BROD

Lyuda in various outfits—plus a little bit about the character herself. It was important for me to highlight specific details—such as the magnetic buttons on her coat, which fasten easily; her laceless boots; and clothing that is simple to put on—since Lyuda faces challenges doing things with only one hand. At the same time, Lyuda almost always looks polished and neat. Her upbringing certainly plays a role here. However, when she is at home, she allows herself to relax, wearing worn-out clothes and letting her hair fall naturally rather than combing it back.

Lyuda and Andrei have arrived in a new city. On "business," so to speak. It's stressful and challenging for both of them, but for different reasons.

Lyuda's thoughts at this moment are something like this:

Hauling the luggage and a boy who's getting ready to stretch out right in the middle of the street-this is definitely not the kind of adventure I asked for!

Her phone, which refuses to plot a proper route, adds a special "charm" to the experience. The glitchy backpack, from which a gas mask and a bag keep trying to fall out, doesn't make her any happier either. In short, Lyuda is a little annoyed.

Every ten years, the Pankratov vampire family stages its own death and moves to a new town. This time, they choose Staritsa—a place where, for every intact house, there are two ruins. The place where the hospital’s renovations extend no further than its facade. The place where young female tourists and local girls mysteriously vanish.

What awaits readers in *The Vampire Family from Staritsa*:

❤️ Sarcastic vampires from different eras, each with a tragic past.

❤️ A found—and rather peculiar—family.

❤️ An elusive maniac who proves anything but easy to bring to justice.

❤️ A small provincial town where everything appears idyllic—at first glance, anyway.

❤️ Themes of creative blocks and the influence of social media.

TikTok flagged this art as AI-generated. I don't know what's wrong with it. I wonder—will the same thing happen on Pinterest?

Lyuda belongs to that type of person whom it is simply impossible to imagine as cheerful or friendly. In fact, it is far easier to picture her dealing weed or sipping tea in the company of crocodiles—anything but smiling. Especially in the morning. And *especially* when Andrey rashly decides to open his mouth.

By the way—and here’s a relatable little detail—Lyuda is an atheist (though I suppose her T-shirt makes that pretty obvious), yet she wears a small cross that she inherited from her mother. She wears it simply because it serves as an anchor—a reminder of her childhood and of a time when she perceived and experienced the world differently, back when her parents were still alive.

Andrey’s mental stability literally rests on pop music. Were it not for music, he would have long since been unable to handle even the most basic tasks. Music helps Andrey not only to drown out the swirling thoughts around him (He is a telepath) but also—at just the right moment—to relieve accumulated stress, preventing things from spiraling into a state where little can be done to fix them.

Incidentally, his music library has just received an update. I particularly recommend the very top song shown in the photo; it captures Andrey’s musical taste absolutely perfectly—100%.

Психика Андрея буквально стоит на попсе. Если бы не музыка он бы уже давно не мог бы и элементарных вещей сделать. Музыка помогает Андрею не только заглушать мельтешащие мысли окружающих (он телепат), но и в нужный момент снять накопившийся стресс и не довести все до состояния, когда поделать мало что можно.

Well, I want to show my work process:)

My approach to drawing has changed drastically over the last few months. I used to always break my work down into dozens of layers, but now I just sketch everything out on one to three.

It was scary at first—unfamiliar, and without the ability to make corrections the way I used to—but on the other hand, the process started to feel completely different. More laid-back, I guess. Like, I don't have to scramble through a pile of layers to hunt down a mistake; I can simply grab an object and warp it in its entirety, or just paint right over it and redraw everything on top.

This is roughly how my characters smell.

Lyuda reeks from a mile away—of cigarettes, of cleaning products meant to mask the scent of blood, and of smoke.

Andrei, on the other hand, is a concentrated blend of chemicals: lollipops, pills, energy drinks, rubber, and sea-scented cologne.

Tell me please is it actually allowed to wear headwear to the Unified State Exam? I mean, objectively speaking, it really suits me! 😁

Besides, this little hat offers nothing but upsides: it protects me from any potential radiation, helps my brain function better, *and* it’s an integral part of my personal style and image—especially considering how crazy some people seem to think I am.

I hope it goes without saying that everything I’ve just said is pure sarcasm. :)

Naturally, for a while after they first meet, Andrei doesn't tell Lyuda about his telepathy and does everything he can to hide his superpower. In fact, he’s afraid to say even a single extra word about himself to her, simply because he doesn't trust her. I mean—unlike everyone else—Lyuda is a total mystery to him when it comes to her thoughts and intentions, which makes Andrei feel incredibly uncomfortable. Plus, their rather "bloody" first encounter left quite an impression on him... and not exactly a pleasant one.

Consequently, during those early days, it seems to Lyuda that Andrei is sick in every sense of the word (and, well, she’s not far from the truth). He’ll suddenly start having a panic attack out of nowhere, or abruptly begin feeling nauseous and dizzy. Lyuda doesn't understand *why* this is happening, but she definitely notices the pattern.

I saw a video today that really hit me hard. I hadn't known how to describe the emotions that have been messing with my head these past few years, but then—much like that meme about the DSM—it felt as if the description was written specifically about me. The name for these "emotions" is "psychological emigration."

It’s when your butt is still in the chair, but your soul is already in Seoul—you haven't physically moved anywhere, yet everything around you has changed. It’s as if, all of a sudden, you start speaking a different language with your friends and relatives (the grammar is the same, the words haven't changed, but actually getting through to the other person feels impossible; the meaning just doesn't register with them). You’re constantly terrified of saying the wrong thing to an untrustworthy person; you’re on edge, running through every possible scenario in your head, yet you still can't control a single thing—and your plans and dreams come crashing down. Many of the familiar, beloved things you took for granted suddenly become inaccessible, and you expend a colossal amount of energy just trying to keep your head above water.

I think I might need to start a new hashtag: #OlyaWhines.

❗️Сегодня увидел ролик, который меня прям прошиб. Я не знала как описать эти эмоции, которые давят на крышак последние годы, а тут как в одном приколе про справочник по психболезням- словно обо мне. Имя же данным «эмоциям»- «психологическая эмиграция».

Это когда жопа на стуле, но душой ты еще в Сеуле- никуда не переехал, а все вокруг изменилось. Типа ты в один момент просто начинаешь говорить со знакомыми и родственниками на другом языке (грамматика та же, слова не менялись, но достучаться до собеседника нереально, смысл просто до него не допирает). Ты все время боишься сказать не то ненадежному человеку, нервничаешь, просчитываешь сценарии и все равно не можешь ничего контролировать, планы и мечты рушатся. Многие привычные и любимые вещи становятся недоступны и ты тратишь коллосальное количество энергии, чтобы просто поддерживать себя на плаву.

Working in the underground sometimes takes a heavy toll on Andrei. Until he was about sixteen, he served—quite literally—as a human lie detector, rarely venturing beyond the confines of the interrogation room (it was only later that Andrei began participating in field operations). Not that he minds, mind you; he knows his work is vital—that, in effect, it saves the lives of those closest to him.

Nevertheless, the nature of the work does occasionally wear Andrei down. As a telepath, he might be roused in the dead of night to go rummaging through the mind of some hardened thug, tasked with extracting valuable intelligence. Or perhaps he is required to establish hours-long mental links with candidates seeking admission to the underground, meticulously combing through their life histories. Often, he might go undisturbed for an entire week; yet there are times when Andrei finds himself thrashing about in the minds of others without a moment's respite—unable to get a proper meal or even a wink of sleep for twenty-four hours straight.

❗️Работа в подполье иногда дается Андрею тяжело. Лет до шестнадцати он был буквально живым детектором лжи, не вылезая за пределы допросной комнаты (уже потом Андрей стал участвовать в вылазках). Но он не против, так как знает, что его труд важен и фактически спасает жизни близких.

About the Organization Where Andrey Works:

I previously described them as "bandits," but that term isn't entirely accurate, as the reality is far more complex. Broadly speaking—yes, in the eyes of the public, they operate outside the law. However, if one looks at it dispassionately, they constitute a revolutionary underground movement striving to survive by employing illicit methods. They have no desire to overthrow the regime; rather, their actions—shall we say—serve to discredit it.

It all began with a group of scientist friends who set out to study the phenomenon of "wizards."

These are individuals possessing superhuman abilities who rose to power in the aftermath of the 1990s. In short, they now constitute the Russian elite.

The scientists sought to uncover a logical, scientific explanation for the phenomenon of these superhuman abilities. Naturally, certain individuals—whose authority rested entirely upon superstition and the naivety of ordinary people who viewed them as "the Chosen Ones" and the like—took offense at this endeavor. Consequently, the scientists began to face persecution, forcing them to continue their research in secret.

Over the course of a decade, the situation evolved.

Some of the scientists were eliminated by the authorities; others managed to evade imprisonment and death—some even went on to start families. Ultimately, this circle of individuals—bound together by a shared objective—grew into a full-fledged organization, now staffed by dozens of new recruits spanning a wide range of ages and professions.

They began to operate systematically, coordinating their efforts to address various challenges and dividing themselves into distinct groups:

"The Core"—comprising the scientists themselves and their assistants, around whom the entire operation revolves. Over time, their work expanded beyond merely researching "magic" to include the actual synthesis of specific chemical compounds.

"The Inner Hands"—responsible for monitoring the external environment, preempting attacks, organizing relocations to new headquarters or safehouses in times of danger, digging up dirt on key figures, vetting potentially unreliable members of the organization, and churning out forged documents. The "External Arms" specialize in infiltrating secure locations—places where ordinary people are strictly forbidden to enter—as well as protecting members of the organization and eliminating those who threaten its existence.

And there is certainly no shortage of targets to eliminate; for beyond the government—which seeks to dismantle this entire dangerous outfit—there exist other factions, strictly criminal in nature, that take issue with the underground's activities (or, alternatively, covet their technological developments and research findings). The underground has already come under attack on numerous occasions—assaults that have, more than once, resulted in the torture and brutal murder of organization members, as well as the theft of valuable specimens.

I don't have time for full-blown illustrations right now, but life just isn't worth living without some story-driven pieces featuring Lyuda and Andrey. So, here’s a quick sketch! ;)

Their first meeting was—to put it mildly—a stressful experience for Andrey (you can find the full story, along with some art, in my pinned posts). His abilities and mental suggestions had absolutely no effect on her; the telepath was left utterly drained, and the woman looked so terrifying that Andrey thought to himself: *Well, looks like I'm about to become just another corpse on this blood-soaked floor. Just great.* 👍🏽 In short, the poor guy promptly passed out from a combination of sheer terror, exhaustion, and shock.

Lyuda, meanwhile, realized that Andrey was hunting down the very same organization she was (it’s just that this kiddo—unlike her—had actually ended up as their captive). Consequently, she decided to pump Andrey for any details he might know in order to advance her own investigation. Plus, Lyuda is well aware that the group she’s pursuing wouldn't just snatch up a random schoolboy for no reason... which implies that the kid must be important somehow.

In any case, Andrei would have survived regardless, because Lyuda specifically targets those individuals who are undeniably members of this organization—and, by extension, are implicated in the tragedy that befell her family. She certainly wouldn't have offed a telepath; after all, he’s just a terrified teenager. It’s blindingly obvious that he ended up in the organization’s lair purely by accident and against his own will. But after putting two and two together, Lyuda decided not only to spare him but to take him along with her. He is, after all, a valuable asset—even if she hasn't yet figured out exactly what makes Andrei so important.

Времени на полноценки неть, но без сюжеток с Людой и Андреем жизнь не мила. Так что воть скетчик;)

Их первая встреча прошла для Андрея, мягко говоря, стрессово (история с артами в закрепе). Его способности и внушения на нее не действовали, телепат страшно вымотолся, а вид у этой дамы был настолько устрашающий, что Андрей подумал: сейчас я стану очередным трупом на этом залитом кровью полу, класс 👍🏽 В общем, данный перец откинулся от ужаса, усталости и шока.

Люда же смекнула, что Андрей охотится на ту же организацию, что и она (просто сей пупс, в отличии от нее, к ним в плен угодил). Поэтому она приняла решение выпытать у Андрея детали, которые ему известны, чтобы продвинуться в расследовании. Плюс Люда хорошо понимает, что группировка, на которую она охотится, просто так школьника бы не загребла… следовательно- мальчишка чем-то важен.

😁 О том, как Люда и Андрей познакомились. Это фееричная история.

Так вышло, что Андрею в его организации (Назовем ее пока «А») дали задание выследить другую организацию («Б»). Там внутренние разборки и оч долгая история, на самом деле. Однако все пошло не по плану, и наш телепат был перехвачен вот этой второй вражеской организацией «Б». Попал он в плен к ним, короче.

Однако Андрей- мальчик предприимчивый и находит способ выбраться. И только он наконец освобождается и идет искать выход из лабиринта бесконечных коридоров с холодным светом (да, место, где его держали на больницу смахивает), как вскоре понимает, что в здании что-то не так…

А это Люда пришла по души членов организации «Б»- вытягивать информацию о других подразделениях этой преступной паутины, мстить и отправлять всех на тот свет.

Ну и Андрей, в общем, попал из огня да в полымя…

Он безуспешно пытался найти выход под вой мыслей десятков умирающих людей и внешние шумы, при этом еще умудряясь никому не попасться. Но его нервная система, и так истощенная шоком, кучей глубоких телепатических контактов, усталостью и страхом, не вывозит этот ад. В общем, Андрей немного подтупливает, несмотря на то, что магическое существо, с которым он заключил сделку в обмен на помощь, подсказывало ему дорогу.

Так они запутываются в этом лабиринте и оказывается в коридоре, где орудует Люда. Попытки сбежать успехом не увенчиваются, потому что Андрея буквально загоняют в угол.

И тут случается две интересные вещи. Во-первых, Андрей осознает, что не может нормально прочитать мысли Люды. Хотя прекрасно ощущает сознание того же магического существа, с которым заключил договор. У телепата даже на минуту закрадываются сомнения, насчет того, человек ли перед ним… Как девушка без руки вообще могла проникнуть в охраняемое здание и переубивать тут всех? И почему он бьется об ее сознание, как о стену?

The Bloodsucker Bartender. An illustration for a secret project.