Conclusion of "Fall Fair"
Oct. 13th, 2003 06:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
calic0catHere's the rest of Holiday Series #7 "Fall Fair"...
***
After watching the first driving class, Heero suggested that they explore the midway for a while, then come back to see some of the team hitches later on. Duo was in agreement, so they headed off to check out the game booths and vendors.
"Hey, Ro, look over here. Think it'd be fun to get one done?"
Following the direction that Duo had indicated with their joined hands, Heero looked at the signs and samples plastered along the porch railing of the "log cabin". He pointed to one of the sample images and smirked, "As long as *you're* the one planning to wear the dress and the feather boa..."
The indignant "Yuy!" and thwack of their clasped hands against Heero's chest did not come as a surprise.
"Well, *I'm* certainly not going to be the one dressing as the dance hall girl," Heero deadpanned.
"Yeah, well, neither am I, asshole..."
Heero just grinned at the affectionately muttered insult. "I suppose we could just settle for both dressing as gunslingers," he sighed, shaking his head in mock disappointment.
"Well, it's a damn sure thing that I'm *not* dressing up like some cheap barroom tart anyway," Duo grumbled. Heero could see the corners of his partner's mouth twitching as he tried to prevent himself from grinning. Duo raised one eyebrow in inquiry and said more seriously, "But I take it that you *do* want to give it a try?"
Running a critical eye over the samples and price lists, Heero nodded. "It does sound like fun. Especially if we opt for a genuine daguerreotype..." The daguerreotype was expensive - damn expensive for something that they were just doing for the hell of it - but after all, very few photographers worked with the antique medium. It wasn't something that the casual hobbyist like himself would ever get involved with. Even serious photographers working with the medium on a regular basis usually only ended up with one good shot in every ten. And considering how the images were made, that in itself made for one very expensive picture.
Daguerreotypes were made on copper plated with pure silver that was polished to a mirror surface. The silver was made light sensitive by exposing it to iodine and bromine vapours, then after the picture was taken the plate had to be developed over hot mercury vapour. Making daguerreotypes was a complicated, painstaking process involving chemicals that had to be carefully handled. And even after the image was produced, the final piece had to be sealed under glass in an airtight case.
The process was centuries old yet it produced incredible detail and tones unmatched by any other form of photography. The plate was a single solid sheet of silver. Photons of light reacted with the silver at the molecular level in a way that could only really be seen with the use of a scanning electron microscope in order to produce an unbelievable level of detail. The final piece was metal and each daguerreotype was one of a kind and could not be duplicated. The whole idea of having such an enduring image made just for fun held an undeniable appeal for Heero.
"A daguerreotype, huh?" Duo whistled softly as he read through the price list. Meeting Heero's eyes, he smiled and shrugged, "What the hell, why not?"
***
Duo grinned up at Heero as the photographer fussed with arranging the brim of Heero's cowboy hat. This little idea was going to cost more than their fair passes and meals for both today and tomorrow combined. But he was hoping that it sort of made up for his faux pas earlier over the photography contest. And they *were* having fun with the whole thing.
By the time that they'd each picked out an outfit, there had been more than a few additional teasing suggestions involving dresses, garter belts, and feather boas. And Heero had taken advantage of the few moments that they were alone in the small costume room to steal a hard, fast, breathless kiss that left Duo semi-seriously debating whether he really wanted to stay at the fair any longer today.
"Okay, that's just about got it..." the photographer muttered. He stepped back and eyed them critically. "Hmm..." Leaning forward, he twitched Heero's long duster a bit to the side so that the hand resting on the butt of the gun in the leg holster was more clearly visible, then adjusted the playing cards in Duo's hand slightly. He nodded in satisfaction, cautioning, "Just hold that position now, fellows."
Duo was very conscious of the warm weight of Heero's hand on his shoulder. He kept his gaze firmly fixed on the cards in his hand, trying not to burst into laughter from sheer self-consciousness. Just before the photographer took the picture, a soft, "Duo..." drew his gaze up to meet Heero's and the poker face he'd been trying to hold was replaced by an affectionate smile mirroring the one on Heero's face. The photographer might not be too thrilled about the change in their pose but hey - *they* were the ones paying for the picture, after all.
***
Heero quite happily handed over the payment for the daguerreotype. The photographer had taken several plates with them in different poses but that first shot - the one with him standing slightly behind and to the side of Duo, who was seated with one elbow resting on a table and a poker hand in his grasp - was the one that he liked best.
"Why do I have the feeling every other card player would have folded about two seconds after *that* moment?" Duo murmured, his chin resting on Heero's shoulder as he surveyed the image in Heero's hands.
Genuinely curious, Heero asked, "Why do you say that?"
Duo laughed quietly, "Ro, no gambler would be dumb enough to actually *beat* me with you hovering protectively like that."
Heero blinked and looked at the picture again. He flushed as he realized that the expressions on their faces and something subtle about his own stance had turned the "sheriff warning the gambler" pose into a "sheriff supporting his partner/lover" pose. "Oh," he said simply.
"Yeah - 'Oh'," Duo echoed.
Heero was pleasantly surprised when Duo gave him a swift bear-hug and brushed a kiss across his cheek before pulling away from behind him. Duo would accept his displays of affection in public readily enough but it was rare in the extreme for Duo to initiate one. They were semi-sheltered by the photography "cabin" that they were standing beside but this was still a very public place for Duo to do something so obvious.
"Hey, let's go see if they're showing the team hitches yet, Ro. There was this one really neat idea that I came across for the Halloween fundraiser..."
"Oh no, not *another* idea..." Heero complained theatrically as Duo grabbed his hand and started off towards the horse show ring. He dragged his feet slightly in apparent protest. Duo just chuckled and towed him along.
That grin was tugging at the corners of Heero's mouth again.
***
Duo jotted down a few more notes about insurance coverage and booking deadlines as he slowly walked away from the horse trailers. Heero's hand against his back steered him safely around other people and clear of the bustle of horses being unhitched. He had several good possibilities for Halloween; it was largely a matter of getting approval from the rest of the planning committee so that he could start making arrangements.
"I don't think the horses would have any trouble with what I've got in mind; the damn midway is practically in the ring with them and most of them don't even seem to notice," he commented as he tucked away his notes. It was pretty amazing; the Cobra ride was clearly visible spinning away mere feet away from the show ring and most of the horses barely even flicked an ear in its direction, despite the shrieks of its riders.
"They are surprisingly calm," Heero agreed. "But then, think about the mounted patrol's horses; they're like that too."
"Yeah, that's true..." Duo's brow furrowed in thought as new possibilities occurred to him. There were so many ideas to choose from... Oh well, he'd do some more thinking about it later.
"Y'know, Ro, I'm about done in. Too much damn sun and I don't think we've been drinking enough water. How about we take a Ferris wheel ride then call it quits for today?" he suggested. He'd rather leave while they were still having fun rather than hang around till they ended up overtired or bored. Especially if they were going to come back tomorrow for the parade, horse show - he was curious about the barrel racing and pole bending in particular - and tractor pull.
"Mm-hmm," Heero acknowledged, taking Duo's hand again and turning their steps towards the rides.
The wait in line for the Ferris wheel was surprisingly short. Checking the time, Duo realized that was probably because most people were taking a break for supper. "Eat when we get home?" he offered as they were seated.
"Good idea," Heero answered.
Duo noticed a few dirty looks directed in their direction as Heero wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. He automatically started to tense up, then consciously decided to ignore the unwanted attention and snuggled closer to Heero. 'Why the fuck would we even be riding this thing if not to cuddle?' They were leaving after this anyway; he'd just mention the - additional notice - to Heero, who'd probably noticed it himself; they'd pay extra close attention to their surroundings on the way to their vehicle and that would be the end of that.
"It's been a fun day, Ro," Duo observed quietly. "If we end up coming back tomorrow, though, we need to bring water bottles and make a point of drinking more." He wrinkled his nose, feeling the pull of tight skin, and added, "And I need a different hat. Dig out that Tilley one that I use when we go camping, I guess. It gives a lot more sun protection."
Gentle fingers brushed over his face. "Your skin's quite warm as well as being pretty pink; I hope you aren't too badly burned..."
"Me too. Have to wait and see in the morning whether I'm fit to spend another day here or not."
The ride lurched into motion for a few moments before stopping again. Heero asked softly, "You were okay with the handholding today?"
Duo turned his head so that Heero could see his expression. "Yeah, I was. Am." He'd felt self-conscious a few times but it hadn't bothered him as much as he'd half expected it to. Which was a definite relief since he knew Heero liked the contact and the demonstration that they were together.
"Good," Heero breathed.
Duo smiled at him and added, "In fact, I think I'll try something else..." And there, at the top of the Ferris wheel, Duo slid one hand behind Heero's head, cupping the base of his skull, leaned forward, and kissed him. And the presence of the crowd moving through the fair below didn't bother him one bit.
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***
After watching the first driving class, Heero suggested that they explore the midway for a while, then come back to see some of the team hitches later on. Duo was in agreement, so they headed off to check out the game booths and vendors.
"Hey, Ro, look over here. Think it'd be fun to get one done?"
Following the direction that Duo had indicated with their joined hands, Heero looked at the signs and samples plastered along the porch railing of the "log cabin". He pointed to one of the sample images and smirked, "As long as *you're* the one planning to wear the dress and the feather boa..."
The indignant "Yuy!" and thwack of their clasped hands against Heero's chest did not come as a surprise.
"Well, *I'm* certainly not going to be the one dressing as the dance hall girl," Heero deadpanned.
"Yeah, well, neither am I, asshole..."
Heero just grinned at the affectionately muttered insult. "I suppose we could just settle for both dressing as gunslingers," he sighed, shaking his head in mock disappointment.
"Well, it's a damn sure thing that I'm *not* dressing up like some cheap barroom tart anyway," Duo grumbled. Heero could see the corners of his partner's mouth twitching as he tried to prevent himself from grinning. Duo raised one eyebrow in inquiry and said more seriously, "But I take it that you *do* want to give it a try?"
Running a critical eye over the samples and price lists, Heero nodded. "It does sound like fun. Especially if we opt for a genuine daguerreotype..." The daguerreotype was expensive - damn expensive for something that they were just doing for the hell of it - but after all, very few photographers worked with the antique medium. It wasn't something that the casual hobbyist like himself would ever get involved with. Even serious photographers working with the medium on a regular basis usually only ended up with one good shot in every ten. And considering how the images were made, that in itself made for one very expensive picture.
Daguerreotypes were made on copper plated with pure silver that was polished to a mirror surface. The silver was made light sensitive by exposing it to iodine and bromine vapours, then after the picture was taken the plate had to be developed over hot mercury vapour. Making daguerreotypes was a complicated, painstaking process involving chemicals that had to be carefully handled. And even after the image was produced, the final piece had to be sealed under glass in an airtight case.
The process was centuries old yet it produced incredible detail and tones unmatched by any other form of photography. The plate was a single solid sheet of silver. Photons of light reacted with the silver at the molecular level in a way that could only really be seen with the use of a scanning electron microscope in order to produce an unbelievable level of detail. The final piece was metal and each daguerreotype was one of a kind and could not be duplicated. The whole idea of having such an enduring image made just for fun held an undeniable appeal for Heero.
"A daguerreotype, huh?" Duo whistled softly as he read through the price list. Meeting Heero's eyes, he smiled and shrugged, "What the hell, why not?"
***
Duo grinned up at Heero as the photographer fussed with arranging the brim of Heero's cowboy hat. This little idea was going to cost more than their fair passes and meals for both today and tomorrow combined. But he was hoping that it sort of made up for his faux pas earlier over the photography contest. And they *were* having fun with the whole thing.
By the time that they'd each picked out an outfit, there had been more than a few additional teasing suggestions involving dresses, garter belts, and feather boas. And Heero had taken advantage of the few moments that they were alone in the small costume room to steal a hard, fast, breathless kiss that left Duo semi-seriously debating whether he really wanted to stay at the fair any longer today.
"Okay, that's just about got it..." the photographer muttered. He stepped back and eyed them critically. "Hmm..." Leaning forward, he twitched Heero's long duster a bit to the side so that the hand resting on the butt of the gun in the leg holster was more clearly visible, then adjusted the playing cards in Duo's hand slightly. He nodded in satisfaction, cautioning, "Just hold that position now, fellows."
Duo was very conscious of the warm weight of Heero's hand on his shoulder. He kept his gaze firmly fixed on the cards in his hand, trying not to burst into laughter from sheer self-consciousness. Just before the photographer took the picture, a soft, "Duo..." drew his gaze up to meet Heero's and the poker face he'd been trying to hold was replaced by an affectionate smile mirroring the one on Heero's face. The photographer might not be too thrilled about the change in their pose but hey - *they* were the ones paying for the picture, after all.
***
Heero quite happily handed over the payment for the daguerreotype. The photographer had taken several plates with them in different poses but that first shot - the one with him standing slightly behind and to the side of Duo, who was seated with one elbow resting on a table and a poker hand in his grasp - was the one that he liked best.
"Why do I have the feeling every other card player would have folded about two seconds after *that* moment?" Duo murmured, his chin resting on Heero's shoulder as he surveyed the image in Heero's hands.
Genuinely curious, Heero asked, "Why do you say that?"
Duo laughed quietly, "Ro, no gambler would be dumb enough to actually *beat* me with you hovering protectively like that."
Heero blinked and looked at the picture again. He flushed as he realized that the expressions on their faces and something subtle about his own stance had turned the "sheriff warning the gambler" pose into a "sheriff supporting his partner/lover" pose. "Oh," he said simply.
"Yeah - 'Oh'," Duo echoed.
Heero was pleasantly surprised when Duo gave him a swift bear-hug and brushed a kiss across his cheek before pulling away from behind him. Duo would accept his displays of affection in public readily enough but it was rare in the extreme for Duo to initiate one. They were semi-sheltered by the photography "cabin" that they were standing beside but this was still a very public place for Duo to do something so obvious.
"Hey, let's go see if they're showing the team hitches yet, Ro. There was this one really neat idea that I came across for the Halloween fundraiser..."
"Oh no, not *another* idea..." Heero complained theatrically as Duo grabbed his hand and started off towards the horse show ring. He dragged his feet slightly in apparent protest. Duo just chuckled and towed him along.
That grin was tugging at the corners of Heero's mouth again.
***
Duo jotted down a few more notes about insurance coverage and booking deadlines as he slowly walked away from the horse trailers. Heero's hand against his back steered him safely around other people and clear of the bustle of horses being unhitched. He had several good possibilities for Halloween; it was largely a matter of getting approval from the rest of the planning committee so that he could start making arrangements.
"I don't think the horses would have any trouble with what I've got in mind; the damn midway is practically in the ring with them and most of them don't even seem to notice," he commented as he tucked away his notes. It was pretty amazing; the Cobra ride was clearly visible spinning away mere feet away from the show ring and most of the horses barely even flicked an ear in its direction, despite the shrieks of its riders.
"They are surprisingly calm," Heero agreed. "But then, think about the mounted patrol's horses; they're like that too."
"Yeah, that's true..." Duo's brow furrowed in thought as new possibilities occurred to him. There were so many ideas to choose from... Oh well, he'd do some more thinking about it later.
"Y'know, Ro, I'm about done in. Too much damn sun and I don't think we've been drinking enough water. How about we take a Ferris wheel ride then call it quits for today?" he suggested. He'd rather leave while they were still having fun rather than hang around till they ended up overtired or bored. Especially if they were going to come back tomorrow for the parade, horse show - he was curious about the barrel racing and pole bending in particular - and tractor pull.
"Mm-hmm," Heero acknowledged, taking Duo's hand again and turning their steps towards the rides.
The wait in line for the Ferris wheel was surprisingly short. Checking the time, Duo realized that was probably because most people were taking a break for supper. "Eat when we get home?" he offered as they were seated.
"Good idea," Heero answered.
Duo noticed a few dirty looks directed in their direction as Heero wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. He automatically started to tense up, then consciously decided to ignore the unwanted attention and snuggled closer to Heero. 'Why the fuck would we even be riding this thing if not to cuddle?' They were leaving after this anyway; he'd just mention the - additional notice - to Heero, who'd probably noticed it himself; they'd pay extra close attention to their surroundings on the way to their vehicle and that would be the end of that.
"It's been a fun day, Ro," Duo observed quietly. "If we end up coming back tomorrow, though, we need to bring water bottles and make a point of drinking more." He wrinkled his nose, feeling the pull of tight skin, and added, "And I need a different hat. Dig out that Tilley one that I use when we go camping, I guess. It gives a lot more sun protection."
Gentle fingers brushed over his face. "Your skin's quite warm as well as being pretty pink; I hope you aren't too badly burned..."
"Me too. Have to wait and see in the morning whether I'm fit to spend another day here or not."
The ride lurched into motion for a few moments before stopping again. Heero asked softly, "You were okay with the handholding today?"
Duo turned his head so that Heero could see his expression. "Yeah, I was. Am." He'd felt self-conscious a few times but it hadn't bothered him as much as he'd half expected it to. Which was a definite relief since he knew Heero liked the contact and the demonstration that they were together.
"Good," Heero breathed.
Duo smiled at him and added, "In fact, I think I'll try something else..." And there, at the top of the Ferris wheel, Duo slid one hand behind Heero's head, cupping the base of his skull, leaned forward, and kissed him. And the presence of the crowd moving through the fair below didn't bother him one bit.
#################################################
