With rapt attention Hibriel took in every ever so small detail about Vincent’s movements. It was his keen interest that made him focus to the point he stopped noticing anything around him, not even how close he stood to Vincent. 

Vincent however slipped a quick glance to his side, sighing as he looked through the lens of his camera locking on the rising sun behind the forest and pressed the release button. Click. 

“That’s how you take a picture, as for looking at the finished photo you will have to wait until it’s developed. This is an older model so photos aren’t immediately viewable.”

“I see.”, Hibriel muttered, absentmindedly. 

«Developing a picture…I have read about it before. It has to be done in a dark room because if sunlight touches the film it can be damaged or get destroyed…» 

He raised his chin up, only to be greeted by a handsome face leaning slightly sideways, tranquil eyes interlocking with his.  

Vincent mustered this stranger lost in reverie. “What are you thinking about Hibriel?” 

Hibriel came back to his senses hearing his name. 

“Sorry, what have you said?”

“Nothing important.” Vincent smiled. 

He did not remind Hibriel of how close he stood beside him nor ask about his thoughts again, all he did was show him more of his work —his passion. 

Unknowingly he started explaining every funktion of his camera, all the steps he took to shoot the perfect angle. He didn’t mind at all to have another person this near beside him. Yes he would let Hibriel even look through the viewfinder himself and show him hand to hand how he should be taking photos. 

“Look here. This is the viewfinder, through it you will see what will be depicted in the photograph later. With it you can align the camera's lens to the view you wish to capture.” Vincent stood behind Hibriel, he gently grasped his hand and carefully guided it to the release button on the camera. 

Vincent leaned slightly over Hibriel’s shoulder to obtain a clearer view on the place in the amateur's focus. He was unable to avoid brushing against Hibrel’s back while guiding him in this position. Ths was the only way he could think of to teach someone properly. 

Hibriel was startled at first upon the sudden warmth he felt. It was hard to regain his composure, although he tried his best to focus on the matter at hand it was sheer impossible not to notice the other man's steady heartbeat. Vincent was kind enough to teach him so he forced himself to concentrate his mind onto the subject at hand. 

Hibriel’s slender hand was led over the camera by Vincent’s calloused fingers. And with a click the camera released and captured the landscape beyond the cliff in front of them onto the film. 

Vincent's breath brushed past the back of his auricle as he spoke to him with a tender and clear tone. “That’s all it is about. If you understand the basics it’s not difficult at all.” 

As the photographer stepped away there was some lingering warmth left on Hibriel, a slight flush yet not noticeable from afar still laid on the soft skin of his earlobes. He was unwonted to the close contact of two bodies. He mused to himself. «Humans were social creatures after all, maybe it was normal for them to care even for strangers they only just met if they were lost in the woods.»

 He wondered if everyone was this friendly towards another or maybe Vincent was just an oddity among them. An unusual fellow indeed. 

The Angeli looked at the camera again studying the shell, he noticed a small charm hanging from it. A small white dove. It was not a very fancy accessoire and already quite worn out. He reached out for it but a calloused hand stopped his tracks. 

“Don’t” Vincent interfered, “It’s important to me.”

Hibriel started flummoxed. 

Even a tame Tiger is still a Tiger and will eventually fledge its teeth if its belongings are imperiled. Presently Vincent was no better, his harsh glance directed towards Hibriel hid something deep within; locked inside, never to emerge from the dark. Of course Hibriel, empathic as he was, picked up on the unspoken words; he gave a slight nod.  “My apologies I didn’t mean harm. I was just curious.”

Vincent’s lips quivered as if he wished to say something nevertheless chose to repress it. Eyes suffused with a cold gleam he took the old film camera off the stand and packed it carefully into its hard field case. 

“Well, I will develop the pictures once I get back home,  the film is full now anyways so I might as well switch to the digital camera.”

Hibriel watched as he stored away one device to switch it out with another different and bulkier one. He was unsure as to how he should approach him again, how he should lift the mood hanging low like the blossom of blue bells.  

“So..would you mind explaining to me the differences between the film camera and the one you have unpacked just now? Though it is fine if you don’t wish to tell me more.”

Vincent turned his head toward him. “No, it’s fine that you ask. I will demonstrate it to you. Using the digital camera isn’t all that different from the film camera… at least for me. However as the name implies it does not work with a film tape but digital, the pictures will be saved on the devices SD-card making them instantaneously observable. I can change the objectives of the camera depending on the current needs and I am able to change the camera's settings creating a set of different effects. 

All in all the way to shoot a photo without meddling on any of the settings is a similar process to the one of the film camera. Just aim the lens and press the release button.” 

Hibriel kept on listening to his explanations for nearly an eternity; Vincent was incredibly absorbed in his craft. 

— ——(o)——

Hours passed by and it was already afternoon, the sun hanging high off the canopy. Birds flew through the fresh spring winds leaving no trail behind, a sight that would make wingless beings envy their freedom. 

*Click* The sight was captured, now to be preserved for the future generations. Slightly rough hands held onto the camera pointing towards the sky capturing pictures of a flock of birds. Those Hands slowly lowered as Vincent, who laid on his back, put the camera down beside him in the grass. Hibriel sat in the grass as well enjoying the breeze and company of another person. 

“So your work as a photograph, does it give you a sense of freedom?” Hibriel asked in a calm manner. 

“Yes kind of."

“I am curious as to how it is like not to be bound by a place or the people around you. To travel around and explore all the different places on earth. Yes, how is it like to be truly free like a bird flying to wherever you desire?” 

Vincent slowly sat up leaning back on his arms. With a soft chuckle he answered the question, “Well I don’t know either. Sure, being able to travel because of my job is quite nice. I am somewhat free and visiting many countries around the world, but that doesn’t mean I’m always happy. Well you must know freedom as a person comes with a lot of troubles… Something you only understand if you went through these troubles yourself. Yes, sometimes it's as if I lose myself.”

 He looked at Vincent whose eyes were downcast filled with some kind of remorse or so Hibriel thought. Although before he got a closer look the man next to him smiled. Of course the Angeli got curious but he knew he shouldn’t dig further and just let himself fall into the bed of flowers stretching his arms out. “I see… I guess everyone carries some kind of a burden.”

“Anyway, Hibriel, how about we eat something before lunchtime is over?” Vincent asked, changing the ever so complicated topic at hand. 

“Sounds good."