#qwanderer

[deadbangdetectives]

Hi would it be possible for me to sign up as a pinch hitter only? Thanks!

Yes, the sign-up forms will have an option to sign up as a pinch hitter only!

[mad-madam-m]

YEEEE thank you!!

[gameo-archive]

"Gali has asked if Charles knew or had an interest in another language given his heritage in the show. I'm curious about his family's spiritual beliefs as I have a theory that later seasons would have explored culturally relevant afterlives for the main characters as we learn more about their families and the supernatural world. Perhaps, along with Christianity or Catholicism in Charles' household there were other religions such as Hinduism or Buddhism like his comic relative. Are you able to speak on this?

"Qwanderer also asked: have you seen any Star Trek? Have you any favourite episodes?"

for my Cryland Shippers Discord server. Charles' fam's language/religions, and Star Trek

[idliketobeatree]

dead boy detectives text posts as starboarded (and others) messages from the dead gay detectives server, part 12 part 1 by @nix-nihili ↳ 2,2.5, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 mine ↳ 6, 7, 11 @aletterinthenameofsanity ↳ 8 _ @hartigays @tragedy-machine @vyther15 @bitterdesert @agentearthling @magpiemarten @aletterinthenameofsanity @datglutengoblin @holvivum @autumn-equinox-04 @shaylogic @qwanderer @featherandstorm @singt0me @its-about-the-acethetic @wikipediagreen @anything-thats-rock-and-roll @safaiagem @colourblindcharles @pinklemonslices @fangirlzars @mellxncollie @every-moment-a-different-sound @plentyghosts @wordsinhaled @tumblerislovetumblerislife @fenristheulv + logan

bonus:

[wordsinhaled]

The things Charles touches in Hell

Everyone run and look at @qwanderer's amazing gifset of the things Charles touches in hell that inspired this meta!!!!

TL;DR Charles' journey to get Edwin is not just retracing Edwin's steps following the maps in the notebook but also on some level specifically reflects the doubts Charles holds about his own capacity to be a good person (and, extrapolating from Edwin's confession, a worthy romantic partner for Edwin in the future). Everything Charles touches in Hell (the mirror in Limbo, the bell, the lock, the claw machine + Maxine grabbing him on the stairs) is designed to sow doubt in Charles - incidentally, much like Orpheus experiences doubt on the journey out of Hell with Eurydice.

-

The mirror

The mirror shows Charles his reflection, which he hasn't been able to see since he died. Jayden said in a Cameo that when he acted in this moment he was embodying Charles giving himself a pep talk about saving Edwin - so he's thinking about whether he is different enough from his father to be able to pull off this rescue, whether he's capable of it.

The mirror also reminds him that, being corporeal in Hell, he doesn't have the capacity to mirror-hop to Edwin, which would have been the easiest way to get to him. It's a tool he'd have had as an incorporeal ghost, a tool that he lacks in Hell. The mirror highlights Charles's need to be Useful to his loved ones and the doubt that if he isn't capable of being useful (especially in rescuing/protecting them), he isn't loveable. Later he says to Edwin "Well, I'm here now," and is able to use the tools in the bag of tricks to distract the doll spider and get Edwin to safety.

And though I don't think Charles is as consciously aware of this bit, the mirror's also a bit of a metaphor for Charles' people-pleasing and how Charles effaces himself in favor of his loved ones. Charles isn't able to be seen in reflections normally, as a ghost, just as he puts the comfort and mood of others above showing his authentic feelings/frustrations, so he isn't "seen" in those relationships. In the mirror in Hell, he can see himself, for the first time in over three decades, and it echoes a fear/doubt that if he shows up fully present in a relationship, romantic or otherwise, he will take up too much space for himself, or people won't like what the see when he is visible.

The bell

The bell speaks to Charles's doubts about impulsivity and its unintended negative consequences. Charles' on-the-spot impulsive decisions are a theme throughout the show - he identifies himself as "the one who does shit like this" in the pilot when possessing Esther. And he compensates for or offsets these things really successfully with resourceful thinking (see: the enchanted jar to replace the sprites' smashed vessel, etc.), and his quick thinking is a huge strength. But the bell here is an example to Charles of a time his impulsivity hurt others, even without him realizing.

Charles and Edwin have an exchange about it: "What about the bell?" "No - it hurts them." Charles experiences direct proof that his impulsive action caused harm to others that he can't fix or soothe, and this moment leads directly into Charles slowing down to take time to process/figure out his feelings for Edwin during the staircase confession rather than impulsively saying he was in love back right away. The bell reflects his fear of how his impulsivity could be a hurdle or liability in his relationships. The bell can also represent the fear that even something that typically makes Charles an asset to Edwin, a strength or a positive, can become something harmful if Charles isn't careful. It's the doubt that Charles' quick thinking, which complements Edwin's more regimented nature and desire to always "have a proper plan in place," could have an unintended harmful shadow side if Charles allows it to, so that he can't trust himself.

Also, the ringing of the bell that is meant to summon someone, much like the mirror, also speaks to Charles' desires to take up space and be perceived by others, and ties back to his doubt that he might take up too much space in a dynamic with someone else. Charles has missed being visible and living, wished to be "seen by someone his own age who's alive." The 'attention' piece might reflect Charles' occasional showiness - which became comfortable over years with Edwin, but which while alive he probably used to associate with negative consequences for himself for taking up 'too much space' or otherwise putting himself in a position where his dad or his peers would 'cut him down to size,' so to speak.

The ringing of the bell at a counter is, in theory, used to seek attention or service from someone, which would also mean Charles knowing what he wants in order to ask for it - and, in a relationship, being able to articulate his desires and needs. It would mean Charles subverting his usual way of being where he makes sure others have everything they need, to prioritize his own wants and needs. It represents his doubt of his ability to be vulnerable in a relationship.

The lock

Irene's phrasing "manipulate for access" about the lock got me thinking about the idea of Charles being able to pick any lock, having confidence in his ability to do so, and even others having confidence in his skill at it ("Big lock" "I'm sure you can open it"). It parallels Charles being good with people, being the one who "everyone likes […] eventually" because he's a "good sort of chap" - but also makes me think it reflects a fear that others will be taken in by the façade of affability he takes care to put on for others' comfort, and make themselves vulnerable to him only for him to hurt them. The classic sort of not-wanting-to-continue-the-cycle-of-abuse type fears.

The bell also highlights Charles's differences from David (who Crystal says "must have lied to [her]" to get her to "let him in" to possess her, as Edwin put it in that same scene). Charles doesn't actually manipulate people for access to their bodies, but it calls back to the doubts he experiences in 'The Case of the Two Dead Dragons' about being compared to Crystal's ex/Brad and Hunter in how they exploited women. The lock also speaks to the doubt that once he has actually gotten someone to like him, or if he were to enter into a relationship with Edwin, they're only there because they've been 'taken in.' Charles knows how to be a "cute distraction" to others or a temporary fling, he doesn't think people should be let in to see the dark emotions at the depths of him that he suppresses. The lock is a bit tied into the claw machine, I think.

The claw machine

The claw machine is associated with grabbing prizes and reflects Charles' self-doubt in general and the ways he seeks praise. It speaks to his issues with feeling fundamentally deserving of love and the fear/doubt that he doesn't actually deserve the "prizes" he gets (being praised by others, or receiving Edwin's love without any expectations or conditions).

It's also a game, and in those types of claw games there's usually a lot of maneuvering the claw, trying over and over and failing to grab the prize, "falling short" if you will, even despite having skill at the game; the prize might slip free and be lost, etc. - much like how Charles always felt he was falling short of his dad and never reaching making him happy/proud ("no matter how nice I was, or how good at sports I was"). When it comes to Charles + games: Cricket was a game Charles excelled at and yet never quite made the mark of his father's approval no matter how many trophies he got, etc.

The claw machine can also be a metaphor for the cycle of abuse. It speaks to the idea that Charles was caught up in a sort of 'rigged game' - an endless cycle of abuse in which his abusers held physical, emotional, social, or systemic power over him and he would inevitably end up 'losing' the game with its uncertain rules and would be hurt (by his dad/his peers or by society). While alive he was playing the assimilation/likeability game with his friends for the prize of feeling belonging, only for them to turn out to be the ones to kill him.

(Notably, the way out that Edwin ended up taking was a hole smashed in the wall behind the claw machine, bypassing the game entirely - and Charles retraces the path Edwin took. This shows how Charles doesn't need to actually keep trying and failing to reach an unattainable/shifting goalpost in order to be loved unconditionally or be deserving of love. It also foreshadows he can take a different path that would break the cycle of abuse, that indeed he is already breaking it.)

+ Maxine

Bonus, since this one touched him and not vice versa - Maxine grabbing Charles on the stairs and knocking him off-balance. In life Maxine was a stalker, an abusive person who was invasive towards and controlling towards her romantic interest. Ultimately she became physically violent and tried to kill Jenny. This has been spoken on in other metas, but much like the Devlin House reflected his fears of becoming like his dad, Charles encountering Maxine on the stairs reflects Charles' basic fears of continuing the cycle of abuse in a romantic relationship and emotionally or physically hurting his partner by being overbearing/controlling/violent. Maxine being present on the staircase during the confession also underscores this doubt in Charles.

[mrnightingale]

Ok, I gave up with the other one bc I didn't know how to continue it BUT I really wanted to draw this one so, this is mostly a texture practice but I like it. It's a really artsy scene and, once again, a beautiful gif by @qwanderer, I hope you like it :p

[artemisadore]

restaurant au payneland for @qwanderer 💚

[adventures-in-mangaland]

Dead Boy Detectives Fic Recs Part 12

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 Part 7 | Part 8 | Xmas | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11

I had a long train journey so lo and behold, it's time for another fic rec list. You guys are all awesome! See here for the full AO3 collection.

what's pasta is present by laiqualaurelote

Charles goes to a drag show and has a bisexual awakening. This is the Barbara Lasagna fic we all needed with bonus Sexy Handyman Charles, tender falling in love feels and fabulous fanart.

this fabulous mess we're in by dearheartdont

Another Alive Boys University AU with Edwin taking care of Drunk!Charles. The yearning is off the charts and I'm pretty sure it's mutual. 😉 So so lovely.

Wedding Vows and Other Lies by ghostinthelibrary

When his beloved uncle dies, Edwin unexpectedly inherits his entire massive fortune, on the condition he marries and stays married within/for a year. Naturally, his best platonic friend Charles is more than ready to make it happen, despite the hostility of Edwin's family and other skulduggery... This is another banger from ghost, this time with Fake Relationship/Marriage, Mutual Pining/Idiots in Love and Knives Out vibes! I also loved Author Edwin accidentally basing his detective hero on Charles and his own traumatic backstory. It happens, I guess.

the night here in the day by Cesare

During a case, the boys run into Sa'al. Who inadvertently plays matchmaker. Love the Hell lore and Edwin gossiping with Sa'al and flirting with Charles.

a world without you (isn't meant for me) by fairest

Simon escapes Hell with Edwin AU with Simon being a massive Third Wheel and Charles being insecure. Love the concept and it's so well done!

deshabille | shieldable by DarkStars (Worlds_Okayest_Goalie)

The boys work through their trauma and protective feelings for each other. And also cases. Also explores Edwin's friendships with the girls and feeling realization for Charles in a really sweet way and has lovely family feels for Charles and his mum towards the end.

if I found my body in chains by Ingi

In which processing his trauma causes Charles to mentally regress to childhood in moments of stress. This is a really interesting take on the de-ageing trope with absolutely peak Protective Edwin and I love it.

Detectives' Day Out by Baby_Spinach

Alive for a day fic! The boys get to have a lovely time and nothing hurts, it's great. I recently rediscovered this story and I can't believe I haven't already recced it, tbh.

Ain't That a Kick in the Head? by DontOffendTheBees

Charles and Edwin negotiate the fate of our beloved office sofa. Underhanded tactics are used. Just cute, funny fluff starring the fandom's real MVP.

the sound of their breath fades with the light by KiaraSayre

The boys wake up corporeal and with amnesia in the Neitherlands but still save each other. Also has some fun timey wimey details as their different St Hilarion's eras/ memories clash. Another great fic from this author!

Five Times the Boys hang out at Edwin's place and One time they go somewhere New by autumn_equinox_04, qwanderer, wordsinhaled

I think this is based on the restauranteur/food critic AU that was doing the rounds on Tumblr. Now upgraded to a cooking show! Very cute, much yearning and excellent friends to lovers.

Pipe Dream by edmcmayonnaise

While escaping evil wizards via tunnel, the boys get wedged into the tiny gap between iron-reinforced pipes and forced proximity boners/feelings realisations ensue. It's kind of PWP but emotional and cute.

you might be the answer to the sinner in me by purposefullyinlove

Charles has a one night stand with his old (girl)friend Crystal and then immediately falls for her bitchy flatmate Edwin when they meet the morning after. Also has a much longer sequel from Edwin's point of view focusing on his insecurities about their developing relationship. Both highly recommended!

the soft bruised parts by williamvapespeare

Absolutely lovely contribution to DontOffendTheBees' Domestic AU. This one is a prequel set during their school days featuring the boys looking after each other the best they can through Charles' canonical child abuse and Edwin's insomnia and social anxiety. It also has the Sharing a Bed with Beloved Cures Insomnia trope, which I kind of love. Superb Emotional (and physical) Hurt/Comfort.

And I will come again, my Love by Leandra

Alive Boys 1916 AU! Edwins' parents own the local manor house and Charles is the poor neighbour who sneaks into their grounds to swim in their pond. So, of course, the boys must skinnydip together and fall in love. This one is Lust to Love and really leans into the class divide and so it has a kind of tragic doomed lovers vibe, with an extra layer of gothic romance towards the end. Read it!

Roses and Indelible Ink by thewritingotter

In which Edwin is immortal and regular human Charles is his pining friend and gardener. This one is a short and bittersweet immortal/mortal romance that plays with their 'age gap' in interesting ways.

in corridors of dreams (now with you forever) by ObsessedWithFandom

What if Edwin escaped Hell a little sooner? And noticed Charles? Who notices he's being haunted (but in a nice way)?? And they had a ghost romance??? I love this concept, Charles is living the Ghost (1990) dream.

@laiqualaurelote @dearheartdont @ghostinthelibrarywrites @codenamecesare @tititilani @busywithmyennui @a-jasminator @dont-offend-the-bees @starsandatoms @qwanderer @autumn-equinox-04 @wordsinhaled @edmcmayonnaise @williamvapespeare @nuttersinc @kai-art @tumblerislovetumblerislife @not-the-living-ghost @whatthehorsedoicallthisblog @bibliomancer7 @guardianspirits13 @northen-light @shazziez @tessaaaaa @icurlybooks @lavenderlovers-stuff @kuwdora @tigerliliesandcherryblossoms @avoiceofnerat @khorazir @neurodivergent-fangirling @many-gay-magpies @littlepocketuniverse @fairandfatalasfair

[every-moment-a-different-sound]

Cameo submitted by @shadowflame84, @tragedy-machine, @idliketobeatree,

@sapphic-corgi, @shaylogic, @tw0-ravens, @qwanderer, and me! We sent in:

Hi from the Dead Gay Detectives server, we really loved your amazing work on DBD, and really appreciate and support you both!

Here are our asks, but we understand if you can't answer all of them:

What movie remake would you like to be cast together? Could be any character gender and age/any movie ever

If Edwin & Charles weren't detectives, what other projects/fields would they want to engage with & how would it work?

Could you pull out the most modern Edwin & Charles outfits out of your closets & share your thoughts on their fashion?

Thank you so much for doing cameos and we hope you guys had fun this week! Lots of love to Raffy and Luna!

[aziraphales-library]

any fics where aziraphale has some kind of chronic illness and crowley takes care of him? human au or not whatever is fine :) ILYYYY!

We have #chronic pain and #physical disability tags which will have plenty of fics for you. Here are more to add...

Tell me by Azicrownumber1fan (G)

Aziraphale has cyclic vomiting syndrome. While on a camping trip he has an episode.

Uniform Motion by EdosianOrchids901 (T)

Aziraphale is always tired, but he does his best to follow his mandate to observe humans at all hours. Can Crawley convince him that he’ll be better at observing if he rests?

Not To Blame by summerartist (T)

When Aziraphale is worse for wear, Crowley helps him find the truth about reality. Or, an ill Aziraphale hears something he really needed to hear.

Muscle, Bone, Marrow by qwanderer (T)

"Don't give me that," Crowley says, voice tinged with something like desperation. "You're a million miles away. And you're drunk as anything. And I don't like that I don't know why." "We're celebrating!" Aziraphale tells him defiantly. He goes to pick up his glass, but Crowley puts out a hand to stop him. Aziraphale doesn't have the presence of mind to pull back, so, clumsily, he reaches around Crowley's extended forearm and brushes the glass with his fingertips, pushing it over and onto the floor, where it shatters. "Oh, for fuck's sake," Aziraphale mutters as the wine soaks its way into the antique carpet. 

Struggles and Caring by Azicrownumber1fan (NR)

Post the hypothetical events of season 3 Crowley and Aziraphale finally live together in peace. However Aziraphale is struggling heavily with his mental health and a new chronic illness. Crowley does his best to care for him.

The Ghost of Husbands Past by A_N_D (E)

Az always knew that he’d be thrown out the moment his father found out he was gay. He hadn’t expected to be declared dead though - or for his husband to believe it! But their marriage had been a foolish teenage impulse (not to mention invalid in America), so when Az moved to a small town far upstate New York to start his new life, he moved alone. The kindest thing he could do was let Crowley mourn and move on, not be shackled for life to a now disabled partner. Tony Crowley never recovered from losing his best friend, his childhood sweetheart, his better half. He’d been drifting ever since; no plans, no hope, no money - and now, just before Thanksgiving, no job either. Given the stark choice of freezing to death or accepting his sister’s invitation to join her upstate, Tony reluctantly lives out the Hallmark cliche of Recently Unemployed Person Moves to Small Town for Christmas. It’s a time of hope, love, and family. It’s time for Az and Tony to find each other again.

- Mod D

[tumblerislovetumblerislife]

Last Line Tag Game

tagged by @emryses thank you MWAH

Rules: Post the last line you wrote, then tag as many people as there are words.

(the actual last line is a little. yknow. so we are going for the last semi-sfw line mkay)

But Charlize only assisted, so sweetly trusting, until she had both legs wrapped around Edith’s body, Edith’s hands under her thighs the only true support.

okay welll it seems edith pov has the same dangers as edwin pov. ugh. might be double-tagging so sorry but. @nix-nihili @tragedy-machine @dear-lucrow @every-moment-a-different-sound @dear-monday @tw0-ravens @dont-offend-the-bees @artemisadore @aletterinthenameofsanity @anything-thats-rock-and-roll @bitterdesert @pinklemonslices @qwanderer @wordsinhaled @shaylogic @carebeardean @e-payne @c-rowland @e-vasong @laiqualaurelote @dearheartdont @ghostinthelibrarywrites @likemmmcookies @roseganymede95 @williamvapespeare

[c-rowland]

cookies for breakfast

crystal & edwin & charles | fluff | 2k

Edwin and Charles try very hard to preheat Crystal's oven. (or: christmas, family, and cookies.) (read on ao3)

for @qwanderer for the dead gay detectives server secret santa event 💛💛💛

[aletterinthenameofsanity]

Charles Rowland, Crystal Palace, and Edwin Payne (Not-Threesome)

Charles wants pleasure for all of them, and that isn’t something that Crystal or Edwin have an argument with.

And god, there is something to be said for the neon light falling through the window, casting across Edwin and Charles in motion, a picture for her to slide her hand between her thighs and enjoy.

Their apartment is across the alleyway from a tattoo shop covered in neon signs. Edwin hates sleeping in this room, saying that it’s hard for him to go to sleep with the lights, but Crystal likes the pink and the purple and the blue neon light. She likes falling asleep to the light filtering through the closed blinds, casting her room in a dim glow.

She likes the dinginess. She likes the throwback to another time. She likes the gleam, honest and raw and aching instead of the flash of camera bulbs at an art gallery where no one has ever given a shit about her.

She likes the reminder that she is as far away from both her parents’ high rise and David’s run down cabin as possible.

-aletterinthenameofsanity, all was golden when the day met the night

Thank you to @qwanderer for the inspiration!

[idliketobeatree]

dead boy detectives text posts as starboarded (and others) messages from the dead gay detectives server, part 7 part 1 by @nix-nihili ↳ 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 mine ↳ 6 _ @hartigays @tragedy-machine @vyther15 @bitterdesert @agentearthling @magpiemarten @aletterinthenameofsanity @datglutengoblin @holvivum @autumn-equinox-04 @shaylogic @qwanderer + logan (pls tell me if i missed someone)

+ bonus for sarah:

[wordsinhaled]

MASTERPOST: Restaurant owner/chef Charles / Food critic Edwin AU!!!

Hello everyone! This is the masterpost for the restaurant owner/chef Charles / Food critic Edwin AU, written in collaboration with many lovely authors and growing in real time! The links below will lead to the reblog chains containing all the parts of the fic contributed by me and all the different authors, and I'll add links to additional reblog chains as needed! Thank you so much to everyone for the incredible reception for this AU, for contributing, and for reading! Please begin with part 1 to start reading from the beginning <3 <3 <3

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Restaurant AU Crack by @queen-of-hobgobblers

Ao3 Series: The Great Tumblr Restaurant AU Collab

(We’re going to be non-chronologically archiving an unknown quantity of this collab to the AO3 series! Everything will continue to be updated on Tumblr as well so you can always read it from the links in this masterpost!)

-

Fanart

Lovely art for the AU created as part of Painland Week 2024 by @qwanderer <3

At Home With You chutney Bittersweet Stories Precipitous Caffeination Pardon My French Distracted A Matched Set

Charles & Barbara (in which Charles lovingly nurtures a tomato plant! 🍅) by @deadtwinksdetectiveagency

Restaurant AU moodboard by @artemisadore

[mrnightingale]

I don't know why I thought this was a good idea.

Btw, original gifs by the amazing @qwanderer, I absolutely love their limited palette gifs!