ALIENS, TAKE ME AWAY!

the simplest answer is they're allies who kind of made out once.

the more extensive answer is they have a complicated charged thing where she repeatedly tries to take advantage of him through flirting and manipulation, while he's completely aware of it and tries not to be receptive to her antics but also is just the right mix of traumatized, selfish, and fucked up to let her do whatever she wants and willingly works with her anyways.

rouge showed up while locke had been separated from the rest of his family and was currently desperately, fervently trying to find a way to get them back because he has abandonment issues and a tendency towards (co-)dependence on account of the fucked up way his ancestors raised each other and him. its a whole thing. at the time rouge was working with scourge to steal the master emerald, and the plan was to put the moves on him as a diversion.

locke wasn't receptive to her flirting but he was a gentleman and showed her around the island because he knew she was trying to get something out of him and he was hoping she'd tell him what she wanted. which would have been smart if he hadn't have panicked and literally leapt away from her like he'd been physically burned the second she acknowledged the fact he was the guardian of the island. then a stupid negging telepathic fire-ant that lives inside his brain (semi-literally) showed up and teleported her away.

when they met up again he was still not interested in her flirting - but he was incredibly receptive to emotional manipulation about loneliness and long-term isolation. so when she decided to kiss him as a distraction tactic, he let her.

he otherwise isn't interested in her and they go their separate ways for a while after this, but later on they end up actively working together for a while so they're kind of... allies, i guess.

so i like the idea of playing with this dynamic in the context of locke possibly being gay/in the closet/in denial/having an affair with max. :P

is it wise to redesign a character we only know about through leaks? mmm, maybe not but you know that wouldn't stop me. anyway, hazel

aww, thank you! what a sweet message. i do try to be chill so hearing that you think i'm cool is flattering. :D even if youre not on tumblr that often, it's a thought that is appreciated!

gift exchange art for @cowboyvillainz of DA SIBLINGS!!!

who doesnt love gold-eyed princes with facial scars and daddy issues living in some kind of fire-themed kingdom. no, not that one

some old venty doodles (i post these because i like the expressions)

once again ... doodling redesigns of the bunny maloney cast. maybe someday ill finalize them all and do some kind of line-up or something

read the top cat comics, was reminded why i love this specific guy so much

i wanted to draw petunia with short hair, inspired by her look in the day the earth blew up - though its a bit spikier :D

drawing for @y2kwaves

art i drew for @aquacycle's birthday back during december :3

merry late christmas i may be experiencing a single brainworm

i wasn't sure if you were hoping for a specific scene or not so i just tried to generally capture the vibes of the early chapters :P