CLICK PIC FOR FULL SIZE!!

And you can check'em out in color here, too! [link] [link]

For a long time, I've spent most of my freetime working on my Bakermonium project [link] , because it has usually been my most serious project. But lately I've decided to make a change in focus. There is another project idea that has been brewing in my head for a year or two, at the same time I've been working on Bakermonium. I've never given it as much attention as I have Bakermonium...but I'd really like to give it more attention now.

I have a sort of simple idea for a manga series about two wealthy, intelligent young kids who are amateur detectives. Whenever anyone needs help with a mystery that needs to be solved, they phone Nico De Biasi and Bijou LaBelle, the two young detectives seen in the above pic...and they are more than eager to help out. I have temporarily named this series “The Bini Mysteries.” (“Bi” for Bijou, “ni” for Nico). I’d like to try my best to come up with mostly my own original mystery stories...but if I need help, then I may look into my two favorite detective-oriented TV shows for a little inspiration--“Monk” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” Hee-hee. Maybe I'll even dig back through my collection of Boxcar Children mystery books I read an eternity ago, as a child?

Anywayz...above are my recently-made reference sketches of the two young sleuths. They're supposed to be in anime style...but I don't think I pulled it off very well, since I've only recently began practicing this style for the first time. I tried my best, though...I need a whole lot more practice.

--NICO DE BIASI, the boy, is a highly intelligent and very handsome 13-year-old boy. He's very suave, and always feeling confident and proud. He has a deep, mature voice--he speaks very sharply and articulately, and always has knowledgeable information and trivia to share with anyone, no matter how obscure or complex the information is. He's very bold, too, never afraid to take on a challenge--especially if it's an intellectual challenge, and especially if it's from adversaries. Sometimes, though, he can have a short fuse--it doesn't take much for him to explode and yell in great anger (controlled anger, but still great) if someone (usually an enemy, or anyone arrogant) annoys him very much or he finds the person to be a great imbecile. Nico has always been very intelligent for his age, ever since he was an infant. He doesn't care for childhood or any childish activities at all--he despises childhood, in fact. He's in a great hurry to grow up, and so always acts grown-up and mature (his Cuban candy cigars, as seen above, are one of his most favorite items). He loves to use his intellect mostly for solving mysteries and super-sleuth-type stuff. Besides having a deep love for mystery-solving, he also has a very deep love for his beautiful girlfriend and sleuth partner Bijou. He views her as an absolute goddess, always treating her very warmly, affectionately, and chivalrously. He is often overprotective of her, too. They have quite playful and snarky back-and-forth banter between them. Most of the time Nico addresses Bijou as “my jewel” (because the word “bijou” means “jewel” in French).

Nico has black hair, blue eyes, and white skin that's tanned. His suit is gray, his collar shirt is white, his tie is pink, and his shoes are brown.

--BIJOU LABELLE, the girl, is also 13 years old, and is the ultimate showcase of brains and beauty. Like Nico, Bijou is very intelligent for her age, and speaks very articulately. She also shares some of Nico's hobbies, which include reading mystery books, brain puzzles, chess, and tennis. The two are much more different, though, in personality. While Nico is very confident, bold, and proud, Bijou is very shy, sweet, and blushy, and speaks in a soft, gentle voice. She's very ladylike and proper in her mannerisms, and is always kind and polite to others. She's very giggly, too--Nico's antics in particular often make her giggle and blush. She keeps Nico in check, though, if his antics go too far. Bijou is very patient and sensitive, always willing to listen closely to other people's feelings and commiserate with their problems. She has the deepest connection and commiseration with Nico, understanding the essence of him and his eccentricities better and deeper than anyone else--she truly stands by her man. Bijou doesn't get angry with other people very often--but if she does, it's in a more stern, strict, shame-on-you controlled way then Nico's explosive way. Like Nico, Bijou always acts very grown-up…but unlike Nico, she doesn't mind childhood at all, and will occasionally embrace being a regular child. She loves to go on mystery-solving quests with Nico, and provides a great amount of input and helpful information into the things they're investigating.

Bijou has dark brown hair and eyes, and brown skin. Her dress top, skirt, and high heels are pink, and the fluffy linings on her dress and wrist cuffs are white.


-----------------------------------------

Media used: Pencil
Nico, Bijou, and the "Bini Mysteries" series (C) me.