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 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...

[woo_oo]

Oh, sure! But I don't mind waiting! I've been trained in unarmed combat, like karate and most basic forms of martial arts.

[She clenches a fist and pumped arm. Fear her might.]

You can take your time, Mister Ragetti!

[strangeandunusual]

[Ragetti nods, only understanding 'unarmed combat' and thinking that martial art is something you do with whoever you marry, like painting things together at the wine and paint classes at the Red Wagon. he thinks Webby is a little young to be married, which is probably why he looks extremely confused]

If you're going to let him keep it a while, maybe we should take the pictures first. Or, we can wait! It's totally up to you.

[Lydia may be super stoked for those action shots, but she's also excited on Webby's behalf for that possible upgrade, so ... whatever her new friend decides is totally fine by her]

[woo_oo]

[Well, how long will weapon crafting take? She "hmmms" a bit... surely taking photos is the quicker option.]

Okay, we can do the photos first! Then Mister Ragetti can do his stuff!

[strangeandunusual]

Here you go then, little warrior! [Ragetti relinquishes the grapple gun very carefully, almost as though it just came from the forge, so as not to set it off indoors]

Okay, go on around the back and I'll meet you?

[Lydia gives her a bright grin and starts up the stairs to the roof access. from there, the view of the Kingdoms is incredible, and she resolves to take a few panoramic shots afterwards. first, though, she moves as close to the edge as she dares and peers out over, waiting for Webby]

[woo_oo]

See you later, Mister Ragetti!

[A nice wave, before heading out...

BANG!

She's fired the grappling hook, and it latches onto a roof corner. Webby begins climbing up, humming happily.]

Here I come~!

[strangeandunusual]

Lydia immediately starts taking pictures, the shutter clicking and the whir of the film spooling adding to the sounds of dynamic action. Below, the blacksmith is working on a piece, and by chance, a shower of sparks spews out into the backyard as Webby is climbing.

"Whoa!" Lydia beams, calling out to her as she climbs. "I think I just took the perfect shot!"

[woo_oo]

"Huh?"

Webby blinks, confused - she was climbing up to meet Lydia, and then she assumed the photo-taking would happen. She was oblivious to anything that happened down below with the sparkles.

"Wow, that was quick!"

[strangeandunusual]

"Yeah, I wanted one of you climbing and a couple of you on the roof, but - as you were climbing up just now, there was this big shower of sparks from the forge, and it came out behind you, and it looked really - well. Magical. And exciting!" The words 'epic' and 'badass' were not in her day-to-day lingo, but they fit just as well. "Like you were climbing up and away from something dangerous, and you were really happy about it instead of being freaked out. Just like a Warrior should be."

[woo_oo]

For a quick second, Webby seemed to tense at the word "magica-" before the "l" hit. Right. Of course. Magical No evil sorceresses here.

Cheerful as ever, Webby resumed the climb until she stood on the roof. "Yep, that sounds like me all right! I guess I had some good luck following me today!"

[strangeandunusual]

"You sure did." Lydia smiled. She'd caught the brief faltering, but had chalked it up to Webby almost losing her grip on the rope, or one foot hitting a slick spot on the wall, or something similarly climb-related. "You were right, you are really good at that. I've never climbed anything like that before, I'd be afraid I'd fall."

As she spoke, she set her camera up on the tripod for stationary shots, now that Webby wasn't in motion. "Is there a secret to it? Climbing well?"

[woo_oo]

"It's all abut footwork!" Webby proudly proclaimed, holding up her... bare webbed foot. Huh. "You dig in and you feel confident about that dig! Granny taught me how to do it."

Then, with a little shrug, "Of course, Granny taught me everything I know."

[strangeandunusual]

"Your grandma sounds really cool." She smiles, checking for the best angle to catch the light. "Was she an explorer when she was young, or something? .... I think it might be best if you stand over here. Then we get good light and the Castle behind you."

[woo_oo]

Webby obediently began to move.

"No, she was a secret agent. Now she's a housekeeper for the world's greatest explorer, Scrooge McDuck!"

[strangeandunusual]

"And he's the one you live with, with your friends, right? That must be so cool. Here, give me your best explorer pose!"

[woo_oo]

One knee, both fists out!

"Yep! He's the coolest! He's the richest person in the world, and he lets me go on adventures with him and his family!"

[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!"