Archive of Our Own

• Cruel King: It is bold, YOU know...

• Breaking in... dismantling my GUARDS...

• Do YOU even know what is at stake, intruder?

• I have seen the FUTURE.

• I have seen what's to come.

• These tormenting VISIONS...

• The knowledge that BLACKROCK KINGDOM is doomed to fall......

• How do YOU think I feel? Withholding this accursed knowledge from my people?

• That their happiness... their home...

• ...It will all be gone in only a few years.

• Explain yourself. What is it YOU are here for?

• You explain that you're here for the Ice Dagger; for Shedletsky. For Builderman.

• Cruel King: YOU delude yourself into thinking YOU are the hero of this story...

• This couldn't be further from the truth.

• With the ICE DAGGER I will save my people, and no MAN or WOMAN will stop me!

• You interrupt him to explain that you're actually neither man nor woman. You're nonbinary.

• So... technically, you could stop him...

• He looks confused.

• Cruel King: Nonbinary?

• What does that mean? What trickery are you trying to pull here?

• You put away your sword and ball, knowing this is going to take a while.

• You decide to start by explaining your gender. You're nonbinary, so you are neither male nor female, and you go by they/them pronouns...

• He looks confused.

• Cruel King: How can that be? Everyone is either born MALE or FEMALE.

• Are you saying you were born neither?

• Ah. You explain that he is thinking of birth sex, and that sex and gender are two different things. You were born one sex, but your gender is nonbinary...

• He looks confused.

• Cruel King: I don't understand. How are gender and sex different?

• Are they not the same?

•MEN are born with one set of genitals and
WOMEN are born with a different set.

• You explain again, differently this time, that sex is what you are born as, but your gender can be different. Gender is made up of what society says it is.

• "King" could be his gender if he wanted it to be.

• Of course, you don't explain that sex can be changed. That would just confuse him more.

• You think this is the best way to explain it. It's not like you know everything...

• He looks like he's starting to understand.

• Cruel King: I see... So you were born MALE or FEMALE, but you are actually Nonbinary?

• That makes sense. I could tell neither if you were MAN nor WOMAN.

• Are you the only one?

• Or are there other Nonbinary people in my kingdom?

• You explain that due to the size of his kingdom, there might be one or two, but you don't know for certain.

• You explain that the way someone presents themselves doesn't necessarily indicate their gender. He would have to ask his citizens himself.

• You explain that you simply like looking androgynous. It's the best way to express yourself...

• He looks like he's understanding better.

• Cruel King: Androgynous?

• Is that what you are?

• How is it that you learned of such a term?

• Why have I never heard of Nonbinary people if there are so many of you?

• You explain that, since you're from the future, it's easier to find nonbinary people. The past was not quite as welcoming in some locations as the future is.

• You also explain that you found out you were nonbinary thanks to your local LGBTQ+ community in the future...

• He looks like he understands a bit better now.

• Cruel King: LGBTQ+ community?

• What is this group?

• I must meet them.

• You hold back a snicker as you explain that the LGBTQ+ community isn't really one group, especially not in the past. The LGBTQ+ community in Blackrock might only be a small handful of people...

• He looks confused.

• Cruel King: Only a small handful of people?

• How can that be if there are so many of you in the FUTURE?

• He must not know. You explain that, historically, LGBTQ+ people haven't really been welcomed in many places, so they often hide. They are likely either in hiding, or haven't been able to discover themselves...

• He looks mad.

• Cruel King: In hiding?!

• Unwelcome?!

• In my kingdom?

• Preposterous!

• Why would my people be in hiding from me?

• Everyone is welcome in my kingdom... Except forYOU, of course.

• You resist the urge to roll your eyes and explain that if he never made a public statement welcoming them, then they probably don't feel welcome by default. Better safe than sorry, you always say...

• He looks furious.

• He suddenly stands from his throne and roughly grabs your arm, marching you down to the castle doors.

• Cruel King: I do not likeYOU, but this is something that must be changed, and I need an expert.

• You open your mouth to protest that you are the furthest thing from an expert, but you quickly shut it once you see his murderous glint.

• You know he loves his people, but this is ridiculously dramatic.

• He drags you up a flight of stairs to the balcony hanging over the grand doors, presumably to address his people...

• He looks pleased.

• Cruel King: Citizens of Blackrock!

• It has come to my attention that there may be some of you may be Nonbinary, and feeling unwelcome.

• Fret not! All are welcome in Blackrock!

• It is by my royal decree that-

• You interrupt his speech to whisper in his ear that if he's going to welcome nonbinary people, then he should welcome transgender people too.

• Cruel King: Oh, and Transgender people!-

• And gay people.

• Cruel King: And Gay people-

• And lesbians.

• Cruel King: And Lesbians...-

• And bisexual people.

• Cruel King: And Bisexual-

• And-

• Cruel King:

Stop interrupting me!

• He pulls you both away from the balcony, leaving the onlookers below confused while he whispers harshly in your ear.

• You try to explain that you just want to make sure he welcomes everyone.

• He looks displeased.

• Cruel King: How is it that there are so many OF YOU, yet I have not heard a peep from anyone in any kingdom?

• I will not hesitate to throw you into the moat if you are deceiving me.

• You try to explain that there likely aren't many, but there's a lot of labels in the LGBTQ+ community.

• He looks frustrated.

• Cruel King: IfYOU are such an expert, then you will return tomorrow to educate me on the LGBTQ+ community so I may give a proper welcoming speech to them.

• Understood?

• You nod.

• He looks satisfied.

• Cruel King: Good.

• Leave, and don't even think about swiping theICE DAGGER on your way out.

• We will discuss that after my announcement tomorrow.

• You leave without a second thought, speeding past guards and citizens. Looks like you have to give a class to the king tomorrow.

• Better start preparing now.

• And maybe you can steal the Ice Dagger from him tomorrow too.