1st roll, 2nd exposure | Video

[strangeandunusual]

[the feed shows a sunny spot in an alley, just outside the Gibson Girl. Lydia has borrowed one of their tables and set it with an assortment of snacks, fruit, a pile of napkins, a stack of glasses, and a pitcher of their amazing lemonade... but the clear focus of the shot is propped against the alley wall: a giant book that anyone from the Temple party of the Jungle mission will recognize as a retired but unusual tent. She's wearing black jeans with splatters of maroon spray paint, courtesy of her roommate's creativity, and a matching brocade top, with a large, full envelope in her hands. The envelope is 8x10, yellow slashed with red diagonal lines.]

Hi, everybody. I've met most of you, I think, but my name is Lydia Deetz, and I work at the camera shop when I'm not training. I take pictures when I'm out exploring, and when we have parties, and meetings ... pretty much all the time. My friend Fenton made this giant book with his magic as a mistake, but... I want to turn it into a big photo album for all of us, as a record of everything that happens. I have a lot of pictures already, from the first two months I've been here... And some of them are from the other night, so you're all here.

[she pats the envelope]

One of my favorite myths about photography is some people think it steals your soul. Not really, but... It helps keep a memory. And memories are part of our soul, so ... Maybe what it really does is make our souls stronger. If we're going to be doing a lot of fighting and exploring and repairing... We're going to need to be strong. So. Maybe this will help. I'm in the alley by the Gibson Girl, if you want to come and help... Or even if you want to just look at the pictures. Once all the pictures are in, I'll keep it in the lobby of the apartments until I get more.

[an awkward pause as she realizes she has no clue how to end this]

Um. Hope to see some of you?

Comments

[strangeandunusual]

I see what you mean ... I do! I mean, I definitely learned the hard way not to trust everyone who says they'll help you. But... If she gets hurt and it's my fault for not going, I'd still feel awful, even if it meant she learned from it.

Anyway. ... If you really like that picture of him, go ahead and keep it. I have the negatives. I can print as many as I need to.

[strangeandunusual]

No, they owned the house before they died. But Adam's really great at handywork. He fixed all the damage Be-- a worse ghost did. ... A ghost butler sounds pretty great, though.

[woo_oo]

He is pretty great! Duckworth keeps the house tidy and does his best to keep Uncle Scrooge like him. He doesn't really get along with Granny, though. I don't know why.

[serpentinthegarden]

It's not 'learning not to trust some one who says they will help you' it's more 'learning not to be an idiot by placing yourself and others in danger'. She's too much... needs to lighten up some!

[ He would suggest a drink if she weren't underage.

The photo was given a long hard look before being swept into a pocket without any fanfare. He would keep it, thank you. ]

Been meaning to ask you about something. Chef who owns the candy shop has been thinking of running an ad campaign to drum up more business for Halloween. He would need some one to take some snaps for it, interested?

[originaldragoon]

As well as one can be while trying to adjust to living in a new world.

As for my roommate, Larry is nice though he is quite jumpy.

[strangeandunusual]

I'll give you that.

[the lightening up bit, anyway. and she smiles a little at the way he tries Not To Make A Thing out of taking the picture. okay, Crowley. sure thing. play it cool. his offer, however, is another thing entirely, and her face lights up in amazed disbelief.]

Really? You think he'd want me, and not someone from the Kingdom?

[big_top_boss]

Yeah, a big flashy one with those fancy frames and prints and stuff. Photographers are artists, and artists are celebrities. So you're gonna need a place that fits that kind of fabulous status, haha!

[Buggy believes in her skills.] So how about when I get a little more to my name, I'll buy some pictures off of you for the room I'm sharing with Ace. But you've gotta sign the backs, so I can prove you took them when you hit it big!

[strangeandunusual]

It's okay. Barbara and Adam don't get along with my step-mom either. ... I think my Dad's the only one who does.

[pause]

Scrooge, huh? You don't happen to have four other ghosts that show up around Christmas...?

[strangeandunusual]

He's adjusting, too. [she nods a little. poor nervous guy] Maybe if he talks to someone who's been here for a while, he'll feel better. I could come by and visit, if you think it might help? My Dad ... he's got anxiety issues, too. I know a lot of tricks to help stressed out people.

[strangeandunusual]

[is she blushing or just suddenly a normal human pallor? yeah. she's totally blushing. a lot.]

I don't know about a celebrity, but ... thank you so much! Of course I'll sign them. In fact - pick one now, your favorite. And you can have it for free. To thank you for promising to be my first customer.

[serpentinthegarden]

I don't see why not.

[ A small wave to the pictures on the table. ]

You haven't cut anyone's head off in these shots so you don't suck at photography...

[ It's a compliment really! ]

Be thinking billboards, Halloween, and candy. When you have come up with some ideas we can run them past Chef.

[mal_contented]

"..... No kidding? Guess I'll be doing that from now on then. I'm going to be patrolling anyway, so getting paid for it? I think I could live with that." [She grinned.] "And then getting paid to paint to blow off steam between missions? How long do you think before I could buy us that castle?"

[woo_oo]

Oh, no, we try not to celebrate Christmas around him, he really doesn't like it.

[strangeandunusual]

[between the way he took the photo and that backhanded compliment, she might just have his number. she's going to wait and see, but she has a sneaking suspicion he cares more than he lets on]

I'm not used to thinking in a scale that big for prints, but ... I'll definitely try! Can I come by later to look at things and get some ideas?

[strangeandunusual]

The whole .....?! Oh, geez. I don't know. It would depend on who you'd have to haggle with for it... and what the market is like here. Though, I mean... It needs a lot of work, but with our powers that's no problem. Loads of equity, sturdy craftsmanship ....

[she stopped, eyes wide, then laughed at herself, embarrassed]

Oh my God, I'm turning into my dad.

[strangeandunusual]

[talk about earning your name. Lydia kept the comment to herself though.]

I hope you at least get other holidays. Especially Halloween... You seem like you'd love it as much as I do.

[woo_oo]

[Shakes head no.]

Nope. Granny didn't want me leaving the house for a long time. Or having candy.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ A demon caring about human affairs, trying to inspire great works of art even if it is only for a billboard? Nah... ]

Shouldn't be a problem. Drop by around closing time and don't be afraid to think big. Ads are meant to gain attention.

I was wondering. XD But sokay; it happens.

[princess_weia]

[Leia shook her head.]

No, I think I know how to get there. And if I do get a little lost, I can ask somebody for directions.

[guitar_hero]

He tucks the letter and the picture into his pocket, pleased with it. He'll have to hold on to it, though he's not sure if he'll hang it up. It's still nice to have. She was a considerate girl and, more than that, he's glad that they're becoming friends.

"I mean, I've seen him. He's kind of hard to miss. I've got to wonder what shampoo he uses. I mean, he's a pirate, isn't he? But he looks like he can be in a Brita commercial." Or something like that.

"But why not a Gallery? All you'd need is a space to rent, right? I could be a patron." He's never been good with money and doesn't have a whole lot of needs and so has extra. "Or we could make one..." He taps his sonic against his jaw. "No law against magical construction, right?"

[mal_contented]

[She laughed a bit.] "If that's what sounding like your dad is like, seems like you lucked out with at least one parent." [Given she never ever wanted to sound like her dad? And probably never would?]

"I should find out who we would have to speak to. We might need a third person in on paying though. Not sure just two of us could afford it. Evie could, if she was here, but Evie's clients are also generally rich kids to start with."

[big_top_boss]

[She's such a good kid. He'd fist fight for her. She's the kind of person that he thinks will go far in the world, and she's also the kind of person that's helping Buggy to make better choices here. Between Lydia and Ace, he's got a real chance of finding his own strength and inner good, instead of relying on trickery to get things done.]

You sure? Of course you're sure, because you know that old Buggy will pay for the rest fabulously! I'm a man of my word! [Sometimes. But in this situation, he means it.] That one, that's gotta be it! [It's himself, of course. But he's just pleased by the picture in general. She really is talented.]

[originaldragoon]

Perhaps that could help. The man nearly jumped out his skin when he saw me.

[She wasn't that scary looking, was she?]

[strangeandunusual]

Then I really hope we have Halloween here! I need to make sure your very first one is the best.

[strangeandunusual]

Big. Got it.

[a few little Sparks are already going off at the back of her mind, and she's grinning]

Thanks, Crowley. This ... this is a big deal. A really big deal. I owe you one.