#tinga painting

[thunderstruck9]

Rajabu Chiwaya (Tanzanian, 1951-2004), Leopard and Birds. Enamel paint on panel, 61 x 61 cm.

Rajabu Chiwaya (1951 - 2004) - Leopard and Birds. Enamel paint on panel.

[dominiqueramseyart]

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Artist wise CanisAlbus, Albrecht Durer, Al Hirshfeld, Eivand Earle, Benjamin Styer, Don Bluth, Aubrey Beardsley, Frida Kahlo, Thomas Blackshear, Maxfield Parrish, A.M. Cassandre, Gosia Herba, Hieronymus bosch, Mary Blair, Hung Liu, J.C. Leyendecker, and Kustav Klimt.

Culturally The Tinga Tinga African painting style, Alebrejes, African textiles, Islamic tiles, Greek vases, Chrtistian Iconagraphy, keyhole arches, Anime, and cartoons (1930’s-2000’s).

[b-afterhours]

Avenue of Sins: Neon

A Sequel to Avenue of Sins

SUMMARY: ‘90s. It’s the aftermath. Jaded, Bill and Alma navigate their new lives as they try to drag themselves out of the dark debaucherous trenches they had once ensnared themselves in. It’s easy to forget their evils when a silver lining introduces itself into their lives but can they create a less hedonistic life that would be just as satisfying?

WARNINGS: adult content, mature readers only.

The completed first series can be read and found here.

Chapter Thirteen

April 1993

They were in the living room, enjoying the rest of their evening indoors after a homemade dinner. Chicken tinga tostadas, something easy Alma managed to make in the slow cooker. The spring rain showers were in full effect now and lightning flickered occasionally through the drawn-open curtains that looked out to the porch. The rumbling thunder seemed to unsettle Echo a little until Bill distracted her with a gift. In his large luggage of curiosities, he had brought along something for her as well. 

Holding the gift behind his back, he crouched down and presented a little disco ball on a standing base to his daughter. She smiled happily and reached out to touch it. When he flipped a switch on the bottom, lights on the base lit up, the disco ball began to rotate, and specks of refracted light danced around the room. Her eyes lit up and she clapped happily following the specks covering the space around them. 

“Remember? The big one at Papa’s job?” He asked, and she nodded as he spoke. “I made it tiny for you so I could bring it with me so that you can have it.” 

“Say thank you, Echo.” Alma paused, brushing her damp hair from her shower. They had to take turns. They were fully planning on taking one together until Echo woke from her nap just as soon as Bill turned the faucet on. She let him go first. 

“T’ank you, Papa.” 

“You’re welcome, honey.” He said placing the disco ball next to her and getting up to sit beside Alma on the couch. 

He flipped through the TV channels looking for something to watch until he passed up some cartoon programs, and Echo motioned for him to go back. She then went on to be distracted by the disco ball, but he didn’t change the channel because he already knew she’d say something. Instead, Alma put her feet up on his lap to finally show him her matching pedicure and manicure she had gotten the day prior. They were just nicely filed in a short shape with rounded corners, painted with black polish, and the high-shine top coat made them look sleek. It was a birthday gift from both Ulyssa and Ash and it was nice to have some girl time with them at the salon. Bill complimented them and then he gripped the second toe on her foot and pulled, popping her joint. 

“Ow,” she said lightly, kicking his side with her other, which made him chuckle. 

Eventually, Alma decided to bring her schoolwork from the dining table to the living room. He watched her carry her bag over, mostly because she was wearing tight biker shorts with a shirt she had tied off in the front and he wanted to stare at her ass. He would peer at her homework and just see her penciling down a bunch of math formulas and occasionally she tapped on the loud calculator keys she had resting on her thigh. Because they spoke on the phone, he knew she was doing well in class. She even called him when she got the results of her midterms the month before to tell him she passed. Other than being excited over her good grades, she would always mention how boring it was. Admittedly, even to him, it looked boring. 

As she finished, she placed all her things back in her backpack along with her prescription glasses. His brows furrowed and then he frowned. 

“Don’t you need those to drive?” He said side-eyeing her. 

She drew the string of her bucket bag tight before slowly turning to look at him. Bill complaining about her driving was mostly a cop-out. Sure, once she dented the frame of his old car because she went over a curb and it pissed him off really badly. What he was actually worried about was her getting into a wreck. In fact, it terrified him. His mother passed away in a head-on collision. It was really ugly, based on what he had learned from his brothers. They were old enough to remember it better than he could. He couldn’t even remember receiving the news, his mind had just blacked all of it out. 

“I forgot them...” 

“What the fuck?” He scoffed.

“I’m not blind, Bill. I can see… just not well.” 

“You’re so fucking stubborn,” he said, shaking his head with a disapproving frown. 

Alma rolled her eyes. “Well…” she shrugged and then cuddled into his side. “I’m getting contacts. I’m just waiting for the optometrist to finally call so I can pick them up.” 

“Maybe… don’t. You’ll be able to see how I really look.” He joked. 

“I can see up close. I’ve accepted how you looked a long time ago,” she said, which made him chuckle. “I just use them to concentrate. I only ever used them when I was in school to see the blackboard.” 

Bill’s mind went back to those days that seemed like a lifetime ago now. “Weren’t you in Strathburg for the 10-year reunion?”

“Ugh, no. But it doesn’t fucking matter if I did or not half our class goes to the one bar in town. The ones who never left… It's grim. When you were there, you didn’t see anyone from school?” 

“No, but I also wasn’t looking. I saw your dad, though.” 

Echo got up from her spot on the floor, looking sleepy, and crawled up into her father’s lap and rested her head on his chest. Both of his girls were cuddling into him and he felt his heart warm. 

“What did he say?” 

“Nothing really,” he lied. The old man wasn’t too thrilled to see him. “But speaking of him. When was the last time you talked to him?” 

“Eh, earlier this year.” It was just a call she made to give him proof of life but they ended up speaking a bit. He was happy to hear she had gone back to school and then he spoke about some new chickens he was raising. However, Bill asking her if she had or not made her nervous, and she was glad he couldn’t see her face well as it was buried in the crook of his arm against the soft sweater he wore. Since he learned that she still hadn’t told her father about Echo, she was worried that’s why he was asking because she still hadn’t. 

“I just want to put some bullshit aside before we get into your birthday festivities,” he said, looking down, noticing his daughter's eyes getting heavier. “I’m planning on calling him soon about the property.” 

“Okay…” 

“I know you haven’t told him. You would have told me you did by now.” He said adjusting his body now to hold on to his sleepy baby better. Alma chose to just sit up then. “But,” he sighed. “I’m willing to tell him myself if you want me to.” He figured it would be better if he did so that she wouldn’t have to go through with revealing Echo’s existence twice. It was one reason, the other was that he felt as a man, he should tell the father of the daughter he knocked up himself. Maybe her father wouldn’t be too happy about it, but at least he could respect the fact that he owned up to it. 

Alma looked a bit uncomfortable. She had no idea how her father would react. He was an even-tempered man, even if he could be grumpy. That just came with age, though. She’d only seen him mad a handful of times in her life, though it was never directed at her or her mother. Would he be mad? She thought. She was a grown, almost 31-year-old woman. Even if she had to sneak around, she had done whatever she wanted since before she left for college. However, a father is a father at the end of the day. 

“Is that okay with you?” Bill asked again when she hadn’t spoken. She just looked tranced as she looked at the disco ball in front of them. “Actually. I want to do it, but I just want to know what you think?” 

She swallowed hard. “Well… okay. Yeah, tell him.”

“Okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine with it,” she said, turning to him with more confidence in her voice now. “Just deliver it well. I don’t want him to have a heart attack or something. He’s almost 78,” she warned. 

“Shit!” Bill grimaced. “Okay,” he nodded. “That’s all.” 

“Are you sure?” 

“Unless you need to tell me something?” He said it sarcastically, but he was slightly worried he never knew with her.

“Hmm,” she furrowed her brows, thinking if she should ask him what she was wondering. “Can I ask when was the last time you heard about your dad?” She asked cautiously. She knew he hadn’t spoken to him since he left Strathburg but he was in contact with his brothers enough to at least know something.

He slightly looked away for a moment, now tranced by the disco ball in thought. He began to speak when he felt Alma put her hand over his. “Well, uh, I don’t know much but I’ve heard he lives in west Texas, working on a ranch. I think? And that he lives in a commune? I don’t fucking know.” He shook his head with a slight sneer on his face. 

“A commune?” 

“Yeah,” he sighed incredulously.

“Ugh. What a dickhead.” She said he just nodded in agreement, looking down at his daughter and brushing her hair away from her face. “I was just wondering…”

“That’s okay,” he said gently as she spoke.

“I don’t like to talk about him either.” She probably couldn’t ever hate her boyfriend's father to the same degree as he did but it was pretty damn close. “When she goes to sleep, will you show me what you brought in the luggage?” She asked, changing the subject. 

He shook his head and smirked. “I’m amazed it’s taken until now to ask that. You didn’t peek when I was in the shower?” 

“I was too busy with her to try,” she chuckled. 

“You’ll see when we go to the hotel,” he said, getting up cautiously to put their daughter down in bed and to leave further questioning concerning her gifts. 

…

Bill was loading the Jeep with the bags Alma had packed to take to the luxury hotel he had booked for the weekend. Alma was in her last class of the week, so to get everything packed, he put Echo in her car seat and hurried to carry everything from the apartment. Alma had suggested that they should load the car before taking her to class but he felt he could just do it himself. He was slightly regretting that now.

Before leaving, he called Ulyssa to ask if she had gotten decorations for the bar; they would all be on the day of Alma’s birthday. She had also helped him with suggestions for restaurants he could take her to. When she answered, she was coughing a bit since the phone startled her while she was smoking a joint as she made a late dinner of butter noodles. He had wired her two hundred dollars—way more than she could use unless he wanted the whole dive bar filled with so many balloons that no one could see each other's faces anymore. The call was brief. He was standing on the porch with the new wireless phone Alma had bought, so he was able to smoke a cigarette and keep an eye on the Jeep in the driveway. She even offered to give the leftover money back, even though she knew he wouldn’t take it. It just felt weird to receive it, and she wondered if he had so much money that he just forgot the cost of things, never having to worry about it. 

Bill drove around the neighborhood with Echo, killing some time before having to pick up Alma. He looked at the houses in the area and was just trying to understand how to actually really get around and soon he was neighborhoods away and a little lost. He was at a stop sign, thinking of which way to turn to get on the main road and back on track. He lowered the volume of the music that was playing and turned to look at his daughter, who was chewing on a teething toy. 

“You’re from here, Echo. Which way should I turn?” He turned back, tapping his thumb on the steering wheel. “Maybe. I should actually go straight. Right?” He said this to himself as he chewed on his bottom lip.

“Go, Papa,” Echo urged because all she realized was that they had been sitting at the stop sign for a while now. 

He went straight ahead and eventually found his way to the community center, where Alma had class. She stood there speaking to a woman and an older guy, whom he assumed were classmates of hers. She noticed her Jeep coming into the parking lot and said bye to them as she walked down the sidewalk to meet the vehicle. Just like the last time he picked her up from class, she noticed him chuckling to himself through the windshield, and she lightly rolled her eyes.

“What’s so funny?” She said, tossing her backpack in the car before she got in herself. Usually, he would open the door for her but she didn’t give him the chance. 

“It's just so weird to see you talking to your classmates and with your backpack on.” 

“Is it because I’m old and look like some school kid?” 

“'Cause you look like some school kid,” he said, kissing her. “Not because you're old, those are your words.”

“Mhmm,” she grumbled. “We got out a little early today. Review day and no homework,” she said happily. A little birthday luck started a little early for her, it seemed. 

After picking up sushi takeout, they arrived at the luxury hotel, and the bellhops were swift with grabbing their things to take up to the room. Soon, they were walking through the swank lobby after the Jeep was valeted. The marble floors almost looked wet with how shiny they were. Alma and Echo went to look at the fountain in the center of the lobby while Bill spoke to the receptionist to check in. She noticed an older couple looking over at them briefly. They were in well-tailored designer clothing, and she knew they were judging her. Bill and her were dressed similarly. Doc Martens, black jeans, and black shirts, but hers she had cropped the hem off with scissors. Only the woman’s eyes lingered on her, but she stared back with bored contempt until the woman backed down first. Bitch, Alma thought. 

“Ready?” She heard Bill ask behind her, and she turned to him. Pushing her hair back with a smile and a nod. 

They were up several floors, and Bill took Echo from Alma’s arms for her to walk in first on her own. It was beautiful. The living area had floor-to-ceiling windows, as did the room once she found herself in there. She turned to look at him with a playful smile when she saw a jacuzzi in the room as well. Bill just smiled at her, thinking about all they could do in it while he set his daughter on her feet. She would only be with them for the first night. He hated that he was sacrificing time with her, but he noticed in conversations with Alma that she needed some kind of break. With work, school, and taking care of her daughter, it seemed like it had been wearing on her. While she wouldn’t admit it, he could sense it, especially after Echo’s accident she seemed more on edge. 

She loved her daughter, but she had only ever spent one night away from her since she was born. The night she spent with Bill when he first came to Seattle. Echo would be away for two nights and about a day and a half. It made her a bit anxious.

“What do you think? Do you like it, E’?” Alma asked her as she ran past her legs to look out the windows in the bedroom and look at the city lights and the bay. 

“Cute!” She said ecstatically agreeing with her mother, which made her laugh a little. 

“Very cute!” She watched her daughter run over to the bed but it was too tall for her to get up on her own. 

“Up? Up, Mommy,” she said to her before she assisted her on the plush bed. 

“Comfy?” She asked, and her daughter just flashed her a delighted smile. “We probably need to get you a big girl bed soon, huh?” 

She joined her, sitting down to take her little pink Converse shoes off. Bill was in the living area, listening to their conversation and giggles as he placed their food on the bar in the kitchenette area. He liked that he could do these things for his girlfriend but also now for his daughter. One day she’ll be grown up and suitors couldn’t impress her with the bare minimum to win her affection. Alma liked that too—that her daughter wouldn’t ever accept anything less. 

It was near Echo’s bedtime by the time her parents ate, but they let her stay up with them a bit. She was looking at their sushi curiously, but Alma felt she was maybe too little for raw fish, so she gave her shrimp tempura to try and chicken katsu with steamed rice. She was satisfied with that and the apple juice her mother diluted with water. They were just about done eating when Alma noticed that Echo was falling asleep as she nibbled on a piece of shrimp, which made her laugh. She was trying to fight sleep, waking up and nibbling some more until her eyes got heavy again. 

She was fussy when Alma cleaned up her face and hands, even more so as she tried to change her into pajamas. She gave up when she started kicking her legs to prevent her from doing so, and so she was just left in her diaper to sleep in. As she swaddled her, she asked Bill for his help with arranging the pillows on the edge of the bed as a barrier for their child. Over dinner, they had agreed to go down to the bar in the lobby for a nightcap. 

“Just an hour,” Alma stressed as they walked out and pulled on the door handle to make sure the door was locked. 

“We have the monitor,” he said, showing her before putting it in his back pocket. “I just want to check it out. We have our bottles in the room.” 

They sat at the very end of the dim light bar. A bartender wearing a black vest and bowtie had come to ask them if they would like another drink. Bill looked at his wristwatch, they had time for one more. They kept the monitor between them and occasionally Alma would lift it to her ear, making sure Echo wasn’t crying or had woken up. 

“Anyway,” she said, continuing her story about a customer from the record shop. “I kept asking the guy, do you know what genre it was or, like, what decade it came out in at least? He had no clue and then he started humming some tune as if I could guess it that way.” 

“What did it sound like?” He chuckled. 

Alma hummed it to him after their drinks were set in front of them and Bill had paid. He leaned closer to her to hear the tune. It sounded like any generic four-beat tempo, and then he puffed out his bottom lip and shook his head, unfamiliar with the tune himself. 

“Yeah, I don’t know.” He said, taking a sip of his highball.

"Like, how the hell am I going to figure that out?” Alma laughed. “It’s like I get the idiot customers and Darby gets the loitering teens. I do try to help, but Jesus Christ,” she said face palming. “It’s the only thing I won’t miss.” 

Bill checked his watch in the middle of telling Alma about one of Payday’s new bits at the club. How she would messily apply red lipstick to male patron's lips and let them kiss her ass cheeks, charging them per lip print. Alma laughed. Men could be so easily persuaded into almost anything sometimes. Once they finished, he took her hand and led them to the lobby elevator. Bill noticed how fast she drank her French 75, she was anxious about leaving their daughter alone several floors up. They still had 20 minutes to spare if they had actually spent the whole hour at the bar.

“Um.” Someone a few paces behind them cleared their throat. “Excuse me?” 

Alma hit the elevator button to go up. They hadn’t bothered to turn around even after hearing whoever it was, because who would want their attention?

“Um, excuse me?” The person said a bit nervously now. 

Bill glanced at Alma before he turned his head. “Yes?” He said meeting the gaze of a young man and a young lady just behind them. Alma turned then and while the boy was intimidated by Bill's broad shoulders and height, her annoyed scowl scared him a bit more. 

“Are, uh, are you two in a band?” 

They were taken aback a bit and they both looked at each other for a second and smirked. “Mm, no.” 

“Oh, never mind then,” the young man said, slightly embarrassed. He turned to the girl, who was anxiously biting her black, varnished thumbnail. "See, I told you!” He said to her.

“Well, I thought they were, ass!” 

They heard her say back to him as they entered the elevator and felt free to finally laugh at them. 

“Do we look like we're in a band?” Bill asked, amused.

“Eh, it’s just the way we're dressed. That dork was wearing dockers,” she shrugged. 

Once they got in their room, Alma was the first to check on Echo. She sighed with relief, seeing that she was fine and hadn’t rolled off the bed like she kept worrying would happen. 

They went through their nightly routines and slipped into bed with their daughter in the middle of them in the king-sized bed. They had thought they’d have another drink and maybe fool around on the couch until they both caught each other yawning. Alma didn’t really ask for anything other than to spend time with him, but she did have two birthday requests of him. The first one, she wanted to go to JCPenney’s to take family photos. 

…

They had a slow morning. Alma noticed she woke before both Bill and Echo as she turned to face them. He had their daughter in his arms, lying on his chest. She smiled, adoring them both. They looked very similar, so at peace in each other's presence, even in their sleep. 

Though she hadn’t ever given it much thought before, she was glad it was him she had a child with. However, she couldn’t lie to herself because, deep down, there were moments in the past laying in bed high and restless, wondering what their child would look like if they ever had one. Those were just silly thoughts. Just like how a young girl would imagine who they’d marry and wonder about how many kids they’d have one day in the big magical house they’d conjure in their daydreams. Her dreams stopped at some point in her 20s because she was too self-involved and reckless, and cynical to think about things like that anymore. Then her dreams vanished, and the light left after that night in the old loft. Until now. Until only a few years ago, when her life changed just when she thought it was over. 

She carefully and silently slid out of bed for a moment to grab her camera from her bag and snapped a few shots of them. Pulling from the hem of her tank top, she took it off along with her underwear to take a shower. There was so much room, and it was nice not having to bump into the wall or a shower curtain like she often did in the one in her apartment. 

They were still asleep when she walked back out with her hair wrapped in a towel and wearing a fluffy robe. She looked at the clock then. 

“Shit,” she muttered, realizing it was just only 7am. Last night, she watched Bill close the curtains with a remote and assumed the blackout curtains were of high quality. That it was why it had been so dark, but now she can see some light peeking through from the bottom.

She laid back down next to them, cuddling into Bill’s side and holding his hand in hers, and decided to go back to sleep. 

When she woke again, it was because Bill nudged her awake as he stood next to her side of the bed with Echo in her little yellow bathrobe with prints of ducks on the terry cloth. He pointed to his side of the bed, where there was a bed tray with waffles and fresh-cut fruit for her. She smiled as she sat up.

“Morning,” she said to them as she grabbed the tray to put over her lap. “Where’s your food?” 

“We already ate,” he said. “And someone needed a bath,” he said, sitting her down on the bed. “I need to take one too because she peed on me,” he laughed. He woke up because of that, noticing he felt damp, and when he checked on his daughter, he saw that the blanket she was wrapped in was wet. 

“Aw, her diaper leaked?” Alma laughed. “Well, finally, I’m not the only piss pot in this family for once.” 

Echo laughed along with her parents, hardly knowing she was the reason they were. 

“Ah, Papa?” She called out for him as he was walking to the bathroom. Her mother quickly distracted her, asking if she wanted a blueberry from her plate. 

“Bluebie.” She said crawling closer to her mother.

~~~

“What time do we have to be at the photo place?” Bill had been out of his shower, fixing the crease in his trousers with an iron, while Echo lounged around the living room watching cartoons with him. Alma was in the bathroom doing her makeup and rolled her eyes. She had told him twice already. He had also asked her three separate times if he should shave off all his facial hair. After telling him he could do what he felt comfortable with, the third time she said yes, he decided to leave it alone and just trim it neatly. 

“One, thirty.”

He nodded his head to himself. She would pick a later time to be able to get ready at her pace. He waited a little bit and even let his curious daughter run into the room in her diaper and listened out to hear what Alma would say to her. It is better for her to bother her this time rather than him.

“I’m almost done, okay? And then we can start getting you pretty too!” She was applying mascara, she went a little lighter with her liner for the pictures. 

When Alma asked to take family photos, he originally cowered at the thought. It was different than Alma picking up her camera and taking a snapshot of him because she was behind the camera, but then he figured these were things you just do now. Over the phone, they would try to figure out what to wear or how to match. They thought about it too hard. Finally, Bill said they should just wear black like they always did. Why try to look wholesome when that’s not what they were? Better to look like themselves than one day cringe at how hard they tried to fit into some box they never belonged in. 

Bill walked into the bedroom, and Alma glanced at him, noticing that he was finally opening the luggage he brought. He could feel her gaze on him and he tilted his head in her direction.

“Any guesses?” 

“You’re showing me now?” She asked skeptically, as her birthday wasn’t until the following day.

“Yeah, I want Echo to see before she goes later.”  

Alma could see different textures of black fabric inside, but nothing discernible. Though she figured they had to be clothes. She had shaken it when packing for the hotel, and it hadn’t made any noise. 

“Just come in here,” Bill said, nodding his head back. He watched Alma pick up a dress from inside and she smiled. “Could you try them on for us?” He said, picking up Echo, who was standing by, holding on to his leg, wanting to know what was going on. 

“Even these?” She sarcastically asked, pointing to the lingerie that was also inside. One was a patent leather set. “Are you trying to get a piece off of my birthday too?”

He chuckled. “No,” he said, looking as if he might have gotten caught. “That’s for later. Wear them whenever, but I want you to wear one of these dresses for our dinner tomorrow.” 

“Okay. You know they have luxury boutiques here in Seattle too?” She said holding the slip dress in front of herself, feeling the material. The label had a long Belgian tag.

“Yeah,” he grumbled. “But it’s not like what I can get in New York.” 

“True,” she said, lifting another dress from the luggage. It was a Versace Bondage dress, and her eyes lit up at the details and intricacies of the garment. “You want me to wear this one to dinner?” She lightly laughed. 

Bill smiled. “Well, maybe not this one. You can wear this somewhere more exciting than a sit-down dinner.” 

She paused for a moment and looked up at him, meeting his mossy green eyes. “Why do you always like to dress me up?” She never minded that he did. He could be so cold sometimes and it was one of the sweet little gestures he made in the past, so she never questioned it. 

Bill bashfully pursed his lips. “Hm. I just like to see all the different things I can admire you in.” 

Alma gazed down, feeling her heart skip. She wasn’t expecting him to answer so sincerely. Admittedly, she had expected him to give a more dirty answer. 

“Put them on,” he said. “I want Echo to see how pretty her mommy is in her dresses,” he said, turning to her to kiss her little cheek and then leaning down to kiss Alma. 

He sat with Echo in the large wingback chair in the bedroom, speaking to her but also taking glances towards the bathroom, where Alma was in just red cotton panties as she slipped into the bondage dress first. Just to get it out of the way since she wouldn’t wear it out but knew he would like to see her in, even if for a moment. He smiled approvingly when she walked out to show him and so did her daughter, who reached out to touch the garment. Next, she tried the first dress, which fit looser, but the silk flowed over her curves nicely. He liked it too, she wore it just like he imagined when he bought it.

It was the last dress she tried on that she felt was the one she’d wear to dinner. It covered her body a bit more but the side paneling was sheer. It had a heart-shaped neckline and sheer sleeves. She smiled at herself in the bathroom mirror and even Bill could see that she had made her decision without her even having to voice it. 

Bill motioned for her to take a few steps closer to him when she came to show it off. He pulled her by her hip and smoothed the cool fabric of the skirt down before tugging the hem down to lay at her knees better. 

“This one, yeah?” He asked, looking up at her while she nodded. He directed her to turn around and he zipped the dress up the rest of the way up to the middle of her back. She felt his hand run along her bottom and then stopped to trace her panty line that he could see and feel through the garment. 

“I have different panties,” she said, looking at him over her shoulder. 

“I know,” or you could wear none, he finished his statement in his head. He smiled, leaning back as he scratched his ear. “What do you think, E’?” 

“Cute, Mama!” She giggled. 

Alma kissed the top of her little head as a thank you. “Can I show you what I got myself for my birthday? Just really quick.” She said walking over to her sleepover bag. 

He looked at her ass in the dress as she bent down. If their daughter wasn’t there—no, he thought to himself. Not wanting his mind to wander. She walked back, taking the lid off a square jewelry box. Inside were a pair of thick, two-inch gold hoop earrings, and he complimented them.

“I’m wearing them for the pictures,” she said, smiling at them. “Speaking of, we need to get ready now.” 

They were sharply dressed inside the department store. They were right behind a family of five who were all dressed in starched light-wash denim button-ups. Alma was wearing a dress that had been hanging in her closet. An off-the-shoulder dress with sleeves and a skirt that reached mid-thigh that she wore with sheer black pantyhose and simple black pumps. Bill was in a black button-down and a relaxed blazer with nicely fitted trousers he had added his wallet chain to while wearing the Louboutin Chelsea boots. Echo wore a black velvet long-sleeve dress, the peter-pan collar had white lace trim, as did the cuffs. She had on white stockings with Mary Janes.  

While they waited, Alma held a mirror compact and checked the reddish-brown lip color she had on and her blown-out hair that she had side parted, one side pinned back to show off a hoop earring. Bill was trying to keep his daughter from pulling out the half-updo Alma had done for her. He was chewing a piece of gum anxiously. He really wanted a cigarette and was doing his best to take a break but the situation wasn’t helping. Alma held her hand out, noticing the chewing, and then put it closer to his face when he gave her a strange look. The wad of gum landed in her palm from his mouth and then she stuck it underneath the chair they were sitting in. 

Thankfully, it was finally their turn, and the denim family looked at them curiously in passing. The wife side-eyed her husband with disapproval, noticing how he looked at Alma’s cleavage. 

The photographer had Alma and Bill take turns sitting side-turned on a wooden box with Echo in their lap while the other sat on a slightly higher box. They both would check each other to make sure their hair was still in place, or he would reach to fix the nameplate necklace on Alma or Echo’s bracelet. There was only one pose Bill didn’t want to do, which was his girls facing forward, and he stood behind with his hands on Alma’s shoulders. It felt too authoritative to him. Alma disapproved of them sitting on the floor, thinking it would look too casual for how they were dressed. They took a few more of them, all standing at an angle toward the camera. Bill held on to Echo while Alma stood behind facing them holding his arm and then a few in reverse. They took some alone with their daughter and ended the shoot with just some individuals of her. 

It was over and generally painless after all. Echo cooperated well, responding to all the tricks the photographer pulled to get her to smile. Sometimes it felt like the photographer was even trying to get them to smile brighter too. It also helped that Bill let Echo have a few Skittles occupying her hands away from her hair while they waited so she could ham it up for the camera.

Bill stood with Echo while Alma discussed photo sizes and found it amusing when the woman was shocked that she asked for all the photos that were taken to be developed. It seemed to him that most people would choose to pay for their favorite ones. Alma turned to him when asked for payment. He opened his wallet with one hand and told her to grab the credit card. He caught the cashier’s thin brows raised, noticing the thick wad of money inside, and snapped it closed once Alma grabbed the card to hand to the girl. 

She signed his name on the receipt and then tucked the card in a cup of her strapless bra while the woman gave her a pick-up date. The cashier found them curious too. She watched the family leave, obviously, they were rich, but why were they taking lousy department store photos when they could hire real professionals? While they hadn’t treated the experience as a joke, the money she saw in the wallet made her think that it maybe was. 

…

With Alma’s directions, Bill was driving to Yolani’s place, which he quickly learned was a duplex. Before they had walked around the mall a bit so that Echo could play in the children's area while they watched with fruit smoothies from Orange Julius. Alma knew he didn’t want to spend time away from their daughter, especially on a visit, but he was doing so for her. For her birthday week, which felt odd because she hadn’t really properly celebrated it in some years. She figured it was as good an excuse as any for him to make a trip. However, she felt a little remorseful because she was once again a reason why he couldn’t spend time with Echo. 

What she was failing to see was herself in all of it. That his visits were more than just him wanting to spend time with his daughter but also with her too. Being a mother, sometimes she didn’t feel seen, but rather the extension of herself was more well-received and more receptive. It was the innocence. She wasn’t in competition with her daughter by any means but it seemed like people asked about how she was more than herself. Recently, Alma had just felt like an afterthought to most people. In experiencing that, she felt a bit isolated. She went through the motions of motherhood because that was what was expected of her, and that was what her daughter needed from her as well. 

There was no time to be selfish, no time to be alone, no time to do what she wanted. At least not really. When Bill would make his visits, it eased her. He wanted to be with her, he saw her, he wanted her time, and he gave her the attention she craved. Then he would be gone again. It was wearing down on her. The life she made in Seattle was starting to feel hollow, despite how much she liked the little community she had enmeshed herself in. 

“Here on the left,” Alma said to Bill, and he slowed down. 

He pulled into a driveway and turned around to park on the curb closest to the house. He took the time to get Echo’s baby bag and herself out of the car for her overnight stay. 

Yolani answered the door after Alma had knocked and her brows raised seeing how she was dressed up. She had always thought she was pretty, but seeing her body in the dress she was still wearing from the family photoshoot was different. She was used to her in jeans and baggy shirts or oversized cardigans that usually hid her body. She had noticed, however, that she was slowly phasing away from the clothes that had obscured her body since her visit to New York. Today’s outfit was just a massive jump from that. 

“Don’t you look nice!” Yolani said, pulling the sleeves of her light pink sweater up. “I know it’s tomorrow, but happy birthday,” she said, opening her arms up to embrace her.

"Ah, thank you,” Alma said into her fresh-smelling hair. Her long, dark hair was up in a messy bun. “Thanks for having Echo overnight too. I’m so grateful for you.”

“Girl, it’s never a problem she’s my little friend! My sister should be on her way too.” 

“And maybe it’ll just be for one night. We’ll probably end up picking her up tomorrow, after our dinner.” 

“No, no. I promised to keep her for two nights. It’s your present from me.” Yolani stressed. She knew that her birthday celebrations were being kept secret. Drinking and going out weren’t much of her thing. She didn’t feel like she was missing out on anything. Besides, the dive bar visitors just weren’t her crowd. 

Bill was finally approaching and Echo started to wriggle in his arms, wanting to be put down. He relented and set her on her feet and she scrambled on her little legs straight into Yolani’s arms. She interrupted the woman’s conversation but Yolani quickly put her attention on his little girl, smiling at her and saying how much she missed her while they hugged. 

“Yolani, this is Bill,” Alma said as he walked up, and he quickly introduced himself. 

“Yes! Echo talks about you sometimes. Well… kinda she just says, Papa this and that, she’ll give me the real business when she can form something coherent. She’s almost there, though, she’s very smart. Observant mostly.” 

“Yeah,” Bill nodded appreciatively. Yolani and Ulyssa did look similar in the face. However, Yolani had more of a curvy body and was even a little bit shorter than her svelte twin sister. She didn’t seem so Type A as Ulyssa described, rather more typical, just normal, but not in a bad way. She spoke more confidently than Ulyssa had at their first meeting. “Thanks for watching Echo and helping Alma out. You’ve been a big help.” 

“Of course! Kids are fun,” she smiled. “Um, would you like to come in and see where she’s staying?” She said, stepping back to let them in. 

Alma knew the place well, even the neighbors, who were just a mother and her teen children. She wouldn’t ever leave her daughter anywhere if she didn’t know who else could be around. Bill nodded at the offer and stepped in. He was glad he didn’t have to ask himself, like he was going to. He wanted to know where his daughter spent half of her days and who she was with. All he had was Yolani’s phone number in case of an emergency, and Alma had informed him that she had his for the same reason, but their phone lines hadn’t ever connected. 

The place was clean, filled with big leafy plants, and everything was in its right place. The books on the small shelf by the back windows were neatly organized. He figured this was what Ulyssa meant by her being Type A. Most importantly, it didn’t smell like weed but like fresh laundry inside. He knew her sister smoked, so he wondered if she did too. It didn’t seem so. Yolani put Echo down and was quick to start taking her shoes off, like she was home. 

“My room is just back there, as is the bathroom. But once ‘Lyssa comes, we're going to build a fort in the living room for our slumber party.” 

“Oh, that sounds fun. Doesn’t it Echo?” He said, looking down at her. She rejoined them and was holding on to his pant leg.

“Pardee, Papa,” she giggled. 

Yolani did the same. She only heard bits and pieces of things about Echo’s father. She didn’t pry like her sister could, but having met him now, questions were brewing in her mind. He seemed nice, yet a bit reserved. It didn’t come off as particularly shy but rather protective in a sense. Bill listened to the women speaking. Alma was passing along the number to the hotel and the room number, stressing that if she needed anything, she should not hesitate to call. He saw Yolani nod, but with an expression on her face, saying that she could chill out a little. 

“Okay, thanks again,” Alma digressed. 

“Yes, of course. Go, have fun now.” She said to her. “And nice to meet you, too.” She said, turning to look up at Bill. 

“Thanks,” he smiled. “Echo,” he said, calling for her as she had run off again. She looked up at him from playing with some decorative pom-pom throw pillows she was messing with. “Be a good girl for Yolani, okay? We’ll see you in two sleeps.” 

“Mm. Two?” She said trying to hold up two digits, but her fingers seemed to have a different mind of their own. Yolani praised her for her effort. “Okay, Papa,” she nodded. “Ah, no, Papa bye-bye?” She questioned. 

“No. Papa will be back this time,” Alma said to her, understanding what she was trying to ask. “Can we get a hug before we go, baby?” 

They were out the door and in the Jeep soon after. Bill drove up the block in silence until the next stop sign. Alma was biting her lip and picking at her manicure.

“What now?” She said, looking out the windshield, almost as if a thought had escaped her lips and wasn’t meant to be said out loud. 

Bill turned to look at her. “Whatever you want.” 

She blinked a bit in thought because she hadn’t had free time like this in such a long time. Just doing something without her child in tow or as a thought felt so foreign. Even being alone with Bill without her felt new. There wasn’t a single time from when she was created to now that she hadn’t been alone with only him. Completely.

“Well…” she said, biting her lip. “I want to go back to the hotel.” 

Bill kept himself from smirking. “That’s where I was heading…” He was actually desperate to go but he couldn’t make her birthday celebrations about himself. “Does it feel weird? Being without her?” 

Alma turned her head to look out the passenger window. She didn’t want to hear some type of lecture from him about how he lived all the way in New York City. That how she was feeling now, felt like that for him constantly. She felt him reach for her hand.

“It’ll be okay. Yolani seems good with her,” he said, giving his approval of her choice of babysitter. Before then, he just went along with it. He knew better to trust her judgment on people. “It’s just two sleeps.” He said it to her now. 

She turned to look at him with an amused smile and nodded. “Two?” She held the digits on her hand as awkwardly as her daughter did, making them both laugh. 

Someone honked behind them, interrupting them, which made them jump a little. The maroon 4Runner pulled up next to them, revving their engine, and skipped them to go past the stop sign they had been stopped at for a while. 

“Dickhead!” Bill honked his horn, but the car was long gone, it was just a reflex from driving in New York City traffic. 

Alma laughed. “Okay, back to the hotel. I want to get in the jacuzzi.” 

…

They had stepped through the threshold of their hotel suite, and he immediately pulled her into his arms to kiss her. He held her by the waist as she leaned back, holding on to his face in her hands. She could feel his hands run down her bottom and up her skirt, trying to pull her up on his waist to hoist her off to the bed. She broke away from his lips but he continued kissing down her neck and along her shoulder. 

“Wait,” Alma said. She could feel herself melting into his touch but she wasn’t quite ready for that yet. “Bill…” She said with her eyes closing, almost losing the battle when she could feel him getting hard when he managed to hook her leg on his hip. “Wait.” 

“What?” He said into her neck as evenly as he could without groaning. 

“I want to go slow…” 

“You want to make love? We can make love.” His breath fanned across her neck as he trailed kisses up her throat more softly this time to reach her lips and kissed her deeply. A soft moan came from her. She disconnected from him again, and this time he flashed her a strange look. “What?” He questioned her, feeling rejected. 

“I want that too,” she said, placing a reassuring palm on his chest, but when she pulled her leg back down, it didn’t make him feel any better. “But,” she said, taking a deep breath, trying to gain some composure and settle her beating heart.  “Can I have like an hour to myself?” 

“Oh…” his brows furrowed, pulling away from her. “Okay…” 

“I just want to try the jacuzzi by myself for a little bit.” 

He nodded in understanding and took a deep breath himself. She hasn’t been able to spend a single moment alone and now she has a chance. He bit his lip and then pulled her into an embrace. 

“So an hour.” He said it into her hair. 

“And some change…”

He sighed. “Okay, I’ll just go down to the bar. But I was about to really—”

“I know,” Alma giggled. “But we don’t have to be so hasty here. In an hour, it’ll be just us,” she said, looking up at him and placing a hand on his jaw. “And I won’t have to be quiet here. Or you.” 

“Are you sure you want me to go?” He raised a brow at her.

"Never, but for right now, yes.” She said standing on her tiptoes to kiss his jaw. 

He remained standing there, taking his blazer off as she stepped away to take off her heels. She turned to look at him while taking her hoop earrings off. He was still there with his hands on his hips, looking on as if she would change her mind.

“What?” Bill lightly shrugged when she side-eyed him. “I can’t watch you undress?” 

“Oh my god,” she playfully groaned. “It’s an hour, Bill.” 

“Fine,” he sighed, grabbing the room keys off the kitchen bar. 

Alma walked him out and he kept turning to look at her with a jilted expression on his face, still hoping she’d tell him to stay. 

“Quit looking like that.” 

“Like what?” 

“Like I shot your dog or something,” she said, making him laugh. “Kiss me before you go, at least,” she said, still holding the door open as he now stood in the hallway. 

“No,” he smirked. “You can wait until I come back,” he said, stepping off and jingling the room keys in his hand. 

"Actually, just stay the fuck out!” She said slamming the door closed and laughing like she knew he was. 

She stepped out of her dress in the bedroom and then started the taps on the large jacuzzi. As the water ran, she was dumping the contents of a shampoo bottle into it to make it bubble. With a bottle of champagne, she had grabbed from the fridge, she finally settled in as it continued to fill and she smiled. Her hands waded through the water and the bubbles in front of her, finding the temperature just right. Picking up the champagne bottle from the wide ledge, she pulled the cork off, took a sip directly from the bottle, and sank into the tub with a satisfied sigh. She was finally alone, her fretting finally leaving her as she relaxed more but she was glad it wouldn’t be for long. He will be back soon. Exactly an hour on the dot. 

[tanzaniasafarisonline]

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[karmadraws]

MEXICAN PARTY!!!!!! WUUUUUUUUU

I leave here some sketches of the girls: 3 they are Lizzie, Shubble and Katherine and the first one and the second one is Gem :3

LET'S GOOOOO, MEXICAN PARTYYYYYYY

Everyone was calm to the party, Pearl did not separate from de Grian, Mumbo and Scar tried to get closer to Grian, some were already making jokes, everyone attended with typical Mexican costumes, those who arrived hungry were surprised that almost all the dishes Mexicans carry chili, and a couple in my corner of the place. Scott and Jimmy were together while Scott complimented Jimmy, "if your body were jail and your lips were chains, my sentence would be beautiful" Jimmy was nervous, Lizzie finally arrived and so they wouldn't kill him Scott didn't said no "mason compliment" (those who are not very family friendly) [I'll show you some later]

After a while, the party began to light up, everyone was more playful and they began to play rather heavy jokes, almost always at parties of this type there are things like eggs with confetti or the lottery and then they began to play, Tango, Impulse and Zedaph were playing marbles, they bet whoever lost had to eat a whole chili in one bite, so none of them was willing to lose, the others were also playing for a while, always with silly bets, the dumbest was for Xisuma, who accepted and in the end he was saved At the time of going to the food, everyone began to choose dishes such as tostadas de tinga, golden tacos, pozole, mole, and were even surprised with the party rice and the normal one (I'M NOT JOKING, IT REALLY THEY HAVE DIFFERENT TASTE) the first daring to eat something with spicy was Etho, all to annoy Bdubs with seeing who can handle spicy better, they were going to eat cochinita pibil with habanero, in the end, well, they couldn't hold out for long.

Finally after the food table was empty (EJEM SOMEWAY, MIRACLE I THINK) it was the turn of the candys, there were wafers with cajeta, chocolates, picafresas, tamarinds, mueganos, meringues, everything, even the best sweets like mazapanes. They were all playing with each other, Joey proposed that whoever could get a mazapán out of its wrapper without breaking it would give him something he wanted, and well after a while and running out of mazapán no one won. After trying even beer and tequila, the party seemed more like an authentic Mexican party, everyone living together, there was hardly any centerpiece on the tables, there was no food, it was getting late and there was nothing to do, although in Mexico parties they don't end because yes, one after another they proposed ideas to be there together until dawn, they played truth or dare, they danced and sang Mexican songs and the best thing came after 4 am, when everything began to calm down the others found Oli sleeping on the chairs, obviously they did not miss the opportunity and when Oli woke up he was going to have his whole face painted, Scar and Mumbo finally talked to Grian who rejected all compliments or nice words to annoy them for a while, Ren did not detach himself from Doc , Big B and Martyn who were getting along, Joel asked Lizzie to dance, Cleo shone in her dress along with the others, everything was being perfect, except for something, a couple had escaped from the party, katherine and shubble were not there, when the two came back the others soon made fun, they said things like "have you come back from behind the guayabo?" (Phrase used to say "they were girlfriends / boyfriends) while everyone laughed, even them, after all if they arrived at dawn, everything had been perfect. :3

BUENO, QUE VIVA MÉXICO CABRONES A PARTIR DE HOY SON CIEN DÍAS DE PURA FIESTA, WUUUUUUU NOS VEMOS MAÑANA, TENGO QUE DORMIR SI MAÑANA QUIERO COMER PAMBAZOS >:3 NOS VEMOS (SEE YOU LEATHER GUYS! HAVE A GOOD DAY! I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!)

What I'm saying? I'm going to sleep because I want pambazos :3

[arinewman7]

Tinga Tinga Art by Rubuni Rashidi

[gerugeon]

HUEVEMBER DAY 28: Spectacled Caiman

ENG

Ok, I promised myself that I’d finish this project, so there you are. Only two left...

Spectacled caimans have earned their common name due to a spectacle-like ridge between its eyes XD such creative names

They are present in other countries of South America as well, but I really wanted to practice drawing/painting a crocodile. Since I had no previous experience in painting one, I used this picture as reference: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istockphoto.com%2Fbr%2Ffoto%2Fjacaretinga-em-um-banco-do-rio-no-parque-nacional-tortuguero-costa-rica-gm1086422772-291498153&psig=AOvVaw2oYLCJCSBzZCycNt09ucFS&ust=1613512869170000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCOCKkYLy7O4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

PT-BR

Jacaretinga

Eu tinha prometido a mim mesma que terminaria esse projeto de qualquer jeito, então aí vai... Só faltam dois...

O jacaretinga também é conhecido como jacaré-de-óculos por conta do formato da estrutura óssea logo abaixo de seus olhos, como se fosse o aro de um óculos. Aqui no Brasil ganhou o nome de jacaretinga por ter um dorso branco (tinga é branco em tupi).

O jacaretinga não é exclusivo do Brasil, nem está propriamente ameaçado de extinção, mas eu realmente queria desenhar/pintar um jacaré; como nunca desenhei um antes, tive de usar essa imagem como referência: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istockphoto.com%2Fbr%2Ffoto%2Fjacaretinga-em-um-banco-do-rio-no-parque-nacional-tortuguero-costa-rica-gm1086422772-291498153&psig=AOvVaw2oYLCJCSBzZCycNt09ucFS&ust=1613512869170000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCOCKkYLy7O4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

[docholligay]

HLF: cooking chicken 101? My roommate hates ground beef, but that, skillet burgers, and baked fish are pretty much the only things I know how to do beyond 'prepackaged with baking directions'.

Chicken is super easy and really flexible! If your roommate hates ground beef, the first thing to figure out is what the fuck is wrong with your roommate what sort of things you’re looking to substitute for! “How to cook chicken” is a super broad topic. 

Do you use ground beef to make tacos? Chicken is a fine sub for this, from throwing a chunky salsa, a drained can of black beans, seasoning, and boneless skinless chicken thighs into a crockpot for an exceptionally easy late night meal, all the way up to making chicken tinga with your own sauce. 

If all you know how to do are those three things I somehow doubt you’re making your own meatballs, but if you are, there’s both ground chicken and ground turkey to your rescue! Make sure not to overcook, and I often use Worcestershire sauce to give a taste of meatiness, but it’s a perfectly acceptable way to spice up a tomato sauce or make meatballs. 

Chicken breast can be thrown into most pasta or rice dishes, usually what I do is cut them into cubes, marinade with something that seems to go with my dish (Like teriyaki marinade for a pineapple rice or wine and garlic for a pasta dish) and then just really quickly cook the cubes in a pan until they’re finished and have nice caramelization on the outside. Toss em into anything! They’re great in salads! 

Baked chicken legs is a go to I’ve had forever! Recipe below:

You need:

Chicken drumsticks (this recipe is for about 5-6, but it works on any amount)

1/2 cup flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

Sauce (I have included some recipes/ideas below but you can use anything you like on chicken! Jill is very fond of Sweet Baby Ray's, so, butch approved)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and put the flour and baking powder in a bag (depending on how salty the sauce I'm going to use is, I will put alpine touch or salt in there, too) . Two or so at a time, shake the drumsticks to coat them.

Put the drumsticks on a foil covered baking sheet, skin side up,  with just a light light light spray of canola oil (You can omit this, too, but I get frustrated when/if they stick).

Cook the drumsticks for about 40-50 minutes, depending on your oven. USE A MEAT THERMOMETER CHICKEN GETS OVERCOOKED EASILY. It should be at 140 when you pull it out of the oven.

When you pull them, change the oven to broil on high.

When it's out of your oven, use a basting, pastry, or paint brush if that's all you got to brush the sauce of your choosing onto the chicken. Make sure to brush all sides.  Put it under the broiler for about four minutes, turn, and do the the other side for about four minutes, until it's got some nice color and crispiness, to your liking.

Serve! I make these whenever I don't feel "like cooking."

Sauce ideas:

Recipes:

Lemon pepper:   1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup lemon juice, about a tablespoon of diced lemon peel if you've got it or just the zest of a lemon if you don't, 2 minced gloves of garlic, and lots of cracked black pepper. You can add a little bit of cornstarch for thickness if you want.

Beautiful lazy as fuck ranch sauce: 1/4 cup olive oil, packet of ranch seasoning, 1 tablespoon of apple cider or red wine vinegar.

Maple bourbon sauce: 1/3 cup orange juice, 1/3 cup maple syrup, 3 tablespoons bourbon. Cook this one down a little in a saucepan until it gets thicker and more, well, saucelike.

balsamic chicken: 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 3 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, two minced garlic cloves. Cook this one down a little, too.

Pineapple soy: 1/4 cup pineapple juice, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, a few hearty shakes of cracked red pepper, and, if you have it, a touch of fish sauce. cook down a little.

To buy:

Any of the McCormick spice blends will work if you lightly brush with olive oil and then sprinkle the spice blend over the skin

Soy Vay has a bunch of delicious sauces of the soy-based variety, if you're looking for that sort of flavor.

Jill loves all the varieties of Sweet Baby Ray's.

As always, let me know if you try this!

[oveliagirlhaditright]

I would absolutely love to work on those GIFs for you. Please send me all the ideas you have. I re-watched the series a couple of months ago and have some things in mind, but I think I need to refresh again. So yes, your ideas on the transgenics and anything else. Helps me get started on it. Thanks for the reblog and I will try and get the Max and Logan one out soon. You can reply to this with your ideas!

Oh my gosh. Thank you so much! And sorry in advance if I go overboard with this. Hahaha. And if I do, feel free to ignore me and only do the ones of these you want:)

I’ve actually done a few screenshot Dark Angel things that aren’t the greatest. So if you wanted to remake some of those as gifs, I wouldn’t mind at all. https://oveliagirlhaditright.tumblr.com/post/188483190012/i-know-brainiac-is-arguably-the-most-hated, https://oveliagirlhaditright.tumblr.com/post/186108463327/i-saw-alec-saying-the-move-your-furniture-thing.

And then some other ideas I had… uhh. It’d be cute–if you wanted to, I mean–if you gifed all the times Max and Logan held hands, or almost kissed… Or to do a comparison gifset between when Max says in the finale season of season one (And Jesus Brought a Casserole) “I’d kiss you, but I have to keep my head in the game”, with her in season two saying to Logan (Proof of Purchase): “Thanks, Logan. I’d hug you, but-”

Max kind of posing with the pool stick and smiling after Logan says he’s at Crash to see her in Fugheddaboutit is really cute. And so is the scene in Harbor Lights when they’re just smiling at each other when Max is in the hospital bed. Or when Max is telling Logan, in Gill Girl, how she wants this story to have a happy ending… and you can just tell he knows–without her saying it–that she wants the merepeople to have a happy ending, since they can’t right now. And before that in Gill Girl, when Logan is calling Max… and then hears her ringtone in his apartment, and then sees her coming in with a mermaid slung over her shoulder as she says “I’ll hit you back later!” That was funny. 

Logan’s speech about how it never mattered to him what Max was in Love Among the Runes is good, as is the whole scene when he’s sticking up for the transgenics that they do have souls, in Dawg Day Afternoon. And if you wanted to do a “Logan character development” post you could, in comparing Haven (”How can I even think of having a good time, when the man who orchestrated the shootings was a cop… and he not only got away with it, but got promoted for it, too?!”) with Proof of Purchase (”Well, you can only fight corruption for son long before you have to kick back and relax.”)

You could also do Max character development ones if you wanted! Like, in the Pilot when she’s telling Logan that people are looking to kill her, put her in a cage, or turn her into a science experiment or all three… and that she’s gotten by through keeping her head down and wants to keep it that way, and not help people… with the season two finale (Freak Nation), where she’s saying “Where will you go? I can’t force anyone to stay. But I’m tired of running, hiding, and being afraid. Aren’t you tired of running? Of being in being in darkness? Don’t you want to feel the sun on your face? It’s time to make a stand, right here and right now. They created us, and it’s time that they owned up to that instead of trying to sweep us away like garbage” and that sort of thing. Or how in the Pilot (even though she’s partially lying here) when she tells Logan that she doesn’t blame herself at all for what happened to him, and that it’s on him “one-hundred percent”. But then in Meow she and Original Cindy have this conversation: Cindy: The truth is, you love Logan. Max: We’re not even like that, and the fact is we both would have been better off if we’d never even meet. Cindy: Please. Max: He has to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair because of me. Cindy: I didn’t see you on TV, pulling no trigger. Max: Yeah, but I could’ve protected him and I didn’t and that’s on me “one-hundred percent”.

I also love how Max and Logan give each other a piece that the other was missing: Logan suggesting that Max choose a birthday (C.R.E.A.M), and then her giving him back his mother’s locket in Art Attack. Or also how I think it was in Max going to the wedding with Logan in Art Attack, that she finally chose a last name for herself “Guevara”, and then began using it from then on out.

I once did a screenshot post (that I’ve since deleted), of Charlie telling Case the “storybook” version of Tinga’s life (this happens in Hit A Sista Back) that she’d told Charlie and Case (that neither of them had any idea was real at first), paired with Max incredulously saying to Bling about Logan in 411 on the DL, “I’ll go over and read him a bedtime story.” And then after that, I put Charlie telling Max and Logan in Hit A Sista Back, how he didn’t regret any of the time that he had with Tinga… and he’s essentially telling Max and Logan to get together there… and you can kind of tell by the way they’re looking at each other, that maybe they want this “bedtime story” for themselves, too. And if you wanted to remake this, you totally could:)

I also did another post in the past, that you could remake… Where Max says to Logan in C.R.E.A.M, that she’s surprised a high-minded, leftist, idealist like him would be okay with her greasing the enemies… and then paired it with her saying (in Prodigy) that she isn’t as high-minded as Logan is, with the idea that life is good and murder is bad, so she should have just let Lydecker go for that reason.

The scene where Original Cindy is talking to Max about Diamond at the end of Shorties in Love is really good overall, and is speaking of both the Max/Logan and Original Cindy/Diamond relationships, that could be cool to see gifed:)

You could also do a Max and Original Cindy comparison, where Max has to touch Logan’s hand through glass in Proof of Purchase and Original Cindy has to do that with Diamond in Shorties in Love.

Speaking of, any Original Cindy content–like with her and Max–would be awesome. I personally love the scene where they’re dunking the guy in the hot tub in Art Attack, being such a team, to get information out of him.

Gifs of Max being smart and a badass would also be great.

And just anything with Tinga, Brin, Syl, Jace, Jondy, and Mia would make me so happy.

You could even do a gifset that explains where the name of the show comes from: “Forever eyes, dark. Somebody’s angel” (the poem Logan made for Max in Shorties in Love) and Art Attack. Guy that Max Saves from Jumping Off a Building: “You’re the messenger, right?” Max: “Yeah?” Guy: “Well, I’ve never been much of a believer before… but you personally coming here to straighten me out like this. Thank you”. Max, smiling: “I’ll see about getting you that package back” (he thought she was an angel).

So these are just some of the crazy Dark Angel ideas I have. Feel free to use any or none of them. And thank you so much again:) And if you need me to try and explain any of this better, I can.

Edit: You could also gif what I believe is the closest we ever got to Max and Logan saying they were together in this series (aside from the times they told each other “I love you”, I mean. Or at least started to say it). Max saying angrily in “Boo” after Rafer insinuated Logan was her ex: “He’s not my ex! …I mean, we’re not like that.” And then Mia asking Logan in “Fugheddaboutit”: “You’re Max’s boyfriend, right?” And him saying, “Something like that.” You could also maybe have fun gifing all the times they said the ridiculous “we’re not like that” line, and then prove how untrue that was. LOL.

Edit 2: I also loved the scenes we got that showed how much Max and Logan knew each other, and that they got to know each other even moreso in scenes we didn’t see. Like when Max is sad in one episode (though I don’t remember which one it is), that he sold a painting his grandmother had given him, I think, to try and find a cure for the Virus (and we hadn’t known that painting was from his grandmother before this). Or when in Gill Girl, Max knows so much about people in Logan’s family–like Bitsy–and is talking about them with him, even though the audience had never heard of them before. Or in Some Assembly Required, when Logan knew how much Zack being alive would mean to Max and is gently and somewhat excitedly telling her, “You’re brother’s alive, Max.” …And really, just how kind Logan was to Zack actually says a lot about his love for Max, since Zack was always cruel to him (and I say this as a Zack Stan).

Edit 3: You could also do a Space Needle journey: Max on the Space Needle in the Pilot, Max asking Logan about going on the Space Needle in Heat, but him refusing since he’s scared of heights… Them almost going together at the end of Rising, but not for some reason… And then them finally getting there on Jesus Brought a Casserole together, and then Logan alone on the Space Needle at the end of And Jesus Brought a Casserole–echoing what Max said in the Pilot. Also, speaking of Max and Logan being on top of buildings: Max being on top of Logan’s penthouse in the Pilot, and Logan being on top of it in She Ain’t Heavy (as it seems he finally got over his fear of heights).

Edit 4: Gifs of Max interacting with kids could also be cool, since she loved them.

[tanzania-a-la-carte]

When in Tanzania get yourself a Tinga Tinga painting! This popular art form has originated in the 1960's by the hands of Edward Saidi Tinga Tinga in Dar es Salaam. The bright colours, artistic forms, daily life stories and wild animals make these paintings a perfect souvenir to bring from your Tanzania adventure #tanzania #traveltanzania #exploretanzania #visittanzania #tanzanianculture #safari #safariintanzania #zanzibar #daressalaam #tingatinga #africanart #zamatours https://www.instagram.com/p/BvGll24H-cA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tlmk89l0hxsc

[rjzimmerman]

Uploading some of my old Africa photos. The first photo was taken just off the main market area of Stone Town in Zanzibar (which is part of Tanzania). Some of the art you see on the right side is known as Tingatinga, or Tinga Tinga. This style of art was developed in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and later spread to most East Africa. We have a few pieces here at home on our walls. The painter typically uses vibrant bicycle paint. If you guessed “made for tourists,” yep, you’re right. Regardless, it’s fun.

The second photo was taken in the main market in Stone Town.

Quiz question for you. Stone Town is famous for being the birthplace of which famous rock star? Freddie Mercury. Back then, when he was born, the legal name of his birthplace was the Sultanate of Zanzibar, which was a British protectorate. Mosque towers dominate the local landscape.

[elifayiter]

Tinga Tinga painting. “Leopard” by Mohamed Saidi Chilamboni - Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania c. 2000

http://indigoarts.com/galleries/tinga-tinga-paintings-tanzania?page=0%2C0%2C0

[art4gays]

Tinga

https://indigoarts.com/galleries/tinga-tinga-paintings-tanzania

[natureboundafrica]

Masai Market crafts and curio are famous culture handicraft products to show Tanzania culture wear, wildlife animals mammals, wealth like Tanzanite gems, Tinga tinga paints and history. Maasai crafts and curio products include Masai blankets, Tinga tinga paint wall pictures, Table mats, wedding rings, bracelets, chains and shoes. For travel tips and Tanzania safaris, contact professional Travel consultant for sample safari itineraries and budget travel ideas. Tanzania safari planning and curio marketplace recommended is provided here. https://www.instagram.com/p/CLGe9IyJ5uU/?igshid=7wmicorrg692

[oveliagirlhaditright]

Saving the Siblings - A Dark Angel Lomax AU 2

What would have happened around C.R.E.A.M--when Max and Logan still weren't that close yet--if they'd agreed to have a more sibling-esque relationship? How would the entire rest of the story played out differently? But Lomax will still be endgame in this, I swear. https://www.archiveofourown.org/works/21821767

Author’s Note: I remember nothing about Vada’s personality from the books, so I’m making it all up myself. Yep. Also, this "episode" is technically "411 on the DL", but things are playing out somewhat differently than they did there, because of the ripple effect of Max and Logan deciding to try and just be sibling-like themselves. "So, lemme get this straight," Original Cindy said the next morning, as she and Max pedaled into Jam Pony and Normal glared at them for being late. "You told Hot Boy ya just want 'im to be your brother. And he took it well? Even though ‘e looked at chu all dreamy-eyed, when we talked about chu?" Max scoffed. And even in being a genetically engineered killing machine, who had grace like no other, she still almost ran into Normal's desk because of the absurdity of what Original Cindy had just said "OC! I highly doubt he did that! Logan and I aren't like that. And, yeah… he took it well. Goes to show that not all men think with their third leg, huh?" Original Cindy seemed doubtful about that, but didn't comment any further. Which was probably a good thing. Normal was currently snapping at them for being late and telling them to "bip bip bip", as he shoved packages into both of their hands. Max was about to take hers to its intended destination with no reaction, when suddenly she caught something with her cat-like eyes. This package had been slightly ripped open, and within it was a newspaper article. A newspaper article with her barcode number on it and an address. Normal, unfortunately, noticed what Max had done and was quick to try and take the package out of her hands. But she fought against him. "Hey, Missy! That right there is private property! You had no right to do that, and it’s coming out of your paycheck!" "Yeah, sure, whatever," Max said with a calm façade as she handed the package back to Normal, knowing he wouldn't trust her to deliver it now and that he needed to patch the rest of it up before he gave it to another deliverer, anyway On the inside, Max was panicking. With her number being in the paper, was it Lydecker trying to draw her out of one of her sibs trying to contact her? "You okay, Suga?" Original Cindy asked, in having seen Max become less of a fog bank there, in actually showcasing some real emotion right there… fear. And even though Max was trying to improve her relationship with everyone in her day to day life, by being more honest with them (save for Logan, perhaps, because of the mess of a situation she’d gotten them into), Max lied yet again when she turned to her soul sister with a sugary sweet smile on her face. “Of course I am.” ... The forefront of Max, as she was out in Seattle delivering a different package for Normal, of course thought that the whole thing had to be a trap. Of course it was that... how could it be anything else? But there was a stupid, rebellious part of her that hadn’t listened to warnings about “phony sentimentality”, that wanted to go check out this address… that she was thinking was a Playfair Cipher. But what was the key word to decode it? Despite how Max had at first not wanted to go see Logan about this—because surely he'd care that she was going to go risk her life, and would thus do away with their whole: "we're going to pretend to be siblings to each other” shtick for the moment—she found that she had to… she just needed his advice on this, like no other’s. When Max reached Logan's suite in Fogle Towers—and broke into it to get in, once again—the first thing she saw was Logan clearly coming out of the shower, as he pulled a towel off of his neck and put a shirt on... And almost immediately he was pissy: Max could read it on his face, probably because he couldn't come out of the shower on his feet any other hot-blooded male. Most of the time, Max didn't understand men at all... and so she pretended to not notice his tude, and prayed that he would leave it alone, too. "Max, what are you doing here?" Logan asked with great caring in his tone, as he wheeled over to where she was in his living room. Apparently, he was going to be civil today; and in thinking that he needed to be rewarded for that, Max winked at him before she instantly regretted it and tried to awkwardly move the conversation along. "So, Logan... dilemma time. Someone has put my barcode in the paper—and it’s like opening the front page and finding my undies, I tell you--and have put an address on where to meet up via a Playfair Cipher…. I just figured out that the key word was ‘Maxie’. But get this: when figured out, it leads to Vogelsang's address... Clearly, I can't go, right? I mean, it's obviously a trap. Vogelsang must have been compromised… and found out things about me, he shouldn't know." Logan opened his mouth once—and via his pinched eyebrows, and the way he seemed about to motion that Bling should come in here to also talk sense into her, perhaps, Max could tell he'd been about to tell her not to go, too—but then closed it, before opening it again to say something he hadn’t been planning on before, she guessed. "I think, Max," Logan said, as he now wheeled away from her to put some distance between them, which immediately had Max feeling suspicious and offended as she put her hand on her hip and glared at him. "That it's one of two options. One, Vogelsang is trying to lure you into a trap or maybe even has a conscience and wants to warn you away from one... but would he really bite the hand that already abuses him? I don't know... I also don't know if he's clever enough to use such a cipher for you. “But I don't think it's Manticore trying to lure you out. They'd think you'd be too smart for it. And with their pride—even though you're all smarter than they are—I think they’d make the code more difficult to figure out… so I do think it might be one of your siblings." "And you think I should go after them," Max finished, as she straightened back up and chose to walk towards the man who was living dangerously right now, and suggesting that she risk her life. Again. Max tried to be happy about this news… that it could have been Zack, or Jondy, or Tinga, or any of the other siblings she normally would have been happy to risk her life for the chance to see… but she couldn’t quite get there… Something about Logan stepping into that role for her, making her less likely to want to give up what she’d built for herself in Seattle, mayhap? Outside, it had started raining again—as it always did here in Seattle... particularly when she and Logan were about to make a dumb choice about each other, and the Blue Lady sensed they needed some cold in the air in order to cool themselves off before they did that--and Logan said, "Yes... as a- a brother to you now, I suggest that you go. And I know if it were me, and I had siblings, I would." And so that only left one thing for Max to do, didn’t it? And she reluctantly smiled at Logan, for giving her the advice she had wanted… even though she didn’t know if she should do that or not, for so many reasons. ... Max went to Vogelsang’s before the specified time marked on the newspaper. She needed to stake the place out before anything unsavory happened there, and she was. And while her sibling could have been at good as subterfuge as she was right now (Max had decided to go into the ocean before she came here, to hopefully erase her scent from Manticore guard dogs if they were here, and had painted herself in black to even moreso fit in with the night), she just assumed they weren't here yet. But eventually, she saw a shock of short, blond hair a few floors above her—that could have been Ben, Zack, or Jack… if fate had been kind in some alternate universe for that last one, that was—and she jumped up that way herself, through the windowless opening and to the tenth floor... that looked a lot like a parking garage to Max. And once there, she saw who could have only been Zack—he looked just like she remembered, and she found herself blinking back tears and gasping at the mere thought of it—as he seemed to try and reach for an invisible person before them... Finally, Zack sensed Max—and whirled around with his fists out and one foot forward, clearly ready to fight—before Max washed the gunk off her face to show him who she clearly was… she was the only X5 kid who had had these kinds of features, after all. "Zack, it's me. It's Max. If you don't believe me, come around behind me and look at my barcode. I’ll put my arms up and not move." But her eyes must have been sincere... or he must have recognized her voice, or even now—and certainly not have just have memorized every inch of her because he loved her, Max would later try and lie to herself—because the next thing Max knew, she was in Zack's arms as he held onto her for dear life... and as Max clung to this brother of hers, she tried to breathe in all of what she thought she'd been missing for so long... but she felt nothing. "Maxie... is that really you?" Zack asked, as he buried his face in the crook of her neck... and a part of her beginning to go into heat, no doubt, wanted to kiss him for that action. "We thought- we all thought you were dead! That if you were alive, you would have found us all by now... So to honor you, we decided that—at least this first time—that if one of us ever went back to Manticore and we then heard they’d broken out… That I would put your barcode in the paper with this address, so they’d know where to find me for help. Right now, we’re waiting for Vada." "Vada? …As in that sweet sister of ours, who actually cared about makeup even back at Manticore? And tried to emulate what she saw on some of the guards’ faces with chalk?” And it was just as Max asked that, that said girl came up the flight of stairs that led to this garage on her motorcycle. And this didn’t really take Max aback… all X-series transgenics were spectacular with these vehicles, as it must have been in their makeup. …But this almost seemed too scripted to Max. And Vada seemed too sure of herself, if the hounds from Hell really were supposed to be on her tail… Her hair was also so long—something that Max couldn't imagine that would lend to her fighting for her life well… unless she had been on a deep cover op from Manticore for this, and had had to look as normal as possible for it… And if she’d done that quest for them like a little girl without trying to escape then… what were the chances that she had tried to leave now? "Vada!" Zack exclaimed the moment he saw her, with a wide smile on his face as he began walking over her to greet her. And Max couldn't believe that their CO Zack, of all people, was forgetting his training and exposing himself to the enemy so easily! Max got it, she did. Having a sister captured and rescued so easily must have been a dream come true to Zack, on the off-chance they ever tried to do this kind of thing again… but it was too good to be true, was the thing. "Zack... Listen to me… Do you really think Lydecker would have let Vada escape so easily? This is Lydecker we’re talking about! Who probably knew from our genetic makeup, just how long we could stay underwater. But he made us try it to tortured us, anyway!" Zack looked at Max furiously then—as Vada just seemed to look at them blankly—and here Max had thought that if anyone would have been arguing one of the others might have been turned, it would have been Zack and not her. But as far as Max was concerned, her life was making less and less sense all the time. "Max," Zack argued, as he reached to put a hand on her shoulder but then swiftly pulled it away, as if he'd been burnt. "There's no way Vada was turned! You should know that better than anyone! Our siblings always meant the most to you… and we all know how to forget things, even when under torture from Psy-Ops." "Actually, dear brother, Max is right. You should have listened to her,” said a sickeningly sweet voice in Max's ear—as she heard a gun being cocked behind her and felt it being pressed against her temple. Fuck. TCs had used grappling guns to get up here the same way she and Zack had, huh? Somehow, Max hadn’t stopped to think that anyone would be that well prepared at all. With how long she’d been free without Lydecker finding a trace of her, for the most part, Max had just assumed he had his thumb up his butt… but apparently that wasn’t the case. She sighed. "Vada," Max breathed, as she put her hands on her head. "Why are you doing this, dear sister? Do tell. Did they break you in Psy-Ops that easily? You were always more weak-willed than the rest of us." Max had expected Vada to hiss at her, and instruct the man under her command to hit her with the butt of the gun or something. But she did no such thing. Instead, her breath hitched in her throat and blinked back tears. And suddenly it hit Max that maybe Vada wasn’t as willing a participant in this as she’d first suspected, if she’d tried to give them a heads-up with her words. And the men behind Max and Zack—three of them actually had him in a chokehold—must have started to realize Vada was teetering on which side she was on here, because this time Max did have the gun slammed into her face… and it disoriented her some, as blood got into her eye. But she carried on, anyway. "Vada... you were reprogrammed back at Manticore, right? You never got out... this mostly was a trap for us. But at the same time, sister, I don't think you're completely buying their shit, either. Because otherwise, you wouldn't feel a thing about burning us. So, what? You're in the land of question marks now? Well, get out of it and do something, one way or another." That seemed to make something click within Vada... and Max could see warmth in her sister's eyes, even while she blocked their only exit: the kind that she'd seen reflected in her own so many times when she was with children... Could it have been that Vada was a mother and remembering that she had a child to return to? Where all X5 women particularly maternal? "Vada, please.” This time it was Zack: looking at their sister with begging baby blues that Max wanted to swim in, as her womb chose that moment to feel really empty. Damned heat! Max thought, as she slapped herself across the face before her hormones could make her want to jump the men holding her hostage, even. Before Zack could say anymore, at least ten Manticore men showed up behind Vada at the door… and she surprised everyone, as she suddenly powered her bike and mowed them all down with a vengeance. And just like that, both Max and Zack were done playing the pacifists. Zack took care of the three on him, as he jumped into the air and kicked at one’s leg—breaking it—and broke another’s neck with his hands… before landing on the third and beating their face in. Max, meanwhile, did some of the aerial attacks that she was known for. She did a backflip into the air, and knocked her guy out as she kicked out… but not before winking at him. She then punched out a man who was trying to grab her while she was in the air and landed on a girl’s neck… Max pinched the pressure point on the back of their neck—which felt good, somehow: that a Manticore soldier could have a weakness in that spot, too—and wished her sweet dreams. And that left only five new soldiers who had heard the chaos and were coming up to investigate behind Vada. "Zack, Max quick! Get on the motorcycle!” she begged. The two X5s didn’t have to be asked twice. They did just what their sister said, and ran these five men down as they made their mistake… and swept past a witless Lydecker once again. ... When Zack had left Vada under Max’s care (at least temporarily, as he went to get alcohol to celebrate their sis coming back to them… though Max herself wasn’t so confident about it yet), she had thought about taking her over to Logan's—because she had to.. because for whatever reason, she still had feelings for him, Max scolded herself—but in the end, she didn't. And this time it wasn't just because she was trying to keep them at the "just friends" level: it was because Max knew she'd have to rehabilitate Vada... and if her sister snapped and killed people, she really didn't want her to take out the beacon of all things good and true, Eyes Only. And while Max thought it was potentially more dangerous for Vada to be around Kendra—since Kendra had no training to be a "soldier", and hadn't signed up for any of this—she also was thinking that Vada would see that Kendra was a civilian (like Vada’s own baby girl, if Max was right about that) and take it easy on her... Or so she was hoping that, anyway. "So, yeah, Kendra," Max was telling her roommate now--loud enough so Vada could hear her, but not so much that she'd make Kendra realize there was anything weird about them… which wasn’t that easy to juggle. "This is my long-lost sister, Vada. She's gonna be staying with us for a while, if that's cool, until she can get things squared away with her family." Max put her hypothesis about Vada into her words, partly to see if she'd get a reaction from her that would prove Max right… and to assure Vada that if she did have a family... she was going to sort it out and go back there soon, so she wasn't constantly endangering Max’s roomie here. "Okay, Max," Kendra said as she paused in the translations she was making for her students and gave Max a considering look. "But one day you're going to have to dish about all this family drama of yours.” Oh. So, it seemed that that Kendra was still suspicious of what Cindy had told her had happened while she'd been in jail, after all. If that was the case—and she kept putting two and two together—then Max supposed might not have a choice on that front. "Soon enough, Kendra," said Max with a slight smile, shocking even herself with it. "Soon enough." At that point, Kendra had decided to go to bed—as she was tired from a long day of work—and Max perched on the footrest at the end of the couch Vada occupied in their living room. She did this so her sister would know that she was there and find comfort in it, perhaps, but also so she was elevated in case the other brunette decided to attack. It must have been the feline DNA in her making these decisions... because this way, Max knew she'd be able to see Vada move the moment she decided to attack—if she did that—and could then easily leap into her beloved air to fight. And Vada must have noticed that Max was somewhat skittish—though Max hated thinking of herself that way. And if she could've, she probably would have banned it from the English language after tonight—because Vada ended up answering Max's question from earlier as she nudged her leg with her foot. "You're right, Max. I do have a family... Damn. Why I ever let Lydecker turn me against them, I don't know... And I feel even worse in trying to help him bag you and Zack. I'm so sorry." "Don't feel too bad, Sis," Max said, as she patted her sister’s foot. "We're not all experts at resisting Psy-Ops and making ourselves forget information on our loved ones… or even our own names. I know I'm not." But even while Max said it, she didn't know if she believed her own words. After all she'd just detailed why Psy-Ops was a bitch, hadn't she? So, any brainwashing she’d once had was long gone, and would hopefully stay that way if she held onto such thinking. But since Vada had given in… did she really believe she felt bad about what had happened, and wasn't still under Manticore's influence? Max probably would have risked telling Vada she was full of shit, too, if at that moment she hadn't said the golden words. "And speaking of our family... you know that they have Jondy too, right?" "Jondy? How… why? How did they get the youngest of us now, and who let it happen?" And Max didn't care about anything she’d just thought of Vada… because they would get Jondy out with no consequences, and she would be her old self. She would be. Or else Max would just off herself, because she had no reason left to believe in this world. Author’s Note: I am so sorry for such a late update. I’m just working on a million stories right now. But I haven’t abandoned this story, and never will.

[bushbabbee-blog]

Tinga Tinga Paintings featuring one of my favourite Magnum ice creams 🤤🤤