(Untitled)

[lionelthayer]

Lionel isn't sure why he's even brought out his old camera in the first place; it's not as if he can take any pictures that won't do anything but sit on a roll of film he can't develop. It's probablya bit for nostalgia's sake - taking Mark's cinematography class has been putting him more in mind of his own college years. It isn't homesickness so

Comments

[belongsomeplace]

It's just coincidence that Jim's there to witness the whole thing. He didn't even know Lionel was around, he was just heading in to look for a book for his psychology class.

"Hey," he says, book forgotten as he weaves his way to Lionel's side. "Hey, is everything okay?"

[lionelthayer]

"Everything but my pride," Lionel says, feeling his face grow a bit hot as he looks over at Jim. "Uh, you didn't see all that, did you?"

[belongsomeplace]

"It was entirely the cat's fault," says Jim solemnly, eyeing the damage. "I'd swear to that in court."

[lionelthayer]

"You're a good friend, Jim," Lionel says, smiling.

It fades a bit when he looks down at the camera in his hands. There's a crack in the lens, with smaller cracks growing away from it, and in some spots the glass is chipped. "I can't believe that just happened."

[new_ophelia]

Kate's just about to raise her voice to say hello when she witnesses the whole thing which, frankly, looks like something she'd do. It's on the tip of her tongue to say something snarky when she notices the broken camera.

"Shit," she whispers, walking over slowly towards Lionel. "Is it broken?"

[lionelthayer]

A small part of Lionel feels being witnessed in his clumsy moment is almost worse than his camera being broken. At least it's just Kate.

He nods in reply, and holds the camera up carefully so she can see the cracked lens. "Seven years back luck, you think? Or maybe just three and a half?"

[new_ophelia]

"I'm so sorry," she murmurs as she runs a finger along the thin crack. "That was from back home, yeah? I blame the cat."

[lionelthayer]

"I haven't used it in a while," Lionel says, both answering Kate's question and explaining something he doesn't have to. He isn't really sure what else to say. "I'm fine with blaming the cat."

[turnthebadinme]

"Oh, god, are you okay?" Serena asked, wincing as she headed over to check. She hadn't really seen what had happened - just a sudden blur of motion to her side, followed by the sound of something cracking. Even if it was the camera and not Lionel himself, she wanted to check he was alright.

[lionelthayer]

"I'm fine," Lionel insists. The only thing really bruised is his ego, and the only thing broken is his camera. "As long as you promise you didn't see anything."

[turnthebadinme]

"I didn't," Serena said, then laughed a little. "I mean, I really didn't. Just sort of a -" She waved her hands around, an indication of the flurry of movement she'd seen. As the camera caught her attention, though, she quieted again. "Is it broken?"

[lionelthayer]

"Just a little bit," Lionel admits, tilting the camera carefully to show the cracked lens. "I guess I'm lucky this wasn't the camera I actually use now."

[picturesbydiane]

Diane watched the scene with a feeling of acute horror, stretching out a hand, but by that time it was too late.

"Is it all right?" she asked tentatively, looking at the camera in the man's hands and repressing a shudder. She recognized him from Mr. Cohen - Mark's - class, but she had not spoken much to him, being somewhat shy, still, when it came to making island acquaintances.

[lionelthayer]

"Unfortunately not," Lionel replies, feeling a bit shy. He can't help it, especially not around Diane Arbus, of all people. "I'm lucky it's not my only camera, though."

[picturesbydiane]

"I used to clean and repair my husband's lenses. I could take a look, if you like?" Diane offered, perhaps a little over-eager to get her hands on a camera, albeit one that was most probably broken. It was a later model than she was familiar with, as well, but then she supposed this man - Lionel, she remembered his name was, because how could she forget someone else with that name - was from the future and thus was his equipment.

[lionelthayer]

There isn't a single person Lionel will admit this to, but his heart skips a beat when he realizes Diane Arbus herself is asking to fix his camera. It feels almost like when he's first met Jim, and trying to get past what he looked like.

"Sure," he says, holding it out to her, only just keeping his eagerness in check. "There's a crack I'm not sure can be fixed, but maybe..."

[jack_crew]

Jack feels really awful about it, but when the book thumps down to the table, the baby in his arms gives a little cough that Jack has come to recognize as Sam's attempt at laughter. Then he kicks his legs against Jack's hip and shrieks, making it clear he wants... well, something.

"Are you okay?" he asks, bouncing Sam as he walks over. "How's the camera?" He knows how much Lionel loves his cameras.

[lionelthayer]

"I heard that," Lionel says, and waits until Jack's closer before reaching out to tickle Sam's foot. He holds the camera up lens forward so Jack can see for himself.

[jack_crew]

"Oh, shit, that's not good," Jack murmurs, making a face. He isn't too worried about swearing around Sam. Not yet, anyway, he's too young to understand.

[lionelthayer]

"Language," Lionel warns, giving Jack an amused look. He might just be waiting for the day when Sam can talk enough to parrot back any one of Jack's favorite curses. Maybe.

"It's okay, I think," he says, looking back at the camera in his hands. "At least I don't use this one anymore."