From Darkness

Been listening to music that reminds me of these guys.

I am War

And I am Death

I let Myself in

Inspired by Coldplay's "Yellow". I don't consider myself that much of a music nerd (might have an auditory disorder tbh bc most songs I can't follow the lyrics to to save my life even if I really like it) But Yellow is one of those songs from childhood that I heard rarely but always fell in love with. Something about Yellow nearly makes me want to cry, and one of the few songs I can actually sing along with without effort).

As for the subject matter, I was feeling really indulgant. As time goes on I adoreboth of these character's perspectives on eachother. Mar and T'zoria love eachother with all their hearts, but that love manifests very differently between them, and their respective "worlds" eventually drive them toward the worst versions of themselves.

Mar was T'zoria's calm, and T'zoria was Mar's joy.

Nowadays, thinking of how they turn out just makes me sad, but as their characters develop they went from a coldhearted relationship held together by political benefits and sex appeal and now they're like:

"I would be besties with you but you'd bake my friends alive at the drop of a hat" and "I would be besties with you but I don't deserve to be happy and the longer im around you the more I want to marry you bone, and start a whole family and you don't want that"

Also some Yin/Yang imagery

This here was just a design exploration, going for more simple, but still lanky/heavy look that's distinct; something that doesn't make me think of other characters and isn't so reliant on a specific outfit to look like a distinct character (as opposed to a bkgd character)

The tiger tail comes from an increasing prevalence of the tiger in Mar's theme. Before she was heavily wolf themed bc of the whole "Mars" thing, so I was trying to make her look wolf-oriented-- I was having problems doing that without either making Mar's hair a different texture or pulling out Inumimi design choices that felt like it would actually mislead or distract people toward thinking she's an edgy inumimi girl) but since I've become more comfortable with the Tiger as a Yin symbol (before a tiger just didn't seem to sit right with the Yin concept), now I'm trying it out in her design, and honestly I feel it's doing wonders for her silhouette and shape language-- and now I have an excuse for her big round HUMAN ears besides "I like the way it looks".

Idk, I just feel like it's important to minimize overtly animalistic traits to avoid miscommunicating that Mar's character is animal-themed rather than the animal traits being symbolic of a different theme.

The tiger tail not only communicates her personality better but also flows better with design traits that existed long before she took on any particular themes.

Face scar may be getting a change too. Before it was a literal physical scar, but everytime I draw it it leans further and further into a supernatural mark.

CW: Spooky eye contact imagery below

Based on a "draw the squad" type base featuring Mar and some old friends. It was supposed to be a cute little exercises but I had to get morbid i guess.

SMILE SMILE SMILE! Even if you DON'T MEAN IT.

Right when he was starting to play by the rules. The referee lost the game.

(This was sitting in my gallery for a while until I listened to Roar's "I Can't Handle Change" and decided to finish it.)

In the public eye, T'zoria's father was a perfect specimen. A handsome, mannered leader representing everything every man should strive for. He always told his son, "This is what's best for you," and eventually, T'zoria resigned to it, if not to turn his own fortune, then at tleast to ease his father's worries.

The adored Emperor was the one doing everything right wasn't he?

For a second, T'zoria didn't recognize him, way up there, and for a second he was relieved, but the deep sadness in the body's eyes were unmistakable.

The cold blood didn't match the embroidery, the Panic in his heart strangled his forced smile into something terribly crooked. He was finally climbing the ladder, and yet had never been so terrified nor so alone.

It was nonsense. Such nonsense.

To smile his best smile for nothing at all.

Mar Redwood.

All bite, no bark.