Before 'Skinny Ricky' I'd actually drawn a couple of different Fallout!Laz'abs. There was a Courser!Laz, a Ghoul!Laz, and even a rugged, Wasteland Survivor!Laz with a full beard and everything, but the thought of "what if there existed a mentally stable Laz who grew up in the safety of a (relatively normal) Vault and is okay, actually" was so cursed and delightful it was the one that stuck.
Skinny Ricky came about because 1.) I enjoy B. Dylan Hollis' cooking videos so much and needed a character who could quote some of his more deranged lines and get away with it and 2.) I found Fallout 3 so EXCRUCIATINGLY BORING I did what I always do when I'm struggling and in need of comfort: I made another Laz AU.