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

Video

[woo_oo]

So, basically what you're asking is to take pictures of us? Or like selfies?

Video

[beancounter]

[He's extremely touched by her calling him a friend. He thinks of her as a good friend, too... but it's nice to hear it out loud.]

Hey Lydia. I'm glad you found a good use for that book. A giant photo album sounds like a fantastic idea! You need any help with anything? I can try to find a step-ladder, or at least bring down a chair to stand on.

[strangeandunusual]

If that's okay! If you don't want me to take your picture, I won't.

[strangeandunusual]

Fenton, hi! Yeah, a stool or a ladder would be great. Not all of us are as tall as Ace ... or have wings like Aziraphale and Crowley.

[she gives him a knowing wink]

[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?

[woo_oo]

No way, I love a good photo! Count me in!

[strangeandunusual]

Okay, great! I'm only a few blocks away from the apartments, if you want to come down! Just head toward the training grounds ... I'm in the alley past the ice cream parlor with the pink and white awning.

[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.

[woo_oo]

I'll be there in two shakes of a gryphon's tail!

[video]

[serpentinthegarden]

You are only using the good shots?

[Action]

[legacyofarose]

[Now that sounds like a fun idea, and Rosabella was more than happy to help. So she heads over as soon as she can.

She actually sees the book first, and can't help a small smile as the memories from that mission come back. Looking back on it now, it was kind of amusing, she had to admit, even if it hadn't been at the time. But it had certainly been an experience. Maybe Lydia had been on to something.

Soon enough, she spots the other girl, and waves as she heads over.]

Hey, Lydia!

and once she gets there....

[strangeandunusual]

Hi, Webby! ... Are there actually real gryphons where you're from?

[strangeandunusual]

[please. Lydia Deetz takes no bad shots]

Of course. You should come see for yourself when you get done at the candy store.

[strangeandunusual]

Rosabella, hi! I hoped you'd come. I don't have any pictures of the other parts of our first mission, so I was hoping people from the other teams would want to write some of their memories down on the jungle map.

[she's carefully transferred the map that she and Mal have compiled by sharing notes with a few other people, with the temple and the path of the river marked, as well as the location of the pitcher plant cliff, and any wrecked boats that have been explored]

[enhancomancer]

It steals souls?! I thought you could only give up your soul willingly! Or well, part of it. Unless you bargain with a demon. If it restores souls and memories, maybe it should be used for people missing part of their souls? Would it work on demons or would they be allergic?

Photography... Light landscapes? Maybe that's why people think it steals souls? It captures light's depths? They say souls do glow! That's why ghosts are like that.

Oh! I'm Ivy, by the way. [Curtsies!!] I look forward to seeing your art! [She's never seen a photograph before, so even though she was able to mentally break down the scientific [magic/mystical] process involved purely through words, she's only ever seen portraits done by art, and watched the magic tapestry illustrate history.]

[Video]

[big_top_boss]

[Buggy is posing already. But really, when he is not?] I'm in! I look extra flashy in photographs! I wanna see an artist's fabulous work too.

[Action]

[sass_queen]

Mothra was a little sadden that she failed a mission. She heard someone speak on the strange devices but decided to patrol a little instead of responding (she didn't know how go even if she did respond). Eventually she came upon Lydia and upon recongizing her from when she hatched, crawled up to her, glowing a little and letting out some warbles.

Everything okay, tiny human child?

[strangeandunusual]

Hi, Ivy. It doesn't actually take people's souls... People who didn't understand how it works just used to think so. I've taken pictures of a couple of demons here and they seem to be fine... But I like your thought about the ghosts.

[she gives that remark about restoration some serious thought. Princess magic is supposed to heal. could she truly use her camera for it? hmmm.]

You can come on over and see it whenever you want. I'll probably be here for a few hours before I bring it back to the apartment lobby.

[strangeandunusual]

[he makes her laugh, and she needs that, today. so he gets a smile of gratitude]

You sure do! I took a couple of really good ones of you at the welcome party. And I can show you the ones I took of Ace before you got here, too...

[strangeandunusual]

Lydia gave a slow gasp at Mothra's approach, the breath almost lighting her up. "You glow....! Wow. Every time I see you, you get prettier."

She looked so fuzzy, but Lydia knew that touching moths could be harmful if you weren't careful.

"Can I touch you? You look so soft. Here, look:"

She flipped through her stack of photos until she found the series of a hatchimng cocoon.

"You have birthday pictures."

[video] 1/2

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Everyone ends up with a 'thumb on the lens' shot at some time or other. ]

Yeah... maybe. If I have time.

[Action] 2/2

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Crowley sauntered Lydia's stand about an hour after the candy shop ha closed for the day, having taken the time to freshen up and grab a bite to eat before wandering over. He didn't bother to say hello, just walked right over and picked up one of the photos to give it a look. Some tourist giving the peace sign. ]

You're not going to put things like this in the book?

[woo_oo]

Yep! Dewey wanted to keep it as a pet, but it wasn't house-trained.

[And it probably tried to kill them. The glory of Noodle Incidents.]

he is mourning the loss of Merv in my head rn thx

[strangeandunusual]

Wow. That is so cool. Are any other monsters real? Like chimeras, or vampires? Mummies?

[enhancomancer]

I'm very fond of the castle Roogna ghosts, I didn't realize I'd miss them here! Whenever I stayed at Hugo's or Lacuna's, I knew I'd see the ghosts again in a day or two. And the zombies. Lacuna's dad is the zombie master, so their castle has even more zombies than ours! But there aren't any here, it's weird!

Thank you! Do you want help until then?