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@alexrod-dbd
👻 I’m opening commissions!! 👻
Like I said last time, in an attempt to scrape a little more money aside from my part-time job to be able to pay my school, I’m finally ready to be taking in commissions! ✨
All you have to do if you’re interested is send me a DM and we’ll talk about the details of your request! 🙌🏼
I’ve used DBDA as an example, but if you’d like me to do it for something else entirely, I’ll be happy to! 💙
ooooo dbda request idea! could you do charles playing guitar?
absolutely!!!!
If I ever make covers for my own fics, I’m definitely stealing this for my soulmate one 🤩
I think a lot about the scene with the boys trying to find the book in Case of the Dandelion Shrine, but I don't think I'd thought enough about when and where it takes place.
The boys get more and more disconnected from each other during the first few episodes but they are in the office away from Crystal's gaze for about 90 seconds before they start acting like this:
"You'll rip your arm clean off. Stop that now! ...I'm not as quick as you, but I am here to help. Honestly, Edwin, can't you tell me what really happened with the Cat King?"
"Right. Fine, then. How about this? Take a deep breath. And put your big brain to work, 'cause the answer's gotta be in there somewhere."
Like... they are Home and In Private for barely a minute before they relax into this dynamic, which is, notably, not the one they show in canon-era, most of the time - but it is the one that we're shown in the pilot is 'normal' for them.
The Charles who coaxes Edwin to share, stops his self-harm, guides him through breathing, praises him to calm him, that's not the Charles that shows up in front of Crystal (or even Niko). But it absolutely is the Charles who bounces around Edwin trying to coax him into playing - er, boxing - to nudge him into new things and to keep him safe and to have fun with him, the Charles who specifically selects a "gentleman's sport" to try to suit Edwin's tastes and then gives puppy eyes knowing full well Edwin couldn't deny them even if he'd chosen MMA.
The Edwin who follows Charles's guidance, lets himself be soothed, follows care-related orders promptly with only a minimum of brattiness, that's not the one lashing out and bristling his authority in Port Townsend. But it absolutely is the one who caves to bouncing-Charles's puppy-dog eyes instantaneously, who barely bonks Charles with his fist and then raises his eyebrows proudly anticipating Charles's praise for the bonk, the one who lets Charles shove him to knock him from freeze into flight and throw him all the way over a desk because if Charles is doing it that means it's to keep him safe.
And, incidentally, it's also a lot closer to how they are in Hell. Even in literal Hell they're closer to their norm because at least they're in private.
We also see little bits of it every other time they snatch a few moments of privacy, even though it's way toned down outside of Home; Charles spilling about kissing like five minutes after doing it, Edwin trying to come out and then doing so, "best person I know", "...what are you worried about, then?", etcetera.
They want to tell each other every thought they have the moment they have it; they want to take care of each other. They're just only capable of it when they're alone and safe and have time away from judging eyes.
And, like... when we recognize that this is their norm, so much so that they go back into it the moment they are in their Space, like, quite honestly, no fucking wonder they're both crashing out the whole time they're in Port Townsend!
Edwin's clearly been outsourcing a lot of his emotional regulation to Charles, which means with Charles unable to provide it, he's got nothing to keep him stable.
Meanwhile, Charles is dependent on that role for his own emotional regulation, so he freaks out when he can't do it. (This is very clearly established: "What good am I even doing? I couldn't stop Devlin from murdering his family over and over. I can't stop Crystal from hurting. I can't stop whatever is going on with you." He explicitly crashes out because he is unable to "keep the spirits up". There are other factors, absolutely - but it's stated pretty clearly that if he were able to successfully fill his normal role right now, he'd be able to manage the other shit.)
We love a pair of deeply codependent lads whose codependency is backfiring because they can't go home and metaphorically cuddle on their tiny tiny loveseat <3
New DBD fic available! ✨
The Continuous Case of Kai Surname-Von Hovercraft (9,5k)
When Kai was born after certain circumstances, Crystal named Charles her godfather. He’d been there at every step of the way when she needed someone to lean on, and she knew he would take that job at heart.
He’d been so happy that he’d almost cried, and fell in love with the baby girl as soon as he met her.
And so, as the years went on, he took every opportunity to babysit as a gift he could share with Edwin. Kai would never be their own child, but she was the closest thing they could have to a real family.
-
OR: 5 times Charles and Edwin babysat Crystal’s child + one time it was the other way around.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/78344961
Two canonical superpowers we generally forget/don’t notice the boys have:
Charles: superstrength.
Multiple times Charles is shown using a single (1) hand to throw a full-sized human across a table (Edwin in the pilot and Twitchy Richie in Two Dead Dragons). Given the two people he does this to we know it is neither a ghosts-are-weightless thing nor a weird ghosts-can-throw-the-living thing. Also seen sometimes when he hits stuff (even without his magic bat), etc.
Edwin: telekinesis.
This is only really clearly shown once that I can recall, but when Charles cuts off the WWI ghost’s mask, Edwin thwoops it across the room into his own hand. I think folks generally assume that Charles threw it, but I replayed it several times and a) Charles’s hands are not actually on the mask at the time, b) the angle makes no sense for a throw, c) there’s a magic sound effect. (It’s still possible this is just a major editing fail, and of course very possible that they decided to retcon telekinesis after the pilot, but. It’s there!)
It’s time for another dbd book cover, don’t you think? 👀
Please welcome Half In The Grave by @ghostinthelibrarywrites, with once again the wonderful art of @hannaloony 💚
Stay tuned for soon another one of @ghostinthelibrarywrites! And Happy New Year!
Not for selling distribution
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
The case was supposed to be easy. Fun, even, if you’d asked Charles. It was one of those times when the case brought the agency abroad. Charles always liked those cases. It allowed him to discover the world beyond the UK. For a middle-class boy with a strict and abusive father, it was a gift only the afterlife could offer. So, when their client came and told them that their ghost friend had disappeared into the Paris catacombs, Charles had seen it as a fun way to visit the french capital while doing what they do best.
He hadn’t really thought about the fact that the catacombs were buried twenty meters underground.
And that he was claustrophobic.
Who wants to see a new DBD book cover ? 👀
I’m very happy to share another one of @ice-elf‘s fics, The Long Way Home, which I’m very impatient to read!
Thank you to @novivi for letting me use their art! 🫶🏻 Really really love the style!
See you soon for another cover!
Not for selling distribution
The Year We Made Ours - Chapter 10: August - The end. (11,2k)
Time to say goodbye… here’s the ultimate chapter of trans!Charles and Edwin ❤️🩹
Sneak peek:
"This is incredibly stressful..." Edwin mutters on their way to the school's hall, tapping his fingers against his thigh.
"Come off it, Edwin. Everyone knows you're gonna pass." Crystal rolls her eyes. "If I fail, I'll be a grandma in a class of babies next year."
"Two years older is fine, Crys. 'you saying Niko's a baby?" Charles teases her.
"Niko's off category. She has a pass."
Niko blushes next to Edwin.
"Thank you for your astute opinions, Crystal, but I still have emotions." His eyes throw daggers in her direction.
"Everyone's gonna pass. Loosen up, guys." Charles wraps an arm around each of their shoulders.
"I agree with Charles! You're all very talented." Niko beams and smiles deeply.
Charles grins as they finally step inside the hall. "Well, time to check that."
Link here
AU’s summary
I know it’s been a while but here’s a new DBD book cover for you! Not very sophisticated this time, apologies.
This is actually the sequel of a shorter fic I read a while back and I had to make it into a book ‘cause I really liked the first part.
(Links below)
I Would Worship You Instead Of Him by @coraline-piange
You Might Be The Answer To The Sinner In Me (part 1)
There’s still so many fics I wanna print, you guys are all too talented!!!
The Year We Made Ours - Chapter 9: July (10,5k)
Sorry it took so long, but as you can see, that new chapter is quite monstrous 😅 It’s time for Charles to be suffering, unfortunately… 🫢
Sneak peek:
Next thing Charles knows, he finds himself at the door of a rage room.
He eyes the front curiously, before turning his head to Edwin. "How did you even get that idea?"
Edwin stands straight, his hands behind his back.
"You can thank Jenny. She is the one who introduced me to rage rooms."
"How?" Charles lifts an eyebrow.
"She brought me here multiple times after I turned twelve. I was constantly frustrated and did not understand very well what was happening to me at that time. She said I needed to unleash my emotions."
"Did it work?"
"I dare say it did." Edwin smirks. "I felt much better after." He turns to Charles, softer. "Although, what truly helped me was my therapist. I did not particularly like it, but I cannot deny that it was necessary." Charles fidgets with rocks on the ground, head down. He knows that. "Will you consider getting one?..." Edwin tries gently.
Link here
AU’s summary
Raid my bookshelf 📚
I’ve been tagged by my Awkward Ghostie @edmcmayonnaise so here we go!
Which of these last books I’ve got would you steal? 👀
Such Charming Liars - Karen M. McManus
Teacher of the Year - M.A. Wardell
The Pairing - Casey McQuiston
Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
We Solve Murders - Richard Osman
The Hollow and The Haunted - Camilla Raines
Getting Away With Murder - Kathryn Foxfield
Murder In The Family - Cara Hunter
The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester - Maya MacGregor
I have no idea who to tag so feel free to do it if you want to!
Was recoloring screenshots for my next "dbda as posts i saw this week" post and realized that these two scenes
are heavily tinted green (it's hard to see bc of the dark lighting but when you start playing with the colors it's clear they are so green)
and it's because these are Charles's and Jenny's Hells
Jenny is living her worst nightmare of allowing herself to be vulnerable and getting hurt
Charles is living his worst nightmare of not being able to protect Edwin
And it matches the green of Edwin's literal Hell
The Year We Made Ours - Chapter 8: June (7,1k)
With some delay (forgive me, this was quite a long chapter), here is June and it’s camping time! You’re gonna love that one 👀
Sneak peak:
“Edwin, are you sleeping?” Charles whispers some time after they all went to bed.
Edwin rolls around, facing his friend. He hesitates before speaking. “To be completely honest… I am a bit afraid of getting nightmares again.”
Charles hums, comprehensive. “Well, I might have an idea, then.”
“What kind?...” Edwin asks hesitantly.
Charles straightens up, resting on his elbow. “What d’you think about watching the stars?”
“Right now?”
“Couldn’t be a better time and place, yeah?”
“… Yes, that is right.”
“So?”
Edwin breathes deeply and exhales. “I suppose it would be a better use of time than laying here awake.”
Charles smiles big. “Let’s go, then.”
Link here
AU’s summary
Reblog if you've found friendship because of your fandoms.
I’ve been wanting to try to draw something for DBDA for a while now, and I was wondering… if I were to open commissions, would some of you be interested in this kind of art? It could be profile pictures, banners, a simple print… it’s just not gonna be detailed faces and would be delivered 100% digitally (but if you were to want a print, you could totally make it printed yourself).
I’m just trying to scrape some more money to complete my part-time job, and it’s been a while since I wanted to try commissions but I’ve never done this and I don’t like my drawings of humans, so 😅 If enough people are on board, I’ll obviously make a proper post about it with all the details, but for now I’m just trying to gauge the interest.
The Year We Made Ours - Chapter 7: May (5.5k)
Blame the late release on the second DBD meet-up okay 🫠
Sneak peek:
The night air welcomes them easily as they settle and sit on the porch. The calmness of this side of dark London relaxes both of the boys instantly.
“What time is it?” Charles asks with a small voice before taking a sip of his tea.
Edwin checks his watch. “Two thirty-eight in the morning.”
Charles can’t help the tiny stretch of his lips. “You’re establishing a new record there, mate.”
“Mh, it is your birthday, after all. I shall make exceptions.” Edwin sips his own tea as well.
“I like when you make exceptions.”
Silence settles around them as he observes his surroundings. Then he stares at the ground.
“Sorry for not listening to you. I know you’re just worried about me.”
Edwin smiles softly. “I am.” He takes another sip.
Charles turns his head to look at him. “You’re like my guardian angel. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“Charles, do not be silly. You do not have to do anything to deserve me.”
Link here
AU’s summary
