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]

No it isn't. [she winks] We're all in this together, see? I've been here a couple of months already, and everyone has been really supportive of each other. I'm not about to say we're all best friends... But when it comes to missions for Merlin, Hades, and Dreamfinder, we all know how to work together.

[woo_oo]

[I'd say it gets a smile out of her if she wasn't already smiling.]

It would be nice to make some new friends! I'm still learning how to do that.

[strangeandunusual]

Me, too. My only friends at home are the ghosts that live in our attic. But so far it's pretty easy, here. People either come up to you, or you can go up to them, and just ... everyone's so interesting that I usually just ask them what they're doing, and pretty soon we've been talking for a while. It's so much easier than at home.

[woo_oo]

Oh, are your ghosts butlers too? We just have the one... that I know of, anyway.

[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.

[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...?

[woo_oo]

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

[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.

[strangeandunusual]

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

[woo_oo]

Aw, thanks!

[She isn't sure it'll be the 'best', considering it might be without the boys/granny/etc, but she doesn't wanna kill that buzz.]

Makes me wish I could something for you...

[strangeandunusual]

[she's not sure it'd be the best without Adam and Barbara, either, so at least they're even in that regard. she misses her family, too]

I'm sure you can, Webby. You don't have to think of anything right away. Just surprise me with it when you do.

In the meantime, we should take a good portrait of you! What's your class? We can make it epic. Like a poster or a trading card.

[woo_oo]

Oh, I'm a Warrior! So you can show me defeating my enemies in battle as I make my legend known!

[strangeandunusual]

That's great! Do you have a weapon yet? If not, I have a dagger you can borrow for the picture.

[she knows that sometimes they give out the weapons at training, and that some others prefer to choose their own]

Or I can show you where the blacksmith is.

[woo_oo]

Oh, I got one! It's a grappling hook gun! It looks like the one I have back home, minus the carved initials and glitter.

[strangeandunusual]

That sounds really neat. And handy - when I was in the jungle there were a lot of high places that would have been useful in ... and I wasn't even in the group that went to the temple full of booby traps.

[she grins]

Do you have it with you?

[woo_oo]

[A little smirk, and she whips it out, twirling it about in her hands like a cheerleader with a baton.]

Ta-da! Perfect for booby traps, scaling evil headquarters, and jump rope.

[strangeandunusual]

Oooh, that's so neat!

[she beams, leaning down a little for a closer look]

Don't let Dreamfinder see, he'll want to take it apart. [she's only half joking] I wonder ... oh! There's a cobblestone building about a block from here that would be a great backdrop for some climbing shots...?

[woo_oo]

Climbing shots! What a great idea! Oh, I'm so excited now, I've never done this kind f thing before either!

[Now she's so upset she's bouncing on her heels!]

[strangeandunusual]

I wonder if they'll let me on the roof ...

[she's getting just as excited as Webby about this - the potential for some really amazing and dynamic shots is presenting itself, after all, and she's always wanted to get to play with her camera like this]

Come on, let's go find out!

[she pauses long enough to take a page from her thumbnail sketchbook and scribble: be right back! have fun scrapbooking! - L and put it on the table with the pictures in case anyone comes by while they're gone]

[woo_oo]

[Webby BOLTS - she is running as fast as her little feet can take her, while humming a sing-song tune.]

Photos, photos, going to take awesome photos~ Gunna be a warrior goddess~ Who slays all my enemies~!

[strangeandunusual]

[Lydia takes off after her, laughing, and takes a moment to pull herself together when they reach the building in question: an add-on to the blacksmith's shop where the actual selling takes place.]

I'm gonna go ask the owner if I can get up on the roof, but you should come see - they've got some really neat stuff in here for sale.

[it's got a low ceiling - the eaves up above are for storage of supplies and things, so it seems smaller inside. but the shopkeeper - as thin and expressive as the blacksmith is burly and silent - smiles when he sees Lydia]

Oh, Sylvando's friend, the Princess, hello! What can I do for you and your friend?

I'm taking pictures of all the new Apprentices, and Webby here is a Warrior ... I was hoping we could get a good action shot of her climbing something, and the outside of the shop is perfect. Would you mind if I went up on your roof for some shots?

Only if your new Warrior friend will let us take a look at her weapon. Perhaps we can design some things to make it better for use against the Corroded, no?

[woo_oo]

[At first, Webby doesn't hear anything being said, as she takes in all the wonders of the inside - but, ah, she's being addressed, isn't she?]

Oh, sure, go ahead!

[Because Webby trusts everyone automatically, she doesn't even hesitate to hold out her grappling hook gun.]

Hi, I'm Webby!

[strangeandunusual]

Hi Webby. [the attendant is a little grubby but looks as though he's trying very hard to put his best foot forward, working in a shop like a respectable person] I'm Ragetti. That's really somethin' you've got there!

[while he examines the grappling gun eagerly, Lydia looks around for the door which leads to the roof.]

Be careful, Ragetti, it could go off and hit something pretty fast. Like ... like a musket.

Oh, this thing here - yeah, wow. Uh. This is really complicated. I'd have to let the blacksmith look at it.

What about pictures? After I take the pictures of Webby, I can take some pictures of the gun. [she gives Webby an understanding smile] That way you won't be without it for long, in case you need it. It's pretty special, after all...