Queer readings as sub text only work when they are an act of rebellion against active sensorship. Characters in western media can be gay now, let them be gay.

They really are

"Mandiblaster"

What 10 minutes in castle town with Maddie will do to them.

This is good news

I'm sorry but I think you've brought a knife to a gun argument.

This would almost be a good first step, if it weren't "My stance is, and always has been the very first step on the long road to letting people just live their lives."

Like the original Dark Souls has a crap ton of lore about distant kingdoms, and the history of the world you're in and it's all vague reference, but you can't set foot in the game without someone telling you Gwyn is king and you're killing him for his throne, and you're reminded all the time.

This is a thing that so many stories and settings get wrong. You need your grand scale there, but you don't need to tell it to anyone. HOWEVER when it does matter to your story at the scale you're telling it you do need to tell it, not hope someone read the appendix.