May 2025

Doorkeay Concept: Michael Shelley (human) being more scary than Gerard Keay when push comes to shove.

No one is surprised when Gerry is scary. He’s blunt and somewhat confrontational and has had enough survived experience with the fears that no one is surprised that he can hold his own. Plus, his aesthetic is somewhat intimidating. It’s not surprising that he’s capable of being scary.

Michael however, is sweet and a bit timid and clearly not eager for confrontation. He seems like the type of guy who has all the bravery of a fainting goat. That’s why it surprises Gerard what happens when they get into a situation together.

Michael and Gerry run to the store just to get a few things and Gerry is alone in an aisle when a man approaches him and asks for the time. The man’s features don’t look quite…real enough, and his skin gleams like it’s made of plastic. Gerry knows right away that he’s dealing with a Stranger entity, and after a lifetime of handling the fears he’s fully prepared to be the protector of both himself AND Michael.

That is until a 6'5 shadow falls over him. An arm slings over his shoulder as Michael comes up from behind with a rigid posture that makes him look made of stone. His lips twist into a clearly fake smile that shows too much teeth. His eyes go wide and unblinking. He looks just as unreal as a stranger entity, and his voice doesn’t sound any more grounding. It seems deeper than it should be as Michael asks “Can we help you?” in a tone that even put’s Gerard on edge. If he didn’t know him he would think he was very dangerous. And…well, honestly watching the interaction makes Gerard wonder if he isn’t. Not to himself of course. But to anything that goes bump in the night.

The entity turns and leaves without much fuss after that, and Gerry is just as surprised when Michael’s personality does another immediate 180 back to how it was before. He worries over Gerard’s wellbeing and says that he felt like there was something unsettling about the man, which Gerard agrees with. However, he’s a more preoccupied with how into that he was. Hey. He’s a simple man. He likes his partners a little intimidating. Both because it’s attractive, and because it takes a big weight off his shoulders.