[strangers in a strange land, wanderers in a vast and unknowable universe]

Eyelashes frozen shut, thawed with a kiss.

A while back @aurpiment made a comment about Genly and Estraven based on The Kiss, as a concept. And? Fellas, I had to

Illustrations by David Lupton from the Folio Society edition of The Left Hand of Darkness.

Genly and Estraven and their journey across the Gobrin ice

I also made a book poster for tlhod with this drawing under the cut :)

- The Left Hand of Darkness out of context

old-er drawing when i'd just finished reading the left hand of darkness for the first time

genly ai pov chapters during the ice crossing: estraven is a conundrum. estraven is the most infuriating man I’ve ever met. etrasven is so womanly. I can’t pin him down. what the hell does he mean by that. he’s so soft looking. he did this for me. who is he. he’s looking at me with his womanly stare again. he is pissing me off. he’s so earnest I’m scared. I need my best friend.

estraven pov chapters during the ice crossing: *logistics* “dear journal, here at the top ten things i noticed about mr. ai today” *licks genly’s eyeballs until his lashes unstick then makes them dinner* “he is like a baby and doesn’t take care of himself right I need to do it but he is also so strong so much stronger than me” *gently rubs out frostbite from genly’s face* “dear diary, here are my further contemplations on me mr. ai’s psyche” *logitics* “we cannot touch” *logistics* “genry, please trust me I’d do anything for you to trust me teach me telepathy so I cannot lie to you” *ruminations on the state and the nature of life*

finished tlhod 😐👍

Some sketches of Estraven from The Left Hand of Darkness!

Genly Ai & Therem Harth rem ir Estraven

some genlys referenced from various pics of joey bada$$

It’s so funny in Estraven’s journal they’re like “agh Genly Ai was being so obtuse and frustrating and it made me so mad that I said something unspeakably rude to him” meanwhile Genly’s like “wow that’s the first time Estraven’s ever given straightforward and sincere advice”

“A profound love between two people involves, after all, the power and chance of doing profound hurt.”

Genly Ai, Ursula K. Le Guin, "The Left Hand of Darkness"

my design for my beloved Estraven :,)

My favorite moment

I held him, crouching there in the snow, while he died.

books that alter your brain chemistry

[ID: A digital drawing of Genly Ai and Therem Harth rem ir Estraven from the novel The Left Hand of Darkness. They are both wearing blue, fur lined coats. Genly is kneeling in the snow, crying and cradling Estraven's head with one hand and holding his hand with the other. Estraven is laying there, bleeding from several gun shot wounds on his chest and grimacing in pain as he holds onto Genly's hand. The background is white snow and a pale blue sky.]