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Ok ok but you wanna know the real tea?? I've read several beach fics at this point (which are all awesome btw, y'all are amazing writers) and it's a beloved staple to have Edwin be somehwat scandalised at everyone's beach outfits not to mention all flustered from seeing Charles in swim wear. Which is a Good Trope, don't get me wrong, I love that just as much as the next person

HOWEVER

I think actually it's Charles who should be more shooketh about Edwin in his funky lil edwardian two piece!!

Picture this. The year is 1916. You are 16 year old Edwin Payne with a bunch of repressed gay thoughts. Much unpleasantness happens, you die and get dragged to hell, even more unpleasantness happens, 70 years later you finally manage to claw your way up and suddenly women are allowed to vote. There's been not one but two world wars, several countries you grew up reading about in the news don't exist anymore and mini skirts are a thing now.

All I'm saying is, for all the teasing Edwin gets for "What is a handjob?" and "Crystal's internet", this kid was essentially thrust into a scifi world full of weird shit and gets mostly by via an attitude which can only be paraphrases as "fuck it, this might as well be a thing (maybe ask Charles about it later)". King of adaption, master of radical acceptance.

Charles on the other hand, and I say this with only love in my heart, is at his core a boomer. He was there for every tiny gradual shift from '89 to modern day. Sure, he was dead for most of that time, but that's not really relevant. All I'm saying is, seeing the bbc announce marriage equality was probably a bigger shock to Charles than it was to Edwin. That's a guy who already had to accept he will never fully wrap his head around home television.

Also consider the states of undress they've been exposed to seeing the other in. Edwin was stripped to his underwear in hell and still had his knees and elbows covered. And that was probably a more exposing outfit than he'd ever be comfortable with. His usual casual get up features a sweater vest for crying out loud! Meanwhile you have Charles going full 'ceps out in his undershirt first chance he gets. Edwin either got real cool with a lot of shit real fast or he would have combusted several times over those 30 years.

And yes yes, we've all seen Edwin "Haunted By Gay Thoughts" Payne's mental slideshow of abs n hips close ups after getting one (1) glance at the Cat King's stomach. But to his credit, the man was going through a full blown sexuality crisis at that and has since emerged victorious.

So all I'm saying is. Edwin seeing Charles shirtless at the beach? Probably not even the first time this is happening, a lil flustering for sure but just last week he saw two people making out nasty on the tube so hell if he knows. Charles seeing Edwin's kneecaps and upper arms for the first time? Incredible, show stopping, pride and predjudice 2005 hand flex level of suppressed horniness.

Anyway. I'm writing this fic now and none of y'all can stop me.

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Ok my queue spit this out after I saved it for later, so let me add some nuance here. Because this is a very importand issue, actually.

Of course nobody is prohibited from readin the books they enjoy. Hell, I like me some easily digestible fluff too! Some of my favourite book series are ya (and genuinely great books despite being “easy to read”).

There is something to be said however about limiting yourself to only engaging with that level of difficulty in reading. And before you come at me, I know that many people don't read at all and to many others reading is simply a hobby to unwind after a long day, where they just wanna turn their brain off and have some fun. Which is a totally fair reason to read. BUT. Reading (or more broadly, literacy) will never be just that. You live in an age of (mis)information and you WILL be confronted with texts (speeches, video clips, what have you) that are hard to dissect. Especially the ones that don't seem like it at first glance.

Media literacy is not only about how quickly you can summarise a paragraph or being able to pull quotes to show how maybe a character could be read as queer (although both of those things are a very good indicator of having advanced literacy). It's the VITAL skill of filtering and assesing information presented to you before so you can make an informed choice to internalise or discard it. It's being able to understand the information in the first place by grasping a complex thought presented to you in writing or in a speech because the simple truth is that not all truths are simple.

Media literacy gives you the ability of identifying that someone is trying to make you believe something and parsing why they're doing it by identifying the tools they are using. Which means you also need to know the tools they have at their disposal. It also means being able to connect points brought up before in the same or different texts to see if there is inconstencies or leaps in logic or if the argument someone is making only looks good because they use big words and a sentence structure that “feels” smart, but actually falls apart as soon as you poke at it a little.

Forgive me sounding alarmist, but if you can't read at that level people who have these tools WILL have power over you and you won't even have the tools to notice that they do. Even if people are not actively trying to harm or manipulate you, if you're unable to engage with their ideas you will get left behind in certain vital discussions and that not only feels like shit because everybody gets it but you, but it also again makes you incredibly vulnerable to those who do have bad intentions!

Now does that mean you only get to read Proust from now on? Of course not! I still do believe that a piece of literature can directly and fundamentally change your life. I know it has for me. However, that is a personal opinion and it doesn't mean I can force anyone to engage with deep philosophical manifestos on what it isto be human in this world. And even less that I want to do that, despite me thinking that literally ANYONE could benefit from reading that kind of thing. But you NEED to be able to read complex texts outside of your comfort zone for honest to god survival. I am so fucking serious.

And, hey! The good news is that this is not some secret mystical power you either get blessed with or not. It is a skill you can train, by reading challenging material. Books with more complex sentence structures, more nuanced ideas or arguments. Books that force you to think about them. I hate to say it but the only way to get better at reading is to read. It doesn't have to be fiction but i will be very real with you, I doubt that - if you're putting down a book because it's unreadable to you based on the chosen perspective - you'll be the type to pick up scientific essays or anything like that.

Don't cut yourself off from vital skills by locking your mind in a box. You are capable to handle those more complex texts, and I'd wager you'll even enjoy it once you find your niche (yes! you still get to have preferences!). You just need to give yourself a chance to learn.

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Shout out to emotionally repressed bisexual men and their invaluable services in getting their sos' arses outta there

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small comfort cool down with the boys ft. one of my favourite shots from the show

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!PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGES FOR BETTER QUALITY!

“Do not be ashamed, it is difficult to keep the mind in its place here,” Mnemosyne tells him as she picks up their plates and brings them to the sink. He watches in complete bewilderment as she turns on the water and begins to wash them.  “Are those plates even real?” Charles asks and Mnemosyne laughs.  “No, but I find the act to be calming. Would you like to dry?”

~ To Memory Now I Can't Recall by engineering_madonna on ao3

Notes on the story and the illustration itself under the cut.

THE STORY: I read this fic a little while ago and was utterly enchanted. Just about everything about it resonated with me: the gorgeous writing, Charles as the main character, the mystery around Edwin's amnesia, the amazing character studies. I am not exaggerating when I say that the way this story goes back into and expands on existing canon is something I have never seen before. I laughed, I cried, I was utterly satisfied by the resolution.

Please, do yourself a favour and check it out!

THE ILLUSTRATION: This moment in particular stuck with me. I won't spoil the story, but as soon as I read it I knew I had to draw it. Thank you so much @engineeratheart3 for giving me permission to do so. I had such a blast getting to stretch my wings and going for a full illustration in this style I've never tried. This piece truly was A Process, but I am happy to have tried my hand at interpreting this moment and figuring out all the little details to include (special thanks to @at-heart-a-gentleman @anxiousturtel and everyone else who replied to my post a couple weaks ago when I was asking for ideas for drawings to feature here!) I included two versions, one whose colouring is a little closer to my more moody, original sketch and one where I leaned into the dreamy vibe a little more. Do let me know which one is your favourite!!

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@majorlb You are so fucking correct omg

How would Edwin know what consists Normal Friendship Behaviour in the 90s?? Not to shamlessly quote myself like a douchbag but I'm gonna do it anyway bc why paraphrase a point ive already made "this kid was essentially thrust into a scifi world full of weird shit and gets mostly by via an attitude which can only be paraphrased as 'fuck it, this might as well be a thing'" He truly has to be king of adaption, master of radical acceptance and he trusts Charles completely. If that is how his best friend behaves then that HAS TO BE how best friends behave nowadays. And sure to Edwin two people staring into each other's eyes in close proximity inching closer and closer until their noses almost brush feels like a prelude to kissing so that surely feels peculiar but it's not like Charles ever actually kissed him so obviously this is just an activity best friends like to engage in during this day and age (though he has to break eye contact at some point lest he become too flustered by his antiquated associations).

Also hell if Charles knows what was acceptable for British upperclass couples in the 1910s??? Maybe Edwin thinks it unseemely to publicise their relationship to every rando they run into? Maybe he simply wants to wait till marriage to do physical stuff (cue the comedy of errors when Charles tries to research ghost marriage or float the idea)? Maybe Edwin just doesn't do that kind of stuff?

"didn't know they were dating even though they're sleeping together" this

"didn't know they were dating for the past 6 months" that

HOW ABOUT

Didn't know they were dating for the past 20 years, they're not sleeping together, they've never even kissed!

Charles says "I love you" first after 7 years together, he means it as In Love, and when Edwin doesn't even hesitate and says it back, he thinks they're together now.

He introduces Edwin as his partner, because boyfriend sounds silly.

They don't kiss, because Edwin is weird about touch and also said he doesn't miss kissing.

But Charles holds his hand any chance he gets, he hugs him often and they cuddle on the couch and they say I love you often.

He doesn't flirt with others, but he's friendly!!

IMAGINE THE MISCOMMUNICATION

the ANGST

the WORRY

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN MONTY KISSED YOU?!"

"I love you too, can we go now?"

"As more than a friend, I'm afraid"

"?!?!?!??!?? yes? me too??? wait-"

"what?"

"WHAT?!"

*demonic screeching*

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Now that it's (presumably) trauma bleached forever, I think Niko should get to dye her hair all those adorable pastel colours she has probably dreamt about. As a treat.

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Ever wondered why Edwin and Charles didn't just put Crystal in the bag-of-tricks to travel to Port Townsend?

____ (430 words)____

This is all just a big misunderstanding, Edwin is certain of it. If she just listened for a moment surely even this insolent –

“Nuh-uh, no way. For the last time, I am not getting into that thing.” Crystal steps back from where Charles is still crouched on the floor of their office, holding open his back-of-tricks.

“I assure you, it is perfectly safe.”

“No way!”

Edwin places his palms together, fighting very hard to keep his voice level.

“Crystal. You are the one who is insisting we go to help that living girl in the first place. It is going to take days if we travel there by the ways of the living, days she might not have. And since you don’t appear to have a pass port…”

“Well, I’m not gonna be able to help Becky when I’m dead!” She looks at Charles. “No offence.” He shrugs.

“You are not going to die,” Edwin insists.

“Oh yeah and how exactly do you know that? Ever stuffed anything alive in there?”

“I did actually, in the early aughts,” Charles pipes up.

“Quite. And all the chickens emerged perfectly sound.”

“Chickens? You put a flock of chickens in your backpack?”

Charles pulls up his shoulders again. “Just the six. But we put them in a box so it wasn’t like they were fluttering around or anything.”

“And they all lived long, fulfilled lives after?”

“Yeah! I mean, until that alb got them, but that was an accident. Not our fault, was it? That thing came out of nowhere.”

“An accident,” Crystal deadpans.

“The point of the matter is that they went into the bag alive and healthy and emerged just the same,” Edwin presses out. “The rest is irrelevant.”

“I really think you’re gonna be okay, Crystal. I’ve kept lit fireworks in here and they were fine!”

“Oh you think I’m gonna be okay? In your bag full of active explosives?”

“Oi, it’s not like there are any in there now! That was a spontaneous short term thing!”

“Did you mirror travel with them?” Neither responds. Crystal huffs. “And the chickens?”

“Well. No,” Edwin finally admits.

“Ended up scaling those bloody flood lights all by myself didn’t I.”

Crystal crosses her arms. “No deal.”

“For crying out loud, woman, just get in the bag!”

“Like fuck I will!”

“I don’t think she’s going to go in the bag, mate.”

“I’m not going in the bag.”

“Fine then, have it your way.” Edwin throws up his hands, turning on his heels and storming past Charles. “You did this to us!”

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Hey everyone remember this?

It's up now

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tysm for the tag @idliketobeatree this was fun (I need more tiers tho adjhfads) !!

I am super late to this party so idk who's been tagged yet but, if you like:

@edmcmayonnaise @ouch-my-ghost-skin @majorlb @ghostofthegallows

Woo! ❤️

Tagging @sasakisniko @honorarypines @edwardianedwin @ingridmatthews @tiredandoptimistic and @tragedy-machine to do this (click the link!)

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Has anyone adressed that Clue(do) is not playable as a two person game? Because it is not.

Why is the closet of a two person agency stuffed full with editions of a game they can't even play? Do they just like to collect them? Are they part of a supernatural board game circle? Do they play by their absolute insane made up house rules, that will set off any of the new agency members just trying to play a normal fucking game with them??

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Crystal: This girl is alive! We must go to America and find her immediately!!!! Everybody else with pressing, potentially existence threatening issues in that pile of mail:

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someone: one or two sentence comment on how they liked my story and they hope I have a nice day me, grabbing them by the shoulders: I will lay down my life for you

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU) Additional Tags: Established Relationship, ghost lore, Brief Non-Explicit Discussion of Sex, Kissing, Charles Has a Hard Time Being Dead, So Does Edwin Actually But Not As Much, Light Angst, Hopeful/ Positive Ending, Figuring Out Ghost-Relationships / Intimacy, Fluff, Bisexual Charles Rowland (DCU), Mild Hurt/Comfort, as well i guess Series: Part 1 of An Exploration of Touch Summary:

Ghosts do not experience touch the way the living do, a fact Edwin Payne has been both aware of and mostly indifferent towards for decades. But as his relationship with Charles shifts, so does his outlook on such things. A quiet evening back at the office, back at their tentative dance of figuring out what they get to have of this new form of being together. It's not easy being sixteen and dead sometimes.

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I just realised I never made a proper post for this one so just to keep things nice and organised when part II goes up here we go.

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I will never grow tired of Charles excitedly spewing absolute word vomit cascades of exposition at Crystal at the slightest prompt. He's so eager to include her and so incredibly happy he gets to talk to someone else their age and share all the cool fun facts with someone outside their little two person circle of ghosts (who obviously know this by default) and it's so endearing to me.

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Hey, I saw your post about the beach episode stuff, and you mentioned writing a fic. Do you have an ao3?

Hi, I'm so happy you hear you liked my idea! I do have an account but it's been lying dormant for a significant time so I'm busy dusting it off atm. I will definitely post here though, once the fic does go up, and tag the people who have asked for it.

Right now I gotta finish this baby first though. I'm also editing the first part of another story (also DBDA) that I had started before the beach episode and while switching back and forth is definitely the right thing for me atm, it does mean slower progress on the individual fics.