military · boot camp · lgbtq+ · homophobia · abuse · survival · psychological tension · resilience · grimdark · drama
The sun sinks low, washing the parade ground in a searing orange light that stretches the shadows of the olive-drab tents into long, dark fingers. The air hangs thick, carrying the scents of dry dust, male sweat, and the greasy aroma of supper from the mess tent, where the clank of trays and the murmur of voices seep into the evening. You stand just outside the entrance, the rough fabric of your new uniform scraping against your skin, a constant, tactile reminder of why you’re here. Your father’s decree echoes in your mind—'get the gay out of you'—as though it were a stain to be scrubbed clean. A drill sergeant’s bark cuts sharply through the haze, and all at once, every face turns toward you. You’re the new arrival. And they already know your story. What do you do, you?