#gay sff

[btranmuses]

Executive Intervention

a gay urban fantasy short story

The candles snuffed out, though Sabrina felt no air movement. All but a single flame remained against the sudden darkness, and in the mirror where she should be, stood a man. The meagre illumination from the candle couldn’t penetrate the blackness that shrouded his face, but still its reflection danced as two golden pinpricks where his eyes should be. She swore if she looked at them long enough, they would bear through the back of her skull, scraping clean every ounce of secret she harboured there.

A new City of Mist campaign, another short story! Introducing Liam An, fuccboi, manwhore, executive, mirror teleporter and psychic terroriser. The Group is facing a sudden business disruption threatening one of its subsidiaries, and Liam is here to intervene on behalf of the Board.

I.

Liam thought the new guy was fine. Late thirties or early forties, if the grey temples were any indication. Those tanned fingers were ring-free, and he rocked the grey suit. To anyone else the man would look calm and collected, but not everyone could sense these things like Liam could. Tension radiated from the man like a full-bodied punch, with just a swirl of anxiety for spice; an almost valiant effort at composure.

By fine, Liam meant delectable.

Alani Chauhan, the CEO, finished her typing and looked up from her end of the conference table, to Liam's right. "Mr. Manik, please," she said, as all eyes landed on the new guy. "I'm ready. Let the Group know how Enstern is doing."

Lee Manik, in his grey tailored glory, nodded and moved to the other end of the table. The Glacial Holdings Group logo stopped spinning on the screen wall, turning into Enstern Corporation. The rest of the Board eyed him like hawks, and Liam too, though with a different flavour of hunger. It was, if anything, interesting to see how the new Director was managing the launch of a new supermarket chain.

The man went through his presentation on how Enstern was doing. Liam could sense disappointment rising from those expecting a trainwreck, but from many others, and himself, respect and delight. Enstern was… concerning when Lee assumed the role a few months back, but it looked quite healthy now: finances, resources, strategy, construction, paperwork all on track, and the marketing direction Liam approved with minor adjustments was in good shape.

Before Liam could tune out, though, Lee dropped a bombshell.

"Neopac, Enstern's major logistics partner, is unfortunately indicating their intention to withdraw from the partnership," Lee said with perfect composure, though his anxiety spiked bitter in Liam's mouth. "My team is trying their best to find out what motivated this decision, but progress is slow. Yes, Mr. An?"

Liam lowered his hand. "How about Harkinsons and Pearce?"

"They are still on board with the Enstern launch, but with Neopac's reputation, there is the risk that their withdrawal may have a knock-on effect on the others."

Liam shook his head. "Those two will be glad to take over Neopac's spot, believe me. As long as they commit, the launch will be fine, though I'd rather Neopac stay in line and minimise disruptions." He started composing a message on his phone to his secretary, but not before flashing a smile at Lee, and catching the man double-taking. Jackpot. "Leave them to me, I'll follow up."

"With all due respect, I don't think Mr. An's involvement is necessary at this stage," Paul Thompson objected from opposite Liam at the table, to Ms. Chauhan's right. "Enstern has their own strategy resources, and surely Mr. An has other Glacial responsibilities to attend to."

"I appreciate your concerns, Mr. Thompson," Liam said, "but I disagree. Even though we have a variety of logistic partners, Neopac is involved with other orgs in the Group's portfolio. This is beyond Enstern's scale, and partner management is, indeed, one of my Glacial responsibilities."

"That sounds good, Liam," Ms. Chauhan said, "and the Board agrees with your track record. Please keep us updated next week. Back to you, Lee."

Paul sat back on his chair. No one needed Liam's abilities to know he was fuming, but Liam paid the man no mind. He was busy blasting the full wattage of his smile at the fresh but capable Director at the other end of the room, who, to his delight and satisfaction, stumbled over his words for a second and as the presentation resumed, his eyes kept returning to Liam.

II.

The picture his secretary Elizabeth got of this Eddie character did not do the man justice. The lush brown hair matched the dim golden lights inside the Ornament restaurant in a very flattering way. Liam wondered what it would feel like to run his fingers through them.

The waiter finished pouring their wine, and disappeared with the menus. Eddie cleared his throat. "Sorry. Yeah, I was saying I'm a compliance officer at a logistics company, don't know if you've heard of them. Neopac?"

Yes, Elizabeth was overqualified. If he could Liam would have got her into the International Hall of Heroes to work as his handler, but he didn't have much sway there, not yet. He was stuck with Jamie instead.

Liam raised a practised eyebrow. "Can't say I have. What do they do?"

"Oh, we're working with a new major supermarket! They're going to open in a year, and it's getting really, really busy."

"Enstern?"

"No no no, the other one, their competitor, ha. BNC, but the consumer name is Bunnies. A much friendlier name I think, what even is an Enstern?"

Eddie was right, and Liam agreed with him. Thing was, the Board was too corporate to let go of that name, but water under bridge, et cetera. Instead, Liam smiled. "That sounds exciting indeed. Please, tell me more."

Three hours later, Liam was running his tongue over Eddie's bare neck, who he got pinned against a wall in an executive hotel suite downtown, panting with eyes glazed over. He took Eddie's stubbled jaw in one hand. The man was ready.

Liam bore his gaze deep, deep into those eyes, and asked without uttering a word.

Who is trying to get Neopac away from Glacial?

"Jake Cassidy," Eddie said breathlessly, then shuddered as if waking. "Wait, what did I just say? Oh my god did I say something stupid?"

Liam pressed his rage down his stomach and his thumb into Eddie's mouth, who shivered at once. He couldn't help but at least smiled; the man was just so responsive. He brushed his lips against Eddie's ear and murmured, "Don't you worry a thing."

~~~

III.

Sabrina lit the last of the candles that crowded the bathroom sink. They looked ridiculous under the fluorescent light, but all of this was part of the ritual. She still did not like the idea of turning her back to the mirror, even if only for a second to turn off the light. But the night was long indeed, and she was only delaying the inevitable.

She turned off the light. The golden haze of the candles adorned her reflection, alone in the darkened room. She breathed quietly into the air:

"Mirror Man, Mirror Man. Come to my mirror, Mirror Man."

The candles snuffed out, though Sabrina felt no air movement. All but a single flame remained against the sudden darkness, and in the mirror where she should be, stood a man. The meagre illumination from the candle couldn't penetrate the blackness that shrouded his face, but still its reflection danced as two golden pinpricks where his eyes should be. She swore if she looked at them long enough, they would bear through the back of her skull, scraping clean every ounce of secret she harboured there; so instead Sabrina averted her gaze, down the black suit that fitted him well. Really well actually; the top button was undone, and that ch—

She cleared her throat. "Th-thank you for coming. I've, uh, modified all the reports, presentations, findings, and all paperwork about the deal. As far as internal BNC records go, the Bunnies work has always been awarded to Melinda Associates instead of Neopac."

The Man in the Mirror tilted his head slightly. A voice rumbled, "Who signed them?"

"A Jake Cassidy. He led an internal effort to pivot Neopac away from Enstern to BNC."

"Why?"

"For a big climb up the ladder, looks like. There's a faction in the company raising alarms on how entangled they have become with this company called Glacial. A holding company, from what I've seen. If Cassidy pulls this off, he will have majority support of the board."

The Man in the Mirror stayed still, and Sabrina didn't know what else to say. That was all she had to do on her end, right? Did she miss anything? But he reached out, his hand breaking through the mirror, rippling its surface like a pond harbouring unseen terrors in its depths. A terror she was in the presence of.

His fingers unfurled, palm up. It was a large hand, with thick fingers. Oh. Right. Sabrina placed a memory stick in his hand, and was surprised. She didn't know why she expected cold skin; it was actually warm, and soft. She added in a hurry, "All the documents I found, both original and, um, amended. They're all in this thing."

The Man in the Mirror turned the stick in his hand as if feeling for something, then withdrew it back into the mirror. Seconds later the hand resurfaced; wrapped around his fingers was the unmistakable glint of a silver necklace threading through a double ring, dangling before her.

Sabrina stared at the thing for what felt like a full minute. The Man in the Mirror kept his hand still as she carefully untangled the necklace from his fingers. By the time she managed to secure it at the back of her neck and again feel the ring's familiar coldness burning against her chest, she cried freely.

"You should not have pawned off something like this."

She nodded. There was no justification she did not already tell herself. There was no reason she found acceptable. She would have to live with her mistakes, and—

"Talk to her. She's miserable. Same time, same park."

She snapped her head up, but the light turned back on. The candle had gone out, and in the mirror was Sabrina again, her own face ruined with tears, but her eyes, for the first time in two long, long years, shone with the unfamiliar glint of hope, her heart tripping mad over the promise of a second chance.

IV.

Jake Cassidy didn't know these alleyways, but he had to try. His lungs burned and his legs wanted to give out, but he could not risk stopping.

"You play too many games, Jake. You crossed too many lines."

The voice rang from somewhere behind him, always behind him. Another street light blew out, and Jake yelped. Things moved just beyond the corner of his eyes, but he couldn't see anything clearly, not without slowing down.

"Help maintain a delicate balance of power in exchange for exoneration, Jake. The terms were clear. And yet you tried to take it for yourself. And spat on my mercy."

An explosive cacophony ruptured his ears, and Jake fell on his knees screaming. Street lights, windows, and trashed glassware shattered around him, and in the darkness glass shards rained and rained and kept raining, like a thousand fingers scratching at him for blood, for bone.

Jake all but slammed his head against the pavement, crying. "Please! I've lost my job! I'm sorry! Please, let me go, I swear I won't—"

Flashes of police sirens broke the silent darkness, and Jake felt his heart dropping to a pit.

Cold, cold lips brushed the tip of his ear, and the voice growled. "I am the Shard Reaper. I collect what is due, and no one. Crosses. Me."

~~~

V.

"Neopac has clarified, calling the situation a misunderstanding," Lee said to the silent Board. "We've received official communication reaffirming their commitment to the Enstern project. Thank you very much for your assistance, Mr. An."

Liam returned the smile. Lee looked mighty fine in navy; in fact, Liam had yet to see the man in anything he didn't like. Paul was stewing resentment in his seat as he always did, but the CEO nodded, looking satisfied.

"Always a pleasure to assist the Group, Mr. Manik," Liam said with a smile, always a smile. "I have nothing but confidence in our future."

[kadoore]

It's here!

It's queer!

[bookshelvesandtealeaves]

5 star reads of 2024 ↳ the principle of moments by esmie jikiemi-pearson

[thephooka]

White Noise double update - end of Arc 1!

Start here and click through! | WN on Patreon | @hiveworks

That's that! Check the page description for what's next! Thanks y'all. <3

[innocentlymacabre]

getting to my neglected tag games again ~~ find the word by @njnetails!

answering for The Crescent of Fools and Forgotten Time

Jayce and Lott find themselves in the twisted grasp of Lucille Carmine, one of the most dangerous Overlords of the criminal world, in a fantasy-heist, splicing the thrill of walking the edge of a knife with fantastical malevolence.

mind

(aka it's not their fault they're idiots, your honour)

LOTT PENBROOK MATRON (shuddering): Why does that sound like I’d rather be Lucille’s mind-controlled puppet? JAYCE VAN NYE: Because that’s probably the smart choice to make here. LOTT PENBROOK MATRON: But we’re not going to make it.

blind(ing)

LOTT PENBROOK MATRON (immediately evaporating all intensity from the scene): Look, I’m all for these adventures and all but why in the name of all the stars above and below do we have to get up at the blinding crack of dawn to leave for them? JAYCE VAN NYE: It’s noon, Lott.

find

They find themselves in an underwater palace. Waterspouts churning in place make up the columns and all manner of marine life filters in and out freely. The entire structure moves with the currents of the very lowest points of the ocean, drifting lazily and carrying its occupants with it.

Don't have anything for rewind, unfortunately.

↝✧↝

These are from a feature film, the script for which I've submitted to a competition where the grand prize is the winner's movie being fully funded and produced!! You get a say in who this is and literally all you have to do is read the script and give your honest opinions (psst your honest opinion is that you love my movie).

Lucille Carmine is not one to relinquish her hold on someone once her wicked talons have sunk into them, as Jayce all too painfully learns once more. He’s pulled into her employ again, Lott jumping in after his best friend, tasked - under extreme duress, of course - to retrieve The Liminality Paradox. Previously thought to have been nothing more than a bedtime story, Jayce and Lott find themselves unwillingly heading to The Crescent of Fools and Forgotten Time, right into the heart of The Fool’s domain, a place where time and space lose all meaning, where everything that has ever happened is happening all at once and where nothing ever happens all the same. A place where the ends of the universe could be nothing more than a hop, skip, and a jump away, but the five feet in front of you could stretch out to infinity and beyond. A place where the insane rule sovereign and the sane are grinded to a dust, folded into the ripples of the Crescent. All to steal an artifact of untold power for one of the most dangerous overlords of the criminal world, and to lay even more unchecked power at her feet for her to abuse.

↝✧↝

tagging @author-a-holmes @cloudofbutterflies @zephsthings @ellierenae + an open tag to find sprinkle, cloud, mist, and awash

taglist (ask to be added/removed!):

@caspersgraveyard @zephsthings @mrunmione @madhushaala @cloudofbutterflies

@ozziesdisco @jacqueswriteblrlibrary @whimsy-of-the-stars @at-thezenith @desi-yearning

@orgasming-caterpillar @rodentwrites @athenswrites @merehumsafar @alladdinsanee

@carnocus @sarandipitywrites @eyerinah @lexiklecksi

[gollancz]

Pitched as an exciting gateway science fiction heist novel, “Ocean’s 8” meets Gideon the Ninth (Tor), Hammajang Luck will be released in hardback, e-book and audio in January 2025.

Its synopsis reads: “Eight years in prison changes a person. Particularly when you’re only there because your partner, your best friend, your all-but-sister, sold you down the river. That’s why Edie knows they’ll turn down Angel’s offer of a job. One last big score. A chance to take down the man who put them away: Joyce Atlas. But Edie’s lost too much time with their family. There’s not a question."

Acquired this bad boy in December, have been making memes to restrain myself from SHOUTING ABOUT IT ever since. (Graphic design is my passion)

SO excited to be working with @makana-yama to bring this book to you - it's fun, sexy, chaotic and most of all full of shenanigans in space. Edie is the buff NB chaos bae you always wanted, Angel is the sexy genius who overdresses for every occasion, and the two of them are constantly bullied for being Old by their crew. And then they go a take out Space Elon Musk while kicking ass and taking names.

1000/10, wonderful book.

[meat-loving-meat]

Songmaster is so interesting to me because it’s absolutely DRIPPING with queer desire despite being written by notorious homophobe Orson Scott Card. It was one of those novels I read as a confused tween who was extremely interested in anything queer (but who couldn’t yet understand the source of that fascination), and it truly left twelve-year-old me completely baffled.

I had no idea what to make of it—it was the first novel I read that devoted more than a sentence to the actual act of gay sex, yet at the same time the narrative seemed morally opposed to any kind of sexual desire? Characters who expressed any sexuality at all were often executed, tortured, castrated, and even pushed to suicide. It was violent, it was bleak, and it seemed to revel in exploring the ways that imbalances of power manifest sexually (everything is about sex etc. etc.). At age twelve I kind of just shrugged and moved on with life—some books were just weird—but now I’m really tempted to give it a reread because what the actual fuck was going on in that novel

[remnantglow]

look, i'm not saying david gerrold of "the trouble with tribbles" fame invented selfcest. but i AM saying that his 1973 time travel novella "the man who folded himself" sure is the oldest case of taking 2 instances of the same character and making them kiss that i know of, and i have no idea what to do with that information

[jetwhenitsmidnight]

The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn

Release date: 12 November 2024

Genre: adult science fiction fantasy

Synopsis

Orpheus can't believe it's come to this. After helping his childhood friend conquer the realm by raising an army of hell-beasts, the befuddled dark sorcerer finds himself banished when the price of his magic endangers the palace. Isolated and betrayed, the feared spellcaster isn't exactly thrilled when his irritating and handsome rival keeps stepping between him and certain doom.

Ill at ease in the barren wasteland his powers created, Orpheus slowly warms to the charismatic ex-general's relentless overtures. But as his feelings grow more intense, the former villain struggles with an inconvenient calling towards heroism.

Will dabbling in good deeds get him killed or open the doors to happily ever after?

Review

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

I went into this expecting more villainy, or a more villainous main character, but that's not really what this book is about.

Orpheus, initially appears to be the typical archetype of a villain: sneering, lurking in the shadows etc. But he quickly turns out to be not as villainous as he appears. Through his interactions with Fenrir (love interest) and flashbacks to his childhood, we get to see who he is under his pretense of evilness and how he got to be where he is.

This book is very much about Orpheus going through the process of healing and redemption. The general vibe is pretty angsty, with Orpheus feeling remorse about his actions + struggling with his insecurity. Not to be uncharitable, but I did not resonate with his journey. Maybe it was just my mood when I read this (it was a weird few days for me), because otherwise this is exactly the kind of book I would have loved.

I kind of wish Orpheus did/had done more evil stuff. He never actually did anything truly evil (IMO), so I don't feel like he necessarily had to do much/any redemption. Perhaps this is just me and I feel this way because I'm lacking in morals.

I noticed other reviews saying that Fenrir isn't as well-developed as Orpheus, and I definitely agree. However, I don't think it's necessary for Fenrir to be as fleshed out; Orpheus' story takes precedence here, and as he is, he serves his purpose in the narrative just fine.

One character that I wished get more development is Lore (antagonist). While we do get to see parts of her from Orpheus' childhood, we don't get to see the reasoning for her motivations. And yes, she does explain that she does the things she does because she "wants to", but I would have appreciated more depth from her. I am sort of conflicted, because, yes, not every villain needs a tragic backstory, or a noble reason for their actions, but she just feels very one dimensional.

Overall, a pretty good debut novel. This didn't resonate with me, but I think it will for lots of other readers.

[thisbluespirit]

David Collings's son, Sam Collings, as Tom Wright in Hex (Sky TV 2005).

[fiercynn]

queer short film: "gay werewolves in space"

queer short cuts is a biweekly newsletter where i share queer & trans short film recommendations. i'm featuring some of my favorite films on tumblr because why not

united states | 40 seconds | 2021 | animated narrative short no dialogue

gay werewolves in space, a micro-short created by cora mckenna, with backgrounds by jana ribkina, does exactly what it says on the tin, and it is too cute not to include! It was created for studio meala’s series of meala minis. - deepa's other space-themed queer film recs, including content notes at the end

check out more of creator cora mckenna's work!

[lilareviewsbooks]

okay people someone give me mermaid books, it's impossible that i've read all the good ones out there

[cappuccinoandglitter]

A reminder that I write books. Some of them are even out there for you to read. Currently on Amazon Kindle, Amazon.com: Pike Martell: books, biography, latest update

[dykecadence]

i started the nightrunner series because i wanted some older gay fantasy and its. FINE. but i desperately want some more options

[violetnull]

I've started reading 'the Undying Archive' and I feel the need to talk about it. This book has a lot going on. Spoilers below the read more

'The Undying Archive' is ostensibly mecha sff, but most of it so far (about the first half) is entirely taken up by character stuff, following the protagonist, Sunai, as he navigates life as the chosen of a dead AI god in a nation that hates AI. Which, fair, the AI god that Sunai is the chosen of seems a bit like an all consuming bio-tech monster, something Sunai has some trouble coming to grips with. All of his loved ones, including the two men whom he loves and has loved, are devoted wholly to the god and it's memory, leaving Sunai to deal with his trauma surrounding the god and his sort of "Isaac from the bible" raised-as-a-sacrifice nature on his own. Or at least, he thinks he's on his own. That has been one of my favorite parts of this book: as it introduces more characters that have known him, his own self doubt and self hatred comes into question by me, the reader, even as he refuses to acknowledge that he does in fact enrich the lives of the people he loves, and is not in fact a black hole of destruction and misery as he is so willing to believe. The mecha stuff is also incredibly interesting, with the giant robots in question essentially being the reanimated corpses of other dead AI gods, piloted by people like Sunai, corrupted and chosen in the final death throes of these strange, unknowable machine intelligences.

There is stuff I don't love (the second-person narrative trick has been done better in recent years by others in the "experimental queer sff" track, ie tamsyn did it better), but the world is so fascinating and the characters so compelling that I'm willing to piece together the clunky shifts in perspective to put the whole story together. In particular, I think the part where Sunai is physically incapable of touching the man he loves without forcing them both to relive traumatic and painful memories is going to stick with me for a while. The prose in general is so rich and poignant, it really carries the story when things get messy and/or confusing. I won't lie, I'm also a sucker for gay angst and queernormative sff in general, and with so much of the best of the best in queer sff being dominated by (genuinely amazing and Kind Of Necessary) wlw protagonists and stories, it's really really nice to read a book about a queer man being put into Science Fiction Situations. I am but a bi man craving that sweet sweet mlm romantic angst, after all, and the closest I've gotten with my other favorite books I've read this year has been the wonderfully tragic bisexual political love triangle of Yskander in 'A Memory Called Empire' (honorable mention: 'Cemeteries of Amalo' and everything that Thara Celehar has going on, love that gay elf so much). It definitely won't be supplanting those other titles in the Vio's Faves Folder, but it has definitely earned a place on the list (so far).