#forced out

[howifeltabouthim]

Driven out of her home, out of her past, away from all that is harsh but familiar . . .

Terri Windling, from the Introduction to White as Snow by Tanith Lee

[yourbookcouldbegayer]

I'm writing a book and the MC goes inside their love interests mind and his being possessed by an evil entity that's forcing him to go through things that hurt him, like that fact he's closeted and the MC asks him why he is suffering so much and he comes out. Thinking about this scene lately and I think it may be perceived as a forced come out. What are your thoughts on this?

We had a discussion about this:

First of all, it’s a super interesting idea and situation. And short answer, to whether it’s a forced come out is not really... but it depends.

So the situation as I understand it is: a demon is possessing Love Interest (LI) and causing mental suffering. The demon is using LI being closeted and suffering because of it against him.

Nothing you’ve described has said that either the demon forces him to admit it or the MC learns this information (via mind-reading) against LI’s will. Instead, LI admits it as a way to alleviate his pain. This isn’t so much a forced come out as it is coming out under duress.

Is coming out under duress a problem? If it was the only coming out plot we saw sure, but it does happen in real life and for some character may be the only way they do. 

So here’s a question: Is the cause of his suffering being closeted to the MC or in general? If it’s specifically to the MC I can see a bit of a problem: LI is being faced with a choice between coming out and pain. This seems to tread closer to a forced come out, because it’s an impossible choice. 

But in general? Not at all— this is a different situation. Assumedly, even if LI admits to MC, the suffering would continue. There’s no forced choice there. Instead, LI is saying “I can no longer face this alone, so I will be vulnerable and expose this to you so that I don’t have to do this alone.” Admitting it to get some support, to get someone who you can lean on, asking for help and by doing so exposing a part of yourself— completely okay, very real, and incredibly sweet. Haf of how I show affection in my writing is admiting secrets. This could be incredibly powerful.

I don’t know if it would be that situation, if it needs to be clarified in your story or if it was just a little unclear here because hey, it’s an ask, but our ruling is that that is the best way to frame it. There’s a huge difference here between a forced all-or-nothing choice and choosing to let someone help you.

That said, if letting the MC in solves the issue, or if it gives him the confidence or courage to end the suffering/exorcise the demon, that still works— power of having someone to lean on shouldn’t be underestimated. 

Good luck!

-Mod Emma

[eydenwyndham]

Leaving Home

Chapter Three

Claire awoke as the faint light of the new day shone beyond the thick brambles hiding the entrance to the cave. Again she heard the sound of horses, but this time they stopped briefly at Stanton water.

Baron raised his shaggy head, listening. She tensed nervously. Then she realized they only stopped to water their animals. They were shortly on their way again. The dog laid his head back down. But she waited until the sound of the troupe had faded into the silence again. Then Claire leaned over and gently shook Eyden.

“I must leave the cave for a short while, my precious,” she said. “You will remain until I return. Baron will stay with you and keep you safe.”

“Don't be long,” Eyden said sleepily, lowering her head back down again. Her eyes closed, and the dog pressed closer to her.

Claire stood up, brushing the hay from her skirts. Then, going to the the entrance of the cave, she listened hard before drawing the greenery aside and sidling out. The day was gray. The rain was still falling, but now it was a fine mist. All around her it was silent. There was not a note of birdsong, or animals lowing. Carefully Claire slipped through the woods and quickly crossed the open meadow before Thornbrook Manor. What had been a gracious home was now in smoking ruin. The air was heavy with death, and the smell of wet, burned wood, for the rains had tempered some of the destruction. Bodies were everywhere, and Claire recognized many of them.

She found the Earl of Thornbrook where he had died fighting before his home, his sword still in his hand, taking the sword, she wrapped it in her veil moving on. Lady Elaine, his wife, was in another area. She had been broken, and her throat was cut. Her delicate limbs were all skewed crookedly, her fair skin bruised and beaten. Claire could not help but weep at the sight of her gracious mistress so abused. She had to bury them. She could not leave them here for the birds and beasts to ravage. She looked about for something to dig a grave. Finding nothing, she wept harder. What was she to do? And then she knew, although the realization pained her deeply. Turning, she left the scene of destruction and returned across the meadow into the woodland and to the cave where Lady Eyden Loxton, the Countess of Thornbrook, was waiting for her Nanna. Eyden was her first priority. The dead were dead. Their pain and travails were over now. Eyden had to be saved. She had to be taken to the Wyndhams so she might grow up and return to Thornbrook one day with a fine husband who would rebuild it all.

“I was scared,” Eyden said as Nanna re-entered the cave. “Where were you? You were gone so long.” She had awakened and was walking nervously about the little cave.

“I went to the Manor,” Claire said candidly. “They are all dead, my lady, I have retrieved your fathers sword so that you may always remember how hard he fought for all of us. Now we must leave here. The countryside is like a tomb. Not a creature is stirring.”

“I tried to help, I shook out the blankets and folded them, but I can not reach the horses.”

“I will do that,” Claire replied. “Are you hungry?”

“Yes,” Eyden answered her. “I should like some oat porridge and ham.”

“I can give you bread, a sliver of cheese and an apple,” Claire said quietly. “We have no kettle, no fire, no oats, or a larder,” Claire continued, “and many like us have not what we have, my lady.

Eyden sighed deeply. “I understand, give me what you can, Nanna,” she said. Claire portioned out the food carefully. Who knew how long it would be before they would run out of the supplies the earl had packed for them? Or where they would be able to purchase more? If they were fortunate they might come upon a monastery or convent, and beg a nights shelter and a meal or two. But she suspected their travel would be rough for most of the way south to Theramore. There might be inns here and there, but such places were to be avoided. They were peopled by thieves and dishonest folk who would consider her and the child she shepherded vulnerable to their chicanery. No, the weeks ahead of them would not be easy. 

Then she lead a horse for the stall, tightened its cinch, replaced the blanket behind the saddle, and looked at Eyden. “Have you relieved yourself, child?” she asked.

Eyden nodded solemnly. Claire picked her up and sat her astride the animal. Then she tightened the cinch on the horse she would ride,put the second blanket behind the saddle, and tied on the small bundle she had packed the previous day. Then she clambered up onto the horse, and with the wolfhound by their side, they exited the cave.

The woman turned her mount to the right as they came forth, remembering the earls instructions. For several hours they followed Stanton water, which flowed in a fairly straight line through the trees into the marsh lands. When the stream turned east they left it behind. Around them the countryside was both silent and desolate. The herds of cattle belonging to Thornbrook were nowhere to be found. They saw no one. The Horde had done a fairly good job of destroying and stealing, although Claire knew there would be some who had hidden away like themselves, and escaped the fury of the Horde.

It was several days before they saw and sign of life, but those few people they saw hurried by them in the fields or woodlands, eyes averted. No words were exchanged at all, only furtive glances to ascertain whether they were dangerous. One man did look enviously at their horses, by Claire's hand went to her belt, where a large knife was visible, and Baron growled menacingly. The man lowered his eyes again as they passed by.

After almost two weeks of travel, they had the good fortune to come upon a convent just a days ride from Theramore. The ladies of Light took them in, and when they had heard the story Claire had told them, the sisters invited them to remain for a few days to rest their animals and regain their strength. They bathed Eyden, fed her a good hot meal of vegetable soup and buttered bread, then put her in a comfortable bed. Claire wept as she thanked them for their kindness.

They remained two full days, and then departed. Claire had dug out two sliver from her little stash and left them on the altar of the small church, as it was custom for visitors. She knew the ladies of light would be surprised to find them, and she smiled to herself as they rode along again. The farther south they traveled, the more difficult it became to keep from the roads, which it seemed were everywhere. And villages, there were so many of them. Claire had never been more than five miles from Thornbrook, and as they traveled she realized how different the rest of Azeroth was from the Northern countryside. It frightened her, but she would show no fear before her charge. Eyden was fascinated and intrigued by what she saw. Especially the towns. But Claire would not go into them. Seeing them from a distance, she would circle about them until she could head south again.

The autumn air was almost upon them. The days were growing shorter, and their hours if travel were fewer. Eyden had caught a cold, and Claire was worried it might develop into something worse if they did not reach Theramore soon. The child always had good health, but these past weeks of long travel, little food, and sleeping outdoors on the damp ground were beginning to take their toll. They both needed an end to their journey, and warm shelter. Then one afternoon they were forced to cross a wide high road, and Claire saw a sign. The sign read Theramore, and pointed toward one of the four roads before her. Claire considered. Perhaps now that they were so far south it would be safer and quicker to follow the road, especially considering Eyden's worsening health. She turned their horses in the direction the sign indicated.

They saw only a few folk as they moved along the road, and as with those they had seen in the woodlands and fields they traversed, everyone was minding their own business. Claire began to feel that perhaps she had made the correct decision. And then she heard behind her a troop of horses. Reaching out to grab the reins of Eyden's animal, she struggled to get out of the way, but she was no quick enough. They were quickly surrounded by mounted men. Claire pulled their mounts to a halt, that the others might pass, but to her surprise, they stopped as well.

The gentleman leading the troop, for his apparel she could see he was a gentleman, detached himself, and rode over to where Claire and Eyden sat upon their horses. “Woman,” the gentleman demanded, “What are you doing out on the road in these dangerous times? And with a little maid Where are you from, and where are you journeying with only this great wolfhound for your protection?”

Claire opened her mouth, but she was so frightened she could not speak for the life of her. What had she done, coming onto the road? Why had she not obeyed the earls directive? Would they now be killed for her foolishness? But the gentleman addressing her was handsome and slight of stature. He was commanding, but did not seem menacing. She swallowed and tried again to speak, when to her surprise, Eyden did.

to be continued     

@aramisaitherton @houseaitherton

[fuckyourbrokenheart]

FORCED OUT

https://forcedout.bandcamp.com/album/end-of-suffering

[thisisourfamily1]

Banger

[chloeworships]

🇨🇦MARK CARNEY & JUSTIN TRUDEAU **THANK YOU**🇨🇦

🇨🇦MARK CARNEY & JUSTIN TRUDEAU **THANK YOU**🇨🇦

The BEST PM Canada has ever had 🇨🇦

I will never forget the programs and services that the Liberals and the NDP helped create for my family and my community, ESPECIALLY during the difficult and disastrous COVID years. No government is perfect, but I’m so thankful 🥹❤️🇨🇦

PS. An Open Letter 👇🏾

x.com

I’m not on X anymore for some time but I logged on for this news.

PPS. If the Libs lose the next election, I don’t want to hear a peep from those who pushed the PM out and didn’t support him.

🤐

However Carney is wayyyyyy more Presidential than any other Lib imho. I like him 🙂

[kindledspiritsbooks]

My Month in Books: February 2021

My Month in Books: February 2021

Forced Out: A Detective’s Story of Prejudice and Resilience by Kevin Maxwell I thought I’d kick off LGBT+ History Month with a bit of recent history. Forced Out is the autobiography of Kevin Maxwell, a black, gay man and a former Metropolitan police officer, who took the force to an employment tribunal and won due to their entrenched culture of homophobia and racism. Maxwell’s story is honestly…

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