#teddy byrne

[gabe-moore]

Drink with me | Teddy & Gabe

Where: Outside the Shard When: after sunset Who: closed for @teddy-byrne

The Shard towered above him like Barad-Dur with the Eye of Sauron on top. Even though it held the person Gabe desired most to see, he couldn't make himself go inside. Somehow, once again, a building filled with vampires had a repulsing effect on him. All he could see was the Lunar festival potluck, and the humans with bunny costumes that had been offered for the vampire guests. He hadn't mentioned anything at the time, but the realisation of why they were there had really spoiled the party for him. He didn't blame the hosts, of course, but somehow felt that the werewolves were part of the problem. Compared to all of them, Gabe was just a change of clothes away from being a snack.

He stayed across the street from the Shard and sent away a text to Teddy, hoping he was available.

Are you up for a drink tonight? I'm outside the big S.

"Hey, handsome, what are you doing out here alone? Waiting for an invitation?" A silky voice, surrounded by a choir of giggles, came his way. A vampire duo, with a young woman tailing behind them, quickly surrounded Gabe. "Why don't you come with us?" asked one of the vampires, all smiles and hungry eyes.

Gabe swallowed and stepped back against the wall. He wasn't wearing his uniform, and he still had a pale scar on his neck, that's what made them so bold. "Thank you, but I'm going to have to decline the offer," Gabe said with forced calm, "I'm waiting for someone." And he hoped he wouldn't have to wait too long.

[gabe-moore]

@teddy-byrne

I love soulmates but also this-

[thestarlightforge]

Friendly, good natured reminder to the lesbians, as it looks like tonight will be a Wiccan backstory episode.

I love you, I’m with you, and Agatha x Rio will get their turn.

But Billy is a big deal, he’s headlined Marvel Pride literally every year since its inception, and it was horrific what Multiverse of Madness did to him (going from the “love is for souls not bodies” WandaVision ethos to “two of Marvel’s only queer characters exist exclusively in the imagination of the mentally ill woman we’ve now decided is homicidal and suicidal” 🙃).

He needs this moment. Wiccan x Hulkling (Wiccling), Marvel Pride & yes, Wanda—who was also blatantly character assassinated—they need this moment.

Before Jac Schaeffer has to hand them off to another writer (again).

We shouldn’t be in this position: Where Jac Schaeffer has to join the likes of Allan Heinberg, Anthony Oliveira, Tom King and Steve Orlando as Wanda’s cleanup writer in the MCU—battling Michael Waldron and Sam Raimi the way they have long done battle with misogynistic comics writers, like John Byrne and Brian Michael Bendis. Her colleagues should’ve treated WandaVision as the precious gift it was, not left her an editorial mess to clean up.

But this is where we are. Billy, Tommy & Wanda didn’t deserve to be discarded—they deserved proud legacies as representation for the women, people with mental health struggles, and queer youth who look up to them. So she’s fixing it. Then, she’ll get to the lesbians. Have a little faith and

Let her cook.

(And enjoy watching one of my all-time favorite characters step into his own!! Wiccan is a Gem 😊💙 & he supports the lesbians as much as you do, trust, lol.)

[jareckiworld]

John Patrick Byrne (1940-2023) — Underwood Lane [acrylic, gouache and pencil, on board, ca. 2010]

[nerds-yearbook]

In 1914, it was 15 years after the invasion of Mars and as Mars neared Earth again in its orbit the Earth had been preparing itself against a follow up attack. Dr Tesla believed he was detecting coded messages which could have been a prelude to a new invasion. ARES (Allied Resistance Earth Squadrons) which formed after the last invasion, had a new arsenal based on Martian technology which included “walkers” powered by steam and armed with missles,88 mm cannons, and heat rays, bi-planes armed with heat rays, and massive armored blimps ("War of the Worlds: Goliath", flm)

[louisnotjack]

Louis had heard of the Shadow & Spirit recently, another conversation with someone that he had met so when Teddy mentioned the place he couldn't help the curiosity. He downed the remainder of the coffee, it had cooled down to a drinkable temp that didn't burn the fuck out of his mouth. "I've heard of it, can't say I've been there though. I, at least not that I can remember." He chuckled a little, "I'd be willing to check it out maybe it'll become my new spot to go."

Teddy was glad that he did not have to wait look for a decision. It was not like he was in any rush but he liked to see his plan working. "Perfect. And sure, you do that-" There were many places he could take the male to. The shard would be too bold. The bunny? Far too risky. They could go anywhere outside of Klin, even if that might raise some eyebrows. In the end, he settled for somewhere not too far. "Shadow & Spirit. It's a nice spot, or so I am told. What's a place you usually go to?"

[keytaryourheart]

ED BYRNE WAS SO FUCKING UNBELIEVABLY GOOD. I AM NOT THE SAME MAN I WAS WHEN I WALKED THROUGH THOSE DOORS. MY BRAIN CHEMISTRY HAS BEEN ALTERED. I FEEL LIKE I JUST THREW UP. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN PUNCHED IN THE FACE. I FEEL LIKE IVE BEEN DOUSED IN BALSAMIC VINEGAR. WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT.

[deathmybride]

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ the earth from a distance | andrew hozier-byrne *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

ship: andrew hozier-byrne x fem!oc

warnings: references to death, alienation

summary: Gráinne moved to Dunbur to escape her past, to live quietly and write, and wallow in all the grief she had acquired. Andrew has other ideas…

word count: 3663

a/n: dedicated to my beloved @ath3nasgard3n who came with me to see bogfather in concert and held me while I SOBBED to Abstract (Psychopomp), even though she had never listened to hozier before that night.

Also, the setting for this fic is the Old Wicklow Head Lighthouse in Dunbur, which is now a BnB that you can stay in.

How to pronounce Gráinne and Máire

It began, as all good love stories should, with the death of a stranger. This time, it was the old lady who lived in the disused lighthouse by the battered shore, dying as the leaves turned to copper. I had lived in Dunbur for almost a year by that time, I never saw the heather part for any cars that might wind along the gravel path to the sea- but, then again, I was not watching for them. Either way, Lady, my poor MX5 was not built for such terrain and I could feel the scrub catching in sods under her chassis all the way down to the grass flat that had been designated as parking.

My gumboots squelched on the sopping turf as I hopped out, squinting at the pallid sun that tried so hard to reach me through the permanent duvet of cloud. It was a nice day by County Wicklow standards, no rain, minimal mist, and nearly, nearly sunny. The only reason to rug up was the damn wind billowing off the sea. I caught a gaggle of county gents eyeing Lady with appraisal while their wives loaded their cars with salvaged kitsch.

“She’s a beauty.” Mr Mulligan, the butcher- the most confident of the group- spoke up, peering out from beneath his tweed flat-cap with a face far too chipper for an estate sale.

“Ta.” I nod in thanks. “She’s old enough to order a pint.”

“What year?”

“‘99.”

“Ah, excellent year.” He said. I supposed it would be true if cars were like wine. “You’re a fine driver to get her up the back ass of nowhere, o’er all this shite.”

“Ta, just dumb luck, I reckon.” I moved to step away, but he cut in closer.

“We got ‘em lil’ cutlets in at the shop, I know they’re your favourite.”

“Ah, ya can’t fuckin’ get a word outta this one without him sellin’ ya some gobshite.” Mr Ronan, the newsagent spoke up with a roll of his eyes.

“Ahh, rev up ya bastard!” He aimed a light smack at his friend, and soon they were in playful fighting stances.

I took their rough-housing as my cue to retreat, finding their high spirits quite macabre and feeling grateful that the old lady’s family could not see them over the shallow rise.

The sale itself took place over the hillock and down in a scoop of grass a little ways away from the lighthouse. The townsfolk picked over fold-out camping tables laden with knickknacks and books, and a sparse supply of farm equipment and furniture on tarps nearby. I resolved to steer clear of there since Lady wasn’t known for her boot space, and I did not feel like calling in a favour from someone with an appropriate vehicle for the countryside. There was a dull hum of conversation hanging over the scene, and as I approached I must have murmured ‘hello’ and forced a smile for half a dozen of my regular customers. A few young men in black coats seemed to be dealing with the sales; grandsons of the deceased, I assumed.

I started with the books, finding a Folio Society copy of The Divine Comedy for a relative bargain,and- to my surprise- a few of Anne Rice’s Christian novels. I had little luck with anything else and was about to give up and go home, but something more caught my eye. It was a teddy bear with fur like lush, green grass. It had a curious face, with dark eyes and wide, brown nose that matched the brown on its paw-pads. Around its neck were four bells on a chain, each a different autumnal shade. Immediately taken by him, and spying a toddler staring at him with hungry eyes and grubby hands, I decided I couldn’t live without him and snaffled him up. The bells jingled pleasantly, and the fur was silky in my hands.

“Alright?” Someone sidled in beside me- Sue- the dumpy older woman who worked at the dingy smoke-and-gun shop down the street from the cafe where I worked.

“Hi.”

“Quer’n windy out, ain’t it?” Her eye contact was intense and probing.

“Aye.” I kept it brief. Once you got her talking, she wasn’t likely to stop.

“Cute.” She pointed to the bear, raising her brows. Her curiosity read phoney. “Bairns at home?”

“No. He’s for me.” I giggled in embarrassment, but she did not appear to be listening.

“Look at all this shite, would ya?” She picked up an admittedly hideous angelfish paperweight made of blue glass, sneering. “Hard to imagine such a proper woman would fill her gaff with this much cheap junk.”

“Mm.”

“You couldn’t move in that place for all the stuff.”

“You been in there, then?” Shit, she’s got me asking questions...

“Well,” She fiddled with her straw-blonde pageboy hair, suddenly self-conscious. “No, but you know that’s what its like, I mean look at it all.”

“Mmhm.”

“You know, I sold her fags.” She lifted her chin, prideful, yet almost disapproving. “Seven packs, each week on a Tuesday.”

“Maybe that’s what got her.”

I regretted the words as soon as they escaped my mouth, smiled tightly at her aghast expression and made a run for one of the young men dressed in black. This was a sad town, I reminded myself. A sad town, with sad gossip, and sad old ladies who die alone in bleak, majestic places full of items haunted by memory. What do I care if Sue starts spreading rumours?

The man served me quickly, seeming distracted. I wished him well and expressed sorrow for his loss. He thanked me in a robotic way, as if this were the hundredth time he was hearing those sentiments that day, and gave me a paper bag for my books. I took my cue to leave, hiking up over the rise to my car. As I went, my eyes strayed to the lighthouse. It burst up from the earth like the trunk of an enormous tree, though it lacked the natural curvature of wood, instead taking the form of an eight-sided prism. Ringed around the top was a deck with a railing just visible from such a distance. My feet slowed, suddenly intrigued by the memory held within the stones. I cast about a furtive glance. Nobody around, and all the patrons out of sight behind the slope. A closer look couldn’t hurt anyone, could it? Without another thought, I made a break for it, trying to walk swiftly without appearing to be hurrying in case the eyes I felt boring into me were not just a figment of my active imagination.

The gorse and heather grew all the way up to the base of the structure, which stretched high up above me in six tapering sections. I tilted my head back, I shielding my eyes against the glare. It was so tall, yet not even the domed top could scratch at the clouds. It was too windy to see the mist settle low enough to swallow the top, yet the idea of such a sight was glorious in my mind’s eye, like a tower from a fable. I wandered around the base, picking my way across the brush, until I came to the door. It was enormous and fortified, and appeared to be locked. I pushed on it hard, expecting nothing, but it swung in with a creak and a great feeling of resistance.

The surprise drew a gasp from my lips as I slipped inside. The inside seemed tiny in comparison, with low ceilings yellowed by years of indoor smoking. The inner walls were rounded, rough with crackled plaster and faded yellow wallpaper hanging off in sloughs. The air smelt of mildew and damp, and I noticed that the window at the rear was open in an attempt to flush out the smell. I crept over, laying my feet lightly. There was a book laying face down on the sill and a pair of reading glasses folded beside them. A chill ran over me at the realisation that these people may still be using this space.

Get out of here Gráinne, what the hell are you doing? I scolded myself internally as I abandoned my package of books and made a beeline for the stairs. You stupid woman, they’re gonna catch you! Sue’s probably told them all you spit on their grandmother’s memory by now!

The stairs ran openly up the walls of each floor, and I found myself gripping the iron railing as I climbed. They creaked and popped as they took my weight, the sound amplified by the empty stone interior. I saw that the second and third floors were as empty as the first, each showing signs of water damage and decay. The fourth floor was home to a frankly enormous four-poster bed that took up almost the whole room. The fifth floor appeared to be a bathroom, while the sixth was a kitchen. I was out of breath by the time I reached the top, and I had counted 109 steps from the ground floor.

As I bent over, holding my knees while I caught my breath, I noticed that in the corner there was a pull-down attic style door that hung open invitingly. It looked a tad rickety, and the fact that it was open at all should have read as suspicious, but the climb had taken a good five minutes and I’d be damned if I would leave without seeing the view from the very top. Gritting my teeth, I took the final climb, white-knuckling the rail as I popped my head out into the brightness. The wind howled against my ears, cutting through my beanie. I blinked my dry eyes against it, peering through my lashes and rubbing furiously against the sting.

“Hello, miss.”

Such a cheerful voice had never struck such terror in a person. A shock like falling galvanised my blood and before I had time to register what had happened, I had sprinted backwards down the stairs and stood frozen at the bottom. A beat passed, then he appeared, kneeling at the top of the trap door like a gargoyle: a young man with a soft face and a nest of dark hair poking out from beneath a knitted beanie. He seemed to be suppressing a smile, and when he spoke, it burst across his face with a giggly laugh.

“I see you down there.”

“Sorry!” I blurted out. “Sorry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think-”

“Hey, hey, it’s alright.” He put a hand over his heart in an old-fashioned gesture of sincerity. “I didn’t mean to frighten ya.”

“N-no, I shouldn’t be up here anyway, I…”

“Well, strictly speaking, no you shouldn’t. But I left the door unlocked, and if it wasn’t you, it would be someone else.” He tilted his head, offering a kinder smile than I deserved. “You’re not in trouble.”

“I-” I took a deep breath, trying to swallow my stutter. “Thank you for… understanding.”

He shrugged.

“S’alright. People get curious. It’s not like there’s much left to steal, anyways. Unless you think you can get that bed frame down the stairs.”

“I-I don’t think I could, no.” A nervous giggle found its way into my voice.

“Alas, neither can the movers. She’s a beauty though, ain’t she? Though I think I’ll have to burn some sage before I sleep in it. I’m not the creepiest thing in this place, I’ll tell you what. Banshees and spooks in every corner.” He seemed amused at my wide-eyed confusion. “You may need to sage the bear too. I think I see Aunt Máire’s ghost peepin’ out through its beady eyes.”

“Right…” He raised an eyebrow as I held the bear close to my chest.

“Sorry, I’m just messin.’”

“I know.” I said quickly, taking a tentative step back, eyeing the stairs. “Well, I’m gonna…”

“What? You’re not coming up?”

“I-I shouldn’t. I’ve already basically broken in.”

“Nonsense.” He shook his head, his smile almost exasperated. “You’ve climbed all this way, surely come out and have a look. I don’t mind, I promise. I’m invitin’ ya.”

In that moment it occurred to me that this was a stranger- albeit a kindly and handsome one, but a stranger nonetheless- and we were in a very secluded spot. He could be anyone. He could want anything. I felt my phone pressing on my leg from my jeans pocket. He put his hand up in surrender.

“I won’t twist your arm about it, but the door is open if you like. I’ll let you get on, or would you like me to walk you back down?”

“No.” I left myself no more time to think on it. After all, it was the middle of the day, and the folk at the sale could see us standing by the railing. “I’ll come up. If you don’t mind.”

“Of course.”

He moved aside obligingly, offering a hand to help me up. It seemed rude not to accept such an offering, and I could not say I regretted it. His hands were huge and soft, his grip firm but gentle. He kept hold of me for a beat longer than he needed, meeting my gaze with eyes narrowed against the glare. He was gorgeous up close, with down turned moss-green eyes that resembled those of a creature far older than any human, half hidden beneath thick, dark lashes. He smiled as he stood up, and as my stare dropped to his cherub lips I noticed his close cropped beard was auburn in the watery sunlight. He rose up, and up, and up, and soon he was towering over me like a beech tree.

“Wow, you’re tall.” I had to shout over the roaring wind.

He laughed. A husky sound that made his shoulders shake.

“Aw, and you’re such a tiny ting, I feel like I owe you a couple inches.” Instantly, he blushed. “That’s not what I- uh- oh, forget it.”

He tore off his beanie and buried his face in it. Bubbling up from the depths of me, for reasons unknown, was some of my old sense of humour.

“Well, I wouldn’t say no…”

“Ugh, inappropriate, missy!” He swatted at me with his beanie, then sniffed in mock offence. “You don’t even know my name.”

“Hey! You’re the one who started on about all your inches…”

“And I do have a few.”

“See what I mean? Unbelievable.”

He rolled his eyes, then contained himself no longer and let loose his infectious laughter. Soon enough, I was in bits. When we could both hold a straight face, he leaned in and offered me a handshake.

“I’m Andrew, by the way.”

“Gráinne.”

“Gráinne” He leaned in as he spoke, the sound softening as it passed through his mouth. The ‘r’ rolled gently like the crest of a wave into the breathy final syllable, and the name I once found so masculine and harsh sounded like a prayer to my ears. “Borrowed name for an English girl.”

“Not borrowed,” I sniffed, suddenly protective of the name I once considered an unflattering mouthful, and embarrassed at my obvious lack of an accent. “I’m a quarter Irish on my father’s side, if you believe in splitting yourself into fractions. It’s my great grandmother’s name.”

“I apologise for my rudeness.” Again, he put his hand on his heart. I had to stand close to hear his soft tone as the gale whipped my face. “I was only surprised. Gráinne isn’t such a common name these days, which is a shame ‘cause I find it quite beautiful. Do you speak any Gaeilge?”

I shook my head, heat marring my cheeks.

“If you fancy learning, I’m your man. These courses…” He shook his head. “They teach you how to speak it, but they can’t help you with the feeling.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.” I would be lying to myself if I denied the thrill of excitement I felt at the prospect of getting to know him in some small way.

“I certainly hope so.” He took a step back and gestured broadly. “Such a view is surely incentive enough.”

I looked around, realising that in my fascination with this sprite of a man, I had failed to take in my surroundings. One one side, the prairie hills rolled gently out toward the horizon, marbled in a thousand shades of green, brown, bronze, even pink and yellow where the gorse and wildflowers grew dense through the grass. Clusters of trees and scrub broke up the smooth flow of the turf, crosshatched with paths carved out by hares and foxes. Further out, I saw a sparse gathering of cottages, and an ivory freckling of sheep over the surrounding hillside.

We wandered the circumference of the deck, looking down first upon the rows of reliable utes, and one fragile sports car; then, at the people milling around the tables like tiny crabs on a beached porpoise. Finally, we regarded the stark, white shape of the new lighthouse and control centre; unnatural, yet homely against the shore. Down there, the brilliant tapestry of colour gave way to grey stone that formed jutting structures along the shore, growing smaller and smaller until they reached the small stretch of beach that must have been made from gravel, or even coarse sand. The sea there was deep grey, roiling with pale breakers that threw up jets of foam as they crashed against the rocks. Above the water, yet still strangely beneath us, grey gulls wheeled on the wild wind. Their cries carried over the roar of the sea, reaching us on a breath of sharp, briny air. I inhaled deeply, feeling the spirit of this ancient place come into me, cold and fresh.

“It is… beautiful. Do you mean you’d teach me up here?”

“If it was a bit less windy, yeah.” He scrunched his nose. “Otherwise, I’m renovating the kitchen in the next few weeks. Once its done up and not so decrepit we could use that.”

“So, this really is your place, then?”

“Aye. And about a hundred acres worth of peninsula. The workers at the new lighthouse have right of way, of course, but whatever. It’s a good deal.”

“Wow,” I allowed myself an awed gasp. “You inherited all that?”

“Well, my cousins did.” He itched the back of his neck, as if about to confess to an embarrassing fact. “They were gonna put it on the market and split the money, so I said I’d buy it sight unseen if they come down to help me clear out all the stuff.”

“Wow. How can you afford all that as such a young age?”

“I’m older than I look.” He admitted with an awkward laugh. “But younger than my soul, ma says.”

“You’ve been here a few time before?”

“More’n a few, I’d wager.” He turned his glittering eyes to me. “You don’t seem new either. We’ve probably met before, once upon a time.”

“You’d think I’d remember someone like you.”

“Ah, I’d say the same about you.” I did not miss the redness on his cheeks. “Memory is a fickle thing. Anyway, I can afford this place because I lead a charmed life. I work hard, yeah, but luck has so much to do with it. You collect your share of four-leafed clovers growin’ up ‘round here.”

“You’re from Dunbur?”

“Newcastle, up the coast a ways.”

“I might have driven through on my way to Dublin.”

“Might’ve.” He checked his watch. “Sorry, I better get back to the vultures.”

He strode over to the stairwell, and I took it as my cue to follow.

“Oh, you can stay up there as long as you like.” He assured me. “Just make sure you lock the door on the way out.”

“Oh, no, I better go home myself. Dinner to cook, laundry to do…”

“It never ends, does it?”

“Mm-mm.”

We made our way down, moving quickly as he took two stairs at a time. He reached the ground before me, but I found him waiting for me with an amused look on his beautiful face and my book bag under his arm.

“Sorry, I forgot about your poor, tiny legs.”

“Rude.” I tried to take my bag from him, but he was already digging through it.

“What have we got in here… The Anne Rice novels, very nice, and oh! The Divine Comedy! Have you read it before?”

“No, never.”

“You’ve got to.” He handed it over with gravitas. “Do not let this gather dust. Read it, it’ll change your life.”

“I will.”

“Good.” He glanced over his shoulder as we stepped outside, pulling the enormous door closed behind him. “Alright, I’ve gotta run, but it’s been lovely to meet you.”

“You too.” I was about to let him go, but I wanted to see him for just a moment longer before he dissolved like mist. “Oh, Andrew?”

“Mm?”

“I’m… sorry, for your loss.”

“Thank you, but I never really knew her. She was the black sheep of the family, a title I’m happy to inherit. One day, I’ll tell you all about it.” Gently, he tapped my elbow with the back of his hand, a gesture that set my skin alight. “I’ll see ya round, Gráinne.”

“Bye.”

He waved as he left, the ever present smile still lingering on his lips. He turned to me again when he reached the crest of the hill and waved once more. I waved back, and when he disappeared over the rise, I bounded over to watch him walk away. One more time, he turned, as if he sensed me watching, and lifted his hand over his head.

“Gráinne.” I whispered, trying to match his lilting cadence. “Gráinne, Gráinne…”

I knew then that my name would never sound as sweet again, and wondered how much more exquisite it would be were it to pass from those budded lips in a sigh of bliss.

[salmonskinrolltf]

hey there these video tapes sound pretty far out. The thing is, I’m this awkward, average looking gay dude who is slowly approaching a mid life crisis. I work as a math teacher at a local community college. And my days are filled with teaching students and my nights are spent wondering what I did with my life. Anyways, I really wanted to watch the Neighbors movie with Zac Efron. I’ve had the biggest crush on his obnoxious frat boy character! I mean that body is insane!

You eagerly tear open your Be Kind Rewind package and pull out the Neighbors VHS, barely noticing the die that falls into your hand. Nor do you notice your subconscious decision to toss it onto the floor, rolling a 3 in the process. As you place the tape in the VCR (has that always been there?), you hit rewind so it can play from the beginning.

You can’t wait to vicariously live the frat boy life you missed out on, even if it’s filtered through the perspectives of Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne as annoyed adults in their mid-30s, which hits much closer to home than you want it to. Excitement swells in your chest to the point that you feel almost giddy. You need to calm down a bit, so you take a swig of the beer you don’t remember putting on the table in front of you. Not on a coaster, even. That’s so unlike you…

As soon as the frothy beverage passes your lips, you feel a sense of calm dullness washing over you. You run a hand through your hair, which seems straighter and less tangled than usual.

As you take another sip, your phone pings with an email from a student asking about a particularly tough problem you presented during your lecture that day. You look up and see that the movie is still rewinding, so you suppose you have time to answer. But as soon as you open the email to explain the answer, the numbers start swimming in front of your eyes. The 3 should go… where again? And why the hell are there so many letters in there? This is math. Math is numbers, right?

Fuck, this is too frustrating. You toss your phone to the other end of the couch and chug the rest of your beer. You suddenly need to piss like a racehorse, so you head to the bathroom. Once you’re done, the dull buzzing in your head prevents you from even considering washing your hands, but you do stop by the sink when you see your reflection in the mirror.

Holy shit. Your face is, like, morphing or something. Your eyebrows thicken, your nose elongates, your jaw cracks and broadens. You feel a squirming feeling under your shirt and you tear it off, watching as muscle blossoms from beneath your skin. Any excess weight sloughing off, just like every last bit of body hair, leaving you with a taut and smooth torso. A brief flash of pain accompanies a tattoo that appears on your newly built pec.

You try to summon a feeling of shock, but you just… can’t. That dull buzzing is even stronger now. And you look too good, dude! You admire yourself in the mirror, not noticing as the bathroom furnishings change behind you.

You step out of the bathroom into the foyer of a house you no longer recognize. Well, you almost recognize it, but it’s definitely not YOUR house. You might have been able to put your finger on where you are, but something distracts you. A shirtless Zac Efron is standing in front of you with his shirt unbuttoned and a finger to his lips.

Is this… Are your fantasies coming to life? But in your fantasies, he’d be kissing you by now. He wouldn’t be giving you the shooing motion he’s currently doing. Za- Wait, what was his name? Zaccy? Zaddy? Teddy. Yeah, Teddy. Teddy whispers to you. “Get out of the way man, I’m pranking the new pledge.” You comply, your thoughts still hazy.

Your thoughts remain that way for the rest of the night. And for the rest of the week. And the rest of the month. But despite the constant dull roar, you put a few things together. You’re Pete Regazolli, proud vice-president of Delta Psi Beta. If you weren’t always this way, you don’t care to think about it. You’re still got a massive crush on Teddy, of course. You’re gay after all, and the whole frat knows it. But even if he isn’t into guys that way, at least you still get to spend all your time with him, staring at him when he’s not looking, touching him whenever you get the chance… A chance like the one you have right now, when you’re about to pull off a huge prank on this new pledge who has no idea what’s coming… Bro, it’s gonna be so lit!

[gabe-moore]

"That's all good, enough time to run some errands," Gabriel said, while trying to think exactly what those errands could be. He wondered if he could have come up with an excuse to stay and watch the blacksmith work, but that was probably inappropriate. His eyes caught Teddy's as the other said his goodbye and it felt like their gazes connected on some higher level. "I'll be seeing you again, Mr Byrne," he gave the other a crooked smile and touched his hat with the tips of his fingers, "In an hour."

Teddy's smiled remained as he caressed Wilbur one last time and took a small step to the side to allow him and his owner to go. "I..." God, what was so difficult all of a sudden? It was like he couldn't help but feel like something was left unsaid between them. Feelings, maybe. "I can have it ready within an hour but don't feel like you need to rush back. You could..go for a walk or stop by the Saloon and return later if you want." The blacksmith offered a nod. "It was good seeing you today, mr. Holt."

[knightofleo]

TRA​И​Ƨ​A by Red Hot Org

"Storied activist and music production non-profit Red Hot presents its latest project, TRAИƧA out November 22nd. With production beginning in 2021, and over 100 artists contributing, TRAИƧA marks one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by Red Hot - a spiritual journey across 8 chapters and 46 songs, spotlighting the gifts of many of the most daring, imaginative trans and non-binary artists working today. It softens the edges of the world we know, and invokes powerful dreams of the futures that might one day thunder from its cracks. The album's instantly memorable cover speaks to the tension between nature and constructed environments, and the tension of transness in the western gender binary."

Adrianne Lenker, Ahya Simone, Alan Sparhawk (Low), Allison Russell, Am Taylor, Anajah, André 3000, Ana Roxanne, Anjimile, ANOHNI, Arthur Baker, Asher White, AV Maria, Babehoven, Bartees Strange, Belina Rose, Benét, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Bill Callahan, Blake Mills, Bloomsday, Calvin Lauber, Caroline Rose, Cassandra Croft, Cassandra Jenkins, Ceyenne Doroshow, Christian Lee Hutson, Claire Rousay, Clairo, CLARITY, Cole Pulice, Devendra Banhart, Dirty Projectors, Eileen Myles, Eli Winter, Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland, Ezra Furman, Faye Webster, Fleet Foxes, Frank Cosmos, Gary Gunn, Gia Margaret, Green-House, Grouper, Hand Habits, Heart Shaped, Helado Negro, Hunter Schafer, Imara Jones, Jamal Shakeri, Jay Dee Daugherty, Jayne County, Jeff Tweedy, Jlin, Joy Guidry, Julianna Barwick, Julie Byrne, Julien Baker, Kara Jackson, Kathi Wilcox, Kb Borins, Kelela, L'rain, Laaraji, Laura Jane Grace, Lauren Auder, Lee Ranaldo, Lightning Bug, Lomelda, Lucy Liyou, Lynn Avery, Lyra Pramuk, Mary Lattimore, Mizu, Mojo Disco, Moor Mother, More Eaze, Moses Sumney, Nico Georis, Nina Keith, Niecy Blues, Nsámbu Za Suékama, Quinn Christopherson, Pepper Mashay, Perfume Genius, Pharoah Sanders, Rachika Nayar, Sade, Sam Smith, Sharon Van Etten, SOAK, Soft Rōnin, SKY, SPARKLE DIVISION (William Basinski), Taryn Blake Miller, Teddy Geiger, Time Wharp, Wendy & Lisa, Yaeji, Yaya Bey

[gabe-moore]

Nightmares | Teddy & Gabe

where: Gabe's apartment when: 4 am, some days after the end of the spirit festival who: @teddy-byrne

The old town road was deserted. It was unnaturally silent, even the wind that normally made the wood of the houses creak was absent. Gabe was squinting in the bright light. From out of nowhere a streak of dark blood trickled down into the sand by his feet. The dark grew until it formed a puddle around him. The dark blood was all over his hands and his clothes, but he knew it wasn't his blood. How did he know it wasn't his blood? The thought worried him. And then he saw them. Hanging outside town hall.

He started running towards them, painfully slow, he had to get to them. Their faces, although he knew them, were blurry and smeared. He couldn't come close enough to see them properly, it was taking too long to run. But he knew why they were all there, because he had failed them, because he had let them die.

Gabe jolted awake. He was breathing heavily, heart pounding so hard it hurt in his chest, his face felt swollen and sticky from tears. If he closed his eyes he knew he would see the bodies again, Luke, Louis, Vivian and- he couldn't let himself finish that thought. His hands searched the dark around him, certain that there should be someone else there, that he couldn't be alone. "Teddy?" he tried, voice thick from sleep. No answer. Why was there no answer? "Teddy?!" he half-shouted, trying not to panic as he struggled against the bed-sheets to find his partner.

[nakatomi-ayumu]

gallery | teddy & ayumu

for: @teddy-byrne location: vievecor city gallery @ the metamorphosis on canvas exhibition

After Ayumu's grand entrance with Atlas, the spirit was finally torn from the elf's side by their mutual friends and they decided that Atlas could have some time to herself. They both needed the respite and Ayumu had sensed a certain pair of eyes on them throughout the evening.

"Hello, Teddy Bryne. What can I do for you?" the spirit asked as they sidled their way over to the vampire. It had been quite some time since their last encounter in the snow and this was as good a time as any to say hello again. "I can't tell if you want to kill me or eat me with the way you've been staring all night..."

[chris-elkar]

@teddy-byrne

Chris was sitting in a chair close to where Teddy had told him trying to look at something on his phone but actually just watching the clock. He'd meant to come on time, but traffic had worked against him and for once he had gotten there early, meaning he had plenty of time to sit there and rethink his decisions. It was almost a relief then when he saw Teddy approaching him and stood up, waiting for him to be close enough to talk. But then again, Chris had no idea what to say and ended up just awkwardly staring at him.

[gabe-moore]

"If you could choose to forget," Gabe corrected, still fighting to keep his tone calm. He wasn't about to argue that people who had gone through trauma wouldn't choose to not have that trauma, but that was based on the premise that they were given a choice, and Louis hadn't been. "Don't get me wrong, I want to protect Louis, but I don't think lying to him protects him, I think it puts him in more danger."

He wouldn't admit it, but killing Izak would definitely have been on the top of Gabe's list. It wasn't realistic of course, even if Izak had still been in VC it would have taken someone very powerful to take him down. Asking a deity to help out a wronged human, that sounded doable at least. Gabe could feel a plan forming in his head as he started pacing back and forth in the room. "I know, that's why we have to help him before he runs into those problems. So, we'll ask a deity..." he began, but didn't finish the thought.

Gabe looked up, momentarily putting the planning on hold, and frowned at Teddy, worried that despite the vampire's words he was trying to change his mind. But then he nodded and came over to sit on the bed next to Teddy. "Are you sure you want to help?" he asked carefully, he'd been afraid to hope that Teddy would want to offer to help. "I mean... If it goes against your grandsire?" He frowned again at the mention of another vampire elder and the 'we can't afford for this to end bad'. It wasn't what Gabe wanted to hear, that they were calling in another vampire clean-up crew. Plus, judging by what Joanna had told him, Isabelle Laurent might have her own agenda when it came to Louis. He bit his lip and wondered how he should phrase this, "Don't you think we should keep this between as few people as possible?" As few vampires as possible, preferably.

"Because.." Teddy sighed, frowing at the assumption Gabriel threw his way. "Because you don't know what kind of memories you're bringing back..and I know, and you know, what shit like that does to you. If I could forget about what happened during the war, don't you think I would, huh?" At least, he would leave the trauma of it behind and only remember the hard facts. Anything to move on once and for all.

"The glamor spell can only be broken if the vampire wills it or dies. With Izak gone, I don't see us having either option..so yeah. A deity might be able to help..but like I told you, they have to be powerful enough." At what cost, Teddy could not be sure of, but there was no way they wouldn't ask for something in return. A favor, perhaps. A debt that they would collect eventually. Either way, the vampire knew that he had to be smart about what happened next or Gabriel might decide to take care of the situation on his own.

Not standing yet, Teddy slid his hands down to his knees, and sighed.

"If he keeps digging, he'll eventually run into some serious problem, that's for sure." Byrne nodded, staring back as he thought about the best way to say what he wanted to say. "I can see you're committed, Gabriel...so, if there isn't anythin' I can say to convince you not to do this, let me help you? Please. We can't afford for this to end bad. I can look into his past at the bunny, see the extent of what we're dealing with and then, Isabelle -she can tell us the best way to handle this, from a professional's perspective."

[matthew-alexander]

queries | teddy & matthew

for: @teddy-byrne location: the dining room

Matthew truly felt like Ebenezer Scrooge whenever he came to these deity-organised parties. It did not help that he was still dealing with his most recent break-up with Izak, coupled with the realisation that he might not have very many friends anymore. It was a sad realisation that led him to make a beeline for the dining in Winterlight Manor where he swiped himself a festive goblet that magically filled itself with his favourite wine to get drunk with.

He was through his third glass and still not feeling the effects yet when he noticed a familiar vampire enter. It was Teddy, a Rosu clan vampire and one who was distantly related to Izak through siring. As far as Matthew could recall, Izak would be considered Teddy's grandsire.

The thoughts of Izak had the fallen deity's shoulders drooping once more, but he still made his way slowly across the room to the other man.

"Mister Byrne..." Matthew said in polite greeting. There would be no point in staying away. It was no surprise that Teddy would recognise him either, his relationship with Izak had not been a secret after all and neither was the fact that Izak was no longer around. "Can I get you a goblet of your own? They are quite ingenious."