#getmyhandsdirty

[myinvisibelleworld]

Today I touched a squeegee in what feels like the first time in forever. Oh I've missed the sensation of #screenprinting #printmaking #colombia #type #design #ink #getmyhandsdirty #sweetsatisfaction #printinginmybasement (at Lowell, Massachusetts)

[ionicsurvivor]

Breaking the Rules - Megan & Mako

"This isn't right.""Oh, shh.  That's about the seventh time you've said that."Megan hands over the flashlight to her current partner in crime as she turns her attention to the latch.  Well, not really partner and not a horrible crime but the idea is still there.  Mako thins her lips as she shines the light on what Megan's doing.  She huffs when Megan groans, trying to rotate the latch open.  They're on the highest level of the Shatterdome and it's about one in the morning.  Mako thinks of telling Megan they should be doing their paperwork, reports and other duties but she knows what that response will be.She huffs again and Megan throws her a small glare.  Mako tucks the flashlight under her arm and steps forward to help.  Together, they finally open the door.  Mako runs through the doorway to the outside.  The keypad flashes and she puts in the security code so no alarms will sound.  She sighs out and Megan nudges her.  Mako turns to see what."Hey, look," she murmurs and Mako's eyes fall upon the nightsky.It seems to always be raining.  But tonight, there are stars.Mako eyes fall back to Megan and she's already looking at her with a grin.  "Told you it would be worth it." 

[riley-volkov]

Relaxation - Riley & Yancey

This had to be a dream. None of this could be real. And yet, it was.

Through the halls she was carried, fading in and out of consciousness, one name on her lips every time. “Yancy.”

Countless needles were poked through her skin, hooking her up to machines as her eyes were frozen on the ceiling above her, the stinging of new scars forming was the only thing she could feel.

"Vhere’s Yancy? Yancy?", she’d breathe out every few minutes, the nurses giving her a sad but proud look every time she did. "He’s alright hun, he’s alright."

The blood had stopped flowing from the holes in her body but her tears had not, Vanessa Gottlieb was there wiping them away every time they appeared. Riley and Yancy had closed the breach. It was over.

"Don’t touch me! Where is she?" A few hours later Yancy stumbled in despite the protest of the other doctors. He shook their hands off, desperate to see her face.

“Hey Princess, we did it.”

Slowly her eyes pulled to him, the corners of her lips pulling upward as fresh tears appeared. He was safe, he was alive, and they were together. “Let’s get you out of here yeah?”

With Vanessa’s help Riley was soon cradled in Yancy’s arms, her fingers twisting in his shirt as he carried her through the halls and to their room. The sheets felt warm against her chilled skin, soft against his rough skin, their bodies broken but pressed together under the blankets, their hearts thudding softly in sync.

It was strangely quiet that night, instead of partying and celebrating, most of the people in the Shatterdome where doing exactly what Yancy and Riley were, holding on to those they had and grieving over those they lost.

Riley couldn’t tell you how long they laid there, how many days and nights passed, but she spent each of them cradled against his chest, his fingers tracing the stitches and scars that littered her body and when she was conscious enough Riley did the same to him. It was the first time they both felt relaxed in years, and they had no desire to end that anytime soon.

They were tired people, the years and hardships of war wearing down their minds and sanity. They were broken people, but they found the missing pieces in each other, and with time they would be whole again.

[marshallherculeshansen-blog]

Broken Pieces - Herc & Megan

"Damn it!" Megan’s voice rang through the house as she looked down at the broken vase. It had belonged to Ang and now it laid in pieces across her kitchen floor. She hadn’t realized it was so close to the edge of the sink when she was fixing the flowers Herc had brought until her elbow had knocked it off the counter. 

Megan didn’t cry over much, but for some reason, looking down at the broken vase, she felt like she’d taken a bit of Ang away from Herc and Chuck.

Herc heard the crash and came rushing into the kitchen. Chuck and Jack we’re out getting dinner while he and Megan were waiting, a suprise visit from grandpa in order for the toddler. He looked down and swallowed, realizing what she’d knocked over. Megan saw his face and gasped.

"Herc I am so sorry!” she said quickly, already getting down to clean it up. But Herc just shook his head and moved, kneeling down to help her pick up the bigger pieces.

"Shhh Megan, it’s ok…don’t worry." He tries to soothe her but she interrupts him. "I broke her vase! I broke it and it was the only one I have from her and now it’s gone and I can’t glue it back together!" 

Herc reached out and gently cupped her cheek, making her look up at him. “It’s alright. It really is. It’s just a vase. I’ll bring you something else next weekend ok?” He keeps his eyes on hers until she nods. “Good.”

He cleans up the broken pieces with her help, throwing them away. He’d gotten Ang flowers a few months after Chuck was born and she’d gone back to work and had them sent to her in the dark blue vase, her favorite color, filled with bright yellow roses and sunflowers. He’d had it delivered to her office, knowing she’d show it off to all her girl friends there. She’d saved every vase from every batch until he’d finally just started sending her batches of flowers, telling her they didn’t have room in the house for more vases.

Herc finished and gave Megan a small smile. “It’s ok Megan, really. It was just a vase.”

[marshallherculeshansen-blog]

Rubber Duck

"Megan goddamn it, who's fucking idea was this!" But Megan is too busy laughing, pushing Herc into the big communal showers. He's covered head to toe in mud, but no paint. He didn't know who to blame for the idea of having a paint ball tournament at the 'Dome, but it had turned ugly quickly. Herc had been named a team captain and ended up in the mud, crawling through it to get to the other teams flag. But he'd been successful, Megan giving him backup. She had one big paint splatter up her shoulder and neck from getting hit lose to the end, defending Herc as they maid their way to the flag. 

Megan's laughing again though, her own mud covered face split wide with a grin as she turned the shower on over their heads. More of the team came streaming in, in various forms of camo and gear, some half undressed already as they washed paint and mud off. 

But Herc just smiled down at Megan, the water running over his face, the mud slowly coming off to reveal his own large smile, a red flag still clasped in his hand. 

[marshallherculeshansen-blog]

Easy Going Day

Herc kicked his feet up, looking out over the beach. Chuck had begged him for a vacation and after their latest Kaiju kill, the PPDC had agreed, giving all of Striker's crew a three week break. Chuck had somehow managed to convince Megan to come with them also.

And right now, they were sitting on a beach, drinking beer (Megan's favorite Aussie brand), their toes in the sand. Megan was scowling as Chuck tried to teach Max to fetch a frisbee, a few other crew members laughing and encouraging the dog.

Herc looked over at Megan and gave her a smile. It felt good to get out of the 'dome, come to a private beach that wasn't contaminated with Kaiju blue and just relax, not have to worry about a Kaiju attack. Megan held out a new beer for him and he smiled, nodding his thanks when he took it and opened it. Sometimes, even the big bad 2IC needed a day at the beach.