#the trials and tribulations of being queer

[heavensenthale]

haha people who are following me for the funny sex poll post... do not. I'm literally just vibin' I wouldn't stand the crushing weight of fame

[accreature]

need to act my age and have an intense, somewhat unhealthy (but brief) relationship; unfortunately, I'm primarily attracted to women 5-15 years older than me who have already made and learned from this class of mistake.

[pee-boner-clenching]

ok Tomorrow i will do One pride post in my drawings for the sake of pride month- also i think its cute bc i was thinking of my first ever tdov post years and years ago which is where i personally count me ‘officially’ coming out as anything. idk i think its cute and itll make me feel better

[lesbiansforbyler]

I remember thinking, “I wish I could live in a world where Mike and Will could fall in love for real, be real” back in season two and three.

Like I actually remember THINKING that. I remember the real ache, the sadness and loneliness of knowing that gay people, especially gay children, are seen as alien, morphed, distorted, wrong. They don’t want to see us on their screens. It doesn’t matter that we were queer children and we were real, that we had the crushes and the heart fluttering and the falling in love and the wanting just like they did. We are wrong to them. ‘Other’, even when we really aren’t.

So of course Mike and Will would never be shown in a story of falling in love with each other. Perhaps, maybe in a distant dream sort of way, will will be cruelly made to fall in love with a Mike who could never love him back. Maybe the kid who’s been kidnapped, starved, possessed, haunted, and abandoned will be gay because he’s already different, already other - but then we’d have to watch Mike wheeler, the main hero boy of the show, reject him. Because of course it would be rejection, anything else would be unfathomable; the main hero boy falls in real love with the main girl, the center of attention; the main hero boy goes through trials and tribulations, learns courage, and beats odds. He does not fall in love with another boy. He does not fall in love with the starved boy, abandoned boy, haunted boy. Not in this story. Not in any story. Of course not. That’s ridiculous, unthinkable, on a show this massive and known and loved, there is no way they will show us up there, cracked open and bare and bleeding love like they do. It just doesn’t happen, and hasn’t happened, so it won’t happen.

And now we’re here, on the precipice of the final season of this grand grand story, and it’s not just a possibility, it’s a likelihood. An ‘all signs point to here’, an ‘all roads lead to this’.

The creators are revving up for the plot twist of a lifetime; a reveal of Mike’s thus far unrevealed internal struggle. it’ll be a cultural reset, a shockwave, a disbelief producing outrage and disgust from some but tears of disbelieving joy, from others. That one of THE biggest shows of all time, created slowly over the course of the better part of a decade, watched and praised and anticipated all over the world… reveals that it was the story of the two main boys falling in love, slowly, the entire time. The cultural whiplash will, I think, be unparalleled.

And yea, obviously maybe we’re wrong about how the story will end. If so, I suppose I’ll delete this when the time comes. But I don’t think I’ll need to. I’m more than excited and proud to be a byler and a stranger things fan in general and I love being on this ride with all of you.

Here’s to the grandest grand finale we can hope for. 🎉 XX

[raayllum]

Once again I am so completely in my Janaya feelings because they're just so well done as a ship and so refreshing as a canon queer ship in particular??

Like they're rival generals who are uniquely matched in skill! We see how good of a fighter Amaya is in S1 (she's the top General of the Standing Battalion for crying out loud) so having someone who has her even somewhat on the run in S2 immediately catches our notice, as well as just how striking Janai is, even before we know she's the Golden Knight of Lux Aurea and sister to the queen.

Then we get some fun games of cat and mouse with the two circling and outsmarting each other; Janai luring Amaya's troops into an ambush and then having Amaya outsmart her way through anyway, and Janai ruining Amaya's plan to sever the Breach as a connective point between their lands (at least temporarily). It's small, but it shows that they're not just physically matched in battle, but intellectually too, and it makes their connection / rivalry feel more personal.

But of course this starts to shift when Amaya is stranded on Janai's side of the Breach, and spares her life because there's been enough unnecessary violence, having to literally Drop her shield to do so (mm, the symbolism).

We then get a new stage of their dynamic, as Amaya is very good bad at being interrogated ("She may have told you a rather unusual way in which your body might accommodate your sword") even if Kazi tries to minimize the ruder signs along the way as an interpreter. And even when Amaya could just look at Kazi for translation, her gaze continually strays to Janai. Then, Janai vouches for Amaya to her sister and Amaya has to trust Janai in the Light trial, which is also why she asks Janai to trust her when Viren shows up and starts causing trouble.

What follows is a fire forged friendship (literally) where Janai experiences Amaya's greatest grief -- the loss of a sister -- and they support each other through the battle to come, especially now that they have a common enemy. There's even blushing, battle gazing smiles, being protective, and paralleled hand holds.

Then, when we pick up after the two year timeskip, it's quickly apparent they're in a relationship — "But there are some things you shouldn't keep secret, especially from me" — and hints at exactly what kind of traditional ceremony this is, as Janai proposes and the two embrace and kiss.

And the show always, consistently, constantly, discusses their love for each other frankly and in terms no one can mistake.

"I know [she's a fearsome fighter], that is what I love about her," "The only message is that I've chosen this amazing woman to be my wife," "I love you and I'm ready to marry you," "I only really know one thing: Amaya, I want a life with you, I want to marry you," "Our queen and her bride to be just left on a romantic picnic in broad daylight!" "I just need a distraction—that's right, wedding planning." "Is someone getting married?" "Now I know how wrong I was about elves: I'm in love with one [...] Meeting Janai, falling in love" etc etc. Even down to the little details like Amaya's sign name for Janai being a J over her heart.

I also really appreciate that they're able to be so physically affectionate, particularly Amaya towards Janai in her tenderness as well.

At the same time, they don't always entirely see eye to eye. Amaya is adjusting to a culture that's not her own; Janai is still finding her footing and more importantly her confidence in being queen, even without internal usurpation coups going on and an evil blood drinking lesbian Moonshadow elf on the loose.

They trade and gift each other's another swords so they can be by one another's side in spirit when they do have to part. They're happily planning their wedding and giving each other hope throughout the encroaching madness of their lives. They get cute little callbacks to things like "She thinks I'm cute but won't admit it yet," exchange loving looks when their tribulations are done, and love each other with their whole hearts, allowing them to provide allegorical commentary on some of the societal pushback LBGTQ+ couples receive while also never having it dominate their shared plotline(s) or arcs with one another.

I just love them a lot, and these are some of the reasons why! I can't wait for more of their relationship development in S6 and S7!

[menlove]

modern AU bugs where they're all 20 somethings. what flavor of queer do you think they'd be each? for fun lol

FOR FUN...... okay here's what EYE think

john: in is 20s........ he's saying he's bisexual & talking about this often. might put a pronoun joke in his bio before he gets shit for it but he does actually think there's Something going on there, it's just not something he's getting into. he will, through many trials and tribulations, come out as fully gay in his 40s.

paul: bisexual and stays there forever. he came out when he was like 15 and really does not put a singular thought towards his gender ever because if he did he'd be down a rabbit hole. maybe accidentally comes out as nonbinary once bc he doesn't totally understand the nonbinary thing and compares it to being a gemini. people transvestigate him a LOT. which john is jealous of like why isn't anyone transvestigating HIM.

george: i think george would refuse to use labels and talk about how we're all just souls loving souls. he is still fucking his best friend's wife. he does not discriminate & he would say he's equally a man and a woman in that everyone is equally a man and a woman.

ringo: the sort of guy you ASSUME is queer and does not get remotely offended by this assumption. has sucked dick and probably will suck dick again but doesn't identify as bisexual. sort of a "if the right man came along, sure, but i don't think he will" sort of straight.

[monsamborabutterfly]

I honestly hope fortpeat stay with mame forever and play all her weird little queer stories out cause I need it in my life!

Yeah Blabla mame sucks, and she writes shitty stories with toxic dynamics that we don't need anymore or whatever people like to say but I love her stories. Cause it's always about people being in love first and foremost. People who just happen to be queer and have to go through trial and tribulations to make it work.

And I love that shit. Nothing I love more than having my heart ripped out and getting the sweet sweet ending after all the angst.

And stories like hers need good actors with amazing chemistry more than anything. And fortpeat make it work like no other. It's where they really shine. Making it believable that their characters are in love and you can't look away.

And mame writes like that. Whatever show I've seen of hers that was always the main focus. They were a match made in heaven. And I hope it stays that way at least for a little while.

I want my babies to stay in their little "morally grey dynamics but make it sexy and sweet, camp messy queer bubble a little longer" I'm not ready to let them go into the polished purity bl world just yet😂

[butcherlarry]

Weekly Fic Recs 58

This week's fic recs! Also! I am going to try out posting these lists on Saturday instead of Sunday starting next week. If it works out, I'll probably stick with that schedule then (barring travel/holidays/other unexpected shenanigans). Anyway, onto the fics!

a sky of honey by TheResurrectionist - Superbat, complete. The omegaverse mpreg Bruce fic! This part is done!! And it's sooooo gooood!!!! The gala chapter was everything I hoped for and more, especially the Clark and Lex scenes :) If you've been waiting to read this fic until it was no longer a wip, here's your chance! Do it now! And check out the art januariat has been making along the way!!

the trials and tribulations of fatherhood by InkpotSprite - Batfam, complete. Dick, Jason, and Tim argue who was the worst kid growing up. Bruce is so, so done with everything.

The Bruce Wayne-Batman Feud Theory by inabsurd - Batfam, complete. Bernard releases a conspiracy theory out onto the world that Bruce and Batman hate each other. Shenanigans ensue.

"Whatcha Got There?" "A Smoothie." Colourized by TheWitchBoy - Batfam, complete. Bruce gets deaged into a baby. The bat kids take care of him until he gets reaged. Shenanigans ensue.

(Love) Triangles Have Multiple Centers by frozenpotions - Superbat, wip. More identity porn shenanigans! Clark is feeling better after getting hit with Kryptonite! Robin continues to be adorable! And Bruce cock blocks himself :)

Riddle this for me by Speechless_since_1998 - Batfam, complete. The Riddler captures Robin (Jason) and is being a big meanie to him >:( Luckily Tim is there to defend his honor until Batman arrives :D

Patchwork Pod by Ktkat9 - Superbat and Batfam, wip. More mer Bruce fic! Bruce is back, but injured! Also, where is Tim??? :(

keep me there by TheResurrectionist - Superbat, complete. Fellas, is it gay to distract your teammates from when your alien boyfriend isn't feeling too good by verbally attacking the nearest space cop? (The answer is yes!)

Collective Judgments by withthekeyisking - Batfam, complete. Dick has some incidents of people being racist to him about his heritage. Luckily, he has his family to protect him and call people out on their bullshit :)

A Brief Interview by Miss_Lazy_Tuesday - Batfam, complete. An AU where Tim is the youngest. Damian finds a small, unsupervised child stalking him. The only solution is to adopt him (obviously).

Padam by HaleHathNoFury (My_Trex_has_fleas) - Superbat, wip. A fic inspired by januariat's lovely art! A young, college student Clark explores his queerness for the first time by going to a gay club. I wonder who will meet there? :)))))))

Running Headlong into My Arms by gleesquid - Batfam, complete. Jason discovers the power he holds by calling Bruce "Dad." Shenanigans (and feelings) ensue.

Road Rage Robin by heartslogos - Batfam, complete. Turns out, Tim has terrible road rage. Shenanigans ensue.

Enjoy!

[overandunderland]

"Look at the color of his skin Clawfang, dark and rich! You know what they say about the taste of those from above?"

Owen's mind reeled, not just at the danger he faced but also at the Rat's casual bigotry. It was absurd and terrifying all at once, a nightmare conversation he never could have imagined.

"True, Snarltooth. A rare delicacy this one." Clawfang agreed–his yellow teeth bared in a grotesque grin.

"–We should eat quickly though, can't risk more of his kind coming after us."

Greetings Overlanders!

What's up y'all, W.P.P here, (He/Him) and I'm currently looking for Beta Readers/Editors/Fans of The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins. To read/engage with and possibly even shoot some feedback on My Fan Novel/Fic.

It's a canon compliant Sequel-Boot of sorts and follows after Code Of Claw.

Ok, pretty cover but what is it about?

Three years (gotta get our boys in that Classic High school setting huh?) After The War of Bane. Fragile peace exists in the Underland. But as is The Underland, one knows peace never lasts. Especially built on deception. When a conspiracy is exposed and the ghosts of beliefs thought lost to Time pervert the ideas of coexistince. Prophecy calls yet again for its Salvation. When you ignore and attempt to reject fate, it tends to mess back. Now, calling for The Seeker. A being who's destiny is forever tied to Bartholomew's hand of war and tribulation, to return The Warrior to The Underland, to save the realm together. However, there maybe key players, manipulating destiny from the shadows. One that will change Gregor's entire view of Prophecy, Regalia and Owen's life forever.

Woah, OC Alert 🚨 Who's Owen?

Here comes the ✨Boy✨ 🎹

Meet you: Owen. "The Seeker"

15 year old Bronx native. A boxer, thanks to his dad. And quite the cook, thanks to his mother. It was their deaths, and the way the police handled them, that killed any respect for authority the boy had left. Owen is a resilient and resourceful teenager thrust into the extraordinary world of the Underland, where he faces trials that challenge his courage and determination. Despite his initial reluctance, Owen demonstrates a strong sense of compassion for others and a willingness to confront his fears head-on, although it takes him A MINUTE to get there. He possesses a sharp wit and a penchant for sarcasm, which often serves as a coping mechanism in the face of adversity. He's also 🏳️‍🌈 Queer 🏳️‍🌈.

let's talk Virtues and Vices?

Determination: Owen demonstrates a strong sense of determination, as evidenced by his resolve to survive and navigate the challenges presented to him in the Underland.

Courage: Despite facing daunting and unfamiliar situations, Owen exhibits courage by confronting his fears and taking action to protect himself and others. Albeit not without some coercing.

Compassion: Owen shows compassion towards others, such as when he expresses concern for the citizens of Regalia and reflects on the consequences of his actions on innocent lives.

Adaptability: Owen demonstrates adaptability by adjusting to his surroundings and learning to navigate the unfamiliar environment of the Underland.

And his vices?

Impulsiveness: Owen's impulsiveness is hinted at through his sarcastic remarks and tendency to act without fully considering the consequences of his actions. This impulsiveness could potentially lead him into trouble or exacerbate conflicts. It is this that sets off the entire Prophecy to begin with.

Self-Doubt: At times, Owen exhibits self-doubt, particularly when he questions his ability to fulfill the expectations placed upon him or doubts his capacity to make a difference in the face of overwhelming challenges.

Guilt: Owen struggles with feelings of guilt, especially regarding the unintended consequences of his actions, such as the destruction of the Prophecy of Time in the Underland. The source of his guilt extends from not being in the car when his parents died. Survivors guilt.

Owen definitely suffers from bouts of Imposter Syndrome and feelings of inadequacy, especially when comparing his experiences to Gregor's.

Oh God, it's not OC X Canon, is it?

Hey now! I'm not throwing any shade at OC X Canon shippers, I have a few ships in other fandoms that are essentially that. But no, Gregor & Luxa's Relationship while will be rocky in it's rekindling, are endgame. Also Gregor isn't remotely Owens type. No, Owen will have his own Underlander romantic interest. In fact, Meet you:

Aiden: Luxa's personal guard, Archer, confidant, and best friend.

16, (what the hell are they feeding them nowadays down there, he's a brick house.) Aiden is Queen Luxa's personal body guard and closest friend. During the years after The War of Bane. When he discovers his family had planned a coup d'etat against the royal family, including catching his father about to kill Luxa, he draws his bow, taking his life and testifying against his family's quest for power. He's jailed for a time before Lord Vikus takes him in admiring his loyalty to the current crown and grooms him to protect Luxa, and to be there for her for when he eventually passes. He's arrogant, showboaty at times, and abrasive, especially when it comes to The Overland Boys. More specifically "The Mouthy Imp" known to him as Owen. He and Luxa are fairly close, to where rumors amongst Regalian council, and teen girls, are suggesting they are to be wed. Yeah, good luck with that ladies. 💅🏽

Oh so he's like Henry?

Some pretty decent comparisons and contrasting elements can be made between the two of them.

Both of them are/Were close to Luxa

Both of them can be described as Arrogant.

Both of them technically betrayed their families and believed they did so for a good reason.

Where as Henry was desperate for power, Aidens only motivation is to maintain peace for the Royal family and the Kingdom Of Regalia.

Personally, I don't believe Henry came up with his idea of Allying with King Gorger on his own. Nor do I think he's the only one after him who thinks that way. Listening to the Return to Regalia Podcast has helped provide some really dope questions about the landscape, geopolitical or otherwise, that are like alluded to, but never really expanded upon. That I wanna use this book to answer. Oona and the Gang have been a godsend for fic writers who are fans of the series.

If *insert character* isn't in it, I'm not reading it. 🤬

Guys, Of course Ripred is gonna be in the bo- Look, it's Canon Compliant alright 😅. Ive been listening to the series on Audiobook on loop for the last few weeks as I've been writing. I want to make sure I'm not misunderstanding each characters voices, and how they think and speak. Remembering who was where when this or that happened. But Let's discuss some returning characters!

Boots: Now 6 years old, Boots has become quite the little person! Her affinity for taking animals hasnt gone anywhere, her most recent hyper fixation being a show about Australian talking dogs. A show Gregor has to admit, has it's moments.

Temp: The gangs back together! Thanks to his association with The Princess, Temp has become highly regarded amongst Crawlers. You and Boots will love the Set piece the Crawlers built in her honor.

Hazard: Now as old as Gregor was when he first arrived, The Halflander has been elevated to a role of diplomacy and interpretor liaison for dialogue between Underland Inhabitants. He carries a sword, for defensive combat. A sign of unavoidable circumstances, even with his fathers dying wish. A rebellious streak may in fact land him in potentially fatal trouble.

Howard:Luxa's Cousin and medical prodigy, makes him one of the most skilled Healers of all in Regalia. He's made it a personal mission to learn to Heal every species known to them in the Underland. As of late, he finds himself frequenting visits and courting with one of Regalias nanny's in the Nursery.

Dulcet: Dulcet is one of the nannies that works in Regalia's palace. She was the one that took care of Gregor's sister, Boots whenever they came to the Underland. She was one of Gregor's favorite Regalians. Sweet but embarrasses easily. Nowadays, especially around a certain Regalian healer. She isn't too sure, but he's been quite sweet to her as of late.

Mareth: Mareth has a good heart. He never stopped caring for those under his protection, and even for those that weren't. After his leg was removed, he still maintains his humor and kindness. He'll stick knock you out if you wild out too much. He and Perdita saw Aiden's training through in it's entirety. He's moved emotionally to see Gregor Return, however bittersweet it may be. Designated to be a bit more hands off, he still finds time to train the young soldiers of Regalia. His improved prosthetic affords much more mobility since his last interaction with Gregor.

Luxa: Hardened by her assassination attempt, the loss of her family and Gregor. Luxa is finally approaching the full cusps of uncontested power in Regalia. Her actions such as memorializing a controversial figure, as well as her Bond with Ripred has caused much dissenting opinions amongst factions of power in Regalia. There is a particular fear from her grandfather that she may be doomed to repeat history. Will Gregors return, spawn a change in Luxa? And is it safe to even find out?

The rest of Gregor's Family also make an appearance! Lizzie, Grace and Gregor's Dad. (Going with Dr.Elliot/Eli for short) all come back and influence the story in some Capacity.

Why is Gregor White/White Passing?

Gonna level with y'all, I didn't really know about Tumblr like that. I'm a mixed race poc myself, and definitely lack Eurocentric features. I just was honestly basing his look off of what I've seen in the covers and alt editions of the series. Hell, Homie is even BLONDE in the Russian edition. Me and my partner also are a little too far into the story to match him up with the Headcanon of Tumblr. That being said, I do love POC Gregor, and will be maintaining that his dad is a person of color as well. Just have Gregor as yt passing presenting. It could also provide a bit of conflict between He and Owen. As Gregor's first descent is a lot more welcoming, Than what Owen goes through his first time down, starting from his initial fall.

So do The Warrior & The Seeker immediately hit it off?

Yeaaaaahhhhhhh-no. Wouldn't be much of a story if the two became immediate besties. I couldn't imagine being too thrilled with the guy who's fault it is that you're even in this mess at all. Now who exactly I mean by that is what makes it fun. They need each other to make it through the quest. Over time however, they learn about each other, and how they can truly help one another. Eventually becoming close as their journey reaches its end and inklings of a new ones raises it's head. That being said, when he learns of Gregor and Luxa's relationship, or their past together. Is full team Gregor and Luxa. With Owens dating pool being non existent above and below (so he thinks) ground. He becomes invested in the possibility of Love blossoming at all, mostly to see Luxa pull the stick from out- know what, it's better to read it.

But the video though, what's that about?

For Nostalgia sake, as well as Accessibility reasons, I've been screening several actors and VA actors who would be down to do an audiobook! So it will be releasing as audiobook as well!

Hobbies aren't cheap but I love the series so much that I don't see why not 🤷🏽. I fell in love with the audiobooks so it'd be pretty cool to see it again.

In the same manner as Star Wars novels, where not every book is written by the same author-

I want readers to feel as if the baton was passed from Suzanne to yours truly 😅.

So Overlanders! Fans! If you're looking to beta read, I'm looking for Beta Readers ✨

Hope to hear from you all!

Fly you high! 🦇

Breezy Edit: Hey y'all, it's Breezy again, Just want to let y'all know, according to some of y'all what we're looking for are "alpha" readers. But beta readers still apply 🫰🏽💙

[poppletonink]

The Marauders Fandom and How It Has Changed The State of Fandom Culture

The Marauders Fandom defies the natural state of fandom culture. Within the realm of the spiderweb of links, clicks and likes, fandoms have been born, have been nurtured and have been destroyed. Typically these fandoms follow a particular mould: by focusing on canon events, characters, and relationships between said characters, more art, writing and wonder is born. However, the Marauders fandom is unlike any of its predecessors or any fandoms being born today. Though its characters were once residents of the world of Harry Potter, in the eyes of the fans they are no longer bound to the confines of their original character archetypes (and their minimal development) as provided by writer J.K. Rowling. The internet has created a fandom renaissance - a rebirth of the characters who were originally solely there as ancestors and side characters to the so-called Golden Trio.

With this rebirth comes a subversion of what people think they know. James Potter (the father of Harry Potter) and his friends are no longer the distant memories of a forlorn, mistreated young boy. Through headcanons, fanfiction, edits, and fanart, and the "fanon" versions of these characters, they are given substance, personalities and backstories much richer than those that were scrawled into the pages of the Harry Potter series. From All The Young Dudes by MsKingBean89 (the most-read fanfiction on Archive Of Our Own) to Crimson Rivers by bizarrestars, formerly known as zeppazariel, these characters are given new life.

A queer utopia - perhaps that is the best way to describe and define this fandom. As it has settled into its cozy corner of the web, the fandom has become more bold and outlandish in their ideas. Debates have run riot over romantic pairings and sexual orientations projected onto any and all characters clawed into the cast that is beloved by this ever-growing group of people. Is Remus Lupin "as gay as the day is long" (as he was described in the original print of Casey McQuiston's Red White and Royal Blue) or is he a bisexual man (as unfortunately rare as they are in the literary world)? That is just one of the many questions thrown around from tongue to tongue, from text to text, in this fandom. The importance of queer representation has been established again and again in our modern world, but it has existed and prevailed within the world of the Marauders Fandom.

The pairings in this fandom range from canon, sensible and strongly backed up with evidence from the original books (like James Potter and Lily Evans), to wild, wacky and completely obscure (like James Potter and Regulus Black). However, the fandom has decided to take their own route, no longer caring what words the creator Rowling has to say about her characters. On numerous occasions, J.K. Rowling has stated that Sirius Black and Remus Lupin do not have romantic feelings for each other, and yet 'Wolfstar', as they are so-lovingly nicknamed, is one of the biggest ships in fandom history. Alongside this, after the proclamations of Rowling's transphobic views mid-2020, the fandom took a stand declaring many of the characters (especially Regulus Black) to be transgender in their eyes. Through this, the Marauders Fandom has made these characters even more relatable for those who read about them. Even more notably, they have used these characters to take a political stand - to make it clear that we must stand up for those in our society who are shoved aside and discriminated against.

Fandom culture is taking art and making it into something even more beautiful, making it something that people relate to and adore even more than they did before. While the art originally belongs to the person who creates it, once it is put out into the world it becomes open to interpretation. People project onto songs, onto books, onto art and it helps them to escape the trials and tribulations they face within their realities. After all, isn't that what entertainment is truly made as - an escape? As a result of the Marauders Fandom, we can look towards a future where fandom is no longer defined by its canon, where it becomes a group of people who love something and share creative ideas together. As a result of the Marauders Fandom, fans have the ability and the opportunity to have a sense of more artistic expression, which ultimately leads to more media and literature for us to enjoy. The Marauders Fandom is a fundamental and quintessential part of fandom history - it is a story of its own, born and bred of minuscule threads and mere sentences about interweaving characters. It shows just how we as people are powerhouses of creativity and that, as is said in Dead Poet's Society (1989): "poetry, beauty, romance, love - these are what we stay alive for".

[eliaskew]

Found a post on Reddit talking about possible Marauders AU's and thought I'd throw my own hat into the ring so, here are some, specifically british shows/movies I think could be adapted into brilliant fics and AU's.

The History Boys-

A group of Sixth Formers from a poor area in Yorkshire achieve the highest grades in their A Levels that the school has ever seen. Consequently, the principal makes them stay an extra term so that they can prepare to get into Oxford and Cambridge universities (the most prestigious universities in the UK).

There's a wide variety of characters, including an eccentric "general studies" teacher who takes the boys on "special" motorbike rides and feels them up at stops, a young history teacher brought in to get them ready for Oxford, despite being a fraud, and the boys themselves who are all colourful and weird in their own ways.

The story has tragedy, heartbreak, exam stress, lots of very British banter and an excellent commentary on Queerness and Queen relationships. It's the British answer to the Dead Poets Society and has adaptations on the BBC.

The Full Monty-

Another British film, once again set in Yorkshire (both around the canon time period too). After the Thatcher administration, hundreds of miners in Yorkshire lose their jobs, as do many factory workers.

This film follows a dad attempting to raise money so he can fight his ex-wife in court for joint custody of their son, his best mate who feels insecure about his weight, a depressed young queer man looking after his mother and a few others besides as they try and fail to look for jobs now their steel factory is bust.

They see hoards of women watching male strip shows and decide to give that a try as a way to raise money. Hijinks ensue including stripping, intimidation of repo men, running naked from the police, terrible dancing, hilarious auditions for the troupe and more.

It's a commentary on class, desperation and male friendships which remain wholesome throughout. There is also a queer relationship between two characters which while not particularly explored in the film could be explored in an au.

The Importance of Being Ernest-

Oscar Wilde's most famous comedy where two upper class gentleman pull a long con on the people around them by each pretending to be a fictional "Ernest". Of course, the core of this revolves around the women they're interested in:

Jack Worthing invents a brother named "Ernest" for the people of his country home, while his friend Algernon Montcrieff creates an invalid friend called Bunbury. Both characters invented by these men as reasons to skive off their duties and pursue romantic encounters.

Jack is interested in Algernon's cousin, who has a fascination with men called Ernest and Algernon hears about Jack's ward and, seeing her as a way to raise himself out of debt, pretends to be Jack's non-existent brother "Ernest" to get in with her.

It's a comedy of errors entirely befitting of the Marauders era with a lot of British tongue-in-cheek humour, romantic moments and convoluted deception.

Derry Girls-

A more modern entry than most of the others on my list. Set in an all girls school (minus James the wee English fella) in Ireland it follows a group of girls and James as they go through the trials and tribulations of living in Ireland during the Troubles, school life, religious guilt and sexuality. Again, it's incredibly funny, heartbreaking in moments and highly relatable. Definitely a good choice for an AU, especially if one wanted to focus more on the friendship side than the relationship side of the Marauders fandom.

Sex Education-

Fairly self explanatory, a group for British pupils at a Sixth Form College discovering their sexualities, learning about sex in a way that wasn't taught at school. Very queer, very funny at points with moments of family troubles, harder topics and exam stress. Modern day as opposed to Derry Girls which is set in the 90's so more wiggle room if you're someone who prefers modern au's. Large and diverse cast with individual stories and character growth so another one that's perfect for including the entire Marauders Ensemble.

Good Omens-

An Angel and a Demon are both sent to earth, one to bring miracles, the other to tempt people to sin. Along the way they get to know and care about each other, forming a pact where they will occasionally help each other out on jobs since they're effectively cancelling out each other's usefulness.

6000 years later and the Antichrist is born, Crowley (the demon) has the idea for them both to raise the boy together so that he neither turns out good OR evil, which Aziraphale (the angel) agrees to. However, due to an entirely human mix-up at the Antichrist's birth, they end up raising the wrong boy.

And the Actual Antichrist begins the end of the world. Crowley and Aziraphale have to work together to find him, and stop it, despite the risk of their respective sides catching wind and punishing them.

This is essentially a very British 6000 year long slow-burn between two male presenting entities and would be ideal for an enemies to lovers situation.

The Holiday-

In fairness, I think I have seen someone do an AU of this film but I can't remember the name of the fic so I'm going to put this forward anyway.

A british Publisher finds out that the man she's in love with is marrying someone else after leading her on and becomes incredibly depressed by this. At the same time, in America, a producer has caught her long-term boyfriend cheating on her and though she is devastated by this, she cannot cry. Instead of both of them wallowing in there maudlin, they decide to go on holiday and end up swapping houses for a while.

There are cultural differences each must overcome including the british lady's drunke, widower brother stumbling into her house while she isn't there and entering a relationship with the American, and the British lady encountering an American composer whom she quickly falls for despite him being in a relationship already.

Very sweet, very touching with explorations of romance, self and belonging. Another wide cast of characters but more focused on the romantic aspect of the four leads.

BBC Ghosts-

Specifically the British version of this, because while the American version is brilliant, this is focusing on British media.

Allison and Mike are a married couple who are struggling with their finances. When a distant relative of Allison's dies they're gifted her Manor house in rural England with plans to turn it into a BnB and earn some money. The ghosts inhabiting the house, varying from a Tory Politician who died in a sex scandal, to a woman burned as a witch and a caveman who died on the grounds- aren't very happy about this and do their best to scare them away.

An accident leaves Allison dead for a few minutes before modern technology is able to bring her back and from that moment onward she is able to see and speak to the ghosts.

Various hijinks ensue where the ghosts and Allison must learn to get along despite the issues with the house, the failing BnB business and Button House being put on the map through various historical discoveries.

This would be another great one for an Ensemble feel, historical discoveries and shenanigans around the different ways each character was raised (and subsequently died.) Incredibly funny, very British humour and very on brand for the Marauders.

And finally: Twelfth Night (or really, any Shakespeare, Twelfth Night just happens to be my favourite and I'm incredibly biased)-

Another comedy of Errors. Sebastian and Viola, twins from Medici (if I remember correctly) are caught in a storm and shipwrecked, both believing the other is dead. Viola washes up on Illyria having been saved by a local captain and decides her best bet at survival is to put on Sebastian's clothes and pretend to be a man so she can seek employment under Duke Orsino.

Duke Orsino is head over heels for Countess Olivia, whom is mourning her family and also hates the Duke. Viola, as Cesario her male disguise, falls for Orsino, Orsino sends them to court Olivia in his wake, Olivia falls for Viola/Cesario and then Sebastian washes up with his pirate "friend" and all hell breaks loose and no-one is able to tell one from the other.

Theres a side plot involving the members of Olivia's household sending a man insane because he's a dick which is just as funny as the rest of it.

Very funny, lots of deception and a brilliant exploration of relationships, self-discovery, identities and queerness. It's not a stretch to see Viola/Cesario as trans, Orsino and Olivia as queer and Antonio (Sebastian's pirate "friend") as gayer than a bottle of crisps.

Plus, I think there should be more Shakespeare Au's and this one, while the plot is complicated, fits the Marauders characters brilliantly well.

[aclickbaittitle]

Underated Audio-Dramas

Asking for it

A queer contemporary take of the Goldilocks tale: about love, music and breaking the cycle of abuse. Goldie escapes a chaotic childhood only to go from a partner who starves her of love to a partner who nearly drowns her in it, before learning to be just right on her own.

My two-cents: This audio-drama I believe is a most listen for any queer person, but especially for us sapphics that want and/or have been in a relationship. I think not much is said about how women are able to harm you, I remember that AN in "Nothing Burns as Bright as You" as how as a bisexual woman the author was taught to be wary of men, but never of woman and in her experience woman often hurt her the most. I remember being in a school conference talking about domestic abuse but never did it once touch on same-gender couples.

All of this is to say that as a society we often neglect to take a real look at how abuse in queer relationships look like, how they look especially in sapphic and lesbian relationships. So I am entirely greatfull "Asking For It Does".

I am lucky enough to have never been in any situation that Goldie finds herself in and still I feel that I know her story not in short thanks to the amazing writer.

Also the MUSIC, the music in this podcast is amazing, and it is from a real band, that also exists within the podcast. How awesome is that!

Fanwars: The Empire Claps Back

Two passionate Star Wars fans on opposite sides of the Last Jedi debate argue via Skype after their favorite forum closes down. If you love Star Wars (or call yourself a proud member of any fandom), you’ll love this romantic comedy told via conversations.

My two cents: The trials and tribulations of being a POC in fandom, more importantly in starwars fandom and realizing that, "oh damm right, poc can spill the same dung as yt fans". And amazing if straight rom-com. I'll recommend it to anyone who wants to spend an afternoon laughing. It also futures the ever growing in popularity pair of a black woman with an asian man, whom is just slightly of an asshole.

Average Folks

Join your friendly neighborhood Prophetess Terra, and the dysfunctional Chieftain's family as they navigate life, love and creatures of an unusual sort.

My two-cents: I've binge-listened to the 1st season of this podcast. It has surprisingly great worldbuilding even though the story develops in a relatively small town. Terra is a great protagonist to follow around bu the characters that really stand out for me are the kids of the Chief and their own aspirations/conflicts about the place their family has on society. It is a bit politician/rich/monarch apologist though.

Deep Blue Stars

Dr. Indigo Hale treads upon a mysterious island, inhabited by nothing more than crabs and cranes, where they must find a way to make it past impostor syndrome, the strange and wonderful loneliness, and the secret nature of their life's work: the Star Shell.

My two-cents: This podcast came at the precise moment of my life so I always hold it dear to my heart. I was discovering my gender in my own terms, and as always struggling with my never ending loneliness, so Dr. Indigo Hale's rambles were a soothing salve. I'll never forget that excerpt about how they felt no-human growing up, 'cause yeah, maybe is the queernes, or the neuro-divergency but it hit spot on. If you like stories of people getting stranded on a desert-island and then creating a relationship with a non-human thing/animal to survive, you'll really love this.

[verdemoun]

I know that Bill and Max are (kind of) getting together in timewarp (whenever they get past their internalized homophobia) but I’m still curious about the hypothetical ship between Alden and Bill

Hypothetical asks might be one of my new favorites to ask :]

to begin with a side note alden is still def a canon timewarper thanks to trelawney shenanigans and is their literal fairy godmother when it comes to helping both mac and bill figure out it's okay to be queer

alden was the one to go through the trials and tribulations of taking mac and bill to a gay bar. mac and bill looking around suspicious 'wait a minute there's something bothering me about this place' 'this bar doesn't have any windows' and alden is just desperate for a drink before the stress of putting up with these repressed idiots kills him

trying to order beers while the bartender just looks at alden like 'really??' and alden orders them the fruitiest whiskey 'mannish' cocktails and they drink them entirely too fast

their drunk banter is just admiring alden like alden you are a cool dude I would ride with you if you were an outlaw alden you’re so you and its a neat thing alden how are you soo relaxed how’d you leave yknow leave the 1890s behind

alden is about to call them faggots with a hard f because just how can two grown men be so repressed they’re more comfortable with the thought of murdering another human being than letting their hands touch

BUT ALDEN X BILL

honestly they would meet at a bar and alden would immediately diagnose you have internalized homophobia and a dumb brute vibe and i think it's hot

wouldn't even realise they were both timewarpers until either telling a story and getting the dates v wrong or arthur bumping into them oh hey alden and they both have the realization you're from the 19th century too???!?

alden is also a dog lover but his dog is a tiny white fluffy yappy thing that bill adores as much as his pack of big dogs and it sleeps on the bed with them. its name is dutchess and alden has no idea why bill laughed so hard at it

being 19th century alden doesn't have internalised homophobia per se but he still has that concept of needing to be discreet in 19th century fashion so it really doesn't bother him in the slightest that bill is not out. meanwhile alden doesn't really know how to not be out and bill is so weak if alden decides to kiss him in public or hold his hand bill is just going to turn red and go with it

alden has always been visibly gay the fact he can be gayer with significantly less risk of being violently hatecrimed compared to canon era he accidentally so obnoxiously gay just being himself and bill adores it

bill would move in with alden because he likes the drive to work in his truck with his 5 dogs and alden is far too involved in his local community to live on the ranc. they go on gorgeous coffee dates/walks through the park with their pack of very intimidating dogs + dutchess and are a known sight around town

[embracedthevoid]

This is a bit random, but I can’t stop thinking about this thing that happened so I need to tell someone.

The other day I somehow ended up at a party with a bunch of heavy duty mechanics. Don’t get me wrong, I had a nice time, but it wasn’t without its trials and tribulations.

When me and my fiancee are in groups like this, we always anticipate there will be a comment on our relationship at least once. This being because we’re both women.

At this particular party I found I was speaking a lot on politics and and how queer people fit in the world. Which I was happy to do for a while, but eventually as people got more drunk, I started shutting the conversation down by saying ‘I’d be happy to discuss this with you another time, but for now, I’d like to enjoy the party’. For the most part, these guys respected it, but would eventually round the conversation back to politics.

At the end of the night a comment was made about how I never stopped talking about my political views, and that people here (at the party) don’t mind, they just don’t want it pushed on them.

At first I was like, ‘oh okay no worries I can dial it back’. But the more I think about it, the more I’m just kinda pissed off. Because throughout the entire night the ONLY time I made some sort of comment was when one of the guys said ‘that’s so gay’, and all I did was respond with an unimpressed ‘I’m sorry it’s what?’ And then he apologized. Every other occasion was one of these men coming up to me and asking my opinion on something. At one point a guy even came up to me with no introduction and said ‘so I guess you’re a liberal then, huh?’ So, to summarize, men kept coming up to me asking for my opinion, but since they didn’t like my opinion, they proceeded to claim I was pushing my politics on them and wouldn’t stop talking about it. Even though I shut more conversation down than I actually engaged with!

To drive the nail in the coffin, one of the guys asked my brother and law if me and my fiancee were exclusive and if we are into threesomes. If I needed proof that none of the men respected my relationship, I don’t now.

[bluejayblueskies]

i've been meaning to make this post for a bit, but i want to talk about john and arthur's relationship and how i think it's already canonically queer*

*not romantic--just queer. see below the cut for details!

first off, to make things clear--i'm not here making an argument that john and arthur are romantic, because they're not. full stop. queerplatonic relationships exist and are queer, just as aspec individuals are queer, and so the argument i am making is that john and arthur's relationship is queer in that it breaks the boundaries of typical relationship categorizations. it's hard to define!

it's platonic, but 'john and arthur are friends' feels too small for what they mean to each other. they're each other's most important person; they can and would sacrifice themselves for each other; they're intimate in ways that are complex and intricate, both due to sharing a body and due to the way they influence one another and teach one another things. they know each other's deepest and darkest secrets and fears, and they've used them to hurt each other so deeply but also to comfort each other when they're struggling with those fears.

so i would argue that john and arthur are instead in a queerplatonic relationship. they're in a committed intimate relationship with each other, where they actively choose to be by each other's sides and are distressed when they're separated, but they're not romantically involved in any way. they have explicit commitment to one another ('i won't let you drown,' 'and yet you love him,' 'i want him back,' etc.), they support one another in times of extreme trial and tribulation (arthur's breakdown in ep. 26, john's struggles post-12 with finding out he's the king in yellow, etc.), and in recent episodes, they've often voiced how much they mean to one another and how highly they think of one another. hell, i would even argue that the fact that kayne keeps all but singing the 'kissing in a tree' song at them is another point in favor of this, as queerplatonic relationships can and do get incorrectly interpreted as romantic relationships because of the high level of intimacy between those involved.

and i personally think this is a big reason why people, especially new listeners, are reading their relationship as romantic! because the intimacy is there, the verbal affection is there, the clear commitment and desire to be around one another is there--there's even a spoken acknowledgement that arthur loves john in episode 20! and we (as a society) have been taught that that must mean that the romantic attraction is there as well. but that's not always the case, and it's not the case here. john and arthur can and do have all of those things without being romantically involved, and that blurring of the lines between what we typically define as romantic or platonic makes me inclined to label their relationship as queer.

TL;DR - i would argue that john and arthur's canon relationship can be interpreted as queer, and specifically queerplatonic, based on their high level of intimacy with one another that might typically be attributed to a romantic relationship

[dragongirldeity]

there's currently a very rare thunderstorm in San Francisco. i am sitting on my couch and generally enjoying this moment in life, because the past several years have been full of trials and tribulations. life is exhausting as a transfem, since my existence is first and foremost Political, and Up For Debate, while i largely just want to exist with my friends and loved ones and not be bothered.

of course, civilization being what it is right now, i am largely not afforded the luxury of getting to simply not be bothered about my existence. i can tune out some amount of it, for sure, but there's just such a volume of transmisogyny across society that it's always a status debuff i have to work against or put out of mind.

the past few years have been difficult, between graduating shortly before covid-19 (most of my 20s have been a weird haze of quarantining), amicably parting with my partner of 7 years (we have grown and simply have different wants now). i've never actually had many long-term support vectors in my life: i was sent to a religious high school, and wasn't allowed or able to keep in contact with any of my friends from growing up. i am estranged from my parents since they e-stalked me and have generally never respected my boundaries or autonomy as a person, and that's without getting into the mess of them Not Liking Me Being Queer. a lot of my friends have been moving away from the bay area, because building queer-trans community is Fucking Difficult when basically everyone in the bay area is only here transiently (and when a lot of queer stuff in the bay is cis-queer and not trans-queer, too). and that's why i myself am moving away later this year: much of my social graph has moved, and my attempts to regrow things here for the past year-and-change..... haven't been unsuccessful, but i think have helped me realize that even if i have a Fulfilling Social Graph here again, i would still be happier elsewhere, away from all the tech companies and nimbys and generally-constant sunny days (i am a vampire who enjoys the rain).

suffice it to say that life is generally difficult for a lot of trans people right now. life is difficult for your average people in general right now with the general socioeconomic situation we're in. life is more difficult for trans people, since we face nearly constant discrimination and harassment and hate and legislation. and then life can be even more difficult in typical life ways on top of that.

i still have things better than a lot of my peers: my computer autism means i have a reasonably stable job & career path. my best friend, whom i dearly love and cherish, was just in town visiting me last week. a few of my long-time internet friends live a few blocks away, and my two cats unconditionally love me. i do have people in my life who love me and care about my well-being. i am, blessedly, not alone in all this. and on top of all that i am fortunate enough to have found a pretty good therapist who can help me navigate and compartmentalize and process all of the struggles i face, since it's frankly a lot for a disabled autistic transfemme to navigate on my own.

the main thing that has been so hugely positive here is The Internet. the community i have would not really exist if not for The Internet. the social hubs that i cultivate and operate for my friends are, of course, on the internet. i meet friends-of-friends on discord and tumblr and telegram and whatnot, and it's truly great being able to be and feel so connected because of it.

and yet......... even on the internet, we are not free of anything. if anything, we're more vulnerable on the internet; our online identities and presences are intertwined, connected, and visible; it's easy for hateful motherfuckers to find the most vulnerable people online and go after them. if one part of your presence is found, it's a thread a stranger can try and unravel to expose you, to wield against you. at least in person, you can always put up a façade, walling off strangers and giving them nothing else to go off of; online, we just project an entity to be perceived, and often times aren't really aware of everything.

there's. a point here i wanted to make, somewhere. i wanted to say something with all this. i think it's that for a lot of us, we are just tired of all the fucking transmisogyny around every corner. it's already so much struggling to exist as a person In General at this moment in time. It's even harder having to face hate and struggle to exist even online just because you're a transfemme who wants to drop the façade around those like you. we're not allowed to have our own digital communities without outsiders wanting to look in and police us there, too.

for a lot of us, we are simply too tired and overwhelmed from everything else to also deal with this a lot of the time. and yet, deal with it we must, because we will be harassed. we will have headass CEOs saying headass CEO stuff. we will have politicians trying to legislate our right to exist away.

this is a lot to say that i don't regret anything about transitioning or whatever. i love being trans. it's a beautiful experience and i am much better for it, and am wholeheartedly glad to be trans, glad to know the trans people i know, and glad to love as i love. it is, truly, the neverending transmisogyny that is the problem, and it is truly exhausting having to deal with the transphobia and transmisogyny. nowhere is free from it except for the small insular exclusive spaces we carve out for ourselves.

take care of each other. love the transfemmes and transmascs in your life unabashedly, because there's functionally infinite amounts of hate we have to deal with at every corner, and aside from absolutely bodying the hate out of existence, the next best thing you can do to help is to support and love the trans people you know and treat them with compassion.