#queer protagonists

It was an incessant and unending:

knock-knock-knock!

What started as a forceful, and rather rhythmic, knocking that echoed through the bathroom and almost rattled the door, turned into a barely audible frustrated sign. Kirsten ignored it as she squeezed a dollop of shampoo into her hand. Its iridescent sheen caught the light and her eye for a moment, before rubbing it into both hands. Steam billowed all around her as she was cloaked in that sharp, clean aroma of artificial lavender as she worked it into her shoulder-length reddish-blonde hair. Fingers massaged her scalp, taking her time to get every strand of hair clean—also to annoy her twin sister. Before she leaned her head under the shower's hot spray. The water soothed her, made her pale, freckled skin turn a faint crimson that shone through.

Then it become more urgent, almost house-rattling—bang-bang-bang-bang!—that left no doubt that Kirsten's time was up. "Kirsten!" Leah's impatient voice, sharp as a knife, called out through the door followed by another series of rapid staccato knocks. "It's my turn to use the bathroom! I really have to pee."

Kirsten didn't dwell on such thoughts often; yet, at this moment, she lingered on the thought of how different life would be if she was the only child. More knocking shook her back to reality. "Fine! I'm getting out! Just give me a goddamn second."

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@sodaliteskull @kitcatling @rot-robbie29 @rayne143 @x-exis-x @thevagabondexpress

@prognosticvaltiel @this-is-me19 @mermaidinthevoid @sarnai4 @william-shakesfeare @write-with-will

@skuwu

I’m plain exhausted. It’d be nice to spend all day writing and editing and drafting, but The Energy. It eludes me. Or work steals it all.

Avery's consciousness zips back to the world through a dizzying swamp. A journey of swirling thoughts, fluttering eyelids, and an inexplicably dry mouth. It's gross. Like she's got a shriveled up sponge for a tongue. In a few moments, most of the discomfort passes and the world materializes around her: the subtle scent of lavender and lemongrass; rays of early sunset that tint the world red; a steady, eerie creak.

Comfortable, warm, and haunting. Waking up around this time has always felt like that. Felt weird. The creaking doesn't help.

What happened? Where am I?

Her fluttering eyes shoot open and she props herself up. A plush, violet couch supports her now-awake self, herbs creep up from multicolored pots, and Valerie swivels in an office chair behind a mahogany desk. Avery goes to speak, but the words catch in her throat at a rush of memories. The school trip, the girl who lost control, overexerting herself.

Did I pass out?

[...]

D.E.B.S. and Imagine Me and You could have both qualified as ‘My First Queer’. That also applies to all the movies I watched were the queer character dies when I was first actively started seeking out queer media. If we want to get really technical Will & Grace could count as ‘My First Queer’ because, yes, as a kid I would flip to Will & Grace when the mid-day reruns were on. But even now I can't quite say drew me to that show so strongly when, looking back, I know so much of the stuff happening flew right over my head (including the fact that Will is gay, which I somehow didn't pick up on until later). But the first queer series that truly mattered to me was Carmilla. It still stands as one of my favorite pieces of media, in all its campy, quirky glory.

The morning news droned on and on as Leah paid it no mind, her spoon clinking against the bowl as she scooped up cereal. Mother wore exhaustion like a second skin, but she wouldn't rest until her daughters were at the bus stop. Rain hammered the windows and wind whistled past their home—a damp chill seeped in. And for this moment, both remained placid and quiet.

Until Leah began her practiced plea, "hey, mom. So, Kirsten and I were invited to a house party on Saturday. There will be an adult there, as far as I know. We promise not to drink or anything. Just a small thing. It'll let us meet new people and make new friends and stuff."

"Well, who invited you two? And already making friends, eh?" Mother tried to appear motherly but couldn't conceal the smile that danced across her lips. Proud that they were already being so social.

Leah didn't answer right away. Instead she washed her bowl in the sink before she turned to look at her mom, replying, "Renee invited me and Jack invited Kirsten."

"Jack? Like Kirsten has a boyfriend?"

A short, snorting laugh came from Leah. "No, Jack's a girl. But they are the two coolest people at school."

Mother's sigh of relief sounded a bit like a deflating balloon. "So, let me get this straight," she began, her tone soft and non-confrontational. "You are seeking permission to go to a home of some kid—"

"—it's Regina, a friend of Renee and Jack. I trust them so I trust her—"

"—whose parents I've never met. To attend a party full of teens, yeah? Like, drunk, stoned, and horny teens?"

"Ew, gross, mom. We won't be doing any of that," Leah protested with arms crossed over her torso.

"And you want me to agree to this night of debauchery?" Mother cocked an eyebrow, her own arms crossed over her chest. Yet that half-smile still tugged at the corners of her lips.

Heavy footsteps came down the stairs, heralding Kirsten's arrival into the kitchen. A quick glance at Leah and then Mother before grabbing a pack of pop tarts. "Good morning, mom, Leah," she said to break the uncomfortable silence that lingered.

“Fine, but on two conditions: you two will call me at ten, not a quarter after, but ten on the dot, okay? And I will pick you two up at midnight. If you do not come out, I will come in to find you, and boy, will you two be the life of the party then. No drinking, no drugs, deal?” Mother’s tone left zero room for argument or debate. “That being said, I am letting you two go. Which means I do want you to have some fun."

“Perfect!” Kirsten piped in.

“Thanks Mom!” Leah added.

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@sodaliteskull @kitcatling @rot-robbie29 @rayne143 @x-exis-x @thevagabondexpress

@prognosticvaltiel @this-is-me19 @mermaidinthevoid @sarnai4 @william-shakesfeare @write-with-will

@skuwu

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Original Work Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Original Character(s)/Original Character(s) Characters: Original Characters Summary:

That once hot water, mostly used by Kirsten, was a soothing cascade mere moments ago. Now turned into an icy cold waterfall.

"Goddammit," Leah cursed before she leaned her head against the tile wall. Wincing from the painful reminder of the punch. Without another moment to waste, she rinsed the sudsy remnants of soap and shampoo off of her. Goosebumps rose in reminder of how cold the water had turn. Which she turned off the second the soap was off her.

Once dried off and a bit warmer, Leah studied the angry violet-red blossoming at the top of her right cheek. A rather impressive look for the first day at a new school in a new town; fuck, in a new country, at that. With a grunt and subconscious rolling of her eyes, she grabbed her toothbrush and continued about her routine. It was the first time since Kirsten punched the hell out of her last night that Leah had dared to look at her face. At least it shrunk to a dull throb instead of a sharp one.

"I'm such a fucking idiot," she grumbled whilst brushing her teeth. Leah violated their most sacred rule, and boy, did she have that punch coming. Never in her life will she admit how hard and how much the punch hurt, though. Fuck that.

----

@sodaliteskull @kitcatling @rot-robbie29 @rayne143 @x-exis-x @thevagabondexpress

@prognosticvaltiel @this-is-me19 @mermaidinthevoid @sarnai4 @william-shakesfeare @write-with-will

@skuwu

Chapters: 3/? Fandom: Original Work Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Original Character(s)/Original Character(s) Characters: Original Characters Additional Tags: Lesbian Character, Queer Character, Queer Themes, LGBTQ Female Character, Teenage Drama, Teenagers, Coming of Age Summary:

Two teenage twins who just recently moved to Calgary, Alberta from Seattle with their mother have to adjust to life as freshmen in a new high school with a new group of people. Coming to grips with their glaringly obvious differences and the similarities that will never go away. One becoming more and more disillusioned whilst the other finding her place in what had kept her passion for her whole life. All alongside a single mother trying to get her master's degree, keep down a job, and be an actual mother to the twins. Trials and tribulations beginning in the year of 1998.

@sodaliteskull @kitcatling @rot-robbie29 @rayne143 @x-exis-x @thevagabondexpress

@prognosticvaltiel @this-is-me19 @mermaidinthevoid @sarnai4 @william-shakesfeare @write-with-will

@skuwu