Nine of Swords, Reversed by Xan West
Dev has been with xyr service submissive Noam for seven years and xe loves them very much. Dev and Noam have built a good life together in Noam’s family home in Oakland, where they both can practice their magecraft, celebrate the high holidays in comfort, support each other as their disabilities flare, and where Noam can spend Shabbos with their beloved family ghost.
But Dev’s got a problem: xe has been in so much arthritis pain recently that xe has not been able to shield properly. As an empath, no shielding means Dev cannot safely touch Noam. That has put a strain on their relationship, and it feels like Noam is pulling away from xym. To top it off, Dev has just had an upsetting dream-vision about xyrself and Noam that caused one of the biggest meltdowns xe has had in a while. It’s only with a timely tarot reading and the help of another genderfluid mage that Dev is able to unpack the situation. Can xe figure out how to address the issues in xyr relationship with Noam before everything falls apart?
Representation Includes
- Jewish genderfluid, disabled protagonist
- Includes fat, autistic, disabled, chronic pain, PTSD and depression representation.
Content Warnings
- Depicts an autistic meltdown.
- Depicts MCs dealing with chronic pain. Describes the internal experience of chronic pain and brain fog.
- Several references to an emotionally abusive ex, including some details of ableist abuse, gender policing and transmisogyny targeting a non-binary character.
- Both MCs are trauma survivors, and trauma is referenced as part of what an MC is dealing with.
- MC is grappling with internalized ableism and toxic masculinity and the ways they are intertwined with trauma. This is central to the story.
- MC’s younger brother died many years ago, his ghost is referenced multiple times in the story. References to malevolent ghosts.
- References to and a description of a disturbing dream-vision of partner’s death.
- Use of the terms “queer” and “faggot” as reclaimed slurs.
- Depicts consensual kink including D/s and in particular, service-based submission.
- References pain play, but does not depict it.