malee

[maleelewis]

Full Name: Malee Lewis

Nickname: Mal, Lee

Age: 29

Gender/Pronouns: Cisfemale, She/Her

Place of Birth: Yala, Thailand

Birthday: April 15th, 1992

Length of time in Seattle: 16 years

Occupation: Professional Photographer

tw: abandonment, adoption mention, foster care mention

Malee was born in Yala, Thailand to Nan and Louis Davis who started having children at a young age. They seemed like a happy little family until Malee turned three and her father left to never return. After that her mother went into a dark headspace, never would mention his name or anything about him. As far as they were concerned he didn’t exist and that’s how it’s been since the day he left. Her mother had to work three jobs just to provide for all of them, her older brother Rune often watched his two younger siblings. He was only four years older than her but had to take on a lot of responsibility early. She tried to ask him about their father but he wouldn’t ever talk about him either, as he held on to a lot of anger towards him. By the time she was 13, Aylin packed up the kids and moved them to Seattle, Washington. Apparently, she had an older sister and Aunt that lived there, they had been begging her to come and she finally gave in. None of the kids, including Malee, were happy about the move but they weren’t really given a choice.

After they made it to the states she had a hard time adjusting to American life, how they spoke and mannerisms felt so weird to her. To make matters worse their mother still couldn’t take care of them well and chose to give them up. The devastation she felt to be let go of by another parent was like no other. She couldn’t even stay with her other siblings as they had to separate them. She was put in foster care and by the time she was fifteen she was adopted by a nice family. Hardened by being abandoned and not understanding why either of her parents would leave her. Yet again she had to adjust to something new when she hardly had time to adjust to the last one. Her adoptive family was great but they weren’t the family she knew. Not really knowing what else to do she threw herself into making friends, joining clubs and sports. That’s where she found out her love for taking photos was more of a passion. The fact that you could capture a wonderful moment or even a not-so-wonderful one and look back at something to remember it was something she loved.

Once she graduated from high school she knew what she wanted to do with her life, as far as a career anyway. She decided to go to Seattle University as a photography major. As the years went on she hasn’t seen or heard from her mother, nor her younger sister. She is still close with her brother as they made sure to stay in contact over the years. He is often her shoulder to lean on when she needs to vent or get out a good cry. Rune was even the reason she ended up meeting her ex-husband who changed her life. Showed her how nice it was to be loved by someone, at least until they broke up. They met at a bar one night and the rest was history. She helped him during one of the toughest times in his life, helped him get out of the slump he was in. She wanted nothing but happiness for him, still does.

It’s been a year since they divorced, she’s just been focusing on her career and keeping her life on track. She’s hoping to take on more clients soon and is really doing her best to avoid any more pain. As Malee isn’t sure she can’t take much more of it or she really doesn’t want to.

+ traits. Courageous, Dynamic, Adventurous

- traits. Impulsive, Impatient, and Quick-tempered

[maleelewis]

eviexmorris​:

“Art critics are some of the worst people I’ve ever met, so I bet the response was something really douche-y,” she commented with a scrunch of her nose. After a disastrous date with said art critic, she had tipsily told everyone within earshot that she was refusing to date for a while. 

...

Malee looked over at her, she did have a point because she had met a few art critics in her time. “I’ve never really thought about it but I don’t think I can deny that you’re on to something.” She looked back at the artwork studying the painted lines as she thought of something else. “Sometimes the artist themselves are so full of it, they can’t even take the criticism to begin with.”

[maleelewis]

kaciexkingsley​:

Kacie had never been a big art enthusiast but Malee was her friend so she’d agreed to go with her today to the museum. She had a basic appreciation of art but beyond that she didn’t know much or have a lot to interpret. “Do you think people make mean comments about other people’s work? That seems really nasty.” Though in her world it was very uncommon for Kacie to ever say an unkind word about anyone so the idea that other people did it sometimes felt foreign. “Wait like you broke someone’s art?!” She gasped and covered her mouth so that her laugh wouldn’t be too loud. “Are you kidding? Was it some priceless piece that would have bankrupted you if they knew?”

...

“Not necessarily mean, I mean yeah sometimes it is but it’s the price you pay in the art well. You have to be ready for the criticism or just downright rude comments,” she told her friend. For her, she didn’t have to worry too much about people being mean anymore. If they had anything bad to say she usually didn’t hear about it if they hated her photos. When it came to painting, drawing, having your work in museums, etc, people were a lot harsher. “Someone told me once I shouldn’t be allowed to hold a camera but that was before I got better.” That comment had taken her weeks to get over and it still stung just a bit. Malee looked at Kacie as she tried to hold in her own laughter, the memory of her shocked face was enough to send her over the edge. “I think it was worth a good bit, so honestly back then? Yeah, I would have had to sell a body part.” She bit back a laugh so she didn’t bother the people around them. “So, do you think you’ll be coming to more museums with me?”

[maleelewis]

natalie-slater​:

Natalie had never put together a gallery showing, but she thought it would be a fun challenge.  That was the excuse she was using for wandering around the art museum if anyone asked.  Not that anyone would, because art was amazing.  It was an acceptable interest people didn’t have to answer questions for.  Other things, like maybe axe throwing in a bar, those were more up for debate or requiring some qualification. 

“Maybe, but I think trolling would be half the fun,” she admitted when posed a question.  “If I had any kind of artistic talent, I would definitely haunt my own gallery.”   She shrugged.  “I’m sure there was insurance for it. Or, you know, there’s the possibility it was an improvement.” 

...

“Yeah, I have to admit I would want to know what’s being said,” she laughed at the woman's words. “It would be funny to say something so offhand and see how they react, I’m not sure I could keep a straight face.” That was one of her downfalls, anytime she tried pranking or playing a joke on someone she would laugh. “Maybe for some, they don’t even want us to say anything,” she contemplated. With her photos she didn’t expect people to always have something profound to say.

“Good point, I forget about insurance. I think I was more upset about messing up something someone worked hard on,” then she laughed at what was said last. “It was just a statue of a dog sitting in an awkward position, so no Mona Lisa.”

[maleelewis]

where: seattle art museuem

open: @seattlehqs-starters​

One of Malee’s goals in life was to have her photos featured in a big art show and know what it feels like. Not for the praise or to show off but because it’s always been one of her dreams. Sneaking and hearing what people have to say about her work would be kind of cool as well. Somehow she always ended up at a museum, sometimes not even focusing on anything. “I know arts all about interpretation of the individual but I wonder if the people behind the work ever here people interpret their stuff and hate it?” She wasn’t talking to anyone in particular, maybe even more so to herself. Even though she was kind of in the art world, she couldn’t always come up with interesting words to say about people's work. “I once broke something in an art show and never told anyone,” She still felt the guilt to that day.