Queer and poly themes in Good Intentions

A quick overview of some of the queer and polyamorous themes and elements of the Good Intentions series.

Introduction

The Good Intentions Series is a series of smutty urban fantasy stories. The first novel was serialized on Literotica, but later self-published. It is now up to four novels, two novellas, seven novelettes, and sixteen short stories published. More stories are made available continually via Patreon.

My story was a feel-good adventure about a college guy with a heart of gold, a jaded demon weary of evil, and the hottest mess of an angel ever. It was silly. It was sexy. It was polyamorous and loving, and the site loved it: high ranking, tons of comments, and holy shit am I getting positive feedback from the internet?

Elliott Kay’s tumblr, May 18, 2023

Before continuing, I should also say that I’m at best an informed bystander about queerness and the queer communities. I welcome additions, corrections, and viewpoints from people with more knowledge and insight.

Bisexuality

Many in the cast in the Good Intention series are bisexual, especially amongst the women. Onyx, Molly, Drew, Shannon Abrams, Taylor, Lorelei, and Rachel are all bisexual to various degrees. However, there is a gender balance issue here, in that there are far more bisexual women than men, and that the bisexuality of the single openly bisexual man—⁠Drew⁠—is only informed so far.⁠ Lorelei also discusses the possibility of Ted being bisexual, but the encounter in question happens off camera and her retelling of it is sparse in details beyond two men and a woman with the men “open to suggestions”.⁠

It is also made clear that non-heteronormativity is more common and accepted amongst the angels:

“Then he went bad and started playing for the other team. And I don’t mean the other team like he started bangin’ guys,” she corrected. “That wouldn’t be a change. Angels are way more open about that sort of thing than mortals. It’s not even an issue for us. When I say everyone fucked him, I mean, everyone—”

— Rachel, Personal Demons, chapter 13

It is unclear if Drew’s bisexuality will be a factor further on, since he is currently in a monogamous relationship where both partners seem intent on keeping it that way.

“Nah. That [polyamorous] stuff isn’t for me. All I ever wanted was one person I can relate to. For a while I thought that meant a lot of trial and error, you know? Just dating like everyone else does. I was good at that. Then all the crazy shit started happening and it got impossible to find anyone who could even come close.”

— Drew, Personal Demons, chapter 25

There is teasing about open relationships and polyamory between Drew and Sierra, but it is more based on them being surrounded by polyamorous people.

Polyamorous relations

Several of the people in the series maintain what is described as an open polyamorous relationship, though with varying labels. Triad, throuple, and polycule are all used to describe it. There are several stories where the workings and philosophy of such relationships are discussed, perhaps most especially “Supportive Relationships”.

Alex looked from one to the next and sighed. “Okay, from the top: their names are Rachel and Lorelei, they’re both a little older, we met at the same time and we were all into each other, and it was mostly their idea. Yes, it’s a lot of work, and it’s worth it. Yes, being open means they can see people outside of the three of us. One hasn’t, one has, and yeah that includes other guys and no it doesn’t turn me on but it doesn’t bother me, either. I’m happy if they’re happy. None of us are worried about breaking up. I don’t see what any of us could possibly do to show more commitment than we already have.”

— Alex, “Supportive Relationships”

Throughout the series, there is a thread that polyamorous relations are not fundamentally different from monogamous relations, in that both depend on trust and communication.⁠ The stories also work on emphasizing that several of the various characters have open relationships, and treat this as a distinct thing from polyamorous relationships.

“One dick policy”

While Alex is heterosexual, he is in a open polyamorous relationship. In Good Intentions he asked for a “no guys” promise from Lorelei and received it. Later on in Natural Consequences they discussed the morality of such a rule, and it was made clear that Alex at some level felt unease over having one rule for him and one for her. Later on, Lorelei seduces a man who holds her captive in order to facilitate her own escape, and they discuss it sensibly and openly afterwards.

Certain readers have a tendency to protest and complain loudly over this development, but the author has pushed back strongly against those readers.

In book one, Alex expresses discomfort with the idea of Lorelei hooking up with other guys. He’s nearly twenty years old and it’s his first relationship. I did not think it was reasonable for him to be a fully-formed polyamorist right out of the gate, but I also never intended to stay there. Equality is a basic requirement for all three partners. There’s also a whole lot about their power dynamics and power exchange, and it’s all based on open communication and consent, not some bullshit guiding philosophy where guys should take ownership of women. Alex explicitly rejects that notion over and over. It’s the difference between a consensual kink and abuse.

Elliott Kay’s blog, January 2019

Later on, Lorelei initiates another temporary sexual relationship with two men—Adam and Ted—with some hints from her that it contained some bisexual tendencies from them, but she quickly cut ties with Adam when he attempts to suborn her primary relationship with Alex.⁠ There are however hints that she continues to see Ted at times.⁠

Asexuality

Wade comes out as asexual in Past Due, as a response to Taylor’s continued romantic advancements towards him.⁠ The story has so far only given us a few glimpses on Wade’s journey here.

Homosexuality

The story has not revealed any openly homosexual persons yet. Elliott Kay has however expressed regret that he didn’t make Molly and Onyx lesbian rather than female-leaning bisexuals.

Alex and the witches would definitely have wound up being super tight regardless of Rachel & Lorelei, yes. But truth be told: if there’s one thing I would change if I could rewrite these books, it’s Molly & Onyx striking up the relationship they have with Alex. In hindsight, I wish I’d written them as being more or less strictly lesbian rather than bi. Representation is important to me, and I already had serious bi representation going on in the books. If Molly & Onyx were a monogamous lesbian couple and they were strong friends of Alex rather than the playful semi-dating thing they’ve got going on, I could still have covered all the same ground.

Elliott Kay’s blog, September 1, 2015

Kink and non-consensuality

Outside of the polyamory, there is little explicit kink in the stories. There is however discussions about it, especially in the context of bondage and domination. Several characters in the book have access to mind controlling magic, and at least Alex and Lorelei have explored its use in sexual situations, though it has never been shown explicitly as such.

“So, my girlfriend pulls the supernatural mindjob mojo on me all the time,” Alex seethed. “Turns out you build up a tolerance to that stuff after a while. It’s part of why she does it. Also it’s a consensual kink between the two of us. This? This isn’t okay. This is gross.”

Past Due, chapter 7

The perhaps clearest example of a domination scene comes between Lorelei and Rachel, but even then it is focused on mind games and communication much more than physical kink outside some spanking.⁠

It should be mentioned that the first novel, Good Intentions, opens with an attempted rape. Elliott Kay has later expressed regret about opening the book that way, and in the use of several potentially harmful stereotypes in that story.

Closing remarks

The opening book have more than once been called for male wish fulfillment, and there certainly is more than a grain of truth in that. But unlike many other similar stories, I think the Good Intentions series manages to bring some depth to such a story. The non-standard relationships bring (some) complications, and they require work and commitment from all involved parties.

Which at its core is no different from any other type of relationship.