#paynelandweek

Payneland / Painland Day 7 : Free Day

Two boys distracted by each other in their element amidst cases

some kisses and almost-kisses, colored at last <3

my contribution for @painlandweek day 4: forced proximity/bound together ♥️

cropped closeups of each smooch under the cut

Painland Week 2026 prompts

Aug 3 - Dancing together / First date

Aug 4 - Sharing clothes / Like an old married couple

Aug 5 - Forehead kiss / Almost kiss

Aug 6 - Silly traditions/Gift giving 

Aug 7 - Act of true love / Devotion

Aug 8 - Curses / Magic

Aug 9 - Free day

This prompt list was released as early as it was to give every participant enough time to preemptively create for each day. All 7 days are not required to participate. You could only create for 1 day and it'd be just fine.

I would do it again»

Francesca - Hozier

Painland week | Day 2: Songfic

song: ‘everything i wanted’ - Billie Eilish | payneland playlist

For Painland Week Day 7: Free Day!

I’ve been having a blast seeing all the beautiful art, fics, and edits made this past week. This fandom is so incredible <3

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland Characters: Charles Rowland (DCU), Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Crystal Palace (DCU), Niko Sasaki Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Role Reversal, Case Fic, Magic, Jealousy, Love Confessions, First Kiss, Kissing, Boys Kissing, mentions of Age Difference love confessions, please see the notes for more info on that, Love Potion/Spell Series: Part 5 of Payneland Week 2025 Summary:

When strangers start confessing love to Edwin, the Dead Girl Detective Agency (& Co.) launch an investigation. But, as Charles watches over Edwin, he comes to a surprising realisation.

I’m really late with this entry! The next one’s gonna be even later, but I’m still writing it. It’s going to be the last one, though! No Free Day entry from me, I’m afraid.

Excerpt:

“Some of your memories are still hazy,” Crystal finished for him.

“I have most of them,” Edwin protested. “I’m just not sure if I can remember every ghost I’ve met.”

“Maybe you did,” Charles said. “It’s probably just a coincidence.”

“I don’t know.” Edwin frowned. “Something feels… off.”

Charles got up from where he was perched on the desk and came around to Edwin’s side. He placed his hand on the back of the chair and leaned in a little, hoping to provide comfort. Edwin turned to look up at him and Charles smelled the gentle, woody tones of Edwin’s subtle cologne. For a moment, Charles wanted to close his eyes and inhale, but he stopped himself. That would be super creepy, especially since he and Edwin had only known each other for half a year. 

Shaking that urge away, Charles said, “Mate. This isn’t like David, yeah? You don’t need to worry about it. Not everyone who flirts with you is gonna be dangerous. Or a crow.”

Payneland / Painland Week Day 4: Silly Traditions

They snogged after.

Time for my HCs:

On one of their early agency anniversaries in the 90s, Charles introduced Cluedo to Edwin (not knowing how to play the game either. just that it was the principle of the whole detective thing, innit). And Edwin loved the goddamn game so much that the boys declared it their staple anniversary ritual. On the next anniversary, it was Edwin who started the annual tradition of collecting strange Cluedo editions by surprising Charles with a Greek version of Cluedo he found somewhere.

From then on, the boys challenged each other every year to find the most obscure version of Cluedo they could. (Except it transformed into a challenge of finding a Cluedo edition the other would love)

Winner gets bragging rights

Painland / Payneland Week Day 2: Old Married Couple

My respective headcanons are:

In the early days, Charles would always fix Edwin's bowtie whenever the former noticed it got a bit crooked, since he knew Edwin was pretty particular about that sort of stuff. But during cases, the bowtie would get crooked every 10 minutes that Charles just gave up. But he'd still fix up Edwin's bowtie before setting off on cases, out of habit.

Whereas for Edwin, Charles seemed to like having his collar popped up. That's it. That's the reason. Edwin doesn't quite understand the appeals of 80s fashion, but if it made Charles look cool and happy, Edwin would keep Charles's collar popped up by whatever means necessary.