#talking bear

Oh god OK ok so the short answer is: Become slightly famous in a niche but large hobby.

The longer answer is:

I play in a sort-of Larp called the SCA. It's a medieval reenactment society and it's got chapters all over the world. These chapters are organized into 20 "Kingdoms" that each hold a tournament every six months to decide who gets be king and queen next.

While the Royals are mainly a figurehead, they do still make decisions for how the kingdom is run for their tenure, and recognize members of the Kingdom for their work in combat, arts, service, etc. So they end up being a pretty important figure for those six months.

About two and a half years ago, my brother and I decided to compete in this tourney. He ended up winning which mean he was the next king, and I, a nonbinary person, would be the next Crown.

Now, the SCA has been around for 60 years. However, by the time we won, I would be only the third openly trans/nb person to rule in the scas history. I would be the first to use gender neutral titles instead of king or queen.

Naturally, in a small, niche society like ours, this kind of news spread like wildfire. It was a lot of fun, and I was really happy to be that inspiration for my community. And my brother and I absolutely knew what would happen should we were to win, we were prepared to be placed in this spotlight.

I was not, however, expecting fanfiction.

Now. As far I'm aware, this only happened once. The weird thing is: I know the person who wrote it. I have met them in person and even hung out at events that they were at. I wouldn't say we're friends, but we're definitely acquaintances.

I've been in Fandom since middle school, and I think each of us have fantasized how we would react to finding out someone has written fanfic about us.

Now imagine you've met the person face to face without any flirting/sexual relationship at all and then your best friend sends you the fanfic they wrote about you.

At first I was fascinated, and actually pretty hyped to read it. Like, I've always been Team "RPF is fine" after all. I had to practice what I preached, right?

And then I read the first sentence, and the uncanny valley of reading what someone else thinks you fuck like with no real world experience to draw off of really hit.

I briefly recall making this face:

And then went outside to tocub some grass.

To be clear, this person had made good friends with my bestie. So they told him that they wrote it and sent it to him. Then, my bestie with no sense of propriety, asked if he could send it to me. And they said yes.

I can't imagine someone sending my MCR fic to Gerard way, and there's not even any sex in it. Absolutely buckwild, that person has balls of steel.

Anyways, absolutely buckwild situation. I love the SCA but sometimes people cannot be normal in it.

Also the person wrote themself as a peasant being dominated by Rex Ursa and it was just. Ugh.