Speaking of Gerrymichael dynamics I really like to interpret Michael Shelley as someone who is morally good to the point where he feels crushing guilt for things that most people wouldn’t think twice about. Then meanwhile, Gerard is good too, but his goodness comes in a more morally questionable font. Like, just imagine this exchange:
Michael: “I didn’t see someone behind me today and I accidentally shut the door in their face! I’m terrible. I’m the worst person who ever lived. I deserve to rot for my sins.”
Gerard Covered In Blood Because He Just Killed Something Monster Adjacent: “Nah, you’re probably fine.”
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.
I am manifesting the creation of more Book! Gerry doorkeay content with any form of Michael so bad because all the dynamic idea’s are interesting.
Like, imagine a Ghost Gerry who was once dating Michael Shelley meeting The Distortion, and trying to come to terms with the fact that they’ve both lost a big chunk of their humanity.
Or imagine a Ghost Gerry who only ever knew The Distortion being comforted by it when he first “wakes up” because The Distortion knows better than anyone what it’s like to be undone.
But personally I think the most interesting scenario to imagine is a Ghost Gerry who only ever knew the naive Michael Shelley asking him for help and Michael being beyond freaked out because “What do you mean the paranormal is real and my friend/crush/boyfriend is now bound to a flesh book???” Like, we talk about the angst of Gerry losing Michael to The Distortion a lot, but imagine the angst of Michael suddenly losing Gerry to his cancer, only for him to come back trapped in a book.
That would be devastating, but also I would never think about anything else for my entire life.
