01 | Video | un: ichimonji

[expertonshutters]

[The feed starts off in what looks like a small office. Hayato leans down, checking the Omni over to make sure it's working before he cracks a grin. Behind him, there's half a dozen lines of string with tons of photos clipped up and hanging.]

Good morning, Trench! Ichimonji Hayato, here. I'm a relatively recent arrival, so you may not know me, but I have something that may be of interest to the town.

[He scoots back in his chair, picking up the Omni, and carries it over to a string of photos.]

I'm a freelance photographer by trade, and I've been working my ass off trying to figure out how photo development works here. I've taken a lot of test photos, blown through my meager film rolls, but after a lot of trial and error, I think I've gotten something passable!

[He will start to pass the Omni along each of the photos hanging on the string. They're mostly photos of Trenchies or even Sleepers he might have flagged down for info on his first few weeks here. There's some architecture in the photos, but most of it is people.]

Using blood magic instead of chemicals has been kind of a learning curve! But I'm way too stubborn to give up, which is why I'm happy to say that the photos I was hired to take for Wu-san and Mako-san's wedding are all done! There were a lot of people in these photos, and I always keep my negatives, so while the first packet are for our newly weds, anyone who remembers me taking their photo is welcome to hit me up for copies!

[There is a pause and he moves to a completely different string of photos. These are not the wedding photos, those are private unless Wu and Mako give him permission to show them off, but instead these next photos are ...very different in theme. He begins to show off some photos of the base camp, just before the Leviathan attack.]

Moving along to my next project--

[His voice is a lot more somber now.]

Just before the Leviathan struck, I took a lot of photos around the base camp. Some of you might remember seeing me. That battle ...it was gruesome and terrible. It was hard won with a great deal of sacrifice, but I wanted to say that ...we did win, and everyone's hard work should be acknowledged and appreciated. The city was saved and the people who gave everything they had to protect it are heroes in every sense.

To that end, my goal with these photos was to show the city, to show everyone, the face of these hard working people. To see the spirit of those who came together to take down this threat. I have these photos up in my studio for anyone who'd like to come and see.

[After a moment the Omni returns to where it was first, sitting on his desk. Hayato's somber expression brightens up into something more cheerful, once again.]

That's about all of it, I think. Hope you all have a lovely day!

[The feed will end, but there is an attachment for a physical address and lamp location for his studio.]

[ooc: For both the Wuko Wedding photos and the Base Camp Leviathan photos, feel free to assume Hayato took your photo, even if we did not thread! (RL got hectic for me in the end) For the base camp photos, Hayato would have asked for consent to keep the photos, and he is open to taking anything down if someone changes their mind! The Leviathan photos are of base camp only. Nothing was taken once the fight started.]

[The thread is open to both Network responses and Action tags for visiting his studio!]

Comments

Video UN: 1stStrike

[strikefirster]

Dude-

That you've got some good shit in here.

You should come and take some pictures of my lessons and maybe some of my own training. That'll probably stir up some business for the dojo.

video

[expertonshutters]

Hahaha, I'm glad you think so!

Oh good, because I was thinking of asking you if you wanted any work done. I haven't taken any martial arts photos in a long time. How nostalgic.

[strikefirster]

I haven't really had a lot of pictures taken since I was in high school but one of my students back home said it would be good for advertising.

So let's do this. I know a guy who can make like skeletons and shit to fight while we do it. Give it the whole creepy horror city vibe.

video | un: perell

[frogiturgy]

This is all your handiwork?

Impressive!

[And he wasn't just saying that-- truly, Perell was impressed.]

How did you manage to get the blood magic to work in place of the chemicals you usually use? It doesn't look like it would have been easy to recreate.

video | un: ichimonji

[expertonshutters]

[A grin!]

Thanks! Not bad from starting over from scratch, huh?

[He'll take the praise, honestly. He's been flying by the seat of his pants trying to figure this stuff out.]

To put it as simply, I had to basically toss out everything I knew about the process from home. The materials aren't a one-to-one translation, and I had to relearn a lot of tricks. I felt like an amateur again, let me tell you.

[frogiturgy]

Hah. You're not the only one.

[Perell grinned back, glad to have found a commonality here.]

Even if something looks the same on the outside, everything is completely different once you get below the surface. The materials, the equations, even the theory in some cases. That applies to everything. Cooking, medicine, thaumaturgic practice....

Audio: UN - CentaursTesticle

[alternia_strength]

[So, the good news was that Equius wasn't subjecting him to text. His was awful after all. He spoke in a low growl that sounded like rumbling, grating rocks. Not really angry, just always a little growly.]

You have had success in producing the development process then? Excellent. I suspect it will serve as a morale boost of some sort of the majority.

Do you have any need of equipment at this time? I might be able to procure with accurate descriptions.

Re: Audio: UN - CentaursTesticle

[expertonshutters]

[Fascinating. He's used to how varied and interesting the people tended to be here, so it does nothing but just make him curious.]

That was my hope, anyway. And so people can see the faces of those who worked so hard to keep the city safe.

[Oh, equipment. That's a good question actually.]

I'm in pretty dire need of a camera tripod. Is something like that in your wheelhouse?

Re: Audio: UN - CentaursTesticle

[alternia_strength]

There is no need to witness my visage. I am perfectly fine with background labor. I find public scrutiny is rarely suited to my personality.

[He was kind of an ass and he knew it.]

A three legged conveyance on which to mount the camera? Yes, I believe something of that sort can easily be constructed. But to ensure the housing is correct, I should see the camera itself before I draw this.

[which wasn't to say before he drew the plans. He kind of drew things into existence. Blood powers were weird.]

video; un: scifo

[thinkfirst]

[ Flynn has so many questions—is that what that device was for, what else does it do—but they are subsumed beneath a wave of guilt at those reverent words.

He doesn't feel like a hero. He doesn't really feel like they won, though of course they did. Is it still a victory at so great a cost? Is it something to be celebrated and thanked for, to be called a hero for?

That's a question no one can really answer, and after the trouble Hayato went through to get these photos and turn them into reality, Flynn won't subject him to it. Still, he's shadowed by all that shame when he turns on the Omni, no matter the small polite smile on his face. It lurks under his eyes, in the tightness of his lips, in the odd ring-bruises lining his throat and the dark squid pretty clearly wrapped around his shoulder, clinging to him for support. He's not even wearing his armor. ]

The true heroes of that battle are the ones who gave their lives in service of protecting the city.

[ Flynn hesitates, very visibly, reaching up to smooth a hand along one of the clinging squid's dark tentacles. ]

There was a dark-haired man at the camp. Yuri. Did you happen to capture him, or Paul? And, is there any way to repay you for putting this together? I've never seen anything like it. I would be honored to visit.

video | un: ichimonji

[expertonshutters]

[It is still wild to him that this place has so many people that have never seen or heard of a camera. Maybe one day he will hold a class.]

[In any case, he recognizes this gentleman as their captain from before. He actually has a very good photo of him just moments before the fight. However, the state he is in, the squid on his shoulder. Hayato is a smart man, who fancies himself enough of a busybody to be able to read certain details, and there is a great deal he can glean from Flynn at this time.]

[He knows that look in his eye, if nothing else. He knows the look of a man who's seen a lot of loss. He understands it well. That playful tone of his is subdued and respectful when he responds to him.]

I agree that those people in particular deserve a great deal of honor, however I truly think that ...any person who made a step towards that monstrosity deserves the credit where it's due. Everyone, together, made it possible, and that includes you and I.

[Hayato offers him a kind smile before he pauses to think about his question.]

Paul ...Atreides-san? I've got pictures of him, definitely. As for this Yuri... [He frowns a little.]

"Dark-haired man" doesn't narrow things down for me very well, but- [He passes a glance to the squid.] I did take photos of a gentleman with long hair that I saw often in your company. Is that maybe who you mean?

[thinkfirst]

[ The relief on his face is a visible thing, shining like a beacon. It doesn't matter. Yuri is right here on his shoulders, wrapping himself around Flynn with waves of affection radiating through the bond they made last month, only a little muted by his strange other form. ]

That's exactly who I mean. Yuri was instrumental in the defeat of the Leviathan, and a hundred other things besides, but he always tries to escape any sort of recognition. That you managed to get some sort of record of it—I really can't express what that means. How did you come to do this sort of thing? It's fascinating.

video; un: quicksilver

[punshots]

[ Oh!!! He's been waiting for this. He eats up ever detail he can, even if in his excitement, he doesn't miss the shift in Hayato's tone. Fighting and death might be a part of their lives here, but that doesn't make it any easier to hear about. ]

Hey, good to hear from you again! You weren't kiddin' about crackin' how to make photography work here! Seriously, so cool.

[ A beat. He shouldn't be so nervous about asking, but - ]

Would you mind showin' me your process sometime? Still got a lot to learn about blood magic, heh.

[ He's trying to get more used to it! ]

video | un: ichimonji

[expertonshutters]

Prompto-kun! Just the man I was hoping to see! I've got tons of stuff to show you!

[He has been very hard at work and he wants to nerd with someone who actually understands this process. He's been dying.]

Come over any time you like! I'm still figuring stuff out and I could really use a second set of eyes.

[punshots]

[ Oh, he will be only too happy to hear each and every last bit of it. ]

Yeah? For real? Well - are you free now? I got more time than I know what to do with!

video; un: sylphjayz

[returncoat]

[Hay, dude, hayyy. It's good to see a familiar face on this still not-so-familiar... magic communication thingie.]

...Yikes. You know, I was wondering what I missed around here. The beach was kind of a mess when I washed up again.

video | un: ichimonji

[expertonshutters]

[!!! Hey! He wondered what might have happened to this guy! He laughs, but in an extremely incredulous way. The luck of this guy!]

Have you really been in the ocean all this time?! Incredible, you really missed the fight of the century, pal! Talk about timing...

[He clears his throat and settles down.]

You need a recap?

[returncoat]

[Ask anyone: making friends, immediately disappearing, and then randomly turning up again after something drastic is exactly on brand for Alvin.]

Only if you've got a minute to give it. Sounds like you're keeping yourself busy, dude, and I can always ask around on my own time.

video; un: wulala

[royalfling]

[ Wu catches the tail-end of a gasp as he turns on the feed, and he's practically vibrating with excitement. ]

They're done? They're done! Oh, wow, thank you, thank you! I'd love to see them-- oh, boy, it was a great party, wasn't it? I'm so, so glad you were there! What do I owe you? Can I see the photos? Can I? Please?

video | un: ichimonji

[expertonshutters]

[There's one of the grooms! He grins, waving a hand.]

You can, you can! Give me a second-- [And he reaches to pick up a heavy envelope. Very gently, he will pull them out, spread them on his desk, and pass his Omni over them so Wu can get a special sneak peak. There are some very nice pictures here! He hasn't done anything too crazy with the process on these, but they're all mostly in color and everything.]

They're ready for you to pick up whenever. As for payment? Eeeehh, how about we call my tab at the Racoon Room good for a while, yeah? I'm not too worried, the party really was a great thing to have right before something so serious.

un: trienemybest; video

[droptheious]

Huh, I never thought of using blood magic for the process. I guess when you have something easily on hand...

[Is it safe? That's questionable, but hey.]

I remember seeing you around at the wedding. Anyway, I'm an alchemist so if you ever want the chemicals to do it how you're used to, it's for sure doable. I do have sodium carbonate- hah, who doesn't, am I right? , acetic acid and ammonium thiosulfate. I'd have to mess around to get phenidone or some other developer, and I've...not actually done it myself yet so it'd be a lot of trial and error to get the chemical mix right. But hey, always an option.

video | un: ichimonji [1/2]

[expertonshutters]

Wait. Really? Really??

2/2

[expertonshutters]

Are you serious? You can get all of that?? Where have you been all this time, I thought I was going crazy trying to find these chemicals!! I should have asked here from the start!

[Holy shit!! Holy shit!!]

I would be in an unparalleled debt to you, sir, for your help. Name your price and it's yours.

action; prose because i will inevitably forget my brackets anyway ;;

[wannasmash]

The young man entering the studio looks like he's going to rob the place, with his hoodie over his hair and a simple black cloth mask over his face and neck. But a soft voice calls out,

"Hayato-san?"

Midoriya, also known as Deku, pulls down his mask and hood, and there is his dark green hair and freckles. Everything else about him has changed. His wide green eyes now have their lids soberly lowered. His voice is small and quiet like a shadow. He avoids the windows, not with a cringe, but with a practiced step after taking a visual sweep of the place.

[expertonshutters]

It's a good thing Hayato is completely not concerned about getting robbed. He turns when he hears someone enter his studio. Even if Midoriya had been meticulous in not making sound, Hayato's own hearing is such that he would have heard him come down the street if he focused well enough.

There's a pause, because he recognizes that voice, but the visage is all wrong. He knits his brows in concern, sheds the gloves he was wearing while handling some of his materials, and turns to face the young man with a frown.]

"Deku-kun," he says, and then he chooses his words very carefully. "What's happened?"