PsychiArtist

OFF-SCRIPT

Actors Will Solace and Nico di Angelo are relative unknowns given the role of a lifetime: playing star-crossed lovers in a groundbreaking queer television series. On screen, their passion is visceral, their chemistry electric—and every moment is choreographed, negotiated, and perfectly rehearsed. They are consummate professionals.

Off screen, an entirely different story is unfolding—one without a script, without marks to hit, and without a director to call "cut." As filming begins, the media begins to speculate, and the line between performance and reality begins to flicker. Will and Nico have to learn that the most important scenes aren’t the ones written in the script..

They just have to trust each other enough to stop acting.

SOLANGELO ACTORS AU, inspired by Heated Rivalry

Lemme say that again: In 2013, it was expected that gay characters would be censored in children’s mass media.

Remember Korra? How she and Asami had to settle for ambiguous handholding rather than a kiss? That was fully a year after House of Hades came out. Nickelodeon said No Gays, the Children™ can’t handle that. Too risky. And people said man that stinks, but that’s how these things go in 2014 America.

Gay marriage was literally still illegal in the vast majority of US states. As of October 8th, 2013 (House of Hades release date) Gay Marriage was only a thing in thirteen fucking states. California had only legalized it that year.

Gay people were still very much on the fringes of society. It was an acceptable political position on both sides of the aisle to be against the existence and equal rights of gay people.

Nico was legitimately a landmark character in queer representation. To my knowledge, there wasn’t before an openly gay main character in a bestselling ya/middle grade fantasy fiction series. It simply was not a thing. They didn’t exist. They weren’t allowed to exist.

I remember people crying. Finally. It was a watershed moment. Kids all across the world finally got someone who represented them. It was such a big fucking deal. And it was controversial!!! Not for the reasons it is today, but because people thought gay kids having representation was inappropriate.

Is Nico’s coming out a great scene? No, these days it leaves a lot to be desired. It’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination and I’m sure Rick wishes he could change it. But the fact that’s the case is a wonderful reflection of how far we’ve come.

Part 2

Part 1 | Part 3

Someone is worming his way into the king’s heart? 🤭📚

Deer wiles 🦌👅📖

Part 3

i spent too long doing these stupid idiot sketches

anyways how funny would it be if season 3 went like this

Page 5 🍸🍯🍍

Too much endearment, Daniel, abort, ABORT! Also chill with the "rent boy", will you? Gosh…

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better

To paint a picture, or write a letter,

Bake a cake, or plant a seed;

Ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time,

With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;

Music to hear, and books to read;

Friends to cherish, and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there

With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;

A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,

This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,

Old age will come and it's not kind.

And when you go (and go you must)