#playing with the font styles

[saphstories]

"Be not afraid of greatness,

Some are born great...

Some achieve greatness...

And some have greatness thrust upon them."

[delzinrowe]

incorrect jjk quotes [34/?]

[sforzesco]

some kind of. addition? not quite a sequel. to the last bona dea related thing I posted

I was reading the timeline debates on dating fulvia's marriage to clodius! mostly, I think it's fun if she gets to watch whatever....this is.

bsky ⭐ pixiv ⭐ pillowfort ⭐ cohost

[invinciblerodent]

why am i like this

why am i the type of person who'll sit down to finally answer a very sweet ask about My Guys, and instead of doing that, or anything that's of any interest to anyone else, spend an hour just picking through fonts to see what could be fitting for each of their handwritings.

i'm still wearing my streetclothes, and i've bespoke fonts chosen for 11 of my characters now

......... at least now i could write fake notes and stuff in their name if i wanted, that's something

[rawliverandgoronspice]

devotion. (Impa's main theme from my ongoing Zelda fan animatic project, Thralls of Power)

[kermakatti]

Finally played through the Pixel Remaster of Final Fantasy VI, it was a game

[spouseoftherisingsun]

is it weird to be so extremely uncomfortable with paragraphs with lines that are unequal or lacking a consistent, harmonious transition in length that you have to edit what you write specifically to create a less aesthetically jarring presentation bc it bothers you. or is it normal

[door-insurance]

Ahm, hello Life is Strange fandom- I got an announcement

I have been working on my own LiS fan visual novel

This is VortexVN,

You play as Victoria waking up from a hangover with no memory of the week prior, you are tasked with piecing together what happened between her and one of the 4 love interests.

And of course the love interests are:

-Chloe (Chaseprice)

-Max (Chasefield)

-Kate (Chasemarsh)

-Rachel (Amberchase)

The game starts with a quiz; you unlock a route by picking answers related to the character you wanna romance (they are very obvious)

It takes place in an AU where the events of LiS1 and BtS didn't really happen and there are no special powers, Victoria's still a bi tch- I guess that's her special powers.

Think of this game as a spiritual successor to Love is Strange by Team Rumblebee rather than Life is Strange 1

Gameplay so far is your typical point and click visual novel affair, you will be given options to explore rooms, examine objects and talk to other characters- the interactions will play a crucial part in how the game ends,

You can win the girl or get rejected or worse... It will depend on how Victoria carried herself throughout the game,

Mistreating certain characters may prove to be a dealbreaker for the love interest,

Each girl has two close friends in the dorm that you should not upset (I'll reveal who in the guide pdf)

This game is also perfect for Victoria haters as you can ruin her life

The game has its own journal system that will be different depending on who you're romancing, it also comes with a read button (I blurred most of the text so you can get curious and play the game)

Read button will display the journal content in Open Dyslexic font

In the demo you'll only get to explore Victoria's room and the dorm hallways and you'll get two encounters from Juliet (Showers) and Alyssa (Hallway)

VortexVN is still in development, I have finished part.1 of the project and will start polishing it soon- the initial build of part.1 will be available to play as a demo!

The cutscenes lack color and proper shading at the moment and you will find placeholders as well, the art style is all over the place- this will change after the polishing phase

Download links:

Mac and Windows

Web browser ver (I don't recommend that you play it on mobile, also the web version lacks animation and takes forever to load graphics)

programs used:

-Renpy (visual novel engine)

-Photoshop CS5 (Drawing/rendering/animating/designing)

-Clips studio (Texturing)

-tablet: XP-Pen Artist 13

Note: I'm not monetizing this project nor do I claim ownership of the Life is Strange ip, all materials and assets presented in this visual novel were either created by me or are royalty free- I did not lift anything from the games via data mining or by leaks

This game is not a response to or a gotcha at Life is Strange Double Exposure or Deck Nine, I didn't really dislike the game

Besides, I've had the idea of a Victoria centric fan game since the first LiS back in 2015

I'm open for feedbacks! You can DM me or reblog this with a review or something- maybe write a comment.

[awkwardwhims]

In celebration of reaching 900 followers!

Ever since I started playing the Globetrotter challenge by @moonfi; I've been creating a collection of UI Widget style templates. This collection includes 20(ish) different templates for you to use in your gameplay screenshots. I'm hoping I did my best to make this as user-friendly as possible; but if you have any questions or notice something off - don't hesitate to message me or send an ask!

[Terms of Use] Do: Use & edit as much as you want and/or know how to. Don't: Reupload & claim as your own. Do: Link back to this post if asked where they're from.

[You Need] Fonts: April | Lemonmilk | Kids Handmade TS4 Icons: deathbypufferfish | w-sims | TheSimKid (I've had L'Universims' icons before they were hacked but as far as I know they've moved to a new website so download from there at your own risk.)

DOWNLOAD (SFS) 66.3mb **FIXED** (Missing moodlet)

ALT DOWNLOAD (Mediafire)

[Tips & Hints]

Open the awkwardwhims psd collection file in Photoshop, then drag & drop the folder or group of templates onto your image.

The photo album template was inspired by @folkbreeze (definitely check out their resources, they're all so nice!) & other various examples I saw online.

Resize the template by selecting the folder as a whole; resizing individual layers may makes things unaligned.

Feel free to change background colors/fonts/etc as much as you want.

The text message template has 3 styles: sender, green receiver & blue receiver. There are also reaction icons & a separate reaction bar.

For the to-do list template I didn't include every aspiration icon (I was trying to keep this file as small as possible) but you can download this pack by @deathbypufferfish that has all the aspiration icons you'll need. However, it may be missing some of the newer aspiratons.

When adding photos (album cover/recent photos/etc) use a clipping mask.

The weather template includes all the different weather icons, so be sure to hide/unhide the one that applies.

For the new transaction template, make sure to only change the number of the price otherwise the Simoleon symbol will get changed to Times New Roman.

The notification message template is for life events, bad events & default game notifications (ie: legacy player, etc).

DOWNLOAD (SFS) 66.3mb **FIXED** (Missing moodlet)

ALT DOWNLOAD (Mediafire)

@alwaysfreecc @maxismatchccworld

[poohsources]

🐝  *  ―  𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐃 𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐃. ( new year, new carrd page. basically made this thing in an hour after working a whole day on my personal version for this; also tried using styles for the first time to make it easier when adding / changing things so you won't have to change each thing individually if you e.g. switch the colors. anyway, you can find the preview for this here. it's a multimuse template with a landing page, a navigation page, a rules page, a muse page with five sectioned-off pages for different types of media, and a connection page. due to the number of elements used this template requires at least a pro lite account. if you want to upgrade feel free to use my referral code KB4W13V3 because it helps me out. )

―  HOW TO USE

please don’t claim this as your own, and don’t delete the credit.  you can change it’s size or color but it should stay where it is.

of course, you can edit all the colors, sizes, fonts, etc. however you like.

to get this template please click here.  it’s on a pay-what-you-want basis, so it is possible to get it for free if you set the amount to 0. ( if you’d like to leave a little tip, i'd very much appreciate it, though. )

when you first open this template, it might look a little weird because carrd deletes the images i’ve used so there will only be empty spacers of sorts that may look a little out of place.  just upload images and this will fix itself.

actual image sizes don't matter since carrd scales them to fit but you can see examples of the image sizes i’ve used in the demo to get an idea for the dimensions.  or just try your own and play around with the settings to get the desired outcome.

if you have any questions on how to edit it, just send me a message, and i'll try to explain it to you.

[tangerinesayswhat]

One of the most important parts of this film is the design of each individual character. Due to the sheer number of characters introduced in this film, the way each character is presented visually provides development and world building that would otherwise be glossed over for the sake of time. By incorporating the Sex Pistols font, lace code (blue meaning killed a cop), bold colors, and other symbols representative of the 70s English Punk scene into Hobie's character design, a backstory is given to an otherwise enigmatic character. Including watercolor-style backgrounds that changed along with the mood of the scene Into Gwen's world, emotions could be conveyed without the use of dialogue which contributed to the complexity of the character. Interestingly, Miguel's design was very discordant. While his suit was futuristic, electronic to the point of glitching out and staticing when Miles overloaded it with energy, his face noticeably still had its sketch lines, giving him rough and unfinished feel. I believe this is a stylistic choice that plays into the ongoing theme that Miguel is not quite where he is supposed to be, as seen in Peters joke about how he is the only unfunny Spiderman or the fact that he's seemingly using synthesized venom to act as Spiderman. Ultimately the best design character was the Spot. I am astonished that the writers and directors of this movie developed a villain that was only in a handful of TV show episodes and comics, never being taken seriously, into a genuinely frightening character with a serious vendetta. Much of this is done through the development that the Spot's design has throughout the movie. As the characters style shifts from that of Miles' own Earth to 2D schizophrenic crayon drawing, it demonstrates that the character has developed from the typical bad-guy-of-the-week to a serious threat, without having to take too much time actually focusing on the character. The character jarringly pops out against the otherwise bright and three-dimensional animations in the rest of the film. I am excited to see the 2D version in action in the third film.

i’m so incredibly unwell about this movie this is actually insane.

[ellierenae]

SUPER UNIQUE writing ideas for hobbyists and professionals looking for fun, personal projects to get their inspo back

get a fictional pen pal (ask your other writer friends!) and spend time decorating envelopes, picking out a handwriting style, maybe buying a cheap perfume/cologne that smells like your character to really get to know them and feel their presence. if you have hand tremors or bad handwriting like me, you can choose a handwriting font for them and print their letters out!! more examples: save the dates, wedding invitations, birthday cards, party invites, etc.

use old calendars in character (there are many "expired" planners on sale around the end of the year, usually August) personally, i use them to record major life events like first band tours, trips abroad, holidays, birthdays... even trash pickup days and when they forget to roll out the bins!

sketch floor plans this can be on graph paper if you have the know-how when it comes to scaling down, but there are also tons of simple apps that allow you to both create the floor plan a builder would use and add furniture like an interior decorator. some even let you rotate them afterwards and see the furniture and walls burst to life in 3D! you can think of them as the sims but where everything is actually to scale

make an architectural model if you have some scrap cardboard, paper, and glue, you can easily bring the floor plan you just made to life (you'll need practice if you want to get really fancy with it of course! window panes and railings are the gnarliest part for me, haha)

make a playlist as your character maybe the most accessible one on this list, you can make the playlist your character listens to. sometimes this can be fun and surprising, like when my little guy Possum from Violence Without Plot is covered in tattoos and plays punk music on stage but listens to nothing but spa music to wind down between shows

write something your character can see this one is so weird to summarize but what i mean is like... a school essay for your teacher character to grade. cryptic street signs warning about danger by the lake. a memorial plaque beneath a statue. a character's online blog. a few of the cards in a grandmother's recipe box. a business card for a smooth-talking lawyer. things you can write that make everything feel so textured and real

these are all things i do on the daily, and it makes my life as a writer a thousand times more joyful and fulfilling. so have fun, be safe, and don't forget to unplug the hot glue when you're done <3

[losergames]

Chop Shop is strictly 18+ for language, themes, and potential explicit content. 

🔗 - Game Intro | Bug Report | Ko-Fi

Episode Three is now available! (+ 86,000) - PLAY HERE

Get your first taste of the underground car scene.

Meet some other players in the game.

Be made an offer.

5 achievements up for grabs!

And more!

AN: thank you so much for the patience - i've been dying to put this update out. lots of new characters and lots of variation!! there are 3 major paths to choose between in this ep, i recommend trying them all out! and thank you to my betas for keeping me sane lmao

This update comes with a patch and UI refresh (Version 1.1.2) Notes are under the cut. If preferred, you can access them in game in the start menu.

STORY

EPISODE 01:

MC should now be able to smoke! Buying cigarettes at the shop was not triggering correctly. If playing with an old save, you DO NOT have to restart as code at the beginning of EP 03 has resolved the error. Player will need to restart if they wish to read smoking related scenes in previous episodes.

Updated MC Name selection. Player can now choose from a list of names instead of having to input one to proceed.

Player can now give Taha their chocolate bar if it's in their inventory.

When asking Maz about their scars, the second choice 'You want to ask about it but you're going to keep your mouth shut.' should now take you to the correct response.

Extended and updated 'End Game' scenes.

EPISODE 02:

If MC is faint after exiting the car, but also drunk, they should now get the fainting scene, followed by Dilani helping the MC in the bathroom.

UI + TECHNICAL

SETTINGS:

Autoname Save is now defaulted to ON. This is to add ease and flow to gameplay, especially for mobile, tablet, and app users, instead of calling for an inputted saved name. If player wants to input save names, toggle Autoname Saves to OFF.

Autoname Save previously only used the forename of the MC but now includes the surname as well.

Removed the Fullscreen toggle as it is only intended for desktop use. Player can still toggle fullscreen function via the UI bar on the desktop interface.

Added a choice indicator toggle. (This probably won't come into effect until EP 04 or 05)

Changed serif font from Vollkron to EB Garamond.

OTHER:

Changing the MC's pronouns via the Dashboard has been updated. Additionally, after confirmation will take player back to the Dashboard and not close the dialog boxes entirely.

Hovering over 'Personality', 'Motives', and 'Skills' titles in the Dashboard will now display an information box with a definition. Mobile and tablet users will need to tap on the title.

'Resume Game' now only appears on the main menu when there is an autosave in the saves log.

Choices styling changes.

General UI and button style changes.

Fixed errors with the text message styling.

Added styling for reading text off of a page in game.

Darkened blue in light theme 'Skyline' to reduce eye strain.

CREATE A SAVE

Introducing Create a Save! This feature allows players to quickly manufacture a save file and start at a later point in the game.

Set your identity, appearance, history, and statistics; including personality, motives, and skills. Continue to set key decisions made in previous episodes.

Randomise options available for creating a PC and key decisions.

OTHER

Fixed gaps and spacing issues.

Minor phrasing and sentence structure changes.

Grammar and typo fixes.

whew -- that's a lot of patch notes! apologies for so much that needed to be fixed.

this update shouldn't break/ mess with saves but as a disclaimer i will say, if you spot anything funky, broken, or you don't think things are triggering correctly, try starting a new save. the new create a save feature is incredibly code heavy, and it's been tested relentlessly, but i wouldn't be surprised if something crops up.

if starting a new save doesn't resolve your issue - please submit to bug report or just send me an ask/message.

some things have been meaning to get fixed for Some Time - thank you to everyone that is using the bug report form!

apologies if there are typos and/or bugs - this was a long one to edit and my lovely betas did an OUTSTANDING job reading so much for ep 3 - thank you so much again!!! this time i am going to give it a bit more time before i put together a patch so i can grab more error responses haha.

create a save has also added a wee chunk to the word count, somewhere around 6k, but i'm not including it in the episode 03 word count as it's purely code. so, if you think the total wc is off, that's why!

if you've read this far, happy reading and thank you so much for the continued support!! :) - becky <3

[dazais-guardian-angel]

Dazai Osamu and the Dark Era: the visual novel (a fan project)

On a whim, I've decided to finally just publicly release this project that I've had laying around for two years at this point, for Dazai's birthday today. It was originally made for my very dear friend @letmereachforthestars , when I first introduced her to the series and wanted her to be able to read my favorite BSD light novel in an easier-to-read format. You need a computer to be able to play. The details and links are under the cut:

If you've never played a visual novel before, it's basically a novel in the form of a video game. Text will appear line by line, one a time on the screen, and it will be accompanied by relevant background visuals, music, and sound effects, to make the reading experience more immersive, and more stimulating than just reading from a book. Some visual novels have actual gameplay elements to them, and some are just books and nothing else (oftentimes dating sims/choose-your-own-adventure novels), the latter of which this is. If you've played the mobile game Bungou Tales/Mayoi, the story sections of that game are basically mini visual novels.

This game was made with screenshots and music from the anime, sound effects from the anime and Bungou Tales and free sound effect online sources, as well as graphics and fonts and other assets from Bungou Tales and other official BSD art (particularly the official anime soundtrack cd covers). The script is taken entirely from the official Yen Press translation of Dark Era, with the exception of about two or three iconic lines that I used different translations of because I felt like they had more impact. Additionally, at the very, very end, I added on the original ending scene from the Dark Era stage play and wrote a few fanfic lines of my own to accompany it you can tell because they are very cringe and don't match Asagiri's writing style.

Before playing the game, there are a few very important things to keep in mind; PLEASE read all this:

I am not a professional in the slightest. I took some coding classes in high school, and have some photoshop skills (when it comes to the design elements of the menus), but for the most part the former wasn't much help here; this was my very first time ever using the Renpy engine, and I made this entirely from scratch. I used my knowledge of playing other visual novels to emulate the kinds of effects and timing that is typical for these games, and I think it turned out pretty well all things considered, but it's still very amateur. This is most evident in the sound effects. The sound effects have no volume consistency between them, and some of them, particularly the gun/battle sfx, can come on very suddenly and be loud. I highly, HIGHLY encourage going into the settings and turning down the sound effects volume (the music should be fine), so that you're not startled by certain sounds when they happen, and for a lengthy time. I wouldn't blame you if you decide to turn the sfx off entirely if's too distracting, honestly 🫠 I am no expert in sound files equalizing and making sound files loop seamlessly, so this was by far the most tedious and frustrating part of the process of making this for me. Hopefully it doesn't ruin the game or break immersion too much if you decide to leave them on (I hope you do, for the rain and clock sounds at least, but again I wouldn't blame you if you can't).

Dark Era is the most faithful light novel adaptation in the anime, but there are still a handful of scenes, mostly fight scenes, that got shaved down significantly. Because of this, there are numerous occasions where I had to simply linger on a black screen or the same screenshot for a long period of time, while tons and tons of narration happens, because there's simply nothing I can show to accompany said narration. This is not ideal, but unfortunately I didn't have much else of a choice in those instances, so I hope it's not too distracting. There are also a few instances of straight-up inconsistencies between the novel and the anime (ex. the fight between Oda and Akutagawa happens in the woods in the novel, but in the anime it's still right outside the art museum), so sometimes what you're reading won't quite match the screenshots I use. Fortunately it's never anything major, but it does happen.

There will sometimes be long, unchanging black screens. Don't worry, the game isn't broken; just wait long enough and it will continue.

Sometimes, a character will get cut off when speaking, and when that happens the dialogue will auto-force to the next line. If you didn't get a chance to see what was said before, check the text backlog/history (in the menu or the H key).

Last but not least, this game was made with the default text speed in mind. Meaning, that when it comes to certain specific scenes, the mood/tone of them, made up of the timing of music, transitions, sound effects, etc, all of it was arranged around the speed at which things progress when using the default text speed. I completely understand if you can't, but if at all possible, please try not to change the text to go too much faster or slower, especially faster, because certain scenes will lose a lot of impact otherwise. If you already know Dark Era, you probably have an idea of some of the scenes I'm referring to. At the very least, during the more high-stakes/intense scenes, please try to play through those all at once without stopping, for the greatest impact based on how I designed the game, and only pause/quit during the slower scenes. There are specific moments that I'm really proud of how they came out, and I'd like for them to have the maximum impact that I intended :') (also note that if you make the text appear instantly, the cut-off dialogue mentioned above simply will not appear at all, and you won't even know to look back for them, so please refrain from making the text instant at the very least)

Ignore the cringe sappy final message

...I think that's everything. With all that out of the way, here are the links for both PC and Mac:

Download the PC version

Download the Mac version

This was a passion project for me for a good many months back in 2022. It started out just as a gift for my friend, but in the end I was really satisfied with how it turned out, despite how tedious and frustrating it was to work on. I've been hesitant to share it with the fandom for all this time because I kinda doubt anyone would really be interested in something like this especially since it's not stormbringer or beast, but someone on discord who tried it told me that I should share it, so here it is. I'm sharing it not just because I'm proud of my work, but because Dark Era is a truly amazing light novel — underrated, in my opinion (yes, I said what I said) — and far better than the anime adaptation, as good as that is, and I want more people to read it. If reading the books is hard for you and you've never read Dark Era before, if I can help just one more person to read it with this, I'll be happy, and consider my job done. 💖

I so desperately want to make more of these visual novels for the other light novels, but sadly, some of them simply aren't possible thanks to how many scenes are missing from the anime, like with Entrance Exam in particular. I've also been waiting with vain, thin hope that Bungou Tales will eventually reach seasons 3 and 4, so I can use their Fifteen and Untold Origins title screens like I did here, if those ever exist. However, I'm also held back thinking about certain scenes that would require some redrawing/drawing additional details to match what's written in the novels. If anyone has any ideas on things I could do to possibly get around these issues, or just thoughts in general about how the other light novels might be tackled, or if you're an artist who can recreate the anime's style and takes commissions/knows someone who does, I'd absolutely love to hear from you! As well as any advice/help on how I can smooth out/improve this project here!

Anyway, sorry for the long wall of text. Thank you for reading all this, if you did, and if you do try the game, please let me know your thoughts; I crave any and all feedback. 💙✨

[ijustmissyouraccenths]

Chapters

Where Harry stumbles into a book store and finds more than just his next read.

Fluff

It was a crisp autumn afternoon in London, the kind of day when the air smelled faintly of rain, and the chill in the breeze hinted that winter was not far off. Harry Styles pulled the collar of his coat tighter around his neck as he wandered down a narrow side street, his steps unhurried. He had no real destination in mind, just an aimless stroll through the city to clear his head. He’d been working on new music for weeks, and though he loved the creative process, it had left him feeling restless. He needed something to take his mind off things for a while.

As he walked, his gaze was drawn to a small, unassuming bookstore nestled between a café and a vintage clothing shop. The sign above the door read Chapters in faded gold lettering, and the large front window displayed a collection of books stacked haphazardly on wooden shelves, their worn covers promising hidden treasures within. Harry hesitated for a moment before deciding to step inside, the bell above the door chiming softly as he entered.

The shop was quiet, a refuge from the bustling city outside. The smell of old paper and the faint scent of coffee from the café next door mingled in the air. Shelves crammed with books of all kinds lined the walls, creating narrow aisles that beckoned him to explore. He wandered toward the back of the shop, running his fingers along the spines of books as he passed, the familiar texture grounding him in the moment.

In the Contemporary Fiction section, Harry paused. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but something caught his eye—a novel by an author he didn’t recognize. He reached for it, but before his fingers could close around the book, a voice interrupted him.

“You don’t want that one.”

Harry turned, slightly startled, and found himself face to face with a woman. She stood a few feet away, holding a paperback in one hand, a warm smile playing on her lips. She was dressed casually in jeans and a sweater, her hair loosely tied up in a way that suggested she hadn’t thought too much about it. A pencil was tucked behind her ear, as though she had just come from jotting down notes or ideas. Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of kindness and amusement.

He raised an eyebrow, caught off guard but intrigued. “No?”

She shook her head, stepping closer. “No. That one’s overrated. It looks good, but the plot kind of falls apart halfway through. You’ll be disappointed.”

Harry looked back at the book, then at her, suppressing a smile. “And how do you know I won’t love it? Maybe disappointing plots are my thing.”

The woman laughed softly, a sound that fit perfectly in the cozy atmosphere of the bookstore. “I doubt it,” she said, holding out the paperback in her hand. “Try this one instead. It’s much better. Less flashy, more substance.”

Harry glanced at the book she was offering. The cover was simple, no bold colors or dramatic font, just a title in delicate script: The Quiet Fall. He hadn’t heard of it before, but something about the way she presented it made him curious. He took the book from her, his fingers brushing hers lightly in the exchange.

“And you’re sure this one’s better?” he asked, glancing at the back cover, scanning the synopsis.

“Positive,” she said, crossing her arms and leaning casually against the nearby shelf. “Trust me, I work in publishing. I know a good story when I see one.”

“Publishing?” Harry repeated, raising his gaze to meet hers again. “So, you’re an expert.”

She shrugged modestly. “I wouldn’t say expert. I just spend a lot of time with books.”

“I can see that,” Harry replied, gesturing to the pencil still tucked behind her ear. “Do you always carry a pencil, just in case?”

She reached up, surprised to find it still there, and pulled it out with a sheepish grin. “Old habit. I’m an editor, so I’m used to marking things up. I guess I never really stop working.”

Harry smiled, charmed by her easy demeanor. There was something refreshing about the way she spoke, completely unpretentious. She hadn’t recognized him, or if she had, she didn’t seem to care, and that alone made the conversation feel more genuine than any he’d had in a while.

“Harry,” he said, extending his hand.

“Isla,” she replied, shaking it with a firm grip. “Nice to meet you, Harry.”

“You too, Isla,” he said, liking the way her name sounded. “So, what’s so special about The Quiet Fall?”

Isla’s eyes lit up at the question, and she leaned in slightly, as if sharing a secret. “It’s one of those books that sneaks up on you. It doesn’t try to impress you from the first page. Instead, it draws you in slowly, and by the time you’re halfway through, you’re completely invested in the characters. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve finished it.”

Harry studied her for a moment, watching the way her face softened as she spoke about the book. She wasn’t just talking about it to make conversation—she genuinely loved the story, and it made him want to read it, if only to understand what she saw in it.

“Alright,” he said, tucking the book under his arm. “You’ve convinced me. I’ll give it a try.”

Isla smiled, clearly pleased. “I hope you like it. If not, you can come back and tell me I was wrong.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Harry replied, the corners of his mouth lifting in a grin. “Though I have a feeling you won’t be.”

They stood there for a moment, the conversation hovering between them, neither in a rush to end it. Harry felt an unexpected pull toward her, something about the way she spoke so confidently yet without pretense. He found himself wanting to know more about her, to spend more time in her company.

“Hey,” he said, almost surprising himself with the boldness of the next words, “would you like to grab dinner with me sometime? Maybe we can talk more about books—or whatever.”

Isla blinked, clearly taken aback by the offer. She hesitated, her eyes searching his face as if trying to figure out if he was serious. When she saw that he was, a slow smile spread across her lips.

“Dinner?” she repeated, her tone light and teasing. “Is that how you thank someone for a good book recommendation?”

“It’s one way,” Harry said, shrugging. “But really, I’d just like to keep talking. If you’re up for it.”

Isla studied him for a moment longer before nodding. “Alright, sure. Dinner sounds nice.”

Harry’s grin widened. “Great. How about tomorrow night?”

“Tomorrow night works,” she said, reaching into her bag to pull out a small notebook. She scribbled her number on a piece of paper and handed it to him. “Here. Just text me the details.”

He took the paper, folding it carefully and slipping it into his pocket. “I will.”

With that, Isla gave him a small wave and turned to leave, but not before casting one last glance over her shoulder, a smile still lingering on her lips. As she disappeared around the corner of the aisle, Harry stood there for a moment, the book she’d recommended still tucked under his arm, feeling lighter than he had in days.

He looked down at The Quiet Fall and smiled to himself. Perhaps the book wasn’t the only thing that had found him today.

The next evening, the autumn chill had settled deeper into the London air, and the city streets were aglow with the warm light of streetlamps and the muted glow of shopfronts. Harry stood outside a cozy little Italian restaurant called Bene, his breath misting in the cold air. The restaurant was tucked into a corner of a quieter part of the city, the type of place that had candles flickering on every table and the unmistakable scent of garlic and fresh herbs wafting through the door.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the time. He was a little early, and though he wasn’t usually one to get nervous, he found himself adjusting the collar of his coat, running a hand through his hair. It had been a long time since he’d asked someone out on such a whim, and something about Isla—the way she’d effortlessly engaged him in the bookstore—stirred a sense of anticipation that was unfamiliar and exciting.

As if on cue, he spotted her walking toward him from the end of the street. Isla was bundled up in a long wool coat, her hair down this time, catching the golden light from the streetlamps. She carried herself with an easy confidence, the same kind that had drawn him to her the day before. When she saw him, she smiled, and Harry’s nerves eased.

“You found it,” he said, returning the smile as she approached.

“I did,” she replied, glancing around at the restaurant. “It looks lovely. Very…understated.”

“Understated’s my specialty,” Harry joked, holding the door open for her as they walked in.

The restaurant was just as cozy inside as it had appeared from the street. Small tables were tucked into corners, with flickering candles casting soft light across red-checkered tablecloths. The smell of fresh pasta and baking bread filled the air, and soft Italian music played in the background.

The host led them to a table near the window, and as they sat down, Isla gave him an appreciative glance. “This is perfect. How did you find this place?”

“Someone recommended it to me a while ago,” Harry said, picking up his menu. “It’s one of those hidden gems. I’ve only been here once, but the food is great, and it’s quiet.”

“Quiet is good,” Isla agreed, her eyes scanning the menu. “Especially when you’re trying to avoid the crowds.”

Harry smiled at her comment, wondering if she still hadn’t quite put two and two together about who he was, or if she was simply being polite by not mentioning it. Either way, he appreciated it. It made things feel more normal, more real.

They ordered their meals—Isla opting for a simple pasta dish while Harry went for the chef’s special—and settled into easy conversation. They talked about books, naturally, and their favorite authors. Isla told him about her work as an editor, how she loved diving into manuscripts and helping authors shape their stories. Harry shared a bit about his songwriting process, how he often felt that writing music wasn’t so different from writing stories—it was all about connecting with emotions, about telling a truth.

The conversation flowed effortlessly, and the hours slipped by without either of them noticing. There was a natural chemistry between them, a comfort that made it feel like they’d known each other far longer than a day. They laughed about the quirks of living in London, talked about their favorite spots in the city, and traded recommendations for books and movies. Harry found himself fascinated by Isla’s thoughtful insights and her sharp, playful wit. And Isla, in turn, was drawn to Harry’s humility, his down-to-earth nature that belied his fame.

When dessert came—two small cups of rich tiramisu, perfect for sharing—they were leaning closer over the table, their conversation more intimate now, their words softer in the candlelight.

“This is nice,” Isla said, spooning a bit of the dessert. “Not just the food, but this. It’s been a while since I’ve had such an easy night.”

Harry leaned back in his chair, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before he replied. “Yeah, it’s been a while for me too.”

He hesitated, then added, “You know, it’s funny. I wasn’t really planning on doing anything when I went into that bookstore yesterday. I was just wandering around. But I’m glad I did.”

Isla smiled, her gaze warm and steady. “Me too. It’s not every day you get dinner out of a book recommendation.”

They shared a quiet laugh, the space between them growing more comfortable with each passing moment. As the evening wound down and the other diners began to trickle out of the restaurant, the soft murmur of conversation fading, neither of them seemed eager to leave.

When the check came, Harry reached for it, and Isla gave him a playful frown. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to,” he said simply, handing his card to the waiter.

Once they were outside, the cold air hit them again, and Isla instinctively pulled her coat tighter around her. Harry shoved his hands in his pockets, glancing at her as they stood on the quiet street.

“I had a really good time tonight,” he said, his voice a little lower now.

“So did I,” Isla replied, looking up at him. “Thanks for the dinner—and the company.”

Harry hesitated, a thought swirling in his mind, something he couldn’t quite shake. There was a connection here, something undeniable, and though it was only their first real night together, he found himself not wanting it to end just yet.

His heart raced a little as he said, “I don’t know if this is too forward, but…would you like to come back to mine? It’s just up the street. We can keep talking, have a drink, whatever you feel like.”

Isla looked up at him, her eyes searching his face for a moment. He half-expected her to politely decline—they had, after all, only just met. But there was something in the way she lingered, something in the soft smile that touched her lips, that made him think she was considering it.

“Your place?” she repeated, her tone thoughtful rather than hesitant.

“Yeah,” Harry said, his voice steady but hopeful. “No pressure at all. Just…if you want to. We don’t have to call it a night yet.”

Isla’s lips curved into a smile, her eyes sparkling in the dim light of the streetlamps. “Alright,” she said softly, her decision made. “Lead the way.”

Relief and excitement mingled in Harry’s chest as they began walking down the street, their steps in sync. The night air felt electric now, the quiet hum of the city around them fading as they turned toward a quieter part of the neighborhood.

When they reached Harry’s place, a modest but stylish flat tucked away behind a row of tall brick buildings, he unlocked the door and gestured for Isla to enter first. She stepped inside, glancing around with interest. The interior was warm and welcoming, a reflection of Harry’s eclectic tastes. There were books stacked on shelves and tables, a guitar leaning against the wall, and art on the walls that looked as though it had been carefully chosen rather than hastily bought.

“This is nice,” Isla said, slipping off her coat and hanging it by the door. “Very cozy.”

“Thanks,” Harry replied, closing the door behind them. “Can I get you something to drink? Wine, tea?”

“Wine sounds good,” she said, following him into the living room.

Harry disappeared into the kitchen for a moment, returning with two glasses of red wine. He handed one to Isla, and they sat on the sofa, the room bathed in the soft glow of a nearby lamp. The atmosphere had shifted now, more intimate, the weight of the evening settling around them.

They continued talking, but their words grew slower, quieter. There was an unspoken tension in the air, the kind that hovered between two people who were drawn to each other but were still testing the boundaries. Isla’s knee brushed against Harry’s at one point, and she didn’t pull away. He took that as a sign to move a little closer, their faces now inches apart as they spoke in hushed tones.

Finally, after a lull in the conversation, Isla met his gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. “It feels strange, doesn’t it?”

Harry tilted his head, his brow furrowing slightly. “What does?”

“This,” she said softly, gesturing between them. “How easy it is. We’ve only just met, but it feels…different. Good different.”

Harry’s heart thudded in his chest. “Yeah,” he agreed, his voice low. “It does.”

For a moment, they simply looked at each other, the room silent save for the distant hum of the city outside. Then, almost instinctively, Harry leaned in, closing the small distance between them. His lips brushed hers, soft and tentative, as if testing the waters. Isla responded immediately, her hand coming up to rest gently on the back of his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened.

It was slow at first, their lips exploring each other with the kind of unhurried tenderness that comes when two people are completely lost in the moment. Time seemed to stretch as they kissed, the world outside fading into nothingness. When they finally pulled apart, breathless and a little dazed, Harry rested his forehead against hers.

“Stay,” he whispered, his voice a soft plea. “Stay the night.”

Isla looked into his eyes, her thumb brushing his jawline as she smiled, her decision already made.

[mythrilthread]

These past months I’ve not been dead, but rather multitasking (making author’s copies of books I’ve bound previously to send a box of them to the US, experiencing a severe depressive episode, and also, working on this!). And now: Behold, the best fucking thing I’ve made in my life so far! ✨

These two books are basically step-fanfiction, or maybe fanfiction times two, seeing as it's the story (co-athored by my darling spouse and I) featuring NPCs from our long and passionate TTRPG campaign (played in the setting of Tessa Gratton’s United States of Asgard). Do not be fooled by the books’ papery appearance, they are primarily made from my heart’s blood and tears.

🌟 The story takes place in 6 (ish) locations over the course of a year (and that year is 2000, which is why people are still into paper maps), with one of the protagonists being very fond of various maps and the other keeping his notes in a Pigpen-style cypher, which informed a lot of design decisions. The constellation (featured on the cover and on the title page) is formed of all the mentioned locations as marked on the road map (which I stitched from two pictures and painstakingly edited all the state names, some borders etc etc to replace the actual US names with the ones Tessa mentioned in her books and some that we came up with as the need arose). Every chapter starts with an additional map, marking the location and date, and with coded (and decoded) prompts from the Star-Crossed TTRPG that we used for inspiration.

🌟 It’s a bit of a tradition that spouse and I use different fonts when writing together, with their usual font being Arial and mine (surprising absolutely no one) Georgia, but for this I wanted a more matching pair of sans/serif fonts, so the body text fonts are DejaVu Condensed.

🌟 The title page illustration is by the fantastic @erebus0dora (my request was basically that I wanted it to look like one of the Bridgerton promo posters but less glossy, and oh, they delivered! The Major & I (referencing, of course, The Duke & I) is a joke name for the hypothetical crack version of this book where every chapter ends with “And then they fucked.”) When we finish the definitive edition (with many deleted scenes and other bonus content), it is also going to be on the dust jacket.

🌟 All additional illustrations are ephemera that I made for the story, added as extra-illustrations in my copy, and as scanned images in the spouse’s copy.

🌟 The bookmark charms are actual (plot relevant, of course) apricot pits, sanded, polished and waxed by hand.