Who is this fabulously flamely fellow? His name is Salvador (which means savior in portuguese) and he's the sort that others know is gay from a mile away. He's not in the closet ... he can't be. If he has a closet it's made of glass, and so, the way Salvador sees it, there's no point in staying in one. If you can't hide who you are, might as well make a spectacle of it. Salvador is all about the glam and the glitter, the talk and the walk. He's sassy and self-confident. He knows who he is and doesn't care who doesn't like it. He identifies as gay and proudly so, embracing it and living it without holding anything back.
This isn't to say Salvador is without his struggles. Because of his very out and proud presentation he is a pariah amongst his peers (remember this is the 80s, gay rights was only beginning to hit the mainstream), Treated like a leper amongst all the boys. "Don't look at Salvador, he'll think your hitting on him." "Don't look his way, he'll turn you gay". "Don't be friends with Salvador, he's a faggot", etc. And that's when they are being nice and leaving him alone. He has been bullied and harassed in the past. Guys who think they can scare him straight through force and peer pressure. One time though, some bullies went a little too far and Salvadors natural instincts kicked in. He sprayed the lot of them. He got suspended for it (while his bullies got nothing but slaps on the wrist). In the world of anthromorphs, many of the primitive instincts from their animorph cousins have been heavily supressed. Anthromorph skunk's have been socialized never to use their natural defense mechanicism and doing so is considered rather taboo (and gross ... just think about it in anthropomorphic terms for a moment). Despite this anthromorphic skunks have been known to resort to spraying attackers when in highly dangerous situations (being mugged or rapped for example). Undoubtably the conservatives of society consider it wrong regardless of the justifications, but most reasonable people can understand making such an exception in such extreme situations if there is no other alternative. Some skunks even have their glands removed early in childhood to better fit into society. But Salvador has a family that doesn't believe in such practices (they are traditional), and so his glands are intact. In any case, his bullies were completely humilated and stank for more than a month. After that no one really wanted to bother Salvador to that extent again, but it's not like this incident made him popular either. It became something of a school legend, the infamous Salvador, who skunked his bullies and destroyed their reputations (getting sprayed by a gay skunk didn't exactly make his bullies popular with the ladies after that). And so Salvador is a living ghost. He parts the hallway crowds where ever he goes. Salvador for his part takes it in stride, like he's a dark messiah. He hams it up as he passes "I absolve you my children, forgive them father for they know not what they do". He is untouchable. Why? Because to so much as talk to him in anything but derision and disgust is to invite all the ridicule, all the hatred, that he endures. Who would pick up their cross and join Salvador on his glittery path out of normativity and into queerdom?
But this is only the beginning of Salvador's suffering proudly and loudly on behalf of his closeted brethren. He also does constant battle with the power that be ... namely the board of education. He routinely breaks their strict dress code, dressing however he wants whenever he wants. Teachers do not like the way he dresses, and they don't like the way he acts either. They fear the worst ( Is he fooling around with other boys? Is he spreading his gayness throughout the student population?! Whom has he already corrupted!? Is he destined for the life of a homosexual !! ), but don't dare assume (they are playing that age old game of not wanting to know what they already know, looking the other way and substituting their own reality). He's been suspended and sent to the guidance councilor more times than he cares to count. Other parents complain about his negative influence on their own children. Even his parents are constantly frustrated with his theatrics and drama. Why can't he just be "normal". Why can't he just try to fit in? Why does he need to make a spectacle, example of himself. "This is who I am mother, don't try and change me!" he boldly states, to which is father bellows angrily "Don't talk to your mother that way you little tart!". How does Salvador take all this pressure to conform and still manage to be the flame that burns just as brightly and can't be snuffed out? By putting on the greatest show on earth. Somehow Salvador has learned how to act the part of the unflappable faggot, even when inside he might actually be unsure and scared. He refuses to be molded by society, he refuses to let his inner voice be snuffed out. He is gay, it's who he is at his core, and no one can tell him otherwise.
That is who Salvador is. What role does he have to play in the events of BTBF ... only time will tell (if I ever manage to get this far!)
Stay tuned for more sneak peeks of BTBF.
Zivrshka
This character is from the storyline "Better Than Best Friends", commonly abbreviated BTBF.
Dont worry, im sure in this world anthromorphic skunks have been socialized to never use their spray. However, Im almost certain he broke this taboo at one point to stop bullies from harassing him. Probably got suspended for it, but probably didnt care and considered it totally worth it. I also doubt anyone was stupid enough to fuck wid him again ... ^_^
Dont worry, im sure in this world anthromorphic skunks have been socialized to never use their spray
