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

[ace_of_hearts]

I can't get burned I--

[Gets the door, oh hey you!] I'm made of fire. Usually. Will be again soon.

[strangeandunusual]

Oh.

[she's not sure what to say to that first part, but... hi friendo]

What about groundskeepers? Like, garden work or fixing roofs and stuff? People who work outside a lot. You wouldn't need a shirt for that. Lots of summer workers don't. And with being on a pirate ship so much, being high up on a roof probably isn't anything for you.

[ace_of_hearts]

Oh yeah, I slept on roofs all the time!

[Takes her hand and marches along.] Not so good on the construction thing. I mean, better than Luffy, but a wild animal is better at it than Luffy.

[strangeandunusual]

[o-oh. holding hands is a thing? okay. she focuses on keeping up, since his legs are longer]

What about gardening? Mowing lawns. That's pretty easy. You just push the mower around all day and keep the lines straight.

[ace_of_hearts]

I guess so... [Glances around.] Is that a thing around here?

[strangeandunusual]

I don't know, but we'll find you something, no matter what. I don't want you going hungry or without anything important

[ace_of_hearts]

I'll starve if I don't get a job?!

[guitar_hero]

"Usually exorcism is the good end. But on the other hand, no use kicking ghosts out of their own house if they can get along." He taps his spoon thoughtfully against his lips. "I wonder why not. Might be a dimensional gateway. Or where they keep hidden treasure." He wiggles his fingers.

[strangeandunusual]

I don't think they'd let you starve, no. But ... food would definitely be easier to get. I know that little book says some places give you free food ... but I don't know if you'd be able to live off it.

Seriously, though, Ace, what do you have against work?

[strangeandunusual]

"It's the good ending for bad ghosts," she corrected him tactfully, much the same way he'd straightened her out about Fenton. "I think it's the gateway, honestly. They said we really shouldn't let everyone know ghosts are real, or they'd get in trouble."

[ace_of_hearts]

I was raised by bandits, I have narcolepsy, and I hate shirts.

It's more like jobs have a thing against me. I don't mind working. I was a commander in Pops' crew, and a captain, and I've been a hunter since I could walk and hold a knife. I just have a thing against city's idea of work. I can still fix up junk. That's how everyone eked a living in Trash Mountain. Fix up and repair old junk and sell it back to berks in the city. But it doesn't seem doable here.

[strangeandunusual]

[how matter-of-fact he is about it just makes her giggle, and she instantly ducks her head]

Sorry! It's just ... the way you said it that was funny. And I'm sorry I misjudged you. You're right, that is good work. Maybe once we've proven that we're decent people, you know, gotten rid of some of the Corruption, you can start your own business fixing stuff to people! You could call it No Shirt, No Snooze, No Problem or something.

[you think she's punny now just wait for the canon update]

[beancounter]

[He smiled as she took the money, tucking his wallet back into his jacket pocket.] Sounds fair enough. And I'm not too sure. I thought we'd just wander up and down the street, and see where everything is. Maybe we'll even find some job advertisements, or something!

[And what do you know... they find just that, on a board outside of City Hall! Fenton stops in front of it, and starts scanning the listings.] Hoo hoo! I'm in luck! Looks like they mayor's looking for an accountant! See anything that calls out to you, Lydia?

[guitar_hero]

"Interesting. No letting go and going into the light? No reincarnation?" Hanging around incorporeally just seems like it would get old and sad very fast. "I wonder why. People believe in them regardless. And who would they get in trouble with?" Not that he expects an answer, but it's always worthwhile to ask the question.

[strangeandunusual]

That's great, Fenton! I hope he hires you. I don't see any reason why he wouldn't, you seem really smart when it comes to money.

[she squints at the board, more out of concentration than necessity, until her eyes widen and she gasps with delight]

There's a camera shop by the train station! And they're hiring, too! It's just a cashier, but... Maybe they might need help in the darkroom if it gets busy.

[strangeandunusual]

"There's a Neitherworld, where the ghosts live, but they have to haunt places for a while before they can move on and go there. I'm not even supposed to know that, but I guess dead people have authorities, just like the living."

She shrugged. "The Handbook said the waiting period was so that they could keep up with expansion and dimensional resource demand. And then there was a lot of talk about paperwork. It was pretty boring. Adam said being dead is like being alive, but with more paperwork."

[guitar_hero]

"That sounds absolutely hideous." Who would want to die only for there to be a million rules. "You're supposed to rest in peace, you know. Free from the constraints of the mortal world. What's the point of dying if you're going to end up right back to where you started?"

[strangeandunusual]

"I didn't even think of it that way." She frowned, then lifted her bowl, now devoid of cereal, and drank the sugar-infused milk that remained. "They must be able to rest, though. I mean ... if we hadn't moved into their house, that would have been pretty peaceful for them. All they ever really seemed to need was their house and each other."

She sounded wistful - maybe a little jealous.

"Anyway, I hope there are places that'll hire me. I've never actually had a job before."

[guitar_hero]

"That's a nice kind of love, isn't it?" He sounds a little wistful himself. Even though he's sort of got that. He has his TARDiS, and really that's all he needs. A home and a heart all at once. He misses her sometimes. Especially now.

"Oh I'm sure there's somewhere. If you need I can pose as your older brother and convince them to let you on. They'd never buy me as a dad."

[strangeandunusual]

That made her laugh, but she was smart enough to know she probably shouldn't make the grandfather jab. Instead, she licked her spoon clean and pointed it at him. "I'll give you one even better: you can be my super cool uncle."

[guitar_hero]

"You've got it." Finger guns. "One super cool uncle just as ordered." And then, he holds out his hand. "Brofist?"

[strangeandunusual]

She's more of a high five girl, but she'll give him one. "Totally. So what kind of job are you going to get?"

Once he finishes his breakfast, that is. Then they're totally taking this coffee to go.

[beancounter]

[Fenton had been about to puff up a little with pride, to boost his own confidence... when Lydia's honest confidence in him both startled him, and humbled him... and just just ducked his shoulders and blushed instead.] Aww... thank you, Lydia. I'm just really good with numbers, that's all. Mr. McDuck's the one that's really smart when it comes to all things money.

And hey! That's great! It'll get your foot in the door, at least. And then I'm sure they'll let you help out in the darkroom! You're into photography, then?

[strangeandunusual]

Hey, good with numbers is what accounting is, right? You'll be great.

I've been taking pictures since I was in 4th grade. We were visiting my Aunt Zelda's farm, and she let me play with a Polaroid she won at the fair ... by the time we left I'd fallen in love so much that she let me keep it. I had two cameras at home - that one, and one my parents got me for Christmas later that year. ... I'd love to have one here, so I can take pictures of everything we find. Even ... maybe a field guide to all the Corroded monsters so people know what to expect.

[guitar_hero]

He's just about done actually. He's a bit of a sneaky eater.

"Don't know. Something that'll keep me occupied. Too bad adventurer doesn't pay well."