I was so excited to start working on the redesigns for these two. If you started following my stuff in the last couple of years, you might not know about Nicholas and Aldrich, but they were the first time I truly had proper OCs of my own besides fandom OCs or designs without an actual character, so they're both special to me. Well, Aldrich initially belonged to my husband to match with my Nicholas, but he has slowly melted into my hands lol. They are now Niwl (formally Aldrich) and Growan (formally Nicholas).
I wanted to fit them into this universe I'm building (actually, I'm working on fitting ALL of my characters in here some how, it's like a giant crossover universe) but I think I've murdered their past incarnations and resurrected them for this one because I don't ever really want to go back and draw their old designs/characters.
But yeah, I tried to translate their historical/early 1600s inspired attire into something with the same "shape" and vibe, just with a bio-organic, mouldy, latex feel to it. I chose the names (as explained in the image below) to really fit with the themes of their characters and the story. Niwl is part of the systemic problems plaguing the land, and so hangs over it oppressively like fog, and Growan from being born a vessel is forever under the feet of others and what society builds on top of, hence why he is named for the rock that forms the land everyone exists on.
NIWL
Niwl is the same self-absorbed, foppish and entitled guy. I want to say that he's arrogant and pompous in a way of sheer ignorance to the world and those around him, and also bit absurdly comedic as well. So like, insufferable in a kind of likable way. He's also pretty touch and love-starved and goes about trying to fix this in maybe unhealthy and often destructive ways, hence developing a unsatiable obsession with Growan, the one thing he can't "have" and the first person to deny him as such.
GROWAN
Growan is still the sassy yet pessimistic guy as before. Prone to wallowing in his own dread and guilt, but at a certain point he has enough and finds more constructive ways to deal with his situation (taking out the forces of oppression). He very much resents Niwl and his entire family, vowing one day to take him and his entire lineage out in blazing (and mouldy) fury. He is at peace with the parasite within him, and the nature around him.
I'm really happy with how they turned out. I was always itching to draw them again, but my interest in drawing historical fashion has waned in the last couple years, so it was a struggle. This way, I can finally draw them again, in a way that feels fun and fresh to me. Their old designs will forever have a place in my heart, and maybe I will draw them again some day!
I have also put together a playlist for the two of them (mainly songs from the previous Nicholas/Aldrich playlist) and I will gradually build up on it. It's my favourite past time haha.
