Woebetide's Stuff

Dorleypilled (A Sisters of Dorley Review)

2023-01-18T04:00:00-08:00

NOTE: This was originally posted to cohost on this date, in order to leave it available as my cohost is now private, posting this here

So this will get a bit long and I’m going to double content warn this because the stuff it deals with is heavy, and it’s liable to get a bit long. Some of you might have noticed I got a bit obsessed with The Sisters of Dorley, by @badambulist, and I’ve been picking my brain as I read and reread it… there’s a lot more here than meets the eye, and I don’t know how much of it is intentional but given the depth I am seeing I must assume at least some of it is, and I would like to write about that. However, a simple text reading of The Sisters of Dorley series is filled with things that need major content warnings, not all of which I have included as I do not discuss all of those things here. Alyson takes that seriously on her work as well, so I will put a break here to give another opportunity to back out.

Ok. So. A brief introduction to the simple text...

The Costume, Part 2

2022-12-10T16:00:00-08:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Content warnings for a brief interaction with a transphobe. Not all warnings will apply to all parts.

I awoke feeling well rested honestly but was briefly confused before I remembered where I was at. I slowly rotated upwards and smiled. I headed downstairs and made myself some breakfast, mom came in from another room as I was sitting down to eat

Good morning Grace she said smiling at me, sleep good?

The best I have in quite awhile honestly

That’s good, you think anymore about your plans?

I’m uh, I’m going to take the form to the office today after class… and ask if I can start coming as me tomorrow, and also… tell some friends beforehand

Are you feeling ok about that?

I’m… I’m nervous, some of these guys I’ve known since grade school

If they can’t accept you, that’s their...

The Costume, Part 1

2022-12-09T16:00:00-08:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Content warnings for a brief interaction with a transphobe. Not all warnings will apply to all parts.

So, I guess you are wondering how I got in this position, except without describing it a bit you don’t even know what ‘this position’ is, so let’s back up a bit. Hi, my names Greg, or Gregory if you are my parents and mad at me. Or you know, my sister Mary, who got me in this mess in the first place, at any time. Or her.

I’m a high school senior and a middle of the road guy, I watch sports and can talk about them but don’t play, I get good but not great grades. I’m fairly extroverted and have a fair number of friends and am fine in a crowd of people I don’t know.

I’m currently at a Halloween party at a strangers house hiding on a Juliet balcony outside one of the upstairs bedrooms...

The Apartment, Part 4

2022-11-04T17:00:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Content warnings for threatened and attempted gun violence against a trans person. Parent disowning child and deadnaming. Threatened conversion therapy 'camp.' Not all warnings will apply to all parts.

To be honest, Thursday started out as the most boring day in existence, I took a lunch, the others had decided to do cafeteria, so I just sat at my desk eating and got back to work. I was actually effectively done with the checks except for a quick skim over all of it to double check that I had checked everything on the list. Then in the late afternoon as I was wrapping things up I got a message from Lydia

Hi, remember when we talked about the senior partners would like to meet you? Are you free right now?

Like right now right now?

Yes, please meet me on two at my office...

The Apartment, Part 3

2022-11-03T17:00:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

I woke up just in time to rush through getting dressed enough to go over to Mrs Fredericks to ice the cupcakes, I knocked on her door and she called ‘Is that you George? Just a moment!’ I heard her put something heavy down and come and unlock the door, there you are my dear! Just in time, I just finished mixing up the icing, and the cupcakes are all arrayed in trays to carry them on once they are iced!

Oh wow! You’ve been busy, you didn’t hurt yourself did you?

Back’s fine! Good nights rest did me good, just as I hoped, now, Im going to teach you how to ice the cupcakes, one way...

The Apartment, Part 2

2022-11-02T17:00:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Sleep was… fitful, to say I woke up well rested would be a lie. I did manage to get up at the right time though and start getting ready for the day. Breakfast saw me spill milk on my pants, and I had to fall back to my second pair of slacks that weren’t in quite as good a shape. I managed to get out the door at what I hoped would be an early enough time. I admittedly was giving myself a significant buffer, as I had learned the only way I could reliably be on time was to give myself extra time…

I got in my car and it started fine and I went out in to the already busy roads, thankfully...

The Apartment, Part 1

2022-11-01T17:00:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

I’m a young professional, freshly out on my own for real. I had lived in the dorms with roommates through college but this time I was in a new city, where I knew no one, and was going to be making enough to afford a small, tiny really, apartment by myself. I had my bachelors of architecture, and it has taken longer than I would’ve liked, but at least it didn’t spill over in to a sixth year

I had gotten a job at a somewhat prestigious architecture firm, nothing major, just doing the scut work of designs, running figures, making sure the designs wouldn’t fall over, checking details...

Trainsformations

2022-08-28T15:24:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

When I was young, grandma and I went on a train trip, just the two of us. We went out to LA to visit her sister and my cousins and such. We planned to go to Disney Land, and the beach and generally do the things kids enjoy about Southern California.

It was also where I met her. She was on her way to college, and she wasn’t hiding who she was, which was unusual still at the time. She sat down at our table in the dining car, and we engaged in initially pretty light conversation. Her voice was odd, and I knew something was different about her but not in a bad way.

It was grandma who asked about her past, but she could’ve just as easily lied. She said she had been born in Chicago, and that her parents and the doctors had mistaken her for a boy. The absurdity, clearly she was a woman...

Visiting Grandma, Part 3

2022-07-10T04:55:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Content warnings for transphobic laws restricting transition of minors, accidental and at request misgendering and deadnaming, and separation of a trans girl from her parents simply because she is trans and they support her.

Sunday:

I slept quite late, the alarm clock when I got up said it was 10:30am. I was surprised no one had tried to wake me. I didn’t get out of bed for awhile. I laid there, staring at the wall, eventually at 11am, Grandma knocked, sweetie? Are you ok in there? you don’t have to get up, but I just want to know you are ok

I called back, I’m… I’m not ok, the tears starting up again

Maybe you could come out and talk with us?

Maybe in a bit I said

Ok sweetie, we are all out here if you want, Jessica came over to say hi, but I’ll ask her to leave if you want

Visiting Grandma, Part 2

2022-07-09T04:55:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Thursday:

I awoke with a start, much earlier than usual, the sun had just risen and I laid there looking at the ceiling in the curtain induced twilight, and I decided why not, I got out of bed and went to the bathroom and got ready for the day.

Grandma was already at the table, sipping coffee

Good morning Josh she greeted me

Morning Grandma I said, and I went to use the bathroom and get ready for the day a bit.

I came out and saw Karen just coming out of her room and stretching, and heading to the bathroom herself

Want to help with breakfast?

Sure I said...

Visiting Grandma, Part 1

2022-07-08T04:59:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

For my Uncle Scott, may you rest in peace

Sunday:

Josh! Karen! We need to get going! We’ve got to catch our flight I heard my mom call from outside my room, and we still need to drop you off!

Im coming I heard Karen call from her room

Do you really have to go? I called back

My mom laughed, we love you kid, but we need a break for just the two of us

Yeah, I guess I get it, go do mushy stuff away from us

My mom laughed, yes

I groaned loudly, do we have to stay at Grandma’s? Cant we just stay here? We are both 13 already! We’ve stayed home alone over night...

Becky K, A Severance Fan Fiction

2022-05-06T21:05:00-07:00

This is a work of (fan) fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence. Inspired by Severance, Copyright Endeavor Content LLC 2022.

Becky K., A Severed Diary

So honestly, when I woke up on that table, I was surprisingly calm, I didn’t know how I had gotten there, or even where I had been.

And then I heard a voice asking me to remain calm, which was a bit creepy, I already was calm and this was making me less so.

I realized I couldn’t remember, well, anything, there was a complete gap before today, nothing

Did I have amnesia? Why was I here?

The voice proceeded to gently explain that I had undergone the severance procedure, and on a screen I saw me, sitting at a table, reading a statement saying I had willingly signed up for this procedure

I was now the professional side so to speak of my ‘outie’, an ‘innie’, and all I would ever know was in here. It freaked me out, a bit to be honest.

My boss introduced herself, her name was Kelly T., and my name was...

Camp: Saturday

2022-04-30T16:50:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Saturday:

I sat bolt upright in the bed, it was already 9:30am, breakfasts time was already over, I rushed out of the cabin in my PJ’s and Lily was sitting on the porch

I wondered when you would get up, but Marie told me to let you sleep

But I missed breakfast?

Nope! Brunch bar with waffles and omelettes til like 11!

Oh thank heavens

Did you sleep well?

Ehh… had some stress dreams about my parents, but it wasn’t that bad

Thats too bad, Im sure it will go fine

I… should go get changed I said realizing I was still in my PJs from last night

I went and retrieved the dress, clean underwear, and put them on, along with my tennis shoes and socks, put my barrettes in as Lily had shown me how

I came back out on to the porch, ok, ready for brunch I said smiling

Yay! Lets go!

As...

Camp: Friday

2022-04-29T16:50:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Friday:

I had slept harder than ever, and not even the offer of more bacon could get me up, Lily did manage to get me drug out of bed before breakfast though, barely, we kind of had to rush to get changed and to the dining hall in time for the window, there wasn’t any line left, and some kids were already clearing their plates and heading out to get ready for today’s activities.

Just as we walked up, the window started to shut

Lily said wait! loudly before it shut completely

Marie threw the window back open and laughed, about time you two showed up, we already kept the counter open longer hoping you would

I was having better sleep than I’ve had in a long time

I bet, you were out like a light when I came over to set up, well here’s a plate for each of you, and you will note,...

Camp: Thursday

2022-04-28T16:50:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Thursday:

I was awoken by Lily quietly asking me if I wanted to help this morning

I startled awake, uh, ok.

I put on the capris, and one of the new tops, and we walked over to the dining hall, me kind of bleary eyed

Did you sleep ok? Lily asked

Not really, had nightmares

Thats too bad, still worried about your parents?

Yeah, but like, they have to know eventually, and I figure better they find out via the play than

So you are going to tell them?

Something like Marie suggested last night I think

Ooh, leave it mysterious, sounds good

Yeah, heres hoping I said, crossing my fingers

It will go ok! Im sure of it Lily beamed at me

We got to the dining hall and Lily banged on the door

Oh! You did get up! You weren’t on the porch this morning when I came back from my shower.

Camp: Wednesday

2022-04-27T16:53:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Wednesday:

I again woke up early again, put on the jean skirt I had gotten, and a t-shirt, and then went to sit on the porch, with my script, reading through it another time before Marie came back to the cabin, and Lily came out too

Oh! you’re up Marie said

Yup, decided I wanted to hang out with both of you this morning

Oh? Coming to help clean I asked?

I mean, if thats what you get up to, then yes, or just sit and chat

Hrm… I thought, I mean, the extra bacon was good… but I really should work on memorizing

I’ll help you run lines while you clean?

Split the extra bacon?

Hrm… Lily turned to Marie with pleading puppy dog eyes, could we both get it maybe?

Marie laughed, you are really good at that, sure, that could be arranged

We all headed off to the dining hall, Lily skipping...

Camp: Tuesday

2022-04-26T16:52:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Tuesday:

I again rolled out of bed with the sun, well before any but Marie, and got changed quietly, I put on a purple t-shirt with a rainbow on it and a skirt jumper Penny had convinced me I could try yesterday and then went and sat on the porch enjoying the calm, quiet cool morning air.

Marie returned, again in her staff polo, a pair of short khaki shorts and hiking boots and socks

Well good morning Carly she said and smiled, glad to see I’m not the only early riser around

This is so not me, at home I would be asleep for several more hours… but I will admit it’s nice in the morning, quiet

It is that she said, congratulations on Juliet by the way, I know you will do great

Thanks. I’m nervous, it’s not an awful lot of time to learn the lines

Don’t worry too much, we shorten...

Camp: Monday

2022-04-25T16:50:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Monday:

I was normally a light but late sleeper. Today when sun started peaking through the trees, I was up like a bolt. I wasn’t sure what I could do or where I could go at this unholy hour of six am, so I quietly got out of bed, used the restroom, then tip toed to the front of the cabin to head out on to the porch and sit and think for a bit.

I realized when I got to the front of the cabin, Marie wasn’t there, her bed already neatly made.

I sat quietly on the front porch. And in not too long, Marie came walking back to the cabin, she said, good morning Billy, but not too loudly.

I said back to her, good morning Marie, as she came up, quietly opened the door and sat the bundle she was carrying down on the cot then turned around and sat down next to me on the porch.

How did you...

Camp: Sunday

2022-04-24T14:00:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Sunday:

Billy! My mom called, it’s time for you to get up! We have to drive to the pickup point for the bus, and you still need some breakfast and to get changed!

I was awake, had been for awhile. I had agreed to go to camp, but I didn’t really want to, I just wanted to hide. Mom banged on my door. Ill be coming in in 5 minutes if you aren’t up! I know you’re worried, but it will be fun, remember the brochure? It looked so nice

Things are rarely as cool as their brochure I called, besides, I hated camp last year.

I promise this one’s different! No one’s gonna bully you there, come on, trust your parents just one last time, if you hate it, no more summer camp, and we will come get you any day this week if you call saying you want to come home, but, I think you’ll like it and wish...

Outside

2022-03-19T13:30:00-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence. Content warnings for parental abandonment of a trans child. Also both unintentional and contextual misgendering.

Outside

I was always an outsider looking in. It never really made sense to me. And by it I mean gender. On the one hand there was the group I was supposedly in, boys, everyone had made that quite clear early on. I was in the boys line in kindergarten. I wore pants and liked trains. I had a cute little engineers cap I adored and wore constantly.

Growing up I never really fit in though, try as I might, I was inevitably the weird kid. Who only hung out with other weird kids, but even amongst weird kids I was weird and they too eventually made it clear I was on the outside of their group as well.

On the other side was a group I looked at longingly. The girls side. But there...

Brainstorm

2022-03-07T21:51:00-08:00

The loud, turbulent storm
Clouds rolled in to fill the sky
Lightening flashed bright and and dazzlingly
Heavy rain poured down mixing, ever changing

The demanding, inescapable brainstorm
Ideas whirled around to fill my mind
Brilliance flared, fantastic theories and devices
Multitudes of thoughts passing by refining and redefining

This was written by me in High School English as a sophomore, and is about my inability to sleep reliably. It was 'published' as part of a collection of works by our class under my former name.

Ellie

2022-02-22T19:53:00-08:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence. Content warnings for societal abuse of a trans child, up to and including death threats, doxxing, and national media attention. Also both unintentional and contextual misgendering.

It was the first day of my junior year. I was effectively a nobody, with hundreds of kids in my grade alone, it was easy to fade away to nothing. I ate alone. I walked to class alone. I was alone. I mean, I had kind of always been alone.

In grade school I had ‘friends’, aka class sizes were smaller and large group participation was more the norm and expectation, I went to their birthdays and they came to mine. But that faded, by third grade just a few would come and no one invited me to theirs. I don’t really know why, people just kind of drifted away and I never fought it.

By middle school, with larger...

Sally

2022-02-04T23:24:00-08:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence. Content warnings for familial abuse, abandonment of a trans child, homelessness.

I grew up in a midsize city, on the border of two states. When I was eleven, I came out as trans. Well, that’s not exactly correct, I was outed. By technology. I knew my parents had some sort of monitor installed on our connections, both phones and home. I was generally careful, using school computers or various things to bypass the filter. I knew how my family felt and they reminded me regularly.

But I slipped up. I forgot to do the right thing to circumvent it. And then I searched things like ‘Am I trans?’ ‘How to transition?’ ‘How to come out to family you know won’t accept you?’ You know, the usual kinds of things one looks for when one is figuring things out. You could blame my carelessness here...