#rambles: dead boy detectives

[pippin-katz]

Voices We Don’t Hear

I was thinking about the scene in the cell down in Hell and wondering why it makes my heart clench so much even after having watched it so many times at this point, and I figured it out! It also led me noticing something in another scene that sticks out when it shows up. It’s the scene in the forest with Edwin and the Cat King.

It’s two lines of dialogue that I’m referring to: “This is all you are. Do you understand?” - Edwin from Ep. 6 “Hey, hey… let’s get you out of here.” - Charles from Ep. 7

These two lines have rare emotional tones for each of them. That sentence is a really bad way to say it, but I'll try to explain it.

We don't hear Charles speak in a soft voice often. He whispers down there in Hell and in Esther's kitchen, but I can't think of any other moments where Charles actually whispers. And there's something different about his voice in that line specifically. Because even though he's whispering, his voice is very clear and not breathy. With full whispering, the person's voice gets mostly obscured by that weird static-like/screen-filter that comes from talking that quietly, like Edwin's voice. (I have no idea how to describe what I'm talking about, but hopefully that's enough for you to understand lol)

So, even when Charles is speaking softly, it's not as quietly as he can. That line in particular is right after Edwin tells him what the demon does to him, and it's softer than all the others. And it's obvious why.

This is without a doubt the first time Charles has ever seen him like this: crying, small, scared, and so unlike himself. It's already heartbreaking. Then Edwin tells him about his torture, and he breaks down crying after managing to keep his most of his composure before.

If you look closely, Charles blinks a few times fast before he turns and cups Edwin's face. It's so dark and the lighting is so strange, but his eyes are shinier than they were previously. He forces himself to keep his focus on the task and being strong for Edwin, but he looks like he wants to cry.

Then he says that line so gently, so delicately while looking directly into his eyes while he holds his head between his hands. Charles voice is softer and a tiny bit strained from keeping his emotions in check.

It's the softest, most loving, and gentle moment of Charles in the entire show.

On the flipside, the line Edwin says to the Cat King is similar. Edwin definitely gets angry, frustrated, etc. and shouts and yells. But all of the people he yells at are people he has personal connections with, and the root of his distress comes from himself.

He yells at Crystal because he's having an anxiety attack after all the rapid changes to their routine, and bickers back and forth with her, but it's never truly malicious. He’s angry, but more importantly, he’s hurt. Crystal’s seeming lack of understanding of the weight of the importance is reminding him of how little people care. He snaps at Simon in Hell, but within minutes he calms down, recognizing how genuinely remorseful and ignorant Simon had been. He yells at Charles in a sort of angry-loving way on the staircase in Hell; he's not actually angry with him.

But in the forest, Edwin finds out that the boy he's been seeing and making friends with has been the familiar of the witch who wants to destroy them in disguise, and was pretending for at least some of their relationship. He also learns of all this because the Cat King exposes him rather than Monty confessing. He's hurt and angry, and then the Cat King pulls the "you owe me card" to try and get Edwin to kiss him even after all of the times he's rejected him.

He tells him off and goes to leave, but the comment the Cat King makes about dismissing him makes him turn around immediately. The way Edwin gets close to him, invading his space like he's done to him multiple times, and shoves the bracelet in front of his face.

There's real venom in his voice when he says the line. It's rough, gravelly, and it's obvious that Edwin has truly run out of patience for the Cat King's antics.

It is truly the angriest we see him in the show, at least from a standpoint of genuine anger toward someone he considers an adversary of some kind.

Edwin has no real relationship with the Cat King; he's basically his warden, the person who has trapped him in this town, and then treats him like he owns him. Given that it was a matter of diplomacy and caused by an error he made, he allowed the Cat King to have his fun to some extent, but in that forest, when he's just found out his new friend is actually a crow and there's a massive, ghost-eating mushroom monster threatening his and Charles' existence, he could not give less of a fuck about playing nice. He's frustrated and upset and stressed about so many different things all at once, and then this smug cat guy, who seems to think they're something more than a captor and his captive, has the audacity to say that Edwin owes him? Yeah, bye bitch! He is done.

I want to hear more of both of these versions of the two of them. I want to hear Edwin rip into an enemy, voice dripping with malice. I want to hear Charles comfort and reassure him (or anyone, but preferably Edwin) with that soft voice that is cherishing and gentle, treating him like something delicate that deserves to be handled with care after the universe has quite literally ripped him apart and crushed him.

(ko-fi)

[pippin-katz]

Seriously, he might not realize his own feelings yet, but Edwin being in love with him is like, the best thing ever once they get out of Hell. And Edwin apologizing but he doesn’t even get to finish his sentence.

I think it’s probably to do with his self image and feeling like he doesn’t deserve love/is unlovable, cause you just know he’s got that self hatred going on.

But Edwin is, you know, Edwin, and he is in love with him? The best person he knows, the most important person in the world to him, who notoriously isn’t good with other people but stayed with him and made him feel safe as he died, and the most brilliant person he’s ever met? Someone that gentle and elegant? That person is in love with him? A rebellious and rough guy with anger issues?

I can’t think of anything that could be more comforting or uplifting for someone like him.

(ko-fi)

the face of a boy being so totally normal about his platonic bro best mate confessing his undying romantic love for him on the stairs of hell not a few hours prior

he is seconds away from kicking his feet and twirling his hair I'm so serious

[pippin-katz]

Edwin's Smile

I don't think any of you understand how desperately I need more flashbacks, or entire flashback episodes. This is a necessity.

Edwin doesn't smile with his teeth. He just doesn't.

Except for when he sees Charles in hell and when they realize they don't have to run anymore.

But at the beginning of the show, he smiles and laughs showing teeth multiple times. If you pay attention, Edwin is so much more animated in those first few minutes of the show, prior to meeting Crystal.

He's so comfortable and happy around Charles. He doesn't mask, at all; he allows himself to express his emotions freely. Even after he becomes friendly and comfortable with Crystal, and connects really well with Niko, he never looks like this again.

Too much has changed, too much is happening, and he can't seem to allow himself to relax enough to laugh or smile the way he does with Charles at the start.

I need to see more of Edwin prior to Crystal's arrival. I need to see him and Charles bantering, having fun, and generally enjoying solving cases together. Show me the Edwin who was Charles' best mate for 30 years.

Note: This is in no way slandering Crystal by the way. Don't be commenting/reblogging/tagging any Crystal hate on this post. To quote John Mulaney, Crystal is a bitch, and I like her so much.

(ko-fi)

[pippin-katz]

do you think about how charles looks at edwin first and so much sooner before their hug in the last episode because edwin's safety and freedom is far more important than his own on a daily basis or are you normal?

[pippin-katz]

I think one of my absolute favorite things about this fandom is that we all saw the confession scene and said: ThUmBS oN CoLLaRBonEs

[pippin-katz]

This same boy says he's not very good with other people immediately after Charles dies and suggests staying with him. Sweetie, you're unconventional according to society's neurotypical standards, but you are not bad with people.

This scene destroys me every time, but one incredible detail that I haven't seen anybody mention is the position of the bedding.

In the first shot, when Edwin arrives, we can see that Charles has taken one mattress and one blanket to huddle in the corner with them.

In the final shot, all of the bedding has been rearranged on the floor to make Charles' little blanket nest as Edwin reads to him.

But Charles spends the entirety of these scenes growing weaker with each passing shot. He's sitting upright and shivering, then leaning against the shelves and shivering, then leaning hard on a table and coughing as the internal damage starts to catch up to him, then leaning much harder on the shelves after the shivering has stopped (a bad sign when someone is hypothermic), then leaning so far down he's near reclined, then finally lying flat on the floor amidst the bedding.

My point is, by the time that final scene comes around, Charles doesn't have the strength left to have moved the bedding for himself anymore.

That was Edwin. Edwin sat with this dying boy, and brought him light, and made him laugh. And when the end was near, he made him a blanket nest on the floor, so that he could die in comfort while someone read him off to sleep.

[writerofstuff]

Dead Boy Detectives was surprising.

It surprised me when, instead of Crystal dropping in and fracturing Charles and Edwin's thirty years of friendship, they went with Crystal sinking into the fold of Charles and Edwin's friendship and becoming an important and unique addition to the group.

It surprised me when, instead of Gay Boy Pining Over Straight Best Friend, they went with Gay Boy Realises Feelings For Straight Best Friend And Confesses Almost Immediately with a bonus of Straight Boy Accepts Confession With Surprising Grace And Nothing Changes, Not Really.

It surprised me when, instead of making the female characters repetitive and semi-rational and ultimately less powerful, they went with characters who are smart and selfish and kind and cruel and strong and flawed and oh, they happen to be female too.

It surprised me when Charles liking Crystal did not affect one bit of how much he loved Edwin.

It surprised me when Jenny talked about spinsters with cats and Niko did not bat an eye.

It surprised me with Edwin and Niko. It surprised me with, we have forever to figure the rest out. It surprised me with Crystal's kindness, Jenny's empathy, the casual and absolute, the good you do will come back around.

Dead Boy Detectives was surprising. One day, I hope I can sit back and watch another show and none of this has to be surprising anymore.

[pippin-katz]

You ever just be existing, then remember that-

Charles Rowland and Edwin Payne, two sixteen-year-old ghost boys who both come from eras where physical intimacy of any kind between males was very frowned upon, enjoy dancing, with each other, in their free time…

…and then you’re just like, not okay?

(ko-fi)

[edwinisms]

the way that charles seems to be walking on air, schoolgirl-level giddy in the scenes after edwin’s confession instead of awkward or distant. the way he seems soooooo satisfied after all these bouts of jealousy over other guys edwin’s been entangled with because out of all those options he’s the one edwin chose. the way he responds ‘it didn’t’ without needing to think about it for a single second when edwin expresses his fear that he’s made him uncomfortable by confessing. the way he’s flirting with him by the end of the finale, teasing about how charming his smile is to the guy who he knows very well has been charmed by him. charles rowland you are not subtle

[pippin-katz]

I was actually planning to point this out at some point! I feel like Charles is way more bothered by death/violence than he lets on. Or perhaps he was feeling extra sensitive. I mean, he just watched a guy butcher his family on repeat, and shoot himself in the head, but averts his eyes when a woman falls into the ocean? That's one of the least violent ways to watch someone die. You don't even see them hit the water.

I find it interesting too! 🤔

I noticed that in ep 4, when they watch the woman jump off the lighthouse, edwin and crystal have a similar reaction and niko and charles have a similar reaction. what does it mean? idk I just think it's interesting

[wiredust]

so if charles and edwin name all their cases ("the case of the shrieking doll", etc) then things like "the great chewing gum debacle of '06" aren't even real cases it's just things they did or happened to them that they decided to name and remember to the end of time.

that's just so funny to me like imagine they get stuck in a haunted house and it's not part of a case so they call it "the haunted manor escape of '96" which of course is different to "the case of the haunted manor."

how do they remember all of these?? does edwin keep notes on all their little adventures even if it's not officially a case ??

[pippin-katz]

you know, whenever i think about whether payneland should stay friends or become lovers, i just remember that jayden revri has several love songs on his playlist for charles, and who am i to argue with the man himself?

[technically-human]

Hey, don't cry. Ghost yuri, okay?

(Now that you know the girls, they need to meet the boys!)

[pippin-katz]

I don’t think we talk about that line enough.

Charles always has a bit of a "cool guy" vibe, or at least tries to. It's part of his need for validation, for people to like him. The use of "rescue" makes him sound like a knight in shining armor. It makes sense for him to use that phrase if he was trying to be cool/charismatic, but it's only Edwin there. He doesn't need to do that.

But he does use that phrase, and it feels completely sincere. He could have said he was there to get him out, like he says to the Night Nurse. "First, let me get him."

But no, he says, declares that he's there to rescue him. It feels inherently more meaningful, and if I'm being honest, more romantic. And the sincerity gives me the impression that he doesn't even realize he's doing it.

I’m here to rescue you. 🕯️

[edwinisms]

I wanna see edwin stubbornly avoid a conversation or an argument by deciding to literally sink through the floor into the room below. now THAT’s how you get the final word

[emi-the-gremlin]

My favorite post confession Edwin, is the one that’s happy and comfortable with their relationship, and therefore uses his newfound understanding/acceptance of himself, to ruthlessly and shamelessly fluster Charles any chance he gets.