#Alex Alma

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Bulletin/Novus: Nine out of ten foreign-born people have holidayed in their country of birth

By: Alex Alma

[ Note: Auto-translated from Swedish ]

A new survey from Novus shows that over 85 percent of foreign-born people have at some point traveled back to their country of birth for a holiday. Among those who came to Sweden as refugees, the proportion who have holidayed in their old home country is 79 percent.

Holidaying in the country you fled from has become a topic of discussion in European countries in recent years. Bulletin has commissioned Novus to investigate how foreign-born people view repatriation, their children's growing conditions and holidaying in their country of birth. The sample consists of 1050 foreign-born people and the survey was conducted between 18 and 24 August.

The survey shows that only two percent of foreign-born people plan to return to their country of birth in the future, while 16 percent answer maybe. 76 percent believe that they intend to stay, among those who have come to Sweden from a non-European country, the proportion is 81 percent. 53 percent of foreign-born people believe that Sweden is a better country for their children to grow up in compared to their home country, while 9 percent believe that Sweden is worse than their home country. 33 percent answer neither.

Holidays in the country of birth

In the Bulletin/Novus survey, 85 percent of foreign-born people have visited their home country as a holiday destination at some point. Among those who came as family immigrants, 92 percent have traveled back to their country of birth to holiday at least once, while the figure is 79 percent among those who came as refugees. The group of foreign-born people with the highest proportion have never holidayed in their country of birth are the adopted, where 41 per cent have not visited the country of birth since they came to Sweden.

Novus points out that it is in the nature of things that those who participate in their surveys are reasonably well integrated in Sweden, since they answer questions in Swedish. The political conditions in their countries of origin may therefore have changed as time has passed.

But 79 percent is still a very high figure considering that we are talking about those who have come to Sweden and claimed that they are refugees.

In Norway, Aftenposten reported in 2018 that 24 percent of immigrants from Somalia, 40 percent of immigrants from Afghanistan, 55 percent of immigrants from Iran and 71 percent of immigrants from Iraq regularly traveled to their home country. According to Aftenposten, the data had been produced by Norway's statistical authority SSB. A difference with Bulletins/Novus is that the Norwegian figures are the proportion of immigrants who regularly holiday in their home country, while the Swedish figures report those who have travelled at least once.

Most countries allow people who have become citizens to return to their home country on vacation. At the same time, the fact that so many who originally came as refugees are returning indicates that the need for protection no longer applies, or perhaps never was so great.

The regulations for asylum seekers who have not been granted citizenship differ depending on the country. In Sweden, there are no restrictions for refugees who have been granted a permanent residence permit to travel back to their home country. However, refugee status can be revoked if it turns out that the person no longer needs international protection from their home country, and in cases where asylum seekers have been found to provide incorrect information about their need for protection. Other countries have stricter regulations. Switzerland, for example, does not allow asylum seekers to travel back to their home country to see relatives or vacation, except in very special circumstances. If this happens, the foreign-born person loses the right to continue to have a residence permit in Switzerland, according to UNHCR.

In Germany, too, asylum seekers' holiday trips to their home country became a political issue, as holiday trips were considered incompatible with the claim that one is fleeing for one's life and seeking protection in Germany due to danger in the home country. In a statement in 2019, Germany's then Interior Minister Horst Seehofer warned refugees that they would be investigated and stripped of their residence permits when traveling to their home country.

"If someone, a Syrian refugee, regularly vacations in Syria, he cannot honestly claim to be persecuted in Syria," he said, adding "we would have to strip him of his refugee status."

According to DW, for example, in 2016, investigations led to 66 refugees from Iraq and Syria being stripped of their residence permits, and were no longer considered to be in need of protection because they had gone on trips to their home country.

Angela Merkel has also criticized refugees' holiday trips to their home country, and said that it could be interpreted as meaning that the need for protection should be reassessed.

CORRECTION: The article previously stated that Sweden does not have restrictions for those who have been granted asylum to return to their country of origin. The Swedish Migration Agency has pointed out: "That statement is directly incorrect, refugee status can be revoked if it turns out that the person no longer needs international protection from their home country or if they have provided incorrect information about such a need." The text has been corrected.

==

Legal immigration and legitimate asylum/refugee protection are all good things.

But western societies are being taken for a ride by people who are exploiting their empathy. When you claim to be fleeing a toxic ideology but then have no problem wandering back, we're justified in assuming you're not on the side that you claimed to be or that benefits us.

Revoke status and deport.

[citrusscale-remastered]

Magisterium Actors AU

[The Bronze Key]

Call: I keep on forgetting that this house isn’t real

Aaron: Did you shit in the fake toilet again?

Call: Again??

Call: No I was trying to turn on the water

~~~~~ Alex, bopping Aaron on the head with the Alkahest: Cain instinct

~~~~~ Call, holding a crystal: Dude guess where I just got this from

Jasper: Wait where

Call, pointing back at the chandelier, missing several crystals: It’s sugar glass and it’s so good

~~~~~ Kimiya: Hey babe, how are we feeling about dying

Jennifer: The contour’s going crazy, I’ll be the deadest corpse in the water

~~~~~

Tamara, sneaking through the cave wall set: *hums mission impossible*

~~~~~ Alex, holding out the Alkahest: Whoosh! Kablam!

Rufus: Cut!

Aaron: Stop making mouth noises! This is the fourth time I’ve had to die!

~~~~~ Tamara, pointing at a fish: Hey Captain Fishface, it’s your twin!

Call: I’m demoting you to petty officer fishface now

~~~~~ Call, gesturing to the truck of animals: Wow!

Call: Look at all these chickens!

~~~~~

Call and Aaron: *eyes closed, intensively focusing*

Alma, whispering: Jen?

Jen:

Call, cracking open an eye: Jen are you fucking asleep?

Jen:

~~~~~

*Alastair napping with Havoc on his lap*

Call: Dads when they didn’t want a dog

~~~~~

Alex: So… I just wiggle my fingers?

Alma: Yes, the CGI’s going to put everything in later

Aaron: You look so stupid doing that

Alex: This is literally why I kill you

~~~~~

Jasper, vlogging: Hey guys, this is the storeroom

Jasper: This green noodle is gonna try and kill Call

Tamara: And this green noodle is my sister!

~~~~~

Call, filming Panopticon scene: Crazy? I was crazy once. They locked me in a room, a rubber room, a rubber room with rats and rats make me crazy.

Anastasia: The youth of today

~~~~~

Iron Trio, imitating poster behind them: Hang in there!

~~~~~ Tamara, behind the camera: Me when I pretend to be straight

*phone pans over to Jasper and Celia’s date scene*

Jasper: -so this ferret, yeah?

~~~~~ Part One Part Two

[alexa-mwll]

My oc.

Mexican nationality.

Place of birth: Baja California, Mexico.

Name: Nathaly Rubio.

Face claim:???

Height: 1.57.

Age: 25 years.

Date of birth: March 9, 1999.

Job: Special Reaction Forces. Mercenary.

Rank: Lieutenant.

Affiliations: Special Forces, Los Vaqueros, Task Force 141, Shadow Company, Tyler Rake and Nik Khan.

Biography:

-NOTHING IS KNOWN ABOUT HIS CHILDHOOD.-

During his stay in the Mexican Army, Nathaly trained in combat and survival techniques. Nathaly is the favorite of the Sedena High Command. She was one of the only women in the battalion and faction to complete all Special Forces courses. The best of the best.. she worked with Task Force 141 in Urzikstan and the Farah Liberation forces in 2019 and 2020.

5 years after her courses, she met Colonel Alejandro Vargas and his soldiers, with whom she was in charge of removing trash from Las Almas México, thus meeting Philip Graves (Shadow Company) with whom she had an affair which left her marked by betrayal. .

The rest is history, betrayal and revenge…

Personality:

Nathaly tends not to share any information about her personal life and maintains a fairly low, if not non-existent, social life. According to many, this woman is a psychopath, since with the power she has over the city of Las Almas she could make anyone disappear without leaving any trace; However, she is kept in line because as a lieutenant, she has to maintain an image of respect for the city and its "laws." She tends to get attached very quickly to the people she meets. She is a person loyal to her loved ones, and also very distrustful when it comes to meeting someone, due to the betrayals she has suffered in the past. Determined and relentless, resourceful and strategic. Pragmatic and adaptable.Emotionally protected.Brave and fearless.

Tastes:

She claims to hate music, but she actually loves the song "Barbie Girl." He hates hugs, but deep down she wants a hug. In her life she has only had two crushes with Commander Phillip Graves of the Shadow Company and certainly even though she tries to hide it, she is attracted to Vladimir Makarov. She likes dark colors. And she loves to cut her pixie hair.

Close people:

Alyssa Martinez @alypink

Sofia “Berlin” Lopez @theqreatorsworld

Lieutenant Cat @cyberghostdraws

Damien Whitlock @kaitaiga

Alejandro Vargas

Rodolfo Parra

TF141

Captain Jhon Price

Kyle Garrick

Jhon "Soap" Mactavish😞

Simon "Ghost" Riley

Laswell

❤✨

[doodling-doodle]

Los Reyas De Las Almas, Ch.2

Rodolfo hadn't stopped thinking about what he saw... The Prince was in love with his personal guard. They had kissed...

They had to tell the Kings what they saw... they had to know

“Mi Estrella, there you are!” Alejandro called out when he saw Rodolfo in the dining hall in the morning. He wasn’t able to find him for a while, he was getting a little worried.

“I’m sorry, Mi Amor, I got caught up in a rush…” Rodolfo said as he walked back up to Alejandro.

“Are you alright?”

“I… saw something last night and… I don’t know what to do.”

Alejandro nodded, “We’ll talk about that later, alright? Lets go ahead and eat, get the celebration going again.”

Rodolfo nodded, and they went to eat while Alejandro kept an eye on him, seeing just how worried he looked.

“Mi estrella… Tell me what's wrong.” Alejandro said, holding onto him as they got to their room.

“I… last night, I was looking for Prince Kyle, His Lady and Sir Alex… He and Sir Alex were in the garden, alone, and…”

“No… You don’t mean…”

“They were dancing… they kissed…”

Alejandro blinked, sighing and pulling back, starting to pace.

“Do we tell the Kings?” Rodolfo asked.

“We should… But do we?”

“They deserve to know…”

“But their son and his love should be safe.”

“They would be found at some point anyway.”

Alejandro sighed, “Okay… Let’s tell them.”

Rodolfo nodded, “let's find them after breakfast is over… we'll tell them in the war room.”

As they went back to the dining hall, they saw King John and King Phillip going to sit at a table, Prince Kyle, Sir Alex and Lady Kaida sitting on their own.

“Your majesty’s.” Alejandro said as he and Rodolfo approached King John and King Phillip's table.

“Alejandro, Rodolfo. Good morning.” King Phillip said, smiling, “The festival last night was wonderful. I hope you enjoyed it.”

“Oh we did.” Alejandro said as they sat down, “I hope you were, as well.”

“Are you feeling alright, Rodolfo?” King John asked, “You look as though something is troubling you.”

“Oh… Well, I suppose something is… I’m afraid we need to speak to you after we eat.” He said, “I found something troubling last night… I think I need to inform you two of it…”

“What…?” King Phillip asked, looking so worried, “Is our child okay? His guard and His Lady?”

“Well… They are okay, but it is about them…”

King John and King Phillip looked at each other worriedly, then at their child sitting across the room.

After they ate, they went to the war room, where both Kings sat down, and King John immediately asked, “What did you see?”

“I…” Rodolfo started, taking a deep breath, “I was the one that saw it. I was going through the garden, I was looking for The Prince and Sir Alex, and… Well, i found them… They were dancing together. They… They were talking, but I didn’t hear them…” he sighed, sitting down.

“They kissed.”

The looks that the Kings gave him… shocked him. It wasn’t hurt, or anger, or sadness. It was panic. And shock.

He kept talking…

“They’ve clearly been together for a long time- That kiss was passionate. I-”

“You don’t need to say more.” King John said.

He panicked. He knew this likely couldn’t end well, he just was hoping that they wouldn’t let go of their son, that he would be safe in the end…

“You don’t need to worry, your highness.” King Phil said, “We know. They just don’t know we know. We don’t want them to know yet.”

Now they were the ones to be shocked.

“So… you won’t exile them?” Alejandro asked.

“Of course not!” King Phillip said, almost jumping out of his seat, “We would never do that! That’s our child and his guard. We couldn’t do that… I couldn’t do that. I can’t exile my son and I can’t execute his lover and best friend.”

“Neither could I.” King John added.

They weren’t too shocked. But what did shock them was the instant denial of it.

King Phillip sighed, “Gods… I suppose I never told you about my past, did I…?” He leaned back in his chair, looking down.

“No… You haven’t.” Rodolfo replied.

King John held King Phillip’s hand softly, sighing and looking at him.

“I… was wrongly exiled from my old kingdom when I was fifteen.” King Phillip said, “I was accused of killing my father… and exiled immediately, without seeing my mother and my sisters again… I was wondering for months until I found The Rose Gold Kingdom, and that’s when I met John… the rest is mostly history.”

Rodolfo blinked, “I… Phillip, I’m so sorry, I…”

“I never told you. How would you have been able to know? But… yes, that’s why I won’t exile either of them. I know what its like.”

There was a long silence, King John holding onto King Phillip softly…

“We will make sure that no one finds out about your child and his lover.” Alejandro said.

“Thank you.” King Phillip said, “We leave in about a week. Don’t seem suspicious, they might catch on to something going on…”

Rodolfo nodded, “We will make sure that no one finds out.” He said, smiling. 

“But they need to be more subtle.” Alejandro said, looking out the window, causing the others to go and see.

Sir Alex and Prince Kyle were in the garden again, and they were dancing together again, the guard gently taking his Prince’s crown off and holding it close to kiss him.

Rodolfo felt himself smiling softly, watching the two young lovebirds dance around in the garden, not a care in the world until Lady Kaida came to get them and they left the garden.

“We will get them married, even if they never tell us about this relationship.” King John said.

“It seems like they're very in love.” Alejandro said.

“Oh they are. It solves problems for us, so we’re going to let it happen.” King Phillip said, shrugging.

“We have more festivities soon.” Rodolfo said, “We should probably go out to the courtyard.”

The week went on, and before they knew it, The Rose Gold Kingdom had left at the end of the celebration.

No one had found out, even with the two young lovers not being the most subtle. If they were in a crowd, it just seemed like Sir Alex was instructed to be next to Prince Kyle at all times. Alone in a hall or in the garden, it was clear it was more than that. 

But King John and King Phillip were happy to just move along. It solved the problem of who The Prince would marry if they had to arrange it. 

Who were they to judge? They weren’t parents, they had no reason to say anything about how they parented their child. 

So they let it go. It just meant they had time to plan wedding gifts.

[moviemosaics]

Ghostlight

directed by Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson, 2024

[pandorafallz]

Ashes in her wake | C10

Kìoetey felt a familiar relief at the sight of the Hollows. So little time since she had last been here but it felt far longer now. The last time she had been here… it was when Cortez had shown her the truth of their clan. Had she really not been back after that?

Katir landed, chuckling a little softly at an excited child who stared in awe at the Ikran, mouth open.

“<Careful, my son.>” The child’s mother said, pulling him back. “<Ikran are proud creatures. Do not look in their eye.>”

Kìoetey patted Katir’s neck as she slipped off her harness, nudging her onwards and heading into the clan’s home.

It was filled with people, even Zeswa and a few Aranahe were still about, some still looking hung-over or tired and some happily chattering away. New connections still forming. Still pleasing to see.

“<Sarentu?>

Kìoetey turned swiftly before she smiled at the familiar form of Okul who was down by the cooking station but filling a small canteen with some sort of broth. “<Okul. It’s good to see you.>”

Okul came out, though smiling there was an odd look in their eye which dimmed her relief in seeing them. “<You’re here, Sarentu. I didn’t expect that.>”

“<Is… everything alright?>”

Okul’s head tilted a fraction. “<I am very tired. Anufi has allowed me time away from the Hollows unbothered to regain my mental energy. I was about to go once I had made myself some food for the journey. I will be going north to Herbalist’s Keep which rests beside the yavä.>”

“<Did something happen?>” Kìoetey asked.

“<Yes, but I’m sure you’re very aware of It>,” Okul said very causally, setting the stopper into their canteen and setting it onto a hip bag. “<Are you looking for Anufi?>”

They seemed very… well, skittish wasn’t the right word but they lacked a clear opening to talk for much longer. Not disinterested either. It was… an odd energy they had. “<Er.. Yes. I’ve recently recovered my sister’s remains. I wish her aid in returning her to Eywa.>”

Okul’s head straightened up. “<Anufi is with Eywa in the Circle of Ancestors. Meditating. I’m certain you can draw her out to discuss matters with her.>”

Kìoetey spared a glance towards the way before she nodded. “<Thank you.>”

Okul nodded. “<If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be making my way.>” They gestured their goodbye from their forehead and departed with a hop in their step before Kìoetey just watched them go for a moment then sighed heavily.

She could talk to them later once they were back. Okul didn’t seem like someone who’d tire out; she had seen them with almost boundless energy even after yavä exposure and being chased by a Feral. Maybe the amount of new people was overwhelming.

Kìoetey didn’t linger but entered the cavern where the Whispering Greatcaps stood with long tendrils hanging down to seated people. Anufi wasn’t alone, others were also connected to Eywa but the Tsahìk looked very content with her eyes closed in her connection.

Kìoetey pondered for a moment if she should speak up and draw her out but it wasn’t for more than a few moments before the Tsahìk sighed deeply and pulled her kuru free, her head tilting toward her.

“<Sarentu.>”

“<I hope I’m not disturbing you.>” Kìoetey started, leaning forward and helping her to her feet as Anufi held her hand out for the silent request up.

Anufi stretched out a little, letting go of her hand before she straightened out her waistcloth. “<Nothing that can’t wait. I was wondering when you would come down.>”

Kìoetey relaxed a little. “<I should have come sooner. I… I was recently able to retrieve my sister’s ashes.>”

That certainly caught the Tsahìk’s attention, her eyes turning soft in understanding. “<You wish to return her to Eywa.>”

“<Yes, after twenty-two years, she deserves to rest with the Great Mother. Would you be able to assist?>”

Anufi eyed her for a moment in clear contemplation before she nodded. “<I can. Have you found a suitable container or shroud to wrap her in?>”

“<Both myself and Ri’nela are working on creating a shroud to wrap her ashes in.” They were still in the mists of creating the threads for it but did not have a design but they could sort that out quickly.

Anufi nodded approvingly. “<I can gather some herbs and once your sister’s shroud is complete and she’s wrapped inside, then we can return her to Eywa here.” She gestured down to the roots in front of her. “<For her return to Eywa from ashes, she will need a strong connection. The Circle of Ancestors will be suitable>”

“<We can try and get the shroud done by tomorrow.>”

“<No.>” Anufi shook her head, her soft voice sharpening a little. “<You do not rush a burial shroud for the sake of a quick funeral. You must put care and dignity into the fabric’s creation. It is an extension of your love and grief, not just their dress for their burial.>”

Kìoetey’s jaw snapped shut a little. She hadn’t considered that… she just wanted her sister to be buried. A little tactless, in hindsight. Anufi was right. “<Oh, of course.>”

Anufi gave her a soft look. “<Your sister will be returned to Eywa. There is no right or wrong way. Each clan has different means of catering to their dead but there must be respect given. Fortunately, I know the Sarentu’s way of the rite. Before they left the Kame’tire to the Circle of Songs, I aided the burial of one who passed from overexposure to txumtem venom. I can teach you.>”

Kìoetey’s eyes widened before she felt a swell of relief form in her heart. Aha’ri would get a Sarentu Burial. “<Thank you.>”

“<I would like Ri’nela to come down before then and meditate with me within Eywa. As she becomes Tsahìk, it will be her duty to tend to the dead but to listen to Eywa’s will.>”

“<I can talk to her. She does wish to learn from the Tsahìks teachings. You, Etuwa and Minang.>”

Anufi nodded approvingly. “<Then she had many pools of knowledge to draw from which I find important given your clan’s circumstances and… that does remind me of a concern, especially as Ri’nela is training to be Tsahìk for your people.>”

“<Oh?>” Kìoetey’s head tilted, her relief deflating a little but she had a fair idea of what it was. Of course, Anufi would see it and wish to address it too. “<Is it about her anger? So’lek’s spoken to her this morning to seek council from a Tsahìk.>”

Anufi nodded. “<He is a wise man. Yes, I have seen myself that Ri’nela has the potential to be a great Tsahìk but she will be hampered severely by allowing herself to be consumed by her ire like a Sky person. If the actions towards the Dreamwalker were any indication when she was last here.”

Kìoetey’s shoulder slumped a little. “<She had just learned of the truth of our people from Cortez. She has a right to take her distance to reconcile.>”

Anufi shook her head. “<I do not mean when Ri’nela was last here. I speak of when Almacortez was last here.>”

Kìoetey backpedalled a little in surprise. “<You’ve spoken to her? Did she come here?>” It… made sense actually why she went for the field lab; easier to go to from the Hollows at night. Still, it seemed odd she’d take the trip. Why leave the Resistance to just go to a neighbouring clan?

Anufi stared at her for a moment then nodded. “<She came during the celebrations to see me. She informed me of what you asked of her and asked for a place among our clan. Given she was Mokasa’s mouthpiece to the Sky people, I turned her request down and she went on her way to her metal home. I am aware she has since left. To where, I do not know.>”

The tone in her voice was… marginally remorseful but it was laced with a deep sense of… disappointment. It was even softly directed as well. Not in her people but… them. Her. Sarentu.

“<You disapprove of what we said?>”

Anufi nodded. “<I do not say this to shame you but what was asked of her was unnecessarily harsh. Pushing another away in anger will not resolve the emotion. She may have been able to help your clan move on.>”

Kìoetey’s head bowed a little. “<I’m sorry.>”

“<That apology is not for me, Sarentu.>” Anufi placed her hand on her chest. “<Now a woman wanders without a home and without a clan.>”

Kìoetey sucked in a deep breath. “<How can I make this right?>” She still has a chance to make things right and look for her. Even if Cortez did leave willingly, she believed a lot of bad things she didn’t refute and should have. If she couldn’t convince her to come back, an apology was deserved at the very least. They were by no means even but still, an apology had to be made.

Anufi took a shallow breath, turning her gaze up to the Greatcaps. “<I do not know. Not yet.>” Anufi admitted, “<Mokasa’s exile carries significantly more weight to my clan than hers to yours. I would not consider his return so soon. My people are still healing and must be a Tsahìk to them first.>”

Kìoetey said nothing, not quite meeting her stare.

“<As disappointed as I am with your people’s choices regarding the Dreamwalker, it will not change my view of your clan. Of you. You are young and reclaiming your people’s places among the clans. It is not an easy journey. You are learning.>”

Some relief but it didn’t feel all too brilliant either. She didn’t like disappointing Anufi… but it wasn’t that bad. Anufi had exiled Mokasa for a reason so why draw comparisons? Cortez walked away. It wasn’t like they had exiled Cortez.

 “<I’ll speak to Ri’nela now.>”

-

Alma sat cross-legged on the lab floor, her hands mostly caked in mud but her heart ached at the rusted box was still in one piece in front of her. It was where she had left it 30 years ago; buried under a tree, scored with a cross so it was far easier to find once she had found the traces of the dried-out stream.

The colour of the case was more or less gone and the rust had eaten most of its outside. She could feel as she had pulled it out the weakness the thirty years of burial had given its lid and sides was bent inwards, caved from the weight but not collapsed and sat innocently on a large leaf, the noon sun leaching any moister from the mud by the time she felt ready to face it. A tray for each.

Alma took a breath, trying to steady her heart as she used a spare tool to cut the latch and slowly forced the case out. A pungent smell made her gag before she released the lid, turning her away to breathe…

“You can do this…” Alma whispered to herself, “You put them in. You can take them out.”

She forced herself to turn back, her throat tightening at the mixture of soggy, decayed fabric nestling tiny little baby bones, and the dense brick of wet ashes within the plastic bag. Her hands shook as she retrieved the ashes first, settling it quickly onto the first tray and setting that into the sun before she used a small twig to help push through the dregs of rotten fabric.

Amanda’s bones were scattered inside, small tooth-sized vertebra, the tiny little femur bones… her skull in several fragments which wasn’t a surprise given newborn skulls weren’t fused to allow for easy passage out in birth. Not that she had been able to pass her out the traditional way. Big head for starters, transverse and tangled in the umbilical cord for second and third.

In her big blue hands, Amanda’s bones were so small. Smaller than expected. The… distortion of size was jarring. She had forgotten how small she had truly been. If she held the true Amanda as an infant in this body, she’d fit so easily in a single hand. So small and delicate.

So deserving of life.

Her fingers traced over the deformation of her little top jaw. Her cleft lip. Alma swallowed down the rise of grief, placing the last bones onto the tray and fished out the last item inside the box and discarded it away; someone else’s problem. The engagement ring was as expectedly filthy. Small and useless in this body but she got to her feet and hurried to the stream to clean herself down, her fingers rubbing the metal ring underneath the water until most of the grime was off. Her little finger was barely able to clean the inside but she got it good enough. Her hands washed over her feet as well before she trudged up the bank towards the field lab. She grabbed a spare rag, drying her hands and feet swiftly.

She didn’t want to get rid of the ring… but it was made of metal. Na’vi wouldn’t like it at all, as small as it was. She could disguise it. Wrap it with string and maybe make it into a bracelet of sorts. Anklet maybe?

Alma considered that option, setting the ring onto her late fiancé’s tray then picked both up and set them on the desk. She tripped the bag into the tray, turned on the heat lamp and shone it downwards; she needed them to be dry. No surprise the bag eventually leaked but if she wrapped wet ashes it’d soak the shroud. Possibly leak. She didn’t want that sort of mess.

With Amanda’s bones, Alma slowly took her time to wipe down her bones and set them carefully into the shroud. The shroud was done yesterday but she had added a simple embroidery of a plant and with Amanda’s name and date of birth since to personalise it this morning. With the reality of how small her bones were, the shroud was comparatively massive as she gently folded it around with delicacy and carefulness as she secured it with twine. She added the same Na’vi symbol that her own human remains had onto a piece of hide and tucked it in. She held it for a moment longer, stroking over the bundle sadly and then tucked it into her little coffin box beside her human remains.

Only Michael’s remains were left.

His shroud, she hadn’t taken off the loom, in part it wasn’t complete; she had yet to embroider it (and in all honestly, she had stabbed herself a lot in the fingers with Amanda’s one.)

Leyapay rose abruptly from the grass, stretching out before padding off towards the river. Alma watched her go before she picked up her needle; might as well start. She could be done by tomorrow and be on her way.

-

Kìoetey returned back to base with a weight in her gut and weaved through the few people and slipped into the airlock in search of Ri’nela. She found her shortly with both So’lek and Alex in deep discussion.

Alex looked both angry and confused. “What do you mean that Cortez left?” his voice echoed in mild disbelief, his hands on his hips.

So’lek didn’t look surprised at his response and answered swiftly. “Kìoetey found a note of her farewell. The station was emptied and the Dreamwalker has been absent for several days.”

“Why would she leave? Did Jason talk to her?” Alex fired swiftly, setting down his tools entirely and peeling off his gloves.. “Look, he told me he wanted her gone. Maybe he said something to get her to go?”

The warrior’s head tilted, “I do not know. I have not seen them cross paths but I was not about often. I was occupied a few times.”

“I have not seen them together either. Cortez spent most of her time inside on her own. She left once according to Priya to aid some structural testing outside with Jax given her height.” Ri’nela said, “Priya wouldn’t lie.”

Alex didn’t look convinced before he noticed her. “Kìoetey, please tell me you have some good news.” He almost begged.

“Yes, but not about Cortez.” Kìoetey admitted, “Sorry, Alex. Anufi said she appeared briefly at the party for refuge but was refused. She left for the lab and must have gone sometime after that.” She added to So’lek and Ri’nela. “She… didn’t approve of us wanting her to live at the labs it seems. She’s disappointed we’d push her away. She thinks she could have helped us heal.”

Ri’nela frowned softly. “That’s it?”

“In terms of Cortez, Yes. Anufi does wish for you to go down and listen to her teachings. She’ll help us with a Sarentu funeral for Aha’ri.” Kìoetey summarised.

“Did she say anything about where Cortez went… or planning to go?”

“No. I’ll do a sweep of the Clouded Forest later. She can’t have gone too far.”

Alex didn’t look convinced. “I don’t think she left so willingly. Why aren’t you concerned about that?”

“There’s no proof that she was forced away.” Kìoetey reasoned softly, “I’m sorry, but Anufi didn’t say anything like that. Not even Cortez mentions it in her letter. If she was forced away, she would have said so in some form or another.”

“Can I have the letter?” Alex said, almost demanding it. So’lek pulled it from his pouch and handed it over.

Alex opened it up eagerly and his eyes flickered over the text before he frowned. “It’s vague. It holds the implication.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Ri’nela answered. “You’re reading too much of what you want to.”

Alex’s jaw tightened. “Ri’nela, while I don’t agree with what Alma did at all, to you and to the resistance… it shouldn’t be left like this. It’s not fair.”

Ri’nela gave him a tired look. “I know but I’m too tired to expend myself onto her and where she’s gone. I need to focus on who is here now. Teylan and Kìoetey. I can’t even allow myself to worry about Nor, Alex. He has fewer survival skills than Cortez. At least she left prepared.” Ri’nela drew herself up. “I’m sorry. But this is where we will leave it. Look for her in your own time if you want but this is not a Resistance group project.”

Kìoetey sighed softly, reaching a supportive have to Alex’s shoulder but he turned and stormed away out of sight. “Alex…”

Ri’nela touched her elbow. “Please, let them go. We have more important things to do. I’ve got thread spun for Aha’ri’s shroud and I’ve got some designs I wish to talk with you about.”

Kìoetey turned her gaze towards Ri’nela with a ball of discontent in her stomach but… she could still look for her later. She knew it would help cool Alex’s nerves about this plus… he was right that this was the wrong way about it with Cortez.

Masterlist

[eddiemelrose]

My VA Next Gen OCs ~ Alex Dragomir.

The phrase “just do what makes you happy” is what he lives by. He’s the baby of the family, why waste his time with all that political nonsense? There’s so many things to try, and so many places to go. There’s more to life than expectations and politics as far as he’s concerned.

[clubkidandcollectives]

[loudestcloud]

🪷Kanda & Alma🪷

Sarah by Alex G.

This took me ages because I had to redownload the file of clips I made, then I split them into 3 parts; Lotus clips, coffee colour clips and memory clips. I also did this one verse by verse so I ended up with 4 chunks of clips to put together and then add text over, it was actually a really good method so I definitely recommend it. Anyway,Alex G just seems to have a D gray man emotional vibe in my mind cos this is the second time ive used them now. My favourite but is Alma reaching to for the promise because it was completely unintended and then also the "Yu, be my guest" cos i thought that was very clever of me 💅🏻

[1bely]

En esta vida existe una gran conexión entre una mente y otra. Hay quienes lo llaman "almas gemelas", pero no es más que el cerebro humano atrayendo como un imán semejante. No se trata de parejas, ni de amor. Es una conexión únicamente mental, y no han existido nunca más de dos mentes relacionadas entre sí... hasta ahora. Es posible desprenderlas, eliminar el lazo que las une, pero aunque lo intente la conexión entre tu mente y la mía no se rompe. Estamos vinculadas.

-Alex Mírez

[spacecrew]

Ghostlight, 2024

Directors: Kelly O'Sullivan, Alex Thompson

Writer: Kelly O'Sullivan

Cinematography by Luke Dyra

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30321095/

[reggieponder]

Ghostlight Directors Kelly O'Sullivan & Alex Thompson: Interview

I had the opportunity to speak with the directors of the movie Ghostlight, Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson. Ghostlight is currently in theaters and “centers on Dan Mueller, a blue-collar father and husband trying to cope with the suicide of his son a year earlier. When an actor named Rita draws Dan into her small community theater’s production of Romeo and Juliet, Dan meets a group of…

[themnmovieman]

Movie Review ~ Ghostlight

Ghostlight Synopsis: When melancholic construction worker Dan finds himself drifting from his wife and daughter, he discovers community and purpose in a local theater’s production of Romeo and Juliet. As the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life, he and his family are forced to confront a personal loss.Stars: Keith Kupferer, Dolly de Leon, Katherine May Kupferer, Tara Mallen, Hana Dworkin,…

[doodling-doodle]

The Rose Gold Kingdom has many ally's, and about as many enemies. But one of their best is The Kingdom Of Souls. El Renio De Las Almas.

King Alejandro and King Rodolfo. Lost Reyas De Las Almas.

But something troubled them during a visit from The Rose Gold Kingdom... The Prince and his relationship with his personal guard...

Los Reyas De Las Almas, Chapter two

April 7th

[edsonjnovaes]

9 FILMES DE FICÇÃO CIENTÍFICA QUE AS PESSOAS ESQUECERAM

Desde sempre, a ficção científica nos ofereceu um prisma para ver o mundo de forma diferente. Seja tecendo críticas à alienação e ao controle da população ou imaginando um mundo de possibilidades ilimitadas, o gênero sempre andou no limite entre a maravilha e o grotesco, com mistérios descobertos graças à tecnologia e à ciência. GUS FIAUX – Legião dos Heróis THX 1138 (1971) Muito antes de se…

[pandorafallz]

Alma didn't know what could have transpired after Anufi revealed her part in the Sarentu's disappearance to the kids. Couldn't have known that Nor would have taken his blade to her gut before she could explain. Before she could really tell them why, before she could defend herself If only she had been in her Avatar when he did so…

Chapter 10 snippet

“<Sarentu?>

Kìoetey turned swiftly before she smiled at the familiar form of Okul who was down by the cooking station but filling a small canteen with some sort of broth. “<Okul. It’s good to see you.>”

Okul came out, though smiling there was an odd look in their eye which dimmed her relief in seeing them. “<You’re here, Sarentu. I didn’t expect that.>”

“<Is… everything alright?>”

Okul’s head tilted a fraction. “<I am very tired. Anufi has allowed me time away from the Hollows unbothered to regain my mental energy. I was about to go once I had made myself some food for the journey. I will be going north to Herbalist’s Keep which rests beside the yavä.>”

“<Did something happen?>” Kìoetey asked.

“<Yes, but I’m sure you’re very aware of It>,” Okul said very causally, setting the stopper into their canteen and setting it onto a hip bag. “<Are you looking for Anufi?>”