I play video games, torment my friends, and make digital art, and then I post it all for your sick entertainment. the fastest streamer on the entire hypixel newtork - twitch.tv/tamofthedragons - Support me directly! ko-fi.com/tamofthedragons
hello!! I'm Tam, an artist, storyteller, and Twitch streamer who plays video games poorly and makes my idiot friends laugh. I also upload to YouTube occasionally and want to experiment with a video essay format!
Here, I post my lore ideas and writing deemed fit for human consumption. I also have custom tags for different things (writing, art, shitposts, etc) for organizational purposes. View the full list here!
This is @tamofthedragons 's Sodalite, they are a resident volcanologist, they are never too far from a pile of shiny rock or two.
Classic geology behaviour frfr
Sharing a few more attacks from Art Fight!
Tor and Skarn for @tadporridge
Sodalite for @tamofthedragons
Rhyolite for @ratbreadd
Rhode for @malk-with-tea
emoji ask game by @\brown-little-robin but I fill out the entire thing like a worksheet
direct link to their post in the replies :]
🌈 - Do you associate any colors with them?
THALLIUM: Novoline lavender (real ones know) and venom/brat green
JAMES: Warm browns and tans, red and gold (REAL ONES KNOW)
👁️ - How do other people perceive this oc? How close do their first assumptions come to the truth?
THALLIUM: People generally, and correctly, perceive Thallium as an arrogant, talkative, happy-go-lucky hacker who fulfills the "stereotype" of catboy bhopper with glee. This is completely accurate and in fact he takes great pride in ensuring that people know what he is at a glance; but of course it's not all he is.
JAMES: I think people would assume James is a lot more tryhard/pretentious than he actually is. Someone meeting him in SkyWars (something he does for fun in his off-time) might think he's taking it too seriously, when really he's just very focused and incapable of doing anything without giving it his all. But someone meeting him "on the job" (i.e. a hacker he's hacking on) would likely have a more uncharitable perspective, and assume he's the smug, uppity white-knight type. That couldn't be further from the truth; he really does see bhopping4justice as a necessary evil that just so happens to be a guilty pleasure, and no one is more critical of him than himself.
one william more under the cut ↓
💝 - How much effort do they put into appearances? Do they have a favorite article of clothing?
THALLIUM: Depends, but generally more than you'd think. He just wears comfy sweatpants and a hoodie most days, but even that is a deliberate decision; he wears those specific sweatpants and hoodie because they represent him so well and that self-expression is so important to him. For special occasions, he does enjoy dressing all the way up, which typically involves crossdressing and/or alt fashion. He never leaves the house without his signature pawprint gloves and theta delta necklace, and the gloves would probably be his favorite article of clothing.
JAMES: As little as possible. James is typically a "throw on the first t-shirt and cargo shorts he sees" kind of guy. Ironically, he probably puts the most effort into his appearance when bhopping 4 justice, because he has specific clothes (and of course his iconic rabbit mask) that he only wears when hopping in an effort to conceal his identity. He's never thought about it, but if he had to, said rabbit mask would probably be his favorite article of clothing.
⚠️ - If this oc came with a warning sign, what would it be?
THALLIUM: RARE! Combo: Venom. Every third strike poisons enemies, temporarily applying Somber for 12 seconds. Also poisons yourself!
JAMES: 🚨 WARNING: MOST REPRESSED MAN ALIVE. 🚨
🌨️ - If this oc had a day free from all their responsibilities, how would they spend it?
THALLIUM: Lounging around in bed/on the couch, playing on the Hypixel equivalent of a Nintendo Switch, supporting a local cafe (or ordering in), maybe seeing if a friend wants to go out and catch up for a few hours.
JAMES: Restless and antsy.
💙 - Describe their bedroom! Is it personalized, unchanged? Messy, neat?
THALLIUM: Honestly, not as personalized as you'd expect? Definitely strung up with both fairy lights and customizable mood lighting LEDs, maybe a lava lamp. I was gonna say "if he's allowed to repaint in his tiny apartment" (non housing) but let's be honest he'd just do it either way lmao, so his bedroom is either a pleasant lavender or sort of medium-dark grey. There's a couple small prints up on his wall (mostly related to therianthropy/transgenderism and songs/albums he likes), but beyond that he's not much for posters or decor. Tends to leave dirty clothes strewn across the floor/kicked into corners until he collects it all in one go to do laundry.
JAMES: Exactly as impersonal as you'd expect. His bedroom walls are the same plain white they were when he moved in, and his only wall hangings are a calendar and a motivational poster his parents bought him. He does, however, have some really nice blackout curtains. There's a framed family photo on his dresser, probably his graduation (or whatever coming-of-age tradition his culture has, they don't necessarily have high school like we do) or possibly a family reunion. What's in his dresser is much more interesting; this is where he keeps items of personal significance like group photos with friends, interesting news clippings, and miscellaneous trinkets. Typically, he keeps his bedroom immaculately clean.
👖 - Coffee shop or high school AU, your choice: tell me their role.
If they're outside of Hypixel, they cease to be Thallium and James. PASS!
☕ - What is their preferred beverage(s)?
THALLIUM: Pretty much anything sweet and expensive /hj. I don't think he could narrow it down past fruity bubble tea, chai lattes, regular lattes with a shot of flavor syrup, basically any "tropical" cocktail...
JAMES: idk he's probably one of those Dr. Pepper fiends. I don't know the exact one yet, but there's definitely One Specific Soda that he drinks 1-2 cans of a day, minimum.
🧁 - When is their birthday? How do they celebrate it, if at all?
THALLIUM: I've actually never thought about the date of his birthday! I feel like he's a spring or summer baby? Schedules permitting, he definitely tries to celebrate by rounding up a few friends and spending a night on the town getting gleefully wasted. Since that usually happens around his birthday, not necessarily on it, he spends his actual birthday just taking a day off and treating himself. Later in their relationship (once both parties can admit there's a relationship, for starters), James takes him out for dinner that day.
JAMES: Never thought about his either, but I feel like it's near Christmas? (ignore the VAST implications of Christianity existing in Hypixel. I'll figure out a suitable equivalent later) His parents definitely want to visit him/want him to come visit for his birthday, which is something he always has mixed feelings about. He probably buys himself a slice of cake or pint of ice cream on his birthday, but doesn't really talk about it to anyone else. He's always pleasantly surprised when people know/remember his birthday and wish him well.
🧠 - What is their stress response: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn?
THALLIUM: Fight. When experiencing a low amount of constant stress in his life, Thallium lashes out. In a high-stress situation, he goes down fighting.
JAMES: Freeze. James does his best to ignore low amounts of constant stress (which, of course, often results in an unavoidable high-stress situation). Depending on what the high-stress situation entails, his responses vary from lying through his teeth to maintain the status quo, silently taking it, or finally taking action in a desperate panic.
💭 - How is their mental health? Do they struggle with guilt or shame?
THALLIUM: Generally pretty self-aware, and hasn't struggled with guilt or shame since he was a preteen. Thallium is unapologetically involuntarily himself, and however people react to that is their problem. He is, however, more lonely and bitter than he lets on, and much to his own exasperation, he tends to struggle with jealousy.
JAMES: OH BOY DOES HE
💔 - Does forgiveness come easily or with difficulty to this oc? Can they forgive others? What about themselves?
THALLIUM: Grudge-Holder 9000. In most cases, he's a staunch believer of "what happens in The Pit, stays in The Pit" and doesn't let things that happened in the game itself bother him. But there are certain things he takes very personally, perhaps even overreacting to; and once wronged he holds them at arms' length in a way that rarely gives them the chance to even earn his trust back.
JAMES: However James may forgive or not forgive others is completely overshadowed by how he can't forgive himself.
❗- What are the highest priorities to this oc (at a point in their life of your choosing)?
THALLIUM: Making bank, attending as many raves as possible, and generally living a hedonist life to its fullest.
JAMES: Being someone his parents he can be proud of.
⚔️ - How does this oc handle conflict?
THALLIUM: Avoidant tendencies.
JAMES: Avoidant tendencies.
🌍 - What are this oc’s religious views?
THALLIUM: Atheist/agnostic.
JAMES: You wouldn't know it from his insane Catholic guilt, but he wasn't raised in any specific religion and is pretty much agnostic. He does, however, believe in some level of "what goes around comes around".
🌊 - Does this oc have a secret or repressed desire?
THALLIUM: Desires? Plenty! Secret or repressed? LOL NO. Thallium knows what he wants and he's blunt about it.
JAMES: I could count the number of desires James doesn't keep secret or repressed on one hand.
✨ - Tell something that makes this oc feel happy!
THALLIUM: The thrill of the chase, egging on James, people-watching with a gay little beverage in hand. feeling wanted
JAMES: Feeling useful. the thrill of the chase
🧶 - Do they do any arts, crafts, or creative hobbies?
THALLIUM: Clothing customization/DIY. Like many creatives, he thinks about it a lot more than he actually does it, until he's seized with conviction at an inopportune hour and knocks out as many projects as possible over a few days before the energy leaves again.
JAMES: He journals, although the way he does it is definitely more utilitarian than artistic. His entries are surprisingly shallow, but tinged with a strange, context-less desperation in moments of weakness.
🍪 - What are their favorite scents?
THALLIUM: Thriving greenery, being able to smell food cooking, and clean, classy, fresh-smelling deodorant.
JAMES: Vanilla, cinnamon, really any warm spices, petrichor, and the smell of old, well-maintained wood at spawn on Elements, Seasons, and Kings.
☔ - How does this oc feel about rain?
THALLIUM: Generally not a fan because it drastically lowers player count in the Pit and, depending on the weather's severity, keeps him housebound. If he was already planning on staying in, or if James is there to keep him company, he can appreciate the coziness of hearing rain but remaining warm and dry.
JAMES: Generally a fan; he's someone who really savors the coziness of staying in and out of the weather. He also likes to go for runs around his neighborhood in the rain and jump straight in the shower when he gets home. He especially enjoys real-ass storms, finding them awe-inspiring and fascinating.
🌲 - Do they have a favorite location to hang out in?
THALLIUM: Out of bounds on the castle roof of Kings.
JAMES: Out of bounds on the castle roof of Kings.
⚡ - Does this oc have any unusual or “irrational” fears?
THALLIUM: Fear of snakes; a known potential side effect of catboy HRT. Actual snakes would make him jump and curse and either scramble away from it or instinctively try to stomp on it; but most of the time this just manifests in him subconsciously assuming the worst, and recoiling when he steps on an extension cord or sees something long and thin out of the corner of his eye. I think he might also feel uncomfortable/uneasy if someone reaches over or near his head and shrink back without thinking about it.
JAMES: The idea of being banned legitimately scares James, because I think it's really funny. It's not so much that he's irrationally scared of it happening despite his diligent nature and excellent bypasses, more that he's irrationally scared of how bad it'll be when Watchdog (or staff!) finally, inevitably, catch him slipping. Also, he's god-awful with needles.
🗡️ - Does this oc have a signature object, accessory, or weapon?
THALLIUM: Venoms and a combat spade, obviously.
JAMES: His rabbit mask.
💛 - Are they ‘good with children’, or more awkward?
THALLIUM: Probably more awkward; he doesn't want to be a condescending adult but he's unsure how to interact with them overall. Also, he finds it VERY difficult to censor himself in conversation.
JAMES: Good with kids given time. At first he'd be a little reserved and uncertain but after a few hours with them, he'd actually be pretty good at meeting them on their level while remaining responsible. He'd be a really good long-term babysitter.
🧡 - Physical touch: good or bad for this oc?
THALLIUM: Good. He's a very "sensual" person, and not necessarily sexually (but, often sexually).
JAMES: Good, although he's so touch-starved and overwhelmed so easily that he might send mixed signals by accident.
👁️🗨️ - Eye contact: good or bad for this oc?
THALLIUM: Unbothered either way. Though, due to being cat, the size of his pupils can give away his true feelings on something.
JAMES: Mostly unbothered either way, but on habit he feels a bit miffed if someone else can't/doesn't meet his eyes because his parents drilled it into him so hard. When especially insecure/ashamed, he really struggles to look someone in the eye.
🐺 - How does this oc deal with solitude?
THALLIUM: They'd both go pretty stir-crazy after being completely alone for more than a couple days at most, but Thallium is better equipped to deal with it overall. He's had more practice and he's not especially close to anyone anyway.
JAMES: James is seeing shit that's not there by the 48h mark.
🔅 - How does this oc deal with physical pain?
THALLIUM: Likewise, they both have notably high pain tolerances after so long in the PVP scene. Thallium is good at compartmentalizing and pushing through pain as if it's not there, especially in the heat of battle in which his adrenaline is blocking every last pain receptor anyway. He's almost too good at it, to the point of not noticing injuries until someone else points them out, or they get too bad to ignore. In general, he has a very hands-off approach to dressing one's wounds.
JAMES: James can't compartmentalize pain the same way Thallium can, but he's better at pushing through it even when he's, well, painfully aware of it the whole time. He's very diligent about cleaning and properly caring for any injuries he sustains, and often extends that care to the injuries of others as well.
🌱 - Share one of this oc’s early memories.
THALLIUM: His parents giving him a laundry list of chores that would be impossible for one young child to accomplish by themself, that he would need to complete before he can have friends over.
JAMES: The awful sinking feeling in his chest when, goaded on by friends, he said or did something to poke fun at another kid only for them to start crying.
🐰 - How huggable is this oc?
THALLIUM: He enjoys hugging others but I think he'd feel uncomfortable when he's hugged without warning, or by people he doesn't know very well, or when there's a social expectation for it. He is very physically affectionate, but he generally shows it other ways; lots of hip bumps, head bonks, hand holding, and leaning obnoxiously on someone else.
JAMES: He's always surprised by just how much he enjoys/is comforted by a solid hug. He's usually hesitant to initiate for fear of making someone uncomfortable, but he gives really good hugs.
🍁 - What is this oc’s favorite season?
THALLIUM: Autumn.
JAMES: Summer.
🌕 - If this oc was an animal, what kind would they be?
THALLIUM: Guess.
JAMES: Doberman Pinscher (melanistic red).
🦷 - Would this oc ever bite someone?
THALLIUM: Not only "would" but has, and will do again without hesitation if necessary. Also enjoys biting with sexual intent, obviously.
JAMES: Only when cornered and out of options. Also enjoys biting with sexual intent, obviously.
🐉 - Very serious question... are they more like a dragon, or a unicorn?
THALLIUM: Dragon.
JAMES: Unicorn.
🐸 - What’s this oc’s sense of humor like?
THALLIUM: Pit player. With just a hint of chronically online queer teen that only other people who were once chronically online queer teens themselves would be able to clock.
JAMES: Slightly more normal, down-to-earth Pit player. Dry humor. Usually fills the role of the straight man in a bit.
🚷 - Tell one difference between yourself and this oc!
THALLIUM: I'd say he's generally more selfish in a sort of laissez-faire way than I am, for better and for worse. He has no qualms about taking up space, but he also expects himself and others to just "get over" certain things without his input or thought.
JAMES: my hedonist ass could NOT have catholic guilt 🤣
📓 - Do you associate any quotes or lyrics with this oc?
THALLIUM: "You can tell yourself whatever you want. We both know you're doing it for the same reason I do."
JAMES: "We fight fire with fire because we have to. It's a necessary evil."
SKETCHBOOK TOUR!!! what do you guys think of the thumbnail :)))
In all seriousness, this video was really cool to make, and I'm really happy with the end result! I had a lot of fun looking through older pieces and talking about their inspiration or methodology. It's really important to me to show you guys the less "glamorous" necessities of art, like how many pencil doodles it takes to get a character's shapes down, or just how many projects get planned and then never go beyond the initial sketch phase. Hopefully you guys will find it interesting too!
with artfight coming to a close you can literally always draw my ocs or any of my other stuff. i think its so fun and cool and amazing to know that sometimes people think so much about my stuff that they draw it
Artfight is officially over so here are a few more of my favorites of the attacks I did ::3
I didn't get as much done this year as I wanted, but it was still a ton of fun and I do still think I've improved since last year ::D It's always so nice to have a really solid excuse to just force myself to sit down and draw.
