#perfect example of how to adapt as a DM!!!!

[confetticutey]

Brennan's level of improv skill is wild. He had planned a multitude of different ways for them to have that encounter - none of which involved diving head first into Riz's briefcase. And yet it seemed so seamless. He's a perfect example of a DM quickly adapting the story for the sake of honouring party choices and player agency and it's always so fucking refreshing to see.

[utilitycaster]

I wasn’t around the fandom back in C2, but I know some people didn’t like that the Nein kind of ignored the war and didn’t follow that thread Matt laid out. Was this a widespread enough critique of the campaign to where it would possibly be influencing the players to follow Matt’s premise and threads more here, despite playing ill suited characters? Not looking for this as justification for this campaign's problems, to be clear, just kind of reaching for an explanation for the timidity here. I feel like I’m watching players be too polite to say "actually, we just really don't care if the gods are here or not" but not wanting to harsh Matt's story concept.

Hi anon,

This is a good question, and I think the answer is ultimately "I don't know", but I do want to take you through my thought process which I hope is helpful. The short answer is, however, that while this is interesting to speculate on (this is a good post doing so) I don't ultimately need to know. External factors can influence a work, clearly, but I think that needs to be taken on a case-by-case basis and in this case, an explanation for the timidity doesn't really address that I don't care for it.

Firstly: I think the fandom's influence on player choices is probably overstated. I think that fan influence was something of a concern in Campaign 1, when the fandom was much smaller, the cast was much more hands-on, and, for example, for a lot of the earlier episodes the chat was literally on the YouTube videos so if they went to rewatch their own work they'd see that. Matt used to drop into the Reddit. People who were fans in 2015 and early 2016 would email or DM cast or crew and get direct messages. That's really no longer the case, and hasn't been for a very long time.

I can't speak to the fandom at large's feelings on the war plot in Campaign 2 while it was actually airing. I have seen it brought up a lot by Campaign 2 detractors after the fact, but I don't do Reddit or Twitter and during Campaign 2 I didn't really go into the main tag much until fairly late. Personally, I feel a lot of people lean on the "they didn't follow the war plot" only because Matt revealed in the wrap-up that he had something planned for the Augen Trust, but there was absolutely no way for the cast to know it. Additionally, I think my feeling about this is "their avoidance was a very clear decision that was true to their characters." When the party first leaves Zadash, it is specifically because they are low-level and explicitly want to get out of town before the war leads to heightened security. Nott is at the time a goblin and not treated as a citizen of the Empire. Molly, Yasha, Fjord, and Jester aren't imperial citizens either. Beau hates authority, and Caleb has extremely good reasons (having just seen Trent) to get as far away from anything relating to the Empire's government. After their mission to Shady Creek run, they are grieving and decide to go someplace where a few of them feel at home, and also pursue the note from Avantika they found. They avoid the war because it makes perfect sense for that group of characters to do; and then they eventually go to Xhorhas and see the war from the other perspective! They don't even avoid it; they just engage in a way that is very different from how Matt originally envisioned, and is, again, very true to their characters (Nott wanting to save Yeza; Caleb wanting to avoid imprisonment and being willing to hand over the beacon to do so). The Mighty Nein very much followed available plot hooks at every turn; they might have been different plot hooks than some people wanted, but they were very much making choices based on who they were as characters at each juncture.

I also think that the characters leaning into "we don't really care" early on would have actually been a great move and one Matt could adapt to. I think that might have actually led to him trying to, for example, encourage a focus on either "Predathos is an existential threat that is leading Ludinus to commit multiple atrocities, and killing him will still leave the temptation intact for another Ludinus to arise"; or "well, how about we give you time to explore your own pasts and your own homes and get perspectives from the common people of Exandria and then decide from a humanist perspective". The problem isn't that they may or may not release Predathos or may or may not destroy the gods; it's that their motivations are at best either solipsistic or barely existent and so it's hard to care about anything because the party feels dragged along by a plot they don't care about. They're not even choosing the plot actively; they're just sort of shuffling slowly forward through it.

Now, here's my opinion: I think that even if the fandom were critical of Campaign 2 (and while some people are, it is openly and widely beloved, and I think the cast are familiar with the idea that you cannot make everyone happy), I don't think listening to the fandom is necessarily correct. I think that, in fact, listening too much to the fandom and trying to please whoever is loudest or most unpleasant or threatening or flattering or worse still, multiple of these groups, will nearly always make your art weak.

There's choices where I think the context of said choice is important: I'm a little softer now on the party not having time to mourn FCG in-game than I was at the time because I can understand feeling really bad about and uncomfortable with, essentially, holding a memorial for a character played by your friend currently in cancer treatment. I understand why it happened. I do not blame the cast for making that choice. I do think, however, it does make a weaker story. I would not walk up to Matt Mercer and say "this sucked and you shouldn't have done this" but just because there's a good external reason doesn't mean it was necessarily executed well in game. This may sound cold to some. I don't particularly care; I'm writing this about how criticism from random strangers means very little to me.

I feel very strongly that you should not play to your haters. This comes up a lot when we talk about the misogynistic death threats that Marisha received, and for what it's worth I think Marisha has at all times handled this well and any criticism I have of her characters isn't related to her being overly timid. I really do, as a woman myself, understand that one's safety is paramount, and I would never demand an artist put themselves at risk (though many choose to, and often that work is excellent). But *Dessa Fire Drills voice* that's not, in my opinion, a way to live. It's a delicate and exhausting balance but avoiding making bold moves because the worst fucking guy on the internet will call you a slur is letting him win and he'll call you the slur anyway.

Maybe this isn't a great way to be, and I was not born this way so much as found it through some rough experiences when I was younger, but if someone's never going to be happy with you, or even if their idea of what is acceptable is so vanishingly narrow that you will have to fold yourself up to fit into it, don't you want to 1. focus then on making yourself happy and 2. not worry about pissing them off and indeed maybe even court it a little so long as it doesn't conflict with what you would want if they were out of the picture?

So I don't want to say there's no explanation ever that will make me feel a little more understanding; but "this work isn't great because of external factors beyond the creators' control" doesn't fix the fact that the work isn't great. It's not their fault in that case! But like...you know the college myth of "if your roommate dies you get straight As for the semester"? It's untrue there and it's untrue here. I will be more sympathetic to the artist; but the art still isn't good and I'm not going to pretend like it is.

[appcurators]

From Clicks to Conversations: The Rise of Conversational Commerce and What It Means for IT Solutions

The eCommerce landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. In 2025, we’re witnessing a clear shift from traditional clicks and checkouts to real-time, interactive shopping experiences—powered by conversational commerce. Platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, and even voice assistants are emerging as powerful sales channels, reshaping how brands interact with consumers.

Conversational Commerce: The New Sales Frontier

Consumers are increasingly expecting brands to meet them where they already are—on messaging apps. Whether it's browsing product catalogs via WhatsApp, finalizing purchases over Instagram DMs, or asking Alexa to reorder essentials, the journey from interest to purchase is becoming more fluid, personal, and fast.

This trend isn't just about convenience—it's about connection. Shoppers want personalized attention without navigating clunky websites or complex checkout flows. Instead of browsing endless product pages, they now ask a chatbot, “What’s your best-selling skincare set?” and get an instant, curated response.

The Role of IT Solutions in Enabling Seamless Conversations

Behind every smooth chat-based shopping experience lies robust technology infrastructure—this is where IT service providers come in. To support conversational commerce, businesses need more than just a social media presence. They require tailored e-commerce web development solutions that integrate:

API Connections with WhatsApp Business, Facebook Messenger, and other platforms

Chat automation and AI bots trained in customer queries and product catalogs

Integrated payment gateways that allow purchases directly within the chat window

For example, a retail brand may use an API to connect its Shopify inventory to a WhatsApp chatbot that not only answers queries but also completes orders and shares tracking details—all without the user visiting the website.

Why Users Prefer Chat-Based Shopping

The modern shopper values speed, simplicity, and personalization. With chat-based commerce:

Decisions are faster—there’s no scrolling through 100 products when a bot can suggest 3 perfect options.

Support is instant—no long wait times or confusing help centers.

Checkouts are quicker—thanks to integrated payment options like UPI, Stripe, or PayPal within chat apps.

Businesses leveraging conversational commerce are seeing higher engagement rates, reduced cart abandonment, and increased customer satisfaction.

Business Adaptation: Moving Beyond Traditional Funnels

Brands are rapidly evolving to accommodate this new shopping behavior. Many eCommerce platforms are now embedding chat widgets, Instagram shopping tools, and even integrating with smart speakers. IT service providers specializing in e-commerce web development are creating omnichannel strategies where a product discovered on Instagram can be ordered via WhatsApp and paid for through Apple Pay—all within minutes.

This seamless flow is redefining the buyer’s journey from a linear funnel to an interactive loop—rich with engagement and real-time feedback.

Final Thoughts

Conversational commerce isn’t just a trend—it’s the future of digital retail. For businesses to thrive in this environment, they must embrace agile IT solutions that support real-time communication, personalized selling, and frictionless transactions.

As messaging platforms become the new storefronts, investing in e-commerce web development with integrated conversational features is no longer optional—it’s essential.

[assasiblogs]

Dream and Do: From Migrant Workers to Entrepreneurs in Dubai

Fortunately, every successful business has a tale of grit, determination, and metamorphosis. By far one of the most prodigious stories are those of migrant workers who left their homelands for better opportunities, only to build businesses out of their sweat, toil, and strategic thought. These are not only stories of financial success but also of overcoming adversity, thriving in new environments, and achieving dreams.The City of Gold, as Dubai is known, has attracted migrant workers and entrepreneurs alike. Dubai is well-known for its business-friendly policies, tax-free environment, and world-class infrastructure, making it the perfect launchpad for ambitious individuals looking to create their empires. Six entrepreneurs that we spoke to shared their stories—from Migrant Workers to Entrepreneurs: Success Stories—that reflect resilience and vision.

The Inspiring Journey of Richard Regaspi: From Lifeguard to Business Mogul

The story behind Richard Regaspi is one of versatility and opportunity. He spent 13 years in the UAE, starting as a lifeguard and eventually becoming an operations manager at a health club in Dubai. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Richard returned to the Philippines and shifted his focus to his own company, Health and Safety Solution, a training center he founded with his wife in 2018.

In response to the pandemic challenges, Richard adapted by providing online training programs, expanding his clientele beyond Metro Manila and even reaching international markets. Not stopping there, he also ventured into the food business, starting an online biryani business that was so successful it led to the opening of a restaurant. Richard's story serves as a reminder of how grit and creativity can transform adversity into triumph.

Dhananjay Datar: The Spice King of the Middle East

Dhananjay Datar’s tale is a classic rags-to-riches story. He moved from Mumbai to Dubai to work in his father’s small grocery store. Dhananjay identified the commercial opportunity in the market and expanded the business into retail, spice production, and exports, leading to the creation of the Al Adil Group.

By 2021, the Al Adil Group had grown to include 43 supermarket outlets across the GCC, two factories, and two spice mills. Dhananjay has come a long way from his humble beginnings in a grocery store to being recognized as the "Masala King" of the Middle East, and his story is an incredible example of what determination, hard work, and a clear vision can accomplish.

Rasha Shehada: Leading a Family Business to New Heights

Rasha Shehada’s story is about strategic leadership and innovation. Originally from Palestine, she moved to the UAE with her family, where her father set up an import business called Diamond Line. She studied at the American University of Sharjah, gained experience in international marketing, and worked before joining the family business.

In 2013, she became the managing director and refocused the business on its core strength: chafing fuel importation. Under her leadership, Diamond Line streamlined operations, invested in staff training, and significantly improved its performance. Rasha’s story underscores the importance of strategic planning and adaptability in achieving business success.

Indian Entrepreneurs in the UAE: Building Empires

The UAE has always been a destination for Indian migrants seeking better opportunities. Over the years, many have transitioned from workers to successful entrepreneurs, making significant contributions to the UAE’s economy. Notable figures include Yusuff Ali M.A. of Lulu Group International, Dr. Azad Moopen of Aster DM Healthcare, and P.N.C. Menon of the Sobha Group.

These entrepreneurs have built thriving businesses in sectors like retail, healthcare, and real estate, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit of the Indian community in the UAE. Their stories serve as an inspiration for others to dream big and work hard toward success.

Why Dubai is a Magnet for Migrant Entrepreneurs

Dubai’s leadership has fostered a business-friendly ecosystem that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. Initiatives like the UAE Vision 2021 and the National Innovation Strategy aim to position the country as a global leader in various sectors.

Key reasons why Dubai is an ideal destination for entrepreneurs include:

Easy Business Setup: The UAE has a simple company registration process.

Zero Income Tax: Entrepreneurs benefit from a tax-free environment, allowing them to reinvest more into their businesses.

Access to Global Markets: Dubai's strategic location and world-class infrastructure provide access to international markets.

Government Support: Initiatives like Dubai SME, business incubators, and funding programs provide crucial support to startups and small businesses.

Challenges Faced by Migrant Workers

While the journey to entrepreneurship is rewarding, it comes with significant challenges. Migrant workers often encounter hurdles before they can establish themselves as successful business owners.

Adapting to a New Country Adjusting to a new language, culture, and lifestyle can be difficult. Common struggles include:

Language Barriers: Limited proficiency in the local language can hinder networking and business opportunities.

Cultural Differences: Adapting to new customs and workplace norms can be challenging.

Lack of Social Connections: Being far from family and friends means building a support system from scratch.

Financial Struggles Many migrant workers start with low-paying jobs due to limited skills or unrecognized qualifications. Common financial challenges include:

Low Wages: Earnings often barely cover living expenses, leaving little room for savings or investment.

High Cost of Living: Expenses such as rent, food, and healthcare consume a significant portion of income.

Debt Burden: Loans taken to travel abroad and the need to send remittances home further limit financial growth.

Legal and Regulatory Hurdles Starting a business as a migrant can be complicated due to legal and regulatory challenges:

Work Permits and Residency Rules: Work visas often tie migrants to specific employers, restricting their ability to pursue independent ventures.

Business Licensing Barriers: Expensive permits and restrictions on foreign business ownership can limit opportunities.

Uncertain Immigration Status: Visa renewal processes and residency requirements add stress and instability.

Lack of Business Knowledge or Capital Transitioning from worker to business owner requires financial literacy and market understanding. Common barriers include:

Limited Business Education: Many migrants lack formal training in managing finances, marketing, and operations.

Difficulty Securing Loans: Without a financial history or collateral, accessing funding can be challenging.

Fear of Failure: The risk of losing hard-earned savings can deter migrants from taking entrepreneurial risks.

Key Factors Behind Their Success

Despite the challenges, many migrant workers achieve entrepreneurial success due to key factors:

Hard Work and Perseverance: A strong work ethic and resilience help overcome hardships and rejections.

Identifying Market Gaps: Many succeed by spotting untapped opportunities and catering to underserved communities.

Supportive Government Policies: Business-friendly environments, easy registration processes, and free zones provide crucial support.

Community and Networking: Building strong connections and gaining customer trust play a vital role in business growth.

Conclusion

The journey from migrant worker to successful entrepreneur is filled with challenges, but these inspiring stories prove that determination, resilience, and smart business strategies can transform lives. Dubai continues to be a land of opportunity, where dreams become reality with the right approach and guidance.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, these stories serve as a reminder that no dream is too big and no obstacle too great. With hard work, adaptability, and a supportive ecosystem, success is within reach.

[gamesception]

I mean, 4e has some actual problems. Between too-frequent book releases and constant website releases there was a huge glut of content such that it's very difficult to build characters now that the official character builder app that collected and organized all that stuff for easy use is gone. The glut of content also led to huge differences in capability between casual and optimized character builds. This hurts extra because there are already huge differences even between purely casual builds due to the designers never really having had clear targets for, for example, how much damage a striker is supposed to do, or how much less damage a non-striker is supposed to do, which makes the entire striker party role, 1/4th of all class content in the game, a complete crapshoot. And the controller role is even worse. At least the designers could agree on what strikers were ~supposed~ to be doing. They didn't even get that far on controllers, so for wizards being a 'controller' means being able to stun-lock entire encounters at a time, while for Binders being a controller meant... being about to do negligible damage to two different targets with the same at will. There's the item treadmill of having to be constantly trading out your gear as you level like a looter shooter just to keep pace with enemy scaling (though at least there was some standard by which a DM could judge whether the party's gear was above or below system math expectations, a basic and essential question with no clear guidance at all in 5e). Or how obnoxious tracking multiple conditions and flipping a coin for each at the end of every round was. Like there's a /lot/ of actual problems with 4th edition. But none of them are 'mmo/class rolls/no role playing/combat only'. MMO class role concepts were adapted from the class roles that were already baked into earlier editions of D&D, and adopting principles from MMOs did wonders for defender/tank and leader/healer characters. Complain as I do about the poor balancing of strikers or the lack of clarity to controllers, no other edition of D&D before or after 4e made playing a tank or a healer as fun or as effective, and by putting explicit mechanical expectations on party tanking and healing 4e combat is the one that most encourages and relies on cooperation & teamwork in the party. And while 4e's "skill challenges" weren't perfect by a long shot, they were the most in depth and interesting rules D&D has ever had for resolving non-combat encounters and in particular for getting the party to work together to do so instead of just having everyone else sit to the side while the rogue auto passes a bunch of dex checks or the bard a bunch of cha checks or the wizard just casts a spell that bypasses whatever the challenge is altogether. In particular incorporating skill challenges and combat into a single encounter with monsters to fight while a trap needs to be disarmed or the like was really great stuff. And speaking of, encounter design has /never/ been easier for a DM, god I miss 4e encounter design. And while people complained about all the classes looking the same due to having the same 'power' distributions, making sure every class had cool things they could do at will, and per encounter, and per day made sure nobody was stuck doing the same boring thing over and over again, either because their class didn't have cool stuff or because they had run out of cool stuff resources for an entire day. This also meant that every class was affected more or less equally by especially long or especially short adventuring days, so DMs could adjust overall encounter difficulty to match without leaving any particular party member in the cold. Even from a lore angle, 'power sources' was a good concept, the world axis was a better planar system than the great wheel, etc. That's the big frustrating thing to me. It's not that 4e was perfect or lacked flaws, overall I honestly prefer 5e, but for all its very real flaws 4e also had so many brilliant bits and all of those got thrown out with the wash water due to so much of the community reflexively rejecting 4e altogether, and for reasons that had nothing to do with the actual strengths or weaknesses of the system.

Anyway the funny thing about D&D 4e is that if you actually listen to both sides and compare what they're saying to what's actually written in the books, you will soon realize that its biggest fans have actually played it while its loudest critics have actually not :)

[houndsofbalthazar]

Been playing some Pathfinder: Kingmaker and it's got me thinking about how much I dislike the weapon proficiency system in D&D and its variations, adaptations, and derivatives. I'm not familiar with every single version of course so this is only speaking to broad trends, and only in the ones I've played!

For all intents and purposes, not having proficiency in a weapon means you can't use it. Different implementations manage it differently, video games tend to straight up not let you equip a weapon you're not proficient in, while sometimes it's just a penalty (or lack of a bonus). In 3.5e iirc, it was -4 to hit with a weapon you're not proficient in. That's a reduction of 20 percentage points to hit rate! IMO unless the DM or game leans very hard into this, it's essentially the same as saying you can't wield them. (Leaning into it would be for example playing a game in which you face a lot of monsters with invulnerability/ damage reduction with specific weaknesses to different materials and damage types and are specifically very limited in weapons of those various damage types, then you start to get the choice of a weapon that will be more effective, but you are worse at using, and even then it's tricky to pull off without it becoming a maths puzzle)

Most versions of this system let you gain proficiency in a weapon or weapon group, but you usually spend a feat to do so. Feats are huge, big rewards for levelling up and you don't get many. The bump in mechanical power from "upgrading" a category is usually negligible, and sometimes literally nonexistent. For example, one thing that set me off thinking about this again is that in pf: kingmaker I found a magical sling staff. That's a cool weapon I thought! But it requires exotic proficiency, you have to spend a whole feat just to use it. Or I could keep using a light crossbow which is almost identical (the only difference is slightly different crit stats, one crits more often, the other does more damage on a crit). So I could have enjoyed finding a cool unusual weapon for my character to use and further flesh out the fantasy of having a unique character, or I could -- and did -- just sell it immediately because I'm not spending a whole feat on it, and I'd need to level up multiple times to even get a feat to spend, and then if another cool weapon came up that would just be a waste. It might as well have just been a pile of gold.

You can, I think, get some mileage from finding a cool piece of equipment that you can't use yet. The trouble is in video games the gear treadmill is often such that by the time you can use it you've found something better anyway. There's more potential on the tabletop, but again I think you need to lean into it and it does have to be an especially cool piece of equipment.

Aesthetically, I also really dislike it. Because the mechanical differences between weapons are so small it often feels like I'm being pushed towards someone else's idea of the character I should play. I made a post a while back comparing Morrowind & Oblivion's approaches to armoured spellcasting (in the latter wearing any armour will always decrease your spell power - the game's telling you that you can wear armour but real wizards don't). If Martial & Exotic weapons were so much stronger than the lower tiers I'd understand it, it'd be a game balance reason. But the categories aren't really consistent enough about it. It's not going to be gamebreaking if I want my wizard to use a trident instead of a spear (literally identical stats!) But the aesthetic is prevented by the rules. I think when part of the appeal of the game is to play the fantasy of your character as a unique cool hero.

As an aside, a similar reason is why I will probably never play a Rogue in D&D 5e. The aesthetic I want to play is your traditional thug, you know, the burly bash your kneecaps in kind of thug. Rogue would be the perfect class to represent that, except sneak attack can only be done with finesse weapons which are all knives and swords. No clubs, maces, or other thwacky objects allowed because someone had a specific idea of what a rogue should be and limited it without any real mechanical reason for it.

Ok rant over. Maybe I'll reblog this one with thoughts on how I'd handle it some time because I do like the idea of weapon types all being slightly different, and it does make sense to me that a fighter would be able to use more weapons than a sorcerer (most of the time).

[outofmymindbebacklater]

damn can't believe my phone glitch is immortalized. yor is forever.

tumblr wtf I wrote out a whole response and it's gone lmao. anyway finally pulled out my laptop because tumblr on my phone is fucked but this'll be shorter than originally although I love a good discussion with someone who is just as intense as me so let's keep talking in dms if you want!!

if you're not yelling at the kids then my first post 2 years ago wasn't for you - I made that along with a few others when people were at the height of being mad at the cast (well first for walker, then later for leah) but ppl seem chiller now. if my tone seems different than the first post it's because they are addressing different ppl haha. i was raging cuz i was fueled by the audacity of people to harass 12 (now 13) year olds because they don't fit their perfect image :/ i love the internet

I definitely am in the same boat as you, pjo carried me through middle school. i was surprised too - rereading pjo recently (again, not talking about the quantities in HOO, altho there he is definitely described as tan and i can give u a quote if u want) and i realized that, yes, you're right, descriptions are very vivid - but not for details about the half-bloods appearances like hair and eyes, and Rick even changes a few because he forgets (that's how u know he didn't deem them very important lol). I think he made a post addressing those, or i could give u examples. So the ppl you mentioned who forget the original appearances, if the author does that too, who cares?

I'm pretty sure the second half of your response is just a PSA and not directed at me since it makes some of the same points, but again i love talking pjo, so down to keep talking. don't take my tone as serious - my original post was for the people raging at Walker, now I'm just debating for fun!

Sure, a wig is an easy fix, but in the end it's a live action adaptation. details are gonna change, and hair colour is a pretty insignificant detail in the grand scheme of the adaptation imo. as I've gotten older I've noticed that I've gotten better at separating books which I've memorized and the adaptations, and them be a bit different and still good, if that makes sense. and if it's as simple as putting on a wig, then whatever. genuine question - why do you think Walker's hair is more important than other details? forget hair - i wanna know what fans think about Percy having riptide against the minotaur, or why mrs dodds attacks him in broad daylight!! very intriguing choices for sure.

I feel like I had more but i have to get back to my assignment so rip the words that were lost to the void

ffs as if some of y’all are seriously expecting a TWELVE year old to wear contacts for an entire show production ?? when they can dry up ur eyes, mess up ur vision, and in general ppl should avoid putting things in their eyes if they can avoid it? shame on you.

same with bleaching her hair/dyeing walker’s hair. hair dye damages hair. tom felton’s hair was damaged from being malfoy. even if we had a blonde actress, kids rarely stay blonde through puberty, so it would likely not last long and then we’d have the same issue. walker doesn’t have black hair. suck it up. yall really are putting the visual appearance of book characters (who were described maybe twice in the books) over the comfort of real human children.

[avidbeader]

I posted 3,202 times in 2022

That's 1,249 more posts than 2021!

86 posts created (3%)

3,116 posts reblogged (97%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@avidbeader

@josilverdragon

@flashedarrow

@story-kat

@tattooedsiren

I tagged 2,948 of my posts in 2022

Only 8% of my posts had no tags

#voltron - 2,222 posts

#sheith - 2,127 posts

#the great sheith reblog - 1,389 posts

#sheithart - 1,303 posts

#sheith meta - 129 posts

#dent-de-leon - 94 posts

#sheith fic - 81 posts

#lightningstrikes-art - 69 posts

#pretty - 63 posts

#avid writes - 59 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#look i'm just saying that in at least three of those languages they chose the most passionate and romantic version of the phrase possible

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Finally upgraded my Google Docs into a nice basic website. Things will be added when I have the opportunity and if you have suggestions/corrections, please let me know through a DM!

47 notes - Posted March 30, 2022

#4

100 followers on Twitter!

30 followers here on Tumblr!

37 fics in the tag where there were 9 two weeks ago!

Hope everyone is thinking about what to write/draw!

49 notes - Posted March 18, 2022

#3

Commission from @Macu_artz on Twitter! This is a scene from my Sheith fairy-tale AU The Six Cursed Heirs. I am so happy to have this.

101 notes - Posted December 4, 2022

#2

Okay, so, about “The Sandman”...

It’s amazing.They pulled off a really elegant adaptation, based on the fact that I cannot point to either the comics or the series and say one was better than the other. Plots were tightened up. Characters got shifted here and there. They did the wise thing, in my opinion, and removed just about every reference to the DC superheroes other than a pair of name-checks. By allowing characters to be played by actors regardless of race or gender, they ended up with a cast that did a stellar job. Where there was classic bloody gore/horror, they surrounded it with intense psychological horror so that even those of us who are the type to look away from the screen got almost the full impact. And they took full advantage of the medium to produce incredibly rich and lush visuals and bring iconic pages in the comics to life.

As I said last night, if you feared what a live-action version would do to a story you treasure, don’t be afraid. And if you’re hesitant to watch a series without having read the source material, don’t hesitate. This feels like the once-in-a-generation event where the adaptation not only lives up to the original, but can stand beside it as an equal.

Spoilery thoughts under the cut for both the series and the comics.

I am still really astonished at just how deft an adaptation the series it. Every time I went, “Wait a minute, I don’t like this change,” by the end of that episode or the next I was sold. For example, I was missing Miranda, Rose’s mother, at the beginning of Episode 7, as the buffer between Rose and Unity and also because we were shown the circumstances of their separation from Jed and not just told. But when Gault took on Miranda’s appearance and then railed against Dream because she didn’t want to be a nightmare anymore, it made perfect sense.

And Gault herself was a revelation. In the comics we have a team called Brute and Glob, a rather dumb pair of nightmares, trying to make their own little Dreaming in Jed’s mind. (And if I remember correctly, they’re a reference to one of DC’s older horror comic titles.) They are the ones who capture Hector Hall at his death and bring Lyta to live with him in their fledgling kingdom, and Hector is the “Sandman” of Jed’s dream world. It works in the comics because the text and art pay homage to an early 20th-century comic strip called “Little Nemo”. But it would have been extremely hard to do that on screen without losing the viewers, so they made Jed the star of his dreams instead and gave him all the hokey superhero trappings. And that works because Jed is a kid, with a kid’s imagination. But it gets even better when we see that Gault’s motivations weren’t about power, but about protecting Jed from his abusers because she had changed and wanted to be free of the limitations of her origins. It hit me a little later--it’s such an elegant metaphor for those who are constricted by society because of their race or sexuality, constantly fighting the huge obstacles wanting to prevent such people from any kind of metamorphosis (I mean, Dream gave her butterfly wings when he recreated her as she wanted to be). Which leads me to the one giant tonal shift that has me curious about future seasons. Dream in the comics is almost completely without humor. He is ultra-serious about his duties and responsibilities and way too proud, unwilling to change as the aeons go by. And his inability to change leads him to his end in a classic literary tragedy - even though he knows change will be necessary, he resists and even plans for his demise by setting up for the possibility with Lyta’s child as his successor. But it’s really hard to get a TV series off the ground when your leading man is not just the aloof emo archetype but stoic and stern to the point of needing to be introduced as a prisoner to garner sympathy for him. My husband and I were genuinely surprised in the first episode when Dream cried over Jessamy’s death, because it signaled a depth of caring that we don’t see until much later in the comics. But the TV Dream does show emotion, albeit mostly quietly and with a lot of amazing face acting by Tom Sturridge, does appreciate humor and irony, and at the end of this season does seem to see the need for change.

So now I’m very curious as to how they will herd Dream to his death. Will there be a back-and-forth because Dream can’t change enough? Or will the undertone about the universe having rules mean that Dream’s arc will be less about tragic choices and more about circumstances, with him having to accept the consequences of spilling family blood when he gives Orpheus the coup?

(Of course this is assuming that Netflix allows the series to be completed instead of cutting it off after 2-3 seasons. Yes, I’m still bitter about Sense8.)

TL;DR - I loved it, I think Neil Gaiman has taken full advantage of his previous TV experiences to find what works and find who will work best with him, and I will re-watch this series many times and keep watching any future seasons.

145 notes - Posted August 10, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

tagged by @josilverdragon

favorite color: royal blue, purple, red and black together

currently reading: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

last song: “Fire and Rain” by Matt Kearney

last movie: I genuinely don’t remember

sweet/savory/spicy: Sweet

currently working on: a major work deadline so I can get back to writing fic

Tagging: @attheendofsummer @goldentruth813 @stlgeekgirl @rangergirl3 and anyone else who would like to play

177 notes - Posted October 28, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[voxartemis]

I posted 2,523 times in 2022

That's 1,017 more posts than 2021!

17 posts created (1%)

2,506 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@bundibird

@og-fanofmyself

@sevendeadlyhomunculus

@peppergnocchi

@gingerest-ale

I tagged 422 of my posts in 2022

#spoilers - 42 posts

#writing - 18 posts

#critical role - 15 posts

#the locked tomb - 13 posts

#critical role spoilers - 12 posts

#dracula daily - 10 posts

#moon knight spoilers - 8 posts

#exu calamity - 7 posts

#cr spoilers - 7 posts

#moon knight - 7 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#they’re all over instagram and my mom always send them to me like wow this place is amazing and i’m always like mom …that is not a real plac

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

The great thing about the legends of vox machina series is while the story will be the same it wont be verbatim the live stream. Like how when you finish a book series that’s it, there’s never a new scene with those characters, you never learn anything new about them, theres nothing new to experience with them. But this will be like we get to see our fav characters again in a brand new story but also we know how the story will go.

Or I guess it’s like a book to tv series adaptation if the book was written by multiple authors who are also playing the characters in the tv series.

What I’m saying is I’m VERY excited

29 notes - Posted January 14, 2022

#4

Me, reading the new Dracula daily for may 16th: oh my god, tumblr is gonna have a field day with this

46 notes - Posted May 16, 2022

#3

Kudos to Brennans acting cause in the second episode when they visit the oracles and Zerxus has that conversation with Asmodeus and Z says “promise you won’t forget me” and Asmodeus responds “oh, I won’t forget you”. Brennan had just enough of an edge in his tone I had a red flag pop up like, wait was that a threat..? But then he played Asmodeus as going back to soft and gentle and in awe of Zerxus. Lulled us right back to where he wanted us.

He really had me thinking this betrayer god might be misunderstood but he left a nice bit of foreshadowing to lead right up to that reveal with the line “and I did nothing wrong” *chefs kiss*

107 notes - Posted July 7, 2022

#2

I cannot get the “if you look down and see the stars, what will you see if you look up” line out of my head. What a beautifully terrifying, dream-horror moment. Just *chefs kiss* I aspire to be able to write something so perfect, so on theme, and the TIMING followed by “you see the ground. And it is fast approaching” just chills, bravo

276 notes - Posted May 31, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I’ve realized what it is about Brennan Lee Mulligans DMing style that I like so much. Its the way he handles exposition. He is a master at showing, not telling and he does that with all his lore drop exposition moments. Best example so far is…

Spoilers for EXU Calamity Ep 2 here

When Xerxus gets that nat 20 religion check on Vespins body. Brennan could have just said “you realize he’s a cleric of a betrayer god and he was used to death by that god”. Nice, to the point exposition.

No, instead he tells a story, first setting down the logic behind a cleric slowly gaining more power, and that it would be bad if a god gave a cleric too much at once. Then he describes the logic behind the betrayer gods choices, that the betrayer god might not care about their followers so much. And that allows his players to add those two things together to realize and really understand exactly what happened to Vespin to be in the state he is.

Its just perfectly done! What an amazing story teller he is to be able to provide a lore drop with so much emotion behind it. And to provide his players that experience of dawning realization and horror that your character, if they were a real person, would experience on having that same epiphany.

How does he do that? Is that all off the cuff, improv? Does he write or at least plan some of this stuff out beforehand? How do I do that, cause man oh man I want to do that. That’s so much fun as a DM and as a player.

1,127 notes - Posted June 12, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[daggersandarrows]

i could write about twenty essays on how matt adapts and shapes his dm style to each player but fuck if his dynamic with laura isn't my absolute favorite and that move just now was a perfect example. the battle of wits is just...it's too perfect.

[edenleicester]

OK SO HI i dont use tumblr a ton but my brother (ik he sees everything u posts so hey look i did it) sends me a ton of your stuff and i am a shinonome liker and am the Other person still thinking about classpects in the year of our lord 2022 SO i wanted to first of all say ur art is *chefs kiss* i cant wait for more (well i can wait art takes time but u know in the saying way) and also i wrote up a little something abt ur shinonome assignments bc i think they r big brained and Good God i hope i didnt misidentify the outfits thatd be so embarrassing. ok prelude over:

[these r just basically ripped from dms so sorry if presentation kinda wonky and explanations u already know lol]

...it looks like thief of blood akito and mage of light ena and basically what that means is thieves steal. obviously but they are the "active" ([Redacted long ass explanation you would know]) stealing class, and blood is the aspect of bonds between people. a thief of blood would take (insert what you think here) Away from their interpersonal relationships and use it to further the goals of the party, always a class that pushes things forward but not typically one that is well liked, lol. vriska is the prime example of a thief class in canon, very divisive lol. i think this is a really good akito read and can be summed up in a dialouge between len and toya: (context, len asking kohane and toya if its difficult to have such outgoing partners)

"When it comes to music and his goals, Akito is always super focused. So much so that he's strict on himself as well as others. So in that sense, trying to always live up to his ideals can be pretty difficult."

"I see. I guess that's also what makes it all worth it though, huh?!"

[reading back, i just kinda stopped here lmao well really this kind of dynamic just translates nicely and would probably play out similarly to how akito just. does but with waaaay bigger rpg stakes. although opening up the session to be EVERYONE would certainly make things more interesting, to be ostracised by so many people (as per the thiefs role basically necessitates at the start) has got to really do stuff to ur brain yknow. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ]

NOW mage of light ena is very fun so mages are also an active class, the active form of seeing and between seeing and the aspect of light things are about to get a lot less straightforward but. mages have full knowledge of theur aspect. seers, their passive counterpart are the typical ~tormented by weird flashes of the future they cant possibly understand~ but sollux, the canon mage of doom just Fully Knows Everybody Is Basically Already Dead and the struggle of the class is trying to NOT let that overwhelming, all knowing power, consume and defeat you. this goes double when we introduce light, which is associated with rose in canon ~going grimdark~, when she makes a pact with an outer eldritch god. vriska, coincidentally, is the other (main) light aspect we have to go off of, and her hubris just totally consumes her at a point. rose describes light as knowledge, but she IS a seer, and vriska describes it as something like luck, but we can take that adaptability and ena and say that light, for her, would be something like self-consciousness. she makes art, takes photos, involves herself in every step of the process to make it perfect-- if this angle is off, theyll notice, theyll hate it, theyll hate me; my art gets less attention, i should change this, do that, be better; this flaw, that flaw, constantly breathing down her neck.

applied to the game, maybe that would spread to consciousness for the entire partys actions? but either way, being in full knowledge of her every consequence would threaten her every move to near paralysis as the mage of light, and her hard-headedness and refusal of the despair of her friends is the perfect thing to raise her to the challenge

ok ya i hope u liked it or can enjoy that someone out there really liked ur art and ideas so much but ya also the vast majority of my info is from when i was in middle school trying to find the right one for me lol but u seem to know more about full session wide ripples and stuff so ya! very excited yet patient for whatevers next in store (saki fans when her death is deemed Righteous :PogChamp:)

oh one last thing. ur mspa style mimicry is Extremely extremely impressive. like. like. i feel like it almost goes without saying but the point of compliments is to say it so it makes me go wild how good it is. Okbye have a good day

omg this is a great analysis and I'm so glad that you're enjoying this au!

I am very sad to report tho that I did give Akito the clownery class, as I could not think of anyone else who would suit bard, you're not the first person to mistake it tho, I think without the codpiece it's unrecognizable. Also, I plan to make Toya's title Prince of Breath, because I think it would be really fun to have those two both be destroyer classes, while also having opposing aspects.

(I havent been able to play proseka since after the first week the eng ver came out because my phone broke, so i basically know nothing about vbs other than what i have learnt from the wiki and what ive seen others say, so there's a good chance I've misunderstood something.)

Destroyer classes start by ghosting their opposing aspect, until finally finding a point to embrace their own. It seems like Akito has a kinda, almost nonexistent relationship with his parents and a strained one with Ena, but has found strong bonds with his friends, and likewise Toya faced pressures from his father but has started standing up for himself and doing what he wants as an individual. (idk if akito helped with that in any way, but if he did then that would be an example of him being a destroyer)

Also, Ena I was having a hard time deciding on a class for, I did draw her as a maid but the mage class looks very similar so I can see how you would have thought that! I'm honestly still not sure on Ena's class, and honestly looking at your analysis it makes more sense to have her as a Mage than a Maid. Luck is one of the things light symbolises, and I had kind of interpreted that for Ena as the concept of talent? As Maid I kind of thought of Ena 'creating' talent rather than it just being something that she already has, but as a Mage I think she would see the talent that others have and understand the best place for them to utilise it, as well as understanding her own abilities, whether or not she thinks that what she can do is good enough or not (I think this is similar to canon idk).

It makes me so happy that people are enjoying this au, and thank you for the kind words on my art! I used to draw a bunch of homestuck au stuff back in highschool so I guess its like riding a bike haha. There will definitely be more to come!

[study-van]

I think it’s a quite known fact that I somehow managed to get accepted to some universities abroad. I’ve been getting asks about tips on how to do it so here are some extremely basic ones. I might make a second post delving more into the fine details but this is a pretty neat overview. If you’ve further questions my asks/dms are always open!!

Keep your options open, even if you have set goal that you want like to be a student at a certain university, it is always best and wise to apply to not just apply to one university even if they are in different locations abroad. For example, if I didn’t apply to France this year even though I was sure I was going to the US, I wouldn’t have a school to attend...

Checking other students who study abroad posts or actually talking to them will give you a really good idea on what to expect too.

Be realistic and actually check schools websites!! Read carefully the academic requirements to figure out the probability of being accepted. If you don’t have a clear idea about the requirements, you can contact the department of international students or an adviser from the university.

Don’t get caught up with names, I know most students dream of attending “prestigious” schools that even their name make people go wow but they’re not your only option especially for med school. Finding a school that suits you the most is the most important. In France, I got accepted from Sorbonne but I won’t attend there because I don’t think I’ll be able to pass their year of Paces/Pass and Paris is way too expensive to live in on a budget... Check carefully the lessons, the schools academic environment, their facilities, read up on their academic staff, the work related opportunities they give you (internships etc), read what actual students have to say about schools, how do they treat their students in crisis situations etc, and try to find the most suitable school.

On the point of crisis management, seriously do check how they responded to the pandemic, it’s a great indicator of how much they care about their students. How did they manage the evacuation process? How are they planning on re opening? How was their response time? etc.

Okay, this will sound silly but do actually check the surrounding area of your school (the climate, the city, what you can do there on your free times, etc) If you’re moving abroad, you won’t just try to adapt to the school but also to a whole new country and city. Plus, you’ll be spending a looong time there, especially if you’re planning on studying medicine, it’s crucial that you like where the university is situated.

Make sure you know on which portal you’ll be applying for France and America, it was quite easy bc you apply to all the unis from the same website but I’ve seen from my friends who applied to the Netherlands, for each school you apply through their website and before the time comes up for applications it’s a good idea to check that website’s features.

Not going to lie, paperwork is hell and I wish I knew way before getting accepted that I’ll go the France so that I could’ve prepared everything calmly... All the documents have to be translated into the official language of the respective country and legally authenticated by a competent authority. Make sure you read carefully the documents that are required and prepare them as soon as possible. Doing this early offers you a great advantage. If you send the documents and something is wrong, you still have enough time to make the necessary changes.

Also visa application is quite literally hell, especially if you’re a non-EU resident... Submitting your visa application is just as important as submitting your applications. I think all the countries require you to start the school year off with a visa, which allows you to study in your chosen country. Visas and visa requirements vary by country, so be sure to do your research and contact the closest consulate/visa offices (like vfs in Turkey) if you have any questions.

Nearly all the schools expect a personal statement/motivation letter/etc. from you. I know you’ll be compelled to make yourself out to be this 100% perfect student but don’t do that, seriously. As an international student, when writing your personal statement, be sure to express your commitment to living and studying abroad. You have to take a moment and think about what drives you, what inspires you to spend your entire higher education career abroad, why this specific major is your calling, etc. Your future university wants to know how studying at their school matches your academic goals, and why you want to study there. (For America, they enjoy an essay that’s more like a story, your story but for France it was extremely professional and right to the point, no need for a flair)

Finally consider the financial aspect of it. I was prepared to go the US bc I really believed I’ll get scholarships and I did too, plus a scholarship from a Turkish NGO too. However, if you’re thinking of Europe, it’s seriously much, much more affordable. Firstly, your living expenses won’t be as high and there are many small job opportunities and national/local scholarships that you can get (for example Lauréat scholarship in France). Be sure to start researching/applying to scholarships beforehand.

[yostresswritinggirl]

100 Followers Special

(And how to participate) you don't need to be a follower to vote ack

~yostresswritinggirl

Hello AGAIN, with your back to back followers special! Exiled here, very tired, as I just closed the requests box for our 50 followers special. I asked for some recommendations and no one helped me so this is what I came up with!

Granted, it's nothing that special, I literally just dumped my notes into this so—

Please make sure to follow the guidelines and read this thoroughly to properly participate!

1. You will be given a long list of fic prompts specific to a character that I've come up with for weeks on end, please don't steal, as I will remove them after this event is done!

2. Voting! You now have the power to influence my writing schedule haha- what you need to do: is to pick three prompts from the list and send it to me; either through reblog tag, a reply, or in my ask box (not anon so we can count fairly, will not publish these answers tho so worry not)! Not in messages tho! It should be in this format:

1. Character - prompt or prompt title

2. Character - prompt or prompt title

3. Character - prompt or prompt title

example:

1. Albedo - Citrinitas

2. Zhongli - Braid

3. Xingqui - Author!Reader

The top three most voted prompt and character will be the next fics I'll publish after I'm done with the current reqs. Speaking of: Voting ends when I finish the current reqs. You'll know it's done once the counter in my blog desc reaches 12/12.

3. In addition to the three prompts, you also get to add your own prompt to it! My prompts list does not include ALL the characters that's why I wanted to give you this option too! Add a fourth number and specify a character, a prompt/idea, and the format of the fic! Format it this way:

4. Character - Prompt/Idea (Format)

4. Kaeya - What's under that eyepatch? (Scenario)

After I pooled the answers, I'll randomly pick between the bonus answers and write them last! So give it your best shot!

4. Tags-list! I thought this would be necessary for this kind of a whim special, so if you wanna be tagged, just put Tag Me! at the end of your vote. Please make sure that you're actually able to be tagged because I just tried and some users are not in my orbit huhu, look here

5. If a pocket watch/series prompt gets chosen, I will only post the first chapter, not the whole damn fic pls. Have mercy,,,

I will post a counter of the top three in my blog description and will be updated as frequently as possible. Any questions, please direct to this post or my dms <3

Without further ado, here is your choice list!

Xingqui - "My liege, would you care to accompany me on my reading break? I've picked up a romance novel and it reminded me of us."

-> Author!Reader: You met Xingqui at Wanwen Bookhouse when delivering a batch of your newly-published book. But as a ghost writer, no one knew it was you that authored such books. Safe to say it was cute watching the noble bookworm fanboy about you in front of you. [FLUFF] [FIC]

-> Headcanons with a reader older than Xingqui who's a close family friend of the Feiyun Commerce Guild. Fascinated after meeting you in a party, the noble boy aspires to become the best man for you despite the difference, promising to be the best suitable partner for you in the future. [FLUFF] [HEADCANON SCENARIO]

Childe - "Hey there, comrade! What a coincidence that we had a break at the same time, care to accompany me for a walk? I promise I won’t lead you to a fight haha... hey, don’t look at me like that!”

-> Antinomy -  The 10th Harbinger (You) and the little shit they had to mentor (Childe), this fic enumerates the trials of the 11th before he became a Harbinger under your care. From strangers to mentor to friends to love- Childe made a grave mistake, now you’re once again strangers. [FLANGST] [ONESHOT]

Albedo - "Ah, it's you. I've heard of fleeting rumors that you've been pestering a certain someone just to see me. Next time, just come directly to me, I wouldn't mind the assertiveness."

-> Refer to these three as well: Albedo Fic Ideas [FLUFF/FLANGST/FLANGST] [ONESHOT/ONESHOT/SERIES]

-> “You’re Enough”: A year into being the new Chief Alchemist of Mond, Albedo finds himself holed up in his room in the dead of night, haunted as he continuously comes out empty on his research to bring his master back, feeling inadequate. So you reminded him of what he’s capable of. [FLUFF?] [ONESHOT INSPIRED BY You Are Enough - Sleeping At Last]

-> Under the Artificial Sky: Michaelangelo Scenario focused on Albedo’s sketching aspect. Grand Master Varka and Acting Grand Master Jean figured Albedo needed a break and a change of scenery, and sent him off under the guise of a commission in Liyue. What he didn’t expect was another artist from Fontaine accompanying him in this big project.(Albedo and Reader are tasked to paint the new Jade Chamber within 7 days) [FLUFF] [SERIES - 7 CHAPTERS]

-> Albedo SMUT: I had this idea while laying wide awake at 3 AM. The alchemist had been trying all remedies to shake off the stress and fatigue in his system and they all seemed to fail, no amount of sketching or discoveries can pull him away from it. So when you offered a solution he hasn’t heard, he’d jump at it immediately. “You know, some people say having intercourse with someone is a good stress-reliever.” “Intercourse? If it’s true, then please, I wish to have intercourse with you.” “Wha- wait Albedo, do you not know what that is? It’s only done between lovers!” “Convenient, I love you, anything else?” (Two virgin dumbasses do the thing to relieve stress) [SMUT] [ONESHOT]

Xiao - “I’ve taken care of every threat around this area, you can relax now, I made sure of that.”

-> What is it with you and Qingxin flowers? The Traveler had once heard of Xiao’s affinity for Qingxin flowers, and they’re flying companion boldly asked this lingering question to the adepti himself. His pupils dilate and sharpen before Paimon could finish her sentence. (An origin story about his favorite flower, and his favorite person) [SLIGHT FLANGST] [ONESHOT]

-> Just how harmful is adeptal energy to normal humans? You both found out in the worst way possible: silently, deadly. (Slight spoiler: you fucking die) [ANGST] [ONESHOT]

-> Nightmares Taste Horrible: He’s seen that look in your eyes and the ancient soul within it; you’ve lived long ago, and the only thing your soul carried now was the nightmares of a macabre timeline. Was it him or was it demons that brought you that fear? No matter, he’ll protect you even from yourself. (eating the nightmare of a dead soul reincarnated to you) [FLANGST?] [ONESHOT]

-> Go for the throat: The seal that marked you had made it all too late for him to remedy. Bleeding eyes, growing fangs, it’s just another demon to vanquish just like he’s done for centuries. What makes it different was it was sealed in you. (Inspired from Melanie Martinez’s song uhu) [ANGST] [ONESHOT]

Zhongli - “Mortals are capable creatures that evolve and adapt for means of survival, but they advance in ways that changes the world around them. This retirement, may be harder to me than it is to them.”

 -> “In human history, there’s a certain noble and powerful connotation to rulers who braid their hair.” Convince to braid his hair using some historical braid trivia; that long hair behind his back should not be ignored for any longer. [PURE FLUFF] [DRABBLE]

-> History has its eyes on you: A traveling theatre hailing from the land of entertainment finds its way to Liyue for their last caravan. A certain Geo Vision man seems to resonate with your newest script: fighting and protecting your land, building up its nation, before being forced to let go of it. He resonates maybe a little too much. (Musical!Reader with heavy references to Hamilton hehe) [FLUFF] [ONESHOT]

Venti - "Can you hear the symphonies of the wind as it sings to you? That's me, guiding you and protecting you! Whenever you hear it, know that you're safe and sound under my protection!"

-> the one the bard once loved: like actual bard, you are the archer or smth, loved by Venti and Barbatos. Yandere!Barbatos undertones, very unhealthy relationship. This hurts the kokoro. [PURE ANGST] [ONESHOT]

-> The Caravan: (related to the Zhongli and Musical!Reader up there) Your caravan stops at Mondstadt for a whole week before it reaches its final destination. This new fanfare pulled in a peculiar bard who now wants to tag along for the fun of it. "I have no more responsibilities in this free land!" Just what kind of responsibilities does a broke bard have in the first place? [FLUFF] [ONESHOT/HEADCANON]

Diluc - "You look weary, and you still managed to pull yourself here. Here, a fresh and cold glass, on the house. A relieved smile should be enough payment."

-> Abandoned by The Altar: A timeline oriented story focused on your once perfect childhood relationship as Diluc's bride to be, soon becoming estranged after the death of his father and his neglect. You only wish now that he looks at you the same way he did when you heard you were supposed to be together forever when you were young. [FLANFF] (The ending gets better pls; Inspired by Still Into You - Paramore) [ONESHOT]

-> There are No Laws Against Homelessness in Mondstadt: My favorite title out of all of this ahahhaa- who says adventurers can't be broke? You're the living embodiment of that. (Good boi Diluc with a broke ass reader) [FLUFF] (Warning: homelessness) [ONESHOT]

Scaramouche - "Let's go already, the sun is setting and we're nowhere near our destination. If you wanted to linger just to spend more time with me, I would have indulged you behind closed doors anyways."

-> Scaramouche Finally Does the Fandango: Have you ever wondered how Scaramouche is like working with other people? His first assignment was to accompany you in your main region and he sees you in your natural habitat, entranced. [I dunno how to tag this, NORMAL?] [ONESHOT/SHORT]

-> Skincare bitch, how I headcanon Scaramouche as someone actually conscious and always tending to their skin. Look at that smooth skin, cute cheeks, let me pinch, eyeliner glory— In which case, that hat has more purpose than being a frisbee. (May or may not include reader. (based from a reblog convo with chels-void) [GOOD VIBES] [HEADCANONS]

-> Once Supreme: Before Scaramouche, there was someone else higher than him. Before Balladeer there was just a young man fighting for his beliefs and her Majesty. Before Mondstadt, his smile wasn't just for deception. "Someday, someone would take advantage of that smile, Scaramouche. It's not appropriate in this work environment." The day you break a man. (Harbinger!Reader again, and lots of HCs for Scaramouche, same format as Antinomy) [I also do not know how to call this, eventual ANGST] [ONESHOT]

Kaeya - "What are you doing out here in the dead of night? Citizens like you should be cozied up in bed and leaving the patrols to us Knights. Come, I'll accompany you back home."

-> Honey Whiskey: A mysterious band of dancers from Sumeru visits Mondstadt and its taverns to offer a night of alluring dances. What was supposed to be a night of drinking for Kaeya and his troops ended up becoming a tipsy surprise mission when the main dancer steps down from the stage— and ignores him?! How scandalous! (Slightly suggestive themes/You're a bad guy) [COOL?] [ONESHOT] [slightly inspired by song with the same name]

General:

-> A Musical!Reader but with a scenario with every other character, most probably headcanons master post.

-> Genshin Food prompts: From that one post, I ended up making a whole storyline of oneshots related to their special dishes. Oneshots connected to a bigger picture. By impulse you've ended up leaving your normal life behind to pursue your cooking career, starting from Mondstadt, to learn all the cuisines to establish the first ever international restaurant. With the implications of magic and peculiar customers, your simple dream turns into a harder goal. [GOOD SHIT] [SERIES] [CANON-COMPLIANT]

-> God of Time!Reader that hails from Fontaine. Do you wish to know more about their origins and their purpose in this world? [CANON-COMPLIANT] [HEADCANONS] (General since it deals with all the characters/interactions)

▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱

Tagslist-for-my-thirsty-homies:

[violet-t-9]

Just some more thoughts about episode 131

This is probably an unpopular opinion at this point, but I don’t think M9 are idiots for considering working with Trent. 

1. M9 know they will never trust Trent even if they “ally” with Trent. Again, it’s not like they considered “allying with Trent” to be buddies or to excuse Trent’s past disgusting actions. They are fully aware of how horrible and awful Trent is. 

2. If they did “ally” with Trent, they’d try to kill Trent as much as Trent would try to sabotage them. Their main reasons for suggesting this “alliance” would be first off, world at stake here and all-hands-on-deck and secondly, they want to get rid of Trent as a bonus. 

3. Bad luck on a roll doesn’t automatically mean that the idea was horrible. The fact that a persuasion check was presented by the DM means there was a chance of success, and that Essek started considering the possibility of that plan too - after Caleb mentioned that the main perk was they wanted to get rid of Trent. We don’t know what the DC is! If the roll was high enough, Essek might not even disagree. A bad roll is just a bad roll, guys, it doesn’t actually mean that some divine intervention is saying how terrible an idea it is.

4. M9 didn’t really force Caleb into anything - they suggested the idea yes, and he was uncomfortable at first but then considered the risk/benefit and he too decided that the idea had merits (which it does, actually, just a lot of drawbacks too). However, Caleb was also not the only one “stubbornly pushing for this plan” like I’ve seen some people say. He was the one to bring it up with Essek but everything he said was agreed upon by the group so let’s be clear here, it’s a group effort and Caleb was not the one “pushing for it the most” just because he spoke about M9′s collective decision.

5. A lot of D&D things really depend on the dice and future gameplay, and I’m sure even if they did decide to work with Trent positive outcomes (like killing Trent, or using Trent to stop TT) are very possible. If they play well, they will get rewarded. Matt made it clear that they “had choices” at the end of the episode. The whole point of D&D is everything is possible. There are consequences for actions, yes (for example, Trent’s revolting presence near all of them, ew), but there are also endless possibilities of things actually working out. So before dismissing M9′s idea as absolutely bad please consider, they could have made it work and they could have emerged victorious - the possibility exists. 

6. I’ve also seen things like “Trent’s abilities won’t even be helpful against Lucien he is a wizard” and that’s just... not true? Caleb is also a wizard, so is Essek, and Trent would definitely be higher level than the both of them. Are they all going to not be helpful against TT?? I find that hard to believe especially since they have things to deal with the antimagic cone already. If your argument is Trent wouldn’t help them, would backstab them and would be more trouble than he is worth, then I 100% agree with you, but saying his magical power wouldn’t be a benefit to them is just... not correct?

6. After confirming with Astrid and knowing just how big a threat Trent thinks they are now, M9 collectively dropped the plan because now that they have extra information, they have a better idea of what decision to make. They realize that Trent would be more dangerous than he is useful. This is just how decision making works - you get more information, you change and adapt the plan. It doesn’t mean the original plan was not worth considering.

Again, I’m not saying the cast is perfect. I myself am very happy about the failed roll and about not having to see Trent any time soon. There are 100+ reasons why working with Trent would be a bad idea, but I just got a bit tired seeing people talking about how bad M9 is at decision making and how they lack any logic and reason. They considered an option available to them that could potentially bite them hard OR be very advantageous to them, and eventually decided against it because the risk is getting bigger than the potential benefit after they gather more information. That’s all it is.

[kookiepredictions]

Why Jungkook’s future spouse will fall in love with him

Broadly it’s the same as Jungkook’s reasons— the twinflame connection brings them together in a way that she can’t help loving him, even though she might have tried not to. But just so this post is not a reiteration of the previous one, I’ll be more specific.

Most of her life, people saw her as some sort of a trophy partner, and not much effort was made to understand who she really was inside. It’s not so much that the other men mistreated her, it’s just that they didn’t know how to treat her. She has been loved, but only in parts and pieces. Which, when awakening to a new perspective of life and love, didn’t seem like love to her. It seemed too conditional to be love. And it’s not just her own relationships, just relationships in general as she saw around her, whether it be her friends’ or strangers’ never fulfilled her own idea of love or relationships. She saw less of love and more of convenience-based asset-exchange. Deals that were made and broken, instead of promises that should be made and kept. Somewhere along her awakening, she formed this really lofty idealistic concept of love and she was keenly aware that it could be an unrealistic dream. Not only was the “love” unrealistic, the problem that came even before that was, to make that dream a reality, she had to first meet someone who also wanted the same thing in love and relationships. And her previous acquaintances didn’t make her feel hopeful about finding someone like that. She also might be a little headstrong with the type of “I’d rather be alone all my life than end up in a wrong relationship with the wrong man” attitude. It was not that the men were “wrong” per se, it was just that they didn’t have the same mindset as hers which is why even though there might have been other common interests and such, it was never whole/ complete. In a previous relationship or connection, she has had to dim down parts of herself to adjust and adapt in it, because they were in some way, “too much” or straight up “useless” to the other person because they just didn’t know what to do with it. One main example is her spirituality. Twinflames are spiritually inclined right from their childhood, even though they’re mostly not conscious about it. It’s just that they have that aspect, that intuitively guided thought process and behavioural pattern to them. In her previous relationships, this was considered an unnecessary thing, an inconvenience even. She was too “different” for her own good. For those partners it was like, it was enough for her to be an arm candy, why does she have to be so analytical, philosophical and idealistic? As she worked on her self confidence and grew more assertive in life, this was seen as an attractive quality— “finally someone with the face and the brains”— but it was still something most people didn’t know what to do with. This is another reason why dating didn’t appeal to her because it lacked the spiritual depth, and although she didn’t know this was what was missing from her life, she was never satisfied with the outer, surface-level dating activities where there was no soul connection. She was probably in a state of acceptance of “I’m going to die alone” idea lol when she first meets Jungkook.

One thing to mention here is that she was not treated right by her past connections not because it was their fault; the main reason was that she didn’t know how to be treated. She knew what she didn’t want in a relationship but she didn’t know exactly what she wanted. And that’s because she didn’t fully know herself either. Jungkook comes into her life and completely transforms the way she sees herself. He serves as the quintessential twinflame mirror for her and all those hidden parts of herself were revealed to her. With Jungkook, she doesn’t feel like she has to become someone else. Although it happens slowly and gradually, she feels more and more vulnerable with him in a way that she could never be with anyone else before. And in fact, in a way that she didn’t even think would be possible since earlier for her, relationships meant adjusting by partially hiding yourself. With Jungkook she doesn’t feel like she has to do that because somehow for him, ALL of her personality is very appealing to him. He’s just interested in everything about her. She can say what she really wants to say and he is eager to listen to it. None of her parts are useless, everything is attractive to him. He’s her biggest cheerleader lol. She could do the smallest thing and he will hype her up like she won the Nobel or something lol. And it all happens because Jungkook really sees her as she is. It’s that habit of his to dig deeper and deeper. He is SO interested to understand her, it’s a very pleasant surprise to her. He doesn’t judge her only for her outer attributes, he likes her for who she is inside— her thoughts, words, feelings— these are the main reasons why he loves her. He’s not like, “okay this is what you look like, this is what your body looks like, done, I’m in love, I don’t need to know anymore”. It’s not like that. He’s really interested in HER— it’s something she had always wanted but almost given up on. Jungkook just comes in and does the very thing that she expected a true partner to do. And the best part about this is that he doesn’t even have to force himself to do it— it’s just who he naturally is— his natural habit of trying to understand people deeply and then treating them accordingly (also discussed in his Personality reading). This is important because if you forcefully do something, say, to win someone over, but is not a part of your natural personality, it doesn’t last long, and eventually you’ll stop doing it, and then the other person feels like you’ve changed, but you haven’t changed, you just weren’t being true to yourself in the first place. (Relationship tip lol: Be yourself right from the start. Put exactly who you are on the table, and let them decide based upon it. It makes a relationship easier and long lasting).

Jungkook sort of just allows her to be— it’s a comfortable space to be in. It’s like how women in the Victorian era must have felt after they took off their corsets lol. And because of this, she learns to value herself and stand up for who she is and what she wants. Funnily though, this means that she might also sometimes stand up against Jungkook when their principles clash, but that’s not with the intention of causing arguments, it’s just that now she values herself too much to doubt herself, and if the person opposite to her is Jungkook himself, she must still stand up for herself, because that’s what Jungkook and this connection has motivated her to do, whether or not it was intended that way. Jungkook is like the last and most important puzzle piece in her spiritual growth. Whatever she had been experiencing in all those years, she now KNOWS what she was and is experiencing. She can articulate her experiences, feelings and ideas from a very definitive point of awareness and knowledge. He is literally the main reason she goes from being an ordinary girl to a divine feminine who knows what she wants, why she wants it, and how to go after it. So many things are said about DFs’ roles in awakening the DMs, but not enough is said about how much of an impact DMs have over their DFs. DFs can sometimes tend to get caught up in their heads with all the frou frou spiritual stuff, but since DMs lead in the physical world or the 3D, they keep the connection and their DFs grounded and play such an important role in manifesting the connection from the spiritual realm to the physical. They have so much love for their DFs they almost form this cocoon of love around them all the time, which again, like discussed in the previous post, makes the DFs feel like they are not all alone in what they’re doing. Jungkook makes her feel so loved and so beautiful, and it’s even better because she knows that it’s not just in a superficial way, rather for who she is in her entirety. In fact, he could care less about what she has to offer. She’s not naive, definitely not after she has found awareness, she knows exactly why people value her and why they want her in their lives. She might not be perfect but she knows what she brings to the table, and she knows that it’s a lot more than what most people are capable of giving. She doesn’t mind giving, as she believes people are born not to take but to give, but it’s the sense of entitlement and the obligatory responsibility that is pushed upon her that turns her off. Jungkook, being her twinflame, is that one person who doesn’t look at her as that kind of an asset. He’s not perfect lol he has his moments of struggle, but at the core, all he really wants is just a companion who understands him, nothing more nothing less. Instead, while most people would extend this energy of “what can you give to me?” Jungkook extends this energy of “what can I give to you?” It’s like how all of Rapunzel’s value was in her hair, but Eugene cuts it off to protect her because in his eyes, her value was in who she was as a person, and all he ever wanted to do was to love and protect her.

Even with speed bumps and potholes, Jungkook’s idea of love matches with his twinflame’s idea of love. There is a sense of innocence and purity with which he loves her. He hardly questions it and even in his most frustrated, weak moments, when he does question it, he’s not very good at it. He’s so much better at loving lol. He’s a true divine masculine to the divine feminine that she becomes. You know, most people do know what real love is, but when that ego comes in between, most people cave. It takes someone really strong to want to fight their own ego blockages and limitations to make that real, ideal love happen, and Jungkook is definitely one of them. He struggles SO much in the connection, it makes me sad often because it is difficult for anyone, but 22/ 23 is too young an age for a super busy K Pop idol to be in a connection as confusing and intense as this, and he definitely has all the reasons and ways out of it. But I don’t know what ultimately gives him the strength to want to work on this, to not let it go. I know a TF connection is not easy to let go of either, and I know he’s wanted out of it, and has tried often, as has his DF, but I just had to say it because we see him smiling for the press and photo ops and it’s just sometimes so hard to believe that that same person is going through all of this. Although, I would say that he does make it harder for himself due to his own stubbornness but again, that’s a post for another day :)

[slifers-executive-writer]

My Thoughts on the Potential Personality of a Certain Pharaoh We Never Met

Hey guys...It’s been a while since I wrote something about YGO specifically and well since that is the main focus of this blog, I thought I’d create another discussion. 

This particular tidbit (more like a brain fart to be completely honest) is from scrolling through this website and other social media pages and therefore stumbling on the fandom making their theories and headcanons on what Atem’s true personality is. I think we have all seen the jokes on how we as a fandom like to write him off as this super gay, suave, smooth talking, prideful king. The counter argument I often see is that he is socially awkward, fumbling serial killer, with an identity crisis. All of these claims tend to be backed up by people recalling numerous amounts of the original source material from Mr. Takahashi, but sometimes I wonder what could have been. 

Popular headcanons asides (that means we are not using any ships and/or made up assumptions with no basis), let’s talk about this for a minute. What has Kazuki provided and what can we assume about Atem’s actual character. Despite being a 200+ episode anime, several movies, and over 30 volumes of manga, our favorite author has left a lot to be desired from this guy. Once we’ve discussed the material, I’ll make a personal evaluation of what Atem could have been like had we been able to meet him after he had retrieved all his memories.

Okay so perhaps the fandom is right about one thing, Atem started out as a borderline serial killer. Well, according to the manga, he has got quite a bit of red on his ledger with multiple violent injuries/deaths by his hands.

Right at the moment Atem’s spirit was reawakened by Yugi completing the Millennium Puzzle, we have an individual very determined to protect his vessel at any cost. Of course not without his own enjoyment in participating in his “Dark Games”. So we can tell Atem is very protective of Yugi, his group of friends, and generally any other innocent bystanders. We can argue he is a little over protective via his deadly methods but I guess it’s the thought that counts right?

Luckily for Atem’s victims, he stops his magically mind-fucking bullshit after the Duelist Kingdom arc. He never explains why he stops. Perhaps it has to do with his development as a character to not be as ruthless in an attempt to comfort Yugi.  

One attribute Atem does not lose throughout the series is when confronted with any sort of enemy, we see Atem is very confident in his abilities. Another thing the fandom got right is well... he is quite the smooth talker. Despite being from a completely different era, this guy always knows what to say to enemies and rivals alike. Not to mention his motivational speeches to his friends are always quite powerful. If anything I would almost consider Atem a bit of a life coach. He more or less helped raise Yugi and company into the individuals they become. 

Along with giving everyone their moments of support, Atem does a pretty good job blending in with modern society despite being locked up in his own head for thousands of years. I find some individuals, thinking Atem is a complete fumbling socially awkward dork and well, maybe not so much. Sure he has his moments, I think we can all look back on the ‘Date’ episode, but we have to look at which version we are watching/reading. For the sake of accuracy I tend to interpret the Japanese material as it is closest to the manga. As I said, Atem isn’t perfect, he can be very blunt to people when they ask him for an opinion (or telling people it’s the end of the world if he doesn’t win a card game), but I certainly wouldn’t consider him completely ‘socially awkward’ in general. 

But honestly that can be a whole other essay and I’m just talking about basic character traits overall. Now let us discuss some of Atem’s flaws.

So to make things easier, let us list the flaws as they appeared in both manga and anime:

When Shadi was first introduced to us (manga), we got a glimpse of seeing our favorite dark spirit sweat in the heat of a shadow game. It was revealed that Atem knew little of his true identity and sharing a Yugi’s body meant, that the two would share each others emotions. Moreover, this spirit had fears and doubts just like the rest of us.

As time passes we see more of Atem’s doubts emerge as he becomes more comfortable with Yugi and company, and therefore he expresses his confusion about his past. Where did he come from and who is he and such. This guy needs to have a sense of purpose and being Yugi’s guardian is fine, but at the end of the day, it would be best for him to become his own person.

There is another interaction in the manga (and in the Japanese version of the anime) that I found interesting. When Atem addresses this identity issue and whether his time on this plain is limited, Yugi kind pushes it off as something he doesn’t want to think about. The kid does it again (god I can’t remember exactly which arc this is, I wanna say DOMA), Atem mentions the issue and Yugi says “You can have my memories”. 

For fans of the pairing (to be honest I’m a boring canon-ish shipper so not my cup of tea, but I get it...this scene is pretty gay) this moment is viewed as tender love and care but I can’t help but notice a pattern and another character flaw. We have a guy with no memories of his own and having an identity crisis but every time he wants to discuss this issue, his best friend tends to push it away. I understand Yugi’s reasoning, that Atem is basically the catalyst for all the good things to happen in his life, but the constant ignoring of the problem for the first half of the series is borderline toxic. Furthermore, it shows Atem is a bit of an enabler when it comes to Yugi. Unlike Joey who loudly addresses the behavior to Atem’s face, Yugi finds comfort in it and for both of them it only makes the journey harder for them in moments of separation.

Just something I thought I’d bring up since I don’t see a lot of people talking about moments of toxicity in this friendship. Not that it is a bad thing, I find it quite interesting and realistic. Not all relationships with people are perfect.

Last by certainly not least, Atem’s biggest character flaw, is he is one prideful son of a bitch. Yes, I said it. He likes to complain a lot about his rival (Kaiba) about the characteristic when he is also guilty of it. It’s always duelist pride this and duelist pride that, when a lot of the times this bullshit is what almost gets people killed. Atem’s pride kind of ties in with the ruthlessness of his character, where in the ride to victory he sometimes forgets the people he defeats are still humans beings. Take the incident with Arkana, it took Yugi switching back to keep the guy from getting his legs cut off. (Move out the way Jigsaw, Atem is gunning for your spot.) 

But his pride works against him when individuals such as Yami Bakura and Dartz use their words to question his morality. What would Atem do just to obtain victory? While our hero tends to grow from these experiences and beat the bad guys in the end, it does not negate the fact that the pharaoh’s greatest strength also tends to be his greatest weakness.

Okay so I’ve gotten most of Atem’s characteristics down pat before he retrieves his memories. In summary here is a list of some of his qualities I’ve gathered from the source material.

PROS

-protective & caring nature

-generally is confident in his abilities

-good with his words, knowing when to pick someone up and put his enemies down

-Adapts to modern customs and his friends pretty well, especially for someone locked up in a pendant for so long

-easily takes a leadership role (probably a projection of his kingship past) although he is often humble about his status as pharaoh

-his pride keeps his head held high and rises above all challenges

CONS

-let’s be real the guy is incredibly blunt (this could be a pro or con depending on preference)

-can be an enabler to Yugi at times

-ruthless nature (let’s be real his kill count is like 5+ people in the manga, probably more)

-has an overall identity crisis

-tends to put others above himself, which at times can be toxic or detrimental to his character

-his own pride can be used against him, placing fear and doubt into his mind (DOMA was a great example of this)

I feel like every time Takahashi draws him in a new movie, he just adds more flair and muscles (not that I’m complaining)

So now we come to a head and the big question is what are we missing out on? Perhaps one of the reasons Yu-Gi-Oh DM has so much fanfiction and forums about it is the general sense of emptiness the ending of the series left behind. I think dub Tea put it best, (these are not the exact words, I’ve already spent an hour writing this) Atem was leaving us just as we were getting to know him. Finally a season where we get to see him as his own character, and honestly him fighting bad guys and dying for it, was not the way a lot of us would have wanted to see him go. Instead he comes back to duel Yugi but Atem feels so stiff and mysterious. The guy doesn’t even talk to the poor girl crying in front of him. This isn’t a guy who just wanted to up and leave from the get go. But now that he got the information he wanted, suddenly he just says fuck it and gives a thumbs up walking into the light? Nah. I’m sorry to say the Yu-Gi-Oh is not on my top list of anime endings, but it can be one of saddest. 

I often wonder time and time again, what would have Atem been like around his friends. Maybe he would have more of a sense of humor (like he was with Mana). Would he have more wisdom? Would he be more charming? These are just a few question I and many others have about our favorite pharaoh. But hey that’s what we have headcanons for right?

Now some of you may be wondering, especially as a fanfic writer, what are my own headcanons about Atem? As I mentioned before I guess you can say I’m boring, I prefer canon-ish ships and I try to keep my headcanons as much in line with the source material as I can. Of course I add a tad of my own flair to it so it isn’t completely the same. If anything I try to fix so of the errors I see in the original. 

My headcanon for Atem (post memories): A lot of the qualities I mentioned before would most likely remain the same, if not positively amplified. He certainly wouldn’t be as ruthless as he used to be, the anime/manga has shown his growth from that. He would definitely still be very protective of those he cared about. Although I can’t help but think that after remembering his past, he would carry himself in a regal manner. Possibly even without him noticing because he was raised from birth to become a king. Considering the strong connection with his father, I can see the guy having a keen sense for family bonding, perhaps even wanting one of his own. It is traditional for pharaoh to want to pass on their legacy. I’m also sure we all like to think the guy would be incredibly charming, considering how he always seems to know exactly what to say. Although he would still be blunt with his statements, he isn’t one to lie or hold back. If you ask Atem a question you will get the truth and the honest truth. Pride and honesty are incredibly important to him. While he respects honesty, I can imagine he would like to keep personal matters to himself and not worry others. If anything he would rather stay quiet than create a lie. Lastly considering how humble he tends to be with the people around him and how he values everyone as equals, I can see Atem being very open-minded to try new things and explore various ideologies. He would not judge, or have prejudice. He would be accepting and encourage others to be who they are as long as they were good people.

 Okay so maybe he would be low-key nervous around pets lol.

Well, that was longer than I planned it to be, but thanks for reading all that if you did. Feel free to add to the conversation or blow up my inbox!