#leandra writes

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives (TV), Pismo Beach Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland, Charles Rowland/Barbara Lasagna Characters: Charles Rowland (DCU), Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Barbara Lasagna Additional Tags: Drag Queens, Falling In Love, Magic, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Loneliness, Drag Queen Edwin Payne, yes you heard right Summary:

“So, Brit pick,” she drawls, and laughter trails up from the audience, “you have a name to go with your rude attitude and -’ she pauses and circles the air head-level in front of him “ - ridiculously gorgeous face?”

“Charles,” he says, and tags on with a little stooped bow, “Miss. At your service.” He can be a little playful, too.

“Oh, at my service?” Barbara echoes flirtatiously, playing the audience for more laughs. She steps forward to grab his chin, forcing him to raise his eyes to meet hers. From so close, he can smell her, hair powder and makeup and a bit of musk from where the stage lights must make her sweat in her sequin frock.

Her fingers are warm on his face, her grip strong. Something zings in the air between them - chemistry, he thinks, thrilled. He knows he's grinning, but so is she, unable to hide her delight. “We’ll see if you can be of service,” she announces dryly, to roaring laughter, painted lips curled into a smile, her voice dripping with innuendo.

From my upcoming untitled Christmas story

“I'm not usually like this,” Charles says into the not uncomfortable silence. “I don't usually boss people around in bed.” 

Self Rec Fic Authors

If you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers.

And possibly I like the Thrill (of under me you quite so new)

Payneland

Longfic, where the Dead Boys go to gay bars, have tons of ill-advised but sexy friends-with-benefits situations and venture as far as The Dreaming to help their client retrieve his lost love. My first Payneland, and I had such a blast writing this case fic. Featuring some of my favourite original characters: Will and Josh.

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After Port Townsend, Edwin tries to handle not only the fallout from his unrequited love confession, but also the inconvenient longing the Cat King has evoked in him. When Charles kisses him out of the blue, it sends them spiralling down a confusing path of lust and self-discovery.

Twin Flame

Dead Boy Detectives, Payneland, rated: E

Modern AU - Ballet!dancer Edwin Payne/ Punk! Charles Rowland

They are so epic. Favourite side character: Clementine Rowland, I adore her!

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Charles has an epiphany during his sister's end of term performance, falling head over heels for ballet dancer Edwin...

My way Home is through you

Merlin, Merthur, rated: E

Time Travel AU, older Arthur with a beard!! I love it when Merlin is being a sassy shit but also a real badass and he's both here! This fic is apparently a hit on FicTok 😅😂

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In the 21st century, Merlin Emrys is recovering from his stressful job as a paramedic at his father’s veterinary clinic in Wales. While undertaking a hike of the surrounding area, he stumbles upon a mysterious stone circle that seems to call to him...

In the sixth century, King Arthur Pendragon finds a young, confused man in the woods. Even though the stranger doesn’t speak Britonnic, he immediately makes it clear that he thinks Arthur and his knights are a bunch of prats…

Displaced in time and burdened with an unexpected new gift, Merlin needs to find his way back home. Meanwhile, Arthur is facing tough decisions of his own, as he too has to choose the path he’s going to follow.

A Hundred Years, then

The Sandman, Dreamling, rated: E

Dream is such an idiot here, but I'm proud how the story came full circle.

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In which the Lord of Dreams makes some impulsive decisions at least once a century, Hob Gadling is bad at getting him to talk but good at getting him into bed and a promise that was never meant to be said will be broken...

This is a story about forgiveness, and the kind of love that makes you a better person(ification).

Got to get you into my Life (series)

Merlin, Merthur, rated: E

The 1960s hippie AU that started as a kinkalot entry and became a long series ... There's kink, there's rock music, there's yogi! Merlin and sci-fi writer and socialist! Arthur, and have I mentioned there's so much sex that I'm still amazed the story feels rather plotty, too?

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It's 1967 and Arthur, just returned from Yemen and the fuck up that was the Aden Emergency, finds himself at a party with a lot of uninhibited hippies. Public sex, drugs, music and protests!

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Chapters: 14/14 Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU) Additional Tags: Christmas Fluff, Christmas Eve, Haunting, Ghosts, Alternate Universe, New Year's Eve, Smut, Bottom Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Idiots in Love, Secret Relationship, POV Charles Rowland (DCU), Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland Live, Sleigh Rides, Detectives, Hook-Up, Strangers to Lovers Summary:

Charles meets the bored and infuriatingly haughty son of Baronet Payne while working at Ashton Palace Hotel during the winter holidays. Edwin is looking for a distraction, which Charles, drawn towards his prickly attitude and good looks, is happy to provide.

Charles could just be enjoying a heated Christmas fling, if only the hotel wasn't haunted...

*-*

A cool September evening breeze is wafting in through the half-open window, stirring some papers on their desk and cooling the sweat on Charles's skin. “This sofa isn't very comfortable for having sex,” he complains and slowly peels himself off Edwin's back, grimacing at the wet sound of their skin separating. 

“It's very unprofessional to be doing this here in the first place,” Edwin says with aloof superiority, which is a riot, because in Charles's opinion he is the reason they were fucking in the office in the first place. Edwin had been lounging on the sofa with his shirt sleeves rolled up, legs casually crossed at the ankles, self-satisfied smile in place, after viciously shaking their fee out of a client with only the snappy vitriol of his voice. Suffice to say, Charles hadn't been able to help himself. 

They have a perfectly fine bedroom in their little flat downstairs, warded against the supernatural so they won’t be disturbed, but the idea of going downstairs for their tumble hadn't even occurred to Charles, too caught up in the moment. 

“Besides, the sofa is uncomfortable in order to prevent this happening in the first place,” Edwin continues and reaches for his trousers. Charles thinks he’s much too collected for someone who, only a minute ago, was screaming his pleasure into a cushion to spare the neighbourhood from being privy to their enthusiastic coupling. 

“You were a bitch to our last client. You know that kind of behaviour turns me on. Technically, it's your fault,” Charles says playfully as he's slipping on his shirt, expecting that his accusation, however well-meaningly meant, will irritate Edwin. 

Thanks to the fabulous and talented @khorazir for tagging me to wrap up my year of writing.

I exclusively wrote for Dead Boy Detectives and even though I had a big writing slump I managed to keep writing.

Technically the year started and ended with Christmas fics!!!

The Christmas Wish Debacle of 2025

Charles accidentally wishes the Dead Boy Detectives alive, making this Christmas season very special indeed. Festive shenanigans ensue.

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This was such a fun write - I enjoyed the structure a lot!

Twin Flame

Charles has an epiphany during his sister's end of term performance, falling head over heels for ballet dancer Edwin.

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Basically punk! Charles and ballet dancer! Edwin having an epic love affair. I'm really proud of this story and I love the characters deeply. Features Clementine Rowland as probably one of my favourite OC's ever - she's just too cool.

And I will come again, my Love

Edwin's voice comes to him like a whisper on the breeze.

“Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;

I will love thee still, my dear,

While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve!

And fare thee weel awhile!

And I will come again, my luve,

Though it were ten thousand mile.”

He cries then, clinging to the branches of the tree outside Edwin's window, for their lost future, for everything that wasn't and would never be. When his tears finally run dry, he climbs down the tree and strips by the pond.

“You can't just use our pond whenever the fancy takes you,” Edwin says primly, playful indignation in his tone.

“Can't I?” Charles says, and dives in. The water is freezing, a chilling embrace.

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The shortest story this year, but it packs a punch. WW1 Edwin and Charles, posh boy and factory worker. I felt inspired and interrupted my big bang to churn this out in record time. Basically wrote itself. Very proud of the ending.

Lost and Found

Assistant to Death, Edwin Payne, fucked up on his first solo job: firstly, he arrived too early, and then the charismatic boy who was dying stubbornly refused to go to his afterlife. Being transferred to the Lost and Found's data processing department was humiliating enough, but he realised Death must be having a laugh at his expense when he met his assigned training partner...

Or: Edwin and Charles become reluctant colleagues, escape their boring desk jobs to found a Detective Agency and stumble into a hell of a lot of trouble along the way…

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I struggled so much with this story. It felt so complicated and I spent too long on chapters. I'm glad I battled through and I'm satisfied with it, but at times I felt like giving up...

Charles Rowland's Christmas Fling and The Very Gay Case of Stupid Drunken Mistakes

Charles meets the bored and infuriatingly haughty son of Baronet Payne while working at Ashton Palace Hotel during the winter holidays. Edwin is looking for a distraction, which Charles, drawn towards his prickly attitude and good looks, is happy to provide.

Charles could just be enjoying a heated Christmas fling, if only the hotel wasn't haunted...

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I needed something fun after finishing Lost and Found and this is a lot of fun! Sexy fun, which is the best 😏

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Chapters: 5/? Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU) Additional Tags: Christmas Fluff, Christmas Eve, Haunting, Ghosts, Alternate Universe, New Year's Eve, Smut, Bottom Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Idiots in Love, Secret Relationship, POV Charles Rowland (DCU), Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland Live, Sleigh Rides, Detectives Summary:

Charles meets the bored and infuriatingly haughty son of Baronet Payne while working at Ashton Palace Hotel during the winter holidays. Edwin is looking for a distraction, which Charles, drawn towards his prickly attitude and good looks, is happy to provide.

Charles could just be enjoying a heated Christmas fling, if only the hotel wasn't haunted...

*-*

On Christmas Eve, Edith from reception offers Charles a spot on the not fully booked sleigh ride. “Might be your only chance. Three people have dropped out at short notice because of the sinking temperature,” she says. It has started to snow heavily and the temperature has dropped below minus five degrees. “There aren’t many jobs for you anyway, they can wait for two hours,” Edith says, consulting her notebook. “You’ve got another request from the Paynes, but really, they’re wanting one thing or another all the time,” she adds, rolling her eyes. “I think you could make them wait for a bit. Those snobby bastards are such a pain in the arse. Living up to their name.”

“Brills,” Charles says, grinning, and takes out his phone, sending off a quick text to Edwin. Change of plans. Book the sleigh ride at 2 with the reception.

There's a chance that Edwin will ignore his request, but Charles is really excited for the opportunity to go on a sleigh ride. It's not something he would normally splurge on, the package is over a hundred pounds per person, although drinks are included, but he's been envious whenever he had seen the guests return. Everyone stepping off the sleighs has been smiling, flushed and giddy from the cold and the mulled wine. 

Predictably, his phone rings a second later. “You should know me well enough by now, Charles Rowland,” Edwin says in the world's haughtiest tone, “to know that I do not go on frivolous outings like boozy sleigh rides. Besides, it's freezing!” 

“I’ll keep you warm,” Charles says flirtily, unable to hide his grin at Edwin's predictable reaction. “Indulge me for a bit. Consider it foreplay. I'll make it up to you later, won't I?” 

There's a pregnant pause, before Edwin huffs in exasperation. “Fine,” he snaps, and disconnects the call. A second later, the phone on Edith's desk rings and she picks it up with a saccharin smile. “Good morning, Mr. Payne,” she trills, then makes a barf gesture in Charles's direction, while she listens. 

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU) Additional Tags: Christmas Fluff, Christmas Eve, Haunting, Ghosts, Alternate Universe, New Year's Eve, Smut, Bottom Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Idiots in Love, Secret Relationship, POV Charles Rowland (DCU), Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland Live, Sleigh Rides, Detectives Summary:

Charles meets the bored and infuriatingly haughty son of Baronet Payne while working at Ashton Palace Hotel during the winter holidays. Edwin is looking for a distraction, which Charles, drawn towards his prickly attitude and good looks, is happy to provide.

Charles could just be enjoying a heated Christmas fling, if only the hotel wasn't haunted...

*-*

"You know you usually put stockings on the fireplace, not the chandelier?” Edwin mocks, one of his bushy eyebrows arched, head tilted as he watches Charles pull down the colourful yet misplaced decorations. 

“No shit, Sherlock,” Charles mutters, sending a glare at the giggling twins in the corner, who have been watching his struggles with glee. Edwin doesn't seem to notice them, just like almost every other living person Charles has encountered. One of the stockings is hanging from the branch that is furthest away, and Charles turns his back to Edwin and bends sideways, grunting at the stretch.

“I do not mind,” Edwin says from behind him, clearly amused. Then, after a beat, dryly, “I find this new perspective quite inspiring.”

Did he just…? Charles wonders, startled, and turns around so quickly that the ladder starts to wobble. A second later, the ladder steadies, a warm hand on his hip.

“Careful,” Edwin says softly, and when Charles glances over his shoulder, Edwin is standing behind him, holding the ladder steady with one hand, while the other remains firmly on Charles's hip. 

Chapters: 11/13 Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU) Additional Tags: Christmas Fluff, Christmas Eve, Haunting, Ghosts, Alternate Universe, New Year's Eve, Smut, Bottom Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Idiots in Love, Secret Relationship, POV Charles Rowland (DCU), Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland Live, Sleigh Rides, Detectives, Hook-Up, Strangers to Lovers Summary:

Charles meets the bored and infuriatingly haughty son of Baronet Payne while working at Ashton Palace Hotel during the winter holidays. Edwin is looking for a distraction, which Charles, drawn towards his prickly attitude and good looks, is happy to provide.

Charles could just be enjoying a heated Christmas fling, if only the hotel wasn't haunted..

.*-*

“So you took Mrs Spencer's ring, and then?” Charles asks the anxious looking maid, keeping his voice calm and non-judgmental. He's acutely aware of Edwin sitting stiffly next to him on the sofa, with his legs crossed over each other, taking notes in his book. Despite this morning’s unresolved fight, they still have two cases to work on together, and Edwin's work ethic is impeccable. He hasn't mentioned their fight at all, though, and it’s hovering between them. 

Sophie, the maid, squirms in the armchair, fingers twisting together in her lap. She's in her late thirties, a small, waifish woman with bleach blonde hair and a tattoo on her wrist that she keeps rubbing anxiously. “I thought that maybe, nobody would miss the ring and I could use it to buy my daughter the game console she really wanted that I can’t afford,” Sophie says, sniffing a bit. Her eyes, heavy with dark, clumpy mascara, are wet. “But I felt so bad about it! And I put it back the next day, I swear!” she presses out, sounding close to tears. “How do you even know I took it in the first place?” she huffs, distressed. She had denied taking the ring for ten minutes, before she finally admitted to picking it up from Glady's bedside table.

“You were observed,” Edwin says cooly, but when Sophie opens her mouth, he holds up his hand, palm out, and tsks at her. “But that doesn't matter now. What did you do with the ring?”