Author's Note. This story includes characters found in other series. If you're interested to know more or experience the extending BlueLetterBooks universe check them out-- Happy reading! - TB
"Y'all are too cute," she said with a smile and her semi-southernish accent as she aimed her camera at the models. "Now, MJ, can you turn a little more to your left, there's a shadow on your right nipple - yes, there you go."
"Is that better, Mom?"
"Perfect, baby girl."
--------Screech!--------
Okay, let's back up a bit. My name is Duncan, I'm a grad student from the UK, Brighton in England, specifically, and I'm Prof. Vey's new(est) assistant.
She accepted my application from out of almost 50 wanting students and said we would begin with a few personal projects she was working on. She was very trusting, probably because of my exceptional T.A. work (or maybe she took pity because I was the only applicant who needed the extra practicum hours).
Either way, I jumped at the opportunity to get my feet wet in the field and I had heard of Prof. Aphrodite Vey's monumental body of work. She was quite famous, even in my campus overseas.
----
I had done my fair share of talking up Prof. Vey's work to our subjects as they sat in the studio lobby, waiting for the room we rented to become available so I could help her set up.
Our subjects were three girls (or, young women rather), all somewhere in their 20's, each with a unique look but sharing a similarity. They were all around mid-height, darker haired, fair features.
One of them had her hair twisted in long dreadlocks that she had spooled up on top of her head. She had fuller lips, a nose ring off one nostril, and gave hints of tattoos. She wore a larger turtle-necked sweater that draped down over a larger chest and well-widened hips in brown leggings.
Another had long brown hair that fell down her back in messy waves. She had a pert face, button nose, and a very characteristic smile. She was also rather buxom, her sandy brown cardigan hung open, showing a bright red shirt underneath. She had no discernable ornaments other than an earring in one ear not mirrored by the other.
And the last, who seemed a little younger, was the most unique in her look. She was a little taller but not by much and her brown hair was dyed a faded red halfway down, but also quite wavy, curly adjacent, all of which fell around her more angular facial features compared to the others' more rounded shapes. She was also a little thinner and had a much flatter chest and skinnier hips.
I considered that maybe Prof. Vey was working with a theme. "Brunettes, perhaps?" I suggested to them as they gathered.
I wasn't really clear as to why, but they all seemed to be in a very giggly spirit among themselves as I tried to aid in their waiting experience, something I'd done many times while subjects waited for what could be hours. It was my personal specialty. Small talk.
"Where are y'all from?" I asked the room.
One of them who was rifling through some pamphlets on the table turned to me with an already laughing smile, "you're new, aren't you?" she asked, though more stated in her inflection.
I smiled confidently. "This is my first assignment with Prof. Vey. I'm sort of
auditioning
to be her new T.A."
She turned back around. "Cute," she said, flipping pages.
They all shared a chuckle. "Have any of you worked with her before?" I asked as my next inquiry.
One of the others came over to me and put her hands on my shoulder, "what was your name?" she asked.
"Oh, sorry, did I not say? Duncan. Duncan Edgers."
"Okay, Duncan. Well, I'm MJ, that's Charlie, that's Laney," she said, each of them waving as they were introduced. "We already know each other. Very well actually," she said with a chuckle.
"Oh, you've worked together before, then?" They all nodded, seeming to be actively trying not to laugh at my expense. "Well that's good, familiarity breeds good art."
"Oh we're very
familiar
," the one by the table, Charlie, jested.
"Oh?" I questioned.
Just then, Prof. Vey came through the front door in her good winter jacket, kicking off the snow from her boots. "Hey, Duncan, can you help bring in the equipment," she said as she saw the room. "My girls!" she said loudly to them.
"Hey Ma," Charlie said, staring at me with a smile while she said it.
Oh, the egg on my face... I walked out of the room to grab the equipment as the three, apparently sisters, laughed.
----
Setting up was easy enough. The studio we were renting was essentially an empty room with one wall painted stark white (whiter than usual white walls are) and a few objects that one could use for posturing or display.
We didn't need much, according to Prof. Vey. Beyond the lights, reflectors, and dampeners, she only had me set up a couple of wood-framed stools of varying heights in the center of the studio.
The girls eventually came in from the back room where they had changed into the ensemble Prof. Vey had picked out. Seeing them, I was instantly flushed red, thinking of my earlier blunder. I ducked lowly, blushed, and scratched the back of my head as they walked through.
The two older sisters, MJ and Charlie walked past with a giggle. Laney, though, paused nearer me, leaned over, "it's okay, they like to prank." I looked up and smiled. "I like your accent by the way," she said with a sweet smile then walked off and joined her sisters by the benches.
They began in uniform sweaters and bluejeans, navy and untumbled. Their sweaters were all thick-knit in their weave but were form fitting. They were a range of colors in the red spectrum, a color that complimented each of their complexions very well.
"Laney darling, I want you upfront in this seat; Charlynn, can you take the bench behind her to the left, turn in some; MJ, can you stand behind them both. Perfect."
