'Please, Just Kill Me'

"Step aside," D said softly. "I have to go see Sybille."
"Stay here in the village, or forget about seeing her and just leave."
"Tell Sybille to let me," the Hunter replied.
"If you'll stay here in our village...in our world...I'll always--"
D kept walking. Ai-Ling didn't move. Putting his hand on her shoulder, D pushed her out of the way. It was a gentle nudge that wasn't like the young man.
"D..." Ai-Ling mumbled behind him. "Kill me..."
D grabbed hold of the doorknob. Behind him, the air stirred violently, and he went into action.
Ai-Ling had a knife in her right hand and had tried to stick the Hunter with it, but D grabbed her wrist with his left hand.
"I'm begging you, D," she said. "Please, just kill me..." (Vampire Hunter D: The Stuff of Dreams, p. 144-145).

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*shakes head* This has got to be the WEIRDEST book I've ever read! I would complain that D often seemed out of character expect that, the more I read the books, the more I'm beginning to realise that one definition of his character is that he'll do the unexpected. I guess that's why I like the books so much. You get to learn a LOT about him that's largely hidden behind his stoic, cold, over-the-top persona that's so visible. But there is a ton more to him!!! He's actually quite chatty at times, he's infinitely kind while being terribly cruel, and he definitely has a weakness for women...like most men. lol

Drawing D is always an exercise in conveying meaning without facial expression. But he does smile! Yes! He does! Just...not here. The rest of his design is yet another variation of the image I get in my head for him. It's obviously somewhat inspired by Bloodlust (the hat, for instance), but also largely inspired by Amano's book illustrations and Kikuchi's descriptions. I think he wears a different pair of gloves for every picture I draw. ^_^'' And then, Ai-Ling is as close as I could get her to the various descriptions in the book. As for the background, there is none b/c this scene is in a particularly surreal section of the book and, quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprise if there really was no background. That's how weird this book is.


Medium: Pencil, Photoshop 7
Completed: January 18, 2007