leifandthorn

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Cedar Branches Out, part 1

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AU version of the Time Mage, from Leif & Thorn, in the "oops, all magical girls" AU. (The last non-exclusive bonus sketch from Volume 7.)

For a bonus Sailor Pluto reference, she's in a version of Meiou Setsuna's favorite casual outfit.

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Off-Shoots Sketchbook: Extra Sad Kale

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Okay, time for some more about this!

Dex and Hermosa are similar in a lot of ways, but the differences complement each other very well. There's a pair of strips I did a few years ago that showcase them being good influences on each other:

(Transcripts at the sources: Dex's inner Hermosa voice; Hermosa's inner Dex voice.)

Dex is the one who will ruthlessly Get Things Done, which Hermosa admires. They're more devious and calculating, and have influenced Hermosa in that direction.

Although part of that is just, Hermosa didn't need to be cunning to get through his childhood, and Dex pulled him into situations where he could actually use and cultivate that ability. (I haven't worked out the details enough to fully write up this story, but: their meet-cute was that Dex field-recruited Hermosa during a spy mission, then realized "oh no, he's hot and shockingly good at this.")

Hermosa is more kind and compassionate, so he, in turn, influences Dex in that direction...but, crucially, without coming off like he's judging their usual approach as too mean.

There was a long stretch of time where Dex figured "I'm not cut out for a long-term relationship, any person loving-enough for that wouldn't be into a ruthless monster-hunting spy." And then along comes Hermosa, all "listen, I think it's very attractive that you're a ruthless monster-hunting spy, I'm just saying in this case, my reasoned judgment is that stabbing is not the answer."

So Dex and Hermosa have been healthy personal influences on each other...

But, ah, not-so-great professional influences. Considering how they're both willing to sidestep all legal/moral/ethical boundaries to protect each other. (Showcased with Dex in this whole storyline, and with Hermosa when he pulled this on Kale.)

In short, it's very good Hermosa's memory issues have gotten some patching, because now "have a nice romantic couples' retirement in a completely new location, possibly one without an extradition treaty to Ceannis" is an option!

4, 6, and/or 12 for Dex/Hermosa? For 12 I'm specifically thinking before Hermosa got his injury, as it's kind of too obvious after.

4. are they opposites? parallels? reflections? something else?

6. why are they drawn to each other? what fuels the attraction? why is it this person, as opposed to anyone else?

...these are so relevant to the current storyline, wow. Somebody come back to this post in a couple weeks, and remind me to reblog with no-longer-spoilery commentary.

12. who is the mask and who is the voice? who is the weapon and who is the wielder? who watches and who performs? who shines and who reflects? 

Normally Dex is the mask and Hermosa is the voice, although when Hermosa was working in Northwind he did a lot of being-the-mask.

Dex is the weapon, Hermosa is the wielder.

Both of them watch (they were both talented spies, it's second nature by now), Dex performs and enjoys it, Hermosa performs as necessary.

"Not shining" is also second nature (hard to be a spy if you draw a lot of attention). Dex reflects in the sense of amplifying and spotlighting Hermosa's good qualities. Hermosa reflects in the sense of getting Dex to look at what they're doing, and maybe re-evaluate.

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Frame Story 1/21

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Annie Stops Getting Pets

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Getting into the April spirit by releasing a rain-themed wallpaper. Kid versions of Leif and Thorn, huddling under a shared umbrella.

Support the comic on Patreon to download the high-res versions!

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Magical Thorn: Act 3, Page 1 (Remix)

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Fourth Wall Fight Wave 2 Preliminary #24

The winner will enter the bracket

Propaganda for each character below the cut! May include spoilers

Tiernan

Soul-bonded animals can see though the 4th wall, it's a thing. He comments on page layout and storylines

Sticks the Badger

All Sonic Boom characters seem to be aware of the fourth wall. Sticks will sometimes directly talk to the audience and/or look in the camera.

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The strips that will go in Leif & Thorn Volume 8 aren't even finished yet...but we'll be crowdfunding it toward the end of the year. So here's a post about workshopping the next Flower Title Pun.

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Burning That Bridge 4/1

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Happy Transgender Day of Visibility from the visibly-trans (and intersex) characters of Leif & Thorn!

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Burning That Bridge 47/51

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Last batch of Leif & Thorn characters in Paletteuary 2025 colors. The main magical girls and boys! Including teen AU Thorn, because the other three are such a trio, and I needed a quartet.

Cedar with parfait (7), Magical Thorn with cake pops (5), Holly with tea (18), Ivy with rainbow layer cake (27).

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Made with the Valentine Sweethearts dollmaker (masc/masc version) by Elequinoa on Meiker. Thorn/Leif, Dex/Hermosa, and Thorn/Kale.

Limited set of Valentine-themed clothing options, but I like how much range there was with the hair.

(Thanks to Emily for the rec!)

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Off-Shoots: Non-Canon Extra Leif

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Fourth Wall Fight Wave 1 Preliminary Round #16

The winner will enter the bracket

Propaganda for each character below the cut. May contain spoilers!

Tiernan

Soul-bonded animals can see though the 4th wall, it's a thing. He comments on page layout and storylines

Mendel

"Homosexuals" *points at audience*

Pixie

Pixie accidentally broke the head of an action figure, resulting in the fourth wall to physically crack open. This resulted in Pixie peeking through the crack of the fourth wall, seeing the readers, freaking out and calling for Brutus, - her big brother, who’s a German Shepherd ex-military dog - yelling that she found something “weird” before the crack of the fourth wall magically repairs itself.