Aethyreum

Ink-stained hands, soul in the stars, haunting the veil between worlds. Capricorn sun & Leo moon. Cosmic entity made flesh.

[aimz-d-photography]

Green Circle Spring. flickr // instagram

[glimpsesofpeaceful]

ig credit: antiquariant

[atalantapendragon]

I need to slow down.

The more I try to do, the more drained I feel and the more my body hurts.

I guess I'm pushing too hard again.

[atalantapendragon]

[atalantapendragon]

Can't help but feel quite disgusted.

With a great many things lately. Types of people, work culture in the States, certain kinds of mentality, some pervasive belief systems, etc.

Just... very disillusioned.

I have been for a while, but damn it is getting under my skin more than usual.

Makes me just want to curl up with a book, a long Spotify playlist, and get lost for a few hours.

[novlr]

How to Write the Perfect Antihero | The Novlr Reading Room

Discover the key traits that make an antihero so compelling and explore techniques to bring depth to your morally ambiguous characters.

[atalantapendragon]

Noticing an annoying trend on job listing sites.

Even LinkedIn. Or rather, especially LinkedIn.

Hiring managers are getting especially lazy, which is wild considering all the accusations placing blame on job seeking since the pandemic. Ranging from the use of AI (on the sheer volume of tailored resumes and pretty cover letters for EVERY job -- which on average many are stating takes close to 100 before they actually land an offer) to not even wanting to work anymore.

Yikes, tone-deaf much?

Anywho. A few days ago I shared this specific observation on LinkedIn.

" It's wild to see how many job postings are posted under "Entry Level" which often means less than 1 year of experience.... but, in their requirements and qualifications, state a necessity of having 1 to 5 years of experience on average. That required experience belongs in the Associate level designation, does it not? 🤔 "

In 4 days that somehow received 289 views without a single hashtag.

Just a few hours ago, someone else posted a similar observation about this annoying habit.

Job seekers already have to jump over so many hurdles, why do hiring managers keep doing this?

[luna-azzurra]

Prompts for writing Eyes like that

☆ She had irises like polished walnut. Brown so deep it almost disappeared into itself, and then the light caught it and showed you everything.

☆ She looked at me and her eyes were the color of good coffee and I decided, right then, that I wanted every morning to start with both.

☆ His eyes were the brown of old books and he looked at me like I was a page he kept returning to.

☆ He had brown eyes that went darker when he was trying not to say something, and I spent half my time around him inventing reasons to make him feel things he couldn't hold back.

☆ He had brown eyes the color of old blood dried on stone. Warm-looking, almost kind, which was the most dangerous thing about them.

☆ She looked at you and her irises were dark as scorched earth and just as empty of regret. Something had burned here. She had watched it burn.

☆ His irises were the exact color of the moon before it rises fully--that dark, burnt-brown horizon glow that arrives before the light does.

[atalantapendragon]

For my fellow brown eyed folks.

[novlr]

How do I make a calm and collected character in a very overwhelming situation?

Writing a character who remains composed when everything around them is falling apart is a hard thing to do, especially since I’m sure a lot of us don’t feel that way when we’re in tricky situations. My significant other is cool as a cucumber when something is genuinely stressful, and I’m in constant awe of his ability to just be calm and take charge.

When it comes to writing a calm character in an overwhelming situation, the balancing act comes when you want them to feel grounded and in control, but not so detached that they seem robotic or unfeeling. The trick is understanding that being calm isn’t an absence of emotion; it’s managing those emotions in a way that serves the situation they’re in.

Understand where their calm comes from

Before you can write a calm character convincingly, you need to understand why they’re calm. Their composure ought to have a source. Does their calm come from:

Training or experience? Military personnel, emergency responders, or anyone who has faced repeated crises may have learned to compartmentalise and therefore find it easier to remain calm in situations outside of their normal experiences.

Personality? Some people are naturally less reactive and process their emotions internally rather than externally.

A coping mechanism? Their calm might be a learned defence against trauma or chaos in their past.

Responsibility? They may stay calm for others because someone has to, and they’ve taken on that role.

Neurodivergence? Many neurodivergent people may panic or stress at the little things in their lives, but when something genuinely big and dramatic happens, they’re suddenly calm and collected as adrenaline and dopamine flood their systems.

Understanding the root of why they are calm will help you write it authentically because those reasons will feed into their entire characterisation. It will feel genuine in the moment because you really know your characters.

Separate internal experiences from external behaviour

What a character shows and what they feel are not always the same thing. Even the most composed person experiences physiological stress responses that might not be visible to others. Their bodies react even if their behaviour doesn’t.

You can show this through:

Physical sensations like a racing heart, a tight chest, or icy hands.

Controlled breathing to ensure they have a strong and calm voice when they speak.

Micro-reactions like a brief pause, tightening their jaw, or a moment where their eyes flicker before they respond.

An internal monologue that lets readers into their head where the storm is happening, even as they appear calm externally.

Duality helps to create tension and makes characters feel three-dimensional rather than emotionless. Just because other characters can’t see the emotions doesn’t mean that someone doesn’t experience them. It can also make a good revelation later on down the line if someone misinterprets a calm character as cold and distant.

Use their actions to show competence

Calm characters often show their composure by doing rather than feeling. When chaos erupts, they act. They do things deliberately and with calculation. You can show them:

Assessing the situation methodically.

Prioritising what needs to happen first.

Giving clear, steady instructions to others.

Focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on the problem.

Stepping up to take charge, whether it is reluctantly or unasked.

Use strategic cracks in their facade

To make your composed character feel real, build in moments where their control slips, even just a little. This might look like:

A sharp edge to their voice that they quickly smooth over.

Hands that stay calm but finally start to tremble when the crisis is over.

A private moment where they come close to a breakdown.

Delayed emotional reactions that surface later.

Moments of vulnerability make a character’s composure more impressive. Readers will understand that their calm is earned and doesn’t come without effort.

[atalantapendragon]

. . . .

Who the hell lives in Ashburn, Virginia and visited my website 15 times in the last 30 days but didn't read anything?

Do I have a stalker?

Or is someone just... weird?

Do they not know that most paid web hosts allow you to see your analytics?

[atalantapendragon]

"Fine. If nobody is coming to save me, and I have to save my damn self, then nobody gets to dictate how I survive this."

A thought that popped into my head today.

It felt like my soul was speaking when my mind was overwhelmed by shit outside my control.

This will be my mantra, my directive, moving forward.

[spacewonder19]

Comet R3: an Orion Comet © © ©

[atalantapendragon]

[un-revenant]

Hiking is the best way to spend your time, seriously.

[brandywyne]

Worldbuilding - Post Apocalyptic Societies

Next part of my Worldbuilder's Master's Series! Notable highlights include:

The Apocalypse Itself

Survival and Immediate Aftermath

New Social Structures

Resources and Scarcity

Technology and Knowledge After Collapse

Environment and Landscape

Culture, Memory, and Identity

Violence, Power, and Control

Rebuilding and the Future

Themes, Meaning, and Human Nature

The Apocalypse Itself

What ended the old world, and how completely did civilization collapse?

What caused the apocalypse?

Was the collapse sudden or gradual?

Was it natural, technological, biological, environmental, or human-made?

Did people see it coming?

Could it have been prevented?

How widespread was the destruction?

Did all regions suffer equally?

What systems failed first?

How long did the collapse take?

Was there a single defining event?

Did governments survive initially?

How did communication break down?

Were there attempts to stop or contain the disaster?

What was the final moment the “old world” ended?

How do survivors remember the apocalypse?

Survival and Immediate Aftermath

How did people survive the collapse, and what happened in the immediate aftermath?

Who survived, and why?

What resources became most valuable first?

How did people secure food and water?

Were there mass migrations?

Did communities cooperate or turn violent?

How quickly did law and order disappear?

What dangers were most immediate?

Did emergency systems function at all?

How did people communicate after collapse?

Were there shelters or safe zones?

What mistakes caused the most deaths?

How did survivors adapt psychologically?

Did people cling to old routines?

Were there organized rescue efforts?

What defined survival during the first months or years?

New Social Structures

How have people reorganized themselves into new societies after the fall?

What kinds of communities emerged?

Are societies centralized or fragmented?

How large are surviving populations?

Are there cities, settlements, or nomadic groups?

What forms of leadership developed?

Are there democracies, dictatorships, tribes, or something new?

How are laws enforced?

Are there shared cultural identities?

How do communities handle outsiders?

Are there alliances between settlements?

How do communities deal with conflict?

What social values became most important?

Are people trying to rebuild old civilization?

Are entirely new cultures forming?

What defines “society” after the apocalypse?

Resources and Scarcity

What resources are most valuable, and how does scarcity shape life?

What resources are hardest to obtain?

How do people find clean water?

How is food produced or scavenged?

Are there functioning farms or industries?

What materials are salvaged from the old world?

Are there shortages of medicine or fuel?

How are resources distributed?

Are there systems of rationing?

Do communities fight over resources?

Are there black markets or trade routes?

What luxuries still exist?

Are some regions richer in resources than others?

How do people store and preserve supplies?

What happens during famine or shortage?

What does scarcity teach people about survival?

Technology and Knowledge After Collapse

What technologies survived, and how much knowledge was lost?

What technology still functions?

How advanced is surviving technology?

Can people repair old systems?

Are there engineers or specialists preserving knowledge?

What technologies became impossible to maintain?

Is electricity still available?

Are there functioning communication systems?

How much scientific knowledge survived?

Are books, archives, or digital records preserved?

Is old technology understood or treated as mysterious?

Are new inventions being created?

How dependent are people on scavenged technology?

Are there groups hoarding knowledge?

Is technological progress continuing or regressing?

What parts of the old world are irreplaceable?

Environment and Landscape

How has the world itself changed after the apocalypse?

How damaged is the environment?

Are ecosystems recovering or collapsing?

Are cities abandoned or reclaimed by nature?

Are there toxic or dangerous zones?

Has climate changed significantly?

Are there regions humans can no longer inhabit?

How do survivors travel through ruined landscapes?

What wildlife thrives after civilization’s fall?

Are there environmental hazards tied to the apocalypse?

Have new ecosystems emerged?

Are there untouched safe regions?

How do ruins shape daily life?

Are there signs of the old world everywhere?

Does nature symbolize recovery or danger?

What does the landscape reveal about the collapse?

Culture, Memory, and Identity

How do post-apocalyptic societies remember the old world and define themselves now?

How much do survivors remember about the old world?

Are there myths or distorted memories about pre-collapse civilization?

How do younger generations view the past?

Are there efforts to preserve history?

What traditions survived the collapse?

Are old-world symbols still meaningful?

Is the apocalypse treated as trauma, punishment, or transformation?

Are there cultural taboos tied to the old world?

How has language changed?

Are there rituals commemorating the collapse?

Are survivors nostalgic for the past?

Do people romanticize or resent old civilization?

How do communities teach history?

What new identities emerged after collapse?

What does “civilized” mean now?

Violence, Power, and Control

How do power and violence operate in a broken world?

Who controls force and weapons?

Are there warlords, militias, or organized armies?

How common is violence?

Are there rules of war or conflict?

Do communities rely on intimidation or cooperation?

How are disputes resolved?

Are there systems protecting vulnerable people?

Is slavery, exploitation, or forced labor common?

Are there raids between settlements?

How does scarcity fuel conflict?

Are there peaceful regions?

How do people gain authority?

Are old-world power structures still influencing society?

What happens when leadership fails?

What keeps society from collapsing further?

Rebuilding and the Future

Are people rebuilding civilization, and what kind of future are they trying to create?

Are societies attempting reconstruction?

What aspects of the old world are worth restoring?

Are there debates about rebuilding versus starting over?

What infrastructure is being rebuilt first?

Are there long-term plans for recovery?

Are there educational systems forming again?

How do people preserve knowledge for future generations?

Are there hopes for technological recovery?

What obstacles prevent rebuilding?

Are there ideological conflicts about the future?

Are new forms of government emerging?

Is the world stabilizing or continuing to decline?

What lessons were learned from the collapse?

What mistakes are being repeated?

What kind of civilization might emerge next?

Themes, Meaning, and Human Nature

What does the apocalypse reveal about humanity, society, and survival?

What does the collapse say about the old world?

Did humanity cause its own destruction?

Are humans portrayed as resilient or self-destructive?

Does the apocalypse strip away or reveal human nature?

Are people fundamentally cooperative or violent?

What moral compromises are made for survival?

Does hardship strengthen or corrupt communities?

Is there hope in this world?

What does survival cost emotionally or ethically?

Are there philosophies built around the apocalypse?

Is rebuilding portrayed as possible or futile?

What does this society value now that civilization is gone?

What fears from the old world still remain?

What does humanity refuse to let die?

What is the ultimate meaning of surviving the end of the world?

Drink Responsibly!

[spacewonder19]

Rigel, Comet R3 and Orion ©

[atalantapendragon]

I had a thought pop into my head while lying in bed, trying to relax.

"I deserve to be free."

Sounds simple and benign enough.

But even while I claimed I desired such a thing and spent decades, and so much energy, resisting my circumstances (that never felt like they were ever in my control, ever) -- I never actually believed it was possible or that it was ever in the cards.

Not for me.

I never truly could wholeheartedly believe I was worthy of the things I consciously stated I desired. Whether it was the freedom to live my life with agency, sovereignty and autonomy or to be genuinely loved and cherished or to be a creative by craft or profession.

Until now.

I finally, in my heart and soul, can say I feel like I am worthy of the things I want for the first time in over three very long decades.

Whether or not the Universe or Powers That Be agree with me... that's another thing entirely.

Maybe if I reach out with an open hand this time?