first roll, first exposure

[strangeandunusual]

[the morning of the 18th, before Aziraphale's little "miracle", the mirror turns on to show Lydia, sitting outside on the balcony of the apartment she shares with Mal. those who met her at the arrival ceremonies saw her with her hair down, but today she's pulled it up into a wild, riotous ponytail like a gothic palm tree]

Um, good morning. I'm Lydia, and I've never used anything like this before. Mal says it's like a "smart phone", but I'd never heard of that, so bear with me.

[there's an awkward pause. the morning breeze ruffles her hair and the black poncho she's wearing. which she may or may not have made out of one of her spare bedsheets because she didn't want to wear the same thing two days in a row.]

Anyway. The Dreamfinder, he said we have to get jobs in order to buy stuff. I know there's a decent amount of food in my kitchen, but we're gonna eat through what I know how to cook, pretty fast. So I'm going job hunting. If anyone wants to join me, I'll be downstairs in like, half an hour? I just need to finish my cereal and brush my teeth. Or you can meet me here at room 3A. Just knock first.

Comments

[beancounter]

Hi Lydia, I'm Fenton. I've never heard of a smart phone, either. [He gets a confused look on his face.] How can a phone be smart? For that matter, how can a phone be dumb? It's just a phone... ...unless Gyro's been tampering with it... [He blinked and shook his head to clear it.]

[Oh yeah. Job hunting. He wasn't looking forward to it - who did? - but it seemed there was little choice here. (Come on, Fenton Crackshell... you can do this! You got a job working for the richest duck in the world, after all! This should be a piece of cake!) Internal pep talk over with, he straighted up and offered Lydia a wide smile.]

That sounds like a great idea! I'll be downstairs in the lobby in half an hour!

[strangeandunusual]

[OH, it's the duck! the sight of him startles her a little, but to her credit, she recovers easily. The Doctor had told her not to judge anyone on appearances, and reminded her that he probably wasn't used to humans either. she listened to him ramble, then shrugged]

I'm not really sure. I think she said it had something to do with computers, but that doesn't make any sense, either, because you can't put a computer in a phone. It's just a phone.

[thank goodness they're both from the 80s, okay? once he completes his pep talk, she grins.]

Great, I'll see you then.

[she closes the mirror and sets it off to the side, leaving it cracked a little so she'll hear anyone else but won't treat them to the weirdness of having to watch or listen to her eat her cereal. once she's finished, she cleans up and heads downstairs]

[beancounter]

[Fenton scratches his head in confusion.] Well... I've heard of hooking up phones to computers. Tried to do some of that new "computer banking" stuff but, ahh... it didn't go well. [To put it mildly.] But I've never heard of a computer in a phone. [Yes. Hooray for at least someone to understand what the other is talking about! At least tech-wise. Late 80s/early 90s unite!]

[She'll find Fenton down in the lobby, bouncing slightly up and down on his webbed feet anxiously. He stops once he catches sight of her.] Heya! So... what sort of jobs are you looking to get? What do you think's even available, here?

[strangeandunusual]

At least it's not just me. She showed it to me, though, and here's the thing. It doesn't look like a computer OR a phone, it's just tiny! I can tell you more about it later. I should probably finish my cereal before it gets soggy. See you soon!

[and so she does! she smiles when she realizes he's nervous too - it helps.]

Well, I was supposed to look for a summer job back home, before I even got here, so ... I guess anything like that? There was a Ben Franklin off our Main Street and I was going to try and work at the fabric counter, so I could maybe get a discount ... but I don't know if there's anything like that, here. Maybe if we walk up and down we can see what people need for help? What about you? You mentioned banking.

[beancounter]

Sounds interesting! I look forward to hearing about it.

[Fenton smiled back and walked out of the apartment building with Lydia, stepping out onto Main Street.] I'm afraid I don't know what sort of a store Ben Franklin was. Checking out what stores are here certainly shouldn't hurt. [He nodded at the question.] I'm an accountant back home. I'm really, really good at counting things. If you need stuff enumerated, I'm your man!

[That prompted a thought in his mind, and he rifled through his pockets for a moment before pulling out his wallet, checking it with a small frown before putting it back.] We probably should stop at the bank, too, while we're here. Get our money changed over to whatever they use here, and start up an account. I've only got twenty bucks on me. Do you have any money on you?

[He tapped his bill in thought.] Should probably look into getting things for practicing our magic, as well. You need wands to cast magic, right? [That's just how it went in his mind, at least.]

[strangeandunusual]

It's that kind of store that has a little bit of everything. Like this place.

[she pointed to the Emporium. Ben Franklin was a New England institution that fell somewhere between an Old West general store and a Wal-Mart ... with a really awesome craft section. she'd fallen in love with it immediately.]

I don't really have any money on me. I've never even had a bank account. I only really ever had allowance, and I kept that in my jewelry box. I've never really cast magic before, either. Well, except for one incantation, but that was ... I had to.

[beancounter]

[Fenton looked over in the direction she was pointing, and nodded.] Ohh.. okay, I see. A sort of "everything-and-the-kitchen-sink" kinda deal, huh?

[Fenton blinked, then scratched the back of his neck. Okay. The lack of money or bank account hit a spot close to home to Fenton, as things had improved for him only recently, relatively speaking. She also was apparantly younger than he was from the sound of it; it was a little difficult for him to accurately gauge the age of humans, being so new to them. Her pause held a lot of weight behind it, too. Fenton distracted himself by pulling out his wallet again, opening it up. Two fives and a ten. He paused, then pulled out the ten-dollar bill and held it out to Lydia. She'd find it very close to the American ten-dollar-bill she's familiar with... only with a duck-version of Hamilton on the front.]

Here. I don't know how much this amounts to in this place, but... hopefully it'll be enough to start an account, or get you a few items before you find a job. ... You could skip the bank and do the tried-and-true under-the-mattress option. Or the jewelry box, in your case. [He said that with a sheepish chuckle.]

...A rough moment? [Fenton asked this quietly, a little nervous to breach the topic. He didn't want to stir up any bad memories.]

[strangeandunusual]

I ... Oh!

[she gaped at his offering, eyes wide, then shook her head]

Fenton, I ... that's a lot. Are you sure? I have enough food until I get paid, I'll be okay. Keep it and we can do something together when we both have money. Something fun. Besides. Banks always make you wait, and while we're waiting, I can tell you how I learned about magic. Deal?

[beancounter]

[The corners of Fenton's mouth/beak turned down a little, nervous and unsure, and he fumbled with his wallet.] Ahh... well... Would you at least take the five? You never know if you might need to buy something, before you find a job.

[He then offered her a small smile.] Both those ideas sound great. If you're really okay with this...? You sure you don't need any money?

[guitar_hero]

Good morning, Lydia!

[he is in the kitchen and looking quite happy as he sits on the counter, legs dangling]

Do you want me to bring down some coffee? I've made a whole pot. [and the other two aren't awake yet so it's probably not a good idea to drink it all himself]

[strangeandunusual]

Hi, Doctor. If there's milk and sugar to go in it, sure. I don't drink it that often, but I don't want it to go to waste.

[guitar_hero]

I can bring some down if you don't have any. Right now it's black as pitch. [he takes a sip from a mug that has a mustache doodled on it] Gross. [but he's grinning]

[strangeandunusual]

[she giggles at the moustache, because it's ridiculous and yet somehow still legitimately funny.]

We've got milk and sugar here, yeah.

[she lifts up her bowl so he can see. cereal, see? milk is involved. it's also cereal shaped like stars and little mouse heads for some reason. hmmm]

I've never had this kind, but it's pretty good. Like someone stuffed Frosted Flakes and Cheerios into the same box.

[guitar_hero]

That sounds wonderful. We'll make an even exchange then? A cup of coffee for a bowl of cereal? [he would probably have second breakfast when the other two woke, but he had a fast metabolism and could handle it]

I'll be there in a second.

[it's actually more like a few minutes but when he knocks on the door, he comes bearing a gift! Namely another mustachioed mug, this one where the ends of the 'stache curled up and in to give it a dapper flare. Oh, and of course the pot of coffee. This makes it very difficult to knock, but somehow he manages]

[strangeandunusual]

Done deal.

[she hops down and comes in off the balcony to let him in. they've already had as much of a makeover as two teenaged girls can give an apartment: all the curtains and blinds are closed, and Mal has spraypainted the walls with black and purple designs.]

That smells really good. Come on out to the balcony? I'll get you a bowl.

[Mal might still be asleep, she might be in the shower, who knows ... but Lydia isn't making a big deal out of it. her new friends are all going to meet her roommate eventually. it's a small world, after all]

[guitar_hero]

On my way. [he heads out to the balcony, noting several things as he does, and settles the coffee on a ready table. It's a pretty nice view, they've got. A pretty beautiful day too. It all seems somewhat familiar but in a way he can't quite place. Like a loose thread he can't grasp sufficiently enough to pull out.

Anyway, he waits, enjoying the pleasantness and smiles at Lydia when she returns] I see you've done some redecorating.

[strangeandunusual]

"We did what we could. I really want to get new curtains though, and a camera so I can take some pictures and put them up."

She sets a bowl of cereal in front of him and slides back into her seat, going for the last of her own before it gets soggy. "Mal did the painting: she's pretty good, isn't she?"

He wouldn't be the Doctor if he didn't notice that the tips of her fingers are stained as deep purple as Smoke On The Water, all the way up to the first knuckle.

[video]

[ace_of_hearts]

Is job hunting anything like regular hunting?

[Anyone else, he wouldn't ask. But Lydia is the one person who consistently doesn't make him feel like an idiot, so he's allowing himself to be a perfect idiot with her.]

[strangeandunusual]

Ace, hi!

[the question makes her imagine a man in a khaki business suit and a pith helmet, a spear in hand with his resume carved into the wood]

I really don't think it is, not at all. I mean...maybe the being patient part?

[ace_of_hearts]

[Ace would get a huge kick out of that!]

There's no patience in hunting. [Not Ace style anyway.]

[strangeandunusual]

Oh. .. I guess you can tell I haven't hunted before. I did read this really great short story about a crazy hunter once, though!

[ace_of_hearts]

Yeah? How'd it go? And I'm not sure I'll get a job, but I'll help you hunt if you want company. And to keep any other hunters from taking your prey.

[Because that's how it works, right?]

[strangeandunusual]

It's about this American - from New York, actually - who's sailing to Africa to go hunting for elephants and rhinoceroses... Do you have those? They're big, dangerous animals. But on the way there he gets caught in a storm and shipwrecked on this place called Ship Trap Island.

[she pauses to eat some of her cereal]

[ace_of_hearts]

Yes. Although I don't think I ever ate one. Have had elephant. It's not that good. [Um yes, so Ace will eat pretty much every animal you can name. Also dragons. As you do.]

Ohhhh what happened next?

[strangeandunusual]

Where I'm from, people don't eat them, they just kill them for their tusks, which I think is pretty awful.

... But it turns out the island is owned by antother hunter named Zaroff, and he's such a good hunter that he doesn't think animals are a challenge anymore.

[she drops her voice into her best campfire tale register]

So he made Ship Trap Island on purpose, to hunt the people who washed up there. Because he's convinced humans are the most clever animal. And he gives the American three days to survive.