Well, thank you, and you're welcome, too. :) I like them. I think they represent where I want to be with them. The idea is to not go into costumes per se, but keep it lower key. I think they need a way to obscure their faces. Typically that's a mask, but maybe there's another way that's not so overt.
re: process
Well, I'm kind of learning as I go here, so I'm not sure if this is so much THE process as it is MY process. :) I needed a starting point, and being able to see the characters rather than just visualize them in my head is helpful, I think.
That sounds great, I could suggest you some kind of eye mask, check out the character designs for Persona 5, it's a videogame with really cool art.
Yes, it makes a lot of sense writing with some kind of visual reference.