Big City Boy in... Another Big City That He's So Not Familiar With

[crowncitizen]

WHO: Prompto and anyone else
WHAT: Kirkwall shenanigans
WHEN: Throughout Bloomingtide
WHERE: All over.
NOTES: None that I can think of! Will update if needed

See Prompto Argentum. See Prompto all about Kirkwall making arguably questionable decisions/actions!

A. Setting Up Shop. Sort of

Lo and behold, Prompto's figured out how to develop and print his negatives. It took a lot of experimenting and some lost photos, but he's finally managed it.

He's taken over a small, windowless storage closet in the Gallows and is using it as a dark room of sorts. A sign hangs over it, reading "DO NOT ENTER". He knows it might be inviting trouble, which is why he never leaves the negatives alone if they're developing. That said, towards the latter half of the month, one might find little flyers stuck around the place, encouraging people to come see Prompto if they're interested in getting photos, which he describes as "like paintings, but quicker and way cheaper!"

If someone had commissioned a photo from him earlier, he's got them ready. He's actually got one of Church hanging up for all to see. It's one of the better developed films, and it showcases his work perfectly. There are a few other ones strung about, mostly of the surrounding landscapes and the city.
So come up to his little area and see what the fuss is about.

B. Archery Practice

Prompto's got himself a bow and arrow. Unfortunately, he barely knows how to use it. Somewhere out in the Gallows courtyard, in some remote corner so he doesn't accidentally shoot someone, he's set up a little target practice. He found a piece of wood from the clean up effort and painted a target on it.

He's been at it awhile. And he's shot a lot of arrows... most of which are not exactly on the target. He heaves out a breath, dropping the bow and flopping onto his butt with a defeated expression. His hands hurt, and he's no closer to shooting that stupid bow right. So much for being a sharpshooter.

Come cheer him up? Or get him off his ass and set him straight?

C. The City Streets

The Gallows definitely look less... Gallow-y than before, but they still kind of depress Prompto. So he tries to get out and about as often as possible, either taking pictures or doing some desperately needed shopping. He's at the market nearly everyday, either buying more clothes to help him blend in better (and to try and be somewhat stylish, come on now) or stocking up on books. He's not a huge reader, but given the lack of television, phones, or any kind of media here, he'll take what he can get.

D. Wildcard

Hit me with your own scenario!

Comments

A

[aceso]

Christine is vaguely aware of the flyers, but she hadn't given them much thought because she has no need for something like a painting of herself. It's by pure chance that she comes across his dark room one day while walking her little papillon. Her eyes skim over the landscape photos, not really registering in her brain that they're not paintings, and she's about to move on when the photo of Church catches her eye and she does a double take. Stepping closer, she marvels at the image until her mouth drops open and a hand lifts towards it. She doesn't touch, but it's remarkable! That's Church, her Church, only she doesn't see any brushstrokes or lines of a pen!

"What in the world..." she murmurs to herself, wondering how it's possible while her dog Ponce dances around her feet, curious as to what is interrupting their walk.

[crowncitizen]

Prompto is carefully checking over how much of the chemicals he has left when he hears someone nearby. He pops his head around the corner, and a grin forms when he sees the woman admiring his photos.

"Church sure knows how to strike a pose huh?" he says as he walks over. "They're photographs. Like a painting, but without actual painting. That's exactly what he looked like at the moment it was taken."

[aceso]

Christine is startled away from her observations by his voice, and her dog jumps in front of her, barking at the stranger.

"Ponce, hush," she scolds, nudging him with her foot until he gets behind her. The papillon is little but fierce! He can bite off toes! Or at least he likes to think he can. He lets out a huff from behind her calf, still eyeing Prompto with suspicion.

"He looks exactly as I know him," she replies in an Orlesian accent. "But how does one 'take' a photograph?" She has heard of taking someone's likeness, but those refer to sketches, and this is obviously not that. It's like a window to the past. A frozen moment in time. How long does it take to capture, because she knows Church would complain if he had to hold still in such a pose for an extended period of time.

[crowncitizen]

Whoa there, doggy. Prompto offers him a smile, waggling his fingers in greeting in a show of friendliness.

"With a camera. Hang on, let me get it." Prompto disappears again for a moment, going back to his room to retrieve it. He returns with the black, clunky looking device in his hands. "It's... kind of complicated to explain. It involves light being focused by this lens in the front to project an image on the film."

[aceso]

She frowns at the little box with the round window. How can such a little thing produce images like these? Perhaps there's a bit of magic involved.

"That does sound complicated. I am afraid I do not know what film is either. But it can make these?" She shifts back towards the photos, taking a better look at the images of Kirkwall before going back to Church.

"They are so crisp. No lines made by a hand, but exactly as it really appears. Just... flat."

[crowncitizen]

"Yeah, it can." He'll just leave it at that. To be honest, he doesn't entirely understand the mechanics of photography himself. It's so taken for granted in his world that it's just one of those things that can be done. Being in Thedas makes him wish he had taken the time to fully study it. "It's like freezing a moment in time. No paintbrushes or pencils involved. The camera does all the work, and I just... help get it from film to paper."

[aceso]

"Well however it is you do it, it is very fine work." He must be extremely clever to have it all worked out. Christine still isn't sure there's not a touch of magic involved, because the photographs look so perfect. Her eyes dart towards one in particular again before she smiles softly and gestures towards it. Of course it's the one of Church.

"Is it for sale?"

C, taking pictures

[circleprodigy]

Inessa's out and about with Garahel, taking a much-needed break from the Gallows and the workload within. At first, stepping out had her nervous, but she's since learned that having a large mabari at her side means her chances of being harassed are much lower. For his part, Garahel is having a ball sniffing at everything that crosses their path, then he lifts his head up and barks happily. Turning to look at what's caught his attention, Inessa catches sight of the human who helped her with those animated statues earlier. His actions have her raising an eyebrow as the pair head over to catch up with him, Garahel wagging his tail with enthusiasm.

"Hello again. I...what are you doing, exactly?" She tilts her head, genuinely curious and not familiar with the device in his hand.

[crowncitizen]

Prompto looks up from his camera, smiling and waving to her. "Hey!" He wiggles his fingers at Garahel before he looks back down at his camera. "Oh, I'm taking photographs! This is a camera. It takes a still image of what's in front of this lens. Like a painting, but no actual painting involved."

[circleprodigy]

As Garahel circles Prompto, probably sniffing for treats, Inessa peers at the camera with interest. "Really? This I would like to see. What have you captured in still image so far?"

Whatever else she might have mentioned is quickly derailed, because interesting rift device which has a use she's never heard of before. How can she not be curious?

[crowncitizen]

Prompto glances apologetically at the dog; sorry, bud, he doesn't have anything. He gives Garahel a scratch behind the ears as compensation.

"Mostly landscapes and shots of the city. Got a couple people, too. Someone requested a picture of the guy running the city. Now that I know how to develop them, I'll probably be taking more pictures." To an extent. His supplies are limited, after all. "I don't have any of the photos with me. They're back in my room in the Gallows."

[circleprodigy]

It's okay, Prompto. Garahel is content with affection instead of treats, which he knows his mistress has anyway.

"I would love to see them at some point, when time permits. And...how do you develop them? Is the process very different here than what you're used to?"

[crowncitizen]

"Sure, anytime. I've got a few hanging out and about, just to show people and maybe get them interested." Supply levels willing, he can make some extra cash doing this. "That's... kind of hard to explain. It involves chemicals, film, a dark room and some pretty good paper. And it's a lot different than back home. This camera is way outdated compared to the one I had in my world. You could take a picture on it and instantly see the image, without having to develop it. And it was in color."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa's eyebrows shoot up at hearing of such a marvel. "It almost sounds akin to a sending crystal, in that I would not have believed such a device to be possible in times past. But that knowledge is more widespread now. I wonder if it will be true of these cameras, as well. Items have been seen leaving rifts as well, haven't they? Items that could not possibly be from Thedas."

Garahel doesn't seem to be interested in the overarching possibilities, so much as more immediate ones. Following what's said, he barks and circles Prompto before nudging with his head at the hand with the camera and wagging his tail. Everyone needs a mabari picture, right?

A

[tallasaking]

Tyrion appears at the other man's little shop, his gaze looking at the pictures that were hanging up on all the walls. His eye falls on the one of the church, both eyebrows raising together in surprise. My, he was not jesting in the slightest when he said these would be infinitely valuable.

Stepping up, he rapped on the counter, as soon as he had found a box to stand on, "Anyone in there?"

[crowncitizen]

Church's interesting pose certainly has raised a few eyebrows, and some chortles.

Prompto's taking stock when he hears the rap. He comes out from around the corner nearby. "Oh, hey! Sorry, didn't hear anyone come in."

He strides over. "They turned out pretty well. I have your first photo, if you'd like to see."

[tallasaking]

That Church was an intriguing man, Tyrion would have to say. He smirks again at the picture, before turning to Prompto with a smile.

"That is perfectly fine, it is easy to miss me." He gestured to his diminutive stature, then smirked. "Perfect, I would be delighted to see it."

[crowncitizen]

"Oh - no, I didn't mean it like that!" Way to insult a customer. Darn it! "I was just pretty, you know, focused and I wasn't listening and..." You know what, he's gonna just shut up and get the photo. He ducks into the closet, coming out a moment later with the photo in hand. "Here you go. Hope you like it."

Bran looks none the wiser of the photo, busy talking to some noble or whoever. The photo's relatively up close, though it's by no means a portrait.

[tallasaking]

Tyrion blinked - once, and then twice, before his lips curved up into a gentle smile. "I know you meant no harm, Prompto. I am just making an obvious statement, as based on my rather obvious height. No worries."

How nice it was to be around people who actually worried about offending his feelings.

He took the photo, making a quiet noise of approval, "This is quite good, Prompto. Thank you, it is just what I was looking for."

c; shopping

[sulena]

Also at the market almost every day, Saoirse seeks out reasonable priced cloth and other items. Most of the stall owners are well enough, some are even familiar but there are some that shoo her away without a second glance after catching sight of her ears. Kirkwall is better, yes. She reminds herself of this fact but there are still parts that have not changed at all.

Thankfully, today has been a good day and she leaves one stall with much needed replacement strings for her lute when she spies Prompto peeking at a wide array of clothes. It was hard not to notice him because of the way he did stand out in his odd style of clothing and it didn't help she had not befriended many Rifters since joining the Inquisition.

With a curious look, she approaches and peeks at whatever piece of clothing he is holding. "A jerkin isn't a bad look though I would avoid the ones made of goatskin."

[crowncitizen]

Prompto almost jumps when she comes up to him, having not heard her approach. He lets out a nervous chuckle, a lame attempt to hide his surprise. "Oh, uh, thanks. What's wrong with goatskin?"

[sulena]

And Saoirse, unable to help herself, cannot stop the small giggle that escapes her. She decides to focus on the clothes instead, adjusting her items and holding up one of the leather jerkins laying on the display.

"Hard to work with and harder to get right. It also doesn't offer much in the way of protection given the work possible with the Inquisition, though... I suppose some of it could be fashionable enough for casual wear."

[crowncitizen]

Okay, mental note: goatskin's the equivalent to cheap, manufactured cotton back home. Might look pretty, but not great protection wear. "Good to know. Thanks." He really needs to bring a pen and - er, quill and parchment to write notes about this kind of stuff. Prompto's so afraid he'll forget it. "What would you recommend?"

[sulena]

"Of course," she says with a smile. "Hmm. As far as recommendations go..."

She is grateful that the stall owner does not seem to mind her presence. It allows Saoirse the chance to get a look at all the item and pick one up, thoughtfully looking it over before holding it up toward Prompto with a hum.

"This one, I think would do nicely. It is casual enough to not be a bother but it is padded carefully and the needlework is strong. It could hold up well." A pause and then she chuckles, peeking over the jerkin. "It would look good on you too, I believe."

[crowncitizen]

Prompto does his part to be a good mannequin, holding still and holding out his arms so she can get a good look. He peers down, seeing how the tunic looks on him. It's quite a nice color! He goes to say as much, but her compliments stop him in his tracks. For someone who claims to be a ladies' man, he does get awfully flustered for a moment there at her comment. "Oh. I, uh... thanks!" Is he blushing? He might be blushing. He hopes like hell he's not blushing. "I mean, I look snazzy in most things, but it's always great to hear it from a pretty lady." Smooth recovery, right? (No, no it wasn't, you sound like a dork, Prompto).

But as he lets that sink in, he realizes he's forgotten something important. "... a pretty lady whose name I never got." Whoops. "I'm doing this a little out of order, huh? I'm Prompto."