#limelight lawn collection

[yousafcloth1]

Follow: 👉 @yousafcloth1 Visit: www.yousafcloth.com Whatsapp +923076131331 Lawn Jacquard Collection . . . . . . . #style #fashion #trend #ootd #fashionstyle #instafashion #onlineshopping #dress #outfitoftheday #fashionista #embroidered #shopping #Printed #streetstyle #sale #limelightunstitched #outfit #online #Unstitched #fashionblogger #limelights #streetwear #dresses #sayapakistan #khaadi #limelightsummer #ootdfashion #embroidery #collection #Shoppingonline (at Yousaf Cloth) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoSnZzRsXyb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[buyzillapk]

Best Lawn Collections 2021 To Wear This Festive Season

The festive season is coming and everyone is planning to fill their wardrobe with the best lawn dress at cheap prices. In this article, we will tell you about the Best Lawn Collection 2021 to wear this festive season. With the beginning of the spring/summer season, brands have started to launch their New Lawn Collection 2021 for women. Here’s a list of top fashion brands that are famous due to their fabric quality, embroidery, and thread work and offering stylish lawn dresses at amazingly discounted prices:

•                     Sapphire

•                     ChenOne

•                     KHAS

•                     Limelight

•                     Nimsay

•                     BTW

Sapphire

Sapphire has launched its lawn collection 2021 with stunning prints and vibrant designs. All lawn dresses are full of beautiful thread work and colors that strike the perfect balance between comfort and style. The Sapphire lawn collection 2021 consists of lawn and chiffon dress for women to wear in the upcoming festive season. For all those who’re looking for amazing festive ensembles, Sapphire Lawn Collection 2021 is your go-to this festive season. The latest lawn collection 2021 has introduced a wave of versatility and a blend of contemporary and chic styles in daily wear for women and girls from a variety of semi-formal and formal prints. Shop sales on Sapphire Lawn Collection 2021 online at BuyZilla.pk now.

ChenOne

ChenOne Pareesa Lawn Collection 2021 includes rich fabrics in exquisite shades ornamented with intricate embroidery to give you a stylish look for every occasion. The new lawn collection features stylish prints, unique and colorful that are best for casual, formal, and for semi-formal wear. ChenOne is in the clothing industry for some years and now among the leading fashion brands in Pakistan’s clothing industry that produces many types of clothes like lawn dresses, Chiffons, and embroidered dresses. If you’re looking to get on your hands on the best summer wear dresses while staying on your budget, Pareesa lawn collection 2021 should be your go-to lawn collection. Explore exclusive discounts and deals on ChenOne Lawn Collection online at BuyZilla.pk.

KHAS

KHAS has launched its Lawn Collection 2021 with beautiful prints and there’s something for all tastes and preferences. The new arrivals are full of digital, floral, and ethnic prints providing a perfect look for modern women. From bright, vibrant colors to elegant designs and from stitched to unstitched pieces, you’ll find plenty of dresses to choose from. KHAS lawn prints come in trendy cuts and designs that are stitched to perfection. The most wanted lawn dresses on sale are running out fast. So, if you’re in a rush to fill your wardrobe with the best lawn collection this season, do not wait any further. Check out the amazing discount on lawn collection available online at BuyZilla.pk, and shop your favorites from the comfort of your home.

Limelight

Limelight Lawn Collection 2021 consists of ethnic prints, digital and floral designs with three-piece, two-piece, and single-piece lawn suits for women that are an instant attention grabber. The lawn dresses are contemporary and perfect for the upcoming festive season. Whether you need shirts with trendy cuts or simple designs, limelight lawn collection 2021 has it all and at affordable prices too! You can slay all your summer looks with stylish lawn dresses for women. A vibrant range of colors in your wardrobe is always a good option to lift up your mood on a hot day. So, start shopping for the best festive outfit today! Buy Limelight Lawn dresses on sales online at BuyZilla.pk and create style statements this season!

Nimsay

Nimsay is an iconic clothing brand with contemporary and deep essence of ethnic style for women. Over the years, Nimsay has released beautiful summer collections to continually provide its customers with the best lawn suits to wear. Nimsay Lawn Collection 2021 is the latest lawn range and a part of its ready-to-wear line. The latest lawn collection has a great range of lawn dresses for women to choose from. These gorgeous lawn pieces are designed for every woman and girl with a variety of hues from light and neutral colors to deeper, as well as brighter shades. Nimsay Lawn Dresses are adorned with detailed embroideries and intricate embellishments to upgrade your summer look.

BTW

BTW Lawn Collection 2021 has a tropical design with cool hues and comfortable fabric to take you through the summer season in style. The BTW Lawn Collection 2021 offering a street style vibe by incorporating modern trends for the young woman. Get the bold prints you love and chic styles you crave in the upcoming festive season. From unstitched suits to ready-to-wear shirts, take a look at the BTW’s lawn Collection 2021 available online at BuyZilla.pk!

[lootsale]

Best Lawn Collections 2021 To Wear This Festive Season

The festive season is coming and everyone is planning to fill their wardrobe with the best lawn dress at cheap prices. In this article, we will tell you about the Best Lawn Collection 2021 to wear this festive season. With the beginning of the spring/summer season, brands have started to launch their New Lawn Collection 2021 for women. Here’s a list of top fashion brands that are famous due to their fabric quality, embroidery, and thread work and offering stylish lawn dresses at amazingly discounted prices:

•                     Sapphire

•                     ChenOne

•                     KHAS

•                     Limelight

•                     Nimsay

•                     BTW

Sapphire

Sapphire has launched its lawn collection 2021 with stunning prints and vibrant designs. All lawn dresses are full of beautiful thread work and colors that strike the perfect balance between comfort and style. The Sapphire lawn collection 2021 consists of lawn and chiffon dress for women to wear in the upcoming festive season. For all those who’re looking for amazing festive ensembles, Sapphire Lawn Collection 2021 is your go-to this festive season. The latest lawn collection 2021 has introduced a wave of versatility and a blend of contemporary and chic styles in daily wear for women and girls from a variety of semi-formal and formal prints. Shop sales on Sapphire Lawn Collection 2021 online at Loot Sale now.

ChenOne

ChenOne Pareesa Lawn Collection 2021 includes rich fabrics in exquisite shades ornamented with intricate embroidery to give you a stylish look for every occasion. The new lawn collection features stylish prints, unique and colorful that are best for casual, formal, and for semi-formal wear. ChenOne is in the clothing industry for some years and now among the leading fashion brands in Pakistan’s clothing industry that produces many types of clothes like lawn dresses, Chiffons, and embroidered dresses. If you’re looking to get on your hands on the best summer wear dresses while staying on your budget, Pareesa lawn collection 2021 should be your go-to lawn collection. Explore exclusive discounts and deals on ChenOne Lawn Collection online at Loot Sale.

KHAS

KHAS has launched its Lawn Collection 2021 with beautiful prints and there’s something for all tastes and preferences. The new arrivals are full of digital, floral, and ethnic prints providing a perfect look for modern women. From bright, vibrant colors to elegant designs and from stitched to unstitched pieces, you’ll find plenty of dresses to choose from. KHAS lawn prints come in trendy cuts and designs that are stitched to perfection. The most wanted lawn dresses on sale are running out fast. So, if you’re in a rush to fill your wardrobe with the best lawn collection this season, do not wait any further. Check out the amazing discount on lawn collection available online at Loot sale, and shop your favorites from the comfort of your home.

Limelight

Limelight Lawn Collection 2021 consists of ethnic prints, digital and floral designs with three-piece, two-piece, and single-piece lawn suits for women that are an instant attention grabber. The lawn dresses are contemporary and perfect for the upcoming festive season. Whether you need shirts with trendy cuts or simple designs, limelight lawn collection 2021 has it all and at affordable prices too! You can slay all your summer looks with stylish lawn dresses for women. A vibrant range of colors in your wardrobe is always a good option to lift up your mood on a hot day. So, start shopping for the best festive outfit today! Buy Limelight Lawn dresses on sales online at Loot Sale and create style statements this season!

Nimsay

Nimsay is an iconic clothing brand with contemporary and deep essence of ethnic style for women. Over the years, Nimsay has released beautiful summer collections to continually provide its customers with the best lawn suits to wear. Nimsay Lawn Collection 2021 is the latest lawn range and a part of its ready-to-wear line. The latest lawn collection has a great range of lawn dresses for women to choose from. These gorgeous lawn pieces are designed for every woman and girl with a variety of hues from light and neutral colors to deeper, as well as brighter shades. Nimsay Lawn Dresses are adorned with detailed embroideries and intricate embellishments to upgrade your summer look.

BTW

BTW Lawn Collection 2021 has a tropical design with cool hues and comfortable fabric to take you through the summer season in style. The BTW Lawn Collection 2021 offering a street style vibe by incorporating modern trends for the young woman. Get the bold prints you love and chic styles you crave in the upcoming festive season. From unstitched suits to ready-to-wear shirts, take a look at the BTW’s lawn Collection 2021 available online at Loot Sale!

[magazinepk]

Limelight Summer Embroidered Unstitched Eid Lawn 2022

Limelight Summer Embroidered Unstitched Eid Lawn 2022

[cicadacreativemag]

17 years ago: the last Brood X

Molly Flood, Communications Director

The spring of 2004 raised two kinds of children. I, a proud four and a half year old, spent my time playing outside with toys and picking apart the lawn while a swath of angsty 17 year olds also emerged into the open air, ready to scream all summer long.

This new insect  invasion added a whole new level of mischief  to my summer days as I collected my cicada friend's empty exoskeletons and hung them all over my sister's coat when she wasn’t looking. I imagine the teen cicadas rolled their five eyes as my immaturity.

The year 2004 was a particularly strange one for these ancient creatures to enter the eastern United States. This was the time that the human population stumbled into the digital age and pop culture began to viralize events. The cicadas waited seventeen years to emerge into the future, but entered into an America that was obsessed with internet culture and paid no attention to their marvelous arrival. 

Bold Brood X popped their heads out of the ground to the background noise of limelight celebrities making their place in the world. Paris Hilton’s “that’s hot” and Donald Trump’s “your fired” coexisted peacefully in the world of reality TV, far from the whitehouse. Brood X played their own recognizable phrase: a high pitched buzzing reaching 100 decibels, that masked Trump’s and Hilton’s voices blaring from the living rooms of America. 

While the cicadas lived their short lives to the fullest back in 2004, Facebook was taking over the internet and shaping the American reality. Through the eyes locked into Facebook in 2004, American’s learned that Martha Stewart would be spending time in prison while memes about the newly released Napoleon Dynamite spread awkward core through the internet. 

The teen cicadas,who rebelliously dug up from their subterranean homes, shouted their last thoughts and perished in a matter of weeks. In their short lifespans, they  saw America through the lens of it’s awkward emergence into the internet, social media, and pop culture buzz. 2004’s brood’s screams masked the worlds of Trump and Zuckerberg’s America to enjoy a peaceful summer. 

Their children enter a new world, one that only the most perceptive eye would have guessed would exist. What slogan and internet personalities will they rival with? As the proud children of 2004’s Brood X emerge from the earth, don't be surprised when we see an abnormal amount of exoskeletons looming on parked Tesla's as this year's Brood comes for Musk’s America. 

[chambeili]

Limelight P3321SH Embroidered Shimmer Lawn 1 PC Shirt Baby Pink Mirror detailed round neckline Keyhole with string tie knot Fully embroidered front Fringe lace detailing on cuffs Scalloped hem Fabric (shirt): Shimmer lawn Fabric (lining): Cotton silk Color: Baby pink Model Height: 5′ 7″ Model is wearing size small (S) Customers local to Bradford can collect from our unit until Wednesday 12th May. Customers located in the UK will have until 10th/11th May to complete their online orders . https://chambeili.com UNIT OPENING TIMES: Thursday 6th May 11am – 5pm Friday 7th May 11am – 5pm Saturday 8th May 2pm – 6pm Sunday 9th May 12pm - 4pm Monday 10th May 11am – 5pm Tuesday 11th May 11am – 5pm Wednesday 12th May 11am – 5pm @chambeili #chambeilieid21 #eidcollection2021 #eid #eidcollection #eidoutfit #boutiqueshopping #boutique #instadaily #insta #instafashion #luxury #luxuryliving #shoplocal #shopsmallbusiness #shopping #shoponline #shop #limelight #bradford #leeds #yorkshire #limelightpret #pret #eid2021 #instagram #insta #instalove #instalike https://www.instagram.com/p/COqualCBZvS/?igshid=sdzsvasy8gam

[yousafcloth1]

Follow: 👉 @yousafcloth1 Visit: www.yousafcloth.com Whatsapp +923076131331 Digital & Embroidered Lawn With Lawn Dupatta . . . . . . . #style #fashion #trend #ootd #fashionstyle #instafashion #onlineshopping #dress #outfitoftheday #fashionista #new #shopping #look #streetstyle #sale #limelightunstitched #outfit #online #shop #fashionblogger #limelights #streetwear #dresses #sayapakistan #khaadi #limelightsummer #ootdfashion #white #collection #shoppingonline (at Yousaf Cloth) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnkUdh7sYSb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[buyzillapk]

Limelight Unstitched Embroidered Dresses for Women 2021

Every woman owns an embroidered dress for sure in her closet. All you need a gorgeous embroidered shirt and pair it with plain bottoms for a stylish look. Every Pakistani Lawn brand introduces embroidered lawn collection at the start of the spring-summer season since there’s a great demand for it. Whether you need a stitched lawn dress or an unstitched embroidered suit, you’ll find plenty of options online to choose from. Among top fashion brands in Pakistan, Limelight also launched its Unstitched Embroidered Collection 2021 featuring stunning prints and intricate designs to make you look impeccable on any occasion!

The Trendiest Looks This Summer

As the season swings, brands and designers come up with their latest unstitched collections for customers to fill their fashion wardrobes. In the sizzling hot weather ahead, you might be looking for a cool and breezy collection to look your best. Since summers stay long, you’ll find almost every brand launching lawn collection throughout the season. Limelight’s Unstitched Lawn Collection 2021 is your go-to source of shopping for spring/summer outfits. The embroidered lawn collection includes single shirts, 2-piece lawn suits, and 3-piece lawn suits full of vibrant colors, exotic designs, and intricate patterns.

Every new weather calls for wardrobe upgrades. Limelight’s latest lawn collection is all about the trendiest looks, and that means revitalizing your wardrobes. Whether you need a chic top, or a complete outfit to look your best, Limelight has got you covered this year! The latest lawn collections feature a splash of warm and cool colors ranging from pastels like magic mint, peach, periwinkle, and lavender to vivid tones like Red, orange, pink, bright green, blue and purple.  The benefit of having Unstitched Pakistani lawn suits & ladies’ dresses is that you can have custom stitched in any design you like.

New Styles While Staying on a Budget!

The trend of buying branded clothes is rising and Limelight has got you covered while staying in your budget. The trendy lawn pieces are affordable, and you don’t have to spend loads of your hard-earned money. The demand for online unstitched lawn suits is on the rise since they can be easily paired with chiffon or lawn dupattas to lift up the ensemble’s complete look. From stunning unstitched designs to on-trend pret pieces, you can shop for the quality unstitched fabric at Limelight.

The latest unstitched embroidered lawn collection is designed to accommodate the needs of modern women of all ages. Explore the wide range of beautiful designs, and you’ll definitely find one you love! Simple pick an unstitched Pakistani suit online from Limelight's latest collection and satisfy your fashion cravings at affordable prices.

Happy Shopping!

So, what are you waiting for? Shop your favorites before they run out of stock. You simply just can’t miss Limelight’s Unstitched Embroidered Collection. Visit BuyZilla.pk online, and explore a wide range of unstitched shirts and suits for women with sales up to 70% OFF! Get ready for the upcoming Summer season with Limelight's beautiful unstitched embroidered dresses that will make you flaunt your style throughout the season.

[stylishmart]

*Stylish_Mart_Present*

Summer Collection 2021.

Brand : #limelight

Our code:Rw-Et-

*Fabric Lawn 90/70*

*Lawn fabric 3pc*

(لان تھریپس)

heavy embroidery

(کڑھائ)

Printed front , back and Sleeves

(پرنٹ فرنٹ ،بیک اور بازو)

Trouser( شلوار)

Printed chiffon dupatta (پرنٹ ڈوپٹہ)

More Details Contact Us

📞#Call Now: 03165758854

📱#WhatsApp: 03105307241

[touchingoldmagic]

Summary: Walter Peck as the Knight of Wands from tarot.

My first in a series of GB fics to represent each of the 78 cards in a standard deck of tarot cards.

A shadow fell over Janine Melnitz's desk. She cocked an eyebrow but didn't look up until she had finished signing off on the last of a stack of field reports. Then, unhurriedly, she set down her pen and lifted her eyes.

Walter Peck stood before her desk, dark suit pressed and red tie tight as a noose around his neck, as usual. And as usual, his expression was one of barely restrained contempt for the various ineptitudes of the world. "All I ask," he ground out between clenched teeth, without preamble. "ALL I ever ask is for a LITTLE forethought. If they could pause for just one minute before charging in like--like some prepubescent's idea of a modern day cowboy, then maybe we could end at least one situation without thousands of dollars in property damage! I've been on one of these 'busts' now and I know for a fact we can actually resolve issues without breaking everything!"

Whether subconscious or otherwise, Peck had a tendency to lean forward as his rants collected steam. By the time he paused for breath, he was looming over Janine's desk. Instead of retreating from this breach of her personal space, she leaned forward as well, until their faces were inches apart. And if she had to tilt her neck back a bit to meet the tall man's eyes, she didn't let that slow her down at all.

"From what I heard," she snapped back at him with just as much heat, "your bust ended with someone's front lawn on fire and two of our employees almost immolated!"

Peck rolled his eyes, but either her stance or her retort had him easing back on his heels. Maybe he hadn't known she had been completely debriefed on what had gone on during the Ireland bust. "Oh please," he finally scoffed. "The rental car company didn't even charge us a cleaning fee when we returned the car."

Janine sighed and resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose to stave off the headache that was threatening to manifest. It would be crass for her to point out that the only reason they hadn't paid property damage on the Ireland bust was due to the client being Peck's family friend. And said family friend had passed away immediately afterward.

Janine wouldn't stoop so low as to bring that up to win an argument, but she would be tempted if Peck didn't rein himself in.

"Is there an actual reason you're here, other than to make complaints in person that you usually handle over the phone?" she growled.

Peck cleared his throat and straightened his jacket with a tug at his lapels. "Yes. Your employers' latest shenanigans were not my initial reason for this trip." He reached into his jacket and produced a slim envelope from an inner pocket. A single sheet of crisply folded paper was removed and set down on Janine's desk. "This is."

She scanned the words quickly, then looked up at Peck in surprise. Then she looked down to read the brief document again. "Is this for real?"

The bureaucrat's smirk of self-satisfaction told her more than his reply. "Yes. As the initial party who negotiated the deal between Erland Vinter and Ghostbusters, Inc., I've been the one speaking with Mr. Vinter's estate regarding compensation for what has transpired since he approached your company. This is their initial offer."

Despite herself, Janine let out a short whistle. "Well, we're going to be in the black this quarter."

Peck held up a hand. "Miss Melnitz, this is an initial offer. Negotiating a final sum is going to take some time." He paused, his expression becoming somewhat more subdued. "One of your employees died in this venture. While it's true she was acting of her own accord, no one could claim Mr. Vinter wasn't the instigator of the situation--"

"Dr. Stantz is pretty sure he was possessed, in the park at least," Janine cut in.

He gave her a heavy glare for derailing his explanation. "Regardless. With Mr. Vinter's demise, his estate is very interested in keeping his... shall we say, more esoteric hobbies out of the limelight. I believe negotiations will go well for us."

It was decent of Peck, she had to admit, to keep his patented sneer out of his voice when talking about Jenny. (He hadn't yet been told she was still hanging around in spectral form.) Finally Janine said, "So what does PCOC get out of this?"

"Fifteen percent."

"Of course."

Peck sighed impatiently. "I'm required by law to inform you of the offer. But, as I said, it would be in all of our best interests' if I be allowed to continue the negotiations."

Now Janine understood the reason for Peck's visit. He thought the guys were going to jump at the first offering of a payout, like an untrained dog left alone with a steak dinner. As if Dr. Venkman didn't practically have a PhD in financial negotiation, himself.

It would have been easy--and, to be honest, fun--to bait the man all afternoon, but Janine had things to do before the end of the day. "I'll take care of it," she declared briskly, sliding the paper into her desk drawer, out of sight.

"You will." Peck raised a dubious eyebrow, his flat voice betraying his lack of confidence in her abilities.

She stood up from her desk in order to usher him out; he had taken up more than enough of her time. "Yeah, I'll let them know. You just go back to doing what you were doing. Keep me updated on the offers." She couldn't believe she was volunteering for yet another duty that wasn't part of her job description, but it was easier than dealing with the pissing contest that would result if Peck had to pass the offers to Dr. Venkman.

As they walked to the doors, she could see a layer of tension ease from Peck's face upon realizing he wasn't going to have to fight anyone on this. "That is... appreciated, Miss Melnitz." He glanced back at her before he grabbed the door handle. "And if you would remind them about how little effort it takes to perhaps access a situation once in a while, before charging in blindly with guns blazing--"

Janine snorted, but her lips curled upward in an amused smile. "Don't push your luck."

[sciencespies]

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Maintaining Tourist Sites During COVID-19

https://sciencespies.com/nature/a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-maintaining-tourist-sites-during-covid-19/

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Maintaining Tourist Sites During COVID-19

Under normal circumstances, spring is the time when the country’s many zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens come alive with activity after a long, cold winter. However, this year has been anything but ordinary. Over the course of the last couple of months, the nation has watched as these popular travel destinations as well as museums and historical sites have closed to visitors in an attempt to help curb the spread of COVID-19. But while these attractions may have been (or in many states, still are) off limits to the general public, essential workers have been showing up daily to take care of animals, plants and artifacts amidst their closures.

However, it’s not just the workers who are feeling the affects of the pandemic, but the animals, too. Zoos worldwide report that there have been noticeable shifts in the animals’ behavior. In some cases, the animals are craving more human interaction, which they normally receive when these facilities are bustling with visitors. Giraffes at the Houston Zoo, for instance, are used to visitors feeding them lettuce, and the chimpanzees at the Maryland Zoo are normally hand fed but due to social distancing procedures are receiving scatter feedings instead.

Zookeepers, animal trainers, horticulturalist and other essential employees across the United States have had to maintain a sense of normalcy to keep things running smoothly behind-the-scenes. Whether that means working longer, more sporadic hours or taking on new duties, these caretakers’ roles have shifted in the wake of COVID-19, sometimes in interesting and creative ways.

These staff members have had the unique opportunity to witness changes at their places of work that are the immediate result of closures. Colleen Kinzley has been living onsite at the Oakland Zoo in California for nearly 25 years, but it’s only been in the past few weeks that she’s witnessed a shift in animal activity at what has been her home for much of her career. As vice president of animal care conservation and research, she’s responsible for leading a team of zookeepers in caring for the animals, particularly the zoo’s resident herd of three African elephants, whose quarters are within close proximity to her own. If one of the animals should need immediate assistance at night, either she or the other onsite manager springs to action. But because there haven’t been large crowds of people visiting the zoo, she’s noticed animals from the adjacent Joseph Knowland State Arboretum and Park, a nearly 500-acre green space, starting to roam the zoo.

Colleen Kinzley (left), vice president of animal care conservation and research at the Oakland Zoo, works with a mountain lion rescued from the wild.

(Courtesy Oakland Zoo)

“I walk to and from work each day, and lately I’ve been seeing more deer and turkey during that time,” Kinzley says. “I’ve seen a couple of deer strolling through the elephant exhibit. We also have some frogs living in the [Wayne and Gladys Valley Children’s Zoo] that are usually silent, but now they’re deafening. It’s been interesting seeing wildlife take over where people have left off.”

While Kinzley’s animal encounters are something that the public will not likely get to experience once the zoo reopens and the crowds return, at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, animal care staff have lifted the veil of what goes on behind-the-scenes by putting some of their resident animals in the limelight. In March, trainers filmed the aquarium’s colony of Rockhopper penguins as they went on a “field trip” through the building’s beluga whale exhibit. The video quickly went viral. However, one thing a lot of people may not realize is that these roughly 30-minute jaunts are a regular occurrence for the penguins once the crowds have left the building.

“Sometimes we’ll walk them into the offices upstairs, or during slower times we’ll take them through the exhibits when the building is less crowded,” says Steven Aibel, senior director of animal behavior and training. “We want our animals to be flexible and used to closed and open buildings. In the wild, animals are meant to be flexible and adaptive, so we’re parlaying that into their current environment by making things variable and each day new.”

Aibel says that the viral video’s international acclaim was a fluke and the result of one of the trainers who wanted to capture the moment to share with family, friends and colleagues.

“Little did we know that the world would be interested,” he says. “We thought it was cool and fun, and the experience shows the positive affect animals can have, especially right now when people are looking for hope these days.”

This hope is proving especially important as these essential employees are not only trying to keep operations running smoothly, but also striving to educate the public, which during normal times is a crucial part of their day-to-day work.

“The biggest change for us while we’re closed is that we’re not doing any public-facing programs,” Aibel says. “Normally, each morning we come in and prepare for ways to engage with guests by doing presentations, meet and greets, and animal encounters. These things are very purposeful to the welfare of the animals, since it gives them activities and stretches their brains. Because these exercises are no longer supplied through daily programming, we’ve had to figure out ways to still do these elements, such as taking them on walks through the aquarium.”

In institutions where there are no animals to care for, essential workers have had a little more leeway in how creative they can get while still engaging with audiences. At the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Tim Tiller, the museum’s head of security and resident cowboy, has become the unofficial social media spokesman for the museum. For the past couple of months, Tiller has been working with the marketing team by hijacking the museum’s Twitter feed (@ncwhm) with his viral #HashtagTheCowboy posts. In his tweets, Tiller highlights some of the high jinks he’s gotten into as one of the sole staff members on site, like modeling items sold in the gift shop and interacting with the exhibits, including a stint in the museum’s jail. He’s also been answering fans’ questions like, “How often did cowboys take a bath?” and “What’s the proper way to tie a wild rag or bandana?”

Thanks for the mug tips, folks. Checked the Brodkin gallery. Nothing. Whoever is behind this is very sneaky! You can telegraph me any more tips to Prosperity Junction. Or use our hashtag. Whichever is easier for you. #HashtagTheCowboy Thanks, Tim pic.twitter.com/W6RrI5hF72

— Nat’l Cowboy Museum (@ncwhm) May 22, 2020

“We were hoping to gain a few new audience members, but had no expectations that they would be from all over the world,” Tiller says. “People are telling us that the posts have helped them through their day, and thank us for the positivity during this tough time.”

Seth Spillman, the museum’s chief marketing officer, and his team are the ones responsible for recruiting Tiller in the first place.

“Tim is an authentic voice for our institution and has been a real sport with all of this,” he says. “We’re getting feedback from people from all over the world who have said that they’ve never been to our state and museum, but now they can’t wait to come and visit us when we reopen.”

Another popular tourist destination that has been finding new ways to engage with the public is the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. When it closed on March 15, the organization was quick to keep the garden’s many fans actively involved by posting photos and videos of its popular Orchid Show, which was already in full bloom and, during normal circumstances, one of the first signs of spring for many New Yorkers. Over the years, the NYBG has served as a beacon of hope and popular respite for city dwellers.

“After 9/11, people enjoyed having access to the garden, since they saw it as a place that’s fundamentally peaceful and where they could bask in the benevolence of peace and beauty,” says Todd Forrest, the Arthur Ross Vice President for Horticulture and Living Collections at the NYBG. “People need that now more than ever, and it’s frustrating that we’re not able to provide that since we’re closed. We’re anxious for people to come back.”

Todd Forrest, Arthur Ross Vice President for Horticulture and Living Collections, spoke during a media preview of an exhibition in June 2019 at the New York Botanical Garden.

(Don Emmert/AFP via Getty Images)

However, there is some hope that, slowly but surely, things are beginning to go back to (more or less) normal at the gardens. Forrest says that during the first few weeks of its closure, only a small number of horticulturists were onsite, but every week more employees are returning to work to help out by watering and planting flowers, mowing the expansive lawns and transplanting plants in anticipation of summer’s first visitors.

“Right now the cherry trees, gardenias, and daffodils are all in bloom,” he says. “It’s stunningly beautiful, but haunting because the crowds aren’t here to enjoy it.”

Some day, perhaps sooner rather than later, these popular attractions will once again be alive with activity. But until then, at least we can find solace in knowing that these important destinations are right there, waiting for us to return.

#Nature

[bonduranttech]

Water Filters: The Caretaker Of The Water We Drink !!

“The human body comprises more than 70% of water”, though the fact sounds common yet is a point of utter importance to be remembered, right?

Have you heard of the whole house water filters? If not, don’t worry, that would be the limelight of our today’s discussion. 

Also, keep scrolling if you are planning to have a water filter system for your ravishingly maintained home to give it a more healthier lifestyle look.

The Problem :

The dire need of the hour is to ensure that the water we drink or use in our daily lives is “safe and chemical free”.

This is especially when we are surviving in an industrial era with more than 90% of the jobs involving the regular dumping and recycling of water containing chemical wastes like cysts, residual metal oxides, etc. into the water bodies as their only source. 

This sounds a bit disgusting and bitter, but so does the truth. 

The Solutions :

So, what we can do at our ends is switching to healthier water purifying habits.

Moreover, the ways we prefer to preserve the water, be it for drinking or self-use purposes need to be rechecked and verified for if it’s safe to consume and thus allowing us to have a longer life.

 Solution No. 1: Whole house water filter

The most usual and effective solution to the water decontamination is installing a whole house water filter system, which is known to have all the strengths to control and optimize the water reaching to your houses.

The water house filter system keeps an eye over the drinking and self-utilization purpose of water by screening the pH factor of water and other units used to measure the purity of water.

Solution No. 2 : Whole house rainwater filtrant

The pluspoints of having a whole house water filter is not only its capability to filter the water at your homes, but make the best use of rainwater too, through the whole house rainwater filtrant, isn’t it amazing

Moreover, having the means to use the rainwater effectively for our daily tasks, just by filtering it properly, is a mere blessing to us, isn’t it?

->> If we analyze these features carefully and thoroughly then we shall be smart enough to purchase a suitable water filter system for our houses :

So, these solutions shall be our main focus to make the best use of water utilization along with their proper purification.  Some more interesting facts about home water filtration systems

 There are some notable features specific to the applications of bondurant water filter systems. 

Let’s have a look over these features :

->> So, after successfully managing our time in other tasks is a great achievement as the water filtration systems take the prior responsibility to automatically check the water level and quality.

Use of Water monitoring softwares and Hardwares in water house filters : The softwares like pH factor optimizers which checks and controls the water pH levels is an important feature to be searched while purchasing and reviewing some of the best water filters.

Complete isolation of the water filter systems : 

The isolated set-up of the home water filtration system (where individual components or as a whole are packed within plastic boxes/ containers) helps win the trust of the customers over the companies providing water filter systems. 

This is because the customers realise that the manufacturer has kept in mind the complete safety of the water being preserved and the purifying units in the water filter system. This is great, isn’t it ?

Advanced insertion of technologies : 

The insertion of softwares and hardwares in the water filter system to automate the water to be filled to their full capacities.

Moreover, the softwares consist of features with monitoring the pH factors and maintaining them from time to time, are the bonus of using the water filter systems.

 More features that the water filter systems displays using the computerization skills as assets include :

i) Programmable flush to clean the contaminated water particles like suspended particles, bacterias, cysts, parasites, algae accumulating inside the water filter system.

ii) Sensors such as water flow sensors, membrane failure sensors which allow to sense the abnormalities in the functioning of the water filter system.

iii) ios/ Android interfaces to keep an eye of the filtering process in your phone.

iv) Digital Cleaning mechanisms allow the proper cleaning of the 

surfaces of the water filter systems from time to time so that the water stored is unaffected and purified.

v) Rechargeable battery backups provide the water filtration systems to work without any hindrances in their performance due to finished batteries.

Environments’ Resource utilization: The whole rainwater filter system makes the most efficient use of the rainwater collecting in our backyards, rooftops, lawns thus making us feel extremely proud to make a proper utilization of natural resources, right?

Comparisons: Most of the water filter system manufacturers have the facility of providing the comparisons between their products and those of some other manufacturing units leading in the market, depicting how their products are better and preferable in the market. Such comparisons based on the : 

i)  quality of water filter system

ii) prices 

iii) warranty duration

iv) technologies used, etc. help the customers in analyzing the each and every aspect of the water filtration systems satisfying their personal requirements.

Conclusion :

->> As a conclusion, if you need to switch your conventional methods of storing and purifying water, then here are few short reminders that need to be remembered while going to shop for a house rainwater water filter system.

->> The best water filters urges for thorough research in the market, keeping your list of priorities at the top and then selecting the most suitable house water filter systems within your budget and requirements, consisting of the most advanced and reviewed updates in technology.

->> Also reviewing the warranty period and free monthly/yearly services from the manufacturers should be a thing to note before finalizing any deal on water filtration systems.

Hope you have a great purchase for your warm health and wealth !!

For more information about water  water filter systems you can also visit:

https://www.merchantcircle.com/blogs/bondurant-technologies-international-1-fayetteville-ga/2020/7/Water-purification-system-Everything-you-need-to-know-in-2020/1873892

https://www.goodreads.com/story/show/1287142?chapter=1

https://medium.com/@bonduranttechnologiesinternati/top-6-benefits-of-whole-house-water-filter-system-f395fa3abdd9

https://sites.google.com/site/besthousewaterfilter1/best-water-filter-systems-in-the-market---top-4-types-to-look-for

https://www.pearltrees.com/bonduranttech/technologies-international/id33108522/item312730560#l872

https://www.edocr.com/v/wpb9qdeg/water-purifiers/Maker-of-Most-Advanced-Rainwater-Purifiers

https://www.reddit.com/user/Caripur-water-filter/comments/hl0swu/whole_house_water_filter_best_home_water/

https://rainwater-water-filtration.blogspot.com/2020/07/whole-house-water-filtration-system-usa.html

[mirhawears-blog]

#Limelight Printed Lawn 3 Piece Suit Eid Collection U0644 Red👚👗🥰 Specifications;👇👇 👉Embroidered Print Shirt 3 Metres 😍 👉Printed Lawn Dupatta 2.25 Metres 😍 👉Dyed Shalwar 2.25 Metres 😍 💥Free Home Delivery for 6 Months💥 For more information, please Send Us Message . #MirhaWears #Limelight #LadiesDresses #Lawn #Suits #Garments #LimelightLawn #Embroidered #PrintShirt #LawnDupatta #DyedShalwar #LawnSuits #WomensWear #WomensClothes #OnlineShopping #Clothes #BrandSuits #LawnDresses #WomenFashion #Lawn2020 https://www.instagram.com/p/CCK9HaRDaGr/?igshid=1pyfl2gl3hkr5

[nun0xh-blog]

New Eid Collection 2020

All famous Pakistani clothing brands are working fastly on New Eid collection 2020. Before starting the Ramdan month each brand wants to launch its Eid collection. In Pakistan, the Eid festival is celebrated with full joy and happiness. On Eid occasions, markets and brand outlets are filled with new Eid dresses, shoes, and jewelry. All families shop new and the latest dresses for whole family members. A wide range of new Eid collections of different brands like Limelight, Junaid, Jamshed, Khaadi, sapphire, Sadaf Fawad Khan, Chen One, and many more are showcased on their outlets. They design beautiful, stylish outfits for men, women, and kids. On this Eid sparkling color dresses in unstitched and ready to wear are designed for kids and women. In New Eid collection, girls, boys, men, and women have many options to buy new outfits for this Eid. Each brand has many precious and luxury collection for women. Women can buy a wide range of stitched and ready to wear dresses in a lawn, cambric, crinkle, and chiffon fabrics. Digital prints, dyed, and embroidered dress with different color combinations are available in-stores and online. Pakistani brands also have a large collection of embroidered Kurti collection for Eid festive. Women luxury dresses are designed with embroidered work in charming colors. In the new Eid collection, men Kurta collection, ethnic shalwar kameez with the waistcoat in many colors are waiting in the latest designs. All ages of boys and girls dress with the latest designs in ready to wear collection are designed on these festivals.

Like other clothing brands, Limelight's new Eid collection is filled with illuminated colors of life. limelight Eid collection for men, women, and kids are designed in pret, unstitched, formal, and luxury outfits. On limelight outlets and official online stores have all the new and the latest fashion for this Eid. Under one roof whole family can shop new Eid collection of this year.

[chambeili]

Limelight P4117SU Embroidered Lawn 2 PC Suit Pink Two piece suit (shirt + dupatta) Fully embroidered with sequins front and cuffs V neckline with overlapped placket Printed cotton net dupatta Fabric (shirt) : Lawn Fabric (Dupatta): Cotton net Color: Pink Model Height: 5′ 7” Customers local to Bradford can collect from our unit until Wednesday 12th May. Customers located in the UK will have until 10th/11th May to complete their online orders . https://chambeili.com UNIT OPENING TIMES: Thursday 6th May 11am – 5pm Friday 7th May 11am – 5pm Saturday 8th May 2pm – 6pm Sunday 9th May 12pm - 4pm Monday 10th May 11am – 5pm Tuesday 11th May 11am – 5pm Wednesday 12th May 11am – 5pm @chambeili #chambeilieid21 #eidcollection2021 #eid #eidcollection #eidoutfit #boutiqueshopping #boutique #instadaily #insta #instafashion #luxury #luxuryliving #shoplocal #shopsmallbusiness #shopping #shoponline #shop #limelight #bradford #leeds #yorkshire #limelightpret #pret #eid2021 #instagram #insta #instalove #instalike https://www.instagram.com/p/COqtppNh4EN/?igshid=1edprqsid37q7

[themurphyzone]

Rosieverse Oneshot: Guardian

Summary: Tino is just a simple guy who happens to play a villain in a TV show. Recently, the entire studio has become enamored by a little orphan named Rosie with a talent in voice-acting. Well, everyone except lead actor Jim Starling. 

But everyone has their beef with Starling, so it’s really no big deal. 

Or is it?

Jim Starling wasn’t happy. And when wasn’t Jim Starling happy, he was determined to make everyone else’s lives as miserable as possible. He stood on the long conference table, shouting a plan about a meet-and-greet that would surely boost his fading popularity. 

“Just picture it!” Starling exclaimed. “Look, the Fearsome Four can open the event. Five minutes signing autographs for them and no more! And then I make a fashionably late entrance dressed as Darkwing Duck! Maybe about...fifteen minutes or so after the meet-and-greet starts, we can work out the details later. But the point is, I’m there, the fans will adore yours truly, and Darkwing Duck’s ratings go through the roof! What do you think?” 

Someone coughed, but the room was otherwise full of crickets. 

Tino glanced at the lovely bonsai tree on the windowsill, half-expecting an actual cricket to jump in and chirp merrily while ruining the tiny pink leaves. Next to him, Dan sketched a rough schematic of a toaster, humming to himself and not paying attention to the meeting. Jack flipped through a report on Darkwing Duck ratings and merchandise sales, scanning through the business jargon and statistics with practiced ease. 

In Tino’s opinion, Michael was lucky he got the babysitting job. Rosie was a sweet kid and a delight to be around. Much better than listening to an egotistical celebrity prattle on about boosting his public image. 

Speaking of which...

Tino glanced at the clock. 

Almost 4:00 pm, he realized. And it was his day to drive Rosie back to the orphanage too. They needed to get going before the Audubon Bay Bridge got clogged with rush hour traffic. 

Silently, Tino put his hand up, unwilling to interrupt the argument between Starling and the director. 

“Our budget’s already been slashed, and now you want us to spend more money to fuel your ego?” 

“Just pay for the venue! The special events center maybe. I hear the Duckburg Stadium is nice this time of year too,” Starling continued to suggest expensive locations that no sane person at the studio would ever consider. “Tell ‘em to bring their own snacks though. And you could always charge some good money for an autograph, maybe a little more for a photoshoot. That oughta make up your price.” 

“This town ain’t cheap, Starling!” the director snarled. “Do you realize how much McDuck charges for the use of his locations? In case you haven’t noticed, money doesn’t grow on trees!” 

“You’re as cheap as the network!” Starling scoffed. “Sabotaging a fine art for the sake of money!” 

“I’m. Being. Realistic,” the director gritted his teeth. 

Starling stomped over to the director’s chair. Their beaks were inches away as they stared each other down, willing their opponent to cave in. 

Before it could devolve into an insult-fest, Jack cleared his throat. Immediately, everyone turned their attention to him. Even Starling recognized that it was better to listen when Jack had something to say. 

“It’s Tino’s day to drive Rosie back to the orphanage,” Jack said. “He needs to leave now.” 

Tino shot Jack a grateful look, and the corners of the dog’s mouth twitched upwards in response. 

“Wait, that brat lives in an orphanage?” Starling blinked, his beak dropping open in surprise. 

Clearly, Starling had been living under a rock. Rosie’s orphan status was common knowledge with everyone in the studio. 

At least, Tino assumed it was. 

“Not everything revolves around your universe-sized ego, dim bulb,” one of the editors muttered. 

“Don’t insult actual dim bulbs,” Dan scolded. Then his expression softened as he turned to Tino. “And say hi to Rosie for me, okay?”

“Same here,” Jack agreed. “You should get going. I’ll fill you in later, but somehow I doubt there’ll be anything worth mentioning.” 

Since nobody accomplished anything in meetings when Starling was involved, Tino knew he wouldn’t be missing anything. 

Tino hurried out of the conference room. He felt Starling’s eyes bore into his back, but he brushed it off. 

He was the only person leaving early. It was perfectly natural that everyone’s attention would be drawn to him. 

It made his skin crawl. He just wasn’t one for the spotlight. 

                                              --------------------------------

“You’ll get there! Five bounces is pretty good for a beginner!” Michael exclaimed as he showed off a rather complicated yo-yo trick that involved a lot of twirling and loops. 

Rosie smiled, a pink yo-yo dangling from a string on her finger. “Thank you, Mr. Michael,” she said formally. “Would you mind teaching me your walk the dog trick in the future?” 

Michael grinned. “No problemo! Just keep practicing with that yo-yo. I’ve got plenty more.” 

“Oh no, I couldn’t!” Rosie’s eyes widened as she tried to give the yo-yo back. “It’s your toy, sir.” 

Michael shook his head, flipping into a handstand before cartwheeling away from Rosie. “Nope! No takebacks! It’s the highest law in the land!” he giggled. He caught sight of Tino and slumped to the ground, reminding Tino of a child who begged their parents for ten more minutes on the playground. “Looks like playtime’s over, kiddo.” 

“Hello, Mr. Tino!” Rosie exclaimed. “How was your meeting?” 

She hugged him enthusiastically, tiny hands squeezing his waistline and nearly knocking him off-balance. 

“Frankly, a bit boring,” Tino admitted once he adjusted his footing. “At least you and Michael are having fun.” 

Michael rolled his eyes. “What demands did the great and almighty Dumbwing make this time?” 

“Please don’t call name-call in front of Rosie,” Tino said as he ruffled Rosie’s flaming red curls. “She’s an impressionable child.”

“Fine, I’ll ask Jack later,” Michael said with a huff. His eyes flicked to Rosie, and his entire expression softened. “I get a goodbye hug too, right?” 

Rosie immediately latched onto Michael. “Don’t worry!” she chirped. “You get a goodbye hug too!” 

Michael laughed and patted her back. “I’ll be sure to pass your goodbye hugs onto Dan and Jack, okay?” 

“And Mr. Starling too!” Rosie added. 

Michael stiffened, though Rosie didn’t seem to notice. “Uh, sure. Him too.” 

Absolutely not, Michael mouthed at Tino. 

Starling loathed any form of prolonged physical contact. But Tino held his tongue, knowing he would confuse himself if he tried explaining that to a six-year-old.  

                                          --------------------------------

Much to Tino’s chagrin, they didn’t beat the rush hour traffic on the bridge. He turned the radio to a kid-friendly station and hoped the orphanage director would forgive him for being late. 

Caution was highly advised when dealing with St. Canard drivers. Really, Duckburg’s sister city was anything but saintly. 

Rosie didn’t mind though. She folded her hands in her lap, sitting like a dainty little princess upon a flower-patterned booster seat. 

“The view is pretty, Mr. Tino,” Rosie said. 

“It is,” Tino said, though he believed Audubon Bay was more dangerous than beautiful. There was a reason why crime shows loved using this body of water as a background. 

“It looks like the set of Darkwing Duck,” Rosie remarked.

“The main set was modeled off this area,” Tino said, pointing to a tower just above the toll gate. “That’s Darkwing’s lair over there.” 

Rosie craned her neck as she took in the sheer size of the tower. “Is he always up there if he’s not fighting bad guys?” she asked. “That’s awfully lonely.” 

“Darkwing Duck is the loner type,” Tino admitted. “I don’t think he minds.” 

Starling preferred doing everything himself, whether it involved thwarting crimes on a TV show or making himself the center of attention. In the best case scenario, people tolerated him. 

Still, it seemed like a lonely way to live. 

Of course, Michael and Dan would insist that Starling brought it on himself. Tino wasn’t a match for either of them when they were riled up, so he kept his beak shut on the matter. 

                                           -------------------------------- 

It was another hour before Tino got home from driving Rosie to the orphanage. The sunset lit up the sky in brilliant warm hues, and Tino was glad he made it home before nighttime. He didn’t like driving in the dark. 

He parked the car next to its usual spot near the mailbox, figuring that he had some time to check on his flowers before dinner. He circled the front lawn of the house, humming a bouncy tune as he checked the leaves of a violet. 

So far, everything seemed fine. The bushes wouldn’t need trimming for a while, no aphids were destroying his flowers, and the pansies were thriving. 

Before Tino could walk up to the front porch, the front door was suddenly wrenched open, bouncing off the wall with a harsh bang. 

“-AND GROW A DAMN SPINE!” Michael screeched, storming out of the house. He brushed past Tino, cursing Starling under his breath. 

Tino let him go. Michael’s temper cooled much faster when he had a few minutes to collect himself.

Dan and Jack watched Michael stomp down the sidewalk from their safe position in the hallway. 

“I’m guessing something important happened after all?” Tino asked, already dreading the answer. 

Jack nodded. “Dabble decided to use Starling’s idea for a meet-and-greet.”

Marino Dabble had the most volatile relationship with Starling out of all the directors in Darkwing Duck. He always seemed to provoke Starling during filming, disregarding any of Starling’s demands and cutting scenes whenever Starling shouted a contradicting order to keep the cameras rolling. 

“Except he wanted Rosie to be center stage,” Dan added. 

“Starling didn’t take it well,” Jack said. 

Tino wasn’t surprised, but he prayed Starling wouldn’t take his anger out on Rosie for taking his limelight. She was an innocent kid, and Dabble was putting her in the line of fire. Starling became irrational and even more temperamental when he believed someone was cutting into his screentime. 

Not for the first time, Tino wished he could be as outspoken as Michael or as respected as Jack. 

“Is that why Michael’s mad?” Tino asked. 

“I’ll go after him. He’s probably had enough time by now,” Dan said, gently pushing past Tino and hurrying out the door. 

“The meet and greet is two weeks away,” Jack said as Tino sat down at the dinner table. There was already a hot cup of tea and a strawberry salad in front of him. “We should prepare Rosie so she won’t be overwhelmed.” 

The deaths of Rosie’s parents had been widely publicized by both the Duckburg and St. Canard media. While details varied between newspapers and tabloids, the one thing that held true was that little rich girl Rosie had been left under the care of several maids while her parents had a date night. On the way back to the car, they were mugged and murdered for their money and valuables. Rosie found out the next morning, and she was shipped off to a St. Canard orphanage within a week. 

The killer was never caught. 

Several months later, a talent scout discovered Rosie’s acting abilities while searching for a suitable child to provide a voice in an animated film and introduced her to the studio. 

When Rosie wasn’t in lessons or voice-acting, she wandered over to the Darkwing Duck set, making polite small-talk with everyone she came across. Starling was the only one who ignored her presence.

He was always too caught up with himself to notice anything an inch away from his beak. 

Though Rosie only voiced a side character in the animated film, the life she breathed into the drawings captured the audience’s hearts. Tino had cried for twenty minutes straight when Rosie’s character sang a lullaby to herself after getting separated from her parents. 

Now that he gave it some thought, that part wasn’t an emotional act for Rosie. She knew those feelings all too well. 

Tino took a small bite of his strawberry, suddenly aware of Jack scrutinizing him like an interesting statistic. 

“Jack, can you please stop? It’s awkward when you do that,” Tino mumbled. 

Jack shrugged, gaze snapping to the table. “Sorry. You’re thinking about Rosie again, aren’t you?” 

“She’s...she’s a good kid,” Tino admitted. “Kinda deserves a permanent home, you know?” 

“I know,” Jack agreed, his mouth twitching. “She loves science.” 

“Just smile,” Tino suggested. “It looks good on camera.” 

“I don’t see any cameras at the moment,” Jack said as he squeezed a lemon into his water. “And besides, someone has to be the aloof, responsible one in this house.” 

Aloof. Sure, Tino snorted. 

Because aloof people totally shouted at the game show channel on TV. 

                                                 --------------------------------

Tino tore the purple wig off his head and dropped onto the green room’s couch in exhaustion, shoulder still aching from Starling’s punch during filming. Dan tossed him an ice pack from the small freezer. Jack made sure they never ran out of ice packs. It was a necessity when one worked with Starling. 

Tino gratefully placed it on his shoulder. 

Michael immediately launched into a tirade on where Starling could stick his overly large fedora, but Tino was only half-listening. They’d been through this song and dance before. 

There was a safe way for actors to punch and kick in fight scenes, but Starling never held back, which led to the Fearsome Four not holding back out of self-defense, and everything just snowballed from there. 

Starling had been more irritable during filming than usual, but Tino chalked it up to a hissy fit caused by Dabble’s decision to include Rosie in the meet and greet even though she wasn’t part of the Darkwing Duck cast. 

“-AND GET ALL THE WRINKLES OUT THIS TIME!” a voice shouted from outside the green room. 

Speak of the devil. 

“Stupid incompetent wardrobe team,” Starling muttered as he swept into the room. He’d discarded the cape, but wore the rest of his Darkwing Duck costume with overblown pride. 

Starling ignored everyone as he headed straight for the fridge and pulled out a brown paper bag that contained his lunch. Tino tried not to gag at the canned tuna and sauerkraut smell. 

Dan and Michael shifted over to Tino’s side of the room, occasionally shooting livid glares at Starling. Michael’s face turned the same shade of red as his Quackerjack outfit. He was only holding back for Tino’s sake. 

Since when did Starling take his lunch in the green room anyway? He hated eating around people he believed were beneath his association. 

“I’ve never been to a beach, Mr. Jack. Is it nice?” 

“Sure is. Natural saltwater is the best. Just don’t get it in your mouth though. It doesn’t taste good.” 

Jack neatly hung his coat on a row of hooks next to the door. Rosie tried to follow his lead, though she was too short to hang it herself. 

“May I take your jacket, young lady?” Jack asked with an elegant bow. 

Tino grabbed a pillow to muffle a sudden case of the giggles. So much for being the aloof one. 

Rosie smiled and folded her puffy pink jacket over his outstretched arm. Like a true gentleman, Jack placed it on the hook and patted out the creases. 

Starling rolled his eyes at the display and turned his back on them. But Tino knew he was watching Rosie bounce on her tip-toes as she explained everything she learned in her singing lessons. 

                                               -------------------------------- 

“I am the terror who flaps in the night! I am the faulty cord in the outlet of evil! I am Darkwing Duck!” Starling dramatically held his cape out behind him as he appeared in a puff of blue smoke. He shifted not-so-subtly to the left in an attempt to show off his best side. 

Since only Dan and Jack were needed for this episode, Tino and Michael watched the filming from the sidelines. It was for the best. Rosie’s reading tutor had unexpectedly called in sick, so she was able to spend the afternoon with them. 

Tino didn’t want Rosie exposed to a Michael and Starling showdown just yet. Things tended to get ugly. 

“Give up! St. Canard’s hydroelectric dam belongs to us!” Dan shouted, a sinister cackle escaping from his throat. 

“You’ll pay for stealing electricity and throwing St. Canard into the Dark Ages!” Starling retorted. “Let’s get dangerous!” 

The prop team immediately dumped a bucket of water on Starling from the catwalk above the set, throwing the bucket at him for good measure. They didn’t bother disguising their gleeful smiles. 

Starling spat out several plastic goldfish, coughing as he declared how pathetic the attack was. Then Jack crept up behind Starling and threw a quick punch to the back of his head. Starling crumpled dramatically. 

Rosie frowned as Jack tied Starling to a pole with a water hose. “I hope he isn’t hurt,” she said. Her fingers nervously drummed against her pink dress. 

“Unfortunately,” Michael muttered. 

Tino elbowed him lightly. “Starling’s a resilient guy. He’ll be alright. Besides, Darkwing Duck always wins.” 

Starling slipped out of his restraints, which were already loose to begin with, and shot a column of smoke from his gas gun at Dan and Jack. Their surprise only lasted for a minute, but it was enough for Starling to subdue them. 

“And the vigilante is once again victorious against the vile villainous scum!” Starling crowed as he tossed Dan and Jack into the set’s jail cell. He struck a final heroic pose to wrap up the episode. 

While the film crew reviewed the footage they captured so far, Starling strutted off the main set and grabbed a soda from a nearby drink cooler. He didn’t free Dan and Jack from the cell even though the key hung on a peg several feet away. 

Pushing down a burst of anger at Starling’s carelessness, Tino left Rosie with Michael and freed his friends himself.  

“I need an aspirin,” Dan groaned, nursing a bruise on his cheek.

Jack folded his arms across his chest, not looking too worse for wear, but Tino could tell he favored his right leg.

“I should invent an instant healing ray gun,” Dan sighed. “No more bruises, cuts, or pimples and it won’t leave a scar either.”

“A huge hit on the market,” Tino said.

“Supply and demand,” Jack added.

Dan rolled his eyes. “Not all of us majored in economics.”

As they rejoined Rosie and Michael, Starling sauntered over. His fedora was pulled low and tilted sideways in his usual careless, jerkwad fashion. The edges of his beak curled into a sneer.

“It’s awfully nice to have coworkers who allow a little brat to steal my thunder,” Starling growled.

“Don’t call Rosie a brat!” Michael shouted, clenching his fists. Dan stepped in front of him, whispering soothing words to prevent him from punching Starling in the face. “You don’t know her. You don’t know her at all!”

Tino shielded Rosie behind his back. She clung to his waist, innocent green eyes flickering between each adult. He couldn’t meet Starling with equal aggression, remain calm and cordial, or invoke a balance between the two extremes.

This would have to do for now.

“None of us played a role in Dabble’s decision,” Jack said. His tone was even and controlled, but Tino heard the slightest edge of steel creeping in. “I suggest releasing your frustration towards him in the studio’s gym instead.” 

Starling’s cape flared out as he stomped up to Jack. His beak was several inches away from Jack’s nose. “And where exactly were your so-called diplomatic skills when I needed them? Either the fans come and see me because I’m there, or they don’t show up cause I’m not. Who’s the main character of this series? Who’s the person everyone watches the show for? Who’s the inspiration, the fighter, the creme de la creme of all superheroes? Cause last I checked, it sure as hell isn’t Liquidator!” 

Starling always referred to them by their character names. He couldn’t be bothered to remember their actual names, or more importantly, that they weren’t megalomaniacal villains. 

“Go away,” Dan said as held onto a seething Michael. “Some of us have lives outside a fictional world.” 

“Darkwing isn’t fictional, you half-wit!” Starling snarled. “He’s—I’m right in front of you!” 

Starling pointed an accusing finger at Dan, but a grimace flickered across his face and his arm fell to his side. 

“You’re hurt!” a little girl’s voice cried. 

The tiny pressure around Tino’s waist vanished. 

Before anyone could say anything, Rosie latched onto Starling’s fingers, holding his palm with one hand while the other carefully pushed his sleeves away from his wrist.

Michael’s eyes widened, Dan gasped, and Jack’s brow furrowed in worry. 

Tino bit the inside of his beak. 

Rosie had broken Starling’s no-touching-me-offset rule. Everyone agreed with this rule, no matter how much they disliked Starling. 

No hugs, no pats on the back, no friendly jostling, no handshakes. 

Starling hated physical contact unless it involved beating someone up during filming. Nobody asked why, and Starling never offered an explanation. 

A red mark circled Starling’s wrist. Starling’s breath hitched, looking as though he desperately wanted to pull away but couldn’t make his body move. 

“You should put some aloe on it,” Rosie suggested. “It’ll sting, but it takes the pain away.” 

Starling didn’t seem to hear her. 

“Rosie, let him go,” Jack ordered. 

Rosie cast an unsure glance at Starling’s wrist. 

“Now.” 

Startled by Jack’s no-nonsense tone, Rosie let go of Starling’s hand. 

Recovering from his frozen state, Starling scoffed and rubbed his wrist against his blazer to shake off any lingering traces of her touch. “Whatever,” he muttered as he stalked off. 

“Mr. Starling?” Rosie called. 

Starling paused in the doorway, inclining his head towards Rosie. His eyes were covered by the brim of his fedora. 

“I’m sorry,” Rosie whispered. 

“Don’t do it again, kid.” 

Though his tone was blunt, it wasn’t haughty or condescending. 

Maybe there was some cordiality in that universe-sized ego after all. 

                                           --------------------------------

Starling was talking to Rosie. 

Okay, so most of the conversation was about himself and how badass he looked on camera, but he wasn’t entirely ignoring her.  

Rosie clasped her hands together and maintained a respectful distance. She learned from the first incident, taking Jack’s lecture to heart on how some people disliked touch and a few tips on what she could do to respect their boundaries. 

If Starling noticed, he didn’t give anything away. 

Tino found his aloe bottle in the wrong cabinet with traces of green ointment on its side. Wordlessly, he wiped away the extra moisture and returned the bottle to its proper place. 

He had a hunch on who misplaced his aloe, but he didn’t think it was worth mentioning. 

Over the next few days, Rosie settled into a routine. She learned, she played, she voice-acted, and she ate lunch with Starling. 

Michael balked at the last development. “Girl’s gonna ruin her nose,” he muttered, shaking his head incredulously when Rosie barely reacted to the smell of Starling’s canned tuna and sauerkraut sandwich. 

                                           --------------------------------

Tino’s day to drive Rosie back to the orphanage rolled around again. It was the day before the meet-and-greet, and they’d spent the entire week preparing Rosie for her first public appearance. 

Rosie could answer questions and smile like a champ now. She’d do well tomorrow. Tino didn’t mind fading into the background and talking to the occasional fan who wandered his way. 

That’s how the Darkwing Duck cast did things. 

Starling soaked up everyone’s attention and signed autographs while everyone else formed a nice backdrop. 

Starling’s animosity to Rosie had lessened over the past few days. While he still wasn’t pleased by Dabble’s decision, he managed to grasp that it wasn’t Rosie’s fault. 

“Got everything?” Tino asked as Rosie slid a math workbook into her princess-themed backpack. 

“Ready, Mr. Tino!” Rosie exclaimed, slipping her backpack over her shoulders. “I don’t think I’d be able to sleep tonight. I’m just happy I can see all of you tomorrow!” 

Tino couldn’t help but grin at her unbridled honesty. 

“Bushroot! Just the guy I wanted to see!”

Tino suppressed a sigh. Only one person called him Bushroot outside of filming, and it wasn’t a person he tried to interact with on a casual basis.

“Yes?” Tino asked politely, channeling what he believed Jack would say in this type of situation. “I need to drive Rosie to St. Canald...I mean, St. Canard. Sorry that we’re in a hurry here. You know how bad the Audubon Bay Bridge is during rush hour.” 

The corners of Starling’s beak turned up. One could call it a smile, but only with a very loose definition of the word. 

“Is your face alright, Mr. Starling?” Rosie asked. 

“What’s wrong with my-” Starling’s snappy mood returned for a brief moment, but he coughed and busied himself with smoothing down his clothes. 

Which consisted of Darkwing’s turtleneck and unbuttoned purple blazer. 

Tino was starting to believe that Starling had no life outside of Darkwing Duck. 

“Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Starling said. At least he dropped the not-smile. “I wanted to see you off. We talk at lunch, but that’s only an hour. Not even an hour if Dabble decides to rush us.” 

Rosie bounced on her heels, eyes glazed over in thought. She had a tendency to bounce while thinking. 

“Can Mr. Starling come along too?” Rosie asked, tugging on Tino’s sleeve. “He never finished his story about the malfunctioning jack-in-the-box in the ‘Knick-knack Paddywhack’ episode!” 

“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea...” Tino trailed off. Rosie’s curls had gone limp. Tino wondered if she had secret hair powers. 

Starling looked a bit crestfallen too. 

If Jack, Dan, or Michael had been in his place, they would’ve ignored Starling and left already. But Starling was actually interacting with Rosie. 

Interaction that didn’t involve punching someone or bossing them around. 

Tino lost the battle. That’s what he got from looking at Rosie when she was nearing disappointment. 

“Alright, he can come if he wants,” Tino sighed. 

Rosie cheered and Starling puffed out his chest as if he never doubted that Tino would refuse. 

                                          -------------------------------- 

“-Darkwing Duck on the brink of defeat, nothing but open air behind him and a monochromatic malefactor cackling madly in front of him! Then he remembers how much the citizens of St. Canard depend on him to keep the criminals at bay, and in a sudden burst of strength, he clubs Paddywhack with his trusty gas gun and seals him in the cursed jack-in-the-box!” 

Tino concentrated on switching to the middle lane, choosing not to comment on  Starling’s deliberate omission of how he got stuck in the springs of the jack-in-the-box during the Paddywhack fight scene. 

Rosie listened attentively, eyes sparkling as she envisioned the scene before her. 

They hit the usual traffic on the Audubon Bay Bridge just as Starling’s tale ended. Rosie didn’t bat an eye. She loved seeing the cargo ships sail through the bay. 

But Starling groaned and tilted his seat back at a thirty-degree angle.  

“Hey bush-for-brains, can’t this seat go back more?” Starling growled, yanking at the lever in a futile effort to make the seat tilt further. 

“It’s an old car,” Tino admitted. “You’ve already got it at the max.” 

Starling rolled his eyes, but at least he stopped trying to mutilate the lever. 

Rosie swung her legs, looking towards the horizon, oblivious to Starling’s numerous complaints with Tino’s car. 

“Rosie, I was thinking of becoming your legal guardian,” Starling said as he slipped a pair of sunglasses over his eyes. 

Tino caught his eye in the mirror, but Starling either didn’t notice or care. Tino returned his attention to the road, trying not to complain out loud when another driver cut him off. 

Rosie’s head whipped around so quickly that Tino was sure she’d have whiplash in the morning. 

“You don’t wanna live at the orphanage forever, right? Living with THE Darkwing Duck is better than those guys,” Starling declared. 

After a brief moment of silence, Rosie smiled at him. “Thank you, Mr. Starling, sir! I’d love for you to be my legal guardian!” 

She reached out for a hug, but Starling just raised an eyebrow at her. “First rule, kid. Don’t touch me,” he reminded her. 

Rosie teared up, but she seemed more happy and relieved. “Mr. Tino, I have a legal guardian now!” she exclaimed. 

Tino knew she was equating ‘legal guardian’ with ‘parent’, but Rosie didn’t realize she’d just accepted a self-centered, vain, gloryhounding jerk who didn’t deserve either title. 

Tino wasn’t looking forward to breaking the news to Michael. He’d dropped hints recently about taking Rosie in. 

“I’m glad,” Tino said. 

He was the worst liar in the world, but Rosie beamed at him anyway. 

                                         -------------------------------- 

When they got to the orphanage, Rosie immediately broke away from Tino and Starling so she could gather her belongings and say goodbye to her friends. 

“Jim Starling, the one and only Darkwing Duck. There supposed to be a few papers I can sign so I can take legal guardianship of little Ruby here?” Starling asked the orphanage director. 

“Actually, it’s Rosie,” Tino corrected, shuffling his feet when Starling glared at him. 

Seriously, who took in a kid without bothering to learn their name first? 

But the orphanage director simply dropped a huge packet of stapled papers into Starling’s arms. “Just sign in the highlighted areas,” she said, returning to listlessly stirring her coffee. 

St. Canard orphanages must’ve been in worse shape than Tino realized if they were willing to hand a kid over to Starling without asking any questions. 

Starling took out a pen topped with a Darkwing Duck figurine and scribbled an enormous loopy signature in the highlighted portions. He flipped through the papers so quickly that Tino only had time to read the bold print on top of the page. 

“Wouldn’t it be better to read the page before you signed it?” Tino asked. The look on Jack’s face would’ve been priceless if he’d been here. 

Jack’s biggest pet peeve was how people never read the fine print before they signed a document.  

Starling huffed. “You wanna be here all night?” 

“Well, no-” 

“Then shut up and let me sign this in peace.” 

Thankfully, the next page asked for name, date of birth, address, and the usual things that were asked on important forms, forcing Starling to slow down. 

Tino’s leg bounced as watched the clock. The hands crept towards five-thirty. Rosie would need to eat soon. 

And Starling’s usual dietary habits shouldn’t be passed onto any six-year-old. 

“Do you even know how to take care of a kid?” Tino asked. 

Starling’s hand clenched around the pen. A glob of blue ink stained the paper. Starling tried to rub it away, but only succeeded in smearing it across his hand. 

“Can’t be that hard,” Starling shrugged. “She gets food, a place to sleep, a stuffed animal or two, and a famous actor for her legal guardian. She could use someone to help her navigate the adoring public anyway.” 

“And caring about her?” Tino asked. “Love, attention, guidance, school?” 

Starling rolled his eyes. “Look, I give her a roof over her head and she doesn’t need to share her stuff with a bunch of other snot-nosed brats. She can run and play and hang with you and everyone else. She can go wherever she wants or do whatever she wants.” 

Starling signed the last document with a flourish and set the clipboard aside. 

Tino gritted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do to counteract Starling. 

                                          -----------------------------------

Starling’s apartment was several blocks away from the studio, and judging by the amount of dust that had accumulated over the furniture, it hadn’t been lived in for a while. 

Tino delayed going home in favor of helping Rosie unpack and settle in, cleaning the lonely, secluded guest room until it was suitable to sleep in. Tino dressed a spare mattress in a Darkwing Duck bedspread, pushing down a pang of anger at Starling for his lack of preparation when it came to bringing a kid home. 

Speaking of which, wasn’t it the guardian’s job to make a kid feel at home? 

Rosie hadn’t complained once, but that didn’t make it right. 

Tino probably would’ve stayed all night, but he was booted out after he disagreed with Starling’s decision to feed Rosie an unhealthy Hamburger Hippo kids’ meal. 

                                          -----------------------------------

Tino didn’t get home until eight in the evening, and the rice and bean plate Jack had left for him in the fridge tasted like cardboard. 

“You missed Pelican Island,” Dan said as he fiddled with a blender-like invention. “They almost got off the island, but then Dahlia found out that Georgio kissed Valerie and they broke the sail in their fight and all of Mason’s progress got set back by three weeks. Then they look in the almanac and find there’s a monsoon heading their way so now they have to delay leaving the island and find shelter as soon as possible cause the rains are gonna hit in less than a week-” 

Tino listened to Dan ramble about the show, focusing on his commentary and allowing Starling’s legal guardian status to slip his mind for the time being. Tino wanted to break the news gently and hopefully minimize any casualties that might ensue, but he’d need time to work on framing his words so that nobody thought it was the end of the world.

Jack leaned against the doorframe, coolly staring at Tino. Finishing his dinner quickly, Tino scraped the remaining crumbs into the trash and took much longer than necessary to wash the dishes, feeling Jack’s eyes bore into his back the entire time. 

Jack never pushed the issue, but he always had the uncanny ability to sniff out a lie. 

Dan and Michael were locked in a heated debate over who Georgio was better off with, suspecting nothing out of the ordinary. 

                                            -----------------------------------

The meet and greet started at noon, but they arrived at the venue an hour early to help the film crew set everything up. 

Dabble had reserved a section of Barks Park for their public appearance. It was a good park with plenty of grassy hills, a playground, and a bike trail. 

It was popular for family outings, Tino recalled, hoping to spot Rosie’s red curls among a group of children who were playing soccer nearby. 

But there was no sign of Starling or Rosie. 

Starling always arrived later than everyone else so all the attention would be drawn to him. Tino just hoped that Rosie didn’t adopt Starling’s compulsive need to be fashionably late. 

“Places, everybody!” Dabble barked. “That means you, Michael!” 

“I’m in the middle of something!” Michael called as he twisted a green balloon into a sword for an excited boy. 

“Put that helium pump away and get your jester butt over here!” 

Michael rolled his eyes, but he did a handspring-cartwheel combination that propelled him to his seat and wowed his young audience. 

The Fearsome Four’s table was on the right end of the gazebo, while the writers and artists’ table was to the left. The table in the middle had two empty chairs. 

“Wait, we can’t start yet! Where’s Rosie?” Dabble shouted once noon hit. He tapped his watch in frustration. 

“It was my day to pick her up,” another director admitted. “But I called the orphanage and they said Rosie doesn’t live there anymore.” 

“What?” Dabble cried, tearing several white feathers from his head. “Then where does she live now?” 

The director shrugged. “I asked, but some kid knocked over her coffee cup and she hung up to deal with them.” 

Tino’s hands clenched in his lap. Sooner or later, someone would remember that he dropped Rosie off last night and put two and two together-

Jack’s hand came to rest on Tino’s shoulder. 

And Tino knew he couldn’t keep quiet any longer.

“Rosie’s new legal guardian is-”

“I AM THE TERROR WHO FLAPS IN THE NIGHT!”

A column of blue smoke flared out. Several children tried to touch it, but their parents pulled them back.

“I AM THE CAUSE OF GRAY HAIR ON CRIMINALS’ SCALPS! I AM DARKWING-”

“Rosie, get up here! You were supposed to open the meet and greet ten minutes ago!” Dabble called.

Rosie nudged her way through the crowd, politely excusing herself as she made her way to the front of the gazebo. Michael waved, and Rosie returned the gesture, much to Starling’s disapproval. 

Starling crossed his arms as Dabble hurriedly gave a microphone to Rosie and whispered a few instructions to her.

“Are you kidding me?” Starling scoffed. “She’s not even part of the show! And you interrupted my introduction! I spend two hours ironing my cape and this is the sort of reception I get?” 

“You shouldn’t be wearing that outside of the studio!” Dabble hissed, gesturing to the Darkwing outfit. 

“There’s plenty to go around,” Starling scowled. 

“It costs money to make those-” 

“Shouldn’t we let Rosie speak now?” Dan mumbled. 

Rosie held the microphone loosely in one hand, the other nervously fiddling with a ribbon on her dress. For all the preparation they did, Rosie wasn’t experienced enough to handle an argument between Starling and Dabble. 

Starling snatched a spare microphone from the writers’ table. “Well, as much as I love verbally sparring with Babble here, I just want to take a few minutes to address something of the utmost importance.” 

“They’re kids,” Michael hissed. “They’re not interested in whatever you have to say.” 

True to Michael’s prediction, several kids left the audience to pursue more fun activities.

“As a man of action, Darkwing Duck always seeks opportunities to eliminate criminal scum and rescue innocents,” Starling declared. Tino could just imagine his pompous beak growing Pinocchio-style. “And of course, I’m Darkwing Duck, so I believe it’s time for me to put my lessons into practice. And what better way to do that, I wonder, then to become a legal guardian to a talented St. Canard orphan?” 

Michael gripped the tablecloth, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “He didn’t...” 

“I’m Rosie King-Fisher’s legal guardian,” Starling grinned. He bowed, expecting applause and praise. 

But Starling’s words seemed to go over the children’s heads. But the parents understood, shooting venomous glares at Starling as they steered their children elsewhere. 

“Hey! Where’s everyone going?” Starling called. He looked genuinely baffled that nobody was interested in the meet and greet anymore. “Seriously, isn’t this usually considered a good deed or something?” 

An empty water bottle smacked Starling in the face, and Tino silently thanked whoever threw it at him. 

Michael’s face turned a brilliant shade of red, and Dan was forced to hold him back as he screeched profanities to Starling’s face. Starling yelled back, and most of the backstage crew was too dumbfounded to interfere. 

Between calming Michael down, berating Starling for his impulsive decision, and Dabble trying to do damage control, Rosie’s presence was quickly forgotten. Jack gently pried the microphone out of Rosie’s hand. He took her by the hand, made eye contact with Tino, and inclined his head towards the gazebo’s other opening. 

The chaos allowed all three of them to slip away unnoticed. 

“Will Mr. Starling be okay?” Rosie asked as they reached a picnic area that contained several other families eating lunch and enjoying themselves. “And Mr. Michael?” 

She worried about Starling. 

Tino had never seen anyone worry about Starling before. 

“They’ll argue, but they’ll be fine,” Jack assured her. He knelt down to Rosie’s level, but he was still much taller than her, and she had to lean back slightly to make eye contact. “Is Mr. Starling treating you alright?” 

Tino made a small noise in the back of his throat. Starling never treated anyone alright. 

“He took me in,” Rosie said. “He’s kind of grumpy, but he did microwave me frozen waffles. We never got waffles at the orphanage. It was just oatmeal.” 

She spoke as if everything were really that simple. And to her, maybe it was.

“Are you happy?” Jack inquired. 

Rosie smiled. “Yes, sir. I’m happy to have all of you care for me.” 

There was a tiny twitch in Jack’s shoulders. 

Jack probably debated taking Rosie in too, but his logical mind drove him to question the expenses and sacrifices it would take. It wasn’t just Michael and Dan who toyed with the idea. 

And Tino had entertained it too, Multiple times. 

“Rosie, why don’t you go play?” Tino suggested. “It’s a nice park. Run around and have fun.” 

“Are you sure?” Rosie asked. 

“Jack and I have to talk,” Tino said gently. “We’ll stay here if you need us though.” 

At Jack’s encouraging nod, Rosie hugged them both and ran off to play. 

                                       ----------------------------------- Moments later, Rosie joined a game of tag and was having the time of her life. Confident that she’d be fine, Tino and Jack settled at a picnic table under the shade of a sturdy oak. 

“You knew the entire time,” Jack said. It was a statement, not a question. “Starling became Rosie’s legal guardian yesterday.” 

“Yes. Starling mentioned it in the car and Rosie agreed immediately,” Tino admitted. 

Jack didn’t reply. 

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him,” Tino whispered. “Rosie seemed so happy though. I think she just wanted someone to get her out of the orphanage. It didn’t matter who.”

“You work with Starling. You know how he disrespects everyone,” Jack snapped. “Waffles and giving someone a place to stay doesn’t make him a good guardian overnight. And you just...didn’t say anything?” 

“Please, every time Michael brought up adopting Rosie, you said something about not having an adequate guest room for her,” Tino shot back. 

“Starling knew you wouldn’t say anything because you’re such a pushover! He deliberately targeted you!” Jack shouted, drawing everyone’s attention to them.  

Tino ducked his head, waiting until everyone lost interest and returned to their lunch. While he was more embarrassed from the sudden scrutiny, Jack seemed to interpret the motion as more of a guilty expression. 

Jack moved to Tino’s side of the table, wrapping his arms around Tino’s shoulders in a sideways hug. “Sorry, Tino. I didn’t mean that. I swear I didn’t,” he said frantically. 

Jack rarely stumbled over his words, so Tino knew that the entire situation had gotten to Jack’s head. 

“I’m alright,” Tino said quietly. “Guess we’ve gotta stop beating around the Bushroot now, huh?” 

“You’re never gonna let me live that pun down, are you?” Jack sighed, but his lips were twitching upward. 

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” 

They watched Rosie for a while. Her pink dress was caked in grass stains and there was a leaf in her hair, but she was radiating happiness with every spring in her step. 

“Rosie deserves to be happy,” Jack said. “I wish we could’ve said something sooner.”

“She is happy,” Tino assured him. “Didn’t you hear her? She’s happy we care about her.” 

“But does Starling care about her? As more than a publicity stunt?” Jack asked. 

“I don’t know,” Tino shrugged. “Starling’s a hard guy to figure out. If he does care about her, maybe he could be a better person. If he doesn’t, then we’ll keep our home open to her so she won’t be alone.” 

“We’ll have to figure out that guest room.” 

“You’re planning to drag us all to the store to look at paint swatches for an entire afternoon, aren’t you?” 

“Guilty as charged.” 

Rosie shouted in joy as she tagged another girl and darted away before she could be caught again. She looked just like any other six-year-old instead of the little orphan girl. 

Though she could probably do with clothes meant for playing in, Tino noted. 

A rustle of the leaves from the leaves above him caught his eye. Curious, Tino peered up into the branches of the oak. There was a dark shape leaning against the crook of a thick branch and trunk. It was hidden from everyone else’s view, concealed by the verdant leaves. 

Though his eyes were concealed by the brim of his hat, Tino could see a ghost of a smile forming on his beak.  

Maybe there was hope for Starling after all.