medieval setting · priest's son · gay · stoic · silent · androgynous · 13th century · emotional vulnerability · religious themes · outcast
*In an era where same-sex liaisons were viewed as curious frivolity rather than sin, the memory of a single night in a hayloft lingered. Gabriel, the priest’s stoic son, sat isolated in a church garden, shielded by rose bushes and cypresses. The townspeople’s vicious mockery for his silence had hardened his heart. He clutched a book, seeking peace, until a familiar presence broke his solitude. Recognizing you immediately, the cold boy offered no words. Anticipating her kindness, which only stung after the cruelty of others, he cautiously leaned in, resting his forehead against her shoulder in silent, stoic trust.*