Note: click the images to see them up close— descriptions below are my original, additional commentary from each trivia-page’s posting.

Original posting: August 7th, 2021

“Based on the classifications of myself and some of my fellow classmates in our year at the Edinburgh College of Art, (i.e. a standard UK school with standard UK term lengths,) some of us were postgraduate students pursuing a one-year degree (MA, like myself), some were pursuing a two-year degree (MFA), and some were finishing up the second year of their two-year degree.
Though more on this will come into the story later, for now, I offer this little “sneak peek” trivia, for those of you who may have noticed a few distinctions already.”
“Known colloquially as “Girders’ Town,” Prachi’s cliff-dwelling village is located just a few miles away from the sole [outdoor] factory in this Low District area. Prachi and her friends are classified by their pink scarves, as are all who work at that portion of tables between the rows of carrier-dog kennels. Workers in other sections of the site wear other colors of scarves.
Though MUCH more will come into the story later, for now, I offer this little “sneak peek” background info as a treat for those in the know that want to be.”

Original posting: September 4th, 2021


**Hey all, this is a friendly reminder that regularly scheduled Torus Link updates are taking a break until October 30th, 2021, when Chapter 6 will continue. In the meantime, check back every Saturday for some very special content in my absence: GTKYs (“Get-to-know-you”s) of Hazel and Miguel, and close-up snapshots of some of the locations in the Low District of Society. Along with descriptions! ***

This week, we start with page 1 of Hazel’s GTKY: the GTKYs themselves being my previously private art-journal mini-series devoting 4 pages of a closer look at each of the main TL cast! THAT I AM NOW SHARING WITH YOU ALL! (Without revealing spoilers, of course.  )
This is a look at what precisely Hazel’s aura would look like, if seen through Azalea’s eyes at this time.
(Also, just fyi: I alluded to these GTKYs of mine a little earlier in my newsletter/blog, in case you missed it!)

**Hey all, this is a friendly reminder that regularly scheduled Torus Link updates are taking a break until October 30th, 2021, when Chapter 6 will continue. In the meantime, check back every Saturday for some very special content in my absence: GTKYs (“Get-to-know-you”s) of Hazel and Miguel, and close-up snapshots of some of the locations in the Low District of Society. Along with descriptions! ***

This week’s Low District snapshot (straight from my sketchbook!) features the alley in which Kaito falls through the portal at the end of Chapter 5B.
Though empty during off-hours, the alley is bustling with laundry workers during the day. Most recently, the laundry service proprietors have taken stock of their wood supply, as last they checked, one of the loose boards they left outside of the boiler room somehow became broken overnight.

Original posting: September 11th, 2021


Fun (extra) facts!
-The similar blue-and-yellow shirt I found at a charity shop was sleeveless. I eventually realized that yellow-and-blue are in fact, NOT my colors, but not until after wearing the shirt for a bit just the same.
-For years, I have dreamed of seeing that sequence animated to the song “There’s a Fire” by OK Go. If someone’s ever willing to make it, I will be elated, as will (I imagine) both OK Go and the creators of the Bob-omb.
-“Suasage Mania,” i.e. the place where Hazel went ahead and got the sausage roll we see her nomming on, is first spotted in Chapter 3A… and has a reason behind its curious misspelling of “sausage.” Said reason has not yet been revealed.
-The song “WAVE” is a jam that I definitely bopped my head to in the studio, back in the day.

This is (was?) Kaito’s current flat, as seen in Chapter 4B… at least until he bailed from his post.

Original posting: September 18th, 2021

Here’s a little tidbit on the kinds of works I did while at the Edinburgh College of Art— without spoiling anything TL-related, that is.
Like Hazel here, at the beginning of my time at ECA, I had the opportunity to join undergraduate live-sketching classes and sketch live nude models if I wanted to. My fellow illustration students and I were also given a few ‘drawing technique’ mini-assignments, such as rendering a still life with digital software  and drawing a landscape twice: first in color, and then black and white. (FYI: Hazel likes her black and white version of the Meadows better; I prefer my colored one.)
Also like Hazel, I equally had to spend a LOT of time thinking about what the subject of my personal thesis would be, alongside these other projects. I was focused on illustrating PERCEPTION, as different people’s perceptions of the same thing greatly intrigued me. Down the line in my studies, I tried to gear this towards food: for example, my concept based on how I thought the ‘lasagne’ I’d gotten at a local UK grocery store was NOTHING like the ‘lasagna’ I’d buy and eat back home in the States. (It just wasn’t to my taste, at the end of the day.)
While Hazel is equally just as focused on the concept of PERCEPTION herself, here, she realizes early on that she can’t really translate that by making her thesis be about food puns.



For those in the know, Kaito has since worked his way up from porter to carrier in his division. (At least before bailing.)

Original posting: September 25th, 2021

This is the last page of Hazel’s GTKY; next week we’ll see Miguel’s 4-page GTKY.
(Incidentally, whether or not Hazel knows these are her skills herself, and indeed, whether or not she has more, remains to be seen.)
Note: this is a scene of this road from some time in the past.
Do we know who the three walking in the far distance may be?

Original posting: October 2nd, 2021

Fun facts with the first page of Miguel’s GTKY: his to-do list and notes during the unseen days between chapters 4A and 6A! (With a few days that we DO see, as their first term started September 9th, 2013.)
-Fun fact #1: We’ll learn who Benita and Toby each are in just a bit.
-Fun fact #2: Sanji and Miguel’s venture to buy art supplies while exploring Edinburgh can be seen here!
It wasn’t easy for them getting up there, let me tell you. (Although, it WAS a lot simpler for them than the average rock climber, what with their telepathic prowess and all.)

Original posting: October 9th, 2021

Interesting tidbit: Miguel’s source-sake also feared needles, despite getting a piercing anyway.
Second interesting tidbit: yours truly also fears needles immensely, and so does Hazel. You will never see Hazel with piercings ever.
Broken, whole, “borrowed,” stolen, Z’s not really too fussed about how she gets her parts.

Original posting: October 16th, 2021

Note: to prevent spoilers, I can neither confirm nor deny, at this time, which of Miguel’s flatmates we will meet in greater depth in the story.
What I CAN say at this time: Miguel himself does not meet most of his flatmates in greater depth, and indeed barely knows the first names of two of them.
Note: due to potential spoilers, I cannot reveal more about the fairy caves in the far-off distance from where Kaito, Z, and Amber climb out of the river. (Not at this time, anyway, except to let you know to expect more of them in the future. And uh, also, don’t expect actual fairies. TL’s not that kind of story.)

Original posting: October 23rd, 2021

Miguel values very much his things for himself. 
As they say, you are what you eat!

Original posting: January 22nd, 2022

(N/A: no extra commentary this week)
(N/A: no extra commentary this week)

Original posting: July 16th, 2022

(N/A: no extra commentary this week)
(N/A: no extra commentary this week)