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]

Click! "Okay, another one! With the hook, this time ... Is he rich because of all the secret hidden treasures you guys find?"

It sounded like something out of a book, and she was absolutely enthralled, grinning as she kept the camera on Webby. "Give me like, I don't know, three or four more adventure poses, and when I develop them we can pick your favorite for the scrapbook!"

[woo_oo]

Pose! Pose! Pose! Pose!

"Sort of! You see, he's been trying to build his financial empire since he was my age. He has his hand in almost every business across the world! He invests, he builds, and he creates! But he doesn't go on adventures just for the money... he loves the thrill of being the one to discover hidden mysteries! Of seeing what has never been seen, of doing what has never been done!"

[strangeandunusual]

She kept up with Webby's movements easily, the tripod even scooting a little to help her get the best position. Sometimes having magic equipment worked just the way you wanted it to - maybe, she thought, Webby was right, and she had brought good luck with her that day. Maybe that was another way people's Sparks just happened to show up.

"Wow, that's impressive! ... My dad would probably really like him, though I think he'd be a little jealous. Dad's a real estate broker, and he's really good at what he does, he just ... gets stressed out really easily, so hidden mysteries aren't exactly good for his heart."

[woo_oo]

"That's okay - a lot of people are jealous of him!" It was just something that couldn't be helped.

"As long as he doesn't let that jealousy turn him into a super villain, it's all fine!"

[strangeandunusual]

"Being a super villain would be way too stressful for Dad, unless he was something really dumb like Equity Man." She laughed. "With a great big power tie instead of an emblem."

Pictures finished, she started to pack up the tripod and put it away in her camera bag - the Doctor had designed it so that it folded up into a black, innocuous bundle of not-dynamite. "This was a lot of fun, Webby. Thanks for letting me take all of those!"

[woo_oo]

Webby beamed, happy to have helped, and to have increased the bond of friendship! Hurrah!

"Thanks for taking them! We should do again, if I ever get more weapons or magic!"

[strangeandunusual]

"You bet. Come on, let's go drop off your gun, and then if you want to help me with the scrapbook, you can."

[woo_oo]

"Okay!" She bounced along after Lydia, easily agreeable. "What a great day!"