Did some personal art a week or so back of one of my favorite OCs, Derrek. I'm really, really happy with how this turned out.

To most people, Derrek is an impulsive loud-mouthed dumbass who gets himself into trouble more often than not by being intentionally abrasive and sarcastic. To those who know Derrek, he’s surprisingly charismatic, is genuinely funny, and knows more than he lets on. His devil-may-care attitude is a smokescreen for how perceptive he really is, and he uses people’s assumptions about his competency and intelligence to his advantage; he’s constantly underestimated by friend and foe alike. People expect a “what you see is what you get” and are taken by surprise when he proves to be capable of subterfuge to achieve his goals.

The leader of Los Desvalidos, Derrek takes in strays of all kinds, and unlike most of the city’s gangs he tries to ensure that his gang isn’t their last stop. He pushes for education, therapy, and addiction counseling so that people can get actual jobs and have a chance at a real life. He uses his reputation to keep the sex workers in his territory safe and away from those who would exploit them. He’s still a criminal, however, and makes his money selling drugs and weapons, as well as hiring out members of the gang for protection jobs and the like.

Compassion and empathy might seem out of place in a gang leader, but Derrek genuinely cares about the people he takes in. A disaster bisexual, he’ll unapologetically and indiscriminately flirt with others outside of the gang, but won’t come on to anyone within it; they’re family, and he’s intensely loyal to them - he’s taken bullets for them. That said, he has killed to defend himself and others, though he takes no pleasure in doing so.

I wanted to draw him showing off some of that charisma, as well as showcase more clearly most (but not all) of his scars. If you're interest at all in learning more about him, you can read more on his Toyhouse. And I'd really love to get some questions about him on my CuriousCat!

Art, Derrek © Scott Francis