maskormenace | [video]

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[video]

[The video feed switches on to Max, knitting and giving the camera a bit of a grin.]

Uh... hey, everyone. I don't normally do this stuff, but my employers asked, so here I am! Since the holidays are coming up, we've got a special sale going on at our studio.

[And here, she leans over, still knitting (can you tell she's been cheating with her rewind to get better at it quickly?) as she reads a list of various photo packaging prices, complete with backgrounds, props, and such.]

Not bad, huh? And yours truly will be working on the weekends in the afternoon and during the winter break, so if any of you want to drop by, feel free! Just be sure to call in, or reserve online, because sheesh, are we filling up on that quickly!

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yo so i hear you and am totally on board with bargain bin prices for precious holiday memories but i need to know how far youre willing to push it
im not talking some gentle snow backdrop we all pose in front of in matching sweaters and try not to loathe one another in that moment for one quick snapshot
but i mean a fully realized photoessay chronicling family memories that will last a lifetime
which will need to involve at LEAST a couple feet of fake snow and two plastic holiday themed animal props
is that possible

Edited 2015-11-24 15:32 (UTC)

You're in luck! My boss loves that stuff. I'm pretty sure he's keeping the holiday stores in business single-handedly.

That advertising-for-work stuff can definitely get pretty bothersome, but it doesn't seem like you have any problem getting it done.

Either you're good at putting on a face for crowds, or you actually like taking peoples' pictures. Whichever it is... ya might be seeing me pretty soon.

Getting some pictures done might not be a bad idea.

I actually really love taking pictures. I've always been into photography. Swing by, if you want!

Didja get this job when you got ported in? Or didja choose it yourself?

And you bet. You can probably count on seein' my face soon.

I was assigned the job. I really didn't like it first, because I'm not a fan of digital cameras and that's literally all we use, but it's grown on me.

Great! My name's Max. What's yours?

Don't like digital? More of a preference towards the ones with film or whatnot? There's something a little more authentic in those ones, I gotta agree.

An' my name's Hideyoshi. But you can call me Hide. Hee-day.

Totally. Analog all the way.

Nice to meet you, Hide.

Ain't ever used one myself. They always seem a bit too expensive and fragile for my tastes. I'm a bit clumsy.

And same to you, pretty miss.

I'm gonna harbour a guess an' say you ain't been here very long.

They're great! You have to take extra good care of them, though, especially when you get to the retro beauties, like mine.

[Is that a blush? That's a blush.]

Not really. Less than a month. What about you?

'Retro beauties'. That's a whole lot of respect for a camera. [His teeth click together in a foxlike smile, a little proud that he's gotten her to blush quite so easily.]

An' me? Haaa... [Give him a second. He's actually counting on his fingers.]

...Huh. Next month, it'll be my one year, I think! Yeah, that sounds right.

I love my camera. I'm not sorry. [Dude, she's not even sorry she's not sorry.]

Seriously? I've run into a lot of people who've been here for a long time. It's kinda scary.

Hey man, nothing wrong with it. I'm the same way with my music, so there's no reason to apologise.

[He raises his arm in a bit of a wide gesture--don't ever apologise for doing things you love!]

Yep. Absolutely serious. And there are a lotta us who've been here a while, but... there are worse places to be, I wanna think.

And somethin' like... [He taps his chin with his fingers.] 'A long time isn't forever'.

Really? What kind of music do you like?

That's actually a really nice way of putting it. I hadn't thought of it that way before.

My favourite kind of music is actually American music. My best friend gives me hell for it, but--it's not my fault it's so damn catchy. [He huffs out a sigh, but his smile remains intact.]

'Gotta stay positive'. That's kind'a my way about things.

Besides.

We're super heroes, yanno?? It's kind of a fair trade-off. Weird world, awesome skills.

Really? Any bands or artists in particular?

I dunno. I don't think I could be much of a "hero".

Haaa... Vampire Weekend, Fall Out Boy, Black Eyed Peas...

...To be honest, I learnt how to speak English 'cause of American music.

[He has absolutely no shame admitting that fact, either.]

No? Did the porter pull a rude move and give you useless powers? That does happen sometimes.

Vampire Weekend's pretty good sometimes.

[Meaning: She likes some of their songs, but they're not usually on her playlist.]

No, it didn't. I'm just not sure how useful I can be just yet.

Their song Finger Back is super fun. I still trip up trying to keep up with it, but...

[The curse of being a foreigner.]

And that's good. But if it helps absolutely any? Being 'useful' is usually situational. Some stuff that goes down here, well.

You can't exactly be ready to play the hero for it. It all sort of happens at once.

[He pauses, and his hand flies up again, as if to veto what he just said.] --Not to say that you're in trouble or anything! I mean, I've been here a year and I've never been badly injured or anything.

I hear you. I can't speak any language but English, you know?

I guess so, but from what I've heard, crazy shit goes down here at the drop of a hat.

I hear you. Learnin' a second language ain't easy, but. Hey, you could do it if you put your head into it.

[A shrug.]

And for that, ya ain't wrong. It can be perfectly calm one day, and the next, there's some propaganda insanity going down, or there's reports of armoured soldiers rampaging downtown.

Working for the police? I see a lot of it.

Maybe I will. Well, I'm already learning ASL, so I guess that counts.

That sounds like it can be awful. I hope things don't go to shit here anytime soon.

Really? What kind of work do you do?

ASL definitely counts!! My roomate is mute, but he uses telepathy to talk. Maybe you guys could practice ASL together or somethin'.

You and me both, Max. I'd rather life stay on that calm road for now, yanno?

And well, it all depends. Some days it's something simple like street patrol. Keeping an eye out for riff-raff and petty crime. I can move faster than most cars, so I don't really need to drive about.

On poorer weather days, I take a lot of emergency calls and do dispatch work.

That sounds great! I'm actually learning online, but I wouldn't mind a partner.

[She laughs, then, a little.]

That doesn't sound like it's too bad. I hope you can stay safe, out there.

I'll see what he says. He can be a bit of a grump up-front, but he's like a teddybear, I promise.

[He'll give her a wink, waving with one hand.]

Nah, I enjoy it. 'sides, if stuff gets real sticky, it's just a matter of beatin' feet outta there.
Thanks for the concern, Max.

Well, I wouldn't mind just doing it online, if he wanted. I'm kind of an anti-social goon offline.

Good. Be careful, okay?

Haha, you seem plenty friendly to me.

An' you too, ya got it? See ya around!

What are your rates for group photos?

[And here, Max holds up a sheet with a list of rates! Which means she hasn't memorized it yet.]

Here you go!

Thanks.

[ She looks closer at them and hums thoughtfully, tapping her chin. ]

I've been thinking about the office getting some photos taken. We have none, which is maybe a little depressing.

Nothing like some pictures to brighten things up? I hear that.

Could I possibly book you for a Friday morning or afternoon one of these days?

Sure! Just make sure you reserve, first; we're gonna be pretty busy.

[And by "pretty", she means "really".]

That time of the year, huh? Would contacting you directly work best?

Not if you're interested in getting it done at the studio, but if you just want me to do it, I'm sure I can work something out with my boss.

I was actually wondering if it's possible for someone to come to the building. We're up in De Chima, if that's an issue.

It's fine! I'm up for heading down there. I'll just have to clear it with my job.

Perfect. Let me know if it works out? If it doesn't, no hard feelings.

I will! I'm sure my boss will be fine with it. Just shoot me a text about a date and time, if you want.

Thanks a lot, [ slight pause as she double-checks the name ] Max.

You're welcome, Ms. Star.

[Mrs.? She doesn't want to assume.]

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