- the moon and the stars by the holdup
Wednesday, May 8th;
Brunch at the Lindsells, a BMM tradition that the gorgeous couple carry on. It's mandatory and bring some courage along with that appetite; your ranks will be discussed.
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collab with @pinklipstiiick :)
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I wasn't sure what exactly to expect, especially since I wasn't used to this type of atmosphere. I shot models, gave them their photos, and sent them on their merry way. They either came to me or I went to them; no middle man, no agency. I was keeping my fingers crossed that it was a good thing that I joined Beauté Model Management. Maybe I'd get more work this way, maybe I'd become a better fashion photographer.
Maybe I wouldn't have to constantly live under the shadow of my mother.
I headed through the brunch in search of a familiar face but then decided I knew none. This wasn't my world, my own, comfortable Buenos Aires. This was unfamiliar territory, unchartered waters. I felt exceedingly alone.
It was then I crashed into the figure of a tall man.
He set his hand on the small of my back to steady me in my unstable shoes. I swear, why couldn't I just wear boots and jeans?
"I'm sorry," he breathed, in a deep and husky voice. I felt my lips part and then closed them abruptly. I felt foolish for having collided with him in the first place.
"It's fine," I waved him off, shooting him an award winning smile.
"I'm Tristan," He extended his hand out towards me. "You're one of the photographers, right?" I was surprised he could even remember what I was.
I stared back at the man with wide eyes, attempting to figure out who he was in return. I knew that I knew him, but I couldn't quite place it. He was handsome, obviously so, and walked with a confident demeanor, as if he owned the place... and maybe he did.
I cleared my throat and took his hand in my own, shaking it firmly. I wanted anything but to appear meek. I nodded at his earlier question and smiled brightly. "Yes. I'm Lumen. Nice to meet you."
He grinned and looked around the place as our hands broke apart, "A little intimidating, isn't it?"
"My mother and sister both model..." I trailed off, as if it explained everything. And maybe it did.
"Have I heard about them?" He asked curiously.
I wouldn’t be surprised.
"Elena and Freja Lithe?"
His eyes widened with recognition as it hit him. Of course he knew them. Anyone who was anyone in the fashion business knew of Elena Lithe.
"Wow," He breathed. "So how did you end up on the other side of the camera?"
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and smiled at him kindly. "My dad. He was... is a photographer too. After they had the kids he stuck mostly to nature though, instead of fashion," I shrugged. "I guess it's just the family business."
Tristan chuckled lightly and smiled back down at me in return.
"Guess so."
"How'd you get into the business?" I responded inquisitively, raising an eyebrow intriguingly.
"I'm still not sure..." He trailed off and gave me a shrug. "I fell into it I guess you could say."
"What do your parents do?"
"My dad's a lawyer," He answered back. "I went to law school, but it wasn't for me," He shook my head sadly.
"Where are you from? Your accent..."
"It's Australian," He smiled. Australian. Ooh. "What about yours?" He asked.
"I'm from Argentina," I boasted proudly. "My father's Argentinean but my mother's English... Born down in Surrey. But I mostly consider myself Argentinean. I was born there at least..." I went on. I never really saw my mother's side of the family much and stayed strictly to South America... well, at least, until now. It then dawned on me that I was rambling. "But Australia, that sounds interesting! I'd love to go there and see the beaches."
He shot me a smile. "You'll definitely have to go sometime. It's wonderful."
I nodded enthusiastically. "I'd love to!"
"You know, they shoot there all the time... just casually bring up how you'd love to go there and it just might happen," He said seriously, causing shivers to dance up my spine. Go to Australia? That’d be amazing.
"We'll see," I retorted with a smile.
"Have you ever done a test shoot?" He asked as I felt my eyes widened just slightly again. "Sorry, it's the casting director in me... I had to ask."
I pursed my lips in thought. I was sort of surprised because no one had asked me if I ever really... wanted to model. It was just a natural assumption, I guess. Elena and Freja were the models, Lumen and Sebastián were the photographers. And that was it. That was accepted as law. I never questioned it.
"No... I never have, actually. I've always been behind the camera, I guess," A small smile crept upon my face as I realized the compliment in what he said. It was actually really sweet. "Always just stuck to what I know."
"Makes sense," He nodded in agreement and smiled. "You're gorgeous though, if you're ever looking for a change..." He trailed off.
I felt myself blush as a smile crept onto my lips. It was always nice to be complimented.
"Thank you. Really. I'll consider it."
He grinned back at me in response. "You should," He murmured. "But I'm not here to talk business, it's my day off."
I bit my lip softly. "Are you close with them? The Lindsells?"
He shook his head then shrugged, "Corey and Ava, not very... I'm close with Ben though. Their son."
I nodded. "That must be nice, to have these types of connections. To be this well known. You must be really good at what you do..." I went on, smiling brightly. "I can tell."
He smirked in response. "Well, same to you. I'd love to see some of your work sometime."
I chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I'll definitely be sure to show you."
We both shared a smile.
"Can I get you something to drink?" He looked around to scan the room, looking back at me as I shook my head. In the room full of models it seemed I was the only one who had yet to be drunk. "I've heard the mimosas are pretty good..."
I scratched my head at the offer. A drink /did/ sound good. "Maybe just one? A really weak one," I chuckled. It wasn't like I couldn't hold my liquor - I could - I just wanted to stay off all that stuff in the long run. I had seen it ruin so many people's lives and careers around me that I didn't want it to take over mine too. I guess I was just... worried. Paranoid. But I had a right to be in this line of work.
"A weak one," He laughed and scratched the back of his head as he watched me carefully. "Let me get that for you."
"I can come with you," I said and we started walking towards a table that was lined with mimosas, water, orange juice, anything you could think of for a brunch. I guess the Lindsells went all out for everything.
"So how do you like Paris?" He asked as he handed me a glass.
"Thank you," I nodded at Tristan before lightly sipping my mimosa. "Paris is wonderful!" I announced proudly. I'd never thought I'd make it this far, honestly, much less even go to Paris (unless it was family related), so to be here of my own doing was... Well, fantastic. "It's such a beautiful and romantic city. Really everything they describe it to be."
I wondered what it was like to live in Paris full time like Tristan. It then dawned on me that I'd guess I'd find out.
"It is," He agreed with a firm nod.
"How long have you been here?" I asked and leaned against the wall for support.
"A year almost," He said, a streak of realization written in his deep eyes.
I widened my eyes. I guess I really was in over my head.
"Oh wow. A year. Time does fly, hm?" I wondered if I'd stay in Paris for a year. Or more. Or maybe I wouldn't even last a month. I didn't know. It was confusing to think about and... well, conflicting.
He chuckled sheepishly, nodding. "Yeah. It does."
I ran a hand through my hair, smiling at him and earning up the courage to ask my next question. Might as well. "So... is there a Mrs. hanging around somewhere?"
He laughed a little louder and shook his head, shoving his hands into his pockets somewhat awkwardly. It seemed as if he had something on his mind. "No, no wife," He replied, not really elaborating on it. "What about you? Is there a man somewhere in the room who wants to strangle me, besides all the random guys who are obviously envious that I'm just talking to you?"
I laughed at that and ran a hand through my hair. "No, no man." I eyed him carefully, unable to hide the smirk from my lips. When it came down to it, I never really focused too much on dating. Never found a guy I liked enough to stick with, I guess. Work and family always came first - maybe that was the right mentality or maybe that was the wrong one. I'd never know.
"Guess we're just two lone wanderers," I smiled before downing the rest of my glass's contents in one foul gulp.
He widened my eyes a little and motioned at my glass, "Need another?"
I shook my head, "Are you trying to get me drunk, Tristan?"
He grinned back at me, "I wasn't. If it'd make you feel better, I'd have one too," He reached for one of the mimosas and took a sip, visibly attempting not to wince. "Well, it's not whiskey."
I couldn't help but to feel compelled to drink alongside him in his company and grabbed another glass too. I giggled at his reaction to the soft liquor and took another demure sip.
"A lady's drink, per say..." I raised an eyebrow, shaking my glass and watching the orange liquid slosh around the sides. "I'd be concerned if it was your drink of choice."
His laughter was soft and musical. "Nice to know of your concern, Lumen." There was a glimmer in his eyes that couldn't quite place.
The laughter was apparently a bit contagious tonight. "I'd only hope to say the same."
"Of course," He nodded and tried another sip, drinking half of its contents in one long sip. "Too bad they don't have Bloody Mary’s. Now that is a breakfast drink."
"Well this is brunch so..." I trailed off with color in her cheeks, staring back up at him innocently.
"I never understood the point of brunch," He said seriously.
"Well too hungover to wake up early enough for breakfast but too embarrassed to admit it for lunch?" I suggested jokingly. It got a chuckle out of Tristan.
"That's smart. Very observant."
I smiled triumphantly.
"Thanks! I'd like to think so."
We locked eyes in what felt like a heated gaze as my lips met the rim of my glass again.
"What?" I asked after a moment, neither of us willing to break the silence for a while.
He shrugged, his eyes flicking back and forth between my lips and my eyes, "I was just thinking of what a good model you'd make... and yes, I realize that came out as a bad pickup line, but I can insure you that I take my job very seriously."
"Maybe the mimosa is getting to your head already," I smirked with a brow lifted.
He cracked a grin, "No, it takes a lot more than one of these to get me drunk."
I shook my head, unconvinced. "I hold a valid theory that you are more of a lightweight then you'd like to let on," I announced with a small smile, curiously awaiting his answer. It'd been a while since I had flirted with somebody as fiercely as we were now. I wondered if he accounted it for flirting as surely as I did. I wondered if it made any difference.
"We should test your theory," He said, stepping closer to me and making a shiver dance up my spine.
"How do you propose we do that?" I glanced up at him, tilting my head to a side and making my long hair fall over my shoulder.
I smiled back at me, as if there were some secret he had and wasn’t telling me, "Dinner... you letting me show you around the city."
I bit my lip before nodding, slowly at first and then surely more firmly. "Yeah. I'd like that."
He smirked in triumph before slipping his free hand into the pocket of his pants and grinning back at me in response. "I'm glad you said yes."
I let out a small laugh. "Me too."
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(type 'the moon and the stars don't shine like you do' if you read it all)