Figured what a neat way to celebrate my birthday today than to share my most recent ref for Iris. Their design hasn’t really changed much but I definitely wanted to update their style a bit as I have changed.
This is Iris, or rather how he used to look like in his younger days. In the current story he's an old retired criminal along with his boyfriend Buckthorn (by @furgemancs ) who was just as into heists as Iris.
I'm not quite sure how to talk about this guy's story yet, since we're kind of working out their past through two old coots remembering the days of their youth and puzzling them together as they do. It's very fun!
I'll toss some random stuff about him bellow
-So Iris and Buck are actually "side" characters that appeared with idea of being briefly just there to help two other characters (Astra and Thorn) but we got too attached lol
-The whole cowboy vibe for Iris is due to me watching Undertale Yellow at the time, sort of wanting to pull of a similar feel as Starlo because I didn't intend this guy to become a whole character like this haha!
-He lives with his boyfriend Buck in the middle of nowhere near some woods. They lie that they have riches due to being royalty that escaped to be free and do what ever they want which is why they hide away in the first place.
-The truth is, they used to work as criminals who stole stuff for themselves (and Iris for his abusive gang), mostly from noble or rich bugs, good or not.
-Iris and Buckthorn used to be heated rivals, competing for the prize of their heists. Buck was so cunning Iris hated his guts but over time they started having fun racing for the items they would steal, ended up getting used to each other and eventually close.
-Both had difficult pasts. Iris also worked for the gang akin to mafia while forcibly dating a girl from it so the two eventually had find a way to get away from all of that and not end up hunted down and murdered. It was hard but they eventually succeed, forcing them into hiding not just from getting away from the law but also the gang.
-Luckily, many many years later, they ended up growing old and safe at their humble home in the woods, with enough (stolen) riches to keep them retired for good~
-Iris can go from calm and collected to easily flared and upset depending on the situation. Both Buck and him are perceptive but Iris is not a smooth talker. He can be deceiving and if Buck is around the two are such a good tandem they'll make you buy any lie or truth they say.
-Iris is very very good with ropes and knots. Good at aiming with his crossbow! As young, he was able to fly well too and it helped him reach places and leave scenes faster.
That's all briefly put at least. Have doodles I have so far!
You've seen this one
First and very rough doodle of old Iris. I now have a proportions I'm happy with thanks to the ref above but he is still kind of slim and lanky like this now! His mustache is also fuzzier haha
Rough of Iris' and Buck's earlier encounters XD
EDIT: OH And the palette I used is from HERE (Metal Goat specifically)
