#tired of forced gay or bisexual relationships!

[yezzyyae]

I used to love this show! But I never went back after season 2 episode 1 where Cara Delevingne & Selena Gomez’s characters was supposed to be having romantic chemistry in a scene. I turned my tv off so damn fast & never went back, I am fine with gay or bisexual people but come on everybody is not gay or have a secret gay trait that’s waiting to be shown to the world after someone of the same sex make eye contact with them. Cara Delevingne can’t give off sexual chemistry ever I mean everytime I see her trying to seduce someone on screen I feel “yucky” inside. Cara Delevingne can’t act her way out of a paper bag that’s for 1 & Selena Gomez’s character named Mabel Mora was not a lesbian. Mabel Mora & Cara Delevingne’s character did not have sexual or romantic chemistry at all! Idk who casted Cara Delevingne in “Only Murders in the Building” but they ruined one of my fav shows for me.

I can’t go back because I would have to watch season 2 with Cara Delevingne in episodes & my stomach could not handle it. I hate forced relationships in shows bad enough I have to hear people say that Sydney Adamu & Carmen Berzatto have sexual & romantic chemistry in “The Bear” when they are ZERO I mean NEGATIVE ZERO CHEMISTRY GOING ON BETWEEN THE TWO! Writers keep ruining great shows forcing romantic storylines onto characters because they saw some weirdos posts on Reddit or Tumblr. It is ruining tv shows I want to give “Only Murders in the Building” another chance cause I loved Charles-Haden Savage(Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam(Martin Short), & Mabel Mora(Selena Gomez) chemistry as platonic friends & neighbors!

Everybody does not have sexual or romantic chemistry is everybody they are around. Everybody is not secretly gay or bisexual. Everybody does not want to kiss their best friend. Everybody does not date their neighbor. Everybody does not date their boss or co worker. Damn leave people alone!

[whencloudwavesbreak-if]

When Cloud Waves Break Pinned Post

LINKS: DEMO [UPDATED 30/03/2024] | COG FORUM

SUMMARY

When Cloud Waves Break is a work-in-progress murder mystery/Lovecraftian horror interactive fiction story. After returning to your hometown of Golden Gulf, your older sister is brutally murdered. The method? Poison. The location? The Twin Suns restaurant, on its reopening night. It's up to you to find her killer. But it won't be easy. Between dealing with your hostile brother-in-law, the police force interfering every step of the way, and your own memories about why you left, you're in for a rough time. And that's not even taking into account the weird dreams you've been having…

FEATURES

Play as male, female, or non-binary; straight, gay, or bisexual.

Customize your sister: choose her name, her personality, and determine your relationship with her.

Choose between four possible occupations: actor, doctor, soldier, or dilettante.

Learn more about the history of Golden Gulf, how your family ties into it, and what it has to do with your sister's murder.

And maybe stop a cult. Or join them. It's up to you.

ROMANCE OPTIONS

Officer Wyatt Pierce (M) "I've made many mistakes. But caring for you? Isn't one of them."

Description: An officer of the Golden Gulf Police Department. He also used to be your neighbour when you were kids. Time changes people though. Can you love who he is now?

Appearance: Greying hair - younger than he looks. Massive claw marks across his face, burned into the skin.

Personality: He's gruff and tired. Growing up in Golden Gulf, he learned to let many things slide. It weighs on him, made him callous. But then your sister died. Suddenly, he can't be callous anymore. Not with her dead. And especially not when you're here.

Officer Casey Young (NB) "I'll keep you safe. I promise."

Description: The officer from Augusta, sent to find and arrest the leader of the Burning Waters crime gang, Nina Wu. They don't trust many people. Maybe you can be the exception?

Appearance: Faded tattoo of a monkey on their neck; wild hair; friendly, but cautious eyes.

Personality: They are kind, with a spine of steel, and will always do the right thing. Even if everyone turns against them and they risk losing everything. Make them care for you, though, and the choice will destroy them.

Evelyn Ross (F) "You and me? It just feels too good to be true."

Description: Your brother-in-law's administration assistant. Duty and logic drives her every action. To her, love is a silly afterthought. Maybe you can change her mind?

Appearance: Petite. Lustrous, thick hair. Bright eyes. Glasses. Conventionally attractive.

Personality: Her calculating mind is her greatest strength, but also her greatest weakness. She's aware of all the possibilities stretching out before her, but also of the consequences. And it paralyzes her. But reassure her, become an anchor for her, and she'll lift you up in turn.

Jeremiah/Jessamine Callahan (M/F) "I'd forgotten what this felt like. Thank you for reminding me."

Description: The sole survivor of the wealthy Callahan family. You grew up with their spouse, Riley. They've loved and they've lost. Maybe you can help them learn to love again?

Appearance: Hair braided in cornrows; ragged and tattered clothes; an air of sadness that hangs over them like a cloud.

Personality: They aren't afraid to say what they think and have a very strong moral compass. But it can sometimes lead them to jumping to conclusions. Get them on your side though, and they'll follow you to the very end. 'Til death do you part.

Oscar/Ophelia Lovelace (M/F) "You are everything that I imagined you to be."

Description: The interior designer contracted for the reconstruction. Love wasn't enough to keep you in Golden Gulf. But maybe they can?

Appearance: Very tall and graceful; eccentric sense of style; an ever-present smile.

Personality: They project a polite and mild mannered façade. But their true personality emerges through their design work, which they are obsessively dedicated to. Catch their attention, though, and they'll never let you go.

ADDITIONAL INFO

OTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTERS:

Your Older Sister: She was many things, to many people. How did you see her? Was she self-absorbed? Naive? Arrogant? Or charming? But none of that really matters now that she's dead... Does it?

Benjamin Mullen: Your sister's husband. He's a difficult man to get along with. He also has a problem with you specifically, and isn't afraid to tell you so.

INSPIRATIONS:

Agatha Christie mystery novels, Lovecraftian horror, The King in Yellow by Robert W Chambers, the TTRPGs Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition and Brindlewood Bay, and Slay the Princess by Black Tabby Games.

[2amcheese]

I am queer.

Whatever your associations with the word, I am it. I was queer when the little boys called Mary queer at the beginning of The Secret Garden, in that old fashioned way that meant strange, I was queer when I found out the modern definition, I’ve been queer and queer and queer for years and years and years. 

I’m a trans guy. I don’t think I’m a trans man, or a trans boy. I can’t find those words in me, a concrete definition of what a male should be. I’m a trans dude. A trans guy. A concept of casual masculinity that I dress myself in for comfort. I’m tired of labels.

My mom always complains about kids and their labels. I think some labels are fine, when you shed them like a dress when it no longer fits. I don’t like labels that choke you out and force you into their boxes, which are always just too small to be comfortable but not too bad to leave. I think some labels are an abusive relationship. That’s why I’m not a trans boy. Too many expectations to fulfill the role of “boy,” I tried it once and I can’t fit into the box, even though I tried. I tried so hard.

When I look for queers on the internet they’re often separated by label. LESBIAN SPACE. GAY MEN ONLY. WLW DNI. I feel like a floater, hopping from planet to planet, like I was born out of an asteroid in the queer galaxy, never really belonging anywhere. I belong in the galaxy, I can feel that in my bones (which come from stardust) but a planet, a label, eludes me.

I am bisexual, but only in the loosest sense of the word. I don’t know if I find anyone sexually attractive but people of any genders can look good to me. My first crush was a boy and now I’m dating a girl and I don’t know if I have a preference. There are very few bi spaces and even fewer I feel I belong in--I am fundamentally not a bi girl, but have no experience with being a bi boy and all the stigma that comes with being a homo- or bi-sexual male. I feel disconnected from the concept of gender, discovering myself by avoiding feeling bad instead of seeking feeling good. 

My head is complicated. There is anxiety in there and the burden of being labeled as “the smart kid” in first grade. There’s so much in my head I can’t think straight--though my girlfriend likes to say that I can’t do anything straight. I know who I am but not what I am or how to fit in in our dimorphic world. I feel like I’m blindly feeling around for something, trying to map out a path to me by feeling the spikes and cutting my hands and going the other way. That’s less of a metaphor than I wish it was. 

I have found acceptance but not belonging. I have support but no concrete identity. The world wants so badly to categorize me so it can understand me and I don’t know how to explain that I am just me. The thing that is me is not any of these other things you wish it was. I guess my journey is less about finding a label that works, and more about learning to live label-less. I need to learn how to identify as me instead of whatever label they wrap around my neck. For now I think I’ll stick with queer. To quote The Greatest Showman; “I am brave, I am bruised, this is who I’m meant to be. This is me.” 

This is me. Queer. 

[stop-ugly]

✨HEADCANONS✨

Harry loves his adoptive fathers very much, but he also knows everything about his real parents. There are pictures of Lily and James in every room.

Harry spent his childhood with rock music.

As soon as the next new model of a children's broom appears in stores, Sirius tries to buy it for Harry right away. Remus does not approve of such actions and believes that Sirius spoils his godson.

Quite early, Harry begins to show the character inherited from...... Lily. Sirius pretends to groan that there are two bores in this house now.

Sirius still spends every full moon with Remus, and Harry stays with his aunt Andromeda.

At first, Remus continued to look for work, but he was refused everywhere because of lycanthropy. In the end, Sirius got tired of it, and he forced his husband to stay at home, because, thanks to the inheritance of the Potters and Blacks, they do not need money.

Every Halloween, Remus, Sirius and Harry go to the Potter's grave.

Once wolfstar tried to come to Dursleys. They wanted Harry to meet his cousin. Petunia and Vernon turned out to be homophobic as well as wizard-hating. And Dudley was a spoiled bully. Harry didn't want to go back to that house.

In this universe, Harry does not try to hide his scar, because Sirius diligently teaches his husband and son that you should never be ashamed of yourself.

One day, Harry tells Remus and Sirius that he would like to have a brother or sister. And before Remus can start a Conversation™, Sirius interrupts him: "Harry, you may not have noticed, but we're gay."

Harry is a Gryffindor.

Remus had instilled in Harry a love of reading.

Harry feels comfortable in both the magical and muggle worlds.

In fact, Harry's character remains the same, but, thanks to supportive parents, he does not have that low self-esteem, hero syndrome and a huge sense of duty to the magical world. And he is no longer so easy to manipulate.

He also wants to become an animagus, but Remus insists that Sirius can only begin training Harry when he is at least 14 years old.

Harry is still great at Quidditch, but now he doesn't end up in the hospital wing after every match.

Harry has detentions much more often than in the canon, thanks to the love of pranks and adventures inherited from Sirius.

And yeah, in this universe, he's much more in touch with the Weasley twins. Although his best friends are still Hermione and Ron.

Harry is VERY cheeky.

Severus hates Harry even more than in the canon because of the character traits of Remus and Sirius. It's mutual.

Do you know what Hogwarts lacks? THE PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES.

I can see Severus scolding Harry in front of all the other parents, and Sirius is instantly furious and expresses doubt about the potion master, who can't make himself a shampoo.

Sirius thinks there's no point in coming up with new jokes when the old is still gold. AND HE'S SERIOUS.

One day after a parent-teacher conference Lucius is very rude about Sirius and Remus ' relationship. Narcissa leads her husband away, giving Wolfstar an apologetic look. Sirius is not offended, but he comes to the next conference in a rainbow-colored robe.

Remus was wearing a bisexual badge.

Dumbledore liked it.

Lucius sat red-faced throughout the conference, and as soon as it was over, he apparated away. Narcissa just laughed and suggested that her brother should have dinner together sometime.

When Hermione's passion for protecting the rights of magical creatures wakes up, Harry suddenly becomes interested too and inundates her with questions about possible solutions to the problems of werewolves.

Hermione puts two and two together, and the next time she sees Remus, she notifies him of her guess, and also expresses her full support. Remus was embarrassed but pleased.

When Harry came out to his adoptive parents as a bisexual, Sirius exclaimed happily, raising his hands in the air: "WE'RE GOING TO THE PRIDE!!"

Sirius presents himself as Casanova and the king of flirting, but when Harry needs love advice, he ALWAYS goes to Remus.

When Harry has a crush on Draco, Sirius wonders who exactly he inherited his love for the nasty Slytherins: Lily or James?

There's no way Harry's been cleaning up school shit all these years on his own. No, Harry has fathers, and they won't leave him. Never ever.

[sexy-monster-fucker]

Being put in a situation last night where I was almost forced to come out was extremely stressful and hurt my inner self badly.

I get a text from my mom questioning something I have on my Instagram bio (my anniversary date with 🩷💜💙 next to it). I simply tell her what it is and ask why? Then she tells me apparently my 14 year old brother’s “friends” think I’m bisexual because of it. Which of course gives me a minor heart attack. I live in an extremely conservative area, with an extremely homophobic family who I am still heavily in contact with. (My mother thought I was gay in high school bc I joked with a friend about our daily phone calls as “phone dates” and she took my phone away and grounded me for months). I even live with my Grandma, so I’m not exactly in a safe space to be out to my family.

I tell her those kids are wrong (which is a lie but I have to lie for my own safety). And then I get a text from my younger brother “Hey, we need to have a conversation tomorrow so be at grandmas tomorrow evening.” Like??? Okay? So rightfully so, I spiral. Trying to force my brother to just tell me whatever it is over text or call me on the phone. He’s refusing telling me that he has to wait til he’s in person. I’m not budging. So I give him a big long text about how blue + pink = purple which is why the hearts are there in that order and how this has nothing to do with my sexuality.

He then goes on to tell me mom most likely didn’t explain it to me correctly bc he was trying to keep the situation hidden but needed mom’s phone to take a screenshot of my Instagram. He tells me on of his so-called “friends” said something in class about me being a lesbian, which I am not nor have I ever claimed to be. But apparently one of his other classmates chimed in and said “she has a boyfriend, but she’s bisexual. If you don’t believe me look at her Instagram.” Which apparently caught my brother off guard extremely bad and he wanted to talk to me about it. (I think he was going to try and have a come-to-Jesus-meeting with me and lecture me about how it’s bad and whatever but I don’t really care)

I tell you this story because I am just kinda sick over it. Being forced into a situation where I have to lie because one of my brother’s classmates found my Instagram and outed me publicly. I happen to be in a straight-passing relationship (both my boyfriend and I are Bi), so it’s a lot easier for me to lie about who I am and my sexuality. I am just so tired and frustrated that I cannot live my truth more publicly. I am bisexual. I love the LGBTQ+ community. I love pride. I love men. I love women. I love everyone in between. Why do we have to live in such a sick and cruel world where people can’t love who they love without risking being thrown into the street or even worse. I am not ashamed of who I am, but I am forced into a pseudo closet since I cannot be out to my family.

Another reason I tell this is for all the younger people on the internet: JUST BC SOMEONE HAS SOMETHING IN THEIR BIO DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN PUBLICLY OUT THEM! IT IS NOT YOUR PLACE TO TALK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE’S SEXUALITIES ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR FAMILY!

You genuinely never know what kind of situation someone is in. You never know what will happen if you tell someone else’s business to others. If I was still a teenager, there is a good chance I would have been beat and possibly kicked out. Learn to mind your own business.

[sparks-olivarpente]

Byler Fics List: the Grown-ups

I adore Stranger Things adult characters, here are some fics where they play an important part:

Until you wake up by Roxhylee Will is in a coma and Mike visits him every day. This one has some of the most thoughtful Ted-and-Mike chapters and an interesting take on Ted <3

Wedding at the End of the World (What do We Have to Lose?) by Julia_Skysong "Hang on, hang on," Jonathan interrupted, frowning slightly. "Let me do the math here. You've only been a…thing, for like a few days? And you want to get married?" "Dude, you're gonna get a new step-dad! Argyle cheered, trying to high five him. "Please for the love of GOD let me officiate this," Murray cackled. OR Joyce and Hopper decide to have a spontaneous wedding at the end of the world and help their kids figure out love and life.

Bananas and Closure by @tired-bisexual-brainrot Hopper runs into Diane while at the store. He invites her over for dinner, and she finds out that he now has a whole family with three kids and a wife.

No Cure for Queer by AlabasterInk (@alabasterswriting) Will Byers had about thirty minutes between realizing that the butterflies in his stomach came from appreciating Mike’s smile a little too much, to walking into his house and hearing Hopper say, “…wrong, Joyce. A guy with another guy. We used to arrest queers, you know…” And it all went downhill from there.

california show your teeth by @fireflywitch Fourteen months after a rash of unexplained disappearances tore an Indiana town apart, a new chief of police and his very normal, nothing-to-see-here family moves to Hawkins from Lenora Hills, California. "I wondered what it would be like if the Byers, El, and Hopper had grown up in Lenora Hills instead of Hawkins and moved to Indiana later on - how things would be different and what things would stay the same and which characters might be better off or worse off…" for Claudia and the Moms <3

You May Be the One Place I'm Sure About by elsie (the_technorats) the one where Joyce Byers and Jim Hopper finally have a moment to themselves. no byler here but you should read it all the same ;)

mom, i'm gay. wait, you are too? by dragons_like_smores @howtobecomeadragon “What if there are no men out there for me, Michael?” Mike, not focused at all on his mom, said absentmindedly, “Then maybe you can just date a woman.” Or: Mike unintentionally starts Karen's lesbian awakening while he simps for his boyfriend, Will, all summer long.

poor old jim's white as a ghost by AttaboyLuther Even when he started on the force back in 1980… Jim Hopper knew there was something special between William Byers and that brat Mike Wheeler. (AKA: Mike and Will fall in love, told through the perspective of one Chief Hopper)

and if you wanna cry or fall apart (i'll be there to hold you) by Strangerangels Mike Wheeler and his relationship with Will Byers, as told by Joyce Byers. Inspired by that scene in S2 where Mike holds Joyce and leads her into the car. Y'know, the one where Bob dies. You just know Mike is going to be the best in-law Joyce will ever have.

The Darkest Eyes by @light-lanterne a semi canon-compliant character study of mike wheeler, his unaddressed trauma and his relationship with will byers, told through the eyes of a very tired jim hopper who can’t help but to become attached to the boy who keeps dating his children.

The Right Thing by Nymphadoragreenleaf The second pregnancy was a mistake. They were basically at breaking point with only Jonathan and Lonnie didn’t want to have to work even more when he had already fulfilled his side of the bargain. He married her and they had a kid. What more did they expect from him (or Lonnie pov)

Benny's also by Nymphadoragreenleaf Officer Powell grimaces “The trespasser… he’s- chief it’s your misses youngest- the one who went missing a few years back.” (or Hopper pov)

some more Hopper: it's me, hi (everybody agrees) by @livsindelusion or 5 Times Mike Gets The Shovel Talk and 1 Time It's Will

and some Joyce! can't hold out forever by scorchstorm five times that others noticed how mike felt + the one time that will did.

Have fun reading :)

[byakuya-transgaymi]

I fell out of the Danganronpa fandom for a bit and unfortunately I am back in it at full force, possibly more than before since I now created a Tumblr account for my favorite character.

My head canons under read more i honestly just wanted somewhere to put them lmao only read if you wanna, but I love seeing others headcanons so if you want, feel free to share your own! I know there aren't a lot of Danganronpa fans anymore but ya know the hyperfixation chose me, I didn't choose it.

Byakuya is genderfluid and gay and on the aroace spectrum because I said so and I'm not projecting. And makoto is a bisexual trans man and his transness helped byakuya realize that he is ALSO trans and sometimes likes to wear more stereotypically "feminine" or gender neutral clothing. And they're gay together, your honor.

Kyoko is biromantic and she loves makoto romantically and Byakuya platonically (platonic soulmates!!!). They are poly cause I think kyoko and makoto together are way too lovely to ignore and also kyoko is such an interesting character. Kyoko helped byakuya come to terms with his asexuality since byakuya was raised to believe that he needed to mate with a bunch of women and reproduce. And of course she made him accept it through some discreet line of questioning and Byakuya had to just go in his dorm for the whole day and mind snowboard until he started to begin to accept it.

And Byakuya helped Kyoko and Makoto get together. Makoto and Byakuya were dating first and Makoto confessed to Byakuya one night about how he had feelings for both him and kyoko and he feels really guilty about it. Makoto expected Byakuya to be jealous but he was just like, "okay and why are you not with her yet, plebian?" Then they discuss polyamory and agree to let Kyoko into their relationship if she wishes to (byakuya knows that she is head over heels for makoto and Makoto is so oblivious to anyone liking him ever).

Kyoko says yes and they're both so in love it's sickening but Byakuya loves to see makoto so trusting of someone and getting to view from a sort of outsiders perspective the subtle things that makoto does when he feels safe around someone and truly loves them. Like how Makoto stands up for himself more and is more confident around his partners, or how he likes to play with kyoko's hair especially when he's thinking about something (bro stims we love to see it).

And kyoko notices how much less douchey byakuya is around makoto. Byakuya will often even get things for makoto or buy things that he knows he loves, even though byakuya always gives some kind of half-assed excuse as to why it wasnt purely out of kindness that he did it. Kyoko also sees how Makoto often ends up falling asleep in places that aren't his bed, and Byakuya will lift makoto up so gently as if he is some priceless thing and carry him to their bed. And he will tuck him in and bring him a glass of water (filtered, not tap) and sometimes he even kisses the top of his head if byakuya doesn't know that Kyoko is there watching (which only happens if byakuya is also extremely tired as well).

And kyoko and Byakuya love to go out to shop together and she helps him find skirts and dresses and stuff that fits him and they talk about makoto and how he's actually so smart and yet so oblivious at the same time like how is someone able to be a genius at deduction and yet forgets how a toaster works. They love to find clothes that they think makoto would look goofy in but makoto always ends up loving the clothes and he somehow looks GOOD in it. And they are always STUNNED. How does this man rock a fnaf crop top with jean shorts?

And both makoto and kyoko taught Byakuya that feelings do play some significance in life and it doesn't have to be facts over feelings (dude is NOT Ben Shapiro even though he sometimes acts like him). He learned that it's okay to be vulnerable at times when you're around those you can trust, though his walls do come back up sometimes when he gets angry or feels insecure about something. But Byakuya always ends up apologizing afterwards , even if it takes a few days.

And Byakuya learns to gradually accept hugs and other affection sometimes. He's pretty touch averse because of his upbringing and he finds that hugs often make him feel overwhelmed and trapped. But after a few months of being together with Makoto, Byakuya tells makoto about his touch aversion and how Byakuya will let makoto know when he is okay with physical touch such as hugging. Byakuya lets him know it's nothing against makoto and its not because he's a "commoner", he just didn't grow up with physical affection and finds that he gets overstimulated very easily from certain things.

Stopping myself from writing anymore I'm so mentally unwell

[korkiekenobiconfirmed]

I'm on a roll with the s/j/m hatred tn so I'm going to compile a masterlist of all her shitty lgbt/poc representation and why it sucks booty cheeks. it should be noted that none of this is meant as shade on any of the characters themselves... I actually happen to like quite a lot of them

EDIT: there are some nice additions to this post in the notes you can check out

LGBT rep

Aedion (Bi/Pan)

Literally known as “Adarlan’s Whore” (a nickname that references both his allegiance to the king and his tendency to sleep around)

His only same-sex relationship is with a vaguely-mentioned unnamed lover from the past (it’s not even said straight-up that they’re a man, but I’m assuming they are bc they’re mentioned to be a commander of the Bane)

He’s shown being attracted to women and only women for two and a half books. He’s a womanizer retconned into the slutty bisexual stereotype

His liking men & women is compared to prostitution

It’s insinuated in koa that he slept with an ex while he and Lysandra were fighting (because the cheating bisexual trope is such a new & creative one!)

Helion (Bi/Pan)

He’s always trying to have 4somes with three of the main characters

Realistically he’s probably one of the most powerful/interesting High Lords but this gets sidelined in favor of him flirting with eVeRyOnE

All we really know about him is his name and the fact that he’s a bit of a manwhore… very 2-dimensional

He has an affair & a child with a married woman… just the Slutty/Cheating Bisexual Trope (Volume 2) :/

Mor (Lesbian? Possibly bi?)

She’s never shown in any real relationships (with men or women)

She had tragic off-screen relationship with a mortal queen a few hundred years ago

We get literally no hints that she’s gay throughout the series, she just randomly mentions she likes women at the end of book 3

She gets no happy relationship, she stays closeted to spare Az’s feelings (as though he’s not a grown ass man), she’s retconned into her sexuality most of the way through the series… just shitty shitty rep all around

Hasar (Lesbian)

She’s a villain, and a shitty one at that

Lesbian rep from a side character in one novella that half the fandom didn’t read? What’s even the point?

Thesan (Gay)

A very minor character & his unnamed “lover” who serve no narrative purpose whatsoever… thanks for nothing sarah

Emrys & Malachai (Presumably gay)

Oh look! More minor, background mlm that might as well not exist for all they do for the story :/

They are cute though, I’ll give them that

POC rep

Nehemia

First (and only) black main in ToG

She dies to fuel the white protag’s character arc… a very tired trope

She was actually a pretty well-written, likable character up until her brutal murder, which made it that much worse to hear about her organs strewn all over the room

Sorscha 

Described as “plain” (particularly in contrast to the white women like Aelin & Lysandra)

We know she’s POC because of where she’s from, but the way her features are described suggest she could still be white

Dark hair, gold eyes, “tan” skin

She really just fawns over white-boy Dorian every 2 seconds before dying a violent death to fuel Dorian’s arc…

…Aaaand I’m sensing a pattern here

Nesryn

Much of her character (especially in QoS) is reduced to her beefing with Aelin (and thus being villanized by the narrative) because of jealousy over Chaol 

Simply described as having “tan” skin (again). I think sarah is allergic to calling people brown

She is also described as plain compared to white protagonist

She has a (presumably middle eastern) family that only wants her to stay home and be a baker/someone’s wife

Yrene 

Once again very racially ambiguous to the point where she could even be white, with “tan/golden” skin, golden hair, and golden eyes

She almost immediately ties her literal life force to a white man she hated like a month ago. Seriously, can WOC not fawn over a hunky white man for once?

She defeats erawan in the end — considering she’s been a character for such a short time, this just feels more like a deus ex machina the anything really set up by the plot

Helion 

Not going to fully rehash what I said above but generally… he has great potential, but is basically not a character

Tarquin 

He’s portrayed as very nice and reasonable, if young and naive, yet he literally only exists to get manipulated/robbed by the main characters

He seems like such a sweetheart. He deserved much better than Riceman and Feyrug doing him dirty like that

I’ve heard rumors of a High King/Queen F*ysand plotline in later books…if that happens, Tarquin will likely be bending the knee and forgiving the people who fucked him over just a short time ago

Lucien

He’s described as very caring and loyal (yay!) which seems to always get him taken advantage of (damn!)

He’s portrayed (especially in ACOWAR) as someone we’re supposed to dislike when all his actions are perfectly reasonable

He’s literally retconned out of being white when it’s revealed Helion is his father instead of Beron. I’ve seen ppl get mad at “white-washed” fan art but it’s hard to expect much else when his original character description was straight red hair, amber eyes,  and “tan” skin (holy shit agAIN)

The people of the White Fangs from TOG

They’re described as having black hair, black eyes, and “tan” skin

They live isolated in the mountains (away from civilization) and are described as “savage” and warlike, always raiding villages in the mountains and stealing women away from their homes… 

Cain, who’s from these people, dabbles in dark magic/religion nobody else understands

This is feeling, intentional or not, like a horrible Native American caricature. Idk maybe that’s just me

[camaro-and-smokes]

The Family Values Program | CH2

Second chapter of a dystopian au we've been writing together with @aggressiveviking is up! (or been for a week or so, I forgot to share, oops lol)

Warnings: None. Tags: Alternate Universe - Dystopia, Alternate Universe - No Upside Down, Arranged Marriage, Developing Relationship, Pre-Relationship, Slow Burn, Developing Friendships, Denial of Feelings, Internalized Homophobia, Eventual Romance, Eventual Smut, Domestic Fluff, Forced Cohabitation, Mutual Pining Misunderstanding, Sexual Tension, Unrequited Crush, or so they both think, Closeted Gay Billy Hargrove, Steve Harrington Has a Bisexual Awakening, Other tags to be added

Summary: Their first full day together gets an interesting start and then things start going downhill. Desperate situations require desperate solutions.

Read in full on AO3 >>

Snippet under the cut.

Billy was dreaming— he was dreaming something... nice — he couldn't really focus to remember. Warm and soft and for the first time in a long time, happy and relaxed.

He was still half asleep when he realized there was heat pressed into him keeping him warm. A sleepy small grunt left his lips as his eyes slowly opened. The blanket was almost up over his mouth, making him feel even more cozy. The light coming from the windows showered the whole room in dim cold light, seeping through the thin curtains… he didn’t remember those last night, but he was too tired to wonder how or why. He didn’t feel like getting up, he was way too comfortable— 

Billy suddenly felt something that had his heart almost jump out of his mouth – a squeeze on his pec. He moved his hand, reaching up, fingers over… fingers ? He pulled the blanket away enough to see it was a hand– Steve’s hand.  

Billy’s sleep-addled mind needed only a moment to piece together that the other man was pressed into his back, hand around his side, holding on… Billy’s face was red, heart thumping with shock… because it felt nice . 

Fuck— that was so wrong. Billy could barely stand the guy, and they had almost gotten into a fight last night. How did that lead to this ? This wasn’t… it couldn’t…

He craned his neck as much as he could to look over his shoulder. For a moment he had thought that maybe Steve was actually interested in him like that . But he dismissed that instead for the thought that the guy was trying to provoke him again, continuing to push their petty fight from before. It was a relief to see that Steve was sleeping, face relaxed, breathing steady and deep. 

Billy’s head was a mess, still too asleep to be able to think through things. The only thing he knew was that he was butt-naked, in the arms of an attractive man— Billy couldn’t deny that Steve was fucking gorgeous, the bastard — and he was starting to feel… things.

With his heart racing, Billy pushed the hand off himself and slipped out of the warmth under the blanket. His blush had spread to his ears and down his neck as he quickly scooped his clothes off the floor and quietly went to the bathroom.

+

An insistent sound penetrated Steve's sleep. He was annoyed because it just wouldn't stop and dragged him out of his slumber against his will. Suddenly, he snapped wide awake, realizing that it was his alarm. Fuck .

He'd fallen asleep.

He was sleeping on his stomach and hugging, based on the scent not his own but… Billy's pillow. He sat up quickly, letting the pillow fall on the mattress. Billy was nowhere to be seen, but a coldness filled his insides, nonetheless.

Oh, this was bad.

He didn't know for sure if he'd done it if he'd cuddled with Billy. He wanted to believe he hadn't. But the evidence told a different story—the pillow, and that he usually slept on his right side or his back, never on his stomach. He wasn't hurting anywhere, though, so he hadn't been hit, which he thought would've likely happened if he'd done it.

So, nothing told him anything else, but that it was barely plausible, if even that. But he couldn't push the possibility away from his mind. He knew it was always there.

He finally turned off the alarm and rubbed his face with his hands. What a fucking start for a day. Tonight he'd sleep in the other room without a fight, for sure.

There was a faint scent of coffee wafting in the air, and Steve's stomach gurgled loudly. The light dinner last night hadn't been near enough. At least he might get some coffee before he left early enough so that he could grab something to eat in some diner before going to work. He sure as hell wouldn't push Billy to make anything for him.

He took a shower, shaved, made sure his hair was on point, and put on his best gray Gucci suit pants, his best shirt, and tie, cufflinks, and Gucci dress shoes.

He took the suit jacket to be put on when he’d leave and walked to the top of the stairs, where he stood there for a moment, taking a few deep breaths before walking downstairs. He promised himself that today would start better than yesterday. Even if they didn't have to like each other, they would have to get along as long as they were stuck together.

[theemperorsnewfanblog]

I know it's mostly ignorance to even knowing the show exists (which is weird cuz it used to be a Disney channel classic) but I'm tired of Kuzco's bisexuality being erased.

That man was hardcore in love with Malina for 52 episodes, it wasn't "forced" it was very thoroughly developed. He also took a guy to prom and constantly calls Ramon attractive. and all the "hottie hot hotties". He was definitely bi.

Honestly I can't even see him labeling himself, he's just Kuzco. But this always happens to certain male characters the fandom headcanons as gay, they try to discredit and erase any relationships they have with female characters. TENS is a canonical sequel. Alright, I'm done with my rant. 🥰

[x-neurotoxin-x]

Do you have any Huskerdust headcanons?

Not a whole lot yet, I'm still kinda feeling them out but I'm already getting pretty into this ship

Really, really like the idea of them being in a queer platonic relationship rather than a standard romantic/sexual relationship.

Or, just a very slow-burn type of deal. Especially given Angel's trauma.

I like the idea that they're both on the ace/aro spectrum. Ik canonically Husk is bisexual/pansexual (? Pretty sure?) and Angel's gay, but I'm aspec so i gotta hc they're at least like demi or gray asexual/aromantic. Husk especially just gives me aspec vibes.

Also really like the idea that Angel was a virgin or had very, very little to no sexual or romantic relationships while he was alive (I remember the creator saying somewhere that one of the reason he's very sexual in hell is because he wasn't able to be like that when he was human and hasn't had many sexual experiences, which would make sense given he's a gay man in the 30s and 40s) so I really like the idea that Husk would be his first actual relationship (Val and all that doesn't count since he sold his soul and is essentially being trafficked and forced to do pornography.) And he's kinda exploring what a healthy relationship could be like with Husk.

Love love love the idea that (on top of his tendency to be hypersexual and expects to be sexualized all the time) Angels constant hitting on Husk started as like a "test," to see if Husk would take advantage of him like everyone else, and he's baffled whenever he gets turned down

Also like the hc that Angel has a genuine crush on Husk and thats why he flirts with him all the time and acts really crude around him, because he doesn't know how else to express that he likes Husk without being very sexual.

They cant drink together very often because Angel goes overboard and doesn't have a high tolerance for alcohol and is kind of a lightweight (but he does have a high tolerance for drugs) while Husk has a very high tolerance for alcohol and is a functioning alcoholic and he gets kinda tired of babysitting

Ughh some cute fluffy shit

like Husk purs when Angel scratches him behind his ears or under his chin and its like a quickly learned weak spot for when he's in a bad or down mood. Husk is just like :(( and Angels all "aww, do you need chin scratchies?"

Husk uses magic tricks to cheer Angel up sometimes, ones that are intentionally silly and kind of stupid because he knows it'll get a snicker out of him. Sometimes angel is tripping balls and all mind blown 😮 when Husk shows him some more advanced tricks. Also like the idea that he teaches him card tricks.

[viriborne]

if youre still posting character opinions can we get asmodeus opinions 🎤

Alright I’ve had a lot of time to ponder wtf I was gonna answer this ask with. I really like Asmodeus’ character, especially when he’s allowed to ACTUALLY show other parts of himself other than ‘hypersexual queer-coded flirt.’ That is, unfortunately, a very limited number of times. I like him more gross and fucked up than a lot of people seem to.

Onto his characterization in the fandom……oh god where do I start…… this dude has the WORST characterization of any other fucking character. Worse than LUCIFER bad. There’s so many ways people misconstrue and twist his character it’s fucking insane.

To start with the one I see the most: the sterile gay friend approach…..can y’all knock this bullshit off guys I’m being dead serious lol. It’s bad enough that the only queer-coded male character is the LUST guy (Lucifer is not queer-coded, baiting and coding are different stop typing your reply) but y’all just had to make it worse by writing him as a sterile gay best friend to Mc in so many fucking fics. ASMODEUS IS BISEXUAL. THIS IS A BISEXUAL CHARACTER!!! ASMODEUS IS BISEXUAL AND HE IS INTERESTED BOTH SEXUALLY AND ROMANTICALLY IN MC!!! Stop this borderline-homophobic and biphobic bullshit I’m tired of it!! Asmo would not help Mc get ready to date another man lmao he would cling to their leg screaming and crying all the way there if he knew they were going on a date with anyone other than him.

Tying into that, there’s the weird…idk…ignoring(??) or babyification of Asmodeus’ bad traits. Like how he’s always seen as the victim or something. This dude is an manipulative little shit lol?? He hypnotizes people into getting frisky with him he isn’t a good person lmao. He even LAMENTS MULTIPLE TIMES about how he can’t hypnotize Mc into loving him like he sucks! He sucks super bad! And that makes him interesting! He has a massive ego and wants everything to be about himself and when it isn’t, he forces it to be so! He’s a demon guys lol.

Now, onto the complete OPPOSITE…the OVERsexualization of his character. Guys. Just because he is the avatar of lust….doesn’t mean he’s polyamorous or interested in open relationships. In fact, thinking that polyamory is even TIED to lust…is just weird? Not to mention, at ANY sign of Mc not being genuine interested in him, or that they have eyes for someone else, he gets like…deathly jealous lmao he is NOT gonna survive in a polycule. All of the guys in om seem pretty ill-fit to be in a poly relationship but ESPECIALLY Asmodeus lol.

In the end, I can’t tell people what to write lol. These are just things I find particularly annoying when looking at how people write and view him. Hopefully, it will at least get some people into thinking about how the writing of tropes and stereotypes into their work, especially regarding queer-coded characters, can harm real people.

[sparkles-oflight]

All love letters are ridiculous

Hi, I had a test today, as compensation you get a small BoKris fanfic. This is pre-relationship, pre-joker out. Kris is still a confused bisexual teen, give the guy a break.

Set in 2016's valentine's.

Synopsis:

"Love letters, if there’s love, Must be Ridiculous. But in fact Only those who’ve never written Love letters Are Ridiculous." - Fernando Pessoa

Kris is tired of Bojan being all over his girlfriend in front of him all the time, and decides to pulls a prank on him.

Disclaimer: Please think of these as characters and not the actual people. I don’t encourage anyone to send this to any of the actual JO members nor do I encourage people to force any type of relationship between anyone.

Ema and Ivana are fictional names

Bojan had a new girlfriend. Her name was Ivana, he was all over her. Kris thought it was sickening how frequently they’d exchange saliva in front of him. They knew his girlfriend was from another town and he rarely got to see her - way to eat in front of the poor.

He was so tired, and Valentine’s was around the corner... So, Kris came up with a plan. It was simple: Give Bojan a love letter, as a secret admirer, and see him have a small fight with Ivana. Then Kris would jump in, admit it was him all along, and then lecture them both on how unfair it was for them to act like this next to him.

- That’s stupid. – Jan said after Kris explained his plan.

- Why?

- Why don’t you write a love letter to Ema and leave those two alone? Isn’t Valetine’s on Sunday? Can’t she come here?

- She’ll be out of the country this weekend.

- Well, then act like a normal person and just worry about the next time you two are together and make it special.

- Jan, I can do both. It’s called multitasking. – Kris raised his eyebrows.

- I thought that was called Bisexuality. – Jan retaliated.

- Jan, I’m not gay.

Jan sighed and after a moment of silence, he proceeded to talk again.

- There’s no way that’s going to turn out well.

- You don’t trust your best friend?

Jan was lying on Kris’ bed and fidgeting with a basketball he brought earlier for them to play. He wondered if he should stop Kris from going further, but at the same time, it sounded fun...

- Well. What are you going to write? – he asked.

- I’m not sure yet. – Kris caught the ball Jan threw at him - That’s why I wanted your help.

- Nope, dude. I’m not getting my hands dirty for some dude I don’t even know, but you have a crush on.

- I don’t have a crush on Bojan of all people. – he threw back the ball at Jan who caught it – Ridiculous.

- You bad mouth that boy so much people might actually think he’s actually your boyfriend.

Kris sighed.

- What are you doing this year for Valentine’s? – Kris turned the tables.

- Nothing much. I’d need a partner for that.

- I don’t know how you have no girls after you. If I were a girl, I would.

- Again Kris. – he tossed the ball at him – That’s bisexuality.

- Oh, shut up. Let’s just play.

They spent the whole afternoon playing basketball and games. At night, Jan spent the night at Kris’ house and before they both fell asleep, he said:

- Talk about how you feel next to each other. Talk about what you want to do when you are near each other.

Kris was surprised by those words and shook Jan’s shoulder, demanding more.

- Hey, what do you mean? Jan. Jan. Jan don’t just drift off into sleep. Help me out!

Kris poked Jan until he was too tired to keep it going. “Ridiculous”, he muttered.

On Monday, he saw Bojan in the corridors and asked him what he was doing that afternoon. “Band practice”, the smaller replied to which Kris asked if he could watch. Bojan agreed.

It’s not the first time Kris has gone to an Apokalipsa rehearsal, but he never did to observe Bojan. It was ridiculous.

- We are actually working on a new song. – Bojan quietly said to Kris, almost as if he whispered when both of them were walking to the rehearsal space (Martin’s garage).

- Really? – Kris frowned – What is it about?

- Well, it’s about Ivana.

Kris bit his lip. Of course it is.

- It’s called Kot Srce, Ki Kri Poganja.

- Too long. Shitty name.

- Oh, shut up!

When they both arrived, Kris sat down and observed the guys, especially the nerve-wracking Bojan. He wanted everything to go well because he was planning on “gifting the song” to Ivana on Valentine’s.

Kris was suddenly reminded of how they met, and the first time he ever went to an Apokalipsa concert. It felt... magical. It altered his perception of music so much that he wished he could be a part of that world.

And what if... No, that’s ridiculous. He would never be in a band with Bojan. Why would Bojan want to be with a guitar newbie like him?

- That was a great practice session, guys. – Kris smiled – I have to head home now.

- Sure, just tell me you didn’t write down the lyrics. – Bojan pointed to the paper Kris was holding.

- Oh this? Don’t worry, it has nothing to do with your lyrics. It’s just... my ramblings. That’s all.

When Kris got home, he wrote the best love letter a 16-year-old like him could. Cheesy, but the point was to annoy Ivana, right? So, this would do the trick.

“Hey, I might have seen you walk around, I might have seen you shine on stage. Every time our eyes met, the world froze, like a Polaroid photo my eyes took. Every time we feel lonely, we look for comfort in each other’s touch. And I want to tangle my fingers around yours, And I want to make these feelings ours Because “Like a heart that pumps blood, I give you dreams” Lines you wrote, I know Because, every day, they make these feelings grow Signed, Krisko”

- Was it not supposed to be anonymous? – Jan asked after reading the awfully cringe letter.

- Eh, that’s just the draft.

- I was expecting you’d write a “Mister Kris Cvjetićanin”.

- Okay, you are uninvited from my house.

- You and I both know that’s not true. Your mom loves me more than she loves you.

Kris shrugged. Jan started reading the letter out loud.

- “And I want to tangle my fingers around yours,” – he declared – “And I want to make these feelings ours”-

Kris threw a pillow at him.

- I hate you.

The day before Valentine’s, Bojan asked Kris if he could drop by. Kris accepted it and Bojan showed up to his house with a guitar in hand.

- Kris, let me serenate you.

- What the fuck, dude. No.

Bojan didn’t care. He entered his house, made his way to Kris’ bedroom, and sat next to him on his bed.

- I need everything to be perfect, Kris. And I’m sorry I’m using you as my lab rat. With Martin is awkward to do this, and you... I don’t know why, but right now I trust you for this. – he sighed – Can I?

Kris didn’t say anything, instead, he gestured for Bojan to begin.

Bojan sang with the same passion as usual, and Kris couldn’t help but hear his heart going fast as he got to hear Bojan singing to him and only him. It felt like the first time he heard Bojan play at a concert and all the songs sounded dedicated to him. Bojan sure knew how to make anyone feel special when he sang.

- I... You got this, Bojan.

- Thank you, Krisko. – the singer sighed with relief.

Bojan spent the night at the Guštin’s household – even though Miha wondered why every friend of Kris was spending one night there that week; Chantal replied with something about Valentine’s, Miha can’t remember it fully though, but he liked having Bojan around.

And while everyone was asleep, Kris hid the letter he had written inside his old guitar.

“Ridiculous”, he thought.

But even more ridiculous were those who never wrote love letters.

♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩♫♩

Afternote: I have one more short story planned and a three-chapter story planned that ties in all loose ends of the overall story (I already have chapter one ready).

Then... SAILOR MOON AU. Which will be a very short and fast-paced story because my life is too busy atm and I'm already making up so much lore for the story to work 💀

Anyways...

Polaroid Photos Universe | Recommended next: Maybe like a heart that pumps blood (AO3 only) | Romeo and Juliet

[litterateur97]

This might sound a bit of a sudden but do you have any headcanons about the task force team? I hope you wouldn't mind sharing

Oooh I never get asked about the task force team, I do have many headcanons about them! Thank you for asking!!

Here's my random list of headcanons with very little organization lol:

I fully believe that every single member of the task force looked up to and adored Soichiro, some for father figure reasons and some for daddy reasons (cough cough L cough cough).

I think they all had individual rooms in the headquarters, but often ended up camping out in one room together. Like just pillows and blankets all over the floors and couches of one room. It's mostly because they were all scared any day could be their last, but also they just got really used to each other and found it comforting to be in each other's presence.

They all think they're the most normal guy™️ of the group. Every single one of them. The most normal one is obviously Mogi though.

They all go through phases of looking up to and then hating L. There are moments where they are so impressed by him and his intelligence and other moments where they are like this is the worst asshole boss ever. And I feel like they all take turns hating on and defending L, like not all of them are pissed at him at the same time lol.

They all appreciate Watari and always show how grateful they are when he comes by to give them snacks or whatever else they might need.

I think only Soichiro would notice that Watari must have been L's caregiver. I think he would have conflicting feelings about it and would compare it to his own relationship with Light. Would he have let Light become a world famous detective? If not for the Kira case, would he have really let Light get involved in stuff like this? Would he allow Light to become as detached as L? He'd like to think not, but he doesn't know for sure.

Aizawa was the closest to Ukita. He has a lot of nightmares after Ukita's death. I think all of them would have nightmares about Ukita, really, but I think Aizawa would have been the most affected by far.

Mogi is probably the nicest to and most appreciative of Matsuda. Like I feel like he would have stood up for Matsuda whenever L went too far with bullying him. I think he and Soichiro probably took turns being like, don't worry Matsuda you're doing a great job and we're glad to have you here.

Mogi is bisexual and out of the closet, but doesn't really talk about it very openly. But he doesn't talk about most of his personal life very openly. Only Misa finds out about his dating life when he has to spend a bunch of time with her basically babysitting her during the second part of the series. She's very supportive, but doesn't really get it and assumes he's just gay 😞.

Matsuda saw Light as a brother and was by far the most crushed when the truth came out about him being Kira. Like Mogi, Aizawa, and Ide also felt betrayed, but they were so tired by that point and Mogi and Aizawa hadn't trusted Light in a long while, so they probably had an easier time moving on than Matsuda. Matsuda experiences the cycle of grief over and over again after Light's death. He's so angry and feels so betrayed, but part of him wants to believe that Light was set up and isn't as evil as everyone says.

They all ended up really liking Wedy and Aiber actually and have conflicting feelings about it lmao. I feel like they had game nights with the criminals when things were slow and probably just shrugged it off whenever Aiber or Wedy cheated lol. Like I imagine them playing cards whenever there was down time.

I think that's all I'll put for now, but I might come back to this and add more!

[nortism]

Unburied Secrets (BBC Ghosts fic)

A/N Since ao3 is down I’ve decided to upload my recent fic here. Stay strong gang 

A/N ao3 is back! you can read my fic here

summary:

“Why me?” he said, conscious that he was starting to sound like a whiny teenager while also being far too tired to care.

“Well Kitty was quite insistent that it be you, she’s in my room picking out blankets for your sleepover.”

“Our sleepover?”

After Sam and Clare’s wedding, the Captain wants nothing more than a quiet night to himself. But the snowstorm forces guests to stay at Button House overnight, the Captain gets roped into having a sleepover with Kitty in which secrets are revealed.

Set immediately after S2 Ep6

word count: 5,161

relationships: The Captain & Kitty, Alison & The Captain, The Captain/Lieutenant Havers

tags: coming out, sleepovers, late night conversations, angst, emotional hurt/comfort, the captain is gay, bisexual kitty, the captain needs a hug, and he gets one

Unburied Secrets

The clock had almost struck midnight by the time the guests started filing out of Button House and into an assortment of cabs waiting to take them home or to nearby hotels where they could sleep off the events of the day. The Captain was very much looking forward to doing the same as he stood by the door, making a show of ferrying the guests away, actions that were entirely futile but comforting all the same. His fellow ghosts were no doubt lounging about, enjoying the aftermath of the party but not him. He had a sense of duty. There was no excuse to let standards slip.

Sam and Clare were the last out, having thanked all their guests. Together they gave Alison a final hug and made their way out into the night, their hands intertwined. They shared a peck before slipping into the cab. Through the frosted glass, the Captain saw Clare slip an arm around her new wife’s shoulder. They were the picture of domestic bliss and something about their joy made the Captain’s long unbeating heart ache. He was distracted from thinking about this too hard by Alison approaching him from behind.

“Thank you for tonight,” she said, her sincerity catching him off guard, “If I’m honest, I wasn't sure how you’d react to a wedding party, especially after the one me and Mike threw last month.”

The Captain shuddered at the memory.

“Yes, well this was a rather more dignified affair,” he replied primly, “And I wouldn't have wanted to ruin Clare and Samantha’s big day.”

Alison gave him a knowing smile that the Captain did not want to decipher.

“Speaking of, I’ve got one more mission for you. Clare’s aunt and Sam’s parents can’t drive home in this weather so I’m going to have to commandeer your room.”

“Absolutely not Alison, I’ve had a long day and as ranking officer it is vital that I get the proper rest-”

Alison cut him off mid rant, “Mike’s already showed them to their rooms so unless you want to share your bed with an elderly woman who can’t see you, you’re going to have to move. I’m bringing the sofas back into the ballroom, you can sleep on one of those.”

It was a fine plan, the Captain mused. There was just one thing missing.

“Where are Sam’s parents going to sleep?”

“Well,” Alison began, slightly sheepishly, “Kitty volunteered her room- in the name of love apparently. She’ll be joining you in the ballroom.”

Clearly whatever God was out there was not just content to let him peacefully rot in purgatory. Katherine was a sweet girl, certainly one of the more tolerable of his fellow dead people but he was really not in the mood for her antics tonight.

“Why me?” he said, conscious that he was starting to sound like a whiny teenager while also being far too tired to care.

“Well Kitty was quite insistent that it be you, she’s in my room picking out blankets for your sleepover.”

“Our sleepover?”

Alison gave him an apologetic smile, “You know how she gets when she’s excited, I couldn’t bring myself to talk her out of it.”

“I could refuse to go.”

“Right…” Alison raised her eyebrows at him, “And you’re prepared to deal with the aftermath of that are you? The crying? The emotions?”

The Captain grimaced. Alison could clearly sense she was winning and went in to deal the final blow.

“If you keep her entertained, there's a new BBC docuseries about assassination attempts on Hitler in it for you.”

“Done.”

Realistically, the Captain would have done it to avoid Kitty’s wide eyed, tearful stare which has the uncanny ability to actually make him feel sorry for his actions but he wasn’t above using the situation to his advantage. 

“Thank you so much!” Alison beamed at him, “Do you want to come and help us set up? I know how much you like bossing me around.”

“No thank you, Alison. These grounds won’t patrol themselves.”

She gave him a quizzical look but didn’t push it.

“Right... Well, have fun.”

Before she could leave the Captain called out, “Oh and well played Alison. We’ll make a commanding officer of you yet.”

She gave him a mock salute and went upstairs.

                                                                —

The Captain had only come to appreciate snow after his death. In life, it was a disruption, forcing the events of the day to be rescheduled around it. But in death, he couldn't feel the bite of the wind or the sensation of cold damp trickling through his boots into his socks. As he walked, he left no footprints, no evidence he was there. The swirling flakes fell to the ground, transforming the landscape he’d been haunting for the better part of seventy years into something new. 

Logically, the Captain knew he didn't actually need to patrol the grounds of Button House. Even when he was alive, the chances of the Germans invading a remote country estate in Surrey were slim and each decade that passed since the end of the war saw that chance become slimmer. And even if something were to happen, in his current state there was very little the Captain could do against corporal beings, as the recent home invasion had demonstrated. But routine had defined the Captain’s life and it was only fitting it define his death. The ritual of following the perimeter of the grounds, observing the occasional passerby was comforting to him and especially after a day like this, gave him a chance to untangle his thoughts.

He’d been running on autopilot ever since Sam had stepped out of the car. Keeping busy was the best way to keep the façade up, to make sure that no one in the house could suspect him of being any more interested in this particular wedding than he would be any other. He’d turned off his mind and his heart and let the events of the day sweep him up. It had been far too easy to remain unaffected with the general chaos that accompanied all occasions at Button House. 

But now, out here in the quiet night, the Captain’s thoughts turned to Sam and Clare and what their wedding meant for him. Sure, he'd had an inkling that things had gotten better for people like him (even in the privacy of his own thoughts, he couldn't quite bring himself to say it) but to see two women getting married in front of his eyes was another thing. What had hit him was the sheer normalcy of it all. It was just two people in love, surrounded by the love and support of their friends and family, without any opposition or backlash besides from the ghost of an Edwardian lady who neither of the brides could see nor hear. But even she had come around in the end, he reminded himself, something he’d never seen Fanny do in his over seventy years of haunting. How could times have changed so much?

He was happy for them, he thought. Yes, happy. But even in his own head that didn't feel quite right. Looking at the brides, he felt that warm glow of pride at their courage to be themselves in ways he never would have dared but underneath there was something else. It wasn't the fault of these women but watching their happiness brought out something ugly in the Captain. Perhaps a few decades ago it would have been jealousy and before then even repulsion but after all these years alone, all he could feel was a sense of grief. He mourned the life he could have lived, the lives so many could have lived. He wondered if two men could do that, could get married, move out to a cottage by the sea, away from the roar of gunfire and simply be together, in peace. It still scarcely seemed possible. Banishing the incriminating thoughts from his head, the Captain spun on his heel back towards the house.

                                                              —

When he arrived in the ballroom, the furniture had been moved back to its usual positions with the two sofas running parallel in front of the fireplace. The only evidence that it had served as a makeshift chapel just hours earlier were the string lights the Captain had helped (ordered) Alison to hang from the ceiling. Kitty was following Alison as she arranged a truly obscene number of cushions on one of the sofas, chattering away all the while.

Kitty let out an ungodly squeal when she saw him, immediately rushing over to explain her blanket choices to him. She’d selected a simple knitted blanket for him in an army green which would have probably been quite soft if he was able to touch it. All of Button House’s various stuffed animals (the locations of which Kitty had memorised over her time haunting the house) were arranged on and around both sofas so that they could all join in on the fun. 

After Kitty had introduced the Captain to each and every toy (she’d insisted he pretended to shake their hands), the pair retired to their respective sofas. Alison mimed draping the blanket over Kitty, and although it just passed through her ghostly form, it seemed to please her.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it,” Alison said, moving to turn off the string lights.

“Wait, leave them on,” the Captain called.

“Okay, goodnight,” Alison smiled as she closed the door. 

The soft glow of the fairy lights illuminated the otherwise dark room. If anyone had looked out the window, they would have seen that the night sky bore a remarkable resemblance to the ceiling. The Captain stiffly lay down on his sofa and relaxed as best as a ghost who was unable to touch the blankets or cushions could. The rustling of petticoats from the other side of the room suggested Kitty was doing the same. The Captain let out a deep sigh. Perhaps he was going to get away with his night of rest after all. 

Five minutes later, Kitty let out a giggle. 

“Katherine,” the Captain called lowly, “Are you quite alright?”

“Oh yes!” came the lilting reply, “I’m just far too excited to sleep yet!”

The Captain stayed silent in hopes that she’d realise he wasn't in the mood but those hopes were dashed when the voice spoke again.

“You missed our conversation earlier, when all the others were telling me about their weddings!”

This was very quickly moving into uncomfortable territory for the Captain. He carefully pondered his reply.

“Yes, well I must have been helping Alison with the decorating.”

Undeterred Kitty continued, “Oh that’s a shame, it was most interesting! Well Julian just said horrible things and Lady Button just started listing people I didn't know. Oh, and then Thomas started wallowing about the wedding he never had. But Pat’s sounded nice!”

That was all pretty much as the Captain expected such a conversation to go, which probably said a lot about the amount of time he spent with the other ghosts. Truthfully, he’d heard that line of inquiry starting up and had immediately left the room in search of a distraction. He hadn’t initially been all that interested in the wedding, seeing it as another disruption to his sacred routine, but the topic of romance was to be avoided at all costs. However with the intimate nature of a sleepover, he may not be so lucky this time.

“Were you ever married?”

The question ricocheted off the Captain’s armoured heart like a bullet. He cleared his throat.

“Um, no Katherine, I never was.”

“Why not?”

That dreaded question had followed the Captain throughout his life and it seemed now it had come back to haunt him in death. He’d given many answers over the years. As a teenager he said he was too focused on his studies. Immediately out of school, he’d enlisted and been shipped off to the Western Front. His fellow soldiers seemed to be obsessed with girls and he was often asked if there was anyone back home, but the backdrop of the trenches was the perfect excuse for his lack of experience. After the Great War, he stayed in the army. The question gained new urgency as one by one his old schoolmates and surviving comrades paired off. The Captain became skilled in the art of avoidance, citing a busy schedule, his devotion to the forces and “never meeting the right one” as excuses for his perpetual singleness. 

The higher he rose through the ranks in the army, the less the question was asked. His position gave him authority and status and let him keep those around him at an arm's length. He told himself he was happy that way. His family eventually gave up asking and by the time the Second World War rolled around, it had been over a year since anyone had asked the Captain why he’d never married. That was until Havers came along: friendly, sincere and far, far too interested. He wormed his way into the Captain’s life, graduating from a Lieutenant to an actual friend, the first in far too long.   

The question reared its ugly head on a warm spring evening in 1940. A shared bottle of whiskey to celebrate a breakthrough in their secret project had quickly led the two men into the realm of the personal. The Captain’s carefully maintained walls, loosened by drink and the high of progress, were gently chipped away at by Haver’s persistent desire for information. They discussed their hometowns, their families, their old friends; everything but the omnipresent war that surrounded them during the day. 

“So how come you never married?” Havers finally asked. It was hard to tell if the red glow on his face was due to the alcohol or merely the setting sun warming his features. Either way, the Captain thought it suited him.

If he’d been sober, the Captain would have been able to pull out one of an assortment of well practised lines that answered the question without inviting further inquiry. As it was he spluttered and stammered in lieu of a response, his normally disciplined mind clouded by alcohol. The corners of Havers’ mouth slowly turned up into a knowing smile, like the Captain’s incompetence had answered all the questions he could ever wish to ask. Idly, the Captain wondered if the other man had always had dimples. Was Havers getting closer or was it just wishful thinking?

“I think I know why you never married,” Havers said, his usual close mouthed smile replaced with a grin that showed all his teeth right back to his molars. He was definitely getting closer.

 “I think you are just like me.”

The voice in the back of his head was screaming that this was a terrible idea, that everything he’d ever worked for could be lost if the Captain succumbed to temptation. But that voice was getting quieter and quieter and Havers was getting closer and closer and maybe he was moving too. Their faces were inches apart over the Captain’s desk and the man was aware that they must have both been leaning out of their seats to get here.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the Captain whispered in a last ditch attempt to delay the inevitable.

Havers just smiled and cupped his cheek with one hand. It was unclear who initiated it but suddenly they were kissing. Their bodies were too far apart and the side of the desk was sticking uncomfortably into the side of the Captain’s hip. Havers tasted of stale cigarettes and alcohol and his lips were slightly chapped. Everything about this experience should have been repulsive but to the Captain, it was a revelation. It could only have been a minute, maybe less, but he knew nothing could ever be the same again.

And then he felt it, his old friend, the slithering feeling of guilt that had made its home in his heart since he was a small boy. And like the coward he was, the Captain broke the kiss. His lieutenants' panic stricken face carved itself into his mind as he left him in his office, without a word of acknowledgement. 

Honestly, what had the man been thinking? He’d have to report him, the Captain thought as he paced the perimeter of the grounds. It was too cold to be outside without his jacket but that was back in his office and there was no way he was turning back. He should definitely report Havers. But even then, he knew wouldn’t, because the Captain could lie to himself, but he couldn't lie to a court. After a solid hour of circling the grounds, the Captain concluded that the best course of action would be to pretend it never happened. Havers was a good lieutenant, it hardly seemed worth it to disrupt their work over this. Sure, he was breaking the rules but there was a war on and every man was needed. It was really the Captain’s fault for letting a subordinate get too close. It wouldn’t happen again. 

The Captain went back inside, his fingers and nose red from the cold. His office was mercifully empty. As the Captain tidied his desk, he saw a hastily scribbled note in his Lieutenant’s handwriting:

Sir,

My apologies for what happened. I had too much to drink, it won’t happen again. Can we please pretend it never happened?

- W.H

So it seemed they were on the same page in regards to forgetting the night. The Captain tossed the note onto the dying fire and tried to convince himself that this was what he wanted.

Unfortunately, the Captain had been blessed with an excellent memory. Rather than forgetting about it, that night plagued the Captain’s mind, leaving him to stew in a cocktail of desire and regret. Still, he pushed on. They had a war to win after all. Havers upheld his end of their unspoken bargain. The pair never discussed it, nor anything unrelated to work, again. The Captain told himself he didn’t miss it.

Two months later, France surrendered and Havers left for the Front. The Captain considered for a brief moment, saying something, anything, to make him stay. He even wrote it down but in the end, he was still a coward and Havers left him. Life marched on. The Captain threw himself into his work and for a while, Havers’ absence helped to keep the memories from replaying in his mind. 

Then, almost a year later, Havers’ mother arrived at the House. Her son was dead and she needed to pick up his things. He’d been dead for a couple of months. The Captain hadn’t received any word of this. They weren’t family, they certainly weren’t married and now they never could be. To the record of history they were just a Captain and his former Lieutenant, nothing more, nothing less. All that remained of them was a letter he’d been too cowardly to send.

He gave himself an hour to cry that night, for the first time since he was a boy, before wiping his eyes, putting on his coat and finally burying the prototype mine, the one Havers was supposed to help him complete, alongside the letter. He’d hoped the symbolic burial would relieve him of the burden of memory, of wondering what might have been, but that night had stuck with the Captain to his own burial and beyond.

“Captain?” Kitty’s voice shook the man out of his reminiscence.

“Sorry Katherine,” he replied, straining to keep his voice level and calm, “I- uhm- suppose I never got married because I was too busy with the war.”

This was not his most convincing lie, there were several years in between the World Wars in which he could have settled down but hopefully Kitty’s memory of this period was limited. Whether she believed him or not, she didn’t push and instead moved the conversation to herself.

“I should have liked to have been married,” she began wistfully, “I didn’t live long enough to ever meet someone but I often imagined what my own wedding might be like. How the church would look adorned in flowers, what dress I would wear! And of course the handsome groom that would be waiting for me by the altar!” She let out a giggle at this. “Though I suppose nowadays it could be a handsome bride! Oh that would be wonderful!” 

The Captain’s heart skipped a beat at this revelation, which really shouldn’t have been possible considering he hadn’t had a functioning body since the 1940s. He put considerable effort into keeping his tone casual when he asked, “And would that be something you’d be interested in? A bride?”

Kitty’s voice remained as light and breezy as ever as she replied, “Well I’d never really thought about it until today but I think it would be lovely to marry a woman! We could wear matching dresses or even suits like Clare!”

The Captain almost wanted to scream that it wasn't that simple, that she couldn't just say things like that so casually. But a voice in the back of his head, a voice that sounded suspiciously like a man he’d known long ago, asked why shouldn’t it be? Why must it be so difficult for him?

“- And I’ve always thought women were beautiful, like Alison. Oh! Do you think Alison would wear matching dresses with me?”

Belatedly, the Captain realised he was supposed to reply.

“I’m sure she would Kitty, if it were possible.”

A slightly awkward silence followed, as it often did when one of the ghosts was confronted with the reality of their state of being. Determined to salvage what had been a not entirely unsuccessful social interaction, the Captain spoke:

“Well Katherine, if you were to ever get married, I would be honoured to attend.”

He could practically hear the smile in her voice when she replied, “Why thank you Captain! I would also be honoured to attend your wedding. Oooo could I be a bridesmaid? Please please please?”

“If you like Katherine, though I can't imagine anyone wanting to marry an old man like me.”

“I’m sure that’s not true!” Kitty sounded genuinely offended on his behalf, “There’s loads of people you could marry. What about Lady Button?”

The Captain almost choked on his own tongue.

“Now Kitty, I’m not sure that would be appropriate-”

“How about Pat?” the young woman continued, undeterred, “Or Julian!”

The Captain wondered if it was possible for a ghost to kill themself.

“I don’t think any of the other ghosts would make appropriate marriage candidates, I’m afraid.”

The room was silent for a moment and the Captain naively hoped that this topic of conversation had been dropped.

“What about your lieutenant?”

No such luck.

“I’m sorry?”

“You know, during the war?” Kitty continued, “I forget his name but he had kind eyes and a very handsome smile. He was the only soldier Lady Button could tolerate, she said the others had appalling manners.”

“Havers…”

“Hmm?”

“His name was Lieutenant William Havers,” the Captain was struggling to keep the tremor out of his voice, “He helped me develop the limpet mine, the one Alison blew up in the garden, before he left for the front.”

“Of course! I remember the two of you were very close.”

The Captain often forgot that Kitty was actually much older than him. He knew of course that the older ghosts would have seen him during his service at Button House but he tried not to think about it too much. But now the very real possibility that Kitty had seen the events of the night he’d been unsuccessfully trying to forget for the better part of eighty years was dawning on him.

“Well Katherine, I wouldn’t say we were very close, it was just the nature of the job you see.”

“Well to me it seemed as though you were good friends, we all thought so.”

So deflection wasn't going to work. It was time for a direct charge.

“You didn’t see anything, did you Katherine?”

“I don’t think so?” Kitty sounded puzzled, “I just meant that the pair of you spent a lot of time together in your office. I didn’t usually spend much time there, I couldn’t understand a word you and your lieutenant were saying.”

Well that had backfired. The Captain cursed himself internally. Kitty had genuinely thought he and Havers were good friends and now he’d ruined it with his excessive defensiveness.

After a moment, Kitty spoke up tentatively.

“Would you have liked to marry him, Captain? If you could have?”

There it was. The finishing blow. The Captain was open and exposed and he had nowhere to run. He considered his options. He could play dumb, pretend he didn't know who Kitty was talking about. But that wouldn’t work, he had volunteered the man’s name mere moments ago. Or he could just leave, find somewhere else in this giant house to sleep. But that would answer the question for him and upset Kitty. He was out of choices. This was it, he was going to lose everything he’d built up in this half life. The other ghosts would lose all respect for him.

But then he remembered this was Kitty he was talking to. Yes, she could be naive but she could keep a secret if she knew it was important, he was sure of it. And she wouldn’t judge him. Not out of a sense of moral obligation but more that the thought of judgement simply would not have crossed her mind. When the Captain thought back on the days of his youth spent in church under the fierce watch of his parents, he thought that if God truly was out there, His love would look far more like Kitty’s; unquestioning and unwavering. He took a deep breath, steeled his nerves and charged out over the top.

“Yes, I think I would have liked that.”

Looking up at the fairy lights he’d helped Alison string up earlier, the Captain didn't feel as though he was talking to another person but merely that he was confessing his secrets to the stars. 

The couple beats of silence afterwards were enough to send the Captain spiralling into a panic. 

“By which I mean of course that I would much prefer to marry him over say Julian, not that I-”

He was cut off by a soft weight landing on top of him which he realised was Kitty diving on top of him for a hug. Really these were not the optimal conditions for it: he was horizontal and he could hardly see Kitty in the dim lighting but she clung onto him until his muscles slowly melted into the embrace. 

“It’s okay,” she whispered into the crook of his neck, “And I’m sorry you couldn’t be wed.”

Dimly, the Captain realised there were tears running down his cheeks though by the sound of Kitty’s voice, she wasn’t faring much better.

“Yes, well there’s nothing I can do about it now, I suppose.”

The Captain awkwardly patted the girl on the back. He couldn't remember the last time he’d been touched like this and he was slightly out of his depth. Kitty seemed to notice his discomfort and slid off him to sit on the floor.

“I suppose not,” she said. The Captain could make out that she was wiping her eyes with her sleeves in the dim light. 

“Now, now Katherine,” he said, moving to join her on the floor despite his knees’ vocal protest, “It may be too late for us but things are getting better for the living. We may have not gotten our happy endings, but Sam and Clare did and so will many others. It’s a gift in itself that we get to stick around to witness their joy.”

Kitty didn’t reply, instead leaning into the older man’s side. They spent a little while like that, in total silence looking up at the lights twinkling like stars on the ceiling. Eventually the Captain noticed Kitty’s eyes beginning to droop. He took it upon himself to guide her onto her sofa and almost instinctively took off his jacket and draped it over her drowsy form. By the time the Captain had laid down himself, the jacket had reappeared on his body but he slept soundly that night with the image of Kitty tucked up cosily in her makeshift bed. 

                                                                —

“Alison?” the Captain called, bouncing on the balls of his feet at the kitchen door, “A word if you may?

It was the next morning. The final guests had left the house and Alison and Mike were just about to settle down for a well deserved breakfast.

“Sorry Mike, ghost thing.” Alison kissed her husband on the cheek, leaving him to make the tea. Mike grumbled sleepily under his breath but let his wife go deal with whatever problem their undead housemates had come up with this time.

“I’m sorry I didn’t time your run this morning but with guests-” Alison began, leading the pair of them into the hallway.

“No no no Alison it’s nothing like that, though I would like to make sure that you will be promptly on time tomorrow.”

“Yeah yeah yeah, will do,” Alison went to leave but was stopped by the ghost.

“That's not all. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the wedding yesterday and,” the Captain looked at his feet, “And I was wondering if it was possible for two men to do something like that?”

Alison looked at him with the same knowing smile from yesterday.

“Of course they could, Cap.”

“Hmmm, well that’s excellent of course,'' he was still refusing to maintain eye contact and rocking back and forth on his feet, “Fascinating modern world this is.”

“Is there anything you’d like to tell me, Captain?” 

“Absolutely not Alison, just an intellectual curiosity is all.”

“Right,” Alison didn't sound entirely convinced but she didn’t push it, “Can I go back to my breakfast now?”

The Captain nodded. Alison turned back towards the kitchen only to be stopped once more.

“I say Alison!”

“Yes?”

“Those insipid romance novels that Katherine enjoys so much, do you know they have any featuring two girls?”

Alison raised her eyebrows at this.

“For Kitty, of course,” he added uncomfortably.

“Yeah I figured,” Alison said, “I didn’t know she was into that kind of thing. I’m sure I could find something on eBay.”

The Captain had no idea was an “E Bay” was but he decided that this was a mission accomplished.

“Well jolly good. I’ll see you this evening for my Hitler assassination show.” 

And with that the soldier spun on his heel and left. Alison shrugged and returned to the kitchen, ready to regale her husband with more tales of the weird ghosts that haunted their house.

[gracefullou]

i’m glad you addressed the people who are obsessed with proving his heterosexuality too. i’ve seen an array of weird comments on twitter about him fucking every women he comes in contact with. how he’s in a relationship with krystle and was the reason she broke up with her husband (which there’s no proof of that), like if you have an opinion that’s fine. personally i think he might be queer, but i’m sick and tired of people who take it too far. also people who are adamant that he’s gay when, as another anon said, bisexuality exists. gay, bi, queer, straight, doesn’t matter. people who make him the “woman” of the relationship (which is both misogynistic and homophobic). he can be queer and still be a laddie lad. also, he’s a talented musician and a good, kind person, and regardless of if he’s queer or not he’s shown support for the lgbtq+ community, and to me that’s all that matters. i don’t want him to become the latest of being forced to come out to appease people.

I agree with everything you said, anon. His sexuality is nobody's business but his own. I find this obsession really weird. Like why do you care if your fav sleeps with women, men or both? His music is sooo good, he's a good person, avoids drama as much as he can. What more do you want? Like what are you trying to achieve with this obsession? What do you think is the consequence of yours and hundreds of thousands of others' obsession with a person's sexuality? Bc from where i see it, either he is in fact queer and the people who want him to be gay so bad (let's be real it's not even gay it's Hrrysexual) are basically outing him or at least trying to DAILY or, he's not queer but those "fans" are pressuring him daily to "act" like he is by using gay stereotypes and be another queerbaiter like his husband. I don't think deep down they even care what he truly is, they just want him to act like Hrrysexual so they keep their epic gay lovestory alive. They don't care that there is a possibility they spent years of their lives making someone so uncomfortable and impacting his career badly just bc his sexuality doesn't suit their beliefs. Even when he said multiple times that Larry is not real. How fucked up is that? And no matter the angle you see it from, it IS homophobic. So much for championning and supporting the lgbtq community larries think they do 🙄. And don't get me started on those fans who ship him with any woman he comes in contact with bc while i think these fans are basically the consequence of larries' existence (anti- larries if you will, i don't think they would you exist otherwise) and they're mostly harmless bc there are few of them, it is still very offensive to both Louis and the women. Louis respects women, and has never given us a reason to think otherwise. He can be near a woman and not want to f*ck her, that much is a given. And he for sure will not get involved with his employee. Like seriously they need to stop thinking so low of him