#tamar ufam

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8, 18 & 23 for Tamar & Martín? :)

hey i know this is three years late but i'm feeling nostalgic

8: Did they have pets as a child? do they have pets as an adult? do they like animals?

Tamar did not have pets, her family was semi-nomadic and she had other things to worry about. as an adult, she prefers children to animals, although she appreciates how she's safe from enchanting animals when she speaks

Martín found his dog Ciccio (brown and black terrier) on the street when he was a teenager. He still has him, but he's old and fat after living at the Gioia family bakery

18: What's their favorte genre of: books, music, etc.

Tamar loves poetry. she'd be into shakespeare, rumi, and pablo neruda. when she and muriel visit the palace library, they spend hours curled up in the corner, reading poetry as Tamar's magic makes te words come to life.

Martín plays guitar and loves any kind of lively music. he's also a fan of theater (he won't admit it but the dramatic romances are his favorite). man can't sit still long enough to read a book.

23: Do they have a good memory? Short term or long term? Are they good with names? Or faces?

[cries in Arcana apprentice]

Tamar has a decent short term memory, but long term is still cloudy for her. she asks for patience often as her body still adjusts to regaining and retaining memories. her muscle memory is fantastic, though.

Martín is his mother's son and has the memory of a performer. rehearsing lines and blocking scenes are skills that transferred to his life post-Plague. while he's not an avid reader, he has hundreds of recipes memorized. and having an affinity for faces helps with his glimmer magic.

OC ask game

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OC Tag Game

tagged by @cchickki (loved reading about yours btw)

tagging @poetic-emptiness-fanfic and anyone who's interested bc this is my wakeup call to find more peeps to talk WIPs/writing with on here 🫠

My OCs: Tamar Ufam (Arcana), Martín Gioia (Arcana), Marian Ovesen (MCU/Thor), Theodora Duke (Spiderverse) (love n miss my bbs i promise I'll write more someday)

Favorite OC: I'd have to go with Tamar. Her story was so fun to flesh out, and as a pandemic creation, she'll always be dear to my heart. The Arcana, at its best, was so good at setting users up to create their own Apprencice lore and hers slaps.

Newest OC: Theodora/Thea for my Spiderverse brainrot lol. I've learned a lot about Spider-Man (esp 2099 👀) because of her. It's been a trip figuring out her powers as an arachnophobe (she's also my go-to Moon Knight insert bc we're shamelessly similar and i'm Lazy)

Oldest OC: sweet Marian, she's my Loki OC from 2014. I had a ton of anxiety about writing a blind character (especially since her original outline had her gain sight later), so I never committed to writing. But her relationship with Thor-era Loki is so precious, I lowkey (😏) want to pick it back up.

Meanest OC: hmm maybe Marian? Hanging out with Loki and literally having his magic tether/influence your own is bound to influence your personality, too (the sass certainly doesn't help)

Softest OC: I'd say Martín! He's my Portia route Apprentice and I needed someone who'd be down to bake bread and play guitar at a moment's notice. The Red Plague made him kinder.

Most Aloof/Standoffish OC: Tamar. After her resurrection, she was so touch-adverse, Asra couldn't even be near her for months. Getting too close to certain people or too worked up triggers her catatonia. It helps that her healing magic is verbal/music-based, so she can work from afar.

Dumbest (Affectionate) OC: Martín, my beloved 😭 he was reckless and vain when he was younger and it definitely got him in trouble; it's why he was sent to Vesuvia to aid the Red Plague efforts. Even though he sobered up, he's still a lovable goober with a penchant for mischief.

Smartest OC: I'm going with Thea bc she's technically in grad school (haven't decided if she's reenrolled yet). She was also engaged to an archeologist who loved to infodump and travel with her (RIP Rayan)

OC I'd probably be friends with: Thea (she's just like me fr). Definitely the most relatable OC I've made (intentionally), and I'd like to think we'd commiserate over barista war stories and sensory issues.

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20 Fanfic Questions

ty for the tag @virtie333, sorry for the delay!

How many works do you have on AO3?

7, so far!

2. What's your total AO3 words count?

17,707 (that number makes me unreasonably happy)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

currently: Moon Knight (2022) previously: The Arcana (dating sim, pre-Dorian butchering), The Hobbit franchise (I'd like to continue this one tbh!!) potentially: the Lokiverse (mans has been in too much), Spiderverse

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

An Unexpected Proposition (Kili x Fem!Reader - 43 kudos) Strawberry Cordial (Muriel x Apprentice OC - 37 kudos) Last Night (Jake Lockley x Fem!Reader - 26 kudos) Perks of Being a Wallflower (Jake Lockley x Plus Sized Fem!Reader - 17 kudos) Unfamiliar Territory (Muriel x Apprentice OC - 15 kudos)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

ABSOLUTELY, it makes me happy to do so. I love telling writers how I feel about their works (all good things i promise). and i love when folks take the leap and share their feedback.

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

oh golly, technically Frankincense & Myrrh (The Arcana, Muriel x Apprentice OC). bc it's 1) unfinished and 2) will deal with a lot of the post-resurrection trauma Tamar (my Apprentice) will go through. it'll still be fluffy and more comfort than hurt if i ever get back into it, but man i really miss seeing her go through it.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

i'd have to say Perks of Being a Wallflower! no angst, just insecurity leading up to the ending lol

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I'm not popular enough to attract the haters

9. Do you write smut. If so what kind?

i don't <3

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

i feel like the closest thing to a crossover i'd attempt is something in the mcu, since every major event affects everything else in some way

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

great heavens i hope not

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

nah

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

not in the strictest sense of the word. but in the future, i plan on crediting the folks i share hcs and thots with, they've had a huge hand in shaping the world of my stories.

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

the only thing that comes to mind is Matt Murdock x Claire Temple but i 1) have not finished Daredevil and 2) fully respect her for distancing herself from that disaster boy

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Frankincense & Myrrh - the Arcana fandom was spiraling when i entered in 2020, and while i love all the research and outlining i did for that story, it would take a lot for me to dive back into the game/lore to flesh out that story. Tamar Ufam you will always be famous to me.

16. What are your writing strengths?

i'd have to say dialogue and my attempts to make the stakes believable

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

(actually writing lol) in all seriousness, taking the time to string together the little story pearls i come up with. i burn myself out sometimes and end up not writing anything.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

i enjoy seeing it! what i don't like is people going "lol no hate on my google translate spanish/whatever language" (mostly when the language is poorly applied) bc we not only have the technology/better websites to use, but real people online willing to assist with translating/contextualizing. if you're going to do it, give it its due diligence. fingers crossed i can follow my own directive on that.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Cats the Musical. I don't want to talk about it.

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

published: tie between Last Night and Perks of Being A Wallflower. the first 2 fics i've published for my new fave Jake, and i see a lot of myself in Reader. these two will always be near and dear to my heart. unpublished: Relic to Relic (Loki x Fem!OC), outlining that story got me through my junior year of high school. while i'd need to rework some aspects of my OC's arc/abilities, i wouldn't mind writing for these two again.

tagging @cchickki @hon3yboy @mrs-lockley if you'd like to brag on yourselves!!

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Apprentice Masterlist

All the cool kids seem to be compiling their works, so here ya go.

Apprentice Tamar

Strawberry Cordial, a lighthearted Muriel/Tamar oneshot

Frankincense and Myrrh, Tamar’s main storyline feat. Muriel, Asra, and folks from her past (WIP)

Unfamiliar Territory, a morning with Tamar and her familiar, Asenath

...and hopefully a few more as time goes on!

BONUS:

Here’s all the picrews I’ve done of her so far (since I am Not An Artist)

All of Tamar’s OC/Apprentice Asks

Apprentice Martín

Don’t think I forgot about our boy. He doesn’t have any works yet, but I offer you:

Martín’s picrews

Martín’s OC/Apprentice Asks

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Tamar

Things were getting bad in the Fennekh Desert. The home Tamar's community had built in Tabish was swiftly becoming inhabitable. Braheem and Halina Ufam anticipated that their daughter wouldn't thrive in her Mother's homeland-- their next destination, for the good of the community. Tamar was young, and her raw power still relied on the elements to develop. There was only one thing to do: send her to Vesuvia, to her Aunt Martyna, so she might hone her magic in a more forgiving environment. When her family went South, she was to go North. Though it pained her at 15, she did just that.

Martín

He was never one to think before acting. When he was a younger, Martín could get away with anything. But that was before the sickness came for his mother. When Katarina fell ill, he couldn't bear to watch her deteriorate. So he ran. He escaped through any means available-- usually through the bottom of a glass or a night on the neighboring town. When his Uncle learned how he'd shirked his family duties, he came in with a furious demand: after the funeral, Martín would follow him to Vesuvia and apprentice in his clinic. Since he could not care for his own blood when they needed him, he could stand to learn some empathy for the sickly stranger abroad. At 25, it was time for Martín to grow up.

Prompt of the day

What brought your MC to Vesuvia?

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I started writing for my apprentice and Muriel and. the pet names. keep pouring out. And now I cant stop thinking about Muriel's upright ending. Muriel on the mental/emotional mend, reveling in his largeness compared to his partner. finding it sweet. calling out "darling" and "little one" and "my love" because that's what the apprentice is. they chose him and he's so in awe he needs a new title for every way they make him feel.

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🌹

"You always do that," he murmurs.

"Do what?" Muriel begins to turn, but I take his hand as a silent plea to remain. "Muriel, what?"

"...Pull away when I get close."

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3, 11, 23 & 35 for both of your apprentices and B for you. :)

Thanks for the questions, buddy!

3: How do they put themselves to bed at night?

Tamar: Tea. Fire. Something sweet. Cuddle buddy? Always welcome. Hair braiding? Mutual or just on her, she'll turn to putty soon enough.

Martín: Crash landing into bed has become a habit not easily broken. Apologies in advance to whomever might be sharing it-- he doesn't land lightly.

11: How do they cope with confusion?

Tamar: She'll ask questions with a childlike persistence. Imagine a grown woman asking "but why?" until she's either satisfied or shut down.

Martín: He'll laugh his way through a situation, nodding as if he gets what's going on. He doesn't.

23: How does envy manifest itself in them?

Tamar: She envies relational comforts more than possessions. The ease of lovers around each other, public affection, a pregnant customer-- wishing she was in their place drives her to loathe her present state. She's still learning to vocalize her desires and insecurities, and will catch herself getting frustrated with Muriel when she's the one who set their boundaries.

Martín: He envies people's status and public standing. He can pretend to be other people as much as he'd like, but glimmer spells can't build a bigger house or make people love you for who you are. On bad days, Martín gets restless and barely spends the day with his own face. Portia has her hands full talking him down.

35: How do they treat the things their friends come to them excited about? Are they supportive?

Tamar: She listens with a quiet eagerness, gently trying to dissuade the worse ideas and encouraging the better ones.

Martín: Whatever they're excited about, he'll outdo their exclamation. He's always down to celebrate.

B: What inspired you to create them?

I've always joked that Tamar is a better version of myself + different trauma. But in all seriousness, I wanted a solid character that I could see as good for Muriel as I went through his route. As a wounded healer, Tamar has a lot to give and receive from Muriel. Shes helped me connect with his story more.

That being said, since Tamar was specifically for Muriel, I felt weird pairing her with Portia-- they'd get along well, but the romance wasn't popping. Enter Martín. I was inspired by pictures of Prince Caspian and loved imagining such a cute lad being flustered and encouraged by Portia's antics. I also liked imagining his personal journey, playing with how it differed from Tamar's yet still brought him to the palace.

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Asenath is Tamar’s kermode bear. She was found as an older cub on the outskirts of Dolina when Muriel, Asra, and Tamar went South to find the Ufam family. She imprinted quickly on the woman she now calls “Mother”. As hard as it is to keep a bear in Vesuvia, Tamar loves having someone to nurture. Asenath and Inanna certainly keep her and Muriel busy-- Wolf Mom and Bear Daughter are two dynamics she could have never anticipated as the cornerstones of her new normal.

Ciccio is Martin’s family dog, who followed his master from the country to the city long ago. He’s a portly, older terrier who’s always underfoot at the bakery and, given his girth, is very skilled at sneaking low-hanging pastries. He’s a hit with the local children, and often comes to assistance in Martin’s glimmer spells-- it’s not uncommon to see him accompanied by a different animal every so often (all with his signature belly).

REBLOG WITH YOUR ARCANA APPRENTICE’S FAMILIAR

Selene’s familiar is a European Badger named Juniper. She does tricks for chestnuts, would risk her life for belly rubs, and calls Julian “BOYFRIEND”. Yes, in all-caps. Somehow she does that.

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2, 6, 15, 28, 32 & 48 for apprentice asks. :)

Thanks, @poetic-emptiness-fanfic!

We're gonna focus on our girl today bc Martín is still Fresh.

2) Any Family?

Yes! Tamar's parents are Braheem Dakarai (51) and Halina Ufam (43).

Braheem was a professor of literature at the same university Halina was studying medicine. They bonded over their dislike of academia's exclusivity, and left to form their own community of magical intellectuals. They believed the two fields were compatible and were best honed when taught under the same "roof" (they became semi-nomadic when they moved to Tabish, in the Clouded Mountain foothills).

Her aunt, Martyna Ufam (d. 59), passed away before the Red Plague spread.

6) Favorite color?

Any soft hue, but she's partial to lavender and light blues.

15) What do they like to wear?

Tamar's aesthetic is simple, but she always looks put-together. She favors a cropped sleeveless turtleneck paired with a cardigan or shawl, and salwar pants. Multi-terrain shoes are a must. At the palace, she'll wear floor-length skirts and gauzy bishop-sleeved tops.

28) Any mental health issues?

Since her resurrection, Tamar has touch aversion. She doesn't "suffer" from it per se-- Asra is respectful fo her space and they adjust over those first 3 years. It becomes frustrating when she grows closer to Muriel; he's the only other person she's had to examine her boundaries with.

She also has mild depersonalization disorder-- her mind and body remember different parts of who she was, and she struggles to reconcile the two + remain grounded in her new reality.

32) Favorite book genre?

She loves plays and poetry, especially the sonnets by a famous Bard that totally doesn't exist in the real world (cough she likes Shakespeare cough). She doesn't remember, but she gets her taste from her Father.

48) Do they have any talents (except magic?)

Tamar can play the handpan drum and loves to bake!

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Magic ask: 3, 7 & 10 for Tamar and Martín. :)

WOW this took forever, thanks for your patience @poetic-emptiness-fanfic 😭💕

3) What is your character's outlook on their magic?

T: Tamar loves when he's able to use her magic to the benefit of others. Whenever the opportunity to heal arises, she's on it. She's haunted by her new abilities, though; necromancy put her on edge long before the Plague, and now that she possesses the ability to curse, she must double and triple-check herself. That raw power is a burden she never asked for.

M: Martín loves his magic. It makes him feel closer to his mother (rest her soul), and bringing others joy through it is a bonus. Glimmer spells are an easy escape for him, and he'll be reluctant to admit they distract him from facing his own issues.

7) What kind of applications does their magic have into their daily life?

T: Tamar uses her water magic for a Hot Relaxing Bath whenever the mood strikes (which is often). Since she leaves the divination services to Asra, she prepares healing concoctions for injured/ill customers, treating most maladies on-sight. She'll often meditate, humming or playing her handpan drum to rebalance her mental/emotional state.

M: It's how he makes bank, babey! Martín will put on one-man shows feat. his increasing arsenal of glimmer effects, and occasionally does a fire show for shock value. He also help with "makeup"/costuming at the community theater.

10) How did your character learn that they were capable of magic?

T: Tamar's parents were waiting for her to show signs of magic. They watched and listen to her every move once she could speak. When she was 6, she snuck out at night and wandered away from their campsite. She tripped in the dark and scraped her hands and knees. She screamed in shock/pain, but when she hit a certain pitch, she felt her wounds close. Her parents heard her scream + saw her heal herself; her training began the next morning.

M: Martín's mother essentially raised him backstage. Her theatre troupe baffled him: the same few actors could completely transform into other people on a whim. So at 5 he started mirroring their warm-ups. He played with old costumes and messed with makeup during rehearsals. At 9 he was experimenting with more intricate makeup-- he had a clear image of what he wanted to look like, and the next moment his face transformed to match his imagination. He scared himself and ran to his mom, who revealed that she, too, had magic, and worked with him during her downtime to hone his skills.

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Arcana (Visual Novel) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Apprentice/Muriel (The Arcana) Summary:

(Previously titled “Frankincense and Myrrh”)

A soft vignette of our mountain man and the Apprentice trying something new, because he really does deserve nice things.

________________________________________________________________

Might as well post this here! This is a oneshot I did for my Apprentice Tamar and Muriel. It’s my first fic in  y e a r s  + my first work for The Arcana fandom, I’m so jazzed to have it published this month.

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Tamar and Martín! I just wanted to pop in and say hello. I hope you guys are doing well! ❤️ - Ella

Tamar: (meets her halfway and escorts her inside, smiling) Ella dear, how kind of you to stop by! Truth be told, I'm in a bit of a funk, what with the seasons changing. Do you have time for that cup of tea I promised?

Martín: (furiously whisking inside) ELLA! It's been ages! Are you staying for a while? Please say you're staying. We're testing a new cake recipe for a certain birthday party that I definitely know nothing about... (winks) Grab a chair, you're always welcome here!

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3 amd 17 for both your OC's and their love interests? 👀

!!!!! Thanks, @mcarcanageek ! These were fun :)

3) If they complimented each other, what would they say?

Tamar: "Your heart is so easy to rest in."

Muriel: "Your eyes light up when you're excited, it's... adorable."

Martín: "You can make anyone want to be their best self."

Portia: "You're more clever than you let on-- I love that side of you!"

17) What senses remind them of each other?

Tamar: It's different with him. Before, there was an incessant need to only sense the feeling of the cloth on her skin, or the elements around her. But it's different with him. His hands are still gentle, still large enough to gather her scattered bits and pieces. Touching him was as comforting as a summer sun after weeks of frosted springtime. Touching him was home.

Muriel: When they grew closer, he noticed her signature scent of saltwater and herbs. But her aroma soon began to mirror his, mingling sea with forest; lavender with firewood; frankincense with myrrh. Eventually, smelling one without the other felt... wrong. The spell that kept him on her mind had a twofold effect: this was how he knew her, too. If love had a perfume, this was it.

Martín: Some days, it's the bright tang of a berry straight from the vine. Sometimes it's the rich frosting on one of his cakes. Or even the crackling kick of a sparkling wine. Every delicacy reminds him of her. She has no one flavor; anything exciting and adventurous brings her to mind. She's expanded his palate in every way; at its peak, life is seasoned with her, absolutely marinating in the best of her.

Portia: She was used to the hustle and bustle of her day-to-day life. It was the moments in-between, the breaks in conversation that made her crave him specifically to fill it. Making him laugh was music to her ears. She adored his talent for mimicry, but when she could hear his true voice, the voice he could not hide behind, her heart could explode. To hear him was to know him, and to love him.

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since i’m deep in a bout of disconnect, here’s something nobody asked for:

a lil Modern!Apprentice Tamar for ya

(made this babe here)

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"Go ahead and choke, for all I care."

a little necromancer!Tamar to grace your dash this fine evening

Found a cute picrew and made my apprentice, you know what to do!

@chrysanthedadteadrink @under-the-pear-tree @miserytheapprentice

I know you don’t know me but tagging you anyway :>

uwu, anyone can do this <3