#and my room generally speaking has a sort of. nature dark academia look.

[kalashtars]

having access to money & having a brain that likes to hyperfixate are two things that should not exist within the same person

[spidersbane]

Hello! Can I get MCU, The Hobbit, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. ship? 💚

Appearance: She/her. 179,5cm tall, rectangle body shape. Fair skin complexion with quite a few birthmarks. Dyed brown with honey-red highlights, shoulder-length, straight hair with bangs. The left eye is a mix of two colors – a smaller portion of (darker) greyish-blue and a larger portion of hazel; while the right eye is just a (lighter) greyish-blue. Heptagon face shape with two dimples on the left cheek and one on the right cheek (only visible while smiling). A gap between the upper front teeth.

Personality (good and bad traits): Ever since I was a kid, I was always quite mature for my age – I identify myself as an old soul. I come off as polite and well-mannered to strangers, yet I tend to keep it to myself by being reserved. But, that’s because I have social anxiety and I’m nervous and shy when meeting/talking to people. The only people I’m comfortable with being with my inner circle – closest friends and family. I am usually more “open” with my friends than with my family. With my friends I can be my “truest-self” – I smile more, I laugh more, I feel more accepted and understood. I am the mom and the fashionista of the group. Don’t get me wrong, I am fiercely protective of my family, especially of my mother and younger sister. But, lately, I’ve been feeling like the “black sheep” of the family, Cinderella who’s been taken advantage of. I express my affection for the people I care about in little, but practical, ways. I can be a little stiff when it comes to open, gushy displays of affection. Others turn to me for help and advice. I’m kind-hearted and generous, always ready to help a person in need. Always have been motherly towards children. Very awkward at keeping small talk (usually with people that I’m not that close with). Absolutely, hate speaking in front of a public, and if I do, because of my nervousness, I tend to mess up my words and/or I practice whatever I’m about to say in my head at first. I appreciate the simplicity and am often most comfortable when I’m not getting too much attention from the world. I am sensitive – both to criticism and to others’ feelings (I sponge up the feelings and moods of people and the environment around me). Have a hard time saying no or expressing my true thoughts, feelings. I get influenced by other people’s opinions/thoughts quite hard (I take everything to the heart), that is why I tend to keep a lot to myself (may come off as a little bit tense, secretive, mysterious). I avoid the harsh reality by daydreaming (almost every day) – imagining myself in situations far from my current circumstances. Sort of like a self-escape. I worry a lot and overthink almost everything. I am easily distracted and my attention span can be quite short. I have an internal struggle between my needs and wants. I can lack focus and be indecisive as a result – when I decide on one route, I am pulled in another direction at the same time (“But what if…”, “on the other hand...”). That is why I’m having a bit of a struggle with deciding what I want to do in the future (career-wise). I am easily overwhelmed by pressure and stress. There is a self-destructive side to me (self-critical, lack of self-confidence) that I’m working on by confronting my fears (coming out of my shell). Don’t like taking pictures, or other people taking pictures of me. I feel most content when I’ve straightened out all the details of everyday life. I have a routine, that I follow by mostly every day, and if something small changes in that routine, I start to have a small internal anxiety attack. Also, I like to do things my own way, like, when it comes to cleaning the house or organizing stuff, etc. I get triggered even if people don’t do the laundry the way I do. I guess you could describe me as a perfectionist, clean/control freak. In triggering situations I can be impulsive, spontaneous, quick to act. Quick flare-ups of anger/annoyance when being provoked on my patience. Even when I’m feeling low, I manage to find humor in life and have fun with whatever I do have. Although I tend to bottle things up, I am an emotional person and my emotions are genuine – I love and care deeply and passionately and wish no ill will upon anyone, yet it hards for me to imagine someone falling in love with me or just liking me.

Hobbies, likes: My hobbies are cleaning, writing (re-writing song lyrics, making small notes, writing stories), listening to any type of music, catching up on my favorite films and TV shows, hanging out with friends, going to the cinema, or the club, being out in nature, reading, traveling. I like history, cooking, fashion magazines (or fashion in general), road trips, spirituality, mythology, books, orange juice, previous decades, cottage-core, dark academia.

Overall: Hufflepuff. INFP-T. Bi-sexual. Pisces-Aries cusp sign. “Looks like could kill you, but is actually a cinnamon roll.” A feminist, support LGBTQ+ community. That’s it, thank you!

hey @pataim ! thanks so much for sending in your request, and thank you so much for your honesty about yourself. like it takes a lot to air yourself out like that, and I admire your strength for it. but also fINALLY a 'Man from U.N.C.L.E' ship! I love that movie and attempt Illya's accent all the time, so this will be fun :)

For the MCU/Marvel - I ship you with Steve Rogers/Captain America ! 

no one can tell me that Steve doesn’t have a set routine honestly, so let me just get that out there 

he seems intimidating at first, esp as a public figure and Avenger, but Steve is nothing but passionate about what he does. so it may clash w your lack of direction, but I could honestly see him envying that a lil bit, like it’s not that you don’t have direction, it’s the fact that you still have a choice in the matter. 

your love of history put you in a museum, here you bumped into Steve in a horrible disguise. he struck up the conversation first, and once you got past the whole “holy crap that’s Captain America”, you could actually engage with him in the material and boi was he smitten 

he would love to join you when your rewatched your fave things, bc not only is he catching up on more media he missed out on, he’s also getting to know your interests in a way that’s comfortable with you. it avoids all the small talk, but leaves room for discussion after the film/show ! 

since you tend to sponge up a lot of what other people believe, it’s totally Steve who actually tries to question what you think and what you feel about things. he’s someone who encourages you to have your own opinions and to stay true to those thoughts. so while with him, you can rely on him to learn about yourself, you also gain skills for independence

overall, Steve is super patient, and despite his chaotic job as Cap, he takes comfort in his routine, and would find comfort incorporating a partner’s routine into his life. and as you grow in a relationship with him, he’s patient about teaching you how to be your own person, and helping you learn more about yourself. and while it’s uncomfortable, you grow stronger throughout being with him :) 

For The Hobbit - I ship you with Bilbo Baggins !

Bilbo is the definition of introvert, and you're right there with him

not that introversion is ever a bad thing, bc it isn't. but Bilbo is quite content to sit in his little hobbit hole and vibe. like Gandalf had to come find him, ya know. dude disappeared from his own bday.

but anyways. it's not that Bilbo lacks purpose, it's just that he's more content with a quieter life. and it seems like his quiet life would balance you out well! like the Shire is so so chill, and there doesn't really seem to be a lot of pressure on the hobbits to pick a profession. like they just genuinely do what needs to get done.

similarly, Bilbo is the type who seems a little bothered by mushy displays of affection. exhibit a: disappearing from his own bday. like he's much more the type to refill your tea when y'all are reading by the fireplace, which he would totally do w you

it will probs take you a little while to warm up to each, given just how introverted you both are. but when he explains that he has set ways of doing things, then if they're compatible w your ways of doing things, then it doesn't take you long to open up to him

like it'll be a little jarring, but he takes comfort in his routines too. and it'll be an event trying to incorporate both of your ways of life together, but he's willing to do it

overall, yours is a very quaint partnership, built on deep respect for one another. neither of you are going to push the other to do things you aren't into. and y'all just live your best lives together tbh :)

For The Man From U.N.C.L.E - I ship you with Illya Kuryakin !

I love my big Russian spy so much, so this is fun for me

so Illya is the epitome of reserved and generally quiet, so it might take a while to really break down his walls and talk to him. and he's not quite sure what to do with you once you join the team

but, he's playing his game of chess alone, and when you sit down and ask to play with him, he opens up a little more after that

if you're one who get sent out on mission with the team, get ready, bc sometimes those missions require a lot of improvising. but you'd probably be at whatever 'base' was, helping run operations from a more secure place. but Illya and Napoleon improvise a lot, leading to a lot of headaches for you and Waverly

Illya has small bursts of anger, but similar to Gaby, most times, you can intervene and he doesn't get violent. or when he does, he tries to make sure it isn't in front of you. but bc you care so deeply for him, you're there for him in the aftermath. and that's how you show your love for him.

by patching him up if he gets cut, by talking him down when he's angry. and just generally trying to take care of him. and he totally does the same for you, especially if you get sent out into the field

and much to Illya's dismay, Solo doesn't refrain form making jokes about you. but if you can take them in stride, then Solo welcomes you into the team just as well :)

[into-the-afterlife]

Why I Ship Johnny/Female V: Part 2

[Part 1] [Part 2]

This is Part 2 of my essay series on why I ship Johnny and female V. Back in part 1, I covered why I ship female V specifically with Johnny and not male V, as well as some thoughts on Johnny’s sexuality. This time, I’m looking at Johnny himself. (Content warning: there is some discussion of rape and how rape is handled in fiction.)

Johnny, ambiguity and age-old romantic tropes

Look, I’m just going to come out and say this: part of my interest in this ship is thirsting over Johnny. And when I’m interested in something, whether it’s an intellectual, creative or sexual interest, I like to do what I always do – analyse it to death. So what is it about the actor, the performance and the character that makes Johnny as attractive as he is?

Keanu Reeves himself, obviously, can’t be ignored here. He has a gorgeous face and voice, but crucially, he’s distinctively beautiful. Obviously, everyone has the right to be into what they’re into, and I don’t want to shame anyone for their tastes. But I do not understand people who are into the blandly beautiful. Sure, there’s nothing wrong about, let’s say, Chris Evans. But what’s right about him? Where are the snags that catch your attention and hold it? Where’s the life?

Reeves, meanwhile, is attractive because he’s unusual. He has long, dark hair, but he’s regularly photographed at public events with it mussed-up. He has a chiselled face, but his cheekbones are high enough that he looks alien. He has all the charisma of any Hollywood actor, but, whether this is him as he is or an especially well-calculated image choice, it comes off as genuine. When watching interviews with him, you feel less in the presence of a star and more an especially fascinating stranger at a party, one who, despite bursting with witticisms and stories, somehow wants to talk to you most of all.  

There’s also an element of age ambiguity here. Reeves is in his fifties, and while age suits his looks better than youth did, it shows. Meanwhile, Johnny the character is in his thirties when he dies, and to match this, the animators smooth out Reeves’ face and darken his beard. They also give Johnny the (unrealistic but glorious) organic arms of a dedicated bodybuilder. So what Johnny ends up with is the presence, confidence and charisma of an older guy, combined with the physicality of someone younger. It’s potent, to say the least. It also adds to Johnny’s uncanniness as a character. He’s caught between maturity and youth, life and death, humanity and machine; he’s hard to pinpoint no matter where you look. And whether you express this academia-style, as, ‘the gothic associates uncanniness with sexuality’, or internet-style,  as, ‘I’m a monster/robotfucker’, this is, as the kids say, pretty damn hot.

This uncanniness, as well as Reeves’ looks and performance, also offset some of the more unlikeable aspects of Johnny’s personality. This is best illustrated by the concept art created for Johnny before Reeves was brought on board. (Found courtesy of the lovely folks at r/LowSodiumCyberpunk.)

As you can see, they had a lot of Johnny’s look already nailed down. But this makes the differences all the more startling. This Johnny looks like he’s been dragged through the wringer. His hair is messier, and he seems to be getting premature wrinkles and balding. He’s strung-out, with a genuinely hopeless cast to his face. His look is also a lot more dated. While our Johnny has elements of the old rocker, the jean jacket, bandana, V-necked black jumper and aviators clipped to the tank top root this Johnny inescapably in 1980s music and fashion.

Why is all this relevant to shipping Johnny with V? Partially because I’m shallow, I’m not going to lie. But it’s also because making Johnny look like this would have made him much more obviously an intrusion. A guy dressed like this next to 2077’s booty shorts and space buns is like a ghost in a ballgown next to a woman in jeans. He’s not just out of time; he’s been irrevocably left behind. Johnny’s face here also has much less in the way of possibility. Where our Johnny says, ‘maybe your life would be better if you listened to me’, this Johnny screams, ‘my way is hopeless, but you can’t ignore it’. It’s leaning much more into the tragic aspects of Johnny’s character and of the genre of cyberpunk. And don’t get me wrong – I love that artwork, and think that angle would be an interesting artistic choice.

But making Johnny a tragic intrusion like this removes the element of seduction, so to speak, from his character. What makes Johnny attractive, ideologically, sexually and romantically, is a balance of certainty and uncertainty. On the surface, he’s passionately, blazingly certain of his politics, his music and himself. If you’re taking a leap of faith, whether that’s fighting against the corpos that rule your life or hopping into bed with an engram, what draws you to it is the kind of confidence that makes you doubt your own certainties. Yet too much of that can be off-putting. Nobody wants a partner who’s so cocksure (pardon the pun) that they don’t listen to what you want, and nobody wants a political ally who’s gone so far into their own rhetoric that they can’t convince those outside it.

Therefore, the common factor across all the ways Reeves’ looks impact our perception of Johnny is the balancing of two seemingly opposing things. Keep that in mind, because it only gets more relevant the deeper into this ship, and Johnny’s attractiveness, we go.

Of course, Reeves’ looks are far from the only thing he brings to the table. His acting, across body language, facial expressions and voice acting, is incredible. I want to take a look at his voice acting, as well as his voice generally, first.

I’m not familiar enough with the subtleties of American accents to pinpoint why, but Reeves’ accent sounds slightly different to the more generic accents of other famous actors. Perhaps it’s because he’s Canadian. Either way, his consonants are less harsh on the ear than other A-list actors, his vowels less elongated. He speaks slowly, sounding as if he just woke up. His voice is mellow and soothing; it’s the sort of sound you could take a bath in.

(For reference purposes, I’m listening to this Cyberpunk trailer as I write this, as well as, um, this video that I’ve watched far too many times. XD)

Obviously, to play Johnny he has to modify that laid-back aspect of his voice. But it’s interesting how his natural voice and his ‘Johnny’ voice bounce off each other. Reeves is able to pull off a much more belligerent Johnny than many actors could, precisely because of that laid-back quality his natural voice has. Think of that ‘impressive cock’ line. It’s made as funny as it is because of the total lack of shame in how Reeves delivers it. But in the mouth of an actor like, let’s say, Robert Downey Jr, that level of shamelessness would just come off as annoying. Reeves uses his natural voice to amp up Johnny’s, for lack of a better word, Chad-ness, far beyond the place another actor could manage. Because he has that base of softness, he can go hard on Johnny’s arrogance.

Why is this relevant to Johnny’s attractiveness as a character, as well as why Johnny/F!V are a fascinating ship? To develop a character well, you have to have an extremely solid base to start on – and that base is where a lot of writing and acting falls down. The audience has to know intimately what a character is usually like, or who they seem to be, before burrowing into the character further is made effective. That equal hard/soft approach means that when Johnny does soften later in the game, it seems both unexpected and inevitable. Even as the harsh tone and words were conveying one thing, that softness underneath was always conveying another. But the fact that Reeves can go hard on the arrogance makes that change much more impactful than it would be in another character. Once again, we’re seeing an equal balance of two seemingly opposing qualities, not openly leaning towards one or the other.

There’s also some aspects of the body language Reeves and the animators give to Johnny I’d like to focus in on. While I’m not an actor, nor am I a psychologist, and therefore am likely to have missed things, there were a few things I noticed when going through footage of Johnny in pivotal scenes. (If you spot something I haven’t talked about, please reply or reblog! I’d love to get a back-and-forth discussion going.)

Over and over again, Johnny’s body language has two layers. There’s what I’m calling the ‘douchebag’ layer, which is where Johnny seems insultingly relaxed. The scene when V and Johnny first meet, as well as the scene at the diner, have two great examples of this. Johnny gets into V’s space, but it’s slow, catlike. There’s no urgency when he leans in, nor when he stands over V.

Similarly, at the diner, he tells V he doesn’t want to kill her anymore – something pivotally important for their relationship and the plot - while putting his arms behind his head and his feet up on the table. It communicates, at least on the surface, a real sense of disrespect. ‘I don’t give a shit’, says his posture, ‘whether you hate and fear me or not’. His threatening slowness when they first meet, meanwhile, communicates that he doesn’t think V is a competent opponent. Why should he hurry if he can get her any time?

At least, that’s what it looks like. Take a look from 9:40 onwards here. Sure, he swings his legs up on the table – but not before hurrying into the diner booth and tapping his fingers rapidly on the table. Even when he gets into that relaxed posture, he’s bouncing his leg the entire time. Those catlike movements I talked about when they first meet? If you look from 5:42 here, they’re there. But they’re also interspersed with banging his head incessantly against the wall, pacing back and forth and glitching unpredictably all around the room.

This is where the second layer of Johnny’s body language comes in. Underneath all that casual condescension, he communicates constant, frenetic energy, even anxiety. Even in his default, idle animations, it’s extremely rarely that Johnny communicates real coolness and calm. He covers constantly racing thoughts and feelings with a slick persona.

What this does is very like the hard/soft balance of the voice acting I talked about earlier. Because the ‘douchebag’ layer of body language is the most obvious one, you pick up on that first. But the other layer is there throughout Johnny’s entire arc, and it goes into your brain on a much more subconscious level. Then, when Johnny’s guard does come down, it seems like a natural development of his character while still being a surprise. Once again, there’s that knife-edge balance between two disparate qualities. And for me, attraction always lies in the space between.

There’s also something highly sexual about the way he gets into V’s space when they first meet, the way he stands over her. When first playing the scene where they first meet, it felt like watching the moments before an act of rape. You see him first as he leans over you while you’re still in bed. He beats you to the ground, smashes your head into the window, and towers over you while you’re collapsed on the floor. Given the context of him taking over your body, the overtones are unmistakeable.

But again, crucially, that frantic body language and his lines are the complete opposite of how someone behaves when making the kind of power play that rape is. The pacing, the panicked words and the fact that he’s caught off guard all communicate disempowerment. While it’s still a violent, frightening scene, it’s not a monstrous one.

Why is that relevant to discussing Johnny’s attractiveness, and Johnny/V? Because rape fantasies and male domination are some of the oldest tropes in the book for M/F romantic arcs. Done properly, they play on desires of sexual submission without explicitly acknowledging the kink, depict the eroticism of that liminal space between humanity and monstrosity I talked about earlier and allow you to fantasise about being deeply wanted. Of course, that last bit isn’t a factual depiction of rape in real life. But in the fantasy, the story, the idea of being ravished is partially about being special, being so uniquely attractive that the guy loses all control of himself. If you have a more conservative or repressed view of your sexuality, the ravishment/rape fantasy also allows you to fantasise about sex without seeing yourself as a slut. (This post is a great look at that last idea as applied to the movie Labyrinth, if you want to find out more.)

The idea of sexualised monstrosity is also everywhere in the tropes used to characterise Johnny. He’s a troubled rockstar, an angst-ridden artist who died tragically young, a violent political rebel, part human and part supernatural creature, a charismatic, cocky, seemingly heartless guy, who just might have a heart if you look deep enough. What all these tropes have in common is the promise of both reassuring humanity and fascinating, exciting monstrosity.

Reeves’ and Johnny’s looks combine strangeness and humanity. Reeves’ voice acting moves between soaring arrogance and languid softness. Johnny’s body language combines fear and overconfidence. And the use of age-old romantic tropes in an unexpected context, as well as the use of these specific romantic tropes, knit all the effects of the other things together to create that balance between the human and the strange. He’s unusual enough to be interesting, human enough to seem real and associated with all our cultural symbolism of an attractive man. With all that going on, how could you not find him hot as hell?

But the thing about these tropes is, they’re also so common they’re clichéd. Not just in fandom, but all across Western media and art. So what lifts Johnny and Johnny/V out of being something generic? What makes them so fascinating that I’ve written thousands of words about them? What, in short, makes them different?

That’s what I’ll go into next time.

[Part 1] [Part 2]

[scducers]

 BASICS.

full name: danielle wilson

nicknames (if any): if she introduces herself as dani, call her that. if not, best stick to her full name.

gender / pronouns: cis female, she/her

age: twenty-two

major: fourth year art student (with a focus on photography), minor in film studies

PERSONALITY.

traits: bewitching, confident, witty, elusive, fraudulent, finicky 

MBTI: enfj - the protagonist

zodiac: capricorn

AESTHETIC.

pompoms soaked in vodka. antique cameras leftover from past relationships. walls dotted with images, your own face conspicuously absent. wearing luxurious furs well into spring. meeting catcalls with an eyeroll and a smirk. lips dusted with glitter. half bitten peaches. half finished sketches. scattering the ashes of your lovers hearts. plastic tiaras gathering dust at the back of your wardrobe. silver tongued. blowing kisses across the room. never ending the night alone.

(BRIEF) SUMMARY.

tw: body image issues, sexual harassment/assault (mentions), inappropriate/toxic relationships, misogyny, slut shaming

dani is a final year(!) art major, with a special emphasis/focus on photography. art has always been her safe haven and people are often surprised to find her pouring over the latest MOMA exhibition, or planning weekend trips to see some niche photographer in the city. but for dani, art is literally the ONLY place she gets to be herself and so she shines under the creative light.

she’s minoring in film studies and is way less interested in the subject, but hey - she needed a minor. she’s pretty much there for the pretty women and the opportunity to pick up new tricks by watching the likes of marilyn and audrey. she is absolutely looking for people to do her homework/teach her about the course....so plz let her hit you up if they have some classes in common!

she’s simultaneously very well known and also a massive mystery on campus in the sense that people know lots about her, but what they know isn’t necessarily true? after burying her head in the sand for her first two and a half years at harcourt, she became a household name after a scandal with an art teacher, where he accused her of trying to sleep with him for good grades (not true...they had a heartbreaking affair that she’s still not over!). after that scandal, people were just, making shit up about her and some of it has stuck!! 

generally, people assume she’s the distant relative of someone wealthy, probably from the west coast. dani doesn’t talk much about her past, so they assume something traumatic happened in her formative years. they also think she’s done all these wild and scandalous things? like...drugs and wild boat parties and threesomes and blackmailed teachers and cheated for good grades and....whilst she could absolutely get away with murder, she’s a lot more innocent than she’s perceived to be. those things aren’t true, but people seem to be impressed by them, so she hasn’t dispelled the rumours.

if anything, after the affair blew up in her face, she forced herself into those rumours, just so she could take control of the narrative. so over time, she’s grown into her role as this...seductive charming woman, and even learnt to take advantage of it at times, but having the world wrapped around her pinky isn’t necessarily making her happy - and she isn’t sure how to fill that void inside of her.

she carries herself very much as someone in control, extremely confident, quite witty (in a sort of...sarcastic, dark humour kinda way) and generally very fun? but on the inside, she’s slowly dying.

honestly not the biggest fan of the society. she only ended up joining because the book showed her a nude photograph taken of her by the ex-professor (instead of a story) and dani wanted to storm into the library and teach whoever ran the society a lesson about sharing nudes without consent. obviously, she didn’t find out who, or what, put the photograph there...but she’s been on a mission to find out who recruits them ever since.

in the mean time, she’s reluctantly become engaged with the society’s mission. she’s not a big fan of reading, or heavy academia, or...learning...but she’s adamant that the group adopt a wider definition of “stories”, encouraging the cultivation of social media posts, photographs and drawings.

FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: read at your own peril!

WANTED CONNECTIONS.

1. PARTNER IN CRIME – someone who is just as determined to figure out who is behind the society as she is. they’ll likely snoop around dusty manuscripts and try to trace the society’s foundations back to the beginning. who’s to say if they’ll find answers? maybe they’ll end up wishing they hadn’t begun looking. also calling for people who share her belief in the diverse nature of stories and will call bullshit on the literary focus of the group.

2. STUDY BUDDY - briefly mentioned above: but someone who does film studies/takes film studies classes and had the unfortunate luck to either be put in a group project with her, or be asked to tutor her. unfortunately, dani’s idea of “studying” consists of her persuading them to do the lions share of the work...maybe they resent her for that, or perhaps they’re willing to pick up the slack - for something in return.

3. KINDRED SPIRIT - someone who knows the girl behind the rumours. someone who has peeked behind her mask and discovered a secret or two. akin to a best friend, this person is a solid presence at her side and dani would be a poorer person for not having them in her life. 

4. THE JUDGE - the flipside to the above: someone who sees only the image she projects into the world, and despises it. they think she’s empty and vapid, nothing more than pretty face who just so happens to have a golden tongue. 

5. MISCOMMUNICATION - i live for awkward dynamics so give me people who were friends with benefits, only for wires to get crossed and end with one of them trying to take the other out on a date. or tinder dates who went badly, badly wrong. give me two people who just...have nothing in common and get trapped in awkward, mundane conversation, no matter how much dani tries to brighten it up.

6. UNREQUITED CRUSHES - it’s all about the yearning. i’m a big fan of friends who develop crushes on each other...or the person who gets butterflies every time they speak to dani. it could go either way, but keeping in with the skeleton’s vibes, i’m super interested to have someone crush on dani and for her to be so...acutely unaware of that.

7. THE MUSE - every artist needs a muse, right? dani is used to being the subject, rather than the painter - but it turns out you can’t submit photos of yourself for every single assignment! so dani went looking for a subject, someone she could study, someone she could ravish, someone whose face was a work of art. they got her an A - and she’s been inspired to draw them since.

more to come as my dumb brain thinks of them!!!!!!!!!!!

HEADCANONS.

tba

[zne-theartist]

Sexy Little Red Riot Hood Ch10

Link on AO3: here Boku no Hero Academia | Wolf Bakugou x Little Red Riot Hood (AU) Chapters: 10/? Summary: Under pressure, a new helping hand emerges in the cozy undergrounds of a tree.

Author’s Note: Was going to post this Monday night/Tuesday but Monday I spent all day with my beta reader Tiffany so it was pushed to Tuesday! (But I got so tired I fell asleep half way through posting, so I know it isn’t monday but enjoy!) Side pairing Tokoyami Fumikage x Shouji Mezou now added. As you can tell I’ve been adding side pairings, and at the end of Red Riot Hood I’ll be doing side stories on how they got together! (yes, including Deku) So don’t worry, when the story ends it won’t end quite yet! Also! Go check out Chapter 2 & 5 again! I commissioned some doujinshi pages of my fic from the wonderful candy-fluffs.tumblr.com (nsfw: creamy-candy-corn.tumblr.com ) and added them in. You can also catch them all on my special post.

Chapter Ten: The Bird and the Arms Man

It was well into the middle of the night when a storm began to brew and the rain fell, having traveled many miles. Bakugou cursed because the rain was pelting and they would have to stop soon, but that damn Shinsou was only walking through the woods and there were no caves in sight!

They trod through, the dirt becoming wet mud and their feet sinking in slowly. Still, they pressed on, beginning to be slow down because of visibility and difficulty in being able to move. That was when they began to hear howling in the distance behind them. Bakugou yelled at them to move faster, all of them beginning to run and Bakugou the only one who was used to running in conditions was moving faster than the rest. “Move it asshats!” He yelled at them again, grabbing Kirishima’s hand. Shinsou grabbed Ojiro’s hand to keep him grounded as they hauled ass through the forest.

The wolf howls and the pounding of earth were getting closer. They could see the shadows coming, full on wolves with snapping jaws and hungry red eyes. Bakugou whipped around, immediately shielding Kirishima from the speeding danger. “They’re coming!” He shouted, cursing beneath his breath. His hand raised, sparks flicking in his hands but they were dull the heavy rains making it difficult for him to make the explosions he wanted.

There was a sudden loud crack and smoke filled the air, shrouding them and their enemies.

“This way!” A voice called out and a dark shadow with a crow head made itself known to them. All of them looked and immediately Kirishima recognized who it was, grabbing Bakugou’s hand and yanking him.

“Guys come on!” He shouted and the dark shadow moved off to lead them away, a few times stopping to catapult what he threw earlier. It messed with the senses and smells of the wolves, and Bakugou gripped Kirishima’s hand as his nose wrinkled in disgust at what the stranger was using, affected by it as well.

All four followed the stranger through the pelting rain and to safety between the thick knotted trees were the forest was dense with barely any room to move between them. Finally, the stranger ushered them into one of the larger trees and down they went into the trunk and eventually into the warmth of a home. They were greeted by herbs and spices that numbed Bakugou’s nose at first. There was the smell of pine and the forest after the rain.

“You were right Shouji – I’m back with them.” The stranger walked past them into the living room where he motioned for them to sit by the fire on the couches and chairs seated nearby. Out from another room came a monster of a man – or maybe he was just one in general. He was tall, nearly hitting his head on the ceiling. Bakugou was the tallest of the five, but this sixth man was heads taller than him and reminded them all of a tree. Not even his height was the strange part. It was the fact that Shouji had six arms as flesh like wings. He had a mask covering up his mouth, but one of those arms had a mouth on it that grinned as he walked over, the mouth doing the talking.

“Welcome back Tokoyami,” He kissed the crow’s cheek. “Glad you made it back.” Now that they all looked, the man named Shouji had mouths, eyes, and ears on the ends of them, only two of the arms (what would have been the originals everybody guessed) had actual, large hands.

They all were seated finally and Kirishima finally spoke up to fill everybody in. “This is Tokoyami,” He motioned to the crow head who nodded, mouth moving slightly as he talked off to the side with Shouji. “And Shouji. We’ll be safe here for a while. I run some deliveries for them but only ever meet them some place.” Kirishima explained and then looked at them before around the comfy home. “This is the first time I’ve ever known where they lived.”

“Yes, we like our seclusion.” Tokoyami spoke, mouth moving before he sat down across from the wet bunch. “Shouji heard commotions so I went to save you guys.”

“I could’ve handled it.” Bakugou spoke up, obviously bristled at the fact of having needed to be saved.

“Sure, with the rain pelting down on those puny sparks you were trying to activate?” Tokoyami shot sharply. Bakugou grit his teeth, palms clenching. Kirishima looked over and calmly took his hand with a squeeze.

“I could’ve activated it.”

“What was that anyway? What you did earlier – and Deku?” Kirishima stated, finally having the time and place to bring it up. Bakugou looked at him, only addressing him though Shinsou and Ojiro were listening, more so Ojiro.

“I can create explosions from my palms – has to do with my sweat. Deku has immense power, so he concentrated it to create wind that could splice me – basically he just has stupid power that he can build up in his body and toss out. Che.” Bakugou clicked his tongue when he talked about Deku, body tense and ready to kill something – but his hand was gentle around Kirishima’s hand.

“So like how Shinsou is a magician?” Bakugou looked at Shinsou who looked blank at the knowledge being made known.

“Sort of.” Shinsou spoke up. “You can think of it more as a natural born power while mine is learned and only spells.” Kirishima nodded in understanding.

“You didn’t need to come then – would’ve been fine with your spells.” Bakugou bristled, obviously still upset the two had impeded on them. Shinsou looked at Bakugou blankly, unresponsive. Ojiro touched his arm tenderly.

“Don’t fight Shinsou,” Ojiro smiled to them both with a nod as he rubbed Shinsou’s arm calmingly. It was subtle but Shinsou tension dissipated.

“What are you guys going to do with a pack of hungry wolves after you?” The pun wasn’t unheard as everybody looked to Tokoyami, Shouji coming with a tray of hot tea for them to consume. Everybody took a cup, even Bakugou. After a nice long sip that warmed them all, they spoke up of their plans to go to the sanctuary about some help and safety.

“It’s a myth.” Tokoyami said. “Hasn’t ever been proven to exist or not, though it is called the Plus Ultra Sanctuary. I’m not sure about any powerful hero-like people staying there though…but I have heard rumors and myths that it is a place that is known for many anomalies and secrets that others do not.” He put in his two sense then looked at his partner Shouji. “What about you Shouji?”

“I have heard a few rumors at my home by the sea of there being a hidden sanctuary that takes in people who need help. They’ve dealt with all sorts of situations. Personally have never went there, but I know the general territory and area it is supposedly in.”

“We ought to go with you then.” Tokoyami said decidedly and Shouji nodded in agreement.

“What!?” Bakugou growled angrily, nearly slamming the cup of tea down on the table, but Kirishima shot him a look that made him stop short. “We don’t need more people slowing us down!”

“Bakugou.” It was Kirishima that spoke up firmly. He sipped his tea and then set it down, turning to him. “We need the help,” He said, bottom lip plump in his pout. “There are more people than I think you even anticipated being under Deku’s control – because I certainly didn’t think there would be any.”

“He must’ve acquired a pack.” Bakugou mumbled, ears down and back at Kirishima’s words. He knew he was right, but he was a proud alpha, and a lone wolf, so a dynamic of a pack wasn’t exactly his expertise. His frustration and dislike of the task at hand apparent on his face.

“Exactly, and that means that more than just him will be after us. If this sanctuary can help us, can protect us then we need to go – plus I have lots of questions I’d like answers to.” Kirishima said. Tokoyami spoke up again after Kirishima spoke.

“You can think of us as your pack. Yes, you don’t trust us, and necessarily we don’t trust you either because of your variable of being a wolf.” They were all looking at Bakugou now who was tense, the end of his tail flicking. “But,” Everybody glanced at each other, Shinsou speaking up next.

“We all trust Kirishima.”

“And Kirishima chose you.” Ojiro added with a nod. “So we will do anything we can to help you both.” Ojiro looked sternly. “As long as you’re not messing with Kirishima.” He pointed his finger at Bakugou, who finally scoffed, ear twitching in annoyance.

“Kirishima is my mate and I won’t bond with another.” He said, arm suddenly going around Kirishima to pull him close as if the others were contenders trying to take him. Kirishima flushed.

“Bakugou…” It was sweet to hear that from him.

“Then,” Shouji spoke up, the tentacle with a mouth talking. “You have your pack and a plan.”