Screenshot of AO3 in Dark Mode: Love Takes Off The Masks by Black Crystal Dragon. Summary: When Crystal and Niko make plans to watch London’s Pride Parade, Edwin is disappointed he will not be able to join them — until Charles finds a solution. But going along to the parade isn’t just a celebration of Pride, and sparks some realisations that Charles can no longer ignore. An extract in italics: Charles grinned at him and leaned in close across Crystal’s two-person sofa so Edwin would hear him over the music as he said, “Putting the two of us to shame, aren’t they? Feel like we should’ve dressed up.” “It’s not too late for you boys to change into something fabulous!” Crystal pointed out from her perch on the coffee table, where Niko was putting the finishing touches to her make-up. “Nah,” Charles scoffed, but there was a hesitation before he spoke, and a deflated quality to the edges of his smile. “I don’t think it’d suit me.” “I think you’d be surprised,” Crystal said.

Screenshot of AO3 in Dark Mode showing a fic's statistics, including tags. It reads: Rating: General Audiences. Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply. Category: M/M. Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives (TV). Relationship: Edwin Payne / Charles Rowland Characters: Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland, Crystal Palace, Niko Sasaki Additional Tags: Pride, Pride Parades, Ghost Disguises, Magic, Spells & Enchantments, Charles Rowland Has a Bisexual Awakening (DCU), Bisexuality, Bisexual Male Character, Feelings Realization, Love Confessions, Getting Together, Photographs, various staples of Pride Parades, Drag Queens, Humor, Fluff, Fluff and Humor, First Kiss, Kissing, bending the rules of Ghost Disguises probably to breaking point, Podfic Welcome, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Canon-typical swearing Language: English Published: 2025-06-30. Words: 11,655. Chapters 1/1.

Happy end of Pride Month #DeadBoyDetectives fandom! 🏳️‍🌈 I come bearing thematically-appropriate fic:

Love Takes Off The Masks (Charles/Edwin), in which the core four attend London's Pride Parade:
archiveofourown.org/works/67045882

#SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

Awwww!!! The color version of this fanart is somehow even more brills! 😍 I love the fact that the boys' swimsuits are matched with their hero colors (and even the girls' swimsuits). 🥹

You two are geniuses. LOVE this one. 💜💀 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

It's super adorable already! 😍💙💀 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

A digital sketch of a smiling young Japanese woman

The Good We Do #deadboydetectives #occassionallivegirl #nikosasaki #loverequiresnologic

Yet another masterpiece, Saarni!!! 😍 I swear, each painting gets better and better. 👑

Happy Birthday to the amazing Kassius Nelson. 💜 Hope it was amazing. ✨ #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

*vibrates with excitement*

The full-color complete version of this fanart is another masterpiece, Anke! 😍💜💀 And can I just say, I love Edwin in Charles' jacket. 🥹 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

Literally had been thinking about the DBDA Charity Calendar all day! If anyone can raise a ton of money for such a great cause, it's the DBD Family! 🥰💜💀

Donated! The calendar is beyond brills. 😍 Please consider donating if you can! It's worth it! 🔍 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

Somebody was taken by surprise. 😅💜💀 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

I think the shading's just fine. And I also love Charles' stocking feet. 😍💜💀 I especially love the details of both of the boys' mouths being open as they close in on a kiss. 🥹🔥 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

Gotta say... I'm with Niko on this one. 🔍💕💀 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

I did love finding out that this bench is real and we can all visit it! (And maybe look for some cats)

#SaveDeadBoyDetectives
#LoveRequiresNoLogic

Aww! I love this concept! Charles would be less afraid with Edwin there. 🥺 My heart always swells when "the Brawn" is protected. ❤️

You and Synne are geniuses! 😍 It's amazing already. 💜💀 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

This fandom family is so flipping talented! Look at all these talented people!!! 😍 This DBDA Charity Pride Calendar is gonna be a masterpiece! 👑💜💀

Factored my future donation into my budget for this month so I could get the calendar next week! 🏳️‍🌈 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

Not gonna lie, Iris' lines: "Well... That is a specific kind of problem. To be honest, that is a new one" always makes me laugh. Crystal's got some unique life experiences. 😅💜🔮💀 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

You should've heard the squeal of delight when I saw this one was finished. 😍 These boys are too cute! I love that it's Edwin's head in Charles' lap. It's usually the other way around in fanarts. LOVE it! 💜💀 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

"Take it from a ghost, no one is ever gone" is one of my favorite lines. This show has SO many top-tier lines. 👑

This scene lives rent-free in my head. Always. 🥹💀 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

LOVE this little bit of trivia. It is a really cool shape for a bench - a spoke & wheel pattern. 😍 I really love this location's photos. Thank you so much for sharing all of them (for this location & the others) with us. 💙💀 #SaveDeadBoyDetectives #LoveRequiresNoLogic

These concept frames are GORGEOUS. 😍

Perhaps these can be applied to Season 2 after we #SaveDeadBoyDetectives 😉🔍💜💀 #LoveRequiresNoLogic

Clancy was very Charles Rowland-coded and Breach is going to be just as bad me thinks!!! It's going to hurt and I'm in my feelings about it!!!

#SaveDeadBoyDetectives
#LoveRequiresNoLogic