Since it’s Pride, I thought I’d share a brief post about a different queer character in my stories for every day in June. Of course I’m four days behind, already, but meh

Kingsley

We’ll start with one of the MCs of the queer crocodile book, Kingsley Montivelo (he/him). Kingsley is a gay, anthro crocodile who may be somewhere on the ace spectrum, but since we both discovered that only two days ago we’re not sure. He is also a rebel leader who started a world war, helped some Demons, and is being tried for war crimes. Oops.

This is his current theme song:

And at the trial, they’ll be no jury

And all the dead are going to play witness

It’s not too late to say you’re sorry

but it’s too late to mean it

Dear Dictator sung by Saint Motel

Kingsley has been part of the Killer Liberation Army (KLA), a terrorist group fighting for crocodile freedom, since he was fifteen and, thus, he hasn’t really had a chance to explore relationships or his own feelings about relationships. They’ve always been put on the back burner because he’s never felt like everyone else does when it comes to romance/sex and it never seemed important. There were so many bigger things going on.

Since his ability to form and maintain relationships was stunted as a youth, he struggles with treating people as independent beings as an adult. For Kingsley, everyone he meets is a tool to be used in service of the cause (however he defines that cause at the time). The tools are further broken into: “I’d be sad if I lost you” and “I’d be ok if I lost you”, but in the end, he will sacrifice them if he has to. For spoiler, if probably obvious, reasons Kingsley has a lot of guilt and has PTSD which complicates matters as well.

For this and many other reasons, Kingsley doesn’t dive deep into his relationships in the “memoir” (the wip is Kingsley’s memoir). He would much rather focus on political developments and his own victories then relive the nightmare that was maintaining a single friendship in the midst of a revolution, when you watched so many people die in front of you and you don’t feel how other people feel.

Important Relationships

Kingsley’s relationship problems are shown through three characters primarily: Devin Tossier, his best and oldest friend, Kerry McNair, a fellow rebel leader and rival, and Oisin O’Connor, one of his allies and eventual husband. Each of these characters will have their own posts, but we can talk a little about what they mean to Kingsley.

Devin

Devin is Kingsley’s oldest and most trusted of friends who he loves, but neither crocodile is ever ready to commit at the same time. While a younger Kingsley may have been willing to take a chance on a younger Devin, Dev wasn’t in the place for a real relationship (just a series of flings to distract from ever present death). When Devin is finally ready, Kingsley is in no place for a relationship and so there is this sense of almost, but never quite right with them. Spoilerish things happen and Kingsley eventually forces Devin’s hand to make an impossible choice that will have repercussions for the entire series.

Kerry

Kerry is a rebel leader who is the exact opposite of everything Kingsley stands for and despises Kingsley. Kingsley’s own feelings are less clear which creates a tension filled relationship. Because of spoilerish reasons, Kerry and Kingsley have to work together and it’s really the first time Kingsley confronts feelings. He’s never been able to decipher what he’s feeling exactly, but the fact that Kerry can make him feel things is terrifying. Predictably, he didn’t respond well to this new sensation…

Oisin

Kingsley’s supposed one and only, Oisin is a sex worker, burlesque dancer, business owner, and is one of the most powerful politicians in my world. Oisin had a crush on Kingsley from day one but Kingsley didn’t really notice the other crocodile until Oisin provided that he was a ruthless S.O.B. who would do anything for him. They have a complicated relationship that is built on a lot of insecurities and false assumptions/expectations, but it may be the stablest relationship either has ever had, sooooo. Kingsley legitimately cares for Oisin, but whether that’s something he’ll prioritize over his “cause” remains to be seen.