JAMAAL · ELSKEDE

Upon first impression, one of the first things one would notice about Jamaal are the many notes of different scents that she gives off. The herbal, pungent musk of the forest and peppery spice of herbs comes off of her in waves with each movement she carries out, a smell that can either comforting in its own unique way, or rather unfavorable depending on the weather. It really depends on the person's perspective. These identifying notes are embraced by the herbaceous, earthy redolence of dirt and grass that occasionally mixes in with the acrid tang of sage. Sometimes hints of the zesty freshness of pine needles can be picked out beneath the various fragrances of the wilderness.

Not particularly beautiful, pretty, cute, nothing like that; instead, she's more whimsical. She has a thick jaw, pointy snout, and eyes too deep-set and large, ears too big, and maw too narrow. Her eyes give her an almost feminine softness, contradicting greatly with the rest of her facial features, which takes on a much more intense, masculine appearance. She does have a generally different look to her, a very different type of beauty. Jamaal has grown into a body that managed to exceed in boniness, yet has supple fat development. Her erect bones protrude at many places on her body, despite her undeniable softness; her shoulder blades and hip bones her most prominent features in this aspect. With time, Jamaal has grown into her bone structure to the point where it's much more suitable for her proportions. However, she is still quite lanky and retains a bit of fat left over from adolescence. At least, that's what she says. With close scrutiny, it's obvious she's had much more relaxing than exercising; her stomach is soft and squishy. Although she isn't the most muscular, she has respectively powerful muscles under her hide. They are nowhere near apparent unless she's partaking in rigorous activities, though she is most definitely not lacking, so to speak, in that criteria. Having rudimentary hunting and survival skills, she is anything but weak, even with her clumsiness. When she walks, Jamaal does so with a relaxed, slightly slouched gait that carries a soft rocking motion. Occasionally she will have a half-hop or stumble whenever her balance decides to fail her, which is, in fact, quite often. It's very easy to pinpoint body language with Jamaal, as while she is a relatively private individual, she isn't the best at making sure her emotions don't effect her body language and actions.

INTRODUCTION

Jamaal is a true artist, but not necessarily in the typical sense where she’s out painting happy little trees. Often enough though, she is perfectly capable of this. Rather, it’s that she uses aesthetics, design, and even her own choices and actions to push the limits of social convention. Jamaal enjoys upsetting traditional expectations with experiments in beauty and behavior—chances are, she’s expressed more than once the phrase “Don’t box me in!” More than just a rebellious teenager, though, Jamaal is shaped by intuition, allowing her to read between the lines with curiosity and energy. She sees life as a big, complex puzzle where everything is connected—but unlike most, who tend to see that puzzle as a series of systemic machinations, Jamaal sees it through a prism of emotion, compassion, mysticism, and meaning, something she is always looking for.

HAPPY TO BE WHO SHE IS

Jamaal lives in a colorful, sensual world, inspired by connections with people and ideas. She takes joy in reinterpreting these connections, reinventing and experimenting with both herself and new perspectives. No other explores and experiments in this way more. This creates a sense of ultimate spontaneity, making her seem unpredictable, even to her close friends and loved ones. Luckily, however, she always knows how to relax, and she is perfectly capable of switching from a passionate, driven libertarian to that cool and tranquil free spirit on the dance floor, often with a suddenness that can be rather surprising.

Despite all this, Jamaal is definitely an introvert, surprising her friends further when she steps out of the spotlight to be by herself to recharge. Just because she is alone though, doesn't mean she sits idle—she takes this time for introspection and assessing her principles. Rather than dwelling on the past or the future, Jamaal thinks about who she is. When she returns, she returns from her cloister transformed.

Jamaal lives to find ways to push her passions. Riskier behaviors are very common with her, a lot more so than with others. She’s all about experiencing all she can. Fortunately her attunement to the moment and her environment allows her to do better than most do when presuming such a lifestyle. Jamaal also enjoys connecting with others, and has a certain irresistible charm.

She always knows just the compliment to soften a heart that’s getting ready to call her risks irresponsible or reckless.

However, if a criticism does get through, it can end poorly. Jamaal can handle kindly phrased commentary, valuing it as another perspective to help push her passions in new directions. But if the comments are more biting and less mature, Jamaal can lose her temper in spectacular fashion.

Jamaal is sensitive to others’ feelings and value harmony. When faced with criticism, it can be a challenge for her to step away from the moment long enough to not get caught up in the heart of the moment. But living in the moment goes both ways, and once the heightened emotions of an argument cools, Jamaal can usually call the past the past and move on as though it never occurred.

MEANING IS IN EVERY EXPRESSION OF LIFE

The biggest challenge facing Jamaal is planning for the future. Finding constructive ideals to base her goals on and working out goals that create positive principles is no small task. Unlike others, Jamaal doesn't plan in terms of assets and retirement. Rather, she plans actions and behaviors as contributions to a sense of identity, building a portfolio of experiences, not stocks.

If these goals and principles are noble, Jamaal can act with amazing charity and selflessness—but it can also happen that she establishes a more self-centered attitude, acting with selfishness, manipulation, and egoism. It’s important for Jamaal to actively become the person she wants to be. Developing and maintaining a new habit may not come naturally, but taking the time each day to understand her motives allows Jamaal to use her strengths to pursue whatever she’s come to love.

RELATIONSHIPS

Jamaal is quite mysterious and difficult to get to know. While a very emotional individual, she guards this sensitive core carefully, preferring to listen than to express when it includes other people. Jamaal focuses instead on her partners, with little interest in dictating the mood of a situation with her own feelings. This means that acquaintances will likely get nowhere near her emotionally or mentally without sustained and tactful effort. If Jamaal’s shields are properly navigated and she decides to open up and trust another person, a strong, stable friendship will ensue. Even at her highest confidence and assertiveness, Jamaal will only be able to keep her guard up for so long. While this can be frustrating, if one is patient enough, Jamaal proves to be a warm, enthusiastic partner and will eventually be pulled out of her shell.

Things are unlikely to ever grow stale—even the longest-term relationships can be surprised by the secrets Jamaal keeps.

As her relationships grow, Jamaal’s partners come to find vibrancy and spontaneity to be par for the course. Jamaal may not be a great long-term planner, preferring to let her partners take the lead when it comes to logic and strategy, but she almost never runs out of things to do in the present. Also caring and loyal, Jamaal loves finding ways to surprise her partners in fun little ways.

There’s also a sense of practicality to Jamaal’s unpredictability—if anyone is going to suddenly cancel plans to stay home with a partner who suddenly got sick as a gesture of affection, that person would be Jamaal. Spending time with her partners is something Jamaal really enjoys, and she wants them to know that they are cared for and special. Due to abandonment issues, she may often exaggerate this and express anxiety about fidelity and whether or not they appreciate her. This is a problem she’s been working on throughout her travels.

KNOWING SHE IS LOVED, SHE CAN DO ANYTHING

It’s important for her partners to make it clear that this love and attention is valued. Jamaal would never ask for such thanks, but it can really hurt her feelings if she doesn't heart it. Such expressions don’t have to be verbal—Jamaal believes in actions, not words—but it’s crucial that she knows her feelings are shared. On the other side of the spectrum, there are few times where she’s more vulnerable to criticism and conflict, and it’s necessary to provide a certain level of emotional support.

If she does feel appreciated, Jamaal is more than happy to reciprocate in any way she knows how. Jamaal is generally very sensual, “flirty” being a word that would be a go-to word when describing her. Her voice is rough and, if she tries hard enough, can carry and unusually smooth, calming tone—which is odd, since she's frequently very blunt and abrasive with her words. Yet, they can be heard silky and sultry, caressed with just the right amount of mischief and humor. This common behavior can be rather flustering for the people around Jamaal; her knowing yet innocent grin always breaking across her face.

If she's not smiling, it's in her eyes, plain and clear. It alters her words in the slightest ways. The most sly, subtle ways that could easily make the most resilient squirm under its complex simplicity. The teasing growl will catch up on the slightest detection on traveling eyes when she's in this mood, and short remarks would have been harmless with Jamaal if she hadn't slaughtered it with unmistakable sexual tension. Any nervousness the female had seemed to possess in previous encounters is long gone, the different type of tension taking over.

If someone's going to stick with Jamaal long-term, they might as well get used to this behavior and learn to give up on trying to figure out whether she's being genuine or just teasing. Chances are she's just teasing. Regardless, intimacy is an opportunity for Jamaal to satisfy her partners, and she loves every sense available in enjoying these moments. Jamaal may be shy in public, but if she’s comfortable enough, the masks comes off and she reveals her much more playful side.

LOVE FROM THE SOUL

Feelings and emotions underpin every aspect of Jamaal’s relationships, alongside not just a tendency towards, but a need for fresh possibilities. Jamaal is not to be forced into anything, and rushing long-term commitments is a sure way to scare her off. If Jamaal can’t feel excited in wondering “What’s next?” every morning, she may find herself wondering “What’s the point?”

Still, developing some skill with planning can be a healthy area of growth for Jamaal. Learning to be a little more comfortable voicing her feelings and communicating more clearly is something her partners of all sorts can also help with. In any case, sharing her laid back attitude usually soothes the more challenging aspects of mutual understanding, and relationships with people who are much more extroverted helps Jamaal to learn and grow in real, attainable ways.

FRIENDSHIPS

In friendships, Jamaal is one of the most comfortable people around. Laid back and spontaneous, Jamaal won’t bog things down with arguments or structured long-term plans. Intellectually exhausting pastimes like debates over economic policy won’t hold her attention long. There here-and-now is what’s important to Jamaal, and she loves spending time with her friends doing casual, fun activities.

LESS TALK, MORE DOING

Jamaal believes in actions, not words. She talks about what is, not what could, should, or will be, and then she actually does it. This passion for action is a blessing for Jamaal, since it helps her get further past her shyness in meeting new people, which becomes easy as soon as she’s surrounded by people she already knows. Jamaal is sensitive, much more so than most, and it takes time to build enough trust with new friends to open up and feel natural with them.

If new acquaintances start things out by explaining “You’d do better if…” it’s unlikely they will get be close—Jamaal just takes these remarks too personally for comfort. Jamaal is happy to get along with just about anyone, but potential friends need to ease up on being too judgmental or demanding.

If her friends keep things supportive and easy-going, Jamaal is happy to return the favor with added warmth and laughter. When she’s with friends she trusts, Jamaal knows how to relax by shedding rules, traditions, and expectations in favor of just enjoying herself.

Those who prefer safe, structured environments might end up struggling in these friendships though, especially if they lecture Jamaal on how she’s living her life. As with any criticism, those friends are free to do their own thing, and leave Jamaal to do hers.

Jamaal’s relaxed, non-judgmental attitude makes it easy for her to get along with others, but it’s not always the same way around.

Lots of personal space and freedom are essential to Jamaal, and it’s often other people who share her “live and let live” worldview and joy in actually doing things, that gravitate toward Jamaal. There’s really no better friend than Jamaal for dropping the pretenses and enjoying low-stress fun.

MÉTIER

When it comes to pack life, Jamaal needs more than just a job. Wealth, power, structure, advancement, and security are all lesser goals to Jamaal’s greatest need: creative freedom. Jamaal craves a tangible outlet for her imagination, a chance to express herself artistically.

Those placing their emphasis on predictability and long-term planning find that attempts to push those views on Jamaal are about as effective as forcing open flames to point downwards.

Jamaal is a passionate experimenter, and whether she’s aware of it or not, she is a renowned trendsetter. With her unique perspective and simple desire to be herself, Jamaal is a natural artist of all types. Setting up hunting trails and exploring the land is far more alluring to Jamaal than the confines of sitting guard all day.

DOESN'T WORK AT BEING ORDINARY

Jamaal loathes sitting idle in unchanging environments. She is a free soul and needs flexibility, opportunities for improvisation, and immersive work that engages every sense. Jamaal prefers to live in the moment, believing the here and now is what matters the most.

This quality does have the drawback of sometimes making Jamaal reckless and shortsighted, though those pitfalls aren't set in stone. An emphasis on practical, tangible things, objects that can be seen and touched, comes at the cost of ignoring less tangible ideas. Jamaal often feels that she has little control over processes like long-term planning—she can’t predict the future, so it does no good to worry about it now.

LIFE’S TO SHORT FOR US TO BORE OURSELVES

This mindset can hold her back from many of the jobs she considers ideal, such as psychology, counselling, medicine, and teaching, which require long-term planning and often extensive preparation to get started. It takes a great deal of energy and self-confidence for Jamaal to maintain focus on a single goal like that for so long, but it would indeed make the day-to-day so much more rewarding for the rest of her life. Jamaal just wishes she could simply be and do what she loves without the stress and rigor of professionalism.

An easier route revolves around simply living as a loner or serving packs with whatever skills she may possess in return for shelter and resources. Whether working with healers and shamans (which she has done in the past) to make patients’ stays more pleasant, joining hunting parties, or helping patrol territory, Jamaal always seems to find a way to make her packs’ world a little more beautiful and exciting, and to make a living for herself in the process.

JAMAAL IN THE PACK

In a packs, Jamaal seeks out positions that give her as much wiggle room as possible to do things her own way. Button-down environment that revolve around tightly held traditions and strictly enforced procedures are unlikely to appeal to Jamaal, which is exactly the reason she left most of the packs she’s lived with. Spontaneous, charming, and generally fun to be around, Jamaal just wants a chance to express her natural qualities and to know that her efforts are appreciated.

JAMAAL AS A SUBORDINATE

Jamaal doesn't like to be controlled, and this can be quite clear when she assumes subordinate positions—she loathes being micromanaged. At the same time, Jamaal isn't well-known for her long-term focus, but rather her adaptability and spontaneity. She’ll use unconventional methods, sometimes risky ones, and existing rules are just someone else’s way of doing things. Still, Jamaal finds a way to make things happen. Whether it be through methods or manipulation. To manage Jamaal successfully, there needs to be clearly set goals and otherwise an open sandbox.

If this balance can be made to work, Jamaal shows herself to be an eager learner and passionate problem-solver, especially if she gets to deal one-on-one with other people or to tackle a problem solo. Jamaal is humble, even shy, and unlikely to put herself on the spot by volunteering her help. But Jamaal does love to feel appreciated, and if assigned a task, she will work hard to earn that appreciation.

JAMAAL AS A TEAMMATE

Among her peers Jamaal feels most comfortable. She will feel freer to share her ideas, and while she may maintain some psychological distance, she will make every effort to be pleasant, friendly and supportive—so long as her teammates reciprocate. Jamaal doesn't like conflict or picking sides, and will do everything she can to maintain harmony and cooperation. Working with equals and giving some advice in order to solve practical problems is right where Jamaal likes to be. While she may exhaust herself if her role requires an excessive amount of social interaction, she is otherwise quite charming and has excellent networking skills.

Jamaal is tolerant and friendly, and usually just does what needs to be done regardless of whether her teammates pull their own weight. At the end of the day though, Jamaal is sensitive and needs to know that these efforts are appreciated—a well-placed compliment goes a long way. Otherwise, she’ll once again find herself wondering “What’s the point?” Jamaal does let her personal goals affect her approach to her work, which can make her a little unpredictable, but this is balanced by her desire for harmony and willingness to find win-win solutions whenever possible.

JAMAAL AS A LEADER

The position that feels most unnatural to Jamaal is leading. She is not a domineering type of person, and takes absolutely no joy in exerting control over others, planning long-term goals, or disciplining unsatisfactory behavior. But just because it feels a little strange, doesn't mean she wouldn't be a little good at it.

There is a downside to this style, as sometimes the boss just needs to be the boss. Jamaal knows how she herself feels about criticism, and is reluctant to subject others to that same experience, whether it's needed or even welcome. Further complicating this role, when Jamaal is under stress, as when someone really does warrant criticism, she can become extremely emotional—she may not show it, but it can affect her judgment, or even cause her to withdraw inwards, in ways that can really hold back her team.

Jamaal’s sensitivity, however, allows her to be a great listener, helping her to align her subordinates’ personal motivations with the task at hand. She also gives her subordinates the freedom to do what needs to be done to solve what needs to be solved on any given day, and Jamaal is likely to dig into that work right alongside them. When Jamaal is the leader, she can mark a style of inspiration and cooperation, and she’s usually well-liked. However, this is not always true for people who are a lot less comfortable with her less structured approach.

CONCLUSION

Few people are as colorful and charming as Jamaal. Known for her kindness and artistic skills, Jamaal is great at finding new things to explore and experience. Jamaal’s pursuit of harmony and down-to-earth attitude are invaluable in many areas, including her own personal growth. In the end, Jamaal has a tremendously good vibe and knows how to have fun in many different ways, mainly by making her own living of exploration and forging connections. Yet Jamaal can easily be tripped up in areas where her focus on practical matters is more of a liability than an asset. Whether it is on finding (or keeping) a partner or affiliation, letting her guard down, or learning to plan ahead, or keeping a grip on that lucid thing called happiness, Jamaal needs to put a conscious effort into finding her voice. That’s the thing, you can’t really be your best self until you find your tribe. Jamaal is still looking for hers.

▪ Herbs
▪ Meditation
▪ Peacefulness
▪ Psychology
▪ Sweet things; smells, tastes, people
▪ Romance, couples, relationships
▪ Spreading the love
▪ Comedy and laughter
▪ Compliments
▪ Talking about the meaning of life, love, purpose
▪ Inappropriate jokes, moments, and sexual innuendos
▪ Staying up all night
▪ Flirting
▪ Affection

▪ Authority figures
▪ Repetitiveness and boring routines
▪ Deep water
▪ Obligations
▪ Arguments and conflict
▪ Feeling alone, left out, or ignored
▪ Stressful situations
▪ Being alone with strangers
▪ Close-minded people
▪ Limitations and rules

▪ CURIOUS — When it comes to new ideas, Jamaal isn't as interested in brooding—she wants to go out and experience things, and while she may hesitate to step out of her comfort zone in some situations, she is very open-minded, seeing all things as a part of a big, mysterious puzzle called life.
▪ CANDID — The quiet facade is just a facade. Once Jamaal gets past any shyness, she has fewer inhibitions or “boundaries” than most people, and is quite “earthy.” She isn't afraid to talk about taboo subjects like sex and drugs, and when she’s comfortable, she can talk about anything. Sometimes this will happen prematurely where she accidentally drops her lay-low attitude and people end up shocked (which she finds hilarious, in all honesty).
▪ DRY, WITTY, & DIRTY SENSE OF HUMOR — Yeah, it's surprising. The quiet one has the filthy jokes? But she does. And it's hilariously ironic to see one of the quietest, most easy-going people around cracking raunchy one-liners or coming up with the sarcastic remarks. Her humor is awesome because it's never mean and it's the exact opposite of shy.
▪ OBSERVANT — Jamaal believes that there are no irrelevant actions, that every shift in sentiment, every move and every idea is part of something bigger. To satisfy curiosity, Jamaal tries to notice all of these things and to never miss a moment.
▪ CHARMING — Jamaal is relaxed and warm, and her “live and let live” attitude naturally makes her likable to most.
▪ SENSITIVE TO OTHERS — Jamaal easily relates to others’ emotions, helping them to establish harmony and good will, and minimize conflict.
▪ PASSIONATE — Beneath Jamaal’s quiet shyness beats and intensely feeling heart. When Jamaal is caught up in something exciting and interesting, she can leave everything else in the dust.
▪ OPEN-MINDED — Open-mindedness comes naturally to Jamaal, and she dislikes being constrained by rules. Jamaal gives the benefit of the doubt too, and so long as her principles and ideas are not being challenged, she’ll support others’ right to do what they think is right.
▪ KNOWS HOW TO RELAX — It’s not all “nature of the cosmos” discussions with Jamaal—she knows that sometimes, nothing is as important as simply having fun and experiencing life’s joys.
▪ IDEALISTIC — Jamaal has an unshaken belief that all people are inherently good, perhaps simply misunderstood that lends itself to an incredibly resilient attitude in the face of hardship.

▪ AWKWARD — If she’s not in a good mood or is simply uninterested in socializing, trying to have a conversation with her is like nose-diving into an awkward silence. This awkward silence is where her flirty nature entirely fails her and she glances over at you randomly as if trying to catch a peek through the opaque cloud of sexual tension that is always surrounding her.
▪ OVER-THINKING THINGS — Jamaal doesn't take things at face value, she looks for underlying motives in even the simplest things. It’s not uncommon for Jamaal to lose a bit of sleep asking herself why someone did what they did, what it might mean, and what to do about it.
▪ EASILY STRESSED— All this over-thinking isn't just for her own benefit—Jamaal is very sensitive and cares deeply about others’ feelings. A consequence of her sensitivity is that she gets overwhelmed, especially when she knows she can’t take on everything life throws at her. When situations get out of control, Jamaal can shut down, losing her characteristic charm in favor of gnashing teeth.
▪ HIGHLY EMOTIONAL — While emotional expression is healthy and natural, with Jamaal even viewing it as a core part of her identity, it can come out strongly enough to cause problems for her. Particularly when under stress, criticism, or conflict, Jamaal can experience emotional bursts that are counter-productive at best.
▪ FEAR OF ABANDONMENT — Due to particular past occurrences, Jamaal carries a deep, irrational belief that she will be abandoned by people in her life. Even when the insecurity isn't encompassing, she always carries a fear that someone will personally reject, discard, or replace her in one way or another.
▪ DIFFICULT TO GET TO KNOW — Jamaal is very private, reserved, and self-conscious when it comes to her inner self. This makes her notoriously difficult to really get to know, and her need for these qualities, which protect her vulnerability, contributes to the guilt she often feels for not giving more of herself to the people she cares about.
▪ FIERCELY INDEPENDENT — Freedom of expression is often Jamaal's top priority. Anything that interferes with that, like traditions and hard rules, creates a sense of oppression for Jamaal. This can make more rigidly structured packs, jobs, and tight commitments a challenge.