Adventure Camp Nikki & Science Camp Neil – Concept Art
And here I am again with some drawings for the aged-up AU! This time featuring Nikki and Neil. I’m still mulling over my ideas for them, and I’ll probably write a more detailed post once I’ve finished their full illustrations (just like I did with Max, Sasha, and Pikeman). But for now, here we go.
Adventure Camp Counselor Nikki
In my mind, Nikki is almost like the protagonist of this AU. I imagine her being just as energetic as ever, but a bit more level-headed—not necessarily because of her age, but because of the people around her.
As she grew up, Nikki struggled to stay true to her eccentric, chaotic self. Adolescence is a vulnerable time, and I don't see her trying to "fit in" per se, but I do see her becoming discouraged after constantly encountering people (like the Flower Scouts) who made her feel like she was "too much." Eventually, she started to feel like she didn't belong anywhere, despite her bubbly personality attracting casual friends.
Nikki is incredibly capable, but she has always struggled to finish things without proper guidance. Academic settings were a nightmare for her unless they involved physical activity. After high school, she took a gap year that turned into a cycle of starting and dropping classes she didn't care about.
Now, as an adult, she feels lost—like everyone is leaving her behind. She looks at Neil, who is excelling in his field, or Ered, who is traveling and creating, and feels stuck. That’s why she was the first to say "yes" when David called. She was the most excited to return; Camp Campbell is familiar territory, and I want her to regain her spark and enthusiasm as she reconnects with what she truly loves.
Science Camp Counselor Neil
Ugh, I’m still a bit stuck on Neil because there are so many factors to consider. He has so many sides: introverted yet shy, crude and rude, swinging between a massive ego and crippling anxiety. It’s hard to pin down a single version of him at 23.
For this AU, I’m focusing on the Neil who needs to be the smartest person in the room, and needs everyone to notice it. He is the opposite of Nikki: he has academic excellence but struggles to form lasting relationships. It’s a strange mix of ego and social anxiety. He wants to connect with people, but he overthinks it, missing that "natural chemistry" he had back in the day.
Neil uses his intelligence as his only form of validation. He was probably thrilled to attend a prestigious university until he realized that when everyone is a genius, he isn't special anymore.I think there's a good chance that sooner or later he'll have to deal with severe academic burnout. After years of pushing himself to be the best, he’s mentally exhausted and feels like he’s lost his edge. Like Nikki, he feels lost, just in a different environment. While she feels left behind, Neil feels crushed by the pressure of where he's "supposed" to be.
Unlike Nikki, he was the last to accept David's offer. He wasn't interested in going back until nostalgia kicked in (and David sent him photos of the newly upgraded science facilities). He accepted, but with a lot of hesitation. Or maybe he didn't agree; I also think it's quite possible that Nikki kidnapped him so he'd come with her to camp (and get some rest).
I'm still racking my brain trying to figure out what to do with Neil; I'm not entirely happy with what I have in mind for him yet. Any suggestions or recommendations are welcome.
Remember to ask if there's anything specific you want to know about! Also, let me know if you want a particular camper to be featured in the next post.
