How does it feel knowing that your OC's are known to people? Albeit a select few people but still, how does it feel knowing that some people actually care about your OC's? That they may make headcanon about in their spare time? That they look forward to reading more about these characters that you've created? Does it feel good? Do you think to yourself that maybe you shouldn't make those OC's suffer because someone else cares for them? Or are you like me and do everything in your power to crank the suffering and depression to the max before shoving them in a meth pipe of a situation where they will surely suffer more? Do you like it? Are you happy?
The thought of that is probably the one thing that would make me happiest as a writer. I like it when there will be a couple of people with that sort of engagement that will lead to more personal connections with me. That's my goal for writing and putting my story out here, after all.
I think I have only like a dozen or so active readers, but if they all start caring about the characters and go "deeper" than just be readers (making art, having those headcanons, shipping the characters, arguing about best girl, imagining the characters in random spin-off'y situations) then I'll be very very happy.
As for making the OCs suffer, I've plotted out the entire series more or less now with some non-negotiable sequences/twists for character development, so there's less wiggle room on how I'll deliver some events. I'd love to see their reactions when those things happen though.