Author's note
Hey guys : D!! IRL AC here!!

It's... PRIDE!!

So, the last time I did one of these specifically Pride-related chapters, I issued out a lil challenge with rainbow flags. Though I can't quite do that anymore considering how many more stories there are in the Hermitcraft tag than before XX!

Would be a rather unfair hunt ; D

Buuut. But! There was a different hunt going on! There... Still technically is to be fair, but that's jumping the gun a bit there-

Anyways happy Pride :3! This is the obligatory coming out chapter. But with humour to deflect the internal crisis and using my characters to pass on this information because I'm too much of a coward to come out on my own terms UwU~ /hj

———

PsychA: You know you don't have to do this if you don't want to. No one's gonna force you to come out just because it's Pride.

AC: Yeah, I know... But I think I want to.

AC: Also because [spoiler]. And I am winning.

PsychA: Yeah that- checks out-

AC: Now just gotta... Up and say it. No excuses this time. Just gotta...

PsychA: I wouldn't call not being ready an excuse.

AC: But I was ready! I was so ready! But then I wasn't!

PsychA: ... So you weren't ready.

AC: ... Why do you make sense now :<

PsychA: Pride month gives me a stat boost, I don't know. But no, really, I know what it's like to come out. Obviously.

AC: Thanks :>?

PsychA: SO. I know that it's... Hard. Even if it's to people you know won't reject you. It's hard when you realise something that means your prior, firm perception of things is now kinda rubbish.

PsychA: That doesn't mean it's meaningless though. Just because things are different now doesn't mean they'll stay that way forever, and there's nothing scary about difference unless you give it a reason to be.

PsychA: It's ok to back out at any time; if you really want to bite the bullet though... You know I'm with you, no matter what happens.

PsychA: One is better than none. Or... Something. Bleh... This is your thing... I don't give affirming speeches.

AC: Yes you do.

PsychA: Shut up.

AC: Never UwU... But... Thanks :3...

PsychA: (-thumbs up-)

AC: So... Here's to coming out!

AC:

AC: I'm bisexual.

AC: ... Or like. Somewhere there? Somewhere around that region. My poor grasp of geography does not make setting description any easier.

AC: ... Tadaaa : D

PsychA: Woo!

AC: ... Nothing happened. Did nothing happen? I thought something would've happened-

PsychA: Did you plan for something to happen, or...?

AC: No, not until, like, later... But I thought they'd be... Like, a bigger... Reaction?

AC: ... Or any reaction?

PsychA: From... Who?

AC: ... You, I think? I can't quite gauge what the people beyond the fourth wall are thinking right now but hopefully it's good too : D

PsychA: From one lesbasxhion to another non-straight, I kinda guessed.

AC: Mate.

PsychA: I mean this in the least subtle way possible. You flirt with anything that moves.

AC: Hey :<! Sometimes I flirt with things that can't move UwU

PsychA: ?

AC: Like still-trapped genies. I got one once that gave me a few hug : D! ... Actually, that one might've been a Libra ÒwŌ...

PsychA: ... Riiight.

PsychA: But yeah, that's my point. Kinda saw this one coming.

AC: Maybe other people didn't! They didn't see it coming when you came out!

PsychA: Uh, yeah? 'Cus I never 'came out'. Officially, I mean. I was on a psycho-killing-spree when I decided to just mention I was very gay as well.

AC: ... I think half the time was me, actually. You are the reason the whole 'leafuhijfan' joke is a thing, after all ;3

PsychA: Yeah, that's my point, again.

AC: Oi ':3! It was plenty obvious and people were still somewhat surprised!

PsychA: I feel like they would've been more concerned about me trying to kill people than who I wanted to make out with, yeah?

AC: Girls?

PsychA: ... I mean, if we're getting technical, anyone who doesn't identify with the male gender, really. But I'm mostly attracted to girls, yes.

AC: Any type in particular ; D?

PsychA: Yeah.

AC: ... Like...?

PsychA: Start with girls. Then find out the rest yourself.

AC: Fair enough.

AC: ... Wait if you're not big on the notion of officially coming out, why did you come out just now then?!

PsychA: Dunno. Maybe I'm trying to make sure a certain someone knows that yes, I do have the capacity to be attracted to you, sWeeThEarT.

AC: Are you mad? Or... Shy?

PsychA: In direct opposition of the expectation, believe me, I don't feel the need to be shy about uh. Crushes? And stuff. I've already been very forward. I genuinely don't know what else to do, because I'm not going to force them to do anything they don't want to.

AC:

PsychA: I hear you judging me; I'm also not going to assume how they feel.

AC: That's fair... Couldn't you just... Give them a hint th-

PsychA: What part of 'incredibly forward' do you people not get?? I've confessed half a dozen times the last time we were together. My friends think we're already dating and I have to tell them I'm being miraculously friendzoned. For the love of sliced limes, I- their friends think I'm nOt doing anything because I'm scArEd and I swear if I hear that one more time, I-

AC: Aren't you scared?

PsychA: ... No.

AC: You sure?

PsychA: (-more firmly-) Yes. I'm not scared of how I feel. At least, not when it comes to who I like. Or. Want to love romantically?

AC: What about rejection then...?

PsychA: ... Well I mean. I've kinda got a thing about not handling rejection well, but... It's not like I haven't had breakups, or been rejected, before. Just a thing that happens, y'know?

AC: ... But?

PsychA: But nothing. I'm not losing them as a friend. It won't be awkward. Hopefully. Just... I don't know. Hard to give up? I-I don't know, ok?

AC: But you're not giving up if you're simply not ready.

PsychA: ... You're using my own words against me, but... Not this time, kid. Whether I get a yes or a no, I'll respect it. And that means being prepared for either outcome.

AC: What if you wanted to go stupid-crazy afterwards though?

PsychA: ... Can't. Not for them. They deserve better than what I used to be.

AC: ... They deserve you.

PsychA: If they'll take me, I'm offering. If they won't, then I won't push. I'm sure about that.

AC: ... Wow.

AC: Romance sounds so hard.

AC: ... I wouldn't know anything about that :3

PsychA:

PsychA: I resent that.

AC: Aw c'mon! You're me! ... Were? ... Are now not me but understand me in a very visceral way ,: D?

PsychA: Just say we're different people and move on.

AC: We're different people and that's why I'm moving on-

AC: Anyway. You understand the urge to flirt and love and relationship up, right ^w^?

PsychA: ... No, I'm pretty sure there was this whole thing where I did not, in fact, want to do that? Because of fearing I'd hurt and/ or kill someone I really cared about? Like my now-adoptive grandparent??

AC: Aw right yeah... Did you ever heal from that?

PsychA: I have simultaneous abandonment and commitment issues.

AC: Oh. True.

PsychA: ... So do you?

AC: Also true.

PsychA: ... Buuut?

AC: I love love :3. Loving comes easy when you have a lot of love to give.

PsychA: Ok, thanks. Well, I'm sorry I'm attracted to people who don't know how to make their emotions work then.

AC: Yeah. You should date someone like me instead. We love you even if you're not romantically involved because love is not limited to romance UwU

PsychA: I feel like that defeats what I was on about though.

AC: We also give you distance if you need it : D?

PsychA: Maybe so, but in your case?

PsychA: You call yourself married. Plural. And have several people you like to call 'SOs' even if they're not actually dating you. 'Clingy' is very clearly a continuity here.

AC: Yeah. I like romance. Doesn't mean I have to abide by its traditional stories ;3

PsychA: ... True, I guess. Just weird.

AC: ... Weird ,:3?

PsychA: Not you. I mean for me, having to go through your relationship statuses with people... Seriously, dude, a Watcher? A male Watcher?

AC: Why is that more surprising than the other ones-

PsychA: It's a WaTcHEr. A mAlE WaTchEr.

AC: ... Yeah but he hot : D

PsychA: I'm going to pretend you never said that.

AC: He cute.

PsychA: Ew.

AC: He boi ,:3?

PsychA: Instant no.

AC: ... He very cute tho : D??

PsychA:

PsychA: What do you find the most... Cute... About him?

AC: ... Either what he looks like, or his personality :3

PsychA: ... Oh my Devs he's a f-

AC: HE'S A TSUNDERE >: D

PsychA: OF FREAKING COURSE.

AC: HE ACCEPTED THE PROPOSAL!

PsychA: BECaUSe YoU pRObABLy TriCKeD hIm-

AC: I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING UNTIL THE BIG REVEAL OF WHAT HAPPENED LATER!!

PsychA: WaS iT [spoiler]?

AC: ... YEH.

PsychA: ... Stupid.

AC: No. Romantic ÙwÚ~

PsychA: You are a romantic only because you're obsessed with the idea of romance.

AC: No, I'm a romantic aromantic because my love is UNSTOPPABLE ÙWÚ

PsychA:

AC: ... :3?

PsychA: ... Huh. Now that one was a surprise.

AC: ?

AC: Ohhh right :0. You mean about the arospec part, not the unstoppable love part...

AC: Yeah but it works if you think about it!

PsychA: ... It kinda does, yeah. Hm.

AC: I'm somewhere on there. It's pretty cool.

AC: And my biggest flex -that I can finally reveal, by the way!- is that I got married before my big brother did.

PsychA: Why is that a flex?

AC: He's bi. I'm aro.

AC: Obviously there's nothing wrong with not wanting to get married -I should know ; D- buuut...

PsychA: Oh the flex is that you score more dates than him?

AC: YEAH!

AC: So I can only assume that though he swings both ways, he misses each time UwU.

PsychA: PFFT-

AC: No but seriously it is still a bonus because I can get him dates : D

AC: I get people interested then introduce them to the fact I have a single and very sweet older brother, who is bi and would take them on a very nice date. Like, maybe to a library or something ^w^? I hear libraries are hot on the market.

PsychA: Do they not question why some small child is trying to sell them on a potential relationship or something?

AC: Sometimes I'm Demon!AC so they assume the genes carried over from somewhere :3.

PsychA: You're both adopted and look nothing alike anyway.

AC: Well, I can be very persuasive! And Demon!AC's whole thing is that she's got these pretty, peppy love-demon vibes. Here to have fun, be flirty and look good while doing it ^w^

PsychA: ... Mean Girls?

AC: You watched Mean Girls ÔwÔ?

PsychA: I know what happens in it because the creator does. Also, the characters are pretty dang hot, and I am a worthless leabiafin.

AC: Songs are good ':3?

PsychA: Songs are good.

AC: So good ^w^

PsychA: And Demon!AC is a Mean Girl of questionable moral alignment.

AC: Well. That is one way of putting it OwO. I'd lean more towards... I'm cute, Demon!AC is cool : D? Mean Girl makes her sound malevolent, and that's only occasionally true ,: D

PsychA: Right sure. And how's that worked out for you?

AC: Very well, actually. All I'll say for now is I'm looking forward to when fate decides to set the meet-cute for one of my clients ':3

PsychA: Clients.

AC: Clients UwU.

PsychA: Suitors?

AC: ... No, that would be me, but by reverse-proxy?

PsychA: ... Eligible bachelors.

AC: Ooo yeah that works :0

PsychA: Alongside the countless 'marriages', SOs, and general 'relationships', you also have a list of ... Eligible bachelors... Specifically for your... Hellspawn?

AC: Abyss-spawn, if I'm going to nitpick. But yeah. And I do have other lists for my other friends too :3! There's several lists.

AC: A few of them are just receipts without return policies but I count them anyway UwU

PsychA: ... Do you have one for me? Should I be concerned?

AC: I have (-holds up one finger-)

PsychA: ... One what?

AC: Just one.

PsychA: Oh. Concern level?

AC: For them, or for you ,':3?

PsychA: I'll take that as answer enough.

AC: I also have backups in case you don't-

PsychA: Yeah ok I got it.

AC: ... You're not going to ask me to not meddle in other peoples' relationships ':3? Or lack thereof?

PsychA: Why bother? You'd do it anyway. I'm more concerned about the big stuff you're planning that you aren't telling me.

AC: ... Well, how about...

AC: How I'm actively fooling the vex themselves : D?

PsychA: Honey, which instance. Specifically?

AC: Oh. Well. Heh. You'll never guess what >:3. But like. >:3c.

AC: They think I'm a girl >X3

PsychA: ... ?

AC: But in fact, it was ME, an ENBY, ALL ALONG >: D

AC: My gender alignment with F was actually stood for FALSE. I transition by deleting the F like smashing a ceramic plate. AHA!

AC: ... Actually I dropped my gender on the floor and discovered it was actually an elaborate F-shaped shell that I had to spend a bunch of time un-peeling. Left a bunch of mess :/... Bet if I was a vex, this whole issue would've been solved by, like, my pre-birth >:/

PsychA: Pronoun check?

AC: How do enby ninjas assassinate their targets :3?

PsychA: They/them. Got it.

PsychA: ... Do the vex not steal pronouns?

AC: They do, but only if you want them to. They are very supportive system to the little eggs and hatchlings and fledglings :3!

PsychA: No strings attached?

AC: If you're asking, then no. If they're asking, then maybe. Sometimes, they'll throw it in for free; other times, they want extra milk tea for it. But again, they're pretty cool about this kinda ask, so they could be joking about the price too :3

PsychA: Cool. So transenby huh?

AC: Yeeeeees. Somewhere thereabouts. Somewhere over the rainbow. Five seconds to the left.

AC: Honestly imagine having... Gender... Ha... AHA. Ha HA- cringe.

PsychA: I'll take that.

AC: Imagine being attracted to people and not being able to do anything about it :3.

PsychA: I'm not taking that.

AC: True though :3.

PsychA: Imagine thinking you were cishetero while being a literal shapeshifter as a personification.

AC: ... Ok I see your point UwU. Sooo you can add some new pride flags to your collection now ,: D? For the arrows?

PsychA: Sweet. Is that three new ones?

AC: Four. I got two gender ones : D!

PsychA: Heh. Do you mean... Anti... Gender? Flags...? Nope, lost the plot there.

AC: No, I love all genders ;3

PsychA: ... Wh-

AC: Never doubt my ability to be a hypocrite U-U... Or use weird wordplay UwU...

PsychA: Fair enough. Anyways, I'm guessing that's all the coming out you got in you?

AC: Mhm : D!

PsychA: Is there anything you'd like to say before we close this thing off then?

AC: Ooo! Sure!!

AC: I would like to specify, in case we were being real confusing, that it is our creator who is coming out. Y'know, big ol' author deity down there. IRL AC ;3!

PsychA: They're not up for anything, but will be down a lot. Unless transcending the fourth wall.

AC: They're too much of a coward to write a full-on Author's Note where they come out personally, so they used me and PsychA as a way of conveying that same message, but in a more detached and humorous way.

AC: Also to make funny joke : D

AC: But anyways-

AC: IRL AC is an enby aromantic bisexual. Or y'know somewhere thereabouts. They use they/them pronouns.

AC: There may be references to IRL AC's gender/sexuality through me, especially if IRL AC feels more attached to me as an expression of self in that moment, but I (character/persona AC) am likely to stay as a general nuisance regardless ':3

AC: As in, I (character/persona AC) may use she/her or they/them pronouns, or maybe even a mix. Honestly, it just depends on how loud the IRL dysphoria is and whether it'll affect my outward expression by proxy.

AC: If I am shapeshifted/ acting as another character, I will likely use the pronouns of that character.

PsychA: Like if 'Scar' was here, I'd say 'he is here'.

AC: My sexuality is 'unclear, but quite glittery' ;3.

PsychA: Like a cheap bath-bomb. With weirdly sticky glitter.

AC: ... But yeah. So... TLDR: IRL AC just came out, and I simply read their flash cards out for them : D.

PsychA: ... Why couldn't you have started with that part?

AC: Because I didn't think of it until now ,:3!

AC: ... I'm difficult to understand XX!

PsychA: I am well aware of that fact, yes.

AC: Thanks for the commentary then,

AC: ... Uh. Do. You want to. Come out too : D? 'Cus you also show up sometimes...?

PsychA: Did I not do that earlier?

AC: Yeah but like for parity reasons?? Please ,:3?

PsychA: ... I'm PsychA. She/her. I like girls and killing things. The other ACs have their own identities, but that's a whole thing.

AC: Hang on... So do you like girls and killing things...

AC: ... Like... At the same time, or?

PsychA: I'm- mate, I'm not- what?

AC: Do you kill girls?

PsychA: Yeah? I do not discriminate between who I hate. Unbiased hate is the one true equality, and all that. But like... I don't hate the people I like? I. Devs's sake. Right we're done now. We are done.

AC: Oh okie then-