p i c t u r e on the wall [open]

[equinox]

The picture wasn't quite right, but Equinox had yet to figure out what to do about it. Frustrated, she shoved the stationary photograph under the pile of ones for the Daily Prophet. Lately, Equinox had taken a liking to muggle photography, particularly of the black and white variety. She liked the feel of it, so sometimes she just took pictures without magic. It was refreshing to Equinox. She didn't know what her boss would think of that, though.

Scenes of recent events now spilled across Equinox's table. The Dark Mark in the sky, a burning house, black wisps fleeing a broken store, and a mother clinging tightly to her son. None of the stories were particularly happy, but at the moment, these were the events plaguing the wizarding world. So Equinox was obliged to photograph them.

She picked her best shots out from the pile and slid them into an envelope for the editors to look at. Equinox had been standing, but as she pulled out all of her stationary photographs, she sighed and took a seat. This was truly what she loved to do. None of them were really current events, but rather things that had caught Equinox's eye. People's faces as they ducked their heads coming out of stores. Trees that seemed to bake in the hot summer sun. A half-smile came across Equinox's face. Yes, she did like muggle photography.

She began to arrange her photographs in various orders, not really minding anything else going on around her. She had done her work, now she might as well experiment a bit. Fifteen minutes later, Equinox had a collage of sorts on her table. And she found that she rather liked it. Equinox leaned back in her chair, admiring her work for a moment. But when she heard footsteps approach her, she quickly looked up.

[victoria]

Victoria, for the first time in over eight years, had left the office for lunch. It was dreadfully hard to keep Jacques a secret if they were in her office. People were always coming in, asking questions, giving her files... No, it was just easier to leave the building. Victoria knew the affair was only going to land her in trouble, but it felt so... good. For so long she had been craving affection, and she had found it in a charming Frenchman. Jacques was an amazing man. Not just in bed, but he was smart, caring, and treated her like the most precious thing in the world.

Some of it might be because of her Charm, but Victoria hardly cared. She had been so lonely, and now a gap in her life was being filled. Before going to her own office she stopped by the desk of one of her photographers, in such a good mood that she would review the photos herself instead of handing them off to another editor. "Good afternoon," said Victoria.

[equinox]

Equinox jumped slightly when she saw that it was the editor-in-chief herself before Equinox's desk. She grabbed the envelope of the latest pictures and set it on top of her collage. "Hello Mrs. Storm," Equinox said, slightly nervous that her boss was in front of her. Usually Mrs. Storm didn't go out for lunch, but she must have today, otherwise she would've been coming from the opposite direction. Also, Victoria looked unusually happy. Not that she was an unhappy person, but she seemed to be in a better mood than usual.

[victoria]

Victoria smiled, though usually prim and proper, "Mrs. Storm" was beginning to sound too formal to her. But she had her wits about her still, someone would be bound to notice something if she suddenly went on first name basis with her employees. "Are those your assignment?" asked Victoria, tilting her head toward the envelope, "if so I'll take them to spare you the trip." Since meeting Jacques she seemed to be stuck in a permanent good mood, which might not be a bad thing.

It wasn't so hard to fall asleep alone at night when she had secret luncheons with Jacques to look forward to. But Victoria always in the back of her mind worried that she might be getting careless. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt Michael, but he had unknowingly hurt her by spending so much time away.

[equinox]

Equinox still felt a bit awkward in Mrs. Storm's presence, even though Victoria was in a good mood. She had always felt a bit intimidated by her boss. "Yes, here you are," Equinox said, handing the envelope to Victoria, which revealed the rest of the collage on Equinox's desk. She hoped Mrs. Storm didn't look too long at it. Equinox probably should have just taken the pictures home.

"Did you go out to lunch?" Equinox asked, hoping to make some sort of a momentary conversation. She figured the answer to her question would be a yes, though. Equinox had no idea why Mrs. Storm would choose today to be the only day she went out to lunch, but Equinox could hardly complain. She figured the woman probably deserved the break anyway.

[victoria]

"Oh, yes, I did," said Victoria, not even bothering to go to her office before peering in the envelope and flipping through the photographs that would match the next day's articles. Truth be told, Victoria had been contemplating resigning for the past few weeks. She loved her job, but the stress of it had been getting to her, even with Jacques there to lessen the load considerably. But there wasn't anyone she trusted enough to run the Prophet as smoothly.

Victoria frowned as she looked at the pictures, although they were taken excellently, she was growing tired of the stories. All these disappearances, muggle torturings, murders. "There isn't much positive going on, is there?" Victoria sighed, looking over the envelope to see the collage of entirely still photographs on her employee's desk. The artwork brought a smile to her lips once more.

[equinox]

Equinox shook her head in agreement with her employer. Things had been rather depressing as of late, but she had still photographed everything diligently. It made Equinox depressed every once in a while, but she felt like the general public had a right to see what was going on. So, she would continue to take the pictures.

"No, nothing very happy, that's for sure," Equinox agreed. Equinox supposed there had to have been something good to report in the entire newspaper, but whatever it was, she had not been assigned to photograph it. That was alright though, she could hardly be expected to have any of the fun jobs, still being new. Equinox then noted Mrs. Storm's eyes on her collage. Her cheeks turned slightly red, she hadn't meant for that to be noticed.

[victoria]

"No need to be embarrassed, dear," Victoria said, eyes flickering from the collage to her employee's pinkened cheeks. She knew the photographers had little to do when they weren't being sent out on assignments, so she seldom blamed them for taking on their own, private projects when they didn't have anything to do. Victoria was just grateful that she paid them on the photos they brought in, not by the hour.

She would have loathed to pay people to not do what they were hired to do. "Perhaps you might be interested in some freelance work," Victoria suggested, "I've got a friend in interior decorating, if you were inclined I could connect you to her." She closed the envelope, tucking it into the inchanted pocket of her robes.

[equinox]

Mrs. Storm's kind words only made Equinox's cheeks a shade darker. After a moment, though, the blush went away, for which Equinox was thankful. She hated appearing embarrassed, especially since she was fairly proud of these photos. She had certainly enjoyed herself while taking them.

"Oh, that's quite alright," Equinox replied. "I don't think I would be too good at photographing much indoors, anyway." Besides, Equinox preferred to be out of doors anyway, which she was currently doing. She always did work for the Daily Prophet first, but then Equinox found other places to go and take pictures. It was actually quite relaxing.

[victoria]

"All right," Victoria said skeptically, she would have thought the collage might make a lovely wall display- or each picture framed individually and dotted sparingly through a house. She, of course, wouldn't try to micromanage what her employees did outside of work, her words had been merely a suggestion. Victoria smiled a bit again. It had been a gamble, hiring a very young, inexperienced photographer, but it had paid off.

She saw the young woman before her holding a substantial career within the Prophet so long as she kept taking such quality pictures. "But please do let me know if you change your mind," said Victoria, tucking the envelope into her robes pocket.

[equinox]

Equinox had, of course, been confused as to what Mrs. Storm had previously meant and was now somewhat regretting her decline of the offer. She was silent for a moment, considering her options. She looked down at the collage on her table. It was good, there was really no denying that. Equinox was usually fairly modest, but she had begun to love her still photos.

"Well, what sort of thing were you thinking of?" Equinox asked, deciding it would be best to speak up and allow herself at least a new opportunity. One could never know, perhaps she would love working for the interior decorator.

[victoria]

"I thought it might make an intruiging wall-hanging," said Victoria, "perhaps in the focal point of a room to generate conversation. Or maybe even have each piece framed idvidually and placed at random throughout a home for a more universal decor." Yes, Victoria also had a soft spot in her heart for decorating. She put together quite the impressive, elegant home, helped along by her friend, of course.

She smiled a bit, while it might not be what she would put in her home it had that contemporary, unique sort of edge that more modern decorating might accomodate. "My friend is always looking for new pieces and the like to offer to her clients, I think I might have her card if you're interested." Victoria added.

[equinox]

Equinox nodded slowly. Yes, that sounded like a good idea. Perhaps it was something she could do in her spare time to generate a bit of her own money. Sure her parents had plenty, but Equinox liked to have a bit of her own. Perhaps she would even move out soon to become more independent.

"That does sound interesting," Equinox offered. "I think I would definitely give her a call." Equinox liked the idea that her photos might be placed in someone's home. She felt that artwork really made a house a home, so it would be a honor to her to have her work in another person's house.

[victoria]

Victoria smiled, and then began searching through the pockets of her mint green robes. Although they didn't look like it, the robes were made of practically nothing but pockets- all enchanted of course, so she could carry around larger, heavier items without noticing a slight change in weight or the way her robes laid.After a moment she produced a stack of neatly bundled index cards.

Without looking up at Equinox, Victoria flipped through the stack and at last found one labeled Flora McGrew: Interior decorating for the modern witch or wizard and listed an address to which owls could be sent. "Here you are," said Victoria, handing over the parchment business card.