How Green Becomes Wood

"These little girls in... I think the UK? Faked pictures of fairies. It was this huge hoax, people genuinely believed it. Eventually they admitted it was just paper dolls. Nowadays, hoaxes take good photoshop or AI, but I the work it took to do the old stuff is impressive." Milo explained, looking at the photograph and setting it back down, "I always say I'm against posed photographs, but there's something much more exciting to me about taking a staged picture if there's more to it than asking everyone for their biggest, fakest smiles."

~~

"Maybe some day, if the venue is right," Sloan smiled, tipping her head back, "I actually don't know if I have the courage for it, if it came to it."

~~

Daizi nodded, listening to Ciara, and when she finished, smiled gently and said, "Ciara, today a judge declared the boys our sons, forever and always. Why would their family be different than Ivy's? It certainly is not different than my own. If you are their family, then you are mine, and you are Ivy's, and you are more than welcome."
 
Xander thought about some of the pictures Dark drew of the family. That was similar to staged photography in his mind, which meant there was a lot more to it than just asking for big, fake smiles, but he understood what Milo meant. That was normally all anyone asked for in gatherings and stuff. The more professional type likely needed a lot more planning and less "Hurry up and be done so we can eat cake." "It is pretty cool to be able to set up that kind of thing, and practical effects beat out computer generated every day," he said with assurence.

~~

"Courage is feeling the petrifying fear and getting up and doing it anyway," Peter pointed out. "When it comes right down to it, what a band does and what you do when you do your freestyle gymnastic routine is not all that different. Same crowd. Same need to hit all the marks."

~~

Ciara blushed deeply. She really had no response to that. She had no idea what to even say. "I will be there," was all she said at last. "Thank you for inviting me."
 
"I think posed things are more interesting with historical cameras, because it took so much work for each image," Milo said, "I would do anything to get to work with really really old cameras."

~~

"They both have a crowd, I'm not sure they have the same crowd," Sloan replied, "Gymnastics audiences are silent, and the things they look for are different. You can have fun at a technically imperfect concert. They just call it a different genre."

~~

"I'm very glad you'll be attending." Daizi replied calmly. After a few moments, she said, "I think we should get lunch together, sometime."
 
"You can still find them in pawn shops and stuff," Xander remarked. "You could maybe get one or two like that or on, like, an estate sale. Ever been to one of those?"

~~

"Eh, fair enough," Peter shrugged. "I just feel eyes. Doesn't matter to me what the crowd is doing or if it's silent or loud. They always have eyes."

~~

"That would be a pleasurable event," Ciara agreed.
 
"I haven't been, but I'm thinking like... Victorian-era cameras," Milo admitted, "I think I'd have a hard time finding them in a pawn shop."

~~

"I think it's easier to tune them out when I'm doing stuff than can kill me," Sloan said wryly, "You don't really have time to worry about it when doing flips above the high bar."

~~

"Great. What are you doing the week after Ivy's birthday?" Daizi asked, knowing if it wasn't scheduled quickly it was easy to sneak out of.
 
"You want to be careful with some of those old cameras," Jack remarked, turning toward them. "Pawn shops and estate sales are great when you know what you're doing, you can get some great deals, but if you're still in your amature stage, it's better to pay big bucks and stay safe. Some of those old ones used cadmium sulfide. Maybe not as old as the Victorian ones, but you still gotta be careful. cadmium sulfide is some nasty stuff. If you can get a camera from a good source, though, some of those old ones do take the best pictures."

Xander nodded and pretended like he had some idea of what Jack was talking about. "So... old cameras are dangerous?"

"Mostly the ones between about 1910-ish to the mid-60's," Jack confirmed. "If they've been cleaned up and stuff, it's perfectly safe."

~~

"You could always include some stunts in your stage act," Peter grinned.

"Wait, are you doing a stage act?" Becky asked, coming over, her eyes wide. "You would be amazing on stage! I mean, you dominate the gym, so on stage?" She made a light whistle to show she was impressed.

~~

"I... suppose I have nothing particular lined up," Ciara said slowly. She resigned herself to her fate and gave Daizi a direct answer. "The easiest days for me would be... Tuesday and Thursday. Those are typically my lightest days at work."
 
Milo turned to Jack, wide-eyed at someone approaching him with actual knowledge. Stumbling immediately over his words, he said, "i, um, i wouldn't, you know, i can't afford anything like it now, i'd better, be better, it'd be better to wait." He blinked, his mouth growing dry as he stared back down at the ground.

~~

"Oh, uh," She waved one hand, "Not seriously. We were just talking about what I would do, if I were to."

~~

"Wonderful." Daizi smiled, "Tuesday should be the sixteenth? I'm sure I'm free then. Do you have a favourite restaurant? Unlike my husband, I'm more than comfortable splitting the bill if it's what you'd prefer, but I'd also be more than happy to treat you."
 
"Have you tried some of those cameras from the 70's? They are no Victorian, that's for sure, but they do take a whole different type of skillset." He gestured to Milo's camera. "What are you using now?"

~~

"Well, if you did, you would be so amazing I'd be jealous," Becky told her. "Really, you would be. But, if it's just for fun... Could I be your waredrobe assistant?" She grinned at Sloan cheekily. "In the hypothetical universe, of course."

~~

Ciara named a couple of small, quaint cafes. "One of those would suit me perfectly, but if you have a preference, I am happy to meet you elsewhere. Splitting the bill would be perfect."
 
Milo slowly held up his camera, swallowing hard, torn between curiousity and overwhelming anxiety, "It's Nikon 35Ti."

~~

Sloan rolled her eyes teasingly, "Since it's all hypothetical, I guess so, but since it's all hypothetical, I get the final say. I spent too long colouring paper fashion dolls to not."

~~

Daizi named one she wasn't familiar with and said it sounded perfect, "We can meet there at 1? Unless you prefer to eat earlier."
 
Jack didn't take it or even reach out, but he did lean forward and squint so he could see it better. "1993, titanium cover, originally considered a luxury item, that's one of the best lenses ever put on a 35mm camera! That's a good camera, something a pro would pick." He nodded approvingly. "You have a good eye for cameras."

~~

"Oh, alright, I suppose that's fair," Becky groaned and then giggled. "Gosh, can you imagine us actually working together on something as high-stress as a stage show? I think you'd kill me before the end of the show."

~~

"That is a good time for me," Ciara agreed. "Thank you. I look forward to it."
 
"Oh, um, I, uh, didn't choose it." Milo mumbled, lowering his camera again, "My dad gave it to me. Dunno where he got it."

~~

"You gotta give me more credit than that, I'm no non-sense but I'm not violent," Sloan replied, lightly nudging Becky.

~~

"I am too. It'll be good for us to learn more about each other." Daizi smiled, turning her head as she heard a familiar jingle.
 
"He has good taste," Jack told Milo. "Do you think you got any good shots? I didn't bring mine. I don't normally do candids of people."

~~

Becky snickered. "Alright, you got me there. I just know I'm pretty annoying on a normal day. So! What's your first song line-up?"

"I bet she'd write her own," Peter said.

~~

Alec followed Ivy at a distance, still talking to Tom, just making sure Ivy was okay.
 
"I---I pretty much only take candids," Milo mumbled, staring at the ground, "I think I got good ones."

~~

"I've never even tried writing music, I don't know if I'd do it well," Sloan replied, "If I had to choose an extant song, I'd do Pink Pony Club."

~~

Ivy crawled quickly to her mother, making an excited mmm! mmm! sound, but not quite getting the rest of the sound. Scooping her up immediately and peppering her with kisses, Daizi said, "Did you miss Mama, habibti? Or are you jealous that I'm making plans with someone who isn't you? I'm talking to your Auntie Ciara! Can you say hi?" She turned back to Ciara, turning Ivy outwards as she did so. As instructed, Ivy waved hello to Ciara with a big smile on her sweet, itsy face.
 
"Can't knock a good candid. It's an art form. Digital has a lot of pros to it, but nothing beats the thrill of waiting to see what you got until after development and getting to hold the physical form, does it?" Jack asked.

~~

"I don't know that one," Peter admitted.

"I'm gonna keep on dancing at the Pink Pony Club! I'm gonna keep on dancing down in West Hollywood! I'm gonna keep on dancing at the Pink Pony Club!" Becky sang with enthusiasm. She wasn't bad, but a record label wasn't likely to pick her up anytime soon.

"Is it about... My LIttle Pony?" Peter asked uncertainly, making Becky laugh.

~~

"Hello, Ivy. It is good to see you up and about," Ciara greeted her. "Are you having fun at this party?"
 
"I just... yeah," Milo mumbled, fiddling with his camera strap, "it's relaxing. making the images in the dark. i like it."

~~

Sloan averted her eyes, trying to not show the awkwardness she felt, "Yeah, that's the one. It's about leaving your family behind to follow the dreams they refuse to support."

~~

Ivy babbled at her and held up her rabbit before snuggling down against her mother. "I think she is having a good time, but she's probably getting hungry. It's a good thing dinner should be about ready."
 
"It's been a long time since I've developed my own film," Jack mused wistfully. "I used to do it a lot when I was in high school. It was quiet in the dark room. Not a lot of places to find quiet sometimes. I like parties, I like being around people, noise, music, all of that, but sometimes... Sometimes, you just want a little time to yourself in the dark and the quiet just watching magic happen in little pools of liquid. It feels like you can breathe a little easier even when you didn't realize you couldn't breathe before."

~~

Becky raised her brows at Sloan knowing the song was about support in a specific area of life, but, for once in her life, she didn't push the subject. "It's a good song. Really soulful, and Chappel Roan has such an amazing voice!"

"I'll look it up," Peter agreed.

~~

"Do you need any further assistance with that?" Ciara asked, looking over the table. It seemed everything was ready from her perspective.
 
Milo nodded, staring hard at the ground, trying desperately to think of something to say. "there's, um. one you can rent time at. here."

~~

"I really like her," Sloan replied, "And I like that she doesn't straighten her hair. If I had to be like any performer, I'd like to be like her."

~~

"No, I think we're alright. I suppose we should tell the rest of them. That this one," She rubbed Ivy's back, "Is going to get fussy if she doesn't get her dinner soon."
 
"Is there?" Jack asked, brightening. "I should look into that. Do you have the address?" He shuffled through his pockets until he found his phone so he could make a note of the place Milo told him about. As he did so, he came across a crumbled business card. "Oh, yes. Here." He handed it toward Milo. "This is the name of a store that deals in older cameras. Most of them are likely out of your price range, but they do have some cheaper ones and payment options as well as photography classes. I know the owner, and he's not swayed by money or snobbery, but if you have a passion, he'll take you under his wing and help you find what you're looking for in the price range you can afford. He's a good guy. Really likes candids, too. Has a real affinity for Vivian Maier-style photography."

~~

"I find the hair straightening thing kind of weird. Not bad weird, more like funny weird," Becky remarked. "It used to be having really curly, fluffy hair was all the rage! People even combed their hair backwards to get it fluffier. Now it's all about slicking it down tight as possible."

~~

Ciara inclined her head. "Shall I, or would you prefer as the hostess of this event?"
 
Milo murmured the address and then awkwardly took the buisness card, staring blankly at it for a few moments before raising his head and asking, "Vivian Maier?"

~~

"My mom always wants me to straighten my hair," Sloan said, "She gets treatments to make hers straight all of the time, she has naturally curly hair. She think's it's sloppy."

~~

"I probably should," Daizi chuckled, heading over to the living room, "Dinner is all ready, if you're hungry."
 
"She lived in Chicago and New York around the 40's and 50's working as a nanny among a few other things, and she took a lot of candid photos," Jack told him. He pulled up some of her work on his phone and handed it to Milo to look. "She took a lot of pictures of a lot of places, but she's most famous for the ones in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. She'd wander the streets, sometimes taking the children with her wherever she'd end up going, taking pictures of everything. No one really knew anything about it or here until someone found a bunch of her negatives in a storage locker back in oh-7. I'm not sure if she deliberately hid them, if she wasn't taken seriously, or what, but no one knew what a phenomenal eye she had until too long after her death. She had thousands of photos of life. Just life. Intimate details, raw moments of happiness and sadness, all of it. Good thing it was physical negatives and not digital or I don't know if it'd have lasted." He turned when Daizi sounded the call. "Ah, time to eat!"

~~

Becky made a face. "Ah, that's sad! I think curly hair is amazing!" She sighed and pulled on her own hair. "I have to work to get anything more than a hint of a wave."

"Curly hair is difficult to manage, but, I agree. It is a beautiful and unique feature about you," Peter said before turning to go to the kitchen.

~~

"Food!" Alec cheered, trotting in. "Yes, please!"

Tristan waited for everyone else to start making their way in before cautiously making his way forward, wary of not rolling over any feet.
 
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