Some pages from an old backstory comic I made a million years ago. I actually hate the story now so I won't upload it in its entirety, but I still gotta post hugs.
Random lore dump in comic form because this is the only way I know how to do things apparently.
Having grown up under the thumb of Breaker, all Acer really knows about magicians is in terms of how to hunt them-- what he explains here is true to an extent, but there's a lot about himself he doesn't really know.
Some more test pages from a while back to help me figure out these guys' dynamic.
Acer is Clover's figure of authority who prefers to give support over guidance. Acer's also not used to comforting children or the idea that people could be worried about him. On the other hand, Clover isn't used to not being relied upon, or having someone look out for her (at least, not altruistically).
Some more sketchy quasi-canon pages from when I was figuring how Acer and Twin would interact at first. Twin's a shifty kid, but still a kid, and one who thinks he's immortal.
Worth noting that the file name for this is "TwinFucksAround.clip".
He thinks he begins to understand Tatiana a bit more now, looking through the hotel window onto the streets of Prague. He can’t quite put his finger on it, but there is something about the city, and he assumes the Czech Republic in general, that suits her far more than any part of the United States he’s seen.
John wishes he could go out to explore beyond what the window will show him, preferably with Tatiana at his side. Instead they are both trapped by their official duty, kept on tight leashes of guards and tight schedules by the Council. They still had far too much work to do before they could truly be themselves, before they could be together.
Instead, he slumps into the chair by the window and watches the city pass by on the streets below as though it could fill the ache in his heart. A crew of construction workers drives down the street to a building further down still bearing the marks of the invasion. A woman in white hurries down the sidewalk beneath him, a large bag tucked under her arm. A couple walks hand in hand with their daughter towards Old Town Square, happy despite everything else. Life flows from every nook and cranny of the city, even in the aftermath of potential destruction.
John sighs and contemplates his options. The Council certainly wouldn’t be pleased if they were caught in each other’s rooms, even for platonic reasons. But it didn’t feel right to just wait on his own until their day was to start in earnest, where they would once again have to play the role of Commander and Central. He thinks as long as no one sees him —
A harsh knocking at his door jolts him out of his train of thought. John creeps over to the door to peer thought the peephole to see just who had snuck past their security.
Tatiana stands in front of his door, fidgeting with her white coat and the bag under her arm. She keeps checking over her shoulder for the guards, as well.
John throws open the door to let her in and hurriedly closes it behind her — just like so many nights back in the base. The consequences for being caught together now are a far cry from what they were then, but he still didn’t want to risk it.
Tatiana strides into his room as though it were her own and drops her bag onto the little table by the window. She begins unpacking box after box without bothering to acknowledge him at all.
He stares at her incredulously for a few moments while he processes it all. “How the hell did you sneak out?” he asks at last, crossing the room to stand at the other end of the table. He knows it’s a stupid question even before it completely leaves his mouth — if XCOM’s own security couldn’t keep her in the base, no hotel would contain her either, especially not one in her own home.
“What are you doing, is probably a better question,” he amends.
She stops with one hand buried in the bag, giving him an incredulous look. She withdraws another take-out box and offers it to him. “Breakfast,” she explains flatly.
He takes the box and pops it open. The smell of sausages hits him full force now that they were no longer sealed away. He had to admit, it looked a lot better than all the other hotel food they'd been eating as over the past few months.
He sets the box on the table and helps her unpack everything.
“I figured we deserve something a bit better than hotel food before the ceremony,” she says, setting a paper mug of coffee on his side of the table. She sighs faintly before continuing. “My sister was happy to help out, but she did notice I ordered a coffee and wanted to know why. So, you’re now invited to every family event from now on. Depending on when the Council frees us, my birthday might be the first chance we have to actually introduce you.”
He chokes back something between a laugh and a cry of shock. “So they’re just instantly taking me in as part of the family?” he asks incredulously.
“Yes. Don’t be surprised if you get half a dozen friend requests and get added to a group chat that’s mostly incomprehensible Czech by the end of the day,” she says apologetically. She finishes opening up each of the take out boxes and finally pushes her chair back so she can sit down. “Take anything you want,” she assures, passing him a plate and a fork. “I got more than enough for both of us.”
“Missed home that much?” he asks, shooting her a curious glance. Nevertheless, he starts piling some food onto his place.
Some of the warmth immediately evaporates from Tatiana, a harsh reminder that she was risking more than most while working under XCOM.
“Yes,” she answers briefly. “But I didn’t want you to miss out on your first proper Czech meal, either. If you can even call this a proper breakfast.”
He laughs, unable to help himself. “I couldn’t imagine a better breakfast,” he assures.
They spend the rest of the morning eating and chattering about her home.
