Lights! Camera! MAGEEK! (Azure)

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Fame is a plague. Once everyone knows who you are, everyone expects more.  Photo Finish had learned this quickly.  Her rise to fame was hard earned, but keeping that fame was the true challenge.  If you follow the crowd, you get overshadowed.  If you take a chance and do something new and unique, you risk messing it all up.  She scanned the streets of Canterlot, her mind racing as ideas swept through.

Canterlot was full of opportunities for Photographs.  In fact, there were plenty of ponies on the streets with cameras, taking pictures of the Castle.  Tourists, most likely.  She shook the idea out of her head.  Everyone can see the castle.  It's not what she needs for her next big break.

And then she rounded the corner.  Her eyes locked forward on a glimmer of light reflecting from the light blue star on the armor of a guard.  The way the light danced on the lens of her glasses brought an idea to her mind.  The way most ponies avoided eye contact with these guards, seeing them as foreboding statues, ready to leap at a moments notice.  Photo Finish knew what her next goal would be.

Photo Finish moved forward quickly, approaching one of the guards.  "Hello!  I, Photo Feenish, vould like to help you!"  She looked up as she spoke.  "Ponies see you as something to fear!  Not I.  I, Photo Finish, will bring out De Magicks of the guards in her next shoot!  You vill be, a star!"  She said, looking back toward the guard who hadn't so much as turned to look at her.  

"Perhaps you misunderstood!"  She said, not backing down.  "Photos of ze guards are the next goal zat I, Photo Finish, wish to work toward!"  Still no response.  "It vould seem this will be harder than expected...  Perhaps speaking with a higher ranking guard... YES! I GO!"  Photo Finish said, Spinning and shuffling off quickly.

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                To be a guard was tough. You had to be more mentally and physically capable than any other pony out there save for knights. No ginormous amount of muscle was needed to perform this job, it took heart, courage, and an audacity to stand up for what is right to be a guard, stand up against any known number or might of the enemy. The enemy might not even be something that bleeds, rather something that burns or could crush you if you aren't strong enough to hold it back. News of the blue pegasus that held back the gigantic chandelier at the Middlepoint dancing diner had traveled around Canterlot and even had begun to reach the ears of Ponyville quiet quickly. It had been sometime after the chandelier had broke and Azure kept it from crushing many ponies including he and his marefriend Swift, Azure was back in Canterlot once more, pulling an extra shift for a guard who needed someone to cover for him. This would give Azure a glimpse into the city he hoped to guard one day in the future should he work his way up. He tried to keep a low profile, not wanting to attract any attention to himself. 

                  His armor did not resemble those of the Royal Guard or any other guard for that matter. He was a foreign pony, with a prototype armor, with a brutal, dark past trying to change his stars. His armor was a very dark gray with yellow trim outlining all over his armor. His helmet at the sides came up into two small, dark gray metal wings. The slit that held a shadow over his eyes, keeping all from seeing within, could scare most any pony with a glance of it. His armor was not built for show, was not built for peaceful places like Equestria. No, it was built for when an invasion finally broke through the knights and through the walls, to intimidate all who stood before this figure, death reeking from the sight of it alone. None had ever managed to defeat Azure, even with his smaller than average frame. There was something about Azure that left others in wonder. He had heart and will to not win but to protect. That will was like a fire lit ablaze in an altar outside, exploding into a giant light blue flame that could be seen in space and beyond. No skin could be seen on Azure save for his wings, the feathers had no choice but to be visible. His iconic flawless sapphire blue shield held proudly with his armor color matching sword. 

                Azure would have had trouble patrolling the area if it were not for the fact he was left with a map and directions from the guard he covered for. So many operas and theaters, sports areas and high cultured places presented themselves at him for his observing, he relished them all. He didn't exactly enjoy the company of the ponies who had their noses stuck to the air like they were to be the ones that were respected. No, he only respects those who accept all and earn their paycheck, live their life, and do their job with their heart and not for the allure of bits. The air was chilly as fall had most certainly set in, making the armor easier to keep on without becoming overheated. He enjoyed the colder air, it reminded him of growing up back in The Kingdom of Starry Fields and how cold it was year round. 

                 Snapping out of his revere, he hears an accented pony talking about something to do for guards and a shoot. Something not to be feared? Azure blinked a few times before turning to see this pony heading his way. Azure couldn't count how many times the sight of his armor, making others tremble or hesitate, had saved his and his teammates life. He bore that intimidation like a second skin, daring any to cross him or anyone innocent. With that however, being the one who stands up for what is right to anyone including those in absolute power, comes the consequence of a downfall and cracks within the mental armor they bare. Picture a dark gray backdrop, with one stone in the middle. On it Azure sat, sword buried in the ground as his shield was symmetrically placed over it. On one side of Azure was a light, showing his better qualities and essentially his pure side. The dark side however, showed the shield having cracks and breaks along it, the sword being chipped, the side of his face being scarred and cut up, mane mangled, armor broken and chunks missing, essentially exhaustion being displayed. That's Azure on a daily basis, and he tried to not let it show. Granted, sometimes he wished he wouldn't be feared by those he protected. It was always a double whammy with this job, unforgiving at its core. He prepares himself, fully armored, as this odd looking pony wearing glasses approached him with a shuffle.

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As Photo Finish shuffled along quickly, making a beeline for the nearest guard outpost to speak to a commanding officer about her ideas, she shuffled past an iron pony.  Striped with yellow, he was different than the rest.  Sword and Shield?  Those weren't things you usually found in Equestria.  The guards usually held Spears when they were standing watch, but never a sword and shield.

The shuffling path shifted, making a lap around Azure.  A little tap of the hoof on his side, a close examining of the armor on his wing, getting almost face to face with him, and finally getting uncomfortably close to the sword.  After her extensive examination, the White-Maned Mare beamed.  "YES!  Zis vill do!"  She shouted, moving back to stand in front of him.  "You have, Ze Magicks!"  She said again, pausing for a moment.

Finally, realizing he probably had no idea what she was talking about (Since, most ponies don't know what Magic is. (Because Unicorns are corrupting them with their fake magic)) she explained.  "I, Photo Finish, vould like to use you as my next model.  Together, ve will show ze world what it is to be a guard!"  She said, putting a hoof around him and fanning her other hoof in a sweeping gesture.  "Everyone vill know who you are!  Everyone vill want to know more.  You vill be a star."  She spoke the line that usually got her subjects to agree, not thinking that it may need to be changed.

She hopped away from him and pointed to a nearby building.  "Photo Finishes Photo Studio!  Zat is where ve will go!"  She said, holding an odd pose for a little longer than needed.  "Unless, you are like zose guards.  You seem different!  Zey are rigid, you are not."

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             In truth he was different. How many ponies here had to literally fight for their very existence? How many were broken down deep in the core through the tests of time and death itself? He had literally lived up to the title of Guard, protecting all with his life countless times. He looked at the strange mare who claimed to be Photo Finish. Whoever that was, he wasn't much into being a star, attention was never his thing. Though somehow, it seemed to find him more times than not. He came here in search of peace and found himself in an ongoing struggle with a need for chaos but a desire for peace.

               I'll go along with it....but note I'm not in it for the fame or attention. There's a side to the Guard that not many will know about....or even see for that matter. Azure taps his helmet, causing it to retract small metal bits rapidly back into what appeared to be the metal guarding his neck, revealing his face, a scar racing down the left side of his face, the middle of the scar seeming to become larger than the rest. 

              Azure let her examine him, sensing no danger in her at all. Only one other pony was allowed to get that close to him, even if he wasn't being touched. He liked having a personal bubble, it allowed him to relax. You're right...I'm not like these other guards, and truth be told, I hope I never am. I'm different, I've grown up that way my whole life, so be it. I'm flexible, open to new things and ideas. If you think this could help us in the long run then let's go with it. Just keep in mind I represent the Guard, and I'd like to keep the positive image they have to the public eye. Azure looks up to the building before following the mad sounding pony. Somehow though, I have a feeling this is going to become simply outrageous, if I'm involved, it always does.

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Photo Finish listened to Azure talk as they walked. She spun, continuing her Shuffle backwards. "If you are not in it to be a Star, zen you do not need your face to show." She said, tapping the button to return Azures helmet to his head. She spun again, continuing her Shuffle without missing a beat.

As Azure walked into the building he'd be dragged around rather rapidly through various parts of the building. This started with two ponies holding rags wiping down his armor to make sure it was clean and as sparkly as it can be. Then, another pony brushed the armor down with a powder to reduce the glare from the harsh lights in the studio, which was Azures final stop. He would be almost shoved into the middle of a simple white room as Lights around him flashed on, casting minimal shadows for a moment.

"Now, we make... ZE MAGICK!" The shout came from behind one of the lights as Photo Finish took a few shots from where she stood, climbed up a small ladder for a higher angle, then slid into the white area of the room with her Camera, laying directly under Azure for a lower angle.

"Now, Ve need to Pose you! Zere is an enemy coming at you from your Left! Vat do you do!?" She insisted, turning the lights to Azures Right down, so the shadows were cast in that direction as she continued taking her pictures.

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              Azure felt more rushed than ever before. As he had to keep a brisk pace to keep up with the strange pony, he constantly kept an eye on all of the ponies who came up to wipe down his armor. This was strange and very uncomfortable at first for Azure. He's never let this many ponies so close to him before much less touch his armor. Every detail on it was carefully cleaned and polished exquisitely. However, he supposed they've done this with other pieces of metal before and allowed them to continue on. He gave the powder a questioning look, again, this wasn't his area of expertise, this was theirs, so he let them continue on with their madness as he kept up with Photo Finish. 

                 Being back in his helmet, only being able to see out of a slit was relieving. It let out an eerie yellow fog for a few brief moments, but that was while they were cleaning his armor. As he walked about, he noticed they were big on lighting, seemed to be bright lights everywhere in the building which Azure disliked. He enjoyed being surrounded by shadows or in the afternoon sun when it was beginning to set. Then again, that's probably why he's a part of the Night Guard. 

           Azure felt the lights dim down upon his right side, immediately the image of him in the black and white image popped into his head. Right now, the side he keeps hidden, only showing once in Equestria on a date, needed to come forth. He was being told that an enemy was coming forth to his left. Instantly his eyes narrowed as he allowed himself to change the scenery, only keep Photo finish's voice in reality. The enemy thrusts forth a spear from above with deadly intent. Azure quickly acknowledges this, knowing his shield is normally carried upon his left forehoof. Standing on both back hooves, he crouches down low, lifting his shield up to meet the spear. He could feel the intensity rise up in him and knew that he had to keep it under wraps. Hold the line, don't advance, yet don't press. So that's exactly what he would do. Once he felt as if he had held that pose long enough, he thrusts his shield leg to the side as if the spear was being knocked away. To finish it up, he thrusts his shield forward violently as if to shield bash the enemy in the face. As he pictures the enemy fall unconscious, he takes his sword and bashes it up against his shield, slightly spreading his sword hoof and shield hoof apart, ready for the next attack. 

               

              

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Photo Finish flashed a few pictures from varying angles. She adjusted the lighting to play with the shadows as Azure fought his imaginary enemy. She slid in low, right in front of Azure as he bashed on the shield, laying in about the same spot his enemy would have been. After several more shots she paused, pressing some buttons on her camera and pulling out a small film reel. She put it away in a tube, and put that in her bag, pulling out a different roll of film.

"Zat was Wunderbar!" She said happily as she loaded the new film. "Such ferocity, such passion. SUCH MAGICK!" She was obviously happy by all that Azure had shown her so far. She carried her camera over and pressed the button on Azures armor to retract it. She lined the camera up in front of him and snapped a picture. Then she pressed the button again to put the armor back into place, taking another picture from the exact same spot. "Und vith a little of my own Magick, we have a Coverphoto."

She looked around at all of her assistants who were still standing about. She waved her hooves in the air and shouted something, causing them to go about their own business. Once they were distracted, she pulled a camera from her bag. A Smaller one that had seen better days. She pulled off her shades, leaned in close with Azure, and snapped a picture of the two of them before quickly putting the shades back on and putting the camera away. "None of Zem are to know about zat." She demanded. "Zat is for... Personal, private use."

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          Azure gritted his teeth and refrained from grabbing his head as quick flashing images appeared in his mind, threatening to rip apart his sanity. Relax Azure, you haven't been in combat in awhile....easy....easy. It's ok. Azure managed to rip himself from the imaginary world just in the nick of time. Before he knew it, a white flash appeared more vividly than they had been, his helmet having been retracted. Blinking rapidly for a moment, he welcomed his helmet once it encased him once more in its dark shadows. 

            I'm trying to let go Silver....trying to let go of my upbringing to mesh here....damn....damn it's hard. Azure sees the others scurry about upon hearing Photo Finish's voice. He'd admit one thing, he never would become bored while being here. Modeling wasn't his thing, but it was certainly nice to be able to see how other's lived their lives. Guarding and plowing had been the only life he knew how to live. So to be able to be complimented on something that was far outside of his known expertise had made him slightly happy. 

             A coverphoto you say? Is this to be a...magazine or the cover of an article? Azure sees one more flash of light, though a lot less blinding than the previous pictures. I don't have a problem with keeping quiet about this. Though....I have a feeling that there's more to this than just snapping a few pictures. So, to entertain me, is there more to this process? Azure looks at Photo upon retracting his helmet, a small bit of sweat having already produced itself in his mane. It can get pretty hot underneath his helmet but he loves it all the same.

              

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Photo Finish looked to Azure with an affirmative nod. "Zis vill be a Magazine Article about Guards, and ze magicks within what zey do!" She said, explaining her idea. "Too many ponies are scared of the guard. So, I show some photos of a guards intimidation, and some of his not-so-intimidation. Perhaps ponies will realize that it ees the not-so-intimidation side zat they vant to know." She said, thinking. It made sense to her, but she looked over to Azure for Confirmation.

More to the process? Did this pony really not know? She pushed him along a little deeper into the building to a thick wooden door. A Light on the outside was unlit. "More to zis happens here." She said, opening the door to reveal a large dark-room. "I vill spend hours, or zey told me it vas DAYS, going over ze pictures we took, Finding ze best ones, and laying zem out."[/b] She said, walking in to show him the various tools she'll use. "And zen, Ze cover photo vill be carefully cut and spliced to ze other half for an interesting look~" she said.

She then turned and looked toward him. Raising an eyebrow, she moved toward him. "Unless you meant more to zis?" She asked, holding up the other camera. Cracked, dirty, very unprofessional. "Zis was ze camera I worked so hard to buy when I was but a Kleine Fohlen." She explained, holding it close. "Zis camera is vhat sent me on this journey to become... ZE BEST! So, I still take photos vith it to send home to mutter und vater." She said with a nod, carefully putting that camera away.

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            Pardon my lack of knowledge of the matter, but a Kliene Fohlen? Of course I passed out during language classes, had I aid attention, I might know what that means. I'm hopeless, oh Swift if you could see me now. Speaking of Swift, I hope she doesn't mind if I'm a bit late tonight. While I did not ask if there was more to the camera, I would appreciate to get to know the one who's attempting to do what no other has been able to do~. So if that means learning about how you got the camera and what it means to you, then I'd happily listen to you Photo Finish. 

             Mother and father.....where are mine....why did I get left behind...? More somber images coursed this time through Azure's mind like a plague. However, he forced a smile, seeing that Photo obviously cared about them enough to send back photos of those who helped propel her through her career. It was an interesting way of captivating a moment, which was certainly one of many for this exotic looking mare. To him, she seemed to enjoy what she does, lived through all its up and downs yet believed in what she was doing and that she could make it happen. Otherwise, Azure would have turned tail and left awhile ago. 

              Days huh? Azure leaned up against a wall, looking about the dark room. Thankfully, he had worked so many night shifts that he could see most everything in the room with slight ease. However, he silently wished he could see as a bat pony did at night. So many more beauties of the world could become noticeable to the naked eye during the night if such vision existed for all ponies alike. I didn't know that much time got put into picking and developing photos. You certainly go in depth with what you do~ I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed. 

          Ponies don't want to know the dark side of things. They only want to know what will keep them safe and what will allow them to continue on their lives, permitting them to become oblivious to the world about them. So it's only natural they don't want to know why we look or are intimidating. Part of becoming a guard is being able to embrace the idea that something terrible could erupt one day, and be willing to tackle it head on, throwing our own safety to the wind. So it's only natural they fear us, and we don't fear each other. But maybe if they understood what drove us....they'd still be intimidated but less likely to cower and perhaps get to know the one under the armor. Who knows, my mind is babbling and I've no idea if Photo is talking or not. Azure blinks back to reality as he turns looking for Photo Finish.
             

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"Kleine Fohlen is Germane for 'Small Foal.'" She explained quickly, listening to Azure speak. She had thought Azure was talking about more to the picture she took. But that wasn't the case. He was actually asking for more about what she did! Not very many models did that. Even ones just taken off the streets. She smiled at him and looked down at her hooves for a moment. "Come! Photo Finish vill show you vhat she does!" She suddenly pulled him into the room, flipped a switch to turn on a light in the hallway, and pulled the door closed.

The room was dark, but not /quite/ pitch black. Azure would hear a shuffling noise as Photo Finish crossed the room and flipped a couple switches on the far wall, turning on a bank of eerie red lights in the corners of the room, giving them some light to see by. She set her shades and bag on a table near the door and gestured around. "You can see vhy I sometimes lose track of time?" She said with a laugh as she shuffled over to a shelf and pulled out a sheet of white paper, placing it on a large metallic device.

I have zhese pictures. Ones I have had taken of Me. zhey are for interviews or Models with zheir own albums." She explained, pulling out a small box and filing through it quickly, pulling out a film strip and placing it into the top of the machine. "And zhen, ve press zhe button..." She does so, and the machine lights up for a second, going dark again. She holds up the piece of paper, which is blank, and shuffles over to a few small basins near Azure, placing the paper in one carefully, and grabbing a pair of tongs, watching as the picture sloooowly fades into view.

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          Azure had finally began to get comfortable in the room before being effortlessly being pulled away down the hallway. Jeeze Photo Finish has quite the grip. Has she always been this strong? The moment they arrive upon the new room after passing by several ponies, all of which who aren't paying them any attention as if this were normal, Azure's eyes immediately adjust to the darkness. The perks of being part of the Night Guard were astounding to Azure at times....until the room turns into an eerie looking red. Aaah....ok. Azure might be blinking a few times to re-adjust at this point.

           Not bad....I can definitely see you burning some daylight in here. Even if the room is a bit cramped. Gah, still feel like I'm being yanked about the place at her will. Absent-mindlessly, Azure begins to rub his forehooves together as if he had just been cuffed. The metallic object certainly seemed strange, but everything in here nonetheless seemed to have a purpose. There's no telling how many photos she has and of who. There's no way in the world that I'm the first guard pony she's done this with.

            Azure's thoughts end as the metallic object shoots out a light before going dark. That was...strange. Yea, you have armor that divides itself into hundreds of tiny little shards whether its finding a place to rest on your body or retracting, yet this is strange? Smooth Azure. The photo hangs up over a small body of water by tongs, coming into view. What it was however was a mystery to Azure as the photo had yet to come into view. Needless to say, his curiosity had been grasped.

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Photo Finish smiled as a picture of herself standing next to the gate of the Castle came into view. "Zis pool. Monomenthyl-p-aminophenol Hemisulfate, Phenidone, Dimezone, and Hydroquinone. More commonly called 'Developer fluid.'" She said, looking to Azure to see if he was still following what she was saying. She pulled the film out of the liquid and gave it a light shake, moving it to the second pool and dipping it.

"Zis one, is... 2% Acetic acid, and vater. Plus, Photo Feenish's special ingredient!" She looked around quickly for a few moments, making sure it was just the two of them. _{"For ze mageek."} She said quietly, pulling the picture out and giving it a shake. "Also called ze 'Stop Bath'"

And the third Pool, she dipped the picture, moved it around slightly while submerged. "Zis is my favorite to say. Zis is Sodium Thiosulfate and Ammonium Thiosulfate. Do not get too close, eet is harmful in high doses." She picked the picture up and hung it up, letting the last bit drip into the third basin. "Zis is ze Fixer. It removes ze excess anti-magics. Or, for zose who know, it removes unexposed Seelver Halide, vhich is the Filmy part of ze paper."

After a few long moments, she moved the picture over a sink, grabbed a bottle and spritzed it liberally, taking a light sponge and dabbing the picture. "Zis is ze most important part. Dihydrogen Monoxide." She said, making sure the picture was fully clean before offering it to Azure as a souvenir. "Also known as... vater." She said with a grin, as if she had just told a joke. She hit a button and the red lights went out, then a shuffling was heard. "Lights on~" And the lights came on with a flick of the switch.

"Zere is more zhat vill be done vith the roll of Pictures I took of you, but zhat will take some time. And zhat is a process just for me. Secret ingredients and vhatnot." She said with a definitive nod, opening the door and turning off the light outside of it. "Vhas there anything else you vould like to see?"

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        Azure's eyes widened at the larger than normal words. Some of the words he could decipher but everything else to him seemed like a language far foreign to him. Gee....should've spent more time in chemistry class...aye yae yae~. Azure seemed to become relieved when Photo told him it was Developer Fluid, putting him at ease. Yea ok, that makes more sense now.  Azure's eyes would follow the picture to the next pool that she called the Stop Bath. I reckon....it's where she quits dipping it in chemicalized water? Wrong.

         Those words he knew, and knew immediately to stay a safe distance back from the water, not wanting to be harmed from the chemicals. He watched the water from the third basin drip off, noticing as Photo said, no film being left on the picture as she let it dry. The process of which photographers went through to get the perfect picture, or at least in Photo's case, was mind boggling. Then again, he supposed it's basic elementary for those who devote their life to their work and passion.

         Di hydrogen Monoxide, two hydrogen atoms with a single oxygen atom...least I believe that's how it goes. Scratching the back of his head, he looks down at the picture for a moment. Smiling, he accepts the gift of Photo standing next to the gate of Canterlot Castle. She seemed happy, then again, he assumed she was happy whenever any picture was being taken whether she was the photographer or somepony was snapping a picture of her. He chuckles lightly at her joke before heading out the door, looking back towards Photo. Thank you for the gift, if there's anything else you'd like to show me I'd be more than willing to follow you around and learn a few more things.~ It's been quite the treat thus far~.

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Photo Finish chuckled at his response. ”Do not vorry. Most Ponies don’t know the combinations. Zhat is what makes zhem special. Most Ponies can’t develop their own film. And I have my own special tricks for ze Magazine Spreads zhat I didn’t use in zhat picture.” She said, happy to still have some secrets.

She nodded at him, confirming that he was correct in what he was saying. She was about to start off to continue the tour but paused, shuffling back toward the studio quickly, leaving Azure where he was. After a few long moments she came back with a little canister. ”Almost forgot about ze Film from todays shoot!” She said, placing the canister on the table in the dark room before closing the door again. ”I vill need to work on fixing up zhat… I vould show you zhat, but… Well, zhe dark room vill have to be COMPLETELY DARK. No red Lights.” She said with a nod.

She gestured for him to follow this time, shuffling along through the rest of the studio, showing him the dressing room, the other photo-taking areas, which were for more Family Photo shoots. (Something most ponies didn’t know about Photo Finish’s studio, that they actually do family photo’s, not just models and Magazines)

As they came into the Family Photo area, she looked to the Pony running the camera, nudging them lightly. She then shuffled toward the family, looking them over closely and gently nudging them around a bit to a better position, then tilted one reflector ever so slightly to change the lighting before giving the Photographer a nod for the go ahead before shuffling back toward Azure.

As they returned to where she took his photos she smiled at him. ”Zhat is the studio in its entirety... Vell, all but Photo Finish’s office and vorkshop. Zhat is a place you do not get to see. Zhe office is just a desk and some Chairs. But ze Workshop is where more magic happens!” She said, exuberantly, before looking toward Azure. ”But zhat finishes zhe tour. It is getting Late, I vill have to fetch ze Dinner before I start fixing your Negatives.”