Nokota's world beforehand was so small despite her leaps, but she was always eager for freedom and so full of hope. She's innocent and just learning about the ways of life. There was much yearning, and a lot of her words were in complete delusion. A dreamer. She talked a lot of big game, never realizing the scale of her words. Quite naive. After her castle stay, it was when reality had settled, learning her Mama was dead all along and that as much as she denied it, she missed Ryder. The time apart matured her, she had more of a grasp on the horrors within humanity. But with that, she picked up on Ryder's actions more, but she also developed a few of his traits to her own. Nokota's heart is crushed. Her words and feelings are more serious, more on the line. A prominent new trait after is Nokota develops fear. She starts to blame herself rather than jumping to call out everyone else. Lots of self doubt.
Before, Ryder is all about control and having the grip on the last of his family. He's stricken with constant grief yet looking to Nokota, he feels that happiness and the yearning to live. He hates himself and his feelings. But in that control, there's that spark. That everything will be okay. Post-castle, Ryder broke down the last of his humanity. Having that "control" lost on him shattered his psyche so when Nokota comes back, he is more overbearing and protective than ever before. Ryder took on "the distance makes the heart grow fonder" too intensely. He will go to more extreme's to have a grip, all while losing his sanity. An immaturity brews.

It took quite a bit of time I'd say around 2025/05 is when my account started to really grow! I had a fandom account before this one and grew a following there but on this account it was still very small at first for a while as people had never seen my OC work before this, that much. This is my first ever OC account, and drawing these topics (I was mostly yaoi artist before) so I was very fresh and new in that sense. It was thanks to my eventual mutuals and thereon other people who spread and retweeted my work that it made me grow a lot! Getting retweeted by similar artists was the biggest boost for me. I don't really know what exactly got people into my OC's though to be this intrigued.

As for community, I understand you cause I get quite nervous myself with having a "following". I will say, your community is what you make of it. If you're being toxic a lot or posting drama, then people akin to that will follow you and interact. And setting boundaries in my head really helps me. I try to create a good environment and it seems to be most rewarding.