Very often there's a big sense of "in-betweenness" that's so apparent in Zac Oyama's characters that really reflects the mixed race/ culture experiences. Gorgug juggling between his gnome and half-orc roots and not quite belonging to either parts neatly. Pib being somewhere between a simple animal, a character and also a timeless trickster spirit. Skip not belonging and rejecting his brain slug kingdom but also obviously not being human and everyone seeing so. Colin trying to outrun his ancestry but also never truly belonging or feeling loyal to anywhere else. Lapin having to put on two different faces but never really accepting either, and never really being accepted into one. Simultaneously belonging in two places but not quite enough and always sticking out in one way or another. Grief of never fully knowing or having gotten to experience one half of your identity and trying to play catch up. Trying to reject a culture that's part of you but also being rejected by something you're supposedly a part of. Being happy and surrounded by friends but the sense of floating in between never leaving and never quite fitting in 100% comfortably anywhere. And despite it all, still trying to find a place uniquely for yourself and finding other misfits. Mr Oyama your little guys are just so personal to me.