#also with a hint of EdWin there---

[mothhue]

i see you on the floor with big sopping wet eyes

i put a brick on the floor (pillow)

i put a brick on top of you (blanket)

i put a brick on your head (hat)

i put a slug kid next to you (friend)

i put a youtooz figure next to you (friend 2)

i put a bomb on a plate and eat it

i give you a brick (food) and run away

Thank you so much for this Lou I'm gonna honk shoo honk shoo snoork mimimimi

[emacrow]

Bats don't know what to do as The Mockingbird and Time Mock them

That Edward Nygma wasn't a real person in the database or that the riddler actually got won one battle over Batman. Batman had tried to snoop through the apartment, but there was mostly always a person there alongside children.

Then there was a trigger of other rogues break out when there actually nobody in the apartment.

Not mentioning the real person behind riddler

Eddie Mockingbird Walker was born out of a 6 year affair between Edwin Walker, strict borderline insane Prisoner Warden, and beautiful red haired Judy Mockingbird, a former cleaning lady who was fired by the wife of Walker after finding out the affair.

Three years later, Judy Mockingbird was later a victim of a break-in and homicide, the only witness being a 3 year old traumatized Eddie hiding in a toy chest doodle with hand drawn puzzle murals, unfortunately that case was later put in the cold case files with not enough suspects.

Eddie was thrown through the wringer of several orphanages for 4 years, only to be refound by his grandmother Grethen Mockingbird, a former retired pianist who was unable to play anymore due a severe case of tendonitis.

A bright Prodigy to music and puzzles boxes made by his grandmother, a rare talent in school to the point the music teacher begged his grandmother Grethen to signed him in a tournament which later led to Eddie into the spotlight with the youngest pianist to make he audience weep with joy that catapult him all the way through several tournaments, winning each one, talkshows, interviews from age 9 to 22 year old.

He was known as Rose Thief of Hearts in the music community, the next living Beethoven they cried out, especially on how many ladies and guys fallen for his sweet, obvious charms and bright red hair that flow down his waist.

Becoming best friends with his half-sister, Madeline Walker, that he rarely met.

Tragedy struck when on The Chopin Competition, Gretchen Mockingbird died from cardiac arrest in the middle of her grandson's performance.

Eddie disappeared, being dragged off by Edwin Walker during the private funeral, which led many people to the theory of the whereabouts of the music Prodigy.

Then, the rest of the data file went missing until a year ago when Eddie Mockingbird appeared once more during a shocking news of adopting his niece and nephews who will stay anonymous after explaining a rather shocking tale with enough explanation on why he was away from media was extremely popular in the music culture.

Batman could only stare at the photo capture by Red Robin on the Batcomputer, tired bag eyed soft smiling Eddie Mockingbird at family diner. His black hair and eyebrow were gone, revealing a natural red hair that had grown down to his neck, wearing casual clothes with his niece, Jasmine Fenton, a teenage red-haired girl speaking with a soft look

A large massive man, named Jack Fenton that looks too alike to Bruce clumsily and failing feeding a little 2 year old baby girl in a toddler chocolates banana fudge ice cream with green bitd, while trying to stopping her twin brother flinging soft sweet peas at a giggling 5 year old toddler trying to air bite the peas.

A disgusted looking young entrepreneur who discoverered a much better energy source for phones that went world-wide, Tucker Foley, who was gagging at a Sam Manson, had a beyond burger and a salad, her middle finger pointing at him saying something to him.

Batman couldn't get near someone like him, or get a hint of his music albums that were also sold out even from 10 year ago to now with new albums that not even Jim Gordon would help him that Riddler is the famous pianist that he had a collection of his music, and he wouldn't let him 'borrow' them.

Jason had just started dating Jasmine, but he wouldn't tell them about what the riddler's plans were to the point of disconnecting and disabling all the trackers on his phones, even the backup ones with Cass and Babs!

He tried booking for Mockingbird concerts only to find out they were all booked to 20XX for the past 6 months after The Chopin Competition, not even attempting bribes, would shorten a 15 mile long waiting list.

This was driving Bruce a little mad as if time itself was mocking him!!

Part 3 here <-

[aceinspacesstuff]

Charles got murder by his friends and that probably fucked him up more then we realize.

Like, I know we saw some of it in the Dead Dragons episode, but I think there are more subtler hints to it.

Charles is supposed to be the 'friendly one' or the 'people person' of the two, but in the show, Edwin makes more relationships than Charles.

Edwin makes friends with Niko, Monty, and Crystal. He also has this weird understanding/truce with The Cat King, but Charles only really makes a relationship with Crystal, and that was because she came into his life.

Idk, I think it would be interesting if Charles was the more antisocial one of the two.

[ahyperactivehero]

i know that i added this to a post before, but i can't find it now so i'm just going to post it here again!

i love the way we see how hell influenced edwin, particularly when it comes to danger. any time there is even a hint of danger, he freezes. we joke that it's because charles is there, that charles will step up and protect him, which is true. of course charles will protect him, that's what he lives his after life for! yet it also makes sense for him to freeze.

in hell if he ran that baby-doll-spider-demon thing chased him. and ripped him apart. if he screamed or yelled or anything like that it would find him and do it all again. until charles came along with his bombs, it seems highly unlikely that fighting back would have worked out well for him either. which only leaves the freeze option.

every time danger is present he reverts back to hell. the night nurse, esther, the cat king, even the misery wraiths in the devlin house, the skeletons in the sprite clearing, and the angry ghost in the first episode draw a similar reaction from him. he freezes, unless prompted by someone else to run. he keeps quiet. he even tries to keep crystal quiet around the wraiths just like he did charles in hell.

and i think that is so interesting and would love to see how season two handles his reaction to danger.

[tragedy-machine]

AU where Charles figures out he's in love with Edwin but he's nervous to confess to his friend, so he decides to start with telling Edwin he's bisexual

Edwin's never heard that term before and doesn't know that people can like more than one gender so he goes off the fact that he knows "bi" means "two" and deducts that Charles tells him he wants to have two romantic partners

(Edwin also thinks Charles and Crystal are dating, even though they called it quits right after Port Townsend)

"Oh, I see. Thank you for telling me, I have no qualms with that, of course. I'm merely taken aback since I wasn't aware people... did that nowadays."

"Yeah! Crystal says lots of people are bi."

"Fascinating. So i presume... Crystal is fine with it?"

"Yeah, what? Why wouldn't she be? She's bi herself."

Edwin just nods in understanding and thinks 'Ah, so they're looking for a third person, I wonder who's gonna be the lucky girl.'

Meanwhile Charles tries to hide his disappointment that his plan didn't work and Edwin doesn't seem to be picking up what he's putting down, so he has to think about other hints he might throw Edwin's way

(Does it end in Edwin thinking that Charles is asking him to be the third person in their relationship which almost causes him to have a heart attack before he shoots Charles down (rip Charles) and goes to Crystal to have a very awkward conversation with her about how he only likes men? ...maybe)

[majorlb]

They discuss recruiting a second guitarist, going as far as having tryouts, but no one clicks.

They have to be good enough to keep up with Charles, but also vibe with the rest of the band.

Edwin sits in the back taking notes for everyone as well as writing down contact information and then politely sees everyone out the door as the band discuss when Thomas King saunters into the room.

He immediately rubs Charles the wrong way, especially since the first thing he does is start the flirt outrageously with Edwin. And no matter how much Edwin rebuffs him, he doesn't seem to get the hint.

He's good at guitar, but his personality clashes with eveyone but Niko, who could probably make friends with a rock if she wanted.

Charles doesn't get the chance to say, 'We'll call you', same spiel they've given everyone else so far, before Crystal says:

"Sorry, but I don't think you're the right fit for us."

Causing Niko to look at her curiously and the smile to drop from Thomas's face.

"I'm sorry?"

"Yeah, you're good at playing but the vibes are off"

"The vibes? Are you fucking for real right now?"

Charles has never been happier being Crystals friend than right now.

"Oy, mind the attitude, mate. Crystal is just making sure we're not wasting each other's time, yeah. The vibes are off, and you're not joining. Bye!"

Yeah okay he's kind of rude about it as well, but the cunt flirted with his boyfriend, infront of him, at what is essentially a job interview.

Crystal and Charles grin at each other when King storms out.

"I thought he was good"

"Yes, Niko, but Charles would go to jail for murder if we let him stay"

"That would be bad for the tour...."

[idliketobeatree]

charles' disguises always work.

they always work, not only because they are dreadfully normal, plain and unassuming; they also (wordlessly) speak of years of experience, both professional and personal. these are the people who have lived half a life and found themselves in their golden age; they've finally reached past the turbulence of youth and settled into humanity without putting up much of a performance.

everything about them is secure: their comfortable, utilitarian clothes with hints of personality peeking through, the accessories like glasses— a matter of making the world more accessible to them. their set-up of a man and a woman, a couple more likely to be assumed married than platonic, especially since they're always sharing space, it's clear there would be no case-solving with them being apart. and the cases are not about them, anyway, but the disguises are woven into the living world in a way that corresponds to how charles views the value of life. nothing grand, groundbreaking. simple.

there's something infinitely precious and surprisingly mature about charles, a died-at-sixteen year old boy, a detective: choosing to present as a person with a stable job, a partner in crime, and one that is genuinely happy to be there.

it also might be the fact he's had 30 years of the afterlife now, and the years catch up similarly to how growth catches up to someone entering a different stage of life, past his 20s, 30s, 40s and so on.

they always work— they're useful, yes, but they work for charles and edwin specifically, and i think that could use more attention.

[adventures-in-mangaland]

Dead Boy Detectives Fic Recs Part 11

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6|

Part 7 | Part 8 | Xmas | Part 9 | Part 10 | Collection

Happy Easter all! And in honour of the Dead Boy Detectives Anniversary I thought it was time for another fic rec list. Happy anniversary, fandom! You're all the best! ♥️

nobody ever made me crazy like this by Cesare

Edwin is cursed with the body of a beautiful girl and Charles has a lot of feelings about it. It's fun and I liked that Edwin is still very much himself, if feminised. The author is sensitive towards gender issues and it's nice to see Edwin have fun and experiment a little with supportive friends.

Is that a blue sky? It's about damn time by cordelianoir

Soulmate timer AU! Obviously, the implications of soulmate timers for payneland are interesting and give this fic a nice dose of melancholia.

it's magnetic, isn't it? (the sense of something underneath the surface) by KiaraSayre

Alive Boys AU where the boys get high and make out. Love that for them.

care and keeping by cutevamp

Charles-centric about Edwin getting Charles little gifts to show his appreciation (and maybe courtship??). It's super cute! Also the agency watches Heartstopper and teases Charles. Just adorable.

pandemonium: repose by singtome

Another Alive Boys AU, this time Charles is an exorcist trying to save possessed!Edwin. Fantastic concept and so well executed!

Devil on my Shoulder by lucrow

In which the boys encounter evil parallel universe versions of themselves who are insanely violent and also insanely in love. Honestly, I love Bonnie and Clyde payneland and given Charles' radical devotion, I can see it playing out like that, had they decided to go a less altruistic route. Also has fabulous fanart.

Lovely Poison by tragedy_machine

Charles is struck with a love potion (apparently) and Edwin is determined to Cure him of his totally-not-genuine affection. Kind of angsty and suspenseful.

Freeze by justafandomfollower

During a case, Edwin reckons with his Hell Trauma via a possessed doll. Part of a series exploring each member of the agency's fear responses.

Two Gay, Bitchy, Englishmen by ofstitches

In which Edwin and Aziraphale feud over books and Charles introduces Crystal to Crowley. Edwin Vs Aziraphale is so funny, think Unstoppable Force meets Unmoveable Object.

The Case of the Angel of Soho by polymona

Another Good Omens crossover! Featuring the boys sneaking into the bookshop over the years and a bonus appearance of Muriel! Short and sweet fic.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by DontOffendTheBees

Ponyo AU! Insanely cute with serious baby Edwin and hyperactive fish!baby Charles. So far it's been about the boys growing up together, which is adorable, though there have also been hints of future Plot and some interesting worldbuilding details.

we get to stay around and watch the stars come out by laiqualaurelote

In which Charles is married to Crystal, who wants a divorce, and is father to twins, who are being bullied, and it all gets worse when they're attacked by armed gunmen. Black Doves AU written for Sparch (Spy March) with Spy Crystal and her long lost best friend Assassin Edwin making a truly excellent dramatic entrance at the end. It looks like they're all going to go on the run together and I honestly can't wait!

Go Loud by dear_monday and two_ravens

Another offering for Sparch, this time a Mr. and Mr(s) Smith AU. So so delicious.

He's beauty and he's grace by Hse11z5

Detective Charles Rowland must go undercover as a contestant at a beauty pageant so of course he needs a makeover! Featuring kind of a slob Charles endlessly pining over his totally uninterested partner Edwin and the Cat King as Michael Caine. This Miss Congeniality Sparch fic is so much fun!

ghost protocol by handwrittenhello

Another Sparch fic, but James Bond! In which Edwin is basically Q and must accompany Agent Charles Rowland in the field to save the world with his Maths Genius skills! Read it for yearning, disarming nuclear weapons and Edwin proving he's an absolute madman.

The Empire Below by dearheartdont

1920s AU for Sparch featuring Police Woman Niko going undercover to investigate drug deals in London's underground scene. So it's lucky she's also reconnecting with her good friend, Edwin Payne, who's willing to guide her through the empire's queer, criminal subcultures. Really interesting and evocative period setting (complete with period typical racism and misogyny) that also promises case fic and future palasaki and payneland. Recommended!

@dear-monday @dear-lucrow @dearheartdont @tw0-ravens @handwrittenhello @laiqualaurelote @dont-offend-the-bees @polymona @justafandomfollower @tragedy-machine @cordelia-noir @thenyoumaykissthebride @e-payne @codenamecesare @starsandatoms @guardianspirits13 @whatthehorsedoicallthisblog @bibliomancer7 @tumblerislovetumblerislife @tessaaaaa @shazziez @icurlybooks @lavenderlovers-stuff @kuwdora @tigerliliesandcherryblossoms @khorazir @avoiceofnerat @neurodivergent-fangirling @many-gay-magpies @c-rowland @extremely-eager-reader @northen-light @fairandfatalasfair @peppermenttea @movie-watching-monster @dbda-anniversary

[coloursflyaway]

i'm finally going through the comments on heaven to no one else but me (i'm so sorry for the delay, btw, but i was gone over the weekend and you guys were SO sweet that i wanted to take the time to reread everything and make sure i'd respond properly) and i just had A Thought.

i've been putting charles through the ringer lately, which i love doing, because that boy suffers so prettily. but how about a fic in which through magical hijinks charles loses his memory, and edwin is the one left behind?

and charles is like he always is, which is bright and happy and clever and wonderful, and he takes to edwin like he did last time ("so we're best friends? that's pretty cool, i never thought i'd get a best friend this clever! how do you put up with me?") and he's the same, but also, he's not.

because all the time they had together changed charles, just like they changed edwin, and there is something impossibly nostalgic about seeing charles like this, like a snapshot of thirty years ago, but at the same time, it's the most painful experience of edwin's life, because charles has forgotten everything about what made them them.

the synergy isn't there anymore, the ease they usually move with together, the references to older cases and the inside jokes they have.

one time, edwin holds out his hand on instinct; charles asks, "huh? what do you need?" instead of putting their magic screwdriver into it.

edwin doesn't do it a second time.

and there is a beauty, maybe, in watching charles get to know him again, but god, it breaks edwin's heart every second of the way.

and they go through remedy after remedy and nothing works, and edwin has to face the possibility that he might still have a best friend, but he'll never get His Best Friend back, and it's not enough to destroy him, because charles is still there, but god, it is close.

(charles, at the same time, is baffled by everything edwin knows about him and how close they must have been and is this really everything, is edwin keeping something from him? did they - he can hardly think it, because surely it can't be true, this doesn't happen to him, he's not worth of this happening to him - kiss? is this why edwin looks at him so dejectedly when he thinks charles doesn't notice?)

and charles keeps asking questions, like he is trying to figure something out, until one day, he kisses edwin. straight on the lips, a hint of a question in the curve of his mouth, and edwin is both overwhelmed and devastated, because this is what he had been hoping for before charles had lost his memory, and yet he cannot enjoy it now, because it's not His Charles; and yet he cannot pull away, because it is Still Charles and edwin loves him in any way he can.

it feels like cheating somehow, but what if he'll never get charles back, what if this is all that is left of their friendship now?

so he kisses back anyway, and when charles smiles against his lips, edwin thinks maybe, just maybe, it could be okay.

only that a few days, or maybe a few weeks later, something happens and charles suddenly looks at him and he's Back, edwin can see it in his eyes, and -

-and how can he explain this to charles now, that he let himself be kissed by charles when he was not himself, how can he look charles in the eyes when he knows that he has taken advantage of him like this, has he gotten his best friend back now only to lose him again because he couldn't control himself around charles and-

-and charles smiles at him, says, "hi. good to be back. i missed you."

and he takes edwin's hand, who still cannot speak, cannot think, and presses a kiss to the back of it.

"guess i just had to start all over again to realise i could absolutely fall in love with you, huh?" he says, and he looks at edwin like he used to a week ago, like he used to a decade ago, and edwin is crying before he knows it, fingers curling around charles' to hold onto him.

"did you?", he asks, and charles just laughs, sweet and happy and safe.

"oh absolutely. although i think i might have started thirty-odd years ago."

[alexwilltellyouthings]

Dead Boy Detectives was really smooth with how they decided to keep us hanging with Edwin/Charles. We have hints, but no real way of knowing how their relationship will move forward and that feels very deliberate.

'Cause I mean. We see how Edwin is acting after realizing his feelings. He's not all that subtle (for us) in episode 6. He changes clothes, checks Charles out, lingers on a touch on his shoulder, etc. It's clear he changed.

But then, after hell and the confession, we have just TWO scenes focused on them, and they are somehwat hard to decipher, especially when it comes to Charles' reactions. The scenes are pretty opposite.

First, the roof right after hell. They are standing very apart from each other (not usual at all), each looking away, and there's an awkwardness going on when they do make eye contact. It's cute, but unlike anything we've seen from them before, and it indicates a shift in the dynamic that neither of them seems quite ready to face.

Then Charles reassures Edwin that they're good, they smile, Crystal shows up and goes straight to lean against Charles, not even thinking about it, while Edwin is still at the other side. It feels very interesting to me that they chose to go with this unbalance of proximity. It looks... hurtful, to Edwin at least.

Then there's Crystal with her memories, saying goodbye, Esther, the whole shebang, and the next time we see the boys by themselves is at the very end. Which was also a very interesting choice in proximity, as we all know. But this time, the other way around — they are closer than ever.

Also I think it's worth noting that, before this, when they are about to leave Port Townsend, both Charles and Edwin have a little moment with their respective love interests. Charles and Crystal act kinda shy at each other in Niko's room, while Edwin talks to the Cat King. Again, it feels deliberate.

So are there going to be other awkward moments? Is Edwin going to be fine with the craving he now clearly has? Is Charles going to act confident or bashful? And obviously there's room for the Cat King and Crystal to still mean something romantic and/or sexual to them, in one way or the other. Basically, the evidence can point to any direction. And as much of a Payneland truther I am, I have to admit it can also point to a whole different development. The show made sure to leave all doors open, including the ones leading to heartbreak.

It makes me anxious, and it's also lowkey brilliant.

[fallenfrommars6277]

Okay, I've seen the cameo where George hints at Edwin's "first adult experience" with the Cat King and I wish to share my two cents about it.

First of all, disregarding which pair anyone ships, I believe we can safely say that Payneland will eventually be endgame: it is left as an option by Charles in Hell, it is hinted in the show and it is basically sustained by Jayden and George themselves.

I am, for one, a Payneland shipper. I admit that at first I wanted them to stay just friends because I am a sucker for great friendship stories, but rewatch after rewatch I started to see them as soulmates in a romantic kinda way.

Nevertheless, I think (and honestly have thought since the beginning, not just because they said that now) that it would be great to see how Catwin would evolve and in particular I think it's just right that Edwin has his first experiences with the Cat King, maybe not straight away sex, but in general intimate experiences.

Let me explain.

Yes, it would be nice to see Edwin and Charles getting together and awkwardly kissing and having together their first intimacies: it would be a first for both of them, because I believe that while Charles may have fooled around a bit, he didn't ever actually make love to anyone, let alone a boy. So it would be all romantic and gentle and blushing virgins and it absolutely would be great.

BUT.

Both Edwin and Charles are on a journey to self discovery, in general but especially in the love and sexuality area, but they are at different stages of it. While Edwin has been repressed for over a century, he has been now awakened (by Charles, by Monty and above all by the Cat King) to feelings and sensations and wants that he now needs and IS READY to fulfil.

On the other hand, Charles isn't there yet, he just now learns that his best mate is in love with him and he feels nothing but love and adoration towards him but he fundamentally doesn't know what actual love (as in being in love with someone and being the one someone is in love with) looks and feels like, also they're both guys and while he has been nothing but supportive of Edwin about him coming to terms with his homosexuality, considering the time and especially the household in which he lived in, I don't think he wouldn't have problems realizing and admitting to himself that he is bisexual (I know it's not canon, but come on) or at least that he fancies another boy. And even when this happens, I think that he would have a lot of holding back, being insecure about his "ability" to love and not wanting to hurt Edwin.

That said, I think that Edwin has always loved and will always love only Charles, but it is only fair for him now to start having his experiences and exploring his sexuality and, while Edwin and Charles have been a whole for over 30 years, doing everything together, I believe this is something he has to do by himself and the best person with whom to do this is the Cat King because they're both attracted to each other, because the CK is very experienced and I think this would be someway reassuring for Edwin (like he's doing this, he's experimenting with someone who knows very well what he's doing), because the CK would never be judgemental of his inexperience, and above all because the CK cares about him, but also knows that no matter how much he can care about him and be affectionate towards him and even love him, he will never actually have him because Edwin's heart belongs to Charles since that night in the attic.

I expect (yes, I'm talking like this is actually happening because maybe I'm delusional but I've not given up hope yet about a second season) that while Edwin does this and experiments and learns things about a part of himself that has always been hidden and repressed, Charles someway does the same, of course not realizing that he wants to have sexual experiences because he is, if not actually experienced, more acquainted with this "area", but that he has to explore his sexuality to understand how he can fit loving Edwin into it and then actually act upon this, but to do this he also needs to find a way to separate himself from his father, from his painful childhood, and control his anger and navigate and accept his own emotions, all the shades of them, to start appreciating himself and considering himself worth of loving and being loved.

In conclusion, as I said before, they both are going through a journey, but while Edwin's at the end of his and is ready for what comes next, Charles has just now started it, so it's just right that just this once they don't do this together, because they KNOW that even if they take metaphorically different roads, they eventually will find each other at the finish line.

[crafteeauthor]

Honestly I have to wonder if Charles' immense repression doesn't just come from a place of growing up in Thatcher era England with an abusive father (although that is certainly a lot of it), but also from putting Edwin on a bit of a pedestal?

They're on equal footing in terms of just about everything but there's a hint of a dynamic there (they've got a bit of a prince/knight thing going on) that points towards Charles looking up to Edwin in some capacity. It's a little hard to get (laughably easy to get, really hard to register) a dumb teenage crush on someone who appeared to you in your last hours bathed in soft light like death herself and showed you the sort of kindness you thought only angels could show; it's too deific a mental image if that makes sense? I imagine directing romantic feelings towards such a monumental figure in his life (death) would feel like looking at the sun too long

[roseganymede95]

For the ask game: do you think Edwin and Charles ever talk about the more blatant hints of Charles' abuse that showed through in "Like we're gonna die young (again)?" Or just in general, I'd be fascinated to hear how you think your version of Edwin would perceive and act/not act on his understanding of Charles' past. (I know George Rextrew has talked a lot about Edwin just fully not picking up on those darker elements of Charles' past until the show itself, which makes sense in that context, but I LOOOVE the way that in your fics you've subtly changed these elements of the boys' intimacy leading up to canon and how you have Edwin acknowledge some worrying details and just like, keep them festering in this little mind!!!) (Also I know this is kind of a heavy question, so I more than understand if you'd rather not answer it <3)

Okay SO.

Edwin, as a child in the 1900s, was definitely hit by adults on a regular basis. It's inevtiable. Corporal punishments were used in schools throughout Britain, and parenting still adhered to a 'spare the rod, spoil the child' mentality.

I think he's fully aware that Charles' dad hit him. But that's normal to him. I seriously doubt he ever connected that that's why Charles flinches when people make sudden moves around him. I think Edwin is assuming that Charles is as skittish and heistant as he is in the early days as a side effect of having been murdered by bullies. By the time Charles has opened up a little more about his past, a lot of that hesitancy has left him. He's happier and more comfortable. Again, Edwin misses the connection between the image he's forming of Charles's father having been a very ill-tempered person and the way Charles used to behave.

He still forms a pretty dim view of literally eveybody from Charles' life, because the first thing he learns about Charles is that he is a teenage boy who has been left to die. It's easy for Edwin to conclude that the adults in Charles' life failed him. He never quite pulled together that they actively harmed him in ways that have lasting consequences.

I think it makes sense that it takes Crystal's introduction to the agency to finally give Edwin the whole picture, because Crystal understands what child abuse is and knows it's traumatic. Once Edwin plugs that piece into the puzzle it all comes together for him, and thuse begins his era of plotting murders.

[mirellapryce]

In every fandom I enter my brain has to concoct a Spy AU, so here is my Spy/Argyle Dead Boy Detectives AU. Please note I never actually saw Argyle I just watched review videos so take this with a hefty handful of creative interpretation.

Edwin as author of queer spy/detective/whodunit novels, his most famous of which is “Agent Paine”. His career really took off in the last year, but now he’s stuck and his agent is telling him to get some country air and write another Agent Paine novel. 

Saved on a train by TCK who tells him all his novels are either things that have happened or things that come true. He’s a spy himself and he finds E.P. Rowland’s works just so fascinating. Anyway, now he’s here to protect Edwin and take him in to the spy agency. 

Along the way they meet Monty. (Anyone else?) 

Eventually they meet the real Agent Paine. Hi Charles. 

The man is handsome and charming, witty and has a winning smile. Oh no, he’s just Edwin’s type.  After the most confusing hug and subsequent interrogation about who he is, where he’s been for the last year, and what he knows about their spy agency, Agent Paine goes to yell at Agent King in the other room. The only part Edwin catches clearly is when he stomps back in the room saying, “This place will be safe as long as I want it to be safe. No one’s getting to him.”  

“So you’re him? You’re the Agent Paine all my stories are apparently about?” 

“Probably not, but I’m not actually much of a reader, so I don’t know for sure.” 

-choke and sputter and indignation- 

“My partner used to do the same thing. He’s the real Agent Payne. Spelled with a Y by the way. Why don’t you tell me what it’s about?” 

Talking, reading passages and gesticulating when he looks at Charles and realises. “Are you?...Sorry, why are you crying?” 

Wiping tears. “Sorry mate. It’s just, my husband’s been missing for a year. It’s been rough. Don’t worry about me. What happens next?” 

(Darn. Of course a man that handsome is already taken) 

“So, E.P. Rowland?” 

“Yes? That is my name after all.” 

Laughing. “Oh yeah? What’s the P for then?”

Pause. Uncertainty. Eventually settles on it being a flourish, but he’s unsettled. He should know what the P stands for or he should remember putting it there in the first place. 

Charles goes through the plots and tells Edwin what did happen, and what hasn’t yet, but that the plots he came up with make sense. He looks sentimental when he tells Edwin that he has the mind of a strategist. They come to the conclusion that the books Edwin writes are probably actually about his missing partner/husband. Edwin is excited to suggest that maybe therein lies the key to finding the other Agent Payne (tho admittedly a part of him is jealous and doesn’t want his time with this handsome spy to end), but for some reason Charles doesn’t seem all that eager. When pressed he admits that he called for backup when he sent King away, and that he’s more focused on getting Edwin to a more secure location. 

Crystal is backup and despite Charles warning her ahead of time she’s also ill-prepared for E.P. Rowland. They immediately start squabbling. Something about the banter feels comforting which is ridiculous. He also doesn’t like how cozy she seems to be with Charles. Doesn’t she know he’s married even if his husband is MIA? Doesn’t Charles? 

Spy and fight things happen. They get to HQ where he meets a lovely lady named Niko who is similarly teary like Charles had been. But unlike Charles she’s read all his books and is eager to discuss them with him. Especially the romance parts. Edwin hadn’t said anything to Charles, but after they concluded that Agent Paine was actually Charles’ partner/husband, Edwin could see all the hints that Charles was the rogueish, impetuous love interest in his novels. Now he feels a way about some of the steamier things he’s written, knowing these are real people. He didn’t tell Charles about that. He can tell from her grin that Niko already knows. 

Something-something action happens, then reveal that Edwin is THE Agent Paine/Payne. He lost his memories in an operation gone wrong with Monty where Monty betrayed them at the orders of Esther Finch. Or Edwin found out Monty was a mole and Monty somehow wiped his memories (I’m leaning more towards spy tech than blunt force injury). Technically Monty should have killed him, but Edwin and Monty are friends (/Monty has a crush on him) so he just removed him and made up a story that Edwin was missing.  

Pieces are coming back to Edwin now. He should be focusing on the betrayal and what he knows about Monty and Esther’s plans, but his brain keeps picking memories of Charles instead. How they were best friends long before they were lovers and then husbands. How for the last year it’s felt like he’s missing a limb, always looking over his shoulder to tell someone something, missing a comforting touch even though he hates other people touching him. 

Anyway, it turns out that when they got married, Charles took Edwin’s name because of bad association with his dad. Edwin kept his name but secretly thought of himself as Edwin Payne-Rowland because he only associates the name Rowland with the best person he knows. 

[princezzleia]

This mf Cat King is serving cunt. I love every single time that he clearly gives Edwin a hint of him flirting. And GOD!!! He wants Edwin so bad! doesn't he?

Gives Edwin a hint of a queer in him.

Cat King: Do you two have a special relationship?

Edwin: We are best friends, If you must know.

Cat King: You don't have to do all that. This is a safe space.

Wow that was so straightforward innit?

Cat King: You are so oddly handsome. You fascinate me.

Cat King: I am fascinated by you.

Cat King: Look, it comes right off as soon as you make me happy.

Edwin: Then what make you happy.

Cat King: I'm fairly sure we can figure something out.

What's wrong with daddy type?

Edwin: It is an impossible task. How does this make you happy?

Cat King: It gives me more time with you.

Cat King: Hmm. Cat got your tougue?

Cat King: I get it. I might be too mature for you, but I'm not a daddy type.

Love is sacrifice got it

Cat King: Well, with age comes experience.

Cat King: I can be... anything you like.

This is my favorite by far

Cat King: I like your secret parts.

is it wrong to ship them? God I love the Cat King!

Bonus!

That's sweet. the Cat King is right, the older the better, Edwin.

Niko: But don't ask me. I've never even been kissed.

Edwin: I, umm.. I've also never been.

Edwin: I never understood the appeal of it. At least until recently.

Niko: Do you want to kiss Monty?

Edwin: I don't know. Every time I see the Cat King, I'm painfully reminded of my inexperience.

Niko: Do you wanna kiss the Cat King?

Edwin: Absolutely not.

[deadboydetectives-confessions]

I have so many conflicting opinions

Edwin exploring his sexuality while Charles is taking his sweet time: yes I can see it and understand. But also nooooo

Edwin doing it with the CK: makes sense I can see that. But also what the fuck go away

Cryland developing for a while: of course, it's what's hinted at the end of season 1, what else could happen? Also I don't wanna see that

Payneland not becoming canon for some time: yes slow burn! But also someone shoot me!!!

(ps: payneland not becoming canon at all is unfathomable)

.