Line #63 Webcomic/LeifAndThorn


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/image1_1.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Imagine how many international conflicts could be avoided if everyone communicated this clearly.]]In the nation of Ceannis, a prophecy has been revealed. Dragonslaying hero Sir Thorn Estragon and his team of loyal knights must be tasked with the solemn duty...of standing guard outside a foreign embassy. And if they do it long enough, it'll save the world. Or something.
3
4	Leif is a gardener at the embassy, serving his native Sønheim in order to pay off a mysterious debt. Thorn doesn't speak Leif's language too well when they first meet, but he's about to find [[ShipTease a lot of reasons]] to get better.
5
6	And they're only the main characters in an increasingly large cast, all facing their own variations on figuring out how to communicate across cultural boundaries, deal with traumas and scars, use magic for practical solutions, and pick [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/summer-sunshine-3284/ just the right song for karaoke night]].
7
8	An LGBTQ fantasy webcomic by Creator/ErinPtah, ''[[http://leifandthorn.com/ Leif & Thorn]]'' shows that no matter the world, people are alike all over.
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10	Updates six strips a week, with art pieces on Saturday.
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12	----
13	!!Tropes found in the comic are:
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15	* AlliterativeFamily: Sibling pairs Thorn and Tansy...and Hyacinth and Hawthorn...and now Rowan, Rhodey, and Rosie.
16	* TheAlternet: In-universe tech runs on spells and crystals rather than electricity and silicon, so they have [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/thorn-explains-the-network/ the Internet, but magic]]. Complete with [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/summer-sunshine-3684/ Cracked-type article sites]].
17	* AmazonBrigade: The [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/sword-dancers-223/ Embassy guards]] are all athletic blonde women, with Alruna as [[TheOneGuy The One Enby]].
18	* AndThenJohnWasAZombie: In the [[http://leifandthorn.com/storyline/bonus-strips/alternate-universes/au-vampire-hunter-thorn/ vampire-hunting AU]]. The fifth (and currently final) installment has [[spoiler:Thorn turned into a vampire]].
19	* AprilFoolsDay:
20	** In 2016, [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/vampire-masquerade-66/ interrupting a dramatic battle]].
21	** In 2018, [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/a-shiny-new-direction/ revamping the whole series]] into a a WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse fancomic.
22	* ArtificialLimbs: Birch has a prosthetic leg from dragon-induced injuries.
23	* BadassAdorable: Ivy Muscade. Twintails, frilly skirts, poufy sleeves, [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/fish-story-2741/ most powerful water mage of her generation]]. Even more so in the "Magical Thorn AU" where she's [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/magical-thorn-act-1-page-2/ a gap-toothed second-grader]].
24	* BigBallOfViolence: [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/sword-dancers-2223/ Lampshaded]].
25	* BilingualBonus: Two major languages are spoken in the comic. Not all characters understand both of them, but they're both written as English (in different fonts), allowing the audience to pick up on things the characters may not.
26	* BornAgainImmortality: Possible with long-runners in general. Acai, specifically, keeps getting reborn.
27	* BSideComics: There's [[http://leifandthorn.com/storyline/2017/grassie-takes-sonheic-lessons/ a whole episode of Hedge & Grassie]], the in-universe takeoff on of ''Radio/TheBurnsAndAllenShow''.
28	* BunnyEarsLawyer: Or rather, [[OurPresidentsAreDifferent Bunny Ears President]] Olive Romarin.
29	-->'''Romarin:''' This is the Situation Room, right? Well, [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/performance-review-118/ me needing to finish my pie]] is a situation.
30	* CallASmeerpARabbit: Thorn's "cat" looks like a cross between a cat, a fox, and a blue [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Eeevee]].
31	* CanonImmigrant: Erin has taken several characters from ''Webcomic/ButImACatPerson'' to use as extras in ''Leif & Thorn''.
32	* CastHerd: The cast page has bloomed into a [[http://leifandthorn.com/wiki/doku.php?id=start multi-page wiki]], spreading them across 8+ separate group pages (plus individual pages for the 2 title characters), some of them further divided into subheadings.
33	* CensorBox: When Leif lists the few Ceanska words and phrases he knows, [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/an-incredibly-platonic-storyline-2264/ half of them are censor-barred out]].
34	* ChildMage: Holly is fourteen, while the rest of the team consists of adult knights.
35	* CoolSword: Thorn and his team are from the subset of knights that can draw heartswords, [[Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena Utena-esque]] magical weapons whose shapes reflect the owner's personality. They appear to be unmatched by any in-universe weapon besides other heartswords and other soul-based weapons.
36	* CrueltyByFeet: Manager Ludolf subjects Leif to this during the "Leif in Lockdown" storyline.
37	* CultureChopSuey: Ceannis has American-based elections and media, Indian food, French and Gaelic names, Italian architecture, and English (Arthurian) national myths. In contrast with Sønheim, which is a more streamlined NorseByNorsewest.
38	* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:Ivy versus Laceleaf's stalker]]. Takes control of all the water in the vicinity, so firmly that he can't even control enough to make [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/fish-story-2941/ a misguided attempt to placate her]], much less actually fight back.
39	* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Sepia-toned desaturation for the Hedge & Grassie strips, mimicking the black-and-white TV version of ''Radio/TheBurnsAndAllenShow''.
40	* DisabledCharacterDisabledActor: In-universe version: the historical Brod had dwarfism, and so does the actor who portrays him in in ''Leachtric''.
41	* DreadfulMusician: Thorn convinces Leif that he can't sing by providing [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/summer-sunshine-2384/ a demonstration that cracks glass and makes flowers wilt]].
42	* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: The vampire couple, Lady Stanczia and Lord Imri.
43	* ElementalPowers: Mages in come in [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/thorn-explains-mages/ magical domains]] (with corresponding [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/saturday-sketchbook-spirit-guide/ spirits]]). Mentioned so far: water, nature, fire, and stars. Almost anything appears to fall under that last category, under the more science-based logic that all matter was originally star stuff.
44	* {{Elseworld}}: A few have been visited during [[SundayStrip Sunday strips]], including [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/vampire-hunter-thorn-1/ Vampire Hunter Thorn]] and [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/leif-thorn-in-space-1/ Leif & Thorn: IN SPACE!]]
45	* EmpathyPet: Tiernan, Thorn's soul-bonded cat, who helps him deal with PTSD symptoms. Same with Niamh, Kale's soul-bonded dog.
46	* EternalLove: Vampires Stanczia and Imri. Started as a MayflyDecemberRomance, then Stanczia turned Imri, and they've been together for 200ish years since.
47	* EvenTheSubtitlerIsStumped: When Katya [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/watching-over-me-2029/ signs too quickly for Thorn to keep up]], the attached dialogue box is mostly question marks.
48	* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Hyacinth and Hazel are "technically not dating," but no one, except perhaps them, expects this state of affairs to last.
49	* EyepatchAfterTimeSkip: The [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/fish-story-3141/ brief appearance]] of [[spoiler:time-traveling future Thorn]]. Who Holly first guesses to be "[[MirrorUniverse alternate-dimension evil]] [[spoiler:Thorn]]."
50	* TheFaceless: A recurring [[TheMenInBlack man-in-black type]] is always seen in [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/performance-review-718/ convenient shadow]].
51	* FanGirl: Ivy is a [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/fish-story-441/ gushing fangirl]] of in-universe magical-girl series.
52	* FantasticSlurs: Thorn mentions to his niece Hyacinth at one point that the go-to word for people of their ethnicity (Iuilic) used to be "Iud", and Hyacinth's reaction demonstrates quite clearly that it's no longer standard, or the least bit polite.
53	* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Sønheim is closely based on Sweden and Norway, while neighboring Ceannis is more of a CultureChopSuey.
54	** Thorn and his family are ethnically Iuilic, which is more or less fantasy!Jewish.
55	* FloralThemeNaming: All the characters from Ceannis have plant-related names, including flowers (Violet, Tansy), trees (Juniper, Rowan), fruits (Plum, Olive), and so on (Thorn).
56	* FourthWallMailSlot: [[http://leifandthorn.tumblr.com/tagged/Q&A The characters answer reader questions]] on the comic's Tumblr.
57	* FourthWallObserver: [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/family-dinner-614/ Tiernan]].
58	* FreudianExcuse: Thorn starts out dead-set against getting into a relationship while in the military, because his mothers had marriage problems, and he blamed it on one mom's travel-heavy career. Eventually [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/summer-sunshine-4884/ he accepts that he was using this as an excuse]] to let her off the hook for [[UsefulNotes/BipolarDisorder other issues]].
59	* FrillsOfJustice: You can get a rough idea of a magical girl's power by [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/thorn-explains-mages/ how fancy and bejeweled their outfit is]].
60	* GoodAngelBadAngel: In-universe mythology means they have shoulder imps (bad) and faeries (good). [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/landslide-bring-me-down-5575/ Seen for Thorn here]].
61	* GratuitousForeignLanguage: In-universe. Ivy is a FanGirl of a lot of series from Sønheim, and will throw [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/fish-story-441/unnecessary Sønska words into her dialogue]] (represented by a font change in the strip/a color change in the transcript).
62	* HalloweenCosplay: Every year some of cast dresses up as characters from [[ShowWithinAShow in-universe fiction]] that they're fans of.
63	** [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/happy-halloween-2016/ Halloween 2016]], Violet and Rowan as characters from [[Literature/HarryPotter The Holger Saga]], Holly and Ivy as famous [[MagicalGirl magical girls]].
64	** [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/happy-halloween-2017/ Halloween 2017]], Violet, Rowan, and Thorn as the main characters from [[Theatre/{{Hamilton}} Leachtric]].
65	* HolidayNonupdate: [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/holiday-special-2015/ Christmas 2015]], about [[FictionalHoliday in-universe winter holidays]].
66	* HumansAreWhite: Averted. Most of the main characters are some shade of brown. The only ones with Caucasian skin tones are the people from Sønheim, who are also the only ones with [[PointyEars nonhuman physical traits]], and many of them have a pronounced epicanthic fold, a trait generally not associated with whites. Then there's the pale-skinned, blonde, blue-eyed Pascentia...her family is dark-skinned, she just has albinism.
67	* InTheNameOfTheMoon: An in-universe magical-girl series has the catchphrase "In the name of the mountain, I'll punish you!" [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/fish-story-2841/ Ivy quotes it during battle]], in [[GratuitousJapanese the original Sønska]].
68	* KingInTheMountain: Variation in which Ceannis' [[Myth/KingArthur Arthurian]] national hero Rhódon ''is'' dead — but reincarnation is a known thing, and she has [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/thorn-explains-leachtric/ come back several times]]. It's believed she will reincarnate again if and when the nation needs her.
69	* LanguageDrift: Invoked with both major languages. Ceannis has a national epic that was written in Middle Ceannic; most of its citizens have read it in school, but in a modern translation. The [[OurVampiresAreDifferent multi-century-old vampires in Sønheim]] speak modern Sønska, but their native language was a much earlier version, which would make them an invaluable resource for linguists...if they weren't also prone to making stuff up for their own entertainment.
70	* LaserGuidedAmnesia: For the existence and appearance of the resident [[TheMenInBlack man-in-black type]]. She has to [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/performance-review-418/ arrange for other characters to remind themselves]] that she exists.
71	* LawyerFriendlyCameo: With background characters, who get names in the transcripts like [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/leaves-that-are-green-1021/ not!]][[Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena Touga]], [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/vampire-masquerade-1066/ not!]][[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]], and [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/vampire-masquerade-1066/ not!]][[Literature/TheTwilightSaga Bella]].
72	* {{Lilliputians}}: The [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/landslide-bring-me-down-775/ doll-size Tamaputians]].
73	* MagicalDatabase: apparently a lot of them, including [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/homecoming-1124/ translation dictionaries]], which can be queried from a distance using [[TheAlternet their magical Internet]].
74	* MagicStaff: Carried by the most powerful magical girls (and boys). [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/magical-thorn-act-1-page-5/ As seen here with Kudzu.]]
75	* MeetCute: The title characters meet when Leif is pruning a tree, and [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/homecoming-624/ a branch knocks Thorn in the head]].
76	* TheMenInBlack: [[http://leifandthorn.com/character/woman-in-black/ the Woman in Black]] ([[WhatItSaysOnTheTin obviously]]). Rumors say there are multiple [=MiB=] types, but so far we've only see her.
77	* MonochromaticEyes:
78	** [[https://leifandthorn.com/comic/kudzu-roots-27-35/ Kudzu when using his powers]] has GlowingEyesOfDoom, and the people he affects have matching MindControlEyes.
79	** Characters with crystal prosthetic eyes (usually hidden behind sunglasses), [[https://leifandthorn.com/comic/expert-witness-11-25/ such as Dr. Glazier]].
80	* MulticulturalAlienPlanet: The strip deals with, not only cultural differences between two of its fantasy countries, but [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/thorn-explains-ethnic-groups/ ethnic differences within each country]].
81	* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Astrid Rødlund, author of a popular children's fantasy series, bears more than a little resemblance to Creator/JKRowling.
82	* OfThePeople: Averted. The Ceannic demonym, in its own language, comes from "the central people", and the Sønska demonym is from "the sun people".
83	* OminousVisualGlitch: Whenever a dialogue bubble includes the Woman In Black's name or identifying information, that part gets [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OminousVisualGlitch glitched/pixelated until it's unreadable]].
84	* PowerDyesYourHair: Magical girls can get multicolor hair effects when they transform. Compare [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/fish-story-241/ powered-down Holly]] (all dark green) with [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/i-got-eight-problems-2027/ transformed Holly]] (light-green for the last few inches). Note that for a character like Ivy, who has the [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/saturday-sketchbook-magical-ivy/ mundane kind of dyed hair]], that color doesn't get overridden by a transformation.
85	* PowerIncontinence: Mulberry is an excellent secret agent because she's magically unmemorable. To everyone. Including her family and friends. [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/4koma-in-black-47-working-out-session/ Whether she wants to be or not.]]
86	* PsychicLink: Thorn and his cat Tiernan, who can [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/family-dinner-1414/ stop him from having dragon flashbacks]].
87	* PunnyName: In-universe, the Sønska name Leif sounds like the Ceannic word for "leaf," in keeping with the FloralThemeNaming.
88	* QueerRomance: Slow-burn between the title characters, with other same-sex pairings in the supporting cast.
89	* RecognitionFailure: Rowan unknowingly becomes internet friends with Archie Stavros, the head writer of his favorite crystal-broadcast show. When the two video chat for the first time, Rowan doesn't recognize Archie, somewhat to Archie's surprise. Rowan's a little embarrassed when he realizes it later and expresses annoyance that Archie didn't identify himself, but the two stay friends.
90	* {{Reincarnation}}: A few different types.
91	** Some people are "long-runners," with their full PastLifeMemories returning at a young age. At that point they're [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/the-perennials-716/ legally considered adults]], for everything from trials to labor laws.
92	** Other people never remember their past lives, but can be identified because they draw the same [[CoolSword heartsword]]. Ceannis used to have a law that any time [[InItsHourOfNeed their founding hero reincarnated]] (as identified by heartsword), [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/thorn-explains-leachtric/ she got to rule the country.]]
93	* ReincarnationIdentifyingTrait: Some reincarnates can be identified by the heartswords they can draw, which are identical to those of their past lives'.
94	* ReincarnationRomance: Leachtric doesn't remember her past life as Rhódon, so she's not sure how to approach [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/the-show-must-grow-on-act-i-25-44/ Rhódon's reincarnated lover]].
95	* SarcasticConfession: When Thorn asks why Kale is in therapy, he replies that he "killed a bunch of people." Thorn doesn't take him seriously, especially after learning his name and not recognizing it. In fact, he committed the murders under another name.
96	* TheShowMustGoWrong: The performance of ''Leachtric''. At first the plumbing problems interfere with the on-stage special effects, then they force the entire building to get evacuated before the second act.
97	* ShowWithinAShow: Multiple sequences from from Hedge & Grassie, a sitcom Thorn is a fan of. Other referenced properties include ''Leachtric'' (musical), ''The Holger Saga'' (literature), ''Pretty Combat Mountaineer Geirskögul'' and ''Magical Storm Rune Svanhvit'' (magical-girl comics).
98	* UsefulNotes/SignedLanguage: The Embassy staff communicates with hand signals when they want it to go unnoticed. Leif thinks of it as "servants' code", but when [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/summer-sunshine-7384/ he encounters an actual deaf person]] it turns out they can communicate fluently. (The cast page refers to it as Sønheim Sign.)
99	* SilentSceneryPanel: [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/leaves-that-are-green-121/ First strip of the "Leaves That Are Green" storyline]], and again in [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/leaves-that-are-green-421/ a view of Leif's hospital room]], doubling as a bittersweet IdenticalPanelGag.
100	* SlaveBrand: The [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/sweet-summer-children-714/ back-of-the-neck tattoo]] seen on Leif and other Embassy servants. Marks the location of a microchip that causes pain if they break the rules.
101	* SomethingElseAlsoRises: When Cedar (nature mage) talks about a fellow actor he crushed on as a kid, the flower he's holding [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/havent-you-noticed-19-29/ grows into a branch]].
102	* SpaceFillingEmpire: Some regions of [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/saturday-sketchbook-world-map/ the World Map]] have lots of small (and mostly-nameless) countries, but the whole polar region is simply labeled "Sønheim." In addition, the southeastern part of the continent is mostly covered by a space-filling ''desert''.
103	* SpeculativeFictionLGBT: And how. Part of the fantasy-culture worldbuilding is that "same-gender relationships are seen as unremarkable, and sex-related dysphoria is seen as a medical condition to be treated without stigma," one or both of which is demonstrated with most of the characters.
104	* SpeechBubbles: Different fonts represent people speaking different languages. For vampires, they're outlined in red.
105	* {{Squee}}: Ivy has been seen [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/fish-story-441/ expressing high-pitched excitement approximately once every other sentence]].
106	* StrongerWithAge: Vampires. Making an enemy of [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/only-900s-kids-will-get-this-14-17/ Stanczia in her late 700's]] is considered a really stupid idea.
107	* SundayStrip: Including [[{{Elseworld}} alternate universes]], [[AllThereInTheManual worldbuilding details]], double-sized weekly strips, and one-shot extras.
108	* SuperWheelchair: Iona has a chair that hovers, although, notably, [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/vampire-masquerade-3066/ it doesn't fly]].
109	* SwissArmyAppendage: A rare leg-based example. [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/the-actual-successful-dating-life-of-birch-baker/ Birch's foot can be swapped out]] for other attachments, like a clamp.
110	* TongueTied: If the servants in ''Webcomic/LeifAndThorn'' try to say anything that would incite conspiracy against the Embassy, they get [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/landslide-bring-me-down-2275/ zapped with pain]].
111	* TransformationSequence: For the magical girls (and boys, women, men, etc). [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/fish-story-2641/ Teenage girl Ivy]] gets a lavish one; so does [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/fish-story-1541/ an adult male character]] earlier in the same storyline.
112	* TransformationTrinket: The mages use brooches, apparently all brightly-colored crystals in metallic settings.
113	* TranslationConvention: Everything is rendered in English, distinguished by font. Sometimes there are author's notes or fourth-wall-breaking strips addressing things in the original languages that don't exactly translate.
114	** Sønska doesn't use singular "they", but translated-from-Sønska dialogue [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/homecoming-1724/ uses "they" for a person of unknown gender]] because it sounds more natural in English than a literal translation of "ze."
115	** Ceannis has a t-v distinction (different pronouns for the formal "you" and the familiar "you"). Ceannic dialogue uses the English "you" for all of it.
116	** Puns, wordplay, and [[http://leifandthorn.tumblr.com/post/141673895400/leifthorn-this-was-supposed-to-be-hot-by Thorn's awkward mispronunciations of Sønska words]] are translated literally, even when the English words don't have the same similarities.
117	** The first line of ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'' is apparently [[http://leifandthorn.tumblr.com/post/154432147824/leif-thorn-qa-10-12 a tongue twister in Ceannic]].
118	* TroubledBackstoryFlashback: Rowan's teenage traumas are explored in the [[http://leifandthorn.com/storyline/2017/time-and-tides/ Time and Tides]] storyline.
119	* TrueCompanions: All of Thorn's surviving team that now guards the embassy.
120	* {{Unicorn}}: The steed of choice. Thorn's unicorn, Caiomhe, [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/an-incredibly-platonic-storyline-1864/ reacts badly to Leif]], giving both of them different ideas about how he might be "impure."
121	* UndeadTaxExemption: Inverted. Vampires have legal identities under their original names and real ages...and have [[VampiresAreRich so much collective wealth]] that they're [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/vampire-masquerade-466/ subject to an undead-specific ''tax'']] to keep them from unbalancing Sønheim's economy.
122	* UndercoverAsLovers: Thorn needs a ride in an ambulance; friends can't ride along, only family; Leif is obviously not a blood relation. The solution: [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/an-incredibly-platonic-storyline-4864/ claim Leif is his husband]].
123	* UnsoundEffect:
124	** [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/homecoming-524/ WALL.]]
125	** [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/the-show-must-grow-on-act-i-18-44/ Exit stage left!]]
126	* VideoPhone: The spelltech includes [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/an-incredibly-platonic-storyline-164/ magic Skype]].
127	* VisibleSilence: Makes regular appearances. Consider [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/the-calling-17/ guards giving Sigrún meaningfully-unimpressed silences]] or [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/only-900s-kids-will-get-this-15-17/ Duke Andsvarr wordlessly realizing how boned he is]].
128	* TheVJDayKiss: Mata and Pato, [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/landslide-bring-me-down-5775/ celebrating an engineering success]].
129	* VoluntaryVampireVictim: Imri as a human [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/only-900s-kids-will-get-this-9-17/ enjoyed feeding Stanczia]].
130	* {{Yonkoma}}: Used during the [[http://leifandthorn.com/storyline/2017/16-4koma-in-black-i/ 4koma in Black]] storyline.

Context Webcomic / LeifAndThorn