speaking of headcanons, got any for alex's tattoos? can't find a good ref photo to save my life, but was thinking about why someone like him might get the tattoos he did.
also, no rush! just got alex on the brain rn
I love this ask. Here we go.
Alex Keller Headcanons, Part III (Tattoos)
ALEX KELLER HEADCANON MASTERLIST
Great reference photos for Alex’s tattoos can be found @ave661’s post here. Tattoo images at bottom of this post also, image credit to @ave661.
Alex’s first tattoo is the Delta Force crest on his chest. He was with Delta at Fort Bragg before he was recruited by CIA’s Special Activities Division.
A part of him regrets having left behind his military career at Bragg because he’d given up a chance at a more “normal” life. He lies awake at night thinking about what could have been. He reminds himself of the importance of his work, but he’s concerned his shifting identities, gray allegiances, and clandestine activities will be for nothing. His tattoos will never change, no matter what name he takes, how he cuts his hair, or what kind of work he’s doing, the ink grounds him in reality.
He’s found himself feeling numb for long periods of time, unable to laugh or cry. During these numb periods, he only felt alive when he was injured, whether it was from laceration, bullet graze, or even a torqued knee. He remembered the pain of getting his Delta tattoo and nothing else compared. He eventually becomes addicted to the feeling of getting inked. For the longest time, it was the one thing that makes him feel anything.
Long after getting the ink, he’d look down at it and close his eyes. He can still feel the warm hands of the artist and the intense phantom heat of the tattoo gun—that unique pain that only comes with getting inked.
He’s only had work done by four artists, all women. He’s tight-lipped about it, but rumor has it he became infatuated with each of them, one of them resulting in a relationship that lasted several months (Artist #3), and just casual dating with the others.
Artist # 1: Left pectoral/chest: Delta Force crest. This is the one that he doesn’t see when he looks in the mirror when naked. It’s so much a part of him (and he’s had it the longest) that it no longer catches his eye.
Artist # 2: Right upper arm only: Cobra + human skull combo with cactus flower, sea water, and maple leave motif. When asked about the meaning behind the different parts, he blushes and says it’s a long story. Gaz says he got the impression the tattoo was for a girl Alex loved before he left Delta.
Artist # 3: Right forearm and black & white portion of upper arm: Death as a Teutonic knight, female warrior Archangel, anthropomorphic cobra warrior (female), ocean waves merging into flames. Alex was in love with the artist. If you look at the artist’s other work it’s mostly similar fantasy motifs, so he likely told her to go nuts and draw whatever she wanted on him.
Artist # 4: Left forearm & upper arm: Bald eagle head, round parachute canopy (T-10C), unguided (gravity) aerial bomb painted as a cartoon shark’s head, shredded-flesh illusion foreground with American Flag background, human skull with Delta Force beret and flash, American-style dog tags with barbed wire in lieu of ball chain, roaring demon skull emerging from flames. Alex just wanted to fill up the space with military motifs, so that's what the artist did. Alex saw the finished work and replied with a smile, "Looks dope."
His superiors were doubtful of his usefulness in the field since he can’t hide his country of origin if captured. Supposedly Alex told them, “As soon as they get me to open my mouth it’ll be obvious where I’m from.”
I HC Alex Keller as having been born and raised in Houston, TX. He has an accent that mostly comes out when he’s drunk or upset.
