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

[beancounter]

[For a second, Fenton has a deer-in-headlights grin on his face. Because he could be as tall as Ace, or fly like Aziraphale or Crowley could. Only he couldn't. Not yet. He didn't know if he ever could be, again, but he hadn't tried again, yet... so who knew, really... But now he was confused and second-guessing as to what that knowing wink could mean. There was no way that she knew about the Gizmosuit, could she? No, no... that was impossible. No one here knew about it, he hadn't told anyone. So, what did that wink mean, then...?]

[He was over-thinking things and he knew it, and Fenton snapped out of that brief moment of panic to laugh, albeit juuuuust slightly nervously.] Ah hah... yeah! It's a little hard for us little people... You hold up, I'll be right down!

[Rummaging through the apartment, Fenton does manage to find a small folding step-stool tucked away in the broom closet, and carries it out to where Lydia was with the huge book.] Found us a step-ladder! How are you going to organize this photo album?

[strangeandunusual]

[there he went again, being nervous. where some might get frustrated, it only made her more fond of him. when he showed up, she'd already started sorting her photos into piles at the base of the book, weighing them down with stones so the wind wouldn't blow them away. at the sight of him, she straightens and moves to give him a hug, stool and all]

You're the best. Thanks! ... I was thinking of leaving the first page blank so all the Apprentices can sign it, like a giant school yearbook. Other than that, I'd love ideas! It's everybody's book, not just mine.

[beancounter]

[Fenton blinks, startled at the sudden hug. He definitely hadn't been expecting that! It takes him a second, then he's hugging her back with his free arm, before setting the foot-stool down, propping it up against the wall.] You're the best, Lydia. Really! And that sounds like a really good idea. There's a lot of space for everyone, and anyone new that will come.

[He goes over to peer at the piles of photos, not wanting to mess up Lydia's piles any.] What sort of photos do you have, so far? Maybe we can have a page for each person, then the other pages for missions, or places?

[strangeandunusual]

"Oh, I've got a lot of stuff..." She lets him take his time and look at his own pace, in whatever way he wants. THere are pictures from the parties, from her missions with Mal and Ace and Atem, from the first trip where they went to rescue Dreamfinder, and some pictures that were simply taken because they were good photos in terms of light and composition: the pitcher plants that almost caught her, Rose, and Bananabread. The giant spider that grudgingly let Crowley go. A corrupted creature Atem detained so that she could heal it. And friends, so many friends, both candid shots and posed. He might recognize and remember a few pictures she took of him, but there are others - him deep in conversation with his roommate, on the street, as Two did some of his busking, is a particularly good one, because they're both just so pleased to be where they are.