now we're getting somewhere
Hannah
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
Hannah
H-hello "blush"
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
It's raining. "I say, straightforwardly."
Hannah
Oh, I love the rain! It's so mesmerizing to watch the droplets fall on my camera lenses. What do you think about rainy days? "I ask with a shy smile."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
They ruin expensive equipment. "This is said deadpan. I then pause for a moment to consider." I suppose they do make for a good ambiance.
Hannah
Well, that's true. Rainy days can be tough when it comes to taking care of expensive camera equipment. But on the other hand, rain can add a beautiful mood to photographs. The way it modifies the natural lighting can also inspire some creative shots. Have you ever tried shooting in the rain? "I ask while fiddling with my camera strap."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
Yes. Obviously. "I say gesturing to my camera, which has a kind of bag over it to protect it from the rain. I pause for breath." You talk too much, just stand still. "I put the viewfinder up to my eye and aim the lense at you."
Hannah
"Blushes and stands still, trying not to look too nervous or self-conscious. I secretly enjoy the attention but don't want to let it show." Alright, I'm ready. Take your time. "I say as I try to pose a bit, hoping to get a great shot of me despite the bad weather."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"I rotate the camera at the last moment, and take a photo of your chest."
Hannah
"Gasps in surprise and crosses my arms over my chest, looking down at myself before glaring back up at you." What the heck was that?! That's not funny! "I say, trying to brush off my embarrassment while giving you a stern look."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
You were posing. It wasn't authentic.
Hannah
"Sighs and relaxes my stance a bit." I see where you're coming from. But it's still not appropriate to take a picture like that without asking my permission. It makes me feel uncomfortable and objectified. Next time, please ask me before taking that kind of shot. "I say, trying to sound assertive but still a bit flustered."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
What? Wait, you think that was a lewd thing? You're wearing a jacket, what would I have even seen?
Hannah
"Looks slightly confused, thinking back to the moment." Oh, I see what you mean now. I suppose it wouldn't have been revealing or vulgar. I apologize for overreacting earlier. I can be a bit sensitive sometimes. "I say, feeling sheepish and slightly embarrassed."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
Cool. I really don't care. "I say, exasperated." Stand still.
Hannah
"Looks a bit taken aback at your apathetic response, but tries to keep it together." Alright then. "Takes a deep breath and stands still, looking off to the side to try and seem more natural."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"I take the shot. A full portrait, this time, face and all." Stop looking at the lense.
Hannah
"Smiles softly and nods, looking off to the side again." Sorry about that. It's just habit, I suppose. "Waits for you to take the shot, trying to keep a relaxed expression and posture."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"I take another photo." Take off the camera, it looks weird. "Watching you fumble with it, I take it and your camera bag off you, make sure they're safe from the rain, and the sling them over my shoulder." I'll hold it, just lean against that tree.
Hannah
"Looks slightly surprised at your sudden helpfulness, but goes along with it." Thanks, I suppose. "Walks over to the tree and leans against it, crossing my arms loosely in front of me." How does this look? "Asks while trying to arrange my expression into something comfortable and natural."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"I pause for a short moment, assessing." Bad. Uncross your arms, you look like like you're trying to fight someone.
Hannah
"Looks a bit self-conscious but does as you say, uncrossing my arms and trying to take on a more relaxed pose." How about now? Is this better? "Asks, looking over at you with a hesitant expression."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"another assessing moment, then, quietly:" it's fine. "I take a couple shots from different angles."
Hannah
"Nods quietly, trying not to disturb your concentration as you take the shots." Thank you for your help with this. It means a lot. "Stands still and tries to exude an air of calmness and poise for the photos."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"I look completely exhausted." It's my grade on the line too.
Hannah
"Looks concerned and sympathetic at your weariness." I understand. We can take a break if you need one. "Starts to walk over to you, but then stops and hesitates, unsure of whether you want me near you or not."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"the rain has been picking up while we were working. It's now bucketing down and looks ready to storm. I hand you back your camera bag." Sure, I live nearby. Let's get out of the rain.
Hannah
"Pauses and looks around at the rain, noticing how it's gotten even heavier." Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Thanks for offering. "Takes my camera bag from you and tries to fasten the straps as quickly as possible, all the while shivering and pulling my jacket tighter around me."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"we walk for a few minutes, both getting soaked through. We eventually arrive at a small apartment building. Not exactly run-down, but certainly no Hilton. As we enter:" take your shoes off, I'll grab some towels.
Hannah
"Removes my shoes and wipes them off near the door before following you inside, trying to shake off as much of the rain as possible." Okay, I'll do that. Thank you. "Stands by the doorway for a moment, looking around curiously at your place."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"it's a very plain apartment, with monochromatic furniture and not much of interest besides the fact that the walls are lined with black and white photos. There are some of every subject you can think of, and a few that you'd never think to take a photo of. I come back with towels, char oal grey in colour. You now notice that I'm wearing different shades of black and grey." Dry off here, I'll have a shower, then you. You can dry your clothes in the dryer while you're in the shower.
Hannah
"Looks around the apartment while toweling off, studying the black and white photos with interest." These are amazing. Did you take all of these? "Asks before hanging up my jacket to dry." And thank you, for letting me shower here. I appreciate it.
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
Yeah, whatever. I took most of them, but some were my dad's before he died. *I say this from the shower, which is not very far away from the living room, it being a cheap apartment. There are two sliding doors between us, one to the laundry room, and the one after that to the bathroom. I'm talking just loud enough that you can hear me, but not so loud that the neighbours will complain.
Hannah
"Listens to you with a mix of sadness and fascination, feeling a bit embarrassed about my earlier rudeness." I'm sorry to hear that. But your photos are really something else. You're really talented. It's like you see the world in a different way. "Sits down on the couch near the sliding door, still drying off with the towel."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"I finish up in the shower and come out in comfortable, thick, grey clothes. I see you on the couch, still wet. I roll my eyes." Go have a shower, your clothes should be dry by the time you get out.
Hannah
"Looks down at my wet clothes and nods, standing up to grab my things and go take a shower." Okay, thanks again. I'll try to hurry. "Bows my head slightly and heads towards the bathroom, feeling grateful to have such a considerate friend."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
Take your time, you don't want to be stuck without clothes. "I go over to the desk that takes up the centre stage of the living room, where most people would have a tv, and start working on the assignment."
Hannah
"Steps into the bathroom and starts to undress, folding my wet clothes and putting them into the dryer along with my towel." Thank you for understanding. "I say in a soft voice before starting the shower, allowing the warmth to soothe my tired muscles. I try to relax and enjoy the moment while also keeping track of the time, wanting to make sure that I'm not taking too long."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"there's a loud noise from the dryer, and I enter the laundry room to investigate." Shit, something's punched a hole through the thing. Fuck.
Hannah
"Hears the loud noise and quickly finishes up in the shower, wrapping myself in one of your towels and exiting the bathroom." Is everything okay? What happened? "Asks, looking around for you with a worried expression."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"I'm elbow deep in the dryer's guts trying to find what's done the damage, your soaked clothes are still in there. Eventually I pull out a ring you had in your pocket. As I move away from the dryer you can see a massive hole has been punched through the barrel of the dryer, and it can no longer rotate. The ring itself is also mangled."
Hannah
"Stands there in shock as you pull out the ring and I immediately recognize it as an old family heirloom." Oh my god. "Sighs heavily, feeling a sudden sadness and sense of loss as I realize what's happened." What are we gonna do? Can it be fixed? "Looks around for some kind of solution."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
The dryer or the ring? "I say, dryly. I hand you the ring."
Hannah
"Feeling a bit annoyed by your tone, but still too upset to argue." The ring, of course. Can it be fixed? It's very important to me. "Takes the ring from you and inspects it closely, feeling a sense of grief as I recall all the memories associated with it."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
It's silver. they can melt it down and recast it. "I am now annoyed as well."
Hannah
"Looks up at you with a bit of anger in my eyes at your earlier tone, but I try to keep my voice level." Okay, thank you for telling me. That's good to know. "Takes a deep breath and looks down at the ring again, feeling a sense of responsibility to take care of it." I'll have to find someone who can do that. It won't be easy.
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
...there are jewelers on every block, Hannah. Go find one now, before you break any more of my appliances.
Hannah
"Feels my face flushing with anger at the insult and the way you're treating me." Fine. I'll do that right now. "Stands up and grabs the rest of my clothes, feeling a sense of sadness and regret as I clutch the ring tightly in my hand." Thank you for your help, photographer. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. "Leaves the apartment without another word, feeling hurt and mistreated."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"cut to several days later, it was actually very easy to get the ring fixed, and only cost about $20. You completely forgot about the group project in the interim, too focused on the ring. We're now in the class where we have to present it."
Hannah
"Enters the classroom, feeling nervous as I clutch the recast ring tightly in my pocket." Hey. "Gives you a small nod of acknowledgement and takes a seat next to you." Sorry for running off like that the other day. I've been preoccupied. "Feels a mix of relief and embarrassment at having found someone to fix my ring so quickly."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
Did you do any work on the project?
Hannah
"Shakes my head, feeling a sense of guilt and disappointment in myself." No, I didn't. I'm sorry. I completely forgot about it. "Looks at you with a bit of shame and hopelessness."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"I have a clear expression of disappointment. I pause for a beat, then:" I finished it.
Hannah
"Looks at you with a mix of surprise and gratitude." You did? Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. "Pauses for a moment, feeling a sense of relief that it's not a complete disaster." Do you mind if I see it?
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
You can see it with the rest of the class. Just stand up there when it's our turn, don't say anything, and I won't mention that you didn't contribute.
Hannah
"Feeling a sense of gratefulness for your kindness, but also a bit of shame at not having contributed like I should have. Nods in agreement." Okay, thank you for your understanding. I'll make sure to be there. "Sits back in my chair and takes a deep breath, feeling a mix of emotions as I contemplate my future and how to do better next time."
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"we present last, but our photos are by far the best of the class. You see yourself on a poster sized printout and wonder if that's really what you looked like that day. So pretty and aloof. We get perfect marks."
Hannah
"Feels a sense of pride and relief as we present our project and receive perfect marks. Experiences a sense of imposter syndrome as I see myself up on the poster-sized printout, wondering if that's really what I looked like that day." Wow... "Whispers under my breath as I take in the scene before me." Thank you for doing such a great job. You're amazing.
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
Sure. "The professor comes over to complement us, and introduces us to a photography competition, which he has already signed us up for without asking. You're down as the model, and me as the photographer, and we need to get photos from the perspective of a couple. Before we even have proper time to object he quickly states that the prize is over $50,000, and leaves the room."
Hannah
"Stands there with a sense of shock and disbelief as the professor introduces us to the photography competition without our input and states that we'll be competing as a couple for a prize of over $50,000." Wow... "Looks over at you with a bit of concern." What do you think about this? I mean, we barely know each other and now we're supposed to be a couple in these photos. Are you okay with that?
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
...do you think it's $50,000 each?
Hannah
"Laughs softly at your question in spite of myself, feeling a sense of amusement at the idea." I highly doubt it, but even if it is, that's not the point. Do you really want to do this?
* ☆:**:. Lizzy .:**:.☆*
"I look into your eyes, really seeing you, and for the first time, you're really seeing me. What you see is desperation. Quietly, and in the most genuine tone you've ever heard from me, I say:" I really need the money.
Hannah
"Feels my heart aching as I see the desperation in your eyes and hear the genuine tone in your voice." Okay... "Takes a deep breath and nods, feeling a sense of responsibility to help you in any way I can." We'll do it. But we have to work together and make this good. "Offers a small smile." We can do this.
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