to continue to dig for something good enough to wear under her graduation gown. Charles turned to Edwin with a confused frown.

“There’s no way her parents are going to show up for graduation, is there?” he asked sincerely.

“Not a chance,” Edwin said, still watching the closet door. “I checked their calendar and they’ve already booked two interviews and something called an ‘experimental banjo sesh’ for the same time as the ceremony.”

“God, what arseholes,” Charles muttered. “Crystal deserves better.”

“Of course she does,” Edwin said with an arched brow. “That is why we will be better for her.”

Charles’ mouth stretched into a manic grin and Edwin’s own mouth twitched at the edges with infectious glee.

---

The day of her graduation, Crystal was sweating with nerves. She had opted to finish her degree online when her attempts to make up with many of the people in her class that she had wronged had gone badly, to say the least. It was the first time in months that she was in the same room with them. It was a big gymnasium, but it was hard not to notice all the venomous looks pointed her way from almost every corner.

Crystal wiped her palms on the fabric of her gown, but the artificial fabric did nothing to wick the moisture away from her skin. She wanted to touch her cap to make sure it was sitting straight, but was worried about knocking her elaborate hairstyle down. She had gotten up early to arrange her curls into an elegant bun at the nape of her neck. It had been a bigger challenge than she expected and as a result her hair was mostly held together by two dozen bobby pins and sheer determination.

Crystal’s parents had already been gone by the time she was ready to leave for the ceremony, but she tried not to let that get her down. She had just talked to them the night before and they had confirmed their definite maybe for her graduation. She just had to have faith. They probably were picking up flowers or a cake or something. They knew Crystal was very self sufficient and could call her own cab to take her to the school.

Finally it was time to line up and walk out onto the field. Luckily, Crystal ended up in line between two boys that she didn’t recognize and who didn’t seem all that interested in her. They walked out of the gymnasium and into the bright spring day outside. Crystal was briefly blinded, but as soon as her eyes cleared she looked out into the crowd for her parents.

The field outside the gym was absolutely packed with people. There were rows and rows of folding chairs set up for the students graduating. The line steadily filled the rows in, directed by teachers in suits and skirts. Around the folding chairs were metal bleachers packed with adults and other kids alike, everyone snapping photos and waving and shouting things as the students filing into the chairs occasionally picked someone out of the crowd and waved back.

She didn’t see her parents as she walked out, but it was a madhouse. Probably they were there and she just didn’t see them. That was fine. Crystal turned around during a speech started to try and look again and got hissed at by one of the teachers, so she turned back around and pretended to pay attention.

The speeches washed over her like so much noise. She couldn’t have recalled anything that was said even if her life depended on it. Her mind was on the crowd at her back and her parents, the anxiety of not knowing crawling up her throat and threatening to choke her.

Then, finally, they started calling names and it was time to walk across the stage and claim her diploma. The school had considered ‘Von Hoverkraft’ to be her last name, so she had to wait until almost every other kid had gone before she could stand up and walk across the small pop up stage to shake the hand of a sweaty middle aged man she didn’t recognize and take her diploma.

As she did so, a camera flashed from the crowd, loud and bright and briefly blinding her. Crystal felt tears pricking her eyes and it wasn’t just from the bright flash. Someone was taking her picture and she couldn’t help but hope it was her dad, memorializing her finally finishing high school, finally becoming an adult.

Her smile turning sincere for the first time that day, Crystal walked to the other side of the stage and back to her seat feeling breathless. They were here somewhere in the crowd. They had come. They had shown up for her.

A few more kids went up to get their diploma and there was one last short speech. Everyone was itching for the ceremony to be over, so the speech didn’t last for very long. Soon, the ceremony was over and the two crowds (students and families) rushed toward each other, students merging into the bleachers while parents and siblings ran into the lines of folding chairs.

Crystal stood up, but then she froze. She was short in her sensible flats and couldn’t see over the heads of the crowd to find her parents. She started to move toward the bleachers, but it was a wild press of people and she felt a surge of panic that she wouldn’t be able to find them in time, that the crowds would deter them and her parents would leave without her seeing them.

Halfway to the bleachers, Crystal felt a man’s hand on her upper arm, pulling her to a stop. Crystal whipped around, not sure if she should be ecstatic or vicious, and looked into a familiar face. Familiar, but not the one she was hoping for.

An older man, maybe in his fifties, with red hair almost completely turned white and distinguished rimless glasses was smiling down at her. It was Charles in his living person disguise.

“Crystal, this way!” he said over the low roar of the crowd, guiding her away from the bleachers and through them toward the parking lot.

Briefly, Crystal felt irritated. She had told them not to come. But, she couldn’t hold onto her frustration for very long. She was scared and upset and hopeful by equal measures and Charles’ presence was a comforting. She eventually shook his hand off her arm so that she could instead grab his hand in hers and he smiled down at her again.

Charles led her out of the crowd and around to the back of the metal bleachers, where Crystal saw a woman in big acrylic frames wearing a little maroon beret over blonde hair peppered with white. Edwin.

“I told you guys I didn’t want you here,” Crystal muttered. “I have to get back. My parents might leave if they can’t find me.”

Charles and Edwin exchanged a speaking look and Crystal’s stomach dropped.

“We weren’t going to come,” Charles started to say. Crystal realized suddenly that he was wearing a big old fashioned camera around his neck by a strap. She swallowed around a lump in her throat.

“But, we also weren’t about to leave you here alone if they didn’t come,” Edwin said quickly.

Crystal felt her eyes filling with tears and firmly told herself not to blink. If she blinked, they would fall and if they started to fall, they might never stop.

She looked at Edwin. Edwin would tell her the truth, even if it hurt. She could trust him to do that for her.

“I’m sorry, Crystal,” he said quietly. “I followed them all morning. We only came once we were sure they were not going to make it to your graduation ceremony.”

It didn’t matter that Crystal hadn’t blinked, the tears began to fall anyway. She dashed them away viciously but they just kept falling.

“God, you must think I’m so naive,” she laughed. “You must have wanted so bad to tell me how stupid I was being. So, go ahead. Say it,” she glared at Edwin, but he only stared evenly back. “Say I was stupid for believing in them! You would be right!” she cried.

“Crystal Palace, you are the farthest thing from stupid,” Edwin said, like it was the most factual thing in the world.

“You’re a good daughter,” Charles said gently, “and you love your parents. That’s not a fault, Crystal. It’s admirable that you keep trying.”

The tears were coming faster now and Crystal gave up on trying to preserve her mascara and eyeliner and instead rubbed at her eyes, probably smearing black makeup everywhere.

“Eds! The flowers!” Charles whispered while Crystal tried desperately to get her tears under control.

She heard rustling and then when she opened her eyes it was to a huge bouquet of lilies, big pink ones with little brown spots exploding out from yellow centers, filled in all around with delicate baby’s breath.

“You got me flowers?” Crystal wobbled, fresh tears threatening to fall.

“And a balloon, but I sort of forgot those things float and it got away from me,” Charles said with a hangdog expression.

Edwin sighed at the mention of the balloon, but shook it off quickly. He stepped in to run his thumbs delicately under Crystal’s eyes, clearing away the smudged makeup along with a few stray tears.

“And, we will be taking you to that awful raw fish buffet that you like,” Edwin said as he cleaned up her makeup here and there.

“It’s called sushi, I know you know that. And, I don’t think they’ll let you come in if you aren’t going to eat anything,” Crystal sniffed.

“I dare say you will eat enough raw fish for the rest of us,” Edwin said, dry as the Sahara desert.

“And, we’ll tell everyone within hearing distance how proud we are of our amazing daughter who just graduated from high school!” Charles added with a grin.

“Yes, she’s quite amazing,” Edwin said, stepping back and judging Crystal’s makeup good enough so long as she didn’t start crying again. “Neither of us ever finished high school. She’s the first in our family to do so.”

“We’re proud parents, we are,” Charles said, elbowing Edwin with a grin that earned him an eye roll and a reluctant smile.

“You guys…” Crystal trailed off, sniffing. She clutched the flowers closer to her chest, the paper crinkling against her graduation gown. Golden pollen smeared against the cheap polyester and stuck to it, but she couldn’t possibly bring herself to care at the moment.

“Please, Crystal, no more tears. I just fixed your mascara,” Edwin complained, stepping in again to fan at her face with his hands like maybe he could dry the tears before they fell.

Crystal hiccuped around a sound that might have been a sob or a laugh, even she wasn’t sure. She threw her arms around both of their necks, drawing Charles and Edwin into a group hug. The bracketed her sides and the flowers crinkled against their backs. She felt their arms settle around her waist, their heads tilted against her own.

“Thanks, you guys,” she said thickly.

“Of course, Crystal,” Edwin whispered back.

“Anytime,” Charles agreed.

[shittalkerxox]

I saw someone in a TikTok comment saying they didn't really think DBD was that great of Queer rep because none of the ships actually ended up together at the end of S1. But here's the thing, Queer rep isn't always about gay couples - it's about the characters, and yeah, the easiest way to show a Queer character is putting them in a queer relationship, but that's not what it's all about.

I found DBD particularly fascinating because the queerness of these characters wasn't the main focus - it's not a romance, it's a teen drama that mainly focuses on character development (as seen with Edwin coming yo terms with his sexuality, Crystal overcoming her experience with her abusive ex, Charles dealing with the trauma of having an abusive parent, and even Niko dealing with contacting her mother and dealing with her father's death) it's about the relationships, but not necessarily in a romantic manner.

Charles and Edwin's relationship is one of the main focuses on the show, and yeah, eventually, they'll end up together, but they first have to get over these obstacles in their own internal lives. Charles has to be able to regulate and deal with his own emotions instead of repressing them, hiding them with humour, and eventually lashing out, and Edwin has to be comfortable in himself before he can be comfortable in a relationship - and they would be true if they were a straight or a gay couple.

Queer representation doesn't need to be the main focus of everything - if this were a romance, then yeah, maybe, but it isn't. I don't think any of the relationships in the show would have changed if they weren't queer and that's what representation is about. It's about breaking down these barriers that separate a gay couple from a straight couple. It's about showing that love isn't defined by a gender or whatever.

And it needs to be realistic. For me, watching shows like Heartstopper (I haven't seen all of it, I read the webcomic like 3 years ago, tho) it felt very surface level because it was almost like every plot point revolved around the characters being queer, and while I love that and think it's great for a younger queer audience (like 13/14) I think shows should focus less on making gay characters and couple to please an audience, and focus more on creating in depth meaningful characters who just so happen to be gay.

Shows like Good Omens, I feel did a great job with dealing with a queer narrative. It's not technically about a queer relationship as the main focus, and yet the audience is still able to pick up on it and catagorise it as queer media.

Is Dead Boy Detectives perfect in this regard? Of course not, no piece of media is perfect, but I do like how they've dealt with it.

People need to realise that shows can have an underlying queer narrative without queerbaiting or specifically stating so. In DBD, characters never state their sexuality because it doesn't matter to the show - not to mention two of the main characters are from periods of time where labels weren't a huge thing, or even known about but we are still able to pick up these context clues that point towards a preference for them.

[majorlb]

The people (me) need to know if you have any new thoughts for band au 💖

Edwin joins Charles when he goes to metal festivals. He might not like all the music, in fact, most of it is just background noise, but he enjoys spending time with Charles.

At first he's a bit worried that people will look at him funny, he doesn't look like someone who'd be at a metal show at all, but instead people are so friendly and kind that he finds himself enjoying it despite the dirt and dust.

He becomes a bit of a celebrity. The posh-looking fellow that walks around with books and makes sure everyone around him has drunk enough water and have their earplugs.

He's usually spotted lounging in the grass, reading, while laying against Charles legs to prop himself up, or standing to the side, with people in a respectful circle around him, holding Charles important things while Charles is in the pit.

He finds people who also enjoy classical music and they have heated discussions about bands and orchestras and conductors. He sips cider and holds Charles hand and never has any fear for what anyone will say, because the one time a drunk old man yelled, "What are you?! GAY?!" and he answered "Yes" the man screamed, in delight, "GOOD FOR YOU!"

(the ones with actual issues about their relationship tend to get knocked on their asses because of the moshpit, not only by Charles, but by others too, who specifically rams straight into them, elbows first, for being haters)

He expects it to become different after the band becomes big, but no. People are still respectful and keep their polite distance, and that's when they even recognize them at all.

Charles on stage and Charles off stage are like two different people.

Both make Edwin extremely happy though.

[aletterinthenameofsanity]

I think the thing that's fueling my Dead Boy Detectives fic series is that almost every major character has had some sort of interesting/unhinged interaction with every other main character. Like beyond the incredibly interesting/fleshed-out relationships between the main four detectives we have examples like:

1) Cat King and Monty forest interaction where the Cat King toys with Monty in order to both protect/play with Edwin

(Which, by the way, the Cat King knew about Monty before the forest scene when he shapeshifted into him by the lighthouse. So, like, did he know what Monty's secret identity was then and just straight up didn't say a word because he felt like it? Or did he figure it out later?)

2) Jenny straight up meeting Charles and Edwin only after being possessed by a demon and literal minutes before her shop gets blown up leading to the iconic "you were about to leave those boys forever now you're going to risk your life to save them" line

3) Jenny only meeting David to sing Belinda Carlisle/threaten him with a meat cleaver and get her SECOND near-death experience

4) Hell, on the meat cleaver POV: first and only time Niko meets the Cat King it's to threaten him with a meat cleaver and clock him for his interactions with Edwin (same goes for Crystal even though it's her second time meeting him)

5) Any scene Charles has one-on-one with Monty plus the bit on the sidewalk where Monty straight-up bypasses him for Edwin and Charles just goes "I was polite, wasn't I?" while the girls are clearing him away for Edwin and Monty to flirt

6) Night Nurse and Kashi. Everything about those interactions are *chef's kiss.*

7) Same goes for Night Nurse and Niko. Their dynamic is so fucking good and leads to the fantastic "reading comprehension" bit.

8) And from a more devastating/angsty POV, the scene with Esther and Monty in episode 5 where Monty feels more like a teenager than any other character in the cast. And as much as Esther is a camp queen in that scene, it's also terrifying because that iron cane is against Monty's chest and she literally ripped him apart episodes before that and she's going to kill him again next episode with that very cane and your brain is just bouncing between laughing at the "it's honestly nbd" line and going on red alert because get the fuck out of there, Monty, you're going to die at her hands-

[demelzathemer]

I'm watching the Doom Patrol episode for the first time ever and LOSING MY MIND, why didn't anyone tell me this is GOOD??? It's written by Steve Yockey and it SHOWS because the dialogue is absolutely the same as in the netflix series

Crystal is so catty and Edwin is fed up with people while Charles mediates, they're the same characters just played by different people?? I'm gonna add some shitty screensnaps here to yell about it

Obviously spoilers if you care about that;

Crystal <3 She looks closer to her comicbook self but has the same amount of sass as her netflix self

I swear I'm so normal about this bit of dialogue. Crystal telling Edwin Charles will protect him (with a baseball bat, mind you, they're in the States!) and their responses, I wish I could see Jayden and George act this part.

(I can hear "I'd do it anyway, won't I?" in Jayden's voice... weeps)

Edwin sassing out little girls again??? I lost it with the pose and voice

WEAK FOR THOSE BIG BROWN EYES

(Jayden's voice again. I know you hear it)

He should've been allowed to drape himself over Edwin like this too. Why would Netflix do this to me

"Love this." EDWIN??? He's way too happy that they're gonna smack their client with a shovel.

And CHARLES (pulls it out without anyone asking, he knows what's going to happen next) HANDS IT TO CRYSTAL so she can be the one doing the smacking???

And she's way too eager as well. What is happening here. Though I love how seamlessly they work as a trio now. Even if it's for the purpose of knocking out their unsuspecting client

"The price to open the door to afterlife is pain, and I'm the only one who can do it."

With the door handle being a BABYDOLL HEAD. With HELL FLAHBACKS. What the actual fuck?

I thought the doll spider was netflix original character??

And Charles immediately being "you don't have to do it, we can find another way in" I might be crying

Charles is afraid of water??? That's CANON?? It has to be, nothing has been changed about the characters so far!

Charles (with red-rimmed eyes): "I'm not scared! Just so you know."

Edwin (lying to make Charles feel better): "We know."

They're so in love. But what do you mean with "I'll make sure he's fine"? What are you gonna do, Edwin? Hold his hand on the boat ride? (They didn't show that part, so that's probably what happened.)

They had ONE episode and they still had to make sure that we know Edwin's gay.

I'm OBSESSED with this line and this repressed version of Edwin, I don't have the words right now but I read someone's brilliant analysis about it. (Pls link if you find it)

"I used to think that, too. But it's not 1916 anymore, you know?"

"Well, I'm not like you. But thanks for the concern."

Edwin, oh my god that is so sad. What makes you think you don't deserve happiness? I need to study him under a microscope

...Then STRAIGHT INTO death flashbacks??? They didn't leave anything out, watching this one episode spoils 7 out of 8 episodes of the netflix series?!

"She's good." Edwin appreciates Crystal! I love that they genuinely are a trio here and the boys know about her quirks like they know each other

Also David lore is unchanged too and Crystal bonding with Dorothy was so sweet

...THE NIGHT NURSE IS HERE TOO?? I thought she was a netflix original character too (Cat King, Tragic Mick and Jenny are, at least?)

AND SHE'S RUTH CONNEL??? ALSO WTF JUST HAPPENED

Her character is pretty different alright, and played very differently by the same actress??? And Charles just WENT FOR IT unprovoked?! Do they know about her in this universe, is she like a monster that's actively hunting them down and can be alerted by killing(?) I literally don't know anymore this is crazy

(Edwin was so cute jumping up and cheering lol. A bit jarring how much more he curses here though)

This is actually an insane episode, the trio with their huge amount of lore just drop in in the middle of already established group of characters and their lore and then, they're never seen again after this??

And they had flashbacks to both of their deaths without explaining ANYTHING about what the hell was that. Just five seconds of "being chased and covered in blood", teasing something about their relationship, Crystal dropping her goal of beating her missing memories out of a demon, no conclusion of wtf was "spider-face lady" aka the Night Nurse, etc etc. They needed their own show really badly huh

So netflix hurry up and give us a second season! After seeing this I'm blown away by the execution of Dead Boy Detectives and how Jayden and George really brought the characters to life. I'm so thankful we have that. Their chemistry really is what makes the show.

[vaguesxrrow]

hiiya!

i was wondering if i could request a Charles Rowland x alive!reader [established relationship] who suddenly develops like supernatural powers and basically just him and the rest of the team helping out figuring out what exactly reader can do and how it works?

love ya and have an amazing day!

HI LOVEEE yes ofc, here u go ! this took a longgg time but thanks for ur patience

charles / superpowers reader

a/n: basically reader develops telekinesis but also with silver swirly whirlies !!

cw's: swearing

tags: gender neutral reader, reader has superpowers

wc: 1820

"motherfucker!" you swore as you tripped - over a tree root, you noted, because charles was always teasing you over the one time you tripped over your own feet.

automatically, you splayed out your hands in front of you to break your fall; your left hand met soft moss, but your right slammed against a small jagged rock, splitting it open slightly.

charles cackled at your misfortune, even as he backtracked to help you up. "you alright?" he asked.

"yeah," you grumbled, wincing a bit at the cut you had obtained on your palm. whatever. you ran your hands over your shirt and pants, ignoring the slight sting. disinfecting it could wait until after you finished this investigation. you were mainly miffed at your fall, and the damage to your pride.

"come on, then - according to the map edwin gave me, the troublesome tree elemental should be just up this w..."

"you with a map?" you scoffed. "that's interesting."

"[name]..." charles said.

"are you sure you're reading that thing right?"

"[name]," he stressed.

"what?" you noticed his eyes were fixed on something behind you. suddenly, the hairs on the back of your neck stood up pin-straight. when you slowly, cautiously, turned to look behind you, you were met with a wide, gaping mouth, and several sharp fangs.

oh. there was the tree elemental.

"RUN!" charles grabbed your hand and yanked you along, the creature just a hair's breadth away and far too close for comfort.

eventually, you came face to face with a tree - splitting you apart from charles momentarily. you reached out to once again gain purchase of his hand, but you were met with empty air. you whipped your head around to look behind you, and your heart dropped. charles was fruitlessly grappling at the floor as he was gradually being dragged away. the elemental had him by the ankles. two roots were wrapped tight nearly up to his knees, and you spotted another snaking along the floor, no doubt to coil around his torso as well.

you swore. there was no time to rally up the others for help - you had to save him now. even if you were woefully unprepared. this was supposed to be a reconnaissance mission, so you had no weapons. you guessed you'd have to make do with sheer willpower.

"HEY!" you barked at the tree. it reared its head towards you, and roared. if you understood elemental language - did they even have one? - you assumed it would be swearing you out. as if taunting you, it raised charles up into the air, swaying him about as if to hurl him across the forest.

"NO!" you cried, reaching out. suddenly, a beam of silver shot out from your palm, hitting the elemental square in the face. it recoiled, wounded. a spiderweb pattern of silver cracks spread from where you had hit it, growing and growing. the creature seemed to be shriveling up as the silver spread, its trunk turning from brown to a rotten shade of grey.

your eyes bulged, and your jaw had dropped to the floor. you only snapped out of your stupor when charles yelped as he fell to the floor with a 'thud', the elemental having let him go.

"oh my god," you muttered as you rushed to his side. "charles, are you hurt?"

he grimaced, letting you help him up. "i'm good," he said. "although... where'd you learn that from?"

"what?"

"the silver sparkly thing!"

you looked down at your hands. they had stopped glowing, and now were for the most part unremarkable; caked in dirt and elemental ashes. the only notable thing was that the cut on your hand had healed, leaving behind a scar that was a bit too shiny to be natural.

"i... i have no clue." you made uneasy eye contact with him. "charles, i don't know." your hushed voice clued him in to your apprehension.

he looked oddly at ease as he took your hands. "well, hey, good thing we're detectives then, yeah? we'll figure it out. and the others will help.”

⌦ --

when you opened the door to jenny's butcher shop, there were no flailing hands or interrogative "what did you find?"s when you entered. charles looked around curiously.

"jenny, where is everyone?" you asked.

she slammed her cleaver down. you were used to her terse demeanor by now, so you just smiled and thanked her when she said, "library."

charles followed you to your room. "you gonna get some rest?" he asked.

you contemplated it for a second. surprisingly, you felt energised, instead of the usual exhaustion you felt after barely escaping with your life. you told charles as much. "i think i'll read for a while," you said. "tell me when the others are back, kay?"

"i'm gonna go fetch them myself." he kissed you on the forehead. "we need to talk about these." he traced the lines on your palms gently.

you laughed softly. "i guess we do."

he squeezed your hands before disappearing through the wall. you sighed. yes, you would read. it would get your mind off things.

perhaps it was just the adrenaline giving you a false sense of energy, because 10 minutes later, your novel was abandoned and you were asleep, face squashed in your pillow.

you startled awake only when crystal, niko, and edwin barged through the door, edwin clearing his throat. as you jolted up, silver light shone from your hand once again, sending the book flying across the room, sailing towards your friends-

and smacked edwin square in the face. it slid off his body and onto the floor with a resonant thud. crystal guffawed, not even bothering to hide her amusement.

"oh my god, edwin, i'm so sorry!" you apologised profusely.

he waved you away. "when charles came to me spinning tales about how you developed... silver swirly powers, i did not believe him. but it appears he was telling the truth."

crystal laughed. "honestly, you hitting edwin in the face was worth carrying all these." she walked over to your bed and dumped out the contents of her bag. 5 volumes poured out, all thick and heavy looking. charles followed next, standing above you and playing with the ends of your hair as you flipped open one of the books.

"so, i'm guessing it's research?" charles asked.

soon, everyone was crowded around your bed. edwin flipped open his notebook. "close. first, [name], if you could recount the events leading up to this manifestation of powers?"

you recounted the events, elbowing charles when he snorted at your mention of falling. "and then, after i hit the elemental with my-" you gestured vaguely. "swirly whirlies, charles very elegantly fell on his ass-"

"it dropped me!" he protested.

"-and that's it. nothing really stood out."

crystal spoke up. "maybe i could... do my thing with your mind."

you shrugged. "sure. maybe i missed something."

crystal moved to put a hand on your shoulder, when charles intercepted her momentarily. "just, be gentle, yeah?"

his concern was cute, but you waved him off. "charles, i'll be fine. crystal, go on."

you allowed charles to intertwine your fingers before you were pulled into your memories.

everything was slowed down, a fuzzy vignette around the edges of the recollection. the green of the forest darkened from the all encompassing night, and then an epithet from your own mouth as you landed on the floor. on a rock - one that shined as it made contact with your palm, glowing so fleetingly you had missed it before.

the cut on your hand also lit up briefly, disappearing just as you wiped them off on the front of your clothes.

the memory stopped when you were pulled back into the present, charles's fingers still linked with yours. he looked to you, the unspoken question of "okay?" in his eyes. you smiled back, nodding in confirmation.

"there was a rock of some kind," crystal began.

"the one i cut my hand on when i fell, yeah," you added. "here's the scar."

"this is curious." edwin leaned in to inspect your palm. "certainly not a standard scar, nor healing process... it must have been magical."

"okay, so i cut my hand on a magic rock. great!" you exclaimed, feeling hysteria beginning to creep into your tone. charles held your hand tighter, grounding you silently.

"perhaps we should conduct some more research-" edwin proposed.

"research? really, edwin?" crystal said. "i say we see what [name] can do."

niko perked up. "training montage!" she squealed.

before you knew it, you were being ushered to the rooftop.

⌦ --

"it's not working."

you twisted your hand again, feeling stupid as you squinted at the coca cola can like it had personally wronged you in some way.

"this is not as badass as in the movies," niko mumbled.

"i think your efforts are very noble," charles told you, turning your chin and guiding you into a kiss.

the soda can exploded.

aside from the spraying of liquid from the can, there was silence for one... two... three beats. and then laughter, from everyone present - even you, giggling at the comedic timing of it all.

charles chuckled too, although you could see he was pleased with himself.

you rolled your eyes. "is it a crime to like my boyfriend now?" you grumbled.

"nah," he assured. "just might have inflated my ego a little bit."

you grinned at each other.

"hey, lovebirds!" crystal called. "you two are cute and all, but can someone help me clean up this spill?"

⌦ --

you and charles sat shoulder to shoulder on the ledge, his arm protectively draped around your shoulders. you could hear niko bustling around behind you, no doubt arranging the new 'training task'. so far, you had successfully decimated five (empty, this time) coke cans - and without smacking any of your friends in the face. your powers seemed to energise you the more you used them, but you didn't even know that for sure. not even with edwin's diligent research (while you were training, he had been reading).

"what's on your mind?" charles pried.

"just thinking," you hummed. "it's weird. having these powers that i don't know much about."

he narrowed his eyes in concern and shifted so he was facing you. you mirrored the action. now, you were sitting face to face, with your knees touching and ankles intertwined.

"i can't imagine how you're feeling right now. i mean, if i suddenly could shoot light beams out of my palms, i'd be pretty terrified," he said. "but i think you're super badass. and if you need anything, i'm here, yeah? it's important to me that you know that."

"i know, charles." you moved in to kiss him, and he met you readily, his hands coming up to your back.

any doubt you had quickly melted away as you relaxed into him. charles was right. you would figure it out.

[cadewitha]

just saw a post that was a pic of Charles and Crystal that said “they’re so lavender marriage core” and like…yeah. I feel like Charles is honestly repressed enough that if he started to feel like maybe his ‘best friend feelings’ for Edwin were going in a different direction, he would immediately run to a woman to, like, sort him out. Almost to prove something, right? It’s like, “Noooo I don’t feel that way, I’m straight! I’ll date a woman to prove it!” This probably would have happened many times in the 30 years that he and Edwin have spent so far, likely without Charles fully realizing what he’s doing until after Edwin’s confession. I bet he wouldn’t do it anymore, mostly to spare Edwin’s feelings, and then be shocked by the depths of his own emotions like “when did this get here??”

Oh, and Crystal likes girls yada yada blah blah blah….Seriously, however, I would suspect that Crystal is a lot more open about herself and her own feelings, including her bi or pan sexuality (I’ve seen theories on both, personally, I haven’t much of an opinion when it comes to labels) but still. Dating Charles to get her mind off of traumatic events seems likely of her, given that she uses a bit of an avoidance tactic. These traumatic events could be David, her parent’s lack of presence and affection, but most likely Niko’s death. That shit would obviously wreck her, and I believe she would begin to understand that the way she felt for Niko might not have been entirely just platonic, which is a terrible realization to have AFTER it’s no use.

This relates back to lavender marriage as a concept, that Charles would date a woman to hide his own sexuality and feelings for a man, although Crystal is more participating for the sake of her emotional wellbeing, and to cover up the bad stuff with something good (a valid mental health tactic). Either way, while not exactly a ‘lavender marriage’ in a miriam-webster sense, I find that the connections are still there, enough for me to want to write about it, I suppose.

Anyways. Woke up and wanted to write a DBD essay, apparently.