#and I like getting books in original if I know the language

[cheapshrimpysheep]

Dating in a Dream - Ruggie Bucchi

SUMMARY: What would his dream be like, exactly the same as in the original story, but with the small detail that he is dreaming that you two are dating?

CHARACTERS: Ruggie Bucchi x Reader 🍩🦐

TAGS: Fluff; GN Reader; In a Relationship (kinda); Kiss; Flirting

WARNING: Spoilers from Book 7 and Ruggie’s dream (Eng Server)

WORD COUNT: 3.360 words

COMMENTS: This was written as a companion piece to the original dream story, so the parts that are the same as the game are just summarized.

I try my best to write dialogue for characters like Ruggie well, but since English isn't my first language there are some forms of speech and abbreviations I'm not familiar with. But I hope I've done him enough justice.

By the way, it was while I was writing this that my keyboard started failing, and I had to buy a new one. I hope I've fixed all the typos.

I hope you enjoy 🍩

Dating in a Dream: Idia / Epel / Rook / Vil / Kalim / Jamil / Floyd / Jade / Azul / Jack / (Ruggie) ...

“Aether signal tracking successful.” Ortho announces. “We have arrived at the designated coordinates.”

You, Grim, Silver, Sebek, Ortho, Azul, Jack and Idia’s tablet reach the next dream, but you don't land anywhere you recognize. It looks like a new country.

Checking on the others, Jack said he was fine and Azul said the medication he had taken had helped him, but the heat of that place was worse for him than the crossing between dreams. According to Ortho's analysis, everything indicated that you were in Sunset Savanna, more specifically in the capital, Sunrise City.

After you all changed into your school uniforms, and how long it took because Jack was embarrassed to use Idia's spell, you start chatting to try to understand whose dream it could be. Everything indicates that the dream is either Leona's or Ruggie's, since they are both from Sunset Savanna. They exchange information they know about that country to have a better idea of where you are until you hear someone approaching running.

“Oh crud, oh crud! I overslept!” You see Ruggie pass you by. “If I'm late, I can kiss my perfect attendance record goodbye! Outta my way!”

He was wearing what looked like a school uniform, but not the black one of Night Raven Collage, this one was light brown and yellow. And he was wearing glasses too. Azul comments that he had never seen Ruggie wear glasses and Jack adds that it doesn't make sense because he's supposed to have some of the best eyesight out of anyone in Savanaclaw. But that was definitely Ruggie's dream because he had the dreamer's silver bird around his head.

You follow him.

You follow Ruggie to the market.

“What's the hurry, Ruggie?” One of the vendors calls him. “I've got chilled hibiscus juice here! Have a drink.”

“Thanks, ma'am, but I'm running late!”

“My, that's rare for a model student like you.”

“I was up late studying for a test and overslept.”

“You can't study on an empty stomach, Ruggie.” Another vendor says. “Have some steamed bananas for the road!”

“Whoa, that's a lot! How much for the bunch?”

“Don't worry about it. Your grandma did a lot to keep me fed back when I was a kid. Once you graduate and get a good job, you can treat me to a dinner at the Sunset Villa.”

“Ah, yeah, I'll pay you back when I'm rich! Thanks!”

Other vendors continued to offer him food and talk about his grandmother and comment on how his father had returned home rich after working away from home. Now his grandmother was comfortable retire.

You had to try hard not to lose Ruggie in that crowd. That, and it was difficult to move around among so many people. Meanwhile, Ruggie was dodging and weaving through the crowds at top speed.

“(Y/N)!” You hear someone call you with happy surprise, when you look it's one of the vendors. “Oh, I almost didn't recognize you in those clothes. Why aren't you wearing your uniform?”

“My uniform? Well, I...” You try to make up some excuse, but it's not necessary.

“And you're also late on top of that!” The vendor continues, friendly. “Ruggie is late as well, he just passed by. You must have missed each other. You look hungry. Here, take some steamed bananas with you.”

You accept the bananas, thank them and say goodbye when the vendor says that you had better go as you are already late and wishes you a good day at school. Grim ends up convincing you to give him most of the bananas, while Azul and Ortho comment on the fact that the people there know you. But how?

You continue following Ruggie until you reach a new place, which appears to be a school. You see Ruggie meeting other students wearing the same uniform as him.

“Judging by the ears and tails, it seems to be mostly beastfolk here.” Silver notices.

“There's a lot of hyenas...” Jack adds. “Actually, I think most of the people I'm seein' are hyenas.”

“There's no school at these coordinates in the real world.” Ortho informs. “It must be something that Ruggie's imagination came up with.”

Then your attention goes to the statue in the center, which depict three hyenas. Jack says they’re the legendary hyenas, the ones that served the King of Beasts. He had heard they were considered heroes around Ruggie's home region.

Meanwhile, Grim draws your attention to the trees laden with fruit, even after he has eaten almost all of your bananas. You see Ruggie and the other students picking the fruits and eating them, showing that it is allowed to eat the fruits from those trees. This is enough for Grim to help himself too and start picking up a bunch of fruit.

“Whoa! What's the-?” One of the students who was with Ruggie sees him. “Oh, it's just Grim.”

“Heeey, take it easy.” Ruggie says, amused. “You don't want to get indigestion like last time.”

“Last time?” Grim wonders to himself.

“Well, if you're here, then that means...” He looks around with a smile until he finds you and his smile grows even bigger. “There's my dandelion! Don't tell me grammy forgot to-”

You get closer, along with the others and he notices your clothes.

“Um... What are those clothes?” He asks still with an awkward smile. “Where is your uniform?” When he realizes that you're wearing the same clothes as the other boys you were with, his smile turns into a pout, cute and scary at the same time. “Um, (Y/N), who are your... friends? And why are you wearing the same clothes as them?”

So Ruggie knows you and Grim, but not the others and doesn't seem to know about NRC either. It's intriguing and confusing, but Azul still manages to join the conversation smoothly.

“Allow me to introduce everyone. My name is Azul Ashengrotto. This is my fellow sophomore Silver, and this is Ortho, Sebek, and Jack, all freshmen. We attend an arcane academy in the Land of Dawning called Night Raven College. We're here on a student exchange.”

“And (Y/N)'s uniform?” Ruggie asked, focusing on Azul.

“A spell that hit the wrong person.” He answers as if it were the genuine truth. “(Y/N) was the one who greeted us when we arrived here. When we tried to help Jack with a spell to change his clothes to better adapt to the climate, we ended up accidentally hitting (Y/N). And since we're not familiar with your uniform, we couldn't change their clothes back. My apologies for the misunderstanding.”

Ruggie was silent for a moment which made you question whether he really believed that or not. But Azul was good.

“Okay. Strange, but sounds plausible. Sorry for the suspicion.” Ruggie smiles friendly again. “Let me do it then.” He uses his magic to transform your black NRC uniform into the same light brown and yellowish uniform as his. “Much better.” He comments before turning back to Azul and the others. “I'm Ruggie Bucchi. Please, call me Ruggie.”

At that moment, Sebek's stomach growled while he was arguing with Grim about him picking too many fruits.

“Ahahaha! If you're that hungry, take all you want.” Ruggie said, laughing. “Here at Ivorycliff Academy all the food on campus is fair game for anyone to eat.”

Silver says they aren't students there and Ruggie says that's not a problem, that the local kids go there for food too. At that academy they share food with anyone who's hungry in honor of the hyenas' spirit of solidarity, whether or not they're enrolled there. Jack is shocked (and maybe you are too) seeing Ruggie offering food for free.

You all chat a little and Ruggie offers you even more food besides fruit. There was a stall by the school entrance that had freshly made donuts. He recommends that they get a plain donut, drizzle on some chocolate sauce, then add some sliced nuts, then add custard cream and whipped cream, and top it all off with some tart berry jam like so.

But for you, he offered your favorite, or a mix that would be your favorite. He didn't even need to ask you anything, it was as if he already knew your tastes by heart.

Meanwhile, you hear the Donut Vendor talking to the other students and commenting that they should all be grateful to Prince Leona for establishing that school. Ruggie explains that he heard Prince Leona studied at an arcane academy abroad, then graduated last year and came back home. And he was been establishing schools and spelldrive teams and stuff all over the country. He even comments that the younger generation there likes Second Prince Leona way more than First Prince Falena. But he himself never met Leona.

Then, the school bell rings.

“Oh crud, class is about to start!” Ruggie says. “Gotta go, bye!” He takes your hand and takes you running with him.

The others stayed behind, probably because they knew nothing bad would happen to you since Ruggie liked you so much. And Grim would rather keep eating than go to any classes.

Ruggie and you arrive at a botanical garden hand in hand. Everything indicated that it was a theoretical potionology class, probably focused on the ingredients that were planted there.

The students sat on the ground and despite the idea of a model student that Ruggie was trying to convey, he didn't sit in the front. Instead, he told you to sit with him further back. You sat down first and then Ruggie sat so close to you that your hips were touching and he put an arm around your waist.

“Hey, sorry about that with the visiting students.” Ruggie tells you in a low tone, while the professor spoke up front. “You... aren't mad at me, right?”

You say no and that in fact his pout was actually cute.

“Well, in that case they were lucky.” He smirks.

“What do you mean?” You ask. “And what exactly are you apologizing for?”

“Well, you know...” His ears go down. “You showed up with a bunch of handsome guys and you were even wearing the same uniform as them. What did you expect me to do? They're lucky I still give them the benefit of the doubt before...”

“Before?”

“Do you really want me to finish that?” He smiles mischievously. “What do you think I would do if someone was really trying to take you away from me? Hum?” He brings his face close to yours, brushing his nose against your ear. “You've already seen me break a bone with a bite, haven't you?” He whispers in your ear, a threat not directed at you.

After a while, he covers his mouth to yawn. Next to him one of his friends snored so loudly that it made Ruggie straighten up and let go of his waist, startled. Upon hearing this, the professor called the student's attention and made him move from Ruggie's side to the front row as punishment.

“I can't blame him.” Ruggie tells you in a whisper and leans back against you. “After eating so much and with this sun so nice and warm... it really is relaxing...”

His arm goes back around your waist and he rests his head on your shoulder. He was clearly dreaming that he was in a romantic relationship with you. And it wasn't like you weren't enjoying it..

“If you're not careful you'll be called next.” You say.

“Aww. Are you worried about me, dandelion?” He says in a sleepy voice. “You’re always so cute.” He straightens up to kiss your cheek and lays his head back down again. “I'm really lucky to have you...”

After classes ended, you and Ruggie walked hand in hand with his two friends towards the gate. You see the others in the distance, now in their dorm uniforms. Had they gotten into a fight with the darkness while you were with Ruggie?

“Whatcha wanna do now that school's out?” One of Ruggie's friends asked. “We could see if any cafés in town have new drinks to try, or catch a movie.”

“Yeah... sorry guys, but (Y/N) and I already had plans.”

“Oh, don't worry, it's ok. What are you guys going to do?”

“We're going on a safari!” Ruggie says excitedly. “I heard that some hyena clans had cubs and (Y/N) really wants to see the little ones.” But then, he seems to have heard something that put him on alert and made a strange sound.

“Whoa! Why'd you whirl around like that, Ruggie?” One of his friends asked.

“I dunno, it just... felt like I was being called.”

“Someone called you? Who? I didn't hear anything.”

“Maybe I'm hearing things... HUH?! Where'd that sound come from?! Was it under the bench? I know I'm not hearing things!”

“Huh? What are you talking about? What's gotten into you, Ruggie?”

“Sorry, guys. You can go. I just can't leave until I figure out what that sound is!” Ruggie separates from the NPCs and you and gets on his hands and knees, rummaging around under benches and in the plants. “What is it? What's making that sound? It's like a bell... Except more beautiful and exciting!”

You look at the others, more specifically at Azul and see him drop a coin on the ground with a smug smile.

“AH! That sound... It's a little - no, not a little. It's 20 times more thrilling than before! What IS that beautiful sound? Reveal yourself to me! I just HAVE to find you!”

You see Ruggie searching for the coin, focused and with his tail wagging a little. You can't help but laugh.

“Are you laughin’ at me?" He says with a sly smile. “Why don't you help me instead? That Safari has a set time to start, you know?” He keeps looking, whether you help him or not. “Where are you? Where's the one that entices me so...? AHA!”

Entices him? Even dreaming that he’s dating you, it still seems like he likes money more.

“There's something in front of that trash bin...” He hurries to get there. “Huzzah! That's a free one-thaumark coin for me! Score!” He finally gets up. “Wait... Huh? Why am I getting so giddy over finding a little loose change?” The dream begins to distort. “Urgh, my head...! Why? I've got no reason to care about random coins on the ground...”

“Heh heh heh... I had every faith you would pounce on that.” Azul says, approaching you along with the others. “Do you see this, Ruggie?”

“Is that... a five-thaumark coin?!”

“What's the matter? You're looking a bit pale... And you seem to have a cold sweat.”

“What... are you gonna do with that?”

“I was thinking of tossing it into the water over there and making a wish to come back here again.”

“Five thaumarks?! You're not seriously about to throw that much mone away!” Ruggie said shocked. “Wait, no! Five thaumarks is barely anything at all. It's just spare change... Hrgh!”

“It's the only coin I have on hand. But... it's just 'a little loose change', right? Here goes!”

Azul tosses the coin and Ruggie jumps into the water to grab it with zero hesitation.

“Self-restraint isn't healthy, you know.” Azul tells Ruggie, in a way that is too villainous for someone who is supposedly helping him. “Just admit it... You want it more than anything!”

“Urgh, I... I... Argh, my head...! Ah, aaah... AAAAAAAAAARGH!”

The dream breaks and Ruggie wakes up.

“Ah... Ahaha... I remember everything now... Why was I... ?”

His NPCs friends approach him and ask what happened for him to jump into the water and Ruggie says it was because of 5 thaumarks. When they start saying that it was nothing, Ruggie lists the things that can be bought with only that. He also notices the discrepancies of that academy and remembers why he doesn't like light-colored clothes like the uniform he was wearing, because they stain too easily, exactly what just happened to him while he was looking for the coins.

The NPCs try to convince him to go back to sleep, saying that he will never go hungry again in there. They also say they are on good terms with the king, but Ruggie says he prefers to decide who is his king himself.

After fighting those darkness figures, he asks what in the world was happening because he was beyond confused. Ortho shows him the video.

“So... This is all a dream?”

“Yes.” Ortho confirms. “More technically, it's all part of an arcane realm that Malleus Draconia established.”

“But that... Aaah...” Ruggie drops his glasses from his face, drops down on all fours and burst into tears.

You instinctively crouch down beside him to comfort him and are surprised when he clings to you and continues to cry on your shoulder.

“A dream? You're telling me all the food I've been eating wasn't real?! I got ZERO calories from eating all those donuts I loaded with toppings?! And the six thaumarks I just picked up? And my dad coming home, and him buying my grammy a new car? And (Y/N) and I...”

His sobbing stops suddenly. He straightens up to look at your face and jumps away from you, his face red with blush.

“I-I-I-I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T WANT... I DIDN'T KNOW... I-”

You try to calm him down, telling him that everything is fine, that he didn't do anything wrong.

“Oh, come on! Don't be so understanding and kind!” He tells you, a little annoyed. “You can be honest. You can say that I creeped you out.”

“Why would I say that?”

“Well, you know, when I...” He starts to say, blushing, but then looks at the others around you. He stands up, determined. “Come with me.” He asks you. “You stay here.” He told them as a warning.

You get up and follow him to a relatively more secluded place.

“Listen, I'm sorry, okay?” Ruggie tells you, his ears down, embarrassed and sulking at the same time. “I know I was kinda... clingy... and jealous. Like when we were in that potionology class. You don't have to pretend everything is fine. I'm not an emotional wimp.”

You stay silent for a second, but decide to confess to him that everything really is fine, because you liked him too. You even enjoyed the time you spent with him and how he treated you.

“Y-you... LIKE ME TOO?!” He repeats, incredulously. “Wait... you're the real (Y/N), aren't you? You...” He takes a step back and places himself in a defensive and threatening position. “You're not one of those darkness things from my dream... are you?” He looks at you menacingly and growls at you.

You insist and try your best to convince him that it really is you as you slowly walk backwards. Not even when you hit a wall does he stop walking slowly towards you like a predator preparing to attack. When he’s finally just inches away from you, you flinch, turn your face away, and he attacks you... with a loving kiss on the cheek. And then he tickles you.

“Relaaax~” Ruggie tells you, holding you by the waist, and with that sly smile “I believe in you. Shyeheehee.”

He sees you sulking, but flustered. This makes him smile sweetly, like you've never seen before.

“Aww, don't be mad at me...” He says in a poor-me voice. “I've been through so much here. You saw what Malleus did to me. *sniff* I want to cry so much...” He smirks again. “Doesn't that make a kind soul like yours want to comfort me?”

He rests his forehead against yours and starts rubbing his nose and cheeks against yours. Maybe it'll even tickle you a little. But then, he starts kissing your cheek, continues kissing you until he gets closer to your lips and, perceiving that you want that too, he kisses them. He starts by kissing you softly, but then he intensifies the kiss to an almost starving one. Hungry for the love he so desperately needed but was afraid he would never have.

If you would like to read more from me, you can find it in my pinned post: INDEX

[athenamikaelson]

WITS Book Two- Written in Fate Ch. 3

Klaus and Elijah Mikaelson x Reader Book 2- Chapter 3

Warnings- swearing, blood, death, mentions of killing people, yall we've been doing this for a year yall know what you're in for

Word Count- 6k

“You know you don’t have to go right?’

Theo eyes me from the mirror he’s looking into as he adjusts his polo top. 

“Then why are you going?”

I lean against Jeremy’s bedroom door with a sigh, “I need to get out of here. I’ve been cooped up in this house all weekend, mindlessly watching movies with Elena and Jenna. I need to breathe.”

Theo moves away from the mirror and grabs his backpack from the floor, and walks over to me.

“So don’t I.”

Theo pushes past me and walks through the hallway and down the stairs.

“You’ll text me if you need to leave, though, right?”

I hear Theo sigh, “Fine.”

“Morning!”

When Theo and I reach the bottom of the stairway, we see Jenna and Elena exit the kitchen whilst Jeremy is lounging on the couch with his backpack next to him. Jenna holds a plate of semi-burnt muffins.

“I made muffins for your first day back! But…I may have forgotten about them in the oven.”

Theo smiles at her and then grabs a muffin and takes a bite. We all watched in amusement as Theo struggled to chew it.

“Oh lord, just give me that,” Jenna grabs it and throws it in the trash behind her, along with the other muffins, “I’ll just give you guys money to stop on the way to school to get something.”

As Jenna reaches into her pants to grab her wallet, Theo and I both try to reject her offer.

“Nuh-uh! When you live under my roof, I’m going to make sure you’re both fed,” She pulls out two twenties and hands one to each of us. 

Theo thanks her and then follows Jeremy outside, whilst I stay behind.

“Thank you for this,” I gesture to the bill in my hand, “I promise once our parents’ life insurance money comes in, we’ll start helping out.”

Jenna instantly shakes her head, “Excuse my language, but hell no!” Elena interjects as well, “Y/n, you and Theo are a part of this family now, so don’t even think about doing that.”

“Exactly. That money is for you and Theo’s futures, for college,” Jenna says as she leads Elena and me out the door.

“I'm pretty sure I heard Theo say he’s going to spend his portion on slots and strippers when you and he go to Vegas,” Elena says with a laugh, and Jenna gives me a horrified look.

“You two are going to Vegas?!”

I shake my head, “That’s what he thinks.”

Jenna begins to speak, but stops when all three of us notice the shiny blue Mercedes-Benz with a bright red bow in the driveway.

“Whose car?”

Theo, who is inspecting the car alongside Jeremy, holds up a note, “It’s Y/n’s. From one of her boytoys.” 

I quickly descend the stairs and grab the note from Theo.

“My Dearest Y/n,

Our reunion did not go as I had originally hoped. But I appreciate your honesty. I plan to change into the man you deserve, but first, I’d like to give you a peace offering. I notice your old car was practically falling apart.

Love,

Niklaus”

“Got to admit the mutts got nice taste,” Theo whistles as he opens the front door and slides in.  

“Then you keep it,” I snarl as I rip the note to pieces and throw it into the door's trash. 

Theo stares at me wide-eyed, “You’re joking, right?”

“Nope. I don’t care what you do with it, I don’t want it. Crash it for all I care,” I mutter as I start walking to Elena’s car. 

“Please don’t crash it,” I hear Jenna desperately say. 

I’m about to open the passenger door of Elena’s car when I feel Theo grab me from behind and wrap his arms around me. 

“THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!”

I turn and pat him on the back, and he gives me a huge smile before running back over to the car.

“CMON JEREBABY! We’re riding in style!”

Jeremy huffs a sigh as he opens his door and gets into the car. Jenna, Elena, and I all watch as Theo pretty much peels out of the driveway, merely missing the mailbox.

“This isn’t going to end well.”

—

“So it appears Theo and Jer already arrived,” Elena huffs out a laugh as she points to the blue Mercedes that is taking up four parking spots in the Mystic Falls High School parking lot.

I give it a once-over, “Well, it’s not missing any tires or doors, so it looks like they didn’t crash.”

Elena laughs, but then an uncomfortable look comes over her face, and I watch as she looks over the passing students. 

“I’m going to go find Matt,” She quickly says, “You can come, but I’m not sure if the blood will-”

“Go. I’ll be fine.”

Elena gives me a thankful smile before wrapping me in her arms, “Call me if something happens. I’ll see you in first period.”

I lightly push her away and try to give her a convincing smile, “I’ll be fine. Go.”

With one last smile, I watch as she turns around and bounds for the side of the school where the Quarterback must be waiting. I tug my bag up my shoulders and begin walking, but as I keep walking through the courtyard of the school, my breathing starts to shallow as I begin to notice the collective stares from students.

“I heard she killed her mother!”

“Her father went bat-shit and like bashed her mother’s brains in!”

“I’m sure it will only be a matter of time before she harms someone else.”

The voices of the students seem to be the only thing I can focus on as their eyes devour me. The mixed looks of pity, intrigue, and fear follow me as I try to make my way down the hallway of the school.

RING RING RING

“JESUS FUCK!”

I clutch my hands over my ears as a ringing fills my head, and I feel like my ears will start bleeding.

“I’ve got you, Y/n,” I feel someone's cold hands push me somewhere, and after a moment, the horrible ringing stops, and I open my eyes to find myself in a bathroom. 

“It appears my brothers haven’t taught you properly how to control that hearing of yours yet.”

I turn slightly to see Rebekah smirking at me.

“No matter, Bexs is here now to help you.”

I feel my fists tighten as an uncontrollable anger fills me, “And what makes you possibly think I’d want your help?”

Rebekah appears to be taken aback momentarily, “Well, because we’re best friends.”

I let out a loud scoff, “Friends?! You think we’re friends?! How fucking delusional are you?!”

The vampire shakes her head, “What are you talking about? Why are you being like this?”

I narrow my eyes, “Like what?”

“Cruel. You’re acting like…like my brother.”

“I’M ACTING LIKE KLAUS?!”

I run an angry hand through my hair as I look at her in disbelief, “You killed Elena! And I’m the one acting like Klaus?!” Rebekah opens her mouth and then closes it. 

“We are NOT friends, Rebekah. Maybe at some point we could’ve been…but now, just looking at you makes me sick. All I see when I look at you is a murderer. Stay away. From. Me.”

—

How are you doing? - Elijah Mikaelson

I roll my eyes at the message. 

You know you don’t have to sign off each text message. That’s what contact names are for?

The text bubbles instantly pop.

I know. Don’t deflect. - Elijah Mikaelson

I debate on texting him back, and especially telling him the truth, but as I look over to Elena and Stefan, who are sitting at the desks next to me, currently in some heated discussion, I realize I need to get this off my chest to someone. 

I didn’t think it would be this hard. I knew coming here would be a struggle because of the noises and the looks, but-

I tap the side of my phone lightly, thinking of my next words.

The blood. It’s all I can smell. Unlike Elena, who is currently fiending for every drop in this building, I don’t want to drink any of it, but all I can think about when I hear people talk about me or my family. Or even glance at me for too long is to spill blood. 

I watch as the text message sends, and then I realize that having text messages connected to the cloud of me saying I want to kill people might not have been the best idea. 

Text bubbles appear, and I wait for a moment for his message to come through, but a pinch to my heart comes when the bubble vanishes and no message comes through. 

Great, Y/n. You scared away a one-thousand-year-old vampire. Good going. 

“Hey, you alright?”

I lean back in my chair and look at Stefan, who is giving me a small smile. Elena, who sits behind me and beside him, looks at me as well. 

“Fine. Just fighting the urge to not run out of the school and live the rest of my life with the Amish.”

Elena giggles and then places a comforting hand on my shoulder whilst Stefan eyes me.

“I know this is hard. I may not know exactly what you’re going through,” Ya. No shit, “But I know how it feels to have your emotions betray you. But you being here after such a short time just shows how strong you are,” He looks at Elena, “How strong you both are. And if anyone can handle this, it’s you two.”

Damn, he couldn’t have just kept the pep talk to me? 

I give him a sarcastic smirk and two thumbs up, which he playfully rolls his eyes at. 

“Morning, Everyone!”

I hate the British. 

I glare at the blonde Original as she enters the classroom, passing out papers to the other students. 

“So I’m throwing a little anti-curfew party at my new house, starts at the fifth period and goes til whenever, spread the word.”

Rebekah walks over to me, and I’m expecting her to walk right past, but she stops and gives me a smile, “I’d be pleased if you could make it.”

I eye the paper she puts on my desk, and I give her a smile, which she is too quick to return. And then I rip the flyer in two. 

A flash of hurt covers her face before she just puts another paper on my desk and then moves over to Elena and Stefan. 

“You’re welcome to join, Elena. If you’d like to bury the hatchet.”

  “It’s a pretty enormous hatchet,” Elena replies.

“Well, I’m feeling generous of spirit.”

I roll my eyes as the two girls continue to argue back and forth. 

“New house, huh? Did your brothers finally kick you out?” 

This piques my interest. 

“They didn’t kick me out. I left,” Rebekah says defensively. 

“So you left the only people on earth who actually like you?”

Elena’s insult has my eyes widening, and I look over to Stefan, who looks like he’d rather be anywhere else. 

A buzzing catches my attention, and I grab my phone. 

My apologies, Elskan. I got caught up for a moment. What you’re going through is perfectly natural and to be expected. What you’re doing amazes me and fills me with awe of just how strong and resilient you are. But, it is alright sometimes to take some time for yourself. Don’t feel as though you must complete the whole school day. Although I am sure a small town in Virginia has a great academic program, no one will blame you for leaving. If you do, please contact me and I will come and get you. Remember, I love you and am here, always. - Elijah Mikaelson. 

I absent-mindedly find myself running over those three words. I. Love. You. And for the first time today, a small sense of peace flows through me. 

“Ah!’’

Peace gone. 

I whip around in my seat and see a pencil stuck in Elena’s shoulder. 

“Rebekah!”

Rebekah gives me a sweet smile, and Elena instantly stands up from her seat and bolts out of the classroom. Stefan instantly follows, and I do as well.

Until Rebekah stops me. 

“So…will I see you at my party?”

Is this bitch serious? Or just stupid?

“Are you serious?! You just stabbed Elena, and you expect me to show up to your lame excuse of a way to make friends,” My dig makes her slightly flinch.

“What do you expect me to do! She gets on my nerves,” Rebekah practically whines like a child. 

“And you killed her, Rebekah! So stop fucking crying and act like an adult for once in your overdue life.”

I don’t let her say anything else as I shove past her and out of the classroom. 

—

Stefan and Elena are gone by the time I get to the hallway, and honestly, I’m not that upset about it. Less drama for me to deal with right now. 

I find myself mindlessly walking through the empty hallways for about ten minutes before I hear the ringing of my phone. I pick it up and find myself slightly relieved by the caller. 

“Hello, Finn.”

“Hello, Y/n. How are you?”

I roll my eyes as I sit down against a locker, “I’m guessing Elijah called you?”

“Actually, Niklaus did. To be honest, when I saw his name pop up on my cellular device,” I smirked as he said the words as if they’re foreign to him, “I wasn’t going to answer, but then I realized if Niklaus dared call me, it must be for an important reason…I’m sorry about your mother.”

Five words I’ve heard so many times these past few days that I think if I hear them one more time, I actually might go crazy. 

An image of my father with a ballerina sticking out of his neck flashes in my mind. 

Again. Go crazy, again. 

“Y/n?”

“Ya, I’m here. Thanks, Finn. But, you didn’t have to call. I know you’re probably busy, you and Sage.”

“We’re friends. I mean, technically, you’re my only friend, except for the cat that Sage and I have adopted. His name is Alpine. I think we’re friends. But, when I heard from Niklaus, I knew I had to call and tell you I’m sorry and that if you ever need to talk…even if it’s on these horrendous cellular devices, you can talk to me. Sage actually mentioned she missed your anxious antics a few days ago, so I’m sure she’d also wish to speak with you.”

“Gee, thanks, Sage,” I scoff lightly and then lean my head against the locker, “So it sounds like it’s taking you a while to get used to this whole new chance at a like thing? A cat sounds…exciting though…I guess?”

“My Sage has been,” He pauses as if to find the right wording, “helpful. She’s quite eccentric sometimes. Introducing me to things such as sushi, umm vodka, tastes awful by the way, have you ever had it?”

“Sushi or vodka?”

Finn pauses, “Both?”

“No to sushi, yes to vodka.”

“Sushi’s alright. Vodka makes my head hurt. Back when I was young, we had fermented berries. Not…devil juice.”

I find myself releasing a laugh at his disgusted tone. 

“Yes, humans have come quite a way. Where are you two by the way?”

“Currently, we are in San Francisco. We were in New York City, but that place smells like wet garbage. You and Elijah should come visit us.”

I don’t miss the brother he left out of the invite.

“Maybe during Spring break I can come. I’ll have to bring Theo, though. Not sure I trust him not to do anything rash while I’m gone.”

“I would enjoy meeting this brother of yours. Bring him along.”

I catch a glimpse of blonde hair coming my way, and I sigh.

“I’ve got to go, Finn. We’ll talk later, though. Send me pics of Alpine.”

“Send pics? How the bloody hell do I do that?!”

I giggle. I actually fucking giggle at the utter confusion in his voice, “Ask Sage.”

“Bye, Finn.”

—-

Elena’s going off the deep end. 

Is that a bad term to use since she just drowned?

Perchance. 

But she’s definitely losing it, that’s for sure. Caroline, who is sitting next to me on a table at the back of the school, can clearly tell as well. We have continuously been side-eyeing each other as Elena talks about murdering Rebekah. And of course, Stefan is trying to play peacemaker.

“You know what, let’s just skip the rest of the day, go have some fun. I feel like this day is severely lacking in fun.”

Please, not Vegas. Please, not Vegas.

“What days of our lives have been fun?”

My muttering is caught by Caroline, who snorts and shoves my shoulder lightly. 

I begin to smile back at her and then remember I’m supposed to be mad at her, and like everyone else, for almost getting Klaus killed. I am not fucking with all these new emotions. 

“Yeah. Okay, fine,” Elena agrees, “Then, we’ll go to her party and show her that she can’t intimidate me. I just have to go home and change first.”

Elena looks over for me to come with her, and I stand, since she’s my ride and all, but I feel a hand grab my wrist.

I look down to see Caroline looking up at me with pleading blue eyes, “Can we talk?”

Can I shoot myself in the head instead?

I roll my eyes but gesture to Elena to go on without me, and then I rip my arm away from Caroline’s grasp. 

Stefan walks over with a defeated sigh and not really in the mood to deal with his weird ass feelings, I grab my phone and gesture towards it. 

“I’ll wait for you at your car. I’ve got to make a call.”

I don’t give either one of them time to say goodbye as I turn and walk away. 

—

“Did you really kick your sister out?”

I hear Elijah sigh from the other side of the call, “No. Nikalus and Rebekah got into yet another squabble, and words were shared…blood was spilt, and Rebekah left. I tried reasoning with her, but she seems content with distancing herself at this new house of hers.”

“I’m pissed off at her right now, but even I don’t blame her for not wanting to be around that asshole.”

Elijah is quiet for a moment, and I hear in the background the sound of a door, “Honestly, neither do I. I believe some time away will do those two some good. But enough about my siblings, how are you?”

“Elijah?”

“Yes, my dear?”

“If you or anyone else asks me that question again, I’m going to scream.”

Elijah breaths a laugh, “My apologies. So…what are you doing now? Do you want me to come get you?”

I honestly debate it, but sigh when I catch yet another glimpse of blonde hair, “Caroline’s giving me a ride. But I’ll keep you updated. We’re supposed to go to your sister’s party, but I don’t see myself staying long, and I might need a getaway car.”

“Then I shall stay by my phone and wait for your call. Try to have fun, Elskan.”

“Doubtful. Bye.”

“Goodbye, My Love.”

“My love? How do you not blush when you hear that accent?!”

I put my phone back in my pocket as I turn around and eye Caroline. My lack of response makes her clearly uncomfortable as she wrings her hands and then clears her throat. 

“Should we go?”

I still don’t say anything as I get into her car.

—

“I’m sorry.”

It only took 43 seconds of silence for her to crack. 

“I was a total idiot and didn’t even think of how desiccating Klaus would harm you. All I could think of in the moment was how he hurt Tyler and Elena and so many people and I was scared that he would continue to do it and I thought that if you had Elijah you would be ok and I’m just really sorry and if you never want to be friends again or even talk to me I totally understand,” Caroline finishes her monolouge with a deep exhale. 

And even though I try to be mad at her…some parts I can’t argue with. Klaus has hurt pretty much everyone in this town. 

“You were supposed to be my friend. I know Klaus is evil in your guys' eyes, but…did you not even think for a single moment what could’ve happened to me? If there were some supernatural soulmate side effects?”

The look of guilt on her face answers my question. 

“Ya. Didn’t think so,” I mutter as Caroline pulls into the driveway of the Lockwood Mansion. 

“Do you think you’ll ever forgive me?”

I truly do think about her question, and then of course, a feeling of anger rises through me, “Honestly. I don’t know. I’ve had a lot of people ask me for my forgiveness in the past 48 hours, and to be truthful, I don’t care enough right now to give it to anyone. Forgiving people is the very last thing on my list of things to do right now.”

I’m practically out of the car before she even puts it into park.

“I know. And I’m sor-...I’m here to talk whenever you need someone to talk to. After losing my dad, I was lost and needed someone to talk to, and I know that person is probably Elijah or Elena for you, but…just know I know what it feels like to lose a parent, so you can always talk to me about it. Okay?’’

I turn away from her and look at the front door. But I do nod. 

I side-eye Caroline and see her smile sadly to herself before knocking on the front door of her boyfriend's house. 

The door instantly opens, and Tyler stands before us, his eyes widening in surprise, and something in my stomach twists at the notion. 

“Caroline and,” His eyes meet mine, and his smile drops slightly, “Y/n. I didn’t know you guys were coming over!”

Caroline instantly jumps on her boyfriend, kissing him. And I feel bile rise up my throat. 

“I’ll give you two a minute. I need a snack.”

I quickly walk past them and head towards the kitchen. But I stop when an odd smell catches in my nose. Against my own thoughts, I follow it. It’s almost like my body is working by itself as it follows the smell. 

I didn’t even realize I knew how to follow scents.

I find myself entering what appears to be a study and frown when I find the room to be empty.

Ok, so I guess I was right about not knowing how to catch a scent.

“Who the hell are you?”

I instantly whip around and almost snarl at the intrusion.

A girl, possibly only a few years older than me, eyes me suspiciously. She’s got long brown hair, fair skin, and a nasty resting bitch face.

“Last time I checked, this is my friend's house, so unless the deed got changed over to a girl who thinks bitching at strangers is a good way to make a first impression… then I don’t have to give you my name. How about you give me yours?”

The girl raises a perfectly plucked brow at me, “You're a friend of Tys?”

“Ty?’’

Who does this harlot think she is?

I see her sniff the air, and then she pauses, “You’re a wolf.”

I tense up and narrow my eyes at her, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

The girl rolls her eyes, and then I widen mine as her eyes flash a golden color. 

Another wolf. 

Great. 

If she starts going on about joining her pack or whatever, like some kind of cult leader,  I’m running. 

“Oh.”

The girl takes a step closer to me, and I take a step back.

“You’re new at this, are you? You couldn’t even smell that I was one of your own. And plus, Tyler didn’t tell me he had any other wolf friends.” 

“Ya, well, no offense to Tyler, but I’m not really out and about telling everyone I meet that I killed someone, who happened to be my biological father, and triggered a supernatural curse given to me by a father I never even met.”

The girl’s eyebrows furrowed, and I have no idea why the hell I just shared that much information with a complete stranger. 

“How long ago did you break it?”

I scoff, “Well, let’s see…today’s Monday, so that would mean,” I pretend to count on my fingers, “four glorious days ago.”

My eyes widen, “No shit. That explains the attitude…or are you just naturally this bitchy?”

I slit my eyes, “Why don’t you take another step forward and find out?”

The girl eyes me another moment before laughing to herself, “Adoptive parents suck anyway, you’re probably just better off without him.”

“Excuse you?”

“Oh, Hello Luv?”

I release a groan and fight the urge to hit my head against the wall repeatedly.

“And…you’re a new face,” Klaus points to the girl I’m close to, fist-fighting. 

“Ya, real cup of tea this one is,” I mutter, but both supernatural could clearly hear it. 

“First, rude,” She points to me, “But I’ll let it slide since you’re trying to figure your shit out right now. And two,” She points to Klaus, “I take it from your accent you’re an old one, Klaus.”

Klaus smirks at her, and I instantly get the urge to fist-fight him instead. 

“My reputation precedes me, hopefully not all bad.”

“A little bad, mostly repulsive,” the girl’s dig makes me snort. I guess she’s not horrible. 

Klaus pauses as he stares at me for a moment, but then turns and glares at the girl, “So you’re a friend of Tyler’s. That’s strange. He’s never mentioned you.”

The girl eyes us both, and then Klaus tilts his head slightly as if listening to or for something. I try listening, but all I can hear is the clock. 

Maybe I’ve got to tilt my head. 

I tilt…

Nothing. 

Shit. 

Klaus smiles, “And I think I know why.”

I hear a door shut.

“Did that bitch leave without me?”

I move past the two and go to chase after my ride.

“Did you enjoy my present, Luv?”

I stop and turn over my shoulder to look at Klaus.

“It was a little too flashy for my taste, and I prefer BMWs. Sooooo I gave it to Theo. I’m sure he’ll have it in a million little pieces by the end of the day,” I fake an innocent face, “I hope it wasn’t too expensive.”

I expect him to be insulted, but instead he smiles, “Well, let’s hope that little Gremlin of yours has insurance, shall we? And my apologies for not getting you the right vehicle, I didn’t know you preferred BMWs,” He takes a step forward as the girl watches, “How about I take you to a dealership now and we pick out a car more…your fancy.”

I tap my chin as if in thought. 

“Hmmm…how about not?”

I drop my smile and glare at him as I turn around.

“I’ll call you later, Astin Min.”

I roll my eyes and ignore him. 

“Bye, She-wolf!” “Right back at you,” The girl sarcastically says, “And for future notice…the names Hayley.”

—

Caroline didn’t leave without me. 

We also didn’t go to the party. 

Stefan called and said that Rebekah fucked with Elena again…no surprise there, and they left, so Caroline just dropped me off at the Gilbert house. 

Went out to get groceries for supper. Theo requested Spaghetti-Hotdogs. Whatever that means?!?! Be home soon. - Love Jenna 

I tap the note Jenna left on the fridge and sigh as the stillness of the Gilbert house surrounds me. I walk over to the dining room table and throw myself into a chair, and just watch as the clock ticks by. 

Seconds tick by, and then minutes as I watch the clock. A once seemingly uninteresting thing, now taking my full attention. 

I really am losing it. 

The buzzing of my phone shocks me out of my clock-watching. 

“What Stefan, I’m busy,” I eye the clock, “doing stuff…”

“Elena got infected with werewolf venom. We don’t know how, but Klaus isn’t picking up and-”

“Holy hell, chill the fuck out! I’ll find him,” I growl as I he Stefan sigh in relief on the other end of the line. 

“Thank you. I know you’re not talking right now, and I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t life or death.”

I hang up on him. 

Maybe I should go to Vegas.

—-

“You know Klaus! For someone who wants my forgiveness, you sure as hell don’t act like it!”

I stomp into the Mikaelson mansion, throwing my phone in the air. For the past 20 minutes, I’ve been sent right to voicemail every time I call the bastard. 

“What a pleasant surprise, Elskan,” I turn and see Elijah enter the room with a warm smile on his face, which instantly drops when he notices the state of pissed off I’m in. 

“What’s happened?”

“Elena is going to die because she got poisoned with werewolf venom, and the only way to heal her is your bitch of a brother, who, mind you, won’t answer his goddamn cell phone!”

“I’ll check to see if he has any vials of his blood in his room,” Elijah nods and begins to walk away.

“Relax, brother, I’m right here.”

I whip around and see Klaus enter the room. 

“Have you ever heard of a cell phone?!?!?”

Klaus smiles at me, “Ahh, Princess, if you keep yelling at me like you do, I might start believing you don’t like me,” He places a hand over his non-beating heart. 

I turn to Elijah, “I’m going to kill him!” I am about to charge at the Hybrid, who has a pleased look on his face at my anger, until Elijah speeds between us and holds out his hands.

“Children, please!” I stop walking, but I don’t stop glaring. 

Klaus doesn’t stop smirking. 

“Is there anything else that you do other than that,” I point a finger at his mouth in disgust.

“Plenty of things,” His smirk deepens, “I’ll be pleased to show you as soon as you forgive me,” he pauses, “As a matter of fact, if you let me show you now, I’m sure your forgiveness will be given.”

I feel my eye twitch, and then I’m leaping. 

Elijah catches me with a sigh. 

“Brother, you are not helping. Just give her your blood and let her go save Ms. Gilbert.”

Klaus smirks at his brother and then turns to me, “I want you to accept my apology first.”

“Rot in hell.”

“Well…I’m sure I’ll see your friend down there then.”

My anger is now replaced by something aching in my chest, “Are you serious right now?”

Klaus’s smirk drops at my saddened tone.

“I’ve already lost my mother and adoptive father just this week, and you can’t put your pride aside to help save my friend?”

I shake my head in disbelief. 

“I can tell you I forgive you right now, Klaus. But I won’t mean a single word of it. Especially if you’re forcing me to give it to you. You say I mean so much to you, and then you go and act like this,” I release a shaky breath and then turn to Elijah, “I can’t do this with him anymore.”

I walk away and exit the house, trying to come up with another solution, when I hear the door open again.

“Elijah, he’s impossible! How can he care so little?!”

I whip around, and my eyes meet blue. 

“I do care,” Klaus says as he descends the stairs, “I’m not good at showing it…But I do care. Maybe not about the rest of the people in this town…But I do care about you.”

I scoff, “And yet you treat me like everyone else…like another one of your playthings born for your amusement.”

Klaus looks down at his shoes, “I don’t…You’re not for my amusement. I mean, you amuse me,” He huffs, “More than you know. But that’s not all you do. You challenge me and you make me feel things that scare me.”

I suck in a small breath at the earnestness in his voice.

“I have only feared one thing in over a thousand years, and that was Mikael, and when I killed him, I thought I’d never have to fear anything again…and then you stormed into my life with that world-ending fire of yours, and I froze. And I knew in that moment that you would become my worst fear…and my greatest desire. And you…you make me a fool, Y/n. For a thousand years, no one has dared fight against me, and yet that is all you do, and I love it. The way your nose twitches when you’re about to lose your head, or the way you tap your finger against your palm to try to pull yourself back, I love all of it. So I fight back with you. Because it’s what I know how to do. I’ve never been good at handling my emotions, and especially handling other people. It’s been so long since I’ve had to worry about anyone else’s that I think a part of me forgot how to. But I know that isn’t fair to you. Fair to us…of what we could be if I weren’t so… obsessed with being feared by everyone around me. But I don’t want that of you, I don’t want you to fear me. Or you don't want to be around me because you can’t handle it. And so I’m sorry. I know I said I’d change, but…I don’t think I know how. I think I might just need you and your bullheadedness to help me.”

“That speech was like 30 minutes. Elena’s probably already dead.”

Klaus lets out a scoff, “And I’m the jerk in this relationship! I just bared my soul to you and you bring up the time?!”

I take a step forward and my upper lip lifts, “You want to change? Help my friend.”

Klaus reaches a hand up slowly, testing the waters, and when he notices I don’t move away, he lifts his hand to rest against my cheek. 

“I was going to help her anyway. I wouldn’t let your best friend die…even though I despise her whininess.”

I lean back and give him a glare, and he smirks, “Kidding…kind of.”

“Thank you. Not just for helping but…for what you said. But you’re not the only one who’s scared, Klaus. I’m scared all the time. Especially now. I have no idea what is going to happen to me or Theo, or what the hell I’m doing as a wolf, and don’t even get me started on what the hell I’m going to do on my first full moon,” I shake, and Klaus stops it with both his hands against my cheeks. 

“I’m right here and I’ll be there for your first full moon, and then your second, and then every single one after it. You are not doing this alone. I won’t let you,” He rolls his eyes, “And neither will my annoying older brother, who I’m sure has been eavesdropping on this entire conversation.”

I laugh at that, and Klaus’s eyes soften. 

“As long as the Mikaelsons walk this Earth, you’ll never be alone again. I promise you that.”

[plasmapumpkin]

The Language of the Black Parade

By Nate Piekos

Soon after being contacted by Gerard Way to work on the 2025 Long Live the Black Parade tour, I thought it might be a good idea to start writing down notes in the event that I decided to compose an article on how the typeface came together. Not really knowing if I’d actually get it done—or have enough interesting info to even justify an article—I just scribbled thoughts and dates on sticky notes which were soon lost to the chaos of my studio. I tried my best to find them all (and I was semi-successful) when the time came to write this.

In August of 2024, I received an email from Gerard asking me if I was up to design a font for the following year’s My Chemical Romance tour. Gerard and I have worked together since the beginning of The Umbrella Academy comic books published at Dark Horse (Wikipedia tells me that was back in 2007). We’ve always gotten along really well. We’re approximately the same age, and we’re both really into comics and music. Of course I said I was interested, so we scheduled a Zoom call to hash out the details.

The afternoon of the Zoom call, Gerard filled me in on his concept of the tour, which would lean heavily on a fictional dictatorship rooted in an equally-fictional Eastern Bloc country. He wanted to create a language that was both made-up, and yet felt entirely real. In fact, he already had a name for this language...

KEPOSHKA

We started delving into 1930s and 40s posters from Russia, England, Italy, and other countries, compiling a morgue file of reference images. We would send pictures to each other and try to figure out what appealed to us. After poster art, we moved on to brutalist architecture and then period typefaces. It was about that time that I broke out the art supplies and started sketching. I used 11” x 17” graph paper, tech pencils, and Copic tech pens.

As I filled out the first sheet of ideas, I would email or text pics to Gerard and he enthusiastically approved pretty much everything—going so far as to hang print-outs in his studio as inspiration for the other facets of the tour’s design work. Quite an honor for me. Other members of My Chemical Romance were now getting their first look at what we had been cooking up. While I didn’t have any direct contact with Mikey, Frank, or Ray, I was told that they were excited at the samples they’d been shown.

After three or four rounds of this piecemeal approval of ideas, it seemed we were moving in the right direction and Gerard gave me the go-ahead to work independently. While I was sketching, he emailed me one particular glyph that he’d created and was calling, “the hangman” symbol. It was inspired by the old pen and paper game called, Hangman, that kids used to play. Gerard thought the symbol looked like the gallows from the game. This eventually became our Keposhka version of the letter “R”, and you can see it in the translated version of the MCR logo at the beginning of this article.

A second sheet of 11” x 17” sketches followed over the next couple of weeks. When that was approved, I felt like it was time to progress to the next step: bringing these ideas into the digital realm. I began working on vector versions of the glyphs in Adobe Illustrator. Quite a few of the ideas from the sketches were used. When I ran out, I began creating new glyphs without reference. I was finally at a point where my familiarity with the style allowed me to just make up new symbols on the fly.

We also began thinking about numbers and punctuation. Many other non-English languages use standard numbers. Since these fonts might be used for merch, tour graphics, and other instances that might require understandable numbers, I created a clean, western set of numbers.

KEPOSHKA CONDENSED & EXTRA CONDENSED

Originally, this whole project was just focused on a single pair of fonts; somewhat wide, very clean, sans-serif versions of Keposhka Regular and Italic—but I began to see that there might be a need for more. I finished up the initial set, I proposed a Condensed Regular and Condensed Italic. Gerard was all for it. Later on, this Condensed set was shown prominently in the initial live-action trailer for the tour. If you look closely, you can see many instances of Keposhka Regular in the final scene of the trailer as well.

Since I was proposing the Condensed set, I figured an Extra Condensed Regular and Extra Condensed Italic might be useful for scenarios where space was at a premium. Gerard was eager for me to come up with anything I thought might be useful and gave me the thumbs up.

I took the vectors of Keposhka Regular, Italic, Condensed Regular, Condensed Italic, Extra Condensed Regular, and Extra Condensed Italic created in Illustrator, and ported them over to Fontlab. This is my software of choice for doing all the programming, kerning, etc. involved in making professional, finished typefaces. I think it took about a month and a half to wrap up all six fonts. A well-designed font family can take up to several months to finish, but our deadlines were tight—there were other designers waiting on these fonts so they could get started on other facets of the tour.

MCRIn late October/early November, with very few corrections from Gerard, the six fonts were approved and delivered, and as far as I knew, I was finished with the project. Little did I know that six fonts was soon to become fourteen!

KEPOSHKA ENGLISH

A few months later, I got an email from Gerard. He’d realized that he needed an English typeface…and it would need to work aesthetically with our fictional language. Off the shelf English fonts might not cut it. Gerard wanted something custom-made. Gerard was already very busy with tour prep, so he let me work almost completely on my own. I found myself re-hired on the project, and I got back to work. There would be no more analog sketching of ideas; I decided to work 100% in the digital realm, creating vectors in Illustrator. We decided on a simple sans-serif. Something traditional, slightly wide, and pleasing to the eye. This eventually led to Keposhka English Regular, Italic, Bold, and Bold Italic (bringing us up to ten fonts total).

I’ve been making fonts for over twenty years, almost all of which are in English and other Latin-based glyph sets, so Keposhka English went more quickly than the fictional language. I didn’t have to imagine how weird symbols would fit together, or how this imaginary culture used punctuation, etc. I was back in my comfort zone.

I finished and delivered Keposhka English Regular, Italic, Bold and Bold Italic in mid-April of 2025. I thought it meshed with the original Keposhka when displayed side-by-side, and so did Gerard. Once again, I thought I was done . . . but it was not to be! Gerard had one more idea up his sleeve.

[continued in reblog]

[ahedderick]

You live in Appalacia?!?! Can you pretty please tell us something spooky or superstitious you learned growing up??? :DDD the lore from where you live has always filled me with an excited interest! Esp the wendigos o.o

OH WOW. I took a good half an hour thinking about this before responding, because I want to do it compassionately.

Beginning with your last question. That is something that belongs to the cultural heritage of the Algonquin Nation, and is very much not my place to engage with. Also, Appalachia is a thousand miles long and spread over thirteen states - I live hundreds of miles away from the region where that belief originates.

I grew up in the 1970s and 80s. Not (and I am sincerely chuckling, now) the 1870s and 80s. My father (a farmer, mostly) used to get all wound up about math formulas (particularly geometry, for some reason) and make us recite them at dinner. "A=pi*r squared" my brother and I would dutifully chant. My mother was a professional musician and teacher, but her True Love was physics. Both of them were polymaths who had very wide and varied interests (farming! math! language study! biology! music!).

I am thinking about Chicago, now. Does everybody in Chicago know at least something about the mafia? Mafia is, like, a Thing that is real and yet also has mythology and legends wrapped around it. If I met somebody from Chicago, would I ask them to tell me about their mafia experiences? First thing? I. Hmm.

I think your questions were asked in good faith, not as trolling. I'd be lying, though, if I didn't admit they made me a little uncomfortable. The irony is, last month I checked a book about spooky Appalachian folk stories out of the local library! I read a little bit and didn't like it much. It felt like looking in a distorted funhouse mirror. If you're interested, though, I would definitely recommend you seeking out a book like that, or searching online for stories people have already written about this subject. You can even find that - of course! - on Reddit.

[just-a-little-hater]

god why is there never a perfect option, I have found two places where I can buy the Nimona comic book (yes only two and one is in a different country because idk screw availability of anything ig) but one is in Czech and shipping costs almost one half of the price of the book and the other place is fucking German Amazon where it is actually in English and I would get free shipping but it costs two times more than the one in Czech Republic and has those disgusting sticker graphics on it

[basket-of-radiants]

Option one: Jasnah is one of the most saintly, good-aligned characters in the main cast. She hasn't done anything bad offscreen ever, and that's why the only examples Taravangian had for her being a questionable person are "the lesson" and those times she almost killed her family members but then didn't. She's never done anything else wrong in her entire life.

Option two: During Taravangian's apotheosis, he broke the fourth wall and is now fully aware of the Stormlight Archive as a set of novels. As follows, he made a point to only include examples which the audience would already be familiar with. I really like this theory, because in this case we can also ascribe the book's shift to aggressively modern language to being a downstream metaphysical consequence of his initial ascension.

Discuss.

[just-wublrful]

not to be obnoxious on main but classic literature is not global literature. it's western literature at best

[shinozaki-ayumi]

having an issue where the more i discover games/books/movies that completely nail what i like, the pickier i become with stuff that doesn't reach those heights. starting to feel like i have to dig extremely deep to find the "good stuff" and my tolerance for things i find "meh" is practically nonexistent :(

(mostly with books actually. movies i've always been picky about so nothing's changed there, and video games keep hitting home runs for me.)

[13reasonstoeatthatcake]

Has anyone read Fourth Wing translated into another language and did you agree with the Violet/Violence nickname translations in said language? Because I'm reading through the Bulgarian version rn and they. Fucking transliterated it??? With a FOOTNOTE??? Explaining what Violence means in English??? Even though it's not a one-time thing but a recurring nickname and the use of Sudden English Word in-text in what's meant to be flirty, charged and tender moments later is fucking jarring??? I am Shaking With Rage.

[britneyshakespeare]

don carlos by friedrich schiller is the most wild thing i've read all year and i'm only in act 2

[zoueriemandzijnopmars]

How can I have started a book, read the blurb on the back, the title and 30 pages, but only when I’m tracking my progress on the StoryGraph and only finding an English version of the book when searching by isbn I realise that the book is in fact in English and not in Dutch as I’d been convinced?!?!

[protectcosette]

I think trying to tackle the whole book is the struggle. I had a Cosette picture book as a kid that started with her being dropped off and ended with her walking away with Jean valjean in her new clothes and carrying her doll. I loved it so much and then my mum told me it was part of a bigger book so I read all her bits in the book skipping any long descriptions. I was a kid so I only read to the end of her schooling in the convent. And then over the years I would go back and read more about fantine and then Cosette and Marius and then finally Jean valjean bits. And by that time I actually found the sewer descriptions interesting although I still skip the Waterloo lol

oh I've definitely read other chunks of the book! just regarding a literary white whale, reading the brick the full way through is something i DO want to do.

[summerhighlandfalls]

Also can I say something controversial about Murakami (<- guy who is often saying something controversial about Murakami)… I think a lot of westerners who aren’t exposed to other modern Japanese authors tend to assume that the tone of Murakami’s books is 100% his own thing, and don’t realize that there’s a (imo) pretty distinctive style to modern Japanese literature that’s easy to pick up on when you’re reading the English translation. Because most anglophones don’t read books in translation unless they’re famous. For some reason

[dndspellgifs]

look, I know I've talked about this essay (?) before but like,

If you ever needed a good demonstration of the quote "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", have I got an exercise for you.

Somebody made a small article explaining the basics of atomic theory but it's written in Anglish. Anglish is basically a made-up version of English where they remove any elements (words, prefixes, etc) that were originally borrowed from romance languages like french and latin, as well as greek and other foreign loanwords, keeping only those of germanic origin.

What happens is an english which is for the most part intelligible, but since a lot everyday english, and especially the scientific vocabulary, has has heavy latin and greek influence, they have to make up new words from the existing germanic-english vocabulary. For me it kind of reads super viking-ey.

Anyway when you read this article on atomic theory, in Anglish called Uncleftish Beholding, you get this text which kind of reads like a fantasy novel. Like in my mind it feels like it recontextualizes advanced scientific concepts to explain it to a viking audience from ancient times.

Even though you're familiar with the scientific ideas, because it bypasses the normal language we use for these concepts, you get a chance to examine these ideas as if you were a visitor from another civilization - and guess what, it does feel like it's about magic. It has a mythical quality to it, like it feels like a book about magic written during viking times. For me this has the same vibe as reading deep magic lore from a Robert Jordan book.

[astrxealis]

i shut up abt ffxiv for now hii good noon u all take care :3 <333