Casting Oni - (My Black Panther Original Character)
So, a dear reader asked me to cast a face to help them imagine Oni while reading. I never really thought about who I would cast to play her, so I literally spent forever trying to pick someone out. The only person I could find that made a lightbulb go off in my head was KiKi Layne. And ironically, KiKi was in Coming to America 2 as Princess Meeka, so I've got gifs that vibe with the Black Panther vibe. Although, Oni wears purple and has yet to actually show her face... because she's always wearing a veil these days.
I think her portrayal of Princess Meeka has a few speckles of Oni. (But just know that Oni was not built around Princess Meeka.)
What do you guys think? Do you think someone else could be casted? What do you think Oni looks like?
Hey what was Oni and Namora’s reaction when they saw a baby girl in front of their door?
I think they would adopt her
They would definitely adopt any child left at their door once they start living together. I forsee them adopting a few kids in the future, so it wouldn't be something unusual. 🤔
They both come from very family and community centered cultures too, so it would work. Although, I think Namora would probably be a little skeptical if the child came from outside of Wakanda and Talokan. She'd definitely be all in if Oni wanted to adopt them though.
Here's a little blurb that kind of poofed in my head... but it's while Oni still lives in the temple of Bast:
It was a thunderous night in Wakanda filled with cool gusts of wind stirring up the humid air.
The workers who helped tend to the herbs had gone home for the night, and all that remained to keep an eye on the temple was a veiled priestess and an attentive blue warrior.
A straw broom hissed as gold painted hands moved a stream of dirt into a neat pile.
For a moment, the strong breeze could be felt faintly on the priestess' clammy skin, but it stirred up more dirt than it cooled her down.
"Not again." She groaned as she leaned against the broom and glared at the disturbed pile she had swept up for the umpteenth time.
"I told you to sit and relax. You can try again tomorrow."
"You know Cebisa. Bast does not-"
"-like dirt. Yes. But you cannot fight the wind, Yuum k'iino'."
Veiled eyes moved to the talokanil, sitting while leaning against a far wall in a vermillion tube top and short brown skirt.
"I haven't tried." Oni scoffed. "You should fight it for me, in yakunaj."
"I would fight it for you if it was possible." Namora huffed. "It is wise to know your limits."
"Yes." Oni sighed as she refocused on the dirt being stirred up once more. "Bast give me strength." She hissed.
"Come. I'll sweep it for you tomorrow."
"Cebisa will be back tomorrow. I do not wish to be lectured tomorrow."
"She will face me if she has any complaints."
Oni rested her broom against the wall behind her before slowly approaching her lover. "You cannot fight Cebisa, Namora."
"Then she will not complain." She offered a small smile. "Now come." Namora held open her azure arms expectantly.
The priestess crumpled in her cool embrace before allowing her eyes to rest with exhaustion.
The couple sat in a comfortable silence and dozed off before the sound of a distant cry disturbed them.
Oni pondered as she listened to the downpour be muddied with a roll of thunder.
Was she dreaming or did she hear a cry?
"Namora?"
"Mm?"
"Did you hear a baby cry-?"
"Má in woojel." [I don't know.]
The distant cry could be heard again before it was washed out by another roll of thunder.
"Is that a baby?"
"Má in woojel." [I don't know.]
Oni squinted at her drowsy lover, who was still stirring in the candle-snuffed room. "In yakunaj. This is serious." The priestess frowned before gently pulling away.
The lack of her presence was enough to snap Namora out of it. "Yuum k'iino'. Where-"
"-There's something out there crying in the rain." Oni huffed as she slowly made her way towards the entrance of the temple. "And I'm going to help it, with or without you."
Namora grabbed her spear and got up before letting out a huff of exhausted frustration. "Je' u beytal a táan chambel." [Please speak more slowly.]
"Ma'taali'teeni'." Oni huffed before stepping out of the temple. Her breath hitched as she was yanked back in and forced to stand behind Namora.
The priestess blinked as she watched her lover step out first to survey the area. Once she was sure the area was safe, she slowly made her way towards a soaked basket with her spear ready to strike.
She tilted her head as she peeked inside of it before slowly lowering her spear when a tiny dark brown hand reached out.
"In yakunaj." Namora breathed out as she curled a finger at the priestess to come out.
Oni slowly approached before gasping at the sight of a small, beautiful, black baby barely swaddled in a rain-soaked piece of patterned Aso-Oke fabric.
Without a second thought, she kneeled before the basket and gently scooped the baby up, doing her best to shield them from the rain. "Ungubani?" [Who are you?]
The baby sniffled and hiccupped as she carried them back to the entrance way to get out of the rain. "You poor thing." She held them close to keep them warm before peering back out in the rain. "Is there anything else in the basket?"
Namora peered back in the basket before pulling out a damp piece of fabric with a few letters embroidered into it. "Ngozi."
"Ngozi?"
"Yes, but maybe I pronounced it wrong."
Azure fingers held it out, so the priestess could read it.
"That must be their name." Her veiled eyes peered our in the pouring rain before she refocused on the cold baby. "Whoever left you must know that you'll be in good hands here." She offered a warm smile as she gently thumbed away a few tears that remained on the baby's face.
"Are they hurt?"
"Let me check."
The priestess carefully looked the baby over.
After a moment, the priestess let out a sigh of relief. "Well, she's not hurt. Just cold, wet, and probably hungry."
Namora nodded before scanning the stormy area for any signs of life or abnormal movement. "Do the people of Wakanda leave their children here often?"
"It's not a common occurrence." Oni murmured. "Sometimes War Dogs will leave babies here if a mission goes badly, but typically, they'd inform us first." She sighed.
"What do you mean?"
"War Dogs go out to collect intel and occasionally assist the Lost Tribe if permitted to do so. When they are not successful, orphans are made. Typically they are given off to the other survivors and occasionally they are left to fend for themselves. Not everyone has the hard to abandon a child after something awful has happened though." The priestess rocked the baby slowly. "And that may ring true tonight." Her eyes softened behind her veil. "I'm guessing someone made a promise to save a child, because this little one is not from Wakanda."
"How do you know?"
"She does not have a mark on her bottom lip."
"Is she allowed to stay in Wakanda?"
The rain filled the silence and Oni's hold on the baby tightened. "Not when King T'Chaka was reigning."
"And what about Queen Shuri?"
"I don't think she'd make a fuss about this... but the council would lose their mind." She looked at the baby. "They are not fond of the outside world or the Lost Tribe."
Namora stared at the baby for a moment before refocusing on the priestess. "Do you wish to raise this child?"
Oni stared at the baby before nodding slowly. "I do." She swayed slowly as the baby started to fall asleep. "Do you wish to help?"
Namora arched a brow. "Why would I not help you?"
"You seem unsure."
"I will do whatever you ask of me." She slowly guided the priestess back inside the temple.
"Yes, but you aren't fond of the outside world."
"Yes, but this is our child now. She no longer belongs to the outside world."
Oni cracked a tired smile. "You're right." She looked down at the sleeping baby. "I have no idea how we're going to explain this in the morning."
"Bast gave us a child."
"Namora please-"
"We will add it with the dust pile." Namora yawned. "Leave the questions to me."
Oni nodded in agreement. "Yes."
"Now let's get Ngozi settled and go to bed. It is late."
First of all I hope y'all know wtf this anime is cuz if not that would be embarrassing
For y'all....not me....in case that wasn't clear lol I have barely any concept of shame
✨ANYWHOOOOOO INTROS BY AGE✨
Namussy as Zeno
Attuma as Silva
Okoye as Kikyo
Itzae(my OC) as Illumi
Tadeas(@xblackreader's OC) as Milluki
Xolani(my OC) as Killua
Anaya(@dontruinmymorning's OC) as Kalluto
Kenura(@pilesofpillows's OC) as Alluka
What started as a "lets see if I remember how to draw" doodle ended up being a big passion project with tributes to my other fellow Attoye creatives! I had to take some creative liberties with the characterization to keep it as accurate to the original anime as possible,(i.e. Tadeas's locs are a bit shorter in my rendition) but it was super important for me to hit the happy medium between the two so I hope I did well lol
Also do NOT expect to see Xolani or his twin Melokuhle as often as y'all see Itzae. I love them but they're like Birkins....very pretty special occasion accessories ONLYYYYYY
For those who've watched HunterXHunter, yes I photoshopped Alluka into the family portrait and yes I can fight
This makes me think of a Halloween headcanon. 🎃 Imagine if they all dressed up as characters from HxH for Halloween?? That'd be perfect for spooky season!
Brooooo! Now that's an idea! You know me. Imma write something.
I don't know how everyone's OCs go... so... I just wrote things off the dome. I also didn't write everyone's OC, but they are all mentioned.
Enjoy! 🎃
Halloween Headcanon
Frantic footsteps padded across the wooden floors before they halted at the edge of glacial terracotta hued tiles.
"Umama! Utata!"
Warm brown eyes lifted from the umleqwa (aka road runner chicken) that was being cleaned and seasoned. "Yes, Xolani?"
"Kenura and I were watching an anime show with Itzae and Auntie Shuri, and I think I know what I want us to dress up as for Halloween!"
Attuma's brow arched as he looked up from the onions and squash he was cutting. "Halloween?"
"Yeah! Auntie Aneka had us watch a bunch of spooky movies. It's something that's really big in other places."
"Other places?" His eyes narrowed.
"It's not just the states, Utata." Xolani waved off their fathers disapproval. "People dress up in costumes on October 31st every year, go out to visit different houses, and collect candy."
Attuma shared a look with his wife.
Do you approve of this?
Let's ask some more questions.
Fine.
She washed her hands and dried them off on a paper towel as she gave their child her undivided attention. "What did you have in mind?"
"There's this really good anime we started watching called Hunter × Hunter! And there's a family of assassins in there-"
"-Eh?!"
"They're really cool, umama!" Their gaze moved to their sister, who was slowly approaching with a pair of purple bunny slippers on her feet. "Aren't the assassins from Hunter × Hunter cool, Kenura?"
She arched a brow. "Which ones?"
"The Zoldycks."
"Yeah." She shrugged before stepping into the kitchen to grab a snack. "They kind of remind me of our family now that I'm thinking about it."
"See! That's why we should dress up as them for Halloween."
"We are not assassins." Attuma corrected. "We are warriors who serve the throne." He arched a brow. "Is this show appropriate? I do not like it when you all watch unnecessary violence-"
"-It's fine, Utata!" Xolani grimaced. "I mean, Anaya isn't watching it with us."
"Xolani."
"Wait." Xolani pouted. "Just hear me out. It's about a kid who was abandoned by his father and lives with his Aunt. He goes on this grand adventure where he makes a friend in a completion to become a hunter. His name is Gon, and his best friend is an assassin! In fact, Killua's whole family are well-known assassins! It's a beautiful show with.... not too much unnecessary violence."
"Not too much?"
"Auntie Shuri said we could watch it."
Attuma shook his head. "I don't see the point in dressing up as random assassins."
"These are not random assassins, utata. These are cool assassins." Xolani gently pulled up an image with their kimoyo beads before throwing up a few video snippets of the Zoldycks in combat. "Our family is so talented that we'd be able to pull it off perfectly."
"And why exactly do we need to dress up as these people?" Attuma frowned. "Can we not dress up as something more..." He pondered over the right word. "...authentic or creative?" He muttered. "It would be like if Aj K'uk'ulkan dressed up as the Black Panther and I dressed up as a Midnight Angel if we did this."
"And that would be cool." Kenura grinned at the thought. "Utatomkhulu (Grandpa) would be waaaay more agile than Auntie Shuri, and you would be paying homage to umama!"
"Don't let your Aunt hear you saying that." Okoye chuckled.
Attuma pinched the bridge of his nose as he adjusted his rebreather.
"Can we dress up, umama?" Xolani bounced on the heels of their feet, hoping to get around their father's doubts.
"Only if your father approves."
Attuma wrinkled his nose at the ultimatum and sparkling eyes that his children stared up at him with.
"If you can convince the rest of your family, I will give my approval."
Xolani flashed a devilish grin. "Everyone else said they'd do it if you said yes, utata."
"Itzae?"
"Mhm."
"Anaya?"
"Mmmhm."
"Tadeas?!"
"Mmmmmhmm."
"Even Aj K'uk'ulkan?"
"Yes, Utata. Even Auntie Namora agreed to help make the costumes!"
"Namora agreed!?"
"Yes. Itzae asked."
"Of course, she did." Attuma took a deep breath before letting out an exasperated sigh. "Chaac give me strength." He groaned.
Okoye gently rubbed his back. "And may Bast give it as well."
He looked at her.
"I am not pleased with participating in such festivities." He whispered.
"Are you going to deny our children the opportunity to make a fun core memory?" She whispered back. "How bad could it be?"
"What kind of spells have they casted to convince Aj K'uk'ulkan and Namora to participate in these activities."
"None." She laughed softly. "It'll be fun, in yakunaj (my love)."
Kenura perked up when she noticed Anaya coming out of her room.
"Anaya, come here! Give utata your best puppy dog eyes!"
"I'll do it if you give me half of your dessert."
"Eh? This is so we can dress up as the Zoldycks for Halloween." Kenura scowled. "Why am I giving away part of my dessert!?"
"Then I guess you'll have to hurt your eyes trying to make them water."
"You-"
"Hayi. (Stop)" Xolani rolled their eyes. "You can have half of mine, Anaya."
"Xolani!" Kenura frowned.
"It's for the greater good." They whispered before shaking their sister's hand to seal the deal. "Arguing isn't going to help us win utata over."
Attuma sighed as all three of them began to stare up at him with their best puppy eyes.
It was futile to scold them when they were working together and pleading for something harmless and mundane.
"Fine. I approve." He closed his eyes and shook his head in defeat.
"Yes! This will be the best Halloween ever!"
"Remind me again why we must participate in all of this?"
"Oh! Auntie Shuri is having a Halloween party where there will be a costume competition! Whoever wins gets a prize."
"What kind of prize?"
"I don't know, but I want to win. So... if we compete as a family we'll have a higher chance of winning."
"Alright. We'll work on this later."
"Okay." Xolani jogged off to inform the rest of the family while Kenura and Anaya retreated with a few snacks.
"I have failed at being assertive once again."
"It is fine that you have grown soft, in yakunaj."
"You have not."
"I have my moments as well."
"They're rare."
"I think it is good to have a firm and gentle parent. It's called balance."
"I cannot tell them no when their eyes grow wider than a seal pup's." He grumbled. "That's why I wanted you to decide."
"And I wanted to go with whatever you decided. So you exactly as you wanted." Okoye smiled before kissing him on the cheek.
"This is going to come back to bite us."
"This will be fun."
-----
👻 Bloopers:
Okoye, on Halloween in her costume: This is the most uncomfortable attire I've ever worn. It's tackier than anything Shuri has ever put together in the lab.
Shuri: HEY!
Okoye: It only hurts because it's true.
Attuma: Fortunately, this Zoldyck man does not dress as poorly.
Okoye: Uxolo? (Excuse me?)
Attuma: You cannot complain, in yakunaj. This is the fun you spoke so highly of.
I based this doodle loosely on that scene in the second BP film, where Okoye was trying to protect Shuri on the bridge and was worried she was "with the ancestors".
I think I'll practice more with doing different expressions next. 😃
I wanted to try my hand at fanart again. My art style here was heavily inspired by LavenderTowne. I've been trying to have a lot more fun with my art style by incorporating cartoonistic approaches instead of hyperfixating on realistic anatomy and features. I noticed that if something doesn't look perfect, I'll stop drawing. So, while attempting this, I just kept going.
I've been focusing on drawing Okoye. I'll try to draw more during my free time, as I work on drawing for fun. Until then, enjoy my doodle. 💓
This fic is a part of a series, but it is only one chapter long. It's 6,764 words long, and I plan on reading the next few parts to see how Attuma and Okoye's relationship blooms. There are many moments where I can't help but smile or chuckle because of how cute or funny a moment is. I won't spoil what parts, but Siancore did a phenomenal job with this fic!
It all starts with Attuma and Okoye meeting for the first time at a young age. Attuma is the prince of Talokan, and Okoye is the Wakandan Queen's Ward. They're amidst other children who are either young royals or children of powerful diplomats who are all having fun in a courtyard. They're playing their own version of tag, and Attuma catches her, resulting in Okoye falling in a puddle of mud. In retaliation, she throws mud at him, and he laughs. This sparks the start of a beautiful friendship that lasts through distance and time.
After crossing paths a few more times and overcoming their differences in politics, they get to see each other slowly grow up little by little before they're torn apart once more.
This time, they meet again as young adults. Okoye has blossomed into a refined, intelligent beauty who enjoys a good competition and Attuma-? Well, Attuma is smart and strong, and he's really got a stream of ladies eager to marry him. To their dismay, Attuma only has eyes for a certain someone. A certain someone who only sees him as a friend.
Attuma's gaze is like lava dripping down the side of a volcano as they stand in a room with other diplomats. Once they approach, his eyes feel less intense. Something reminiscent of the morning sun. Warm and gentle.
They exchange a stream of banter that can only be described as flirty and playful. Revealing a beautiful rivalry of sorts in which they dare to see who will outdo the other during the Great Games. Unfortunately, Okoye finds out she won't be competing. And to top it all off, there are rumors of Wakanda giving vibranium away to someone else- resulting in Talokan demanding a marriage to reaffirm their alliance. There is no better candidate than Talokan's prince, Attuma, and the Queen's Ward.
So far there are only three chapters, but it's set up beautifully from the jump. I'm intrigued, and I'm excited to see what happens next!
You start this fic watching Attuma carry a crate of snacks up to the front, at a small shop he runs. I interpreted it as a small, cozy convenience shop. There are a few customers here and there, trying to purchase some things they need while his young daughter, Saya, runs the cash register.
In the midst of completing these tasks, the sky decides to empty itself, and the downpour is so hard you can hardly see outside. Just visualize a bunch of potted plants fighting for their lives if you wish to know the storm's intensity. Attuma is concerned, but his mission to save those plants is delayed.
After dealing with an unruly customer and sending his daughter off to complete their inventory in the back, Attuma goes outside to cover those poor plants. However, while he's out there, he spots a figure a few feet away hunched over on the ground. He calls out to them, but they don't respond. After cautiously moving closer, he realizes that the person is emptying their stomach before they collapse.
Are they alive?
He checks.
Yes. They're breathing.
Out of concern, he scoops them up and tells his daughter to lock up the shop and to meet him in the car. He's moving quickly in the rain, clutching the mysterious person close before carefully setting them down in the car.
In this moment, he realizes it's a woman dressed poorly for the weather.
Izogie has been wifey forreal since The Woman King came out. So I decided to make a list of all the Izogie fics I've found/read on this site. Will update as I come across. Be sure to check out all the amazing authors and follow them!
