1st roll, 4th exposure | Text

[strangeandunusual]

Hi everyone, this is Lydia. Sorry for the giant group text, but I'm waiting on a batch of photos to develop and this is quicker, in case my timer goes off. The next full moon is coming soon, and I wanted to invite any of you who change on that day to come by and get your picture taken ... twice. Once before, and once during. That way if you need anyone to know that it's just you, you can hold up the pictures. No one has to, but I thought it might be helpful, especially for some of our newer Apprentices. I'll be here at the Photo Shop on Main Street until 5, and then I'm headed to the Gallery to hang these new prints.


[Locked to Merlin]

I keep meaning to ask you, but things keep happening. Why are some of the Apprentices disappearing? I miss Rosabella, and Buggy, and Janet, and Jack. And wasn't there a great big moth, too? What happened to them? Please tell me the Corrosion didn't get them.

Comments

[originaldragoon]

That actually sounds like a very good idea.

[strangeandunusual]

Thanks, Rose. I'd hate for anyone to be afraid of someone for something they couldn't help. How are you doing?

[originaldragoon]

I am doing well enough. Though here is hoping that this Full Moon will be a normal one.

[strangeandunusual]

Yeah, that last one was pretty - [she laughs as she realizes this is such a bad pun, but there's no other way to put it that's coming to mind] - wild.

I kept going to push my hair behind my ears and forgetting that my ears were on top of my head. But I could hear everything.

[originaldragoon]

"Wild" is a good way of putting it. 4

At least you only had the ears. I was completely covered in fur. At least I was not cold like a couple of Full Moons back.

[abys_keeper]

[Keeper is drifting by the shop, aimlessly floating along in his bubble. But he spots her eating her lunch and watches her with interest ]

What's that?

[strangeandunusual]

This?

[she holds it up for inspection]

It's a ham and cheese sandwich. My lunch. What's your name?

[abys_keeper]

It's dead food. [a frown. But he reaches out a tentative tendril and takes a taste anyway. Then shudders all over]

Disgusting.

[but then he smiles]

I am from the crushing deep in the ancient bloom where we hear the songs of mother sea and try to sing back. But I followed a different song to Aby and now I am the keeper of their moments and memories and sing alone now since their song has ended.

[they would like it here though, he thought. And would sit and eat the dead food and be happy]

So I've named me Keeper

[strangeandunusual]

Wow, that sounds beautiful and awesome. I'm only from Connecticut, where we hear the sounds of bland suburbia and try to bottle up our feelings so we don't disturb the status quo.

[you're lucky she loves the strange and unusual, dude!]

Their song ---- oh. Oh. You lost your friend Aby? I'm so sorry. What were they like?

[and she'll reach up and touch her choker as she speaks, sending out a silent request to the spiders. have any in the jungle caught anything that's still alive? not dead yet? maybe about the size of a human hand? she knows there are some big honkin' spiders out there, after all, and ... if he can only eat live things, he must be hungry]

[abys_keeper]

Conneeetikut... sublrblia [he tilts his head] It doesn't taste interesting? What's a status hole?

[he smiled]

Aby ... was beautiful. They helped everyone, even people who hated them. They were quick and clever and tasted better than anyone I've ever tasted. They could even make the bloom dance if they wanted with their song, so deep an ancient. They loved humans too and knew all about them! They collected so many human things. And when they talked about humans their whole face lit up with passion.

There will only ever be one Aby in the wide dark sea.

[serpentinthegarden]

Next the next full moon ought to be the new moon where everyone gets grumpy and out of sorts. I tend to sleep through those, no idea why.

[ Aziraphale's dream magic was a likely culprit but Crowley had no idea. ]

The one after that I'm locking myself away some where. Might not be a bad suggestion to pass around to all the other monsters too.

Private to Crowley

[strangeandunusual]

Locking yourself away? Is it really that bad????

Private to Crowley

[serpentinthegarden]

Has been, yeah. Nothing you need to worry about. I'll take care of it.

1/2

[strangeandunusual]

[and this is BEFORE all textual hel-- hea-- purgatory???? breaks loose, even]

I'm so sorry you have to deal with it at all. I didn't mean to imply you couldn't take care of it.

2/2

[strangeandunusual]

[there was a pause while she decided whether or not to say this next bit and then decided to hell with it, literally]

I don't care if you're actually a demon, you're still my friend, and that means I want you to be okay.

Re: 2/2

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Textual purgatory is oddly angel shaped. ]

Great we can all get together, hold hands, and sing kumbaya.

[ That's way to sweet for a demon. ]

All I'm saying is they should be warned how bad it can be. A picture might not be enough. What if one of them decides to take a piece out of you? That's a bad 'after' photo.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

You most certainly are not!!!

[serpentinthegarden]

[ That terrible moment when you realize this should have been made private one comment earlier. ]

Relax, angel. It's fine. I'll take care of it and you won't have to worry.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

You think you locking yourself away won't make me worry??!! That you would be alone when you need someone most??!! Do what you wish but I will be there with you!!!

[Locked to Lydia]

[higitus_figitus]

It has been rather...busy as of late.

[Merlin sighs, rubbing his head lightly.]

No, no, nothing such as that. This time at least. So far as I can tell, the Mirror either felt their job was completed or....well, Imagination can run short at times.

It is a bit more complex and from what Mr. Mercurial has explained, it may happen again or they may even be returned at some point.

However, the ones who have left have gone home. If that is any sort of consolation.

[Locked to end]

[strangeandunusual]

Complex? ...

[she frowns]

I understand that you and Blair have a lot to do, and we all appreciate it, because without you we'd totally be clueless? But ... I dunno, Merlin, this is the kind of thing that we should probably have known about, right?

[her teenager is showing. princess she may be, but she is still only sixteen and was not raised on Alderaan by diplomats like someone else]

How do you know they've gone home, anyway?

Re: [Locked to end]

[higitus_figitus]

I agree- I wish we had known about it as well. You must understand, my dear. Something of this caliber has never been done in the Magic Kingdoms. Even in Progress City.

[He rubs the bridge of his nose.]

There is no where else for them to go. Not at the moment.

[strangeandunusual]

So ... it's either here or home, if they're not here, they're there? I guess that makes sense.

[she sighs. the fact that he insinuated that they didn't know people could or would go home on their own bothers her a bit, but she doesn't have much choice but to let it go for now]

Thanks.

[she tries to sound sincere about that. it's not that easy.]

[strangeandunusual]

Hi bb. Think you meant to put this here? <3 <3 <3 <3