Snakes on Yo' Roof

Character: Snakes Thomas Picillo (raptor anthro form)
Media: Scrap paper at work, clicky pencil, Rapidographs, Photoshop CS2
Songs: Depeche Mode - "Useless" / The Azoic - "Truth"

More Snakes raptor doodles right here: [link] (and some actual dialogue from one of my stories to boot.)

Snakes is NOT an anthro character; he's human. I just anthro'd him up, much like I do with Ralph, for my own amusement. Hence the lack of any real markings, except for his tail (I was going for a rattlesnake/python look, and OH GOD I think I accidentally stole =metallixfaker's markings when I did it... don't hurt me, I'll change 'em up next drawing )

Generally, this is where you'll find Snakes just before dawn - up on the roof, because he's Snakes and that's what he does. If your name is Jenny Ann Drake, then it's most likely YOUR roof.

Snakes is one of my literary characters, right hand man and top gun of Ralph Sampson, constant stalker and emotional terrorist of Jenny Drake. "Snakes" isn't a nickname - it's his real name, given to him by his adopted father shortly after he started talking; he has an unfortunate lisp that causes him to hang up on the "s" sound... as he got older he learned to control it, to the point that now it only comes out if he's angry or inebriated.

My only problem with this picture is that I couldn't get his trademark eyes right; Snakes and Cobra both have a set of creepy, icy, metallic blue eyes... look up the actor Daniel Craig to see what I mean; he's got the closest thing I've ever seen to them. Oh, and he's actually *bigger* than how I drew him; more muscular, I mean... but I'm not too good with anatomy and was surprised how well this came out with no reference, so I didn't want to risk messing it up.

Don't make any Liquid Snake jokes at him - he HATES that. (I turned that into a small running joke in the story; physically the two characters have some sort of semblance, both British, both big boys with long blonde hair, and the name of course, but Snakes has been my baby since 1995 - Hideo Kojima ripped ME off In any case, Ralph'll make a Liquid joke at him here and there and usually ends up getting backhanded into a wall.)

Bad tempered, quiet, obsessive, vicious, and with a love for sharp objects... da's my baby.

One day I'll finish the actual stories he's in... for now, smile and wave at him. Snakes likes the attention.

Quick note about his dogtags: top one says "Snakes Thomas Picillo", second one "Type 0 Marksman; 1995"... it's a merit badge he earned from Ralph for being the best shot. His first set was black, which he ended up giving to Jenny/forcing her to wear during one of his "showing ownership" mantras... they play a key part in one of the stories I'm working on. In any case, he had another set made up for himself, this time in silver. He's not military; he either wears camo pants or black SWAT style pants when he's "working"... otherwise it's jeans and a teeshirt.

BEGIN LONG, DRAWN OUT CHARACTER HISTORY.

Very bizarre past - he and his older brother Thomas Jr. ("Cobra"), originally born in England, were adopted by the hitman who killed their biological parents, Thomas Picillo Sr.; Snakes was barely 3 months old and Cobra was 8 years. Snakes grew to love his new father dearly - Cobra resented him, even though he took them from a rather neglectful household. Cobra, however, took an interest to all the artilery that was around their house, and thus began training in the "art" of assassination. Some years later they moved to America - when Snakes was old enough he also began training under Thomas, and despite a growing case of near-sightedness turned out to be one of the best shots Thomas had ever seen.

At 18 Cobra left for the military, becoming a Marine sniper; Snakes stayed behind and continued to learn his father's trade - coming close to the point of "perfection". At 20 years old he tagged along with his father on a contract - killing off a husband and wife who'd gotten in over their heads - and stopped his father from also shooting a 16 year old red head who looked as if he'd been abused all his life. Thomas, having a soft spot for kids, took this now-orphaned teen in; the boy turned out to be Ralph Sampson, a schizophrenic genius and heir to the Sampson 'business' and fortune.

At 18 Ralph takes over his family's business and starts dealing with his own demons; Snakes tags along for the ride, trying to play the big brother role as Ralph teeters on the brink of self-destruction more than once. Once Ralph gets a hold of himself, the two of them are nearly unstoppable.

Until two years later, when Thomas Sr. is shot and killed - right in front of Snakes, in their own backyard. He learns that it was a revenge killing; Thomas had been hired to kill Michael Drake, and in turn was killed by Michael's best friend Robert. Devastated, he vows his own revenge - but Robert's too easy of a target, he wants a challenge, someone who's loss would hurt more than anything, and sets his eyes on the 12 year old daughter of Michael Drake: Jenny Ann.

From there on, it's one long game of emotional and mental terrorism; Snakes stalks and mentally tortures her for years, including kidnapping her for three days and doing some incredibly brutal things to her. Which he lands in jail for - Ralph, who normally has the police wrapped around his finger, insisted Snakes had gone way too far and needed to clean up (since his father died, Snakes had been entertaining a love affair with cocaine)... so he left him in jail for three months before buying his freedom. Snakes wasn't thrilled but understood his friend's intentions.

Snakes left Jenny alone for a year after that, finally resurfacing for more of the same fun when she was 17. Jenny was now well-trained and well-armed, and after having enough of him shot his left knee out... while in the doctor's care and under the influence of morphine, Snakes got her into the room with him and apologized for the awful things he'd done, but reassured her that he was no where near finished - that she should make herself scarce, and "God so help (you) once my leg's healed."

Which leaves us here - 32 years old, his leg finally healed, sitting on the roof of Jenny's house, quietly contemplating life, the universe, and everything. Whether he's stalking her or standing sentry in case of a bigger threat is something that he'll never tell... over the years he's come to adore her, and has claimed her as his own to do with as he sees fit, so if any one or thing threatens her well being - rest assured that he'll be there to eliminate it.

Yes, my little Snakes is an ego-maniac. And he has every right to be.

Snakes Thomas Picillo, art, story, etc (c) Shannon Mary