#nonbinary coming of age

[gaiabamman]

Summer reads!

I'll never forget my first novel, the one I got the courage to publish also through the encouragement of the Tumblr community!

“Tomboy” doesn’t quite capture it. In 1980s Italy, Leda is just trying to survive puberty, gender norms, and a summer of wild adventures. 💫

🍝 An Italian Adventure is a nostalgic, heartfelt story about a nonbinary preteen finding connection, friendship, and identity in the most unexpected places. Think Anne of Green Gables meets The Goonies, with queer vibes and Italian food you can taste. 💕🌈

📚 Perfect for fans of queer coming-of-age stories, timeless friendships, and indie books with soul. 🔗  

✨ If you haven't yet, get your copy here! Audio, paperback, and digital ✨

[3gremlins]

me: i care less about dragon age now, it's been almost decade, i am tired.

*a few crumbs of dragon age news*

THE BEACONS ARE LIT! GONDOR THEDAS CALLS FOR AID DISCOURSE!

[veilkeeper]

been thinking about it and i'm of a mixed mind on how they're handling the trans/nonbinary stuff. on one hand, using the labels we use irl (trans, nonbinary, even mentioning genderfluid, agender, etc in specific) feels super out of place. i'm fine with it in the UI, but every time i hear the word "trans" in dialogue i'm violently ripped from immersion. as a fantasy setting, i sort of would have preferred if they'd talked about the experience without specifically labelling it (because i find every time they talk about the feeling it works really well).

however there is also an argument that despite being a fantasy setting, the goal here is very much to connect with and represent real people. and real people, at this point in time, use those words. my concern of course is that this is going to make the game age very poorly in that respect, but representation is meant to be indicative of the time, and outdated language is par for the course with all queer media eventually. so using very modern terms and concepts around gender theory makes sense in that respect. the people playing a nonbinary rook right now are most likely to identify with the term nonbinary, and labelling specifically removes ambiguity which can come up when discussing trans people in history or media.

so i don't know. i don't really have a conclusion here. i can see both sides of it. i appreciate the effort that obviously went into it, though, and you can definitely tell that trans people were involved in the writing. it's a big step forward, either way, even if it's not perfect.

[loverboy-m]

“what if i really was someone else?”

[lgbtqmovierecs]

LGBTQ Series of the Day:

Heartstopper

Description:

Teens Charlie and Nick discover their unlikely friendship might be something more as they navigate school and young love.

Title: Heartstopper

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Teen Drama, Coming-of-age

Age Rating: 12

Release Date: 2022-present

Relationships: MLM (Main plot) NBLW (Subplot)

Representation: Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgender, Aromantic, Asexual, Non-binary

Episodes: 24

Running Time: 26-41 minutes

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Language: English

Starring: Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Tobie Donovan, Jenny Walser, Sebastian Croft, Cormac Hyde-Corrin, Fisayo Akinade, Olivia Colman, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Rhea Norwood

Submitted by Anonymous

[sunshinecatmom]

This was my first playthrough that I got all of Solas's memories. Here is the rest of Lucanis's loyalty mission. He is now first talon. Illario was shown mercy. Emmrich talked to Elonna about his fear of death and met his parents. Assam met with with a old friend. Then Taash came out as nonbinary to their mother. It didn't end well. Harding and Lucanis shared some coffee together. I also found a screen shot of that scene of Emmrich helping Neve. Then I found a photo of Emmrich talking to Elonna in his library. Neve takes Elonna to the wall of light. Morrigan shows Elonna where Mythal is. Davrin and Lucanis share a drink together.

[carlyraejepsans]

for real WHERE does the idea that [utdr humans] are nongendered so that "you can project on them" come from. their literal character arcs are about NOT being a blank slate to be filled in by the audience

i think i understand the assumption on some level for undertale, because there is a very intentional effort to make you identify with the "player character" in order to make your choices feel like your own (the beating heart of undertale's metanarrative lies in giving you an alternative path to violence against its enemies after all, and whether you're still willing to persue it for your own selfish reasons. YOUR agency is crucial).

of course, the cardinal plot twist of the main ending sweeps the rug from under your feet on that in every way, and frisk's individuality becomes, in turn, a tool to further UT's OTHER main theme: completionism as a form of diegetic violence within the story. replaying the game would steal frisk's life and happy ending from them for our own perverse sentimentality, emotionally forcing our hand away from the reset button.

i think their neutrality absolutely aids in that immersion. but also, there's this weird attitude by (mostly) cis fans where it being functional within the story makes it... somehow "editable" and "up to the player" as well? which is gross and shows their ass on how they approach gender neutrality in general lol.

but also like. there's plenty of neutral, non PCharacters in undertale and deltarune. even when undertale was just an earthbound fangame and the player immersion metanarrative was completely absent, toby still described frisk as a "young, androgynous person". sometimes characters are just neutral by design. it's not that hard to understand lol.

anyone who makes this argument for kris deltarune is braindead. nothing else to say about it.

[hypogryffin]

i cant believe i wasn't following u b4,,,,,ive just been silently scrolling through your blog for like a solid YEAR and just haven't even noticed????? n e ways what are tha thoughts on literally anyone in p4 being trans bc i live for that 🎤

the way my brain decided that this was asking for pronoun headcanons and did not reread to make sure that was what you were asking before drawing all of this…... well anyways

[rhiandoesfandom]

They had silver threads in their hair. Or maybe gold. Their mother said it would happen eventually from playing in so much sun. That their ashy brown hair would get a speck of light in it. Temporary highlights, she said.

It doesn't necessarily make them feel better about having long hair. They pull at the sides of it as if an anxious tick while they deliberate in their head whether this silvery gold tint feels worse than having long hair already feels. Not to mention they just got made fun of at school for their hair color in the first place. In high school, many have colored hair and they've been begging their mom to help them dye it purple or a light blue.

"Our hairdresser doesn't do that", she said. Another excuse for not wanting to spend the money, they thought. They look at the rest of themself in the mirror and wince. Flattish nose, eyes too far apart, a 'butt' chin, and while their eyebrows were plucked out of a unibrow, they are still very busy. Kell Drummond, what a sight, you. As their grandmom would say.

Their grandmom never questioned their appearance. Never cared if they wore a dress. She said their mother was raised in a 'carefree' home where she wore overalls and played in mud. Kell wonders why then, is her mother so uptight now? Nevertheless, grandmom isn't here anymore. For at least a year almost. And Kell is stuck with their mother as their only caretaker.

They brush their hair once more, then again. Enough on both sides until the one awkward side with the random wave is straight. Until they're uniform.

"Come down, Kelly!" Their mom yells. Their eye twitches uncomfortably and they take a deep breath. Making sure there are no stains on their shirt, they turn from the bathroom, down the hall and down the stairs. Halfway down they decide. They're going to the convenience store after school and buying some purple hair dye.

[shepcdr]

pride month. if you like shepard you're gay. at least a little. even if you're a cishet woman. you are now gay.

[themontess]

Tales (of Lust and Love) from the Crypt - Part 5

In which Emmrich arranges dinner, and Marilys provides the evening’s entertainment

A riff on Emmrich's companion quest The Flame Eternal: dinner in the Necropolis which turns into an intimate night of passion. Rook and Emmrich confess their love for the first time, and Emmrich reflects on his future desires and potential lichdom. Non-binary Rook so a fair bit of identity reflection/discussion.

NB Mourn Watch Rook x Emmrich

First time negotiating vaginal sex

Explicit

CW for mild gender dysphoria: nonbinary character reflects upon assumptions about sex and gender

But also body joy - Rook is very happy with who they are and what they want

5.5k / One Chapter

Intro

Emmrich's plans for a romantic dinner could not have gone better if he'd enchanted the skeleton staff himself. The menu was perfect, the wine ample and well-paired, and Rook looked an absolute delight. They'd left the Lighthouse in floral brocade pants and a thigh-skimming cape of thick black silk, which had been untied by the lavallière and dropped at the table. Beneath, a mannish shirt of gossamer cloth the colour of the night sky left nothing to the imagination except the feel of Rook's skin. Every scant curve and hard piercing stood out in detail, joined by the very same, herringbone gold chains that Rook had promised. It was incredibly hard to concentrate on dessert when there was such a perfect digestif ready to be lapped up in front of him.

Part 5 of the Tales (of Lust and Love) from the Crypt series.

Read on AO3.

[meimeiherokitten]

I really want to write a dramedy story about an older genderfluid person and a younger genderfluid person going thru their coming of age self-discovery story at the same time and having very similar yet very different experiences. They both have bad attitudes and trauma and drama and hate each other and have nothing in common but this ONE thing and it's a big thing so they go thru it together because community is important. I just don't know how to write such a thing and make it readable because I write fantasy and haven't written anything like this before.

I would also want to write it into a movie and be in it and I know exactly who I would want to cast as the younger gfp. But thats neither here nor there because I don't know how to write realistic fiction!!!

It would be called Drink Me Up because yeah.

Omfg just whack me in the face, muse Thalia.

[orchidsflowergarden]

Taash’s trans journey is so fast paced. I wish i were as quick at finding out and all that lol. It is really refreshing to see relatable representation though.

[sunshinecatmom]

I keep on forgetting to mention that Solas doesn't know that Elven is his son. Elven will not tell Solas until after he gets his act together. Given the history between his mother and him. He was sent to the mourn watch for his own safety. Plus, he showed magical talents at a young age. Elven knows that Solas will betray him eventually. He is taking every precaution to prevent that from happening. Solas did give him some help on the teams next step after Weisshaput. Then Elven went to talk to Bellara, met her brother and a forgotten one. Taash told Elven they were nonbinary. Taash and Emmrich got into an argument. Which Elven knew would happen eventually. The two are very different from each other. Elven decided that instead of fighting, they could learn from each other. I had never gotten this option before, Elven went back to Treviso so that he could help with those who passed away as a favor to the crows.

[bitegore]

ok this isnt meant to be a dig or anything but it's always really funny to me when people like just cracking 30 are like "omg you're in your early twenties, you're a babyyyyyy"

babe you're like barely 30, you're a baby too. You're a blink and a half older than me. I spend too much time around people over 50, the difference between 23 and 33 is a few years at a job and a little more distance from living in your parents' house but it's like, nothing. the gap closes every time you breathe and every time i move. the difference between you and me is like one-fifteenth the difference between you and my dad's friend Joe or whatever. don't worry you'll get to live more life too, but don't kid yourself.

and this is doubled when it's coming from a 25-year-old currently experiencing a crisis of age because they're soooo old, they're 25, the horror! You are twenty-five. We have an age difference of three years. Your concern over this is embarrassing for you and highly entertaining for me. But like don't kid yourself here. You are 25. You are a like a fucking baby to me.

[gaiabamman]

🎧 Weekly FREE Read-Aloud — An Italian Adventure

Too broke to buy books? I get it. So I’m reading my most beloved queer memoir series The Italian Saga out loud on YouTube — chapter by chapter — starting with book 1: An Italian Adventure. 🌈 Expect family drama, romance, big Italian energy, and identity exploration. Think humor, heartbreak, and healing — the perfect cozy chaotic read.

If you like, follow my YT channel not to miss episodes! ✨ Want more free books? Join my Queer Vibes newsletter and get In the Arms of Morpheus, a spicy paranormal romance with the god of dreams for free! I hope this makes your day a bit brighter, amazing unicorns 🥰