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'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?

[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.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Crowley raised a hand in quiet acknowledgement that he had heard her thanks but he started to wander off. He only inspired humans, now and then... like a side project he wasn't really meant to have, but he let them come up with the idea on their own. Wonderful creative creatures that they could be! ]

Don't mention it.

[strangeandunusual]

Mention what?

[she called after him, grinning. yeah, she definitely had his number. once she'd finished here, she'd have something to eat at the Cafe or the Tavern and draw up some sketches, then go by tomorrow to scope things out and pitch her ideas.

she arrives with a portfolio full of ideas and a brand new macro lens, which she borrowed from work on the proviso that she returned it in one piece]

Hey, Crowley! I brought those ideas you asked for.

[she spreads them out on the counter: sketches of candies photographed larger than life, trick photographed to dwarf the castle, the apartments, other landmarks on Main Street. Lettered beside each one are variations on Little Treats With Gigantic Flavor in the sort of sweeping, antique script all of the shops seem to favor]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Crowley stepped away from the counter not even bothering to look at the pictures until he had knocked on the glass partition drawing the attention the older gentleman with the chef's hat on the other side. ]

Oi, Chef! Something for you to see!

[ When he returned to the counter he leaned on the top and loomed over the photographs much like a vulture. ]

I like that one... something very Tokyo, giant monster attacking the city, that.

[ The Chef and owner gave Crowley a 'you poor thing' sort of smile as he approached but pointed out how lovely his Petit Four's looked giant sized. Also the slogan. Absolutely inspired it was! ]

[strangeandunusual]

I thought it would look fun on a billboard. Like you said: big.

[she's smiling, but glad for the huge pockets in her skirt, so she can tuck her hands in and hide how they're shaking. she's never done this before, after all, and tries to look confident and mature as she watches the chef]

What do you think, Monsieur? May I take some proper photos and do a few mock-ups for you? I wouldn't charge until the final proofs. This would all still be development work.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ The Chef was rubbing at his white moustache and pawing through the photographs. Picking out those ones he particularly liked and setting them aside in a pile. ]

My dear girl, you are as skilled as Crowley said you were!

[ The demon ducked, not taking any credit for that act of kindness. ]

Yes, yes! These are quite good! I do like these! But, I should tell you the advertisement campaign I had in mind was more for Halloween. It is our biggest season, right behind Christmas, and I was hoping to drum up even more business with a clever and hopefully spooky set of ads.

[ He chuckled and looked to Crowley. ]

He doesn't do spooky but, Ms. Lydia, I think you might? Please! Take all the photos you want... of the counters, the candy, the staff...

[ Crowley sneered but didn't say a word against it. ]

I should show you the set of treats I am preparing to roll out for October!

[ Off like a fairy he hurried back to his kitchen to put together a platter of the Halloween goodies he was thinking of adding to the menu. Crowley and Lydia were left briefly alone. ]

He gets really into his work... Seems to like yours too though.

[strangeandunusual]

Halloween?! Oh! Oh, I'd love to! I was just telling Webby earlier that I hoped the Kingdoms did something for Halloween, it's my favorite.

[she really does lift off the floor a little, her toes the only things touching as her Affinity glows a vibrant green, practically bursting with Sparks]

Crowley, this is the best day I've had since I got here. The absolute best. ... Don't worry. I won't tell anyone it was your idea. I can say it was the chef.

[he can be as sour as he wants about it. she'll allow it out of thanks]

[serpentinthegarden]

It was Chef. The advertisement campaign was his idea.

[ So he said as he took a step back from her 'glow' just so he could circle around behind her to see it from all angles. ]

I just put the right people together to get it done.

[ You're welcome.

Chef hurried back in about then with a tray filled with 'test' items, any or none of which could end up as next month's candy treats. Hitchhiking Ghost cookies and cream-filled chocolate puff, Worms and Dirt, Poison Apples, Creepy Marshmellows, and Candy Corn Shaped Rice Treats]

Here is the very first batch, my dear! I am considering adding a cookie, maybe even on a stick! I think the kids would like them, don't you?

[strangeandunusual]

[her jaw drops at the sight of them all, particularly those worm-and-dirt coffins. she'd seen dirt cakes before, but that one was spectacular. and the detail on the poison apples... her Spark is already up and running, and she beams]

I have a great idea for a stick cookie, a really spooky one!

[she turns her sketchbook to a clean page and sketches out a sandworm, curled up in a comfortable spiral around a stick, its twin mouths open. it might take a little fondant work on the head, but given the Chef's skills, she has a feeling he'd see it as a fun challenge. she glances up as she's drawing]

You know, I don't think I ever thanked you in person, but that dragon cake you made for our party was amazing. It was so pretty I almost didn't want to eat it ... but it was even more delicious than it was beautiful.

[serpentinthegarden]

The dragon cake? Ah yes! I'm glad it was so well liked. I had never been asked to make a dragon cake before, usually I get more requests for cute little puppy cakes.

[ The Chef leaned closer, a bit of a kid himself, he was trying to get a peek a her drawing before she completed it. It didn't work. He had to wait with Crowley until it was all done. ]

Two heads? And all those colors! You don't think it would be too scary?

[ This got a rise out of Crowley who had been quietly looking at the drawing up until then. ]

It's Halloween! People in creepy masks jumping out of the bushes to make kids scream... actual bugs in lollipops... horror movies on the tv all day... It's supposed to be scary!

You would think that, being a demon. What do you think, my dear, would that be too scary for the younger ones?

[strangeandunusual]

Crowley's right. [she says it without hesitation] I think they'll love it. Because - even if it is scary? It's a monster they can fight themselves, no Apprentices needed. Just bite those heads right off! Instant hero.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Chef considered this before deciding.. ]

I suppose it is rather cute after all.

[ Which sent the demon's eyes rolling. Look for them to be on the menu. ]

[strangeandunusual]

[well, she thought, you can't win 'em all. she'd just have to go bigger next time]

Great! Here, you can keep the sketch .... I'll take the samples and go take some pictures, if that's okay?

[she had a plan to do the photoshoot as visibly as possible: to get people interested in the treats as she was taking the pictures, too ... and give them twice as much to look forward to]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Hey, he was a man of gentle mind. It was probably why he had seen fit to give Crowley a chance at this job in the first place when he had... set his first few job attempts on fire. ]

Yes, yes, that is fine. Wander around the shop and take all the photographs you need. Crowley will help you if you need anything.

[ He meanwhile took up the drawing and absentmindedly started wandering off to the kitchen. ]

An hour or two and he will have the first batch of those cookies made up.

[strangeandunusual]

He really loves what he does.

[she watches him go with a wistful smile, dreaming of the gallery Twelve had pitched to her]

He's lucky. I hope that's me, someday. ... What about you?

[she picks up one of the white cardboard sheets used to separate layers of confections in boxes and uses it as a plain backdrop for the sweets so that she can work some double exposure magic later]

What would you do here, if you could do anything?

[serpentinthegarden]

[ By the time the question was asked Crowley had wandered over to take up residence on the nearest bench. With his feet propped up on the arm and laying where he really ought to have been sitting he didn't look like he was giving her question and thought at all, but he was. ]

Sweets are alright, can't see myself making a career out of it...

[ He finally settled on this as he didn't hate working for the Chef or tempting people to buy as much candy as they could physically carry but it wasn't a passion of his really. ]

Go up and cause some trouble, s'what I'm supposed to be doing, but there doesn't really seem to be any point to that here. There's no one to check up and make certain that I'm doing my job. But, I am good at causing trouble.

[ He huffed a sigh and gave the only real answer he could. ]

I dunno.

[ Other than spending as much time as possible with a certain Angel, which the kid really didn't need to know, he was drifting rather aimlessly... not at all sure what to do with himself now that he was under neither Heaven or Hell's thumb. ]

[strangeandunusual]

Trouble, huh?

[she kept at her work, but she was thinking the whole time, gears turning. sometimes trouble could be good.]

Well, the Corroded could sure use some trouble. ... But you mean, like, pranks and actual problems and stuff.

[the pumpkin-shaped sweet put her in mind of the jack-o-lantern she, Fenton, and Atem had encountered on their secret mission for Hades. she wasn't sure how much of it she could discuss, but... she could be vague]

Atem and I found a bunch of gamblers and really pretty shady people out by the edge of the jungle. Near the part of the map named after New Orleans. I bet they could use someone to give them trouble, too.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ He watched the ceiling as the girl spoke. Interesting things ceilings, especially this one as it was all done up in that gaudy early American style the rest of the candy shop was in. Huge moldings, red, white, and blue worked in. What this place really needed was a good modern designer but as that also wasn't a calling of his he figured the place would probably just stay as it was... overly done up for any holiday that wasn't the Fourth of July. ]

No, I don't mean pranks!

[ He hissed but actually from her point of view most the the things Crowley was most well known for would have seemed like pranks. ]

I mean... fomenting discord, trying to tarnish souls for the Master... There doesn't seem to be much point in that anymore. Satan isn't here, Hastur can't check up on me, Lord Beelzebub can't punish me for anything... Suddenly I have all this free time on my hands.

[ And no idea at all what to do with it! There was only the one bar and it was a pretty tame one. No night life, no reason to tempt anyone, what was a demon supposed to do here?
His lip curled like he had just smelled something gone off but he said...]

New Orleans? Now there is a city with a nightlife! Not like this apple pie and tea party town...

[ Whether he tempted anyone or decided to cause any trouble he might have to seek out that city. ]

[strangeandunusual]

[all that name-dropping caught her attention, and she turned away from her work to face him, eyes wide with awe]

Wow. So you've ...

[she'd never doubted he was a demon, but the extent of his demonic duties or standing had never exactly come up. she gave a breathy little laugh and a shake of her head]

No wonder you're so good at selling candy. That's got to be easy as breathing. Can I ask you something? I mean - I know people get tormented and stuff, that's easy enough but ... if someone's going to wind up that way anyway, what's the point in them selling their soul? How does that even work as a form of currency?

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Lydia's bright and awe filled eyes tugged him away from that less than interesting ceiling. Her reaction surprised him but it shouldn't have. He had never really been a name-dropper or spoken much about his work. On Earth there were always too many ears it made speaking openly too dangerous. But here where there was nothing that could touch him this was a source of awe? Weird kid. ]

People usually sell their souls in exchange for something they couldn't get any other way... you know the whole eternal youth, power, money... that sort of thing. Why? You thinking of trading down?

[strangeandunusual]

"Nonono, see, that part, I get." She shook her head, then scrunched up her face as she tried to figure out how to explain it so that her question made sense.

"What I mean is ... what's the value of it to you? Collectively. What do you even do with it? Is it just bragging rights, like saying you're the head of sales for the month?"