Worth A Thousand Words

The constant snapping of a camera's lens was one of several sounds adrift in the cramped studio that Featherweight was in that afternoon. It was a prevalent sound, weaving its way through the audible heavy duty fans placed around the set. Chatter between the other staff members was minimal, to minimize the amount of distractions for the photographer hard at work, his face buried inside his camera. Featherweight was fine to keep quiet, just trying to take in all of the scene in front of him. His new internship at Graceful Magicks had started only a couple weeks ago, and so far, it was going well; as well as being the errand pony for the models and photographers can go, at least.

“Good, now give me a turn, would you Fleur?” The photographer instructed the model before him. Flare Shot, Featherweight recalled. The tall stallion was very keen on instructing his models every few seconds. Featherweight knew this was necessary, to better capture the model at work. There was no better model though than the one that Flare had his camera lens on.

Doing as she was told, the mare onstage turned at the hip at the photographer's direction. She gave a small lean forward, and her luscious mane of magenta spilled about her elegant neck and shoulders. The small gusts of wind from the fans made her hair billow out behind her, giving the illusion of a graceful breeze coursing through her beautiful locks. Fleur de Lis was the model's model. Featherweight felt his heart thump in his chest as she smiled towards the camera, envisioning for just a moment what it'd be like if she directed that smile to him…

The harsh ring of a bell above his head snapped him from the daydream and back to reality, several other ponies giving a small and similar jump like he had as the bell continued until it stopped. The harsh interruption had shattered the aura of calm cast by Fleur's presence on set, something that did little to deter the mare it seemed. “Alright, everypony, take ten! Standard breaks. We'll be back here to finish up after.” The studio assistant, Brisk Order, tapped her clipboard with a pen. “Where's some water when you need it? Fleur, water?”

“Oui, yes please.” The model replied as she walked over to her chair.

Featherweight snapped to attention and grabbed the light cooler containing the iced water that the studio had requested for today. He walked forward, approaching Brisk and holding the open cooler out for her. “Thank you!” She chimed, passing it on to Fleur as others clamored around to get their own portion. The pegasus kept still, waiting until everypony had gotten their share before the crowd departed to their own odds and ends. Some went to the windows to look out at the bright Canterlot afternoon outside, skies clear and sun shining upon the picturesque buildings that dotted every square inch of the city. Others went out into the adjoining hallway, seeking a smoke break out and away from anypony who detested the smell or act.

There was but one bottle left in the cooler, one that Feather had counted as being the sole one he'd get for that rather warm afternoon. Looking around, it seemed everypony was satisfied with their drink, and Fleur had downed most of hers already. Steeling himself, the pegasus approached the lounging model seated in her own personal chair, a fan waving cool air for her as her magic held it in place. When he approached, she took her eyes away from the magazine she had been picking through and smiled. “Yes?” Her bright violet and grey eyes peered at him. Her gaze was soft, more relaxed and welcoming compared to the usual harder, more fixed stares of Canterlot society.

Featherweight found his voice and spoke, not wanting to occupy her too long. “I-I have a water left, miss Fleur, if you’d like some more.” He said, holding up the cooler where the singular bottle in question jutted out from the icy contents in offering. “Being in the spotlight so long probably isn't exactly low temperature right?”

Fleur giggled and nodded. “You would be quite right. Merci.” She thanked him in that curious, but alluring overseas language he knew she spoke. Taking the bottle from the cooler, she popped the top off and took a sip from it, swallowing it before sighing in satisfaction. “This is the mineral water from Copperknuckle street, is it not?” she asked.

“Y-yes, ma'am. I remembered that it was better to get our water from there than the other typical stores, since Copperknuckle works to make sure the water is fresh instead of processed. I think I remember you saying you preferred it that way?” He answered, polite while he stood there in her presence.

“You are quite right. Thank you...hmm?” She paused as she looked at his face, leaning forward a little as she took him in. “You are...Featherweight, no?”

Surprise captured Featherweight's mind as she identified him. “That's right, miss.”

“I thought I recognized your face. I have seen you in this studio before. It is good to have friendly ponies here aware of others and not just themselves.” She remarked before going back to her magazine. Smiling to himself, Featherweight nodded and stepped back and away, giving the model her space. Inside, he was still comprehending the fact that one of the most known celebrities of Canterlot and Equestria knew his name already. It was a star-struck feeling.

Setting the cooler down, Featherweight sighed and looked about the room. Everypony was still occupied with their own odds and ends, talking amongst their co-workers or fiddling with equipment for when the break was over. To his left, he spotted the camera that Flare Shot had been using for the shoot, placed atop its tripod and still on. He gave another look about the room before approaching the camera, careful as he picked it up and looked through the viewer to see what the technology saw. However, it was not marvel that came to his mind as he peered through the expensive equipment, but confusion.

“That's...weird.” He muttered to himself as he looked over the camera to the set it was directed at before looking at the viewer again. Featherweight knew his way around a camera, he reasoned, enough to recognize the basic settings and styles a photograph would be captured in. It was his passion for photography that had brought him here to Canterlot in the first place, to seek out a job in the field of art and fashion that photography could blend itself into. His experience had earned him plenty of a good reputation with cameras back home in Ponyville, and it was that same experience that was giving him caution flags while checking the setup for the camera.

“These filters are weird...what if we tried this?” he murmured as he thumbed through the settings, adjusting things until it seemed to suit what he felt was better for it. The viewer now gave a much sharper, cleaner image without the filters that had been in place, on top of improving the lighting that the spotlight's shine wouldn't make Fleur or her outfit too bright to be seen. He sat the camera back on the tripod, but froze as a voice spoke behind him.

“Just what do you think you're doing, kid?” Flare Shot's voice questioned as Featherweight turned and saw the stallion looking at him with a scowl. “That's my equipment you're playing with.”

“I-I'm sorry, sir. I was just looking through the viewer, to see what you see, sort of thing.” The pegasus explained. “I-I didn't break anything. I was just checking the filters on the settings and thought things might look a little out of place is all.”

“Oh? And you've got experience working with this camera, do you?” Flare sneered, leaning forward as he took advantage of his taller height over the smaller pony. “You'd better hope you didn't damage anything, or it's coming out of your pocket.”

The rest of the room was quiet, nopony else getting involved between the two. Some were just getting back from their smoke break, and were staring at the taller stallion being so aggressive.“I didn't damage anything! Promise!” Featherweight insisted, holding his hands up in a submissive gesture. “I'll just, go now. I'm sorry.” He apologized before removing himself from the scene, going back to his spot at the sidelines. Chastising himself, he remained to the side for the rest of the shoot, taking care to not cross paths with Flare Shot when he exited, nor to bother anypony else. With the photo shoot done, he had little else to see to other than cleanup and going about his own business. He took it as a blessing that nopony else had seen him touch the equipment, lest he get a call from his boss about fiddling with the studio's tools. At least he had gotten to speak to Fleur...and she'd even known his name!

Oh Sisters, why did she have to know his name?

Featherweight's quiet afternoon had been disrupted when out of nowhere, Photo Finish herself had contacted him and insisted on him coming to her office as soon as possible. Taking the call in his apartment, he had at first thought he had dreamt the call. Five minutes later, however, the concrete fact was evident by his caller I.D still flashing on his phone, another call from the very same mare asking him to bring his sample folder with him of photographs he'd submitted for his application to her studio.

Now, he was in her private office, across from the very mare responsible for signing his meager paycheck while aside her stood Fleur de Lis herself, the model having changed out of her fashion shoot outfit for a casual blue dress and sunhat that was currently in a chair next to her purse. The model was behind the desk with Photo Finish, looking over the selection of photos that Featherweight had brought at her request. This left the stallion in very uncertain waters as he waited in silence, unsure of his fate that laid in their hands.

'Is this from me touching the camera? Did Flare Shot report me? Did I mess something up from the shoot?' He racked his mind for any answers to the panicked questions, but none came to surface. Instinct while handling the camera had been assuring of nothing being damaged, since surely Flare knew how to handle his own equipment as well. But if that was the case, was this a reprimand for stepping out of line? And why was Fleur even here?

“I haf seen enough.” Photo's declaration drew him out of his thoughts as she closed the binder shut, setting it aside as she steepled her hands while peering at him. Her eyes betrayed nothing, hidden behind the stylish sunglasses the fashion mare was rarely seen without. “Featherweight. Answer me in truth; did you fiddle with zhe camera when you were at zhe shoot today?”

Featherweight's stomach recoiled from the question, but he swallowed and nodded. “Y-yes ma'am. I-I wanted to just see what a...professional's camera was like compared to mine. I-I noticed that certain options were enacted that...changed the quality of the picture. At least, to me.” He answered. “Please, I didn't mean to cause a problem, I just-”

“Ap-bup.” Photo Finish interrupted, holding up a hand and cutting him off. He closed his mouth as she spoke again. “Was zhe instinct that guided zhat decision zhe same that led you to make zhese photos?” She gestured at his green binder, where his pictures rested.

“I-I would say yes, ma'am.” He answered, glancing to Fleur who only smiled at him with his answer. Her smile did only a little to help him keep calm, but it wasn't a glare or an unhappy expression coming from her. He took that as a blessing that at least one mare appeared to be alright with him.

“Zhen I have my answer.” Photo said, laying back in her seat. She looked to Fleur, who nodded as well. “Featherweight; I am seeking new talent to blossom within my studio.”

“Ma'am?”

Photo Finish waved a hand at him. “Relax. Breathe. Compose yourself. You will not be fired zhis day, not for demonstrating a perception for art so few can grasp.” Her words confused the stallion, but he nodded and straightened in his seat as she continued. “Rather, I would fire you only if you showed zero potential in my studio. I knew when I found you, zhere was something...hidden. Waiting. Und now, I see zhat has surfaced.”

Featherweight looked between Photo Finish and Fleur, calm settling into curiosity as the nervousness from before ebbed away. “So I'm...not in trouble?”

“Certainly not.” Fleur insisted, nodding at the stallion. Her affirmation brought relief to the stallion, who let out a breath of relief before Photo Finish continued.

“When you work in zhe industry we do, Feather, one must reel in new talent and bring it to life as soon as you can. Zhe older professionals, like myself, we are established. We are zhe foothold, zhe basis, from which new artists, new models, can come to be. I compared zhe shots from before and after you changed zhe camera before Flare Shot tried to delete zhem. Your attention to detail is something few can say zhey had so early in life. And in zhat, I see an opportunity to bring you and your talents to the forefront.” She explained.

“What I wish to do, Feather, is to assign you with zhe task of creating your own photo series for my review in a month's time. I want to see how you can work, how you function and would be if you were in zhe big leagues, so to speak. Zhis is zhe only time I will offer it, zhe one chance. I have spoken to Fleur, and she has agreed to work with you to help you bring your talent to fruition.”

Featherweight gawked at Photo Finish before looking to Fleur beside her, his surprise keeping him quiet before speaking. “Y-you and me? Working together?”

“Oui, Feather. It would be a breath of fresh air to me, and a fun challenge for myself as well.” Fleur answered. “I have been working with Flare Shot for some time now, and I fear that remaining with him will make things go stale. I am curious to see what you can do, if working with moi is not a problem?”

“O-of course not! It's no problem! Not at all!” He assured, standing up in his excitement at the prospect being handed to him. “I'd be honored to work with you. You're Fleur de Lis, for Celestia's sake!”

Fleur smiled at his enthusiasm and nodded. “Then I see no reason for us to not do our best.” She said, turning to Photo Finish who was watching. “If Madame has no objections?”

“Nein. I expect great things from zhe two of you.” Photo Finish said before standing up. “Of course, I cannot expect zhat you will accomplish much on zhe salary of an intern, Featherweight. So the studio's resources will be available to your will. You or Fleur need only call, and I will aid you.” She held out her hand to Feather, who looked at it before grasping her hand with his own in a firm handshake.

“Thank you. Both of you. I promise, I'll do the best I can for you both.” He swore, hope swelling within him at the doorway that he'd entered from. A look to Fleur's smiling expression kindled those hopes with the fervor of desire to do right by her. “I won't let you down.”

“Zhen get to work, you two! Go on, chop chop!” Photo Finish urged them both, waving her hands at them as Fleur donned her sunhat once more while Feather collected his things. The stallion nodded at her before exiting, waiting for Fleur to follow before looking up at the taller beauty in front of him.

“So. Where should we start?”