The studio was located in a ft, away from the city center. There were quite a few doors leading to waiting rooms, changing rooms, and several other backgrounds for the photoshoots. Cyrielle was alone with Julie, using her cheap brushes to apply makeup. While she was working on her face, her friend was telling her about the schedule.

  “The studio was rented for the entire morning. Right now, the others are with the photographer. You’ll go there in an hour, have a 20 minute session, then change again in your second outfit while another person has their picture taken. The second photoshoot will be two hours after that, which should leave you enough time to change your makeup, and we took a third outfit but I don’t think you’ll be able to wear it.”

  Cyrielle was listening while gently applying some blush.

  “Don’t forget to ask him for some close ups too, we need a few photos of the makeup. I hope we have enough time to change the background… I should see if I can book this studio another time, it would be great to shoot videos here !”

  At this point, Cyrielle had finished her makeup and was putting on her outfit. It was one of the tailcoats she had sewn, made of purple velvet and embroidered with music sheets and microphones. It was paired with tailored cigarette pants and bck leather shoes, and a shiny top hat circled by a matching purple ribbon completed the look. As usual, it was a mix between vintage noblesse and modern underground bar culture. It suited Cyrielle very well.

  She added a bit of rhinestones under her eyes and exited the room with Julie. There was some time left before Cyrielle’s turn, but being te and unprepared didn’t sit right with her, so she decided to go and observe.

  Léna, or Joté Dusang, was in full drag and posing for the photographer. The man was giving her instructions, and she always found the way to make it funny, exhibiting her best exaggerated macho face and showing her inexistant muscles. She seemed so rexed that nobody could tell it was her first time.

  ‘Will I be able to pull it off ?’

  Cyrielle was anxious. She had the ‘modeling’ ability, but it was her first time having her photo professionally taken. She didn’t see herself as ugly, but not as the prettiest either. Well, french beauty standards were pretty flexible, as long as you had natural features, took care of yourself, and wore clothes and hair that suited you, nobody would consider you ugly. But Cyrielle had no idea if she was in the ‘beautiful’ category. On her MyTube channel, she often saw comments about her aura, her elegance, her voice, but not that much about her looks. So she assumed she was just average. Will ‘average’ turn out well in a photo ? She wasn’t sure.

  Soon, it was her turn. Not losing any second of her 20 minutes, she walked on the set as soon as Joté Dusang exited, and activated the ‘modeling’ ability.

  “Ok, you are the next one ? Love your outfit ! We’ll start slow so that I can have a feel of your vibe. Just pose how you want to and I’ll do the rest.”

  Cyrielle nodded and looked around her. It was a simple white background extending to the floor, perfect to contrast with her outfit.

  ‘Since the coat is made of velvet, it would catch the light better if I turn this way…’

  She took a step towards the photographer and turned to a ? view, raising her chin to look in the distance and sliding a hand in her pocket.

  -Papapapak

  The photographer didn’t say anything, just continuously pressing the shutter of his camera.

  ‘Now, I’ll try a back view to capture the details of the embroidery.’

  She turned around, her legs slightly spread apart and her back straight, head turned to catch the camera with the corner of her eyes. The photographer stayed silent.

  -Papapapak

  ‘Is she a model ? She is standing at the perfect distance from the lights for her outfit to stand out, and all the poses she choses are the ones I have in mind. She must have years of experience in the fashion industry to know those details !’

  The photoshoot continued, with full body photos, bust shots, and even a few close ups. When her time was up, Cyrielle stepped out of the set and a drag creature she didn’t know took her pce. But the photographer was visibly shaken.

  ‘Every single photo turned out so well, it could be sent to a magazine right now ! I can’t believe someone like her exists in Bordeaux, I need to have her number !’

  Despite his emotions being a mess, he continued on with his job, taking small breaks here and there for water or cereal bars. He thought the woman would be gone by now, but she reappeared a few hours ter with a different look. It was a night sky inspired outfit, with half blue and half orange makeup.

  ‘I don’t get it. Part of it goes well with her clothes, but the other part doesn’t seem to match at all. No, let’s first take the pictures !’

  Like earlier, Cyrielle positioned herself perfectly and the photographer took quite possibly the best pictures in his life. Halfway through, though, something happened. The woman took off her jacket, pulled on her skirt, and…

  ‘Are you crazy, a second outfit ?!’

  It was the stage outfit she had worn at the drag show, the sunset themed. The photographer almost dropped his camera in awe, but quickly caught it.

  ‘It’s not the time to space out, I need to capture this !’

  After some time passed, his phone arm went off. It was noon. Normally he would stop the photoshoot here, as the studio had been booked only for the morning, but when he saw Cyrielle walk away, he sprang to his feet.

  “Excuse me !”

  Cyrielle turned around, confused.

  ‘What’s happening ? Was I really bad ? He didn’t say anything during the sessions so I thought it was okay, but maybe he was just really disappointed ? Did my ability not activate properly ?’

  She may be anxious, but her face was as firm and elegant as ever. Seeing that, the photographer couldn’t stop himself anymore.

  “If it’s okay with you, I would like to take a few more photos to use in my portfolio. Of course, I’ll give you all the ones I don’t use, and you don’t have to pay for the rental of the studio. Are you busy right now ?”

  Cyrielle turned to Julie.

  ‘Is it okay ? I even have a third outfit prepared. Oh, but Julie wanted to work on the MyTube channel this afternoon, right ?’

  But Julie didn’t even stop to think.

  “She can do it, of course ! We even have another outfit, so just give her some time to change. Oh, but a few free pictures won’t cut it, so you need to buy us lunch afterwards !”

  The photographer accepted readily, and a few moments ter Cyrielle was sitting on a couch in a 70’s inspired living room. It was another set, one they hadn’t used during the morning. Cyrielle was wearing a puffy shirt, tied at the waist with a colorful scarf that went over her bell bottom pants lined with multicolored patterns. It was as if a hippy had merged with a pirate, but make it modern. Her slightly disheveled hair couldn’t hide the red glittery makeup on her face, and her nude colored shiny lips.

  With props around her, Cyrielle could be more active. She was faking a nap, jumping on the couch, sitting on the headrest, reading a fake magazine upside down…

  The photographer captured every single moment, amazed at the way Cyrielle could immediately guess what he wanted, and execute it perfectly.

  “You are made to be a model.”

  He said this while they were sharing a meal at a sushi restaurant after finishing the photoshoot.

  “I know.”

  Cyrielle answered softly while picking a salmon maki. She was way more interested in the food, she hadn’t eaten sushi in years. And she knew she was good, obviously, she had ‘Path of Destiny’ with her. It would be strange if her ‘modeling’ ability ended with a bad result.

  But unbeknownst to her, another person was infected with misunderstandings.

  ‘She knows… Of course she does. She must have spent years in this industry to acquire those skills. Maybe she went her own way because of all the bad things that happen in the fashion industry. She seems young too, so I can’t imagine what she has gone through. But if she came today, it’s probably because she made up her mind to continue, right ? I know that feeling, you can’t run away from something you love. I must help her as much as I can, so that something bad doesn’t happen to her again. First, I will put more effort into editing her pictures, and then I’ll share them with the people I know !’

  Something big was happening again, right in front of her eyes. But Cyrielle…

  “This one is good, you should try it Julie.”

  Was more interested in the sushi.

  ***

  “Remember when I told you to study ? I have a good opportunity for you !”

  Cyrielle almost spilled her lemonade on the couch.

  ‘Not again, I already have a concert in a couple of days !’

  Julie ignored Cyrielle’s look of disapproval and handed her the ptop. The screen showed a MyTube channel.

  “See this guy ? He’s a streamer, and he likes general culture. The repys of his streams always perform well, with at the very least 100,000 views, and it can go up to 300,000 views. Two times a year he assembles online celebrities and does the equivalent of Question for a Champion with them. Of course, the show is live. All the guests don’t gain new subscribers, it boils down to two things : either be really funny, or be really smart and go far in the competition. And you, baby…”

  Julie fshed a mischievous smile.

  “You are smart. Very smart. That’s why I tried to book you for this show. They didn’t reply to me at first, but it all changed with your blooming popurity. You are an official guest for the live show in two months ! So ? What do you say ?”

  Cyrielle was looking at her with empty eyes.

  ‘I think I’m gonna puke…’