A few days later, Elunara was surprised by a knock on the door. She opened the door, and standing there was one of the soldiers.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure, sugar." She smiled and moved back.
He stood there looking fidgety.
"Well?" She closed the door.
"This is going to sound strange..."
"Honey, not much surprises me these days."
"I want to be in one of your drawings."
"Alright." She gathered her pencils and papers.
"But I don't want to do that other thing." He bit his lip. "Don't tell anyone."
"Hmm." She sat her things down and pushed him into the proper light. She started adjusting him to her liking.
"I really don't want the other thing."
"That's fine." She stepped back and considered. "A little taller than usual." She adjusted him again. "Do you want the standard clothed, or the nude for the book?"
"I'll... I'll do nude for the book. But I don't want-"
"The other thing." She nodded. "That's fine." Sitting down, she picked up her board and began to sketch.
"If anybody asks, I did the other thing."
"That's fine." She continued to sketch as she looked up and down. "If you don't relax, I'm not going to get a good drawing of your face. Or the rest of you for that matter." The pencil raced across the page. "I will never force someone to do something they don't want. If you don't want sex, or sexual favors, that's fine. I can separate one job from another. I am a professional after all."
"I'm gay."
Elunara lifted an eyebrow. "Your point?"
"You can't tell anyone."
"Sugar, I'm all for people being who they really are. However, if you're not comfortable with coming out, that's not my issue."
He seemed to relax then. "But, you will go a good job? Make it look like... well."
She laughed. "Honey, the naughty ones go in my personal stuff. No one sees those. The book for the healer will be relaxed, basic poses. You will be captured as a person, not a toy. Feel better?"
"A little, yeah."
"Good. Now, relax and let me work." She leaned back. "And as for anything that is said outside this door, feel free to make it up. Or, better yet, ask me for pointers. I can lie my way out of anything. One way or another. You just have to promise me the phrase "mind-blowing" and we're set."
He laughed.
"I will warn you though; people that go down this route, have some complications later. Say you have a guy you're sweet on; he won't believe you're hitting on him. Or, someone gets jealous, thinks you and I had a thing, and they just can't get over it. I have no problem getting myself out of these things, while maintaining your dignity, but you won't."
He frowned. "I guess you're right." He shook his head. "I don't care right now; I just want to fit in with the guys..."
"I know how that works too, shug. You need any advice, you come to me, ok?"
"Ok."
"Turn." She gestured.
She worked with him for a few hours, before shoving him out the door, flushed and messy.
When Grogek returned that night, she was finishing up the details on the work.
"So he actually showed up." Grogek murmured as he lifted a page.
"You sent him?"
"I dismiss them for the day if they volunteer." He grinned.
"Then why don't I get more visitors?" She pouted.
"He went through with it, I see." Grogek lifted up the nude.
Elunara eyed him. "Spill it."
"I've begun to suspect he prefers the men."
"He does." She took the page from him.
"It happens from time to time. It will out, eventually."
"That's what I said."