Good design practice: make a character that fits in a preexisting universe via design and background. You have to try different art styles to match the canon feel and be creative to make sure "does this look fit with the canon characters/setting?"
These two are the results of my having my hand at a Digimon fan character. It was part of my childhood and making a character that could be taken as official was a fun challenge. For art direction I went with Digimon Adventure (season 1) art style. Heavily influenced by ancient Egyptian culture and mythology. I have more forms done on my deviantart, but these two are my favorite designs for the "egyptian crocodile" line. (Did you know that the Egyptians actually kept crocs as pets? And those crocs were actually not Nile crocodiles but desert crocodiles, smaller more docile cousins of Nile crocs?)
For sake of presentation these aren't to proper scale either as there is much more of a size difference.
My OC Neon! Touched up an "Ask My Character" I got for him a while ago. Love this dork so much. He's dangerous and talented but he's a goob when he's not out hunting the scum of the universe. The nickname is due to his hair color and bright neon tattoos (though it was originally an experiment codename of Neo-N) BTW he's pointing to his visor since he was explaining its functions so no he's not copying Axel's "Got it memorized" signature, haha. And this is his non-stealth outfit; when he's hunting at night or high-profile marks he wears a black outfit.
Writing prompt from wittyandcharming (original post via Ask)
Note: This is based on my idea for a *darker* revised version of my story CatC, which I have yet to completely rehaul)
—-
"I can’t."
The great black creature raised its head, gazing in the direction that the human boy sat, knees pulled to his chest. He sat as far away from it as he could, though all despair and horror had finally drained him, adrenaline no longer a substance to be given.
"Can’t?" The deep scratchy voice repeated, rumbling from the beast’s throat, its duel colored eyes locked on its fellow prisoner.
"I can’t take it. I’m tired of it. Just, end it." The boy spoke, his face buried in his arms. His mousy hair was full of bits of leaves and wigs, evidence of him trying to make his way through the forest and get out.
"I haven’t done anything to you, except scaring you, which was not my attention." The monstrosity growled though after a moment corrected itself, "Intention." This only furthered making it look more crossed.
"Just eat me already! That’s why I was sacrificed! There’s no escape from here, you said so yourself!" The boy’s voice cracked, "I can’t see my mother again or my brothers. I might as well join my sister and my father!" Tears escaped his eyes as the recent loss was renewed.
The Creature looked annoyed for a moment though a flicker of sympathy reflected in its eyes. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
"Then why me? Why did they do that?" Cullen demanded, tears now streaming down his face, the feeling of betrayal stinging at him like bees from a disturbed hive. "My mother helps them! They know what we’ve been through! Still…"
The Creature’s long tail swished as its gaze remained upon the distraught boy. Naturally the first visitor had to be so young and broken though there was strength within though sorrow had a grip that would not be so strong in time.
"Everyone is weak. Everyone is terrified. Human or not, fears pry upon them. Suspicions move them and misdeeds are done out of the hope and conviction for deliverance, for righteousness. The unknown, the uncertainty, drives one to madness and desperation for salvation, for safety. It was bound to happen to someone, it just happened to be you; deal with it."
"I am! Don’t you think I haven’t been trying? My father died! My sister died! I’ve been trying to pull my weight and help my mother while my brothers attempt to keep the family going. We did nothing wrong and yet our family is the one preyed upon! I thought it was going to get better and for a moment it was but it’s not!"
"Life does not hand out roses and if it does, remember there are thorns. Life is not without beauty, joy and pain. Perhaps, if your mother had been around, they would have grabbed her instead. Would you have wished this fate upon her? A woman as needed as you say she is, one who has been through enough as it is?"
"No…" Cullen choked, calming his sobs, ashamed of crying like a mere child. "But what will she do when she finds out… I can’t bear to think of it."
"Then don’t." Came the curt reply, the Creature’s eyes narrowing, "You won’t know the facts and thus you will keep creating scenarios to at times calm or terrify yourself out of guilt. Maybe she is overwrought with grief and will become ill and die, maybe she is shocked then angered but will push through it. Either way: She will be saddened, shocked, horrified as any caring mother, any person, would be. You can’t anticipate or predict which one. You will torment yourself trying to know the unknown. Let it go."
"I… I can’t." The boy trembled, "It’s too soon, I’m sorry. I’m trying, I promise… but everything is just crashing down… I just need… I need to be alone."
The Creature watched the mourning boy, empathy pricking at it though through its tough hide it was hardly felt. “It’s not a matter of can’t, I simply won’t.”
"Won’t?" Cullen asked, looking up, wiping his face though his eyes felt as if they had been set out in the sun to dry.
"I’m not going to eat you, and I’m not going to let you die so easily. Pick yourself up and come along. This realm has not had a human visitor in so long it is time it woke up."
"But I-"
"Yes, you can. Pick yourself up and walk. No one is allowed to simply lie down and die here. Not on my watch." The Creature turned toward Cullen, taking a few steps forward, its eyes hard but not unkind. "Misery loves company therefore come long. I won’t leave your sorry hide alone, Cullen; I won’t eat or harm you. We’re in this together and you can’t do a thing about that."
Writing Prompt from godsdragongirl (original post via Ask)
Background story on my dark elf Venn who has not had a charming life, even amongst his own people. This is before he leaves and changes his name to just Venn.
—-
”Had enough yet?” Came the harsh voice, rousing the one whom was being spoken to out of a daze, pain not allowing him the solace of sleep; Various bruises and cuts sent their agents of agony to march up and down his body.
"You’re not going to break me, not ever." The dark elf grounded through his teeth, the ropes binding his wrists cutting into his raw skin. "There’s nothing left to break."
"There’s always something to break."
