#my oc: helina bell soldatova

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

Picrewwwww

Used some lovely Picrews to make my Bell since I saw other creators doing it!

She doesn't smile much... I love her😭🫶🏻

{Edit} Tagging some moots cuz I love y'all -> @littlemissclandestine @alypink @adlerboi @mctvsh @efingart

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

Helina "Bell" Soldatova x Alex Mason Ren Strider x Russell Adler

I tried so hard to make them look right so I hope y'all can recognize them lol✌🏻

AND YES THAT IS MY SELF INSERT CUZ I LOVE ADLER TOO MUCH TO SHIP HIM WITH ANYONE ELSE LMAO I DON'T CARE IF HE'S A MORALLY QUESTIONABLE CIA AGENT DON'T JUDGE🫵🏻 her name is based off of my IRL one but they're nowhere near the same lol

Thank you for tagging me @littlemissclandestine ❤️

No pressure tags: @mctvsh @welldonekhushi @walder-138 and literally anyone else who wants to do it!

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

100-Word Challenge

Posting something for @deadbranch's 100-word challenge cuz I can't stop thinking about Black Ops Cold War and my Bell lol🫣 and I love my man Adler but he was definitely SUS during the Cold War campaign when it came to Bell🫢

~ ~ ~

Mason set his hands on Bell’s hips, causing her to tense beneath his palms. 

“Like this,” he corrected gently, angling her form to better mimic the stance he had demonstrated earlier. "Keep your limbs loose. You'll hurt yourself if you're too stiff."

In reality, Bell didn't need any guidance with this sort of thing. They both knew it and yet neither fought it. They both sensed that spark between them and were unable to resist its pull.

Adler's shades glinted in the shadows, smoke curling from his lips as he observed the pair in silence. He'd let them enjoy this little tryst of theirs... for now.

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

Hi dear! A little drawing of Helina 😘❤️ thanks for always being so nice and supportive, and ofc I love her so much! 😍❤️

Hope you like it! ❤️

OH MY GOSH I'M IN LOVE WITH THIS😭😍🫶🏻❤️

I am genuinely so touched by y'all's kindness and interest in my character! It's such an honor to be able to interact with incredible artists and creators in this fandom and I'm so grateful to be connecting with people in this way❤️

My girl looks so gorgeous in your style, thank you so much for drawing her🥹💕 I plan on posting more about her soon so stay tuned for that!

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

Hey there! As promised, I drew our Bell OC's together! Somehow, they have the same scar on their face so I named them as "face scar buddies", hope you like it! 🤣

Hope I did Helina justice, her hair was kind of tricky, please don't mind 🥹

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH😍😭🫶🏻

Their expressions perfectly represent their personalities and I love that they’re face scar buddies, it’s so cute! 🥹❤️

I can’t even describe how flattered I am that you drew my Bell, I’m truly so touched that you enjoy her enough to do so😭 I’m so excited to see more of your Bell in the future and to share more about mine!

And her hair looks perfect😍🥰

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

My BOCW Characters

(from left to right)

Helina “Bell” Soldatova - Once operating as Perseus' most loyal soldier and second-in-command, Helina found a new purpose in Adler's MACV-SOG team as the agent "Bell."

Eileen Corbett - Eileen is an FBI agent working in the Behavioral Science Unit. She's known both Jason Hudson and Russell Adler for years, keeping tabs on persons of interest and offering her expertise when needed.

Hanh Lien Huyen - With the onslaught of the war, Hanh and her family fled South Vietnam to settle in the States. Now an agent of the CIA, Hanh is determined to free her country from communist and capitalist forces alike.

Ilya “Hydra” Vasiliev - An expert in mind control techniques, Ilya has developed even more effective ways of breaking and manipulating the minds of others. He takes on the role of Perseus after Stitch is killed by Adler.

~ ~ ~

Thought I'd introduce my other Cold War characters with this picrew cuz I was having too much fun with it lol🤭 feel free to ask questions in the comments! I'm always happy to engage with y'all🫶🏻

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

Do You Remember? ~ Bell & the Safe-house Crew

{Author's Note} Been thinking about my Bell lately and listening to The Beach Boys gave me an idea. Nothing too long but I thought it'd be fun to explore a little bit of the relationships between MACV-SOG and Bell. The song title just happened to fit perfectly with the idea so I went with it. I may post more like this in the future cuz I'm having fun with my OCs lol🤭 hope you guys like it and let me know what you think❤️

‼️Content Warning: none ❌

Lazar had been the one to gift her the Walkman. To Bell, it looked like nothing more than a simple rectangle made of sleek aluminum. She turned it over in her hands, eyes wide as she took in every detail of the rather strange contraption.

"It's a nifty new gadget," Lazar said with a smile. "Plays music through these when you plug 'em in." He handed her the headphones, gesturing for her to put them over her ears as he plugged them into the correct port. He quickly popped a random cassette in and pressed the play button. Faint music echoed from the headphones' cushioned speakers and the sudden noise made Bell smile.

"Neat, huh?"

Bell nodded as she let the headphones dangle around her neck. "Where did you get it?"

Lazar chuckled rather nervously. "Park and I saw it at that store we were hiding in when you went searching through Kraus' place. Thought you would enjoy it since you're always decrypting the evidence we find. It'll keep you from getting bored."

"For me?" Bell wondered in surprise and Lazar dipped his head. Another smile touched her lips. "Thank you. That's very kind of you."

"Don't worry about it," he told her and placed a bag of cassettes on the desk before her. "Courtesy of Mason and Woods. They picked out some classics for you."

Bell immediately began to rifle through the bag as Lazar walked off, eventually settling on a Beach Boys cassette as she'd heard the name mentioned on the safe-house radio at one point. Lazar shared a glance and a smile with Park and the pair left Bell to her own devices.

Popping in the cassette just as she'd seen Lazar do it, she pressed down on the play button again and music began to drift through the speakers into her ears.

"Well now do you remember

All the guys that gave us rock 'n' roll?"

Blue eyes fluttered closed as Bell let her thoughts follow the song's rhythm, offering a brief escape from the risk and occasional monotony that came with her role in MACV-SOG.

"Yeah the critics kept a-knocking

But the stars kept a-rocking

And the choppin' didn't get very far"

She bobbed her head to the beat, mouthing the lyrics as they began to become more and more familiar.

"Let's hear the high voice wail,

And hear the voice down low"

She didn't hear Adler approach, only noticing his presence when he clicked the stop button on the Walkman. Bell slid the headphones off her ears and met his steely gaze, his eyes forever hidden behind those shades of his.

"We've got a job to do, Bell."

She straightened at his words, feeling her mind clear of the sleep that had been lingering at the edges of her thoughts.

"We need these decrypted by tomorrow," Adler told her as he tapped a finger on the folders beside her. Bell simply nodded and turned her attention back to the evidence they'd gathered. Lyrics danced on her tongue as she focused on her work, newfound energy spurring her onward despite her exhaustion.

"Well now, do you remember

Do you remember, do you remember?"

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

What do you think about our Bell OC's meeting/interacting each other? How would Helina feel about Vasili?

Oh boy, this is a super interesting question! Took me some time to figure it out🤔

Based on what you've posted about your Bell, I'd say they'd get along pretty well! Helina becomes more friendly and open after the brainwashing so she'd be far more interested in making friends with your Bell if they were to meet. I can see them having a sort of kinship with each other since they have such a similar background and of course both experienced the CIA's brainwashing.

Helina would probably try to bring Vasili out of his shell a little bit since he's more reserved. During her time with them, she views the MACV-SOG team as her sort of makeshift family and would want to include Vasili in that so he wouldn't be alone. I can also see the pair of them randomly speaking to each other in Russian since they're both native speakers😂 they'd probably talk too fast for Adler and the others to really keep up and just keep doing whatever task they had in front of them, unaware of the others' confusion lol

I hope I answered that well! Thank you so much for the ask and the interest in my Bell🥹 I'm always happy to answer more and/or hear more about your OCs, as well as anyone else who wants to share! ❤️

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

Helina “Bell” Soldatova ~ CoD BOCW OC

Managed to snag a commission from the lovely @wombywoo​ who drew my Bell character that I created for Black Ops Cold War. Thank you so much for bringing this character to life for me, I’m in love with how you’ve drawn her🥹❤️ 

She’s a little bit of a self-insert so she’s extra special to me🤭 Some basic info on her can be found below👇🏻

~ ~ ~

Name: Helina Soldatova

Alias: Bell

Age: 42 (as of 1981)

Height: 5′10″

Occupation: Clandestine Operative

Affiliation(s): Perseus (previously), CIA, MACV-SOG

Skills: Language/cryptography, espionage, hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship

Fun Facts: 

~Adopted by Perseus, who raised her and made her his second-in-command. Known simply as Sasha during her time with him. 

~Fluent in English and Russian, and can mimic regional accents with ease. 

~Owns several colorful turtlenecks, preferring brighter shades as a fun way to express herself. 

~Face claim: Svetlana Antonova (though her hair color, eye color, height, and name are based on myself heehee). 

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

You already know what time it is.

I had an AU (?) idea earlier and I wanted to know what your take on it.

What if the whole Bell thing didn’t happen, and Helina and Annika were still working for Perseus, assuming they’d have the same bond that we previously established? I was thinking that, since Annika was young when she joined, Helina would be to Annika what Perseus was to Helina. Like to hear what you think!

Oh boy, I LOVE the idea of having AUs with other people's Bells, I know I've been thinking about an AU for Helina and @welldonekhushi's Vasili after our talks so I am so open to this idea!

I love the idea of them being close as Perseus agents! Helina was a very different person when she was with Perseus and so their relationship might be less older/younger sibling and more mentor/apprentice. She'd see potential in Annika and would want to shape her into someone who could benefit Perseus.

As a result, it may become a rather manipulative relationship unfortunately. Helina was loyal only to Perseus and focused on furthering the group's goals above all else so she'd be less caring about Annika as a person and more focused on how she could shape her into a loyal agent. She'd definitely act caring and kind but it would be to further a different goal rather than help Annika grow.

All in all, it'd make for a very interesting dynamic between the two! I know Perseus would be proud of both of them🫢

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

AHHHHHH I NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR BOCW OCS!!! I LOVE THEM SM

I'M SO GLAD YOU LIKE THEM😭🫶🏻❤️ I'd love to share more about them, thank you for asking!!!

Y'all already know who Helina is at this point but I'm still working on a proper ref for her that will include way more info. School is just getting in the way right now😵 ANYWAY, she was actually adopted by Perseus and raised by him, though not much is known about those early days. What is known is that he was raising her with the intent that she would one day replace him as Perseus.

Eileen is an expert in behavior analysis and was actually one of the first to pioneer the study of the subject (at least in the BO universe). She's usually called in to analyze targets being pursued by Hudson and Adler, giving them insight on the best way to approach these people and what their next moves could be. Most notably, she provided an analysis on the woman who became Bell but wasn't involved in the actual brainwashing.

Hanh has a rather complicated relationship with the United States and the CIA. She's thankful that they're working to remove communist forces from Vietnam but knows it's not really for the betterment of the people living there. At this point, she's using her position in the CIA to advocate for her country's freedom from both sides of the political spectrum. She occasionally works alongside MACV-SOG but does not operate as a permanent member of the group.

Ilya used to be a member of the KGB before joining up with Perseus. He earned his alias "Hydra" from his ability to mimic the behavior of other people after observing them for a short time. His fellow agents likened him to the mythical hydra, comparing the multitude of personalities he's "collected" over the years to the beast's multiple heads. Also, the name may or may not be a reference to a movie *cough* Winter Soldier *cough*

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

Hellooo Ren! 21, 22 and 24 for the ask game for Helina please! 💙 (sorry if it's too much - you don't have to answer all of them if you don't want to! 🫶)

Hey girlie! Thanks for asking about my girl, you're so sweet🥹❤️

21. How do they react to praise?

Helina thrives off of praise. When she was part of Perseus, she'd do just about anything to get the man's approval, which is partly how she became his second-in-command. After being brainwashed, this trait is still present and Adler has used it to his advantage without her realizing.

22. How do they react to criticism?

As part of MACV-SOG, Helina tries not to take criticism too personally. She's willing to learn from her team, even if she gets embarrassed upon being corrected. When she was a Perseus agent, she'd sooner shoot whoever tried to criticize her rather than listen to them.

24. What are their biggest pet peeves?

Helina tends to be sensitive to sounds, whether it's because of her trained hyperawareness or as a result of the brainwashing she was forced through or both. Things like ticking clocks and tapping shoes can distract her attention and cause annoyance, even though she knows such things aren't a big deal.

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

8, 10 and 12 for Helina!

Hello again! Thanks for sending in an ask about my girl🥹🫶🏻

8. What is their favorite food?

Helina doesn't really have a favorite food but she tends to prefer sweet things. Caramel-flavored candies are probably her favorite. When it comes to actual food, she's a fan of the Chinese takeout that Lazar would always get.

10. Introvert or Extravert?

Definitely an introvert. Though she doesn't really have a problem with putting herself out there, she needs her alone time to rest and recharge. If she doesn't have that time to herself, she can get snippy.

12. Who would they sacrifice their life for?

Once upon a time, that would have been an easy question for her to answer. She would have done anything for Perseus and would have died in his place if the need arose. Now that she's no longer loyal to him, she'd give her life for any of the MACV-SOG team. She wished she would have taken Lazar's place instead of leaving him behind and still has nightmares about that mission.

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

Hi Ren!❤️

For the ask game, for Helina: 4 and 15!

Hi! Thank you so much for submitting an ask, it means a lot🫶🏻

4. What is their favorite book?

This was answered in the previous post so I'll paste that answer here! - Helina hasn't done much reading throughout her life but as part of the MACV-SOG team, she managed to read some American classics when she had the time. Her favorite was The Great Gatsby. She hopes to watch the movie at some point.

15. Are they religious?

As of right now, Helina is not religious. Before her brainwashing, she saw no point in waiting for an afterlife or worshipping a deity and thought such beliefs were childish. After, however, she's begun to believe in the idea that life has some kind of "greater" purpose and hopes to find hers someday. She knows she's searching for something, she just doesn't know what and she's not sure if she'll ever find it.

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

From the oc asks, tell me more about Helina, please! 3,4,18

Hi! It's so awesome to get an ask from you, I love your art and OC so much❤️

3. What is their favorite color?

Helina's favorite color would have to be red, specifically a deep crimson shade. She likes how it looks against her skin tone.

4. What is their favorite book?

Helina hasn't done much reading throughout her life but as part of the MACV-SOG team, she managed to read some American classics when she had the time. Her favorite was The Great Gatsby. She hopes to watch the movie at some point.

18. What makes them laugh?

Helina tends to have a rather dry sense of humor so she enjoys more subtle jokes and quips. Adler's deadpan comments always made her giggle, as well as the dynamic between Mason and Woods. They considered it a success whenever they made her belly laugh, a feat they were always striving for.

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

I wondered if Vasili wouldn't talk pretty much to anybody ever since the brainwashing, not because he wasn't allowed to speak, but because he couldn't raise his voice somehow. He lowered his interactions with many of them, except Mason and Woods who likely made him feel comfortable that he speaks a bit towards them. He feels "contained" within himself, locked. When before in his forgotten days of the KGB and his moments in the Perseus Faction, he wasn't like this.

What would Helina do to make Vasili comfortable with her as well?

First off, I love how Vasili kind of shut down after the brainwashing. It's an interesting contrast to Helina who instead became more open and accepting of the people and culture she once despised. I certainly don't blame Vasili for closing himself off after what Adler and Park did before the events of the game. Mental trauma, especially to that extent, affects people in a variety of fascinating ways.

As for how Helina would attempt to make Vasili feel more comfortable, I believe she would try to relate to him in ways that he would be more receptive to. She'd try to train with him so he wouldn't have to worry about making conversation but could instead get some of that nervous energy out and have him focus on something he's confident in. She might also try to speak a language he's more comfortable with. As mentioned in the last ask, they're both native Russian speakers so she'd have no problem interacting with him in that way.

Just like Vasili, she's very observant, especially when it comes to human behavior. She once used that skill to manipulate people as a member of Perseus but upon joining MACV-SOG, it's become more of a tool for her that allows her to connect more easily to those around her. She'd definitely use that skill to pick up on his comfort level and react accordingly. Hopefully it'd let Vasili relax a bit because Helina would certainly be trying to help😄

Thank you again for the ask! I love thinking through these sorts of things with my Bell, as well as yours! It's such a fun way to flesh them out a bit and become more familiar with them🫶🏻