by Otaku X
Chapter 15: Boris Vallejo Photo Shoot
The next day Orihime found herself - under invitation - moving into the lavender room with Rangiku, Nanao, and Momo, happy not to be in the pink room by herself anymore. After that it was a leisure breakfast before they congregated at the pool to engage in a pool volleyball game under the warm mid-morning sun that pitted the lavender room against Yoruichi, Soifon, Nemu, and Yumichika from the pink and green bedrooms.
The score was tied six-six when Orihime suddenly stood stock still on her side of the net in the water, tilting her head to one side, listening for something the rest didn't hear.
Soifon had just wound up for a lethal overhand serve, and completed the smack that sent the volleyball whamming into Orihime's forehead. It bounced off and shot back toward the net.
Orihime blinked, looking to the opposing team, the impact barely registering. She glanced to the house, and then bounded out of the pool and sprinted dripping through the sliding glass door at the deck.
"Hey!" Momo called, standing on tiptoe in the deep water. "Where are you going, Orihime?"
Nanao wiped at her glasses, which had acted more as a handicap in the pool than anything. "I'll bet there's mail."
Yoruichi crossed her arms as Soifon chased down the ball. "How can she always know?"
"It's those hair pins," Rangiku said, nodding to the house. "I'll bet they tell her."
Soifon tossed the ball to Yumichika, whose turn it was to serve, and was standing farther back than necessary on his side of the pool. He'd already bumped into Soifon's lime green swimsuit once, which proved annoying on both sides, and Nemu in her black one piece, which proved painful. He'd bumped into Rangiku, too, when they'd both reached to tip the ball over the top of the net, but that had just proved distracting on several levels.
"Tara mail!" Orihime called from the deck, waving a gold and purple envelope.
A wet, mad scramble of swimsuits, wet bodies, and squeals made for the deck, sliding to a stop as they converged on Orihime. Yumichika decided to be the last to arrive, watching Rangiku's pink bikini backside as he went.
"Read it!" Momo cried, jumping up and down until she nearly wiped out before Rangiku caught her elbow to keep her on her feet.
Orihime danced from foot to foot in her yellow two-piece, splattering drops of water on the envelope. She ripped it open as Yoruichi hovered close. "'Sometimes in life, you get things thrown at you that you weren't expecting. The key is to learn how to handle it. Be ready at noon sharp, and we'll see who can 'work with their hands full' the best.'"
They all looked to each other.
"Like juggling?" Orihime wondered.
Soifon raised an eyebrow. "They're going to throw stuff at us to juggle."
Momo peeked into the house and let her eyes adjust from the bright sunlight to find the clock on the wall. "It's ten-thirty-five."
"Just enough time to dry off and get lunch!" Orihime said, and then split inside the sliding glass door.
The rest of the contestants followed her in, Yumichika tagging along.
Miss Ray and Ray Migel stood watching as the contestants met them in the studio that afternoon where the raised runway was set up before the camera crew, Ray in his black jeans and heather gray t-shirt that read DBSK on the front in black letters, and Miss Ray in his black leather pants and white t-shirt reading Princess in pink, glittery italics. He was heavily accessorized with a pink feather boa and eight strands of Mardi Gras beads. Behind the Rays was a large box on a card table.
"Hallo, girls!" they greeted in unison.
"Hello, Ray!" the contestants called back.
Ray rubbed his hands together, smiling at them as they lined up, each in khaki capris and a white tank top. "Eight left. Only six of you will be going on to our secret location for our photo shoot semi-finals."
A squeal ripped through the girls.
"Today you're going learn about handling props," Miss Ray said with a flourish of the boa, waving it at them. "Not just a scarf or a hat as part of your outfit, but extraneous props."
"While doing your runway walk," Ray added with a grin.
Momo put both hands to her mouth, shaking her head.
"Is that a no I see, Momo?" Ray asked, pinpointing her adverse reaction.
Momo dropped her hands and put a quick smile on her face. "No. No."
"Okay then." Ray spread his hands out as Miss Ray opened the box behind them. "Come on up as we call you, and you'll receive your prop."
Miss Ray opened the box, rubbing his hands together and laughing maniacally.
"Nanao and Soifon," Ray called.
Nanao hesitantly stepped forward, followed by Soifon, and met Miss Ray, who handed them each a walking cane.
"For you, ladies," he said.
They looked at their canes, and then went back into line.
"Yoruichi and Nemu," Ray said. They both came up and received long feathery boas in neon colors.
"Wear them in good health," Miss Ray said, bowing to each. Yoruichi glanced Nemu, who didn't seem impressed in any manner, as they went back into line.
"Momo and Yumichika," Ray called.
Momo and Yumichika approached the box to be handed large peacock fans big enough to hide half of Momo.
"My personal favorite prop," Miss Ray said with a smile.
Momo and Yumichika returned to line, each frowning at their fan.
"And finally, Rangiku and Orihime," Ray said.
The final two contestants met Miss Ray at the box, where he presented them each with pink vinyl umbrellas. "Stay outta the rain, girls."
Rangiku and Orihime looked to each other's umbrellas as they rejoined the line.
"Now, the challenge today is to interact with the prop while doing your runway walk," Ray said, looking out over them as they inspected their items. "That means eye-hand coordination, while your eyes are on audience, while you walk. Be creative!"
"No using the cane as a walking stick," Miss Ray added, "unless you're walking on your hands, girls."
"First up," Ray said as he was joined by his assistant with a clipboard, "is Nemu and her boa. Let's see some interaction, Nemu!"
Nemu went to the back of the runway with the neon yellow and chartreuse boa and started her stomp down it, swinging the feathery strip in circles so fast to either side in figure-eights it appeared to blur into a solid eight.
She stopped at the end of the runway, zipped the boa over her head, making Miss Ray pale, duck, and cringe, one hand on her hip as she leveled an unblinking look on them, still twirling the boa.
Ray looked to Miss Ray as the latter slowly stood up. "What are you ducking for?"
Miss Ray's face regained its normal coloring. "You weren't at panel when Rukia nearly took our heads off with her whip for the lingerie shoot."
"Really?"
"Uh-huh."
They turned back to Nemu. "Very good, Nemu," Ray said, nodding. "I didn't know anyone could move so fast. I didn't even see your arm move."
Nemu stilled the boa, quirked half a smile, and returned to the line with the other contestants.
"Next," Ray said, consulting his clipboard, "Yoruichi!"
Yoruichi wound the boa around her arms, draping it across her shoulders to hang from her wrists, and started down the runway at a brisk, angular walk.
"Too Ziegfeld girl," Miss Ray said, shaking his head. "So far it's Rockettes, without any leg action."
Yoruichi reached the end of the runway, turned her back, lowered one shoulder arm seductively toward them, giving a flirty glance as she did a Bunny dip, stretching out the other arm upward and letting the boa begin to fall on top of Ray's head before catching it with her lowered hand. She smiled and rose, putting a sway into her hips as she went back, the boa trailing behind her in quick flips.
"Okay ... okay," Ray said, clearing his throat. "That saved it."
Miss Ray nodded, blinking. "Yup."
"...Okay," Ray said again, still watching Yoruichi as she took her place in line. "Ok
ay. Um," he looked to his clipboard. "Nanao, let's see you work that cane!"
Nanao looked down at the cane in her hands, still unsure what to do with it. She set out down the runway with an exaggerated flounce to her step, twirling it like a baton.
"Oh, good. Majorette," Miss Ray said dryly, yawning.
"Anything else, Nanao?" Ray asked as she reached the end of the runway near them.
Nanao frowned, and then flung the spinning cane toward the ceiling, where it tangled in the lighting cords, and stayed. She looked up, scowling at it, and then to the Rays after a moment.
"Sorry," she murmured.
"A bit too typical," Miss Ray said. "Exactly what one would expect from a cane."
Nanao gave him an intense frown and turned back down the runway, more attitude in her stomp this time.
"Next," Ray said, "is Soifon!"
Soifon looked to Nanao for a fleeting second, and then did a power walk down the runway to halt before the Rays.
"Not much going on there," Miss Ray said.
Soifon narrowed her eyes at him, and then looked to the industrial switches on the wall across the studio. She held the cane like a javelin, pulled back, and let it fly toward the wall to connect with one of the switch levers.
Half the studio went black.
"Oh, well ..." Miss Ray looked to Ray.
Ray looked to Soifon. "That's not exactly what we had in mind, Soifon."
"It's all I can come up with," she said crisply, crossing her arms across her chest.
Miss Ray sighed as behind them a maintenance man rushed to assess the damage to the lighting control. "Points for accuracy, though."
Soifon faked a smile at him, and then turned down the runway and returned to line.
"Never play darts with her," Ray mumbled under his breath as he looked to the clipboard. He brightened. "Next up, Orihime!"
Orihime was in the middle of opening and closing her pink umbrella. She looked up quickly, and then slung the open umbrella over her shoulder, spinning it. "'Mou ichido anata ni aitai ima... '" she said before breaking into song, doing a jaunty march from side to side on the runway toward them. "'...sayonara. Ah ame ga yanda, Ah anata wa konai... '"
"What the hell is she saying?" Ray said to his assistant.
The younger man grinned, nodding in time to the tune. "As For One Day. Morning Musume."
"' ...no uranaigokko shitari,'" she sang, smiling brightly as she spun the umbrella, closed it, threw it into the air, and snagged it with the other hand before it could reach the Rays. "' ...sayonara koi fubuki.'" She paused, catching her breath. "Do you want the second verse?"
"Uh, no, that's enough," Ray said. "Singing, walking, and working the prop. Good job, Orihime."
"Thank you!"
"I think you used every inch of the runway, Miss Orihime," Miss Ray said. "Bravo."
Orihime smiled and trotted back to line.
Ray looked to his clipboard. "Next, Rangiku and her umbrella!"
Rangiku glanced at Orihime and then looked to the Rays. She walked halfway down the runway at a strut, and then did a high kick that sent a wedge sandal flying into the ductwork.
"'It's raining men! Hallelujah!'" she sang out, doing a pronounced, jabbing walk toward the Rays, minus a shoe, hips swishing. "'It's raining men!'" The umbrella popped out at them, nearly poking Ray's face before she pulled it back, smiling. "'Every specimen! Tall, blond, dark, and lean! Rough and tough and strong and mean!'"
"'God bless Mother Nature,'" Miss Ray joined in as Rangiku sang, grinning, hands waving over his head as he bopped in time. "'She's a single woman, too...!'"
Ray shook his head as the new duo finished out the verse, with Rangiku punctuating each beat with a pop of the umbrella.
"You go, girl!" Miss Ray said as Rangiku finished up. "Now that's the way to work a song!"
Rangiku smiled, and then turned on her heel and did a snappy walk back to line as a crewman met her with the sandal.
"You okay now?" Ray asked Miss Ray as the second man continued his soft shoe shuffle.
"You betcha, sista." Miss Ray nodded to Rangiku. "She's got rhythm, for a white chick."
"Okay, our final two." Ray looked to Yumichika. "You're up next!"
Yumichika started slowly down the runway, legs unbending together at knees in mock geisha style, holding the fan to either side as he went, gesturing gracefully with it. He paused at the end of the runway, snapping it open, giving the Rays a coy look over the edge. He flipped it over, catching it by the handle and proceeded to deftly work it in an expert manner before doing a deep geisha curtsey.
Which Miss Ray returned in like fashion. He pointed a limp finger at Yumichika as he rose. "I like that."
"So do I," Ray agreed.
Yumichika beamed back at them.
"Not a model-walk, but it put the emphasis on the prop. Good touch," Ray said.
Yumichika nodded and returned to line where Momo was nervously watching the Rays.
"Momo, come on down!" Ray called.
The small girl opened and closed her fan testily, and then did a cautious walk down the runway to the end. She paused, looking to the Rays.
"Static, Momo," Ray said with a sigh.
"I don't know what to do," she stammered. "Everything has been done. I don't think there's anything left."
The Rays looked to each other.
"She has had some competition," Miss Ray said fairly.
Momo suddenly flicked the fan open and held it atop her head Mohawk-style, looking to them expectantly.
Ray nodded slowly. "Still static, but passable, Momo. Now if you can follow that up with a knock-out walk, you're set."
Momo smiled, and then turned and did her killer walk back to line.
"Good 'nuff," Miss Ray called to her.
"Okay, you've all had your little prop demos, and I must say, interesting. Very interesting," Ray said. "You'll need that for the next elimination photo shoot later today. Now, for the winner of the prop challenge," he said, turning to Miss Ray, "drum roll, please..."
Miss Ray waggled a finger at the row of contestants who were eagerly waiting. "Yumichika. Come down here and get your prize, sista!"
Yumichika blushed a little as he went, feeling the seven sets of eyes boring into his back.
"Yours," Ray said as Miss Ray handed Yumichika an envelope. "A 50,000 yen gift certificate for Sniggle Boop's latest fantasy lingerie catalog."
Yumichika's smile dropped as he took his prize.
"Also in that envelope should be a note from Tara," Ray said. "Can you read it for us?"
Yumichika found the second note. "'You can't always rely on the photo shoot director to have your back. Sometimes, you'll get stuck with something awkward in a shoot, but you've still got to make it work. To make it easier, just remember these three words: find the light.'"
Ray grinned back at them. "Starting now!"
The contestants were surprised to see Virgil Parker with Ray Migel, clipboard in hand, as they gathered in the larger set of the studio fifteen minutes later. The camera crew was already set up before two sets, one to look like a medieval antechamber and the other a stark white screen that was splotched with gray and purple lighting behind a brown recliner. To one side the wardrobe section was curtained off near a row of hair and make-up stations.
"Hallo, girls!" Ray called as they lined up before them.
"Hi, Ray! Hi, Virgil!" the contestants answered back, a few giggling as they looked at the camera around Virgil's neck.
"With me today on the set is Virgil Parker, highly successful fashion photographer who has worked with the likes of our very own Tara Hills," Ray said with a gesture to Virgil.
Virgil nodded and waved. "Hello, ladies."
"Today we're going to venture into lighting issues, and I'll let Virgil explain to you exactly what that means to you as models," Ray said, stepping back.
Virgil, smartly dressed, as usual, gave them all a casual smile. "Sometimes, as models, it's up to you to find the
light in a shoot. Weather changes, dark corners, whatever the reason, it's up to you to find the light that best suits you at the moment so you don't have dark areas on your face. This can mean paying attention to skin tones on your body as well as your face."
Ray nodded. "One expert in the field of skin tones and lighting issues is Boris Vallejo, a noted artist for his work in the fantasy genre. Today we'll be using some of Mr. Vallejo's early works to help you find your lighting, emphasizing skin tones. Some of you will be working in pairs, some with props, and some alone. I'll call out your names and Vallejo works, and you can head to wardrobe and make-up for your looks." He looked to his clipboard. "Yoruichi, you'll be working off of Vallejo's artwork for The Executioner. Momo, you're going to be a Barbarian Queen, and your shoot will be with Rangiku, the Red Amazon."
Momo and Rangiku looked to each other in confusion.
"Nanao, you're going to be the lethal woman in Hatchett," Ray continued. "Nemu, you'll be doing a female version of Asimov's Chrome Robot. Soifon, you're going to be Vampire. And Orihime and Yumichika, you're going to be doing a shared photo shoot for Vacation." He looked to the last two contestants. "You are familiar with the movie, right?"
Orihime nodded immediately. Yumichika nodded more slowly, because he wasn't.
Ray put his hands on his hips and nodded. "Yoruichi, you'll be having your photo shoot first. Okay, everyone head on over to wardrobe and make-up, and we'll see what you can do with finding your lighting!"
Nanao looked through the racks of clothing until she found the hanger labeled "Hatchett". She picked it out, nodding approvingly at the deep purple silk dress. "Not too bad," she said as Soifon moved hangers from the other side of the rack.
"Aren't vampires in the dark all the time?" Soifon mused as she found a black dress with a tattered hem and plunging neckline. "How can I find the light in the dark?"
Nanao held the purple dress up to her chin. "Maybe that's the challenge."
Soifon frowned and pulled out the black dress. "Do you get a real hatchet?"
Nanao found the matching suede pumps from the rack below the dresses. "I don't know."
Beside them the rest of the contestants were rummaging through the rack, too. Rangiku, Momo, and Yoruichi found what little there was to their outfits. Momo winced at the leather bra and matching skirt of pleated leather.
"I can't fill this out," she murmured. "Is this Vallejo some kind of warped lingerie designer?"
"He's an arteest," Rangiku said as she found her own outfit, which resembled Momo's, except for the roomier bra portion and was dyed red leather. She frowned at the dangling bracelet cuffs. "This is from a book?"
"They all are," Orihime said, still searching the rack. "Fantasy. I guess this predates Aragon."
They all looked to Nemu as she found her chrome colored body sock and walked off with it.
Yumichika watched her go before looking back to the rack. He pulled off the hanger marked "Vacation - male". He smiled, and then looked to where Orihime had found the female counterpart.
Yoruichi was the first to stand before the medieval backdrop in front of the camera and Virgil. She was clad in only a gold girdle and matching strappy halter top, long-haired boots on her feet, butterfly blue makeup accentuating her eyes, her black hair falling down her back, a broadsword in one hand, and a prop decapitated head of an enemy in the other.
"Where do you want me?" she asked Virgil as he motioned for the lighting man to position a lamp closer.
"Where you're at is fine, Yoruichi," Virgil told her. "Now, you're showing a lot of skin in this session, but that doesn't necessarily translate as good lighting on your face. Try to keep the light on your face, but not on the wide spots."
Yoruichi gave him a pointed look. "What wide spots?"
Virgil put a hand to his cheek. "Sometimes the light hits the cheek and makes it look larger, lighter, and therefore wider."
"Oh."
"Now, just pose with the head, jubilant, victorious, but not quite gloating. Can you do that?" he asked as he raised the camera.
"Can I name the head?"
He frowned at her, then grinned. "Sure."
She looked to head and mumbled a name at it, and then raised it high and angled a daring pose that made the lights hit her gold halter top spot-on.
"Well, that's definitely an attention-grabber, Yoruichi, but the lighting also made your right thigh look huge," he said, then added quickly, "which it isn't. Let's see a few more with a little more bend in your knees."
It took only fifteen minutes for Yoruichi to get her fifty frames, most of which were excellent, making Virgil and two others in the crew pass around the boxes of tissues. After a short break, it was Momo and Rangiku's turn for their joint photo shoot.
Momo stood uncomfortably in her leather top and short pleated skirt, feeling lacking as she looked to Rangiku in a similar outfit, both with fancy gold bracelets snaking up their forearms, leather boots with shaggy tassels on their feet. They looked to each other for a long moment.
"I prefer katanas," Rangiku finally said, turning the wide broadsword with the leather wrapped hilt and fancy bronze cross-guard.
Momo nodded. "Shiro would be hot if he saw us like this."
Rangiku smiled, lifting an eyebrow. "He just might. He might even like it."
A rosy color washed over Momo's cheeks as Virgil waved them to the center of the set. He looked from Rangiku to Momo and back again. Lingering.
"Okay," he said after a moment, fidgeting with the camera strap as he looked over Rangiku's attire, "you're shooting a fight scene, but it's really not about the action. It's about keeping in the light, and not losing your face in your hair as you move."
Momo and Rangiku nodded.
"It's a little awkward with the props, but don't worry about the action too much. We're not looking for speed here, as this isn't video."
"What props?" Rangiku asked.
"The swords," he said.
"Oh? Oh. The swords are the props," Rangiku said, nodding to Momo. "I see."
"We have a hundred frames to fill because this is a joint session, so let's see you find the light, girls," Virgil said, stepping back to give them some room.
Momo and Rangiku looked at each other for a moment.
"This goes against everything," Momo said lowly.
Rangiku shrugged, raising her leather halter a few notches, grinning mischievously. "Might as well have some fun with it."
Momo looked down at the sword, then to Virgil waiting with the camera. She launched at Rangiku with a "Ha!" and a swipe.
Rangiku's sword caught Momo's blade mid air, and then the exchange began in full force. The camera crew took a collective step back as the two women moved across the medieval backdrop, alternately driving each other back in what appeared to them a genuine altercation, moving in and out of the best lighting, giggling almost as much as they were trading crosses.
After twice forgetting to take photos - and Ray reminding them that this was acting only - Virgil finally decided the one hundred frames were up. As was a box of tissues.
"Very good," he said as Momo and Rangiku lowered their swords, both smiling at him. "A little too realistic, in fact, but well done in fluidity and intensity."
"What about the lighting?" Rangiku asked, making a motion to holster the sword before recalling she didn't have a scabbard.
"Lighting? Oh, most of it was fine," Virgil said, sniffing. "Too bad these were only photos and not video. You made it look real."
Next came Soifon's vampire shoot on the set with the chair, which she posed around, striking vicious, convincing bite-you threats with her temporary fangs, hissing for affect, the light hitting her eerily from behind until she looked half-rabid and half-banshee.
Nanao then claimed the chair, sitting deep in it, crossing her legs at the knees, and pulling the plum skirt up. In one hand was a revolver, barrel smoking, in the other hand a half empty glass of amber liquid. She looked back at Virgil and Ray, giving them an I-di
d-it look.
After that the set was changed to a stark black drop and Nemu, dressed in her body smock of chrome nylon, stood in front of the camera and lights, almost every detail of her artificially created curves silhouetted against the dark as she waited for Virgil's direction.
He nodded at her, eyes moving over her proportions now in silver. "Asimov's Chrome Robot is representative of artificial intelligence, and while there is no skin tone in this shoot, the nylon is reflective and will catch the light angles of your body in a similar manner."
"I understand," she said. "Do you want the pose as the artist rendered it?"
Virgil looked surprised. "You're familiar with Isaac Asimov's work?"
"Yes."
"I see." Virgil glanced to Ray, who shrugged. "Let's see it, Nemu."
She stood straight, raised her arms up, left stretched highest, right arm crooked, all fingers curled, tilted her head back and closed her eyes, letting a wistful look claim her face.
Virgil snapped the photo. "That's it," he said to Ray.
Ray looked confounded. "That's it? One frame?"
Virgil nodded. "She nailed it perfectly. She doesn't need anymore. Vallejo himself would know it."
Ray looked back to where Nemu was still holding the pose, motionless. "She's almost blinding."
"She's scary how precise her movements are." Virgil looked to Nemu. "You're done, Nemu. Perfect."
Nemu lowered her arms and dissolved the pose, looking back at them with her normal poise. "Thank you."
"Okay then," Ray said as Virgil motioned for Nemu to leave. "Let's have our Vacation couple."
Orihime looked to Ray with a feeble smile. "Yumichika's still getting his chest painted," she said, blushing pink.
From the other side of the set Yoruichi, now back in her khakis and white tank top, laughed as the male contestant made his way to where Orihime waited near Ray and Virgil. The rest of the contestants stood at the perimeter of the crew, watching, whispering, as the next couple readied for their photo shoot.
Orihime stood barefoot in her rumpled white spaghetti string tank top and jean cutoff shorts, her hair pulled back and tufted wildly over her eyes like she'd been in a war zone. Yumichika wore a pair of blue shorts, a tan shirt tattered and torn strategically over his chest. Orihime couldn't help but stare at what she could see of his chest between the torn shirt slits.
The make-up girl hurried over to them, a sponge in one hand, a spray bottle in the other. "Not done yet!"
Ray met the make-up girl as she reached Yumichika. "Nice job. Looks very muscled."
Yumichika's chest had been enhanced, darker make-up applied to make the ripples of muscle stand out better, more defined, appearing more built than he actually was. He hated it.
The make-up girl dabbed the cosmetic sponge below his pectoral as he flinched.
"It's done," he grouched at her.
She gave him an exasperated huff and sprayed the bottle at his chest. To his horror.
"Stop it!"
"We have to set the color," the girl said, giving him another squirt.
Yumichika flinched away, glaring at her.
Ray rolled his eyes. "Okay," he told the make-up girl. "He's done." He looked to Yumichika. "This is reminiscent of the movie poster, but we've taken some liberties."
Yumichika looked down at his drawn-on muscles that peeked out of the torn shirt. "Orihime said the man in the movie didn't look like this."
Ray chuckled. "Chevy Chase? No. The movie poster was a parody of the movie. Griswold's fantastical view of his life." He looked to Virgil. "Are you ready for them?" Virgil nodded. Ray turned to Orihime. "You both have to stay in the light in this set. Unlike Momo and Rangiku's shots, you'll be standing in the same spot, so there'll be less chance to move out of the light."
One of the crew brought over two banged-up suitcases with assorted clothing sticking out of the mangled sides. He set the luggage down and left.
"These are your props, Yumichika," Ray said. "One under your arm, the other by the handle in your hand." The crewman returned with a tennis racket. Ray handed it to Yumichika. "This goes in your other hand, raised over your head in triumph."
Yumichika frowned, taking the racket. "Triumph of what?"
Ray gave him a knowing look. "You haven't seen the movie, have you?"
"... No."
"Okay, this is a mock-up of Griswold's triumph of surviving his vacation." Ray gestured to Orihime. "This is your wife, and you've endured your two angsty kids and overwhelming circumstances on a vacation, and you're happy to be alive."
"Oh. Okay." Yumichika looked to Orihime.
She looked to Ray. "Where are my props?"
Ray grinned at her. "Your prop is Yumichika."
The two contestants looked at each other with equal embarrassment.
"How?" she finally asked timidly, blushing pinker by the second.
"He's your hero. Remember in the movie how Clark Griswold always imagined himself saving the day? Well, for these shots that's how you, Ellen, have to view him. Hero," Ray said. "Got it?"
She nodded slowly, looking to Yumichika, who noticeably swallowed.
She cleared her throat. "How am I supposed to handle my prop?"
A wave of giggling went through the contestants standing around the set. Orihime blushed a deeper pink, not looking at Yumichika, who was glowing red.
Ray raised an eyebrow. "Fawningly."
"Oh," she said slowly, frowning. "Fawningly..."
Under Virgil's direction, Orihime and Yumichika took their places in front of the black screen which now had images of the Grand Canyon and an amusement park superimposed on its surface.
Yumichika had one suitcase tucked under his arm, the other in the hand below, striking a stout Conan-style pose with his other arm raised overhead holding the tennis racket. Orihime stood at his side, both hands tentative on the torn shirt at his chest, blush still bright on her face, nearly every inch of her legs exposed beneath the jean shorts.
Virgil nodded. "Good lines, Orihime, Yumichika. Now, I need you to look at him with worshipping eyes. He's saved your vacation and you're happy to be his wife."
Orihime looked sheepishly to Yumichika, who still had one hand outstretched over their heads. She smiled and batted her eyes. He grinned at her.
"Not bad," Virgil said, snapping a few shots. "But you're not supposed to look at her, Yumichika."
He looked to Virgil. "Why not?"
"You're supposed to look to the camera. This is poster-style, so we need to see your face."
Yumichika looked to the photographer.
"And smile glibly," Virgil added.
Yumichika thought about the fingers on his chest, and smiled.
"Keep moving, Orihime," Ray directed. "Find some poses that show your best lighting, 'cuz Yumichika isn't going anywhere."
It took an hour to get the one hundred frames due Orihime and Yumichika, and by then nearly everyone on the set was exhausted, either from holding a pose or laughing. Finally the contestants wrapped up their shoot, and headed back to the house for an hour reprieve until panel judging.
"... sought by all the publishing houses," Virgil was saying to Gin that evening as they sat at the judges table awaiting the contestants. "Daw, Ace, Ballantine, even Marvel, Playboy, and Warner Brothers."
Gin sat in the guest judge's seat beside Virgil. "He didn't write Star Trek?"
"No. Of course not. Where did you get that idea?" Miss Ray asked from farther down the table as the prop's girl polished the eight points on his tiara behind him.
Gin straightened his black tie over his gray chambray shirt. "Nowhere." He looked to the doorway at the far end of the room. "When're they gonna get here?"
"They'll be here," Tara said, squelching a belch that threatened to surface from the black leather corset her size large torso was poured into. "Are you sure you're up for this?" she asked Gin.
"Yep. I'm sure."
The props girl finished the tiara and quickly took her l
eave.
Down the table Uryuu was sending Gin a sour look. "Do you even know what's going on here?"
Gin considered him for a long moment, sizing him up. "Yep. More than you do, Quincy-boy."
Uryuu frowned, and then his face lightened as the contestants filed into the room across the runway carpet.
Tara jumped to her feet and made a beeline for the front of the table, her leopard print leather pants squeaking as she walked.
"Hi, girls!" she called, overly made-up eyes glinting at them.
"Hi, Tara!" they returned, all wearing little black dresses and black pumps. Yumichika looked uncomfortable in his dress. Or maybe it was the shoes.
"Today you had your fantasy photo shoot, courtesy the work of Boris Vallejo," Tara said with a smile. "Fun stuff, huh?"
A ripple of agreement came from the contestants.
"Good. As you all know, our very own Virgil Parker was your photographer today," Tara gestured to said man, who waved to them. "Also on our panel is noted runway coach, Miss Ray Constance," Tara made a grand flourish to the man in the satin t-shirt and tiara.
Miss Ray pointed to each of the tiara tips in turn.
"Our rising fashion designer, Uryuu Ishida," Tara continued, indicating Uryuu beside Miss Ray, "and lastly, our guest judge for the evening, Mr. Gin Ichimaru." She flipped a hand in Gin's direction.
Gin grinned back at the contestants, his eyes on one strawberry-blonde woman, who returned a smile to him. Tara continued to describe the prizes to be won by becoming The Next Top Model as Gin's attention rested on Rangiku, who wiggled a few fingers of hello at him from her place in line.
"Let's take a look at your work," Tara said before scuttling back to her chair behind the table. "First up, we have Nanao. Come on down, and work that 'lil black dress!"
Nanao stomped down the runway, footsteps heavy yet deliberate, and stuck a pose at the end.
Miss Ray waved a finger at her. "Fi-yace to the core," he said smoothly with a nod, then looked to Tara. "I can tell this is gonna be good."
"All right, Nanao, let's see your best shot." Tara looked from the raven-haired woman to the black screen, which was quickly filled with the photo of Nanao, who was sitting back in the armchair, with the glass of tequila in one hand and a smoking gun in the other.
"And I was right. What a surprise," Miss Ray said immediately, throwing in a mm-hmm of approval.
"I think it's gorgeous," said Tara, still looking at the picture. "Your face looks amazing."
"And you did something here that every good model should be able to do," Virgil started as he sat up straighter. "You found the light." He gestured towards the photograph. "You see how the light hits off the planes of your face? That's what we were looking for, and that's what adds to the beauty in this picture."
Tara nodded. "I couldn't agree more."
Nanao allowed a slight smile to come to her lips.
"All right, thanks, Nanao," Tara said. "You can go back in line. And," she paused, glancing down, "Soifon, you're next."
Soifon came forward, and after a bit of small talk, during which she ignored Gin, her photo flicked onto the black screen. In it, she was dressed as a vampiress, outfit complete with the jagged leather black dress and fangs, her long hair extensions that reached nearly to her waist.
"I can honestly say," Virgil said as he cleared his throat, "that this is the first time that we've seen your sexy side, Soifon."
Said Chinese woman didn't look affected.
"This is a pretty good picture," Tara said, nodding slightly, "but I have to say, it seems little too predictable." She pointed at the photo with the pen in her hand. "The pose is too reminiscent of Underworld and Interview with the Vampire."
Soifon's brow rose. "That's what?"
"Just try some more variety in your poses next time," Tara replied pleasantly with a smile.
Soifon nodded.
"Okay. Thanks, Soifon." Tara shuffled her papers. "Yoruichi, darlin', you're up next."
Yoruichi made a fluid walk down the carpet, silent, her lithe form bending the dress in all the right places. "I should have named the head after you," she tossed at Gin.
Gin frowned in confusion. Virgil chuckled.
"And you were?" Tara asked leadingly as she looked at the dark-skinnned woman.
"The Executioner," Yoruichi said in a prickly tone, "but he was already dead when I got there."
Tara twittered a giggle, and nodded to the screen. "Let's see your best shot."
On the screen flicked Yoruichi in her Executioner garb, holding the prop head by the scruffy hair, her broadsword in the other hand.
"Looks good, the light hitting your face enough without being stark," Tara said, nodding. "Thank you, Yoruichi. Now, let's see Nemu!"
Nemu came down the runway, her dark eyes sliding to where Gin sat, a subtle flash glinting in them for a fleeting moment.
"Ah, which work did you represent?" Tara asked.
"Isaac Asimov's Chrome Robot, female version," Nemu said.
"Hmm, yummy," Miss Ray said, looking to the screen as Nemu's photo appeared.
"Good photo, strong silhouette," Virgil said, nodding and pointing to the screen. "This was the first and only frame. She got it in the first shot."
"Wow," Tara said to Nemu. "One shot. You don't hear that very often."
Uryuu sighed. "With her you will."
Gin nodded, smiling.
"Very good, Nemu," Tara said, looking out at the other contestants. "Now we have the sets. First up, Orihime and Yumichika."
At the last seat of the table Gin chuckled as the two contestants came down the runner. "Are you serious?"
Yumichika gave him a dirty look as he and Orihime stopped before Tara.
"He's very good," Virgil said to Gin, who was snickering until his eyes disappeared into tight slits.
"Ha-ha-ha!" Gin howled, slapping the table.
Tara looked back to the contestants before her. "So, you were the Griswolds." She smiled as they nodded. "Let's see the happy couple."
The screen changed to Yumichika holding the suitcases, arm raised with the racket, Orihime at his side, her hands braced on his chest as she looked at him with admiration.
"Ha!" Gin went into another round of laughter until he nearly convulsed, making the table shake.
Uryuu squinted at the screen. "Why does she have her hands on him?"
Orihime looked to him. "He was my prop."
Uryuu's eyes opened wider. "He was your what?"
"My prop."
Uryuu turned a livid shade of purple-red.
"I think it's perfect," Miss Ray said, nodding at the couple. "Better than the poster."
"Very good," Tara said to Orihime and Yumichika as Gin made an effort at composing himself. "Now, let's see Momo and Rangiku!"
Orihime and Yumichika went back into line as Momo and Rangiku stomped smartly down the carpet in unison. They halted before Tara, Momo with her eyes locked on the super model, and Rangiku with a smile and a nod to the end of the table.
Both Virgil and Gin waved back.
"That was for me," Gin said to Virgil, smile dropping.
"No, it wasn't," Virgil said back.
Gin frowned at him.
Tara looked to each of the contestants. "You had a joint photo shoot in which you acted out a rather believable action sequence."
"Very believable," Virgil seconded. "These girls handled the props like they knew what they were doing. Too bad weren't making a video."
"Let's see your best shots," Tara said, looking to the screen. On the screen flashed a photo of Momo in the heat of battle, her eyes still soft, part of her face shadowed. Next appeared a shot of Rangiku, more intense, eyes catching the light.
Gin leaned an elbow on the table, set his chin in his hand, grinning as his eyes traveled over Rangiku's photo. "I like it."
"Oh, yes, Rangiku caught the light exceptionally well today," Virgil agreed.
Gin frowned at him. "You don't have to notice so much.
"
"That's my job."
Gin looked from the photographer to Rangiku, grinning again.
"Excellent," Tara said, nodding. "Good shots today. Okay, it's now time for the judges to deliberate. We'll see you girls in a little while."
After the contestants had left the room, the judges took another look at the photos on the table before Tara.
Uryuu leaned over Miss Ray and pulled the one of Orihime and Yumichika out, frowning at it. "Why's she stuck with him? Why not someone else?"
Tara looked to him. "The selections were made after considering each contestant's strengths and weaknesses, and we thought -"
"You could have paired him up with someone else," Uryuu grumbled, pouting at the photo.
"She did good," Miss Ray said. "Look at 'em together. They look natural, not contrived. His height, her shape - the lines are there for model material."
Uryuu glared at him.
"What about Soifon?" Tara said, finding the vampire photo. "Vicious!"
Virgil nodded. "It's odd with her. By the time you get a spark out of her it's all this violent energy."
Miss Ray nodded with all seriousness. "She speared out the lights today in runway. Use of props."
Gin drummed his fingers on the table, looking at the pile of photos. "Just the way she is. Let's see the rest."
Tara slid Soifon's photo beneath the stack and pulled the one of Nanao out. "Talk about a femme fatale. This woman could kill you with a single look."
"It's been done," Gin said, nodding in agreement.
Tara leaned across Virgil, holding the photo closer to the guest judge. "She's wearing a purple dress, sitting in a brown arm chair, smoking gun in one -"
"He's not blind," Virgil said to Tara.
Tara looked to Gin, squinting back at him. "Don't be rude, Virgil. He's just sight-challenged."
"He's not the blind one," Virgil emphasized.
Tara quirked a frown. "You're not the blind judge?"
Gin shook his head. "Nope."
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yep."
Tara sat back in her seat. "Hmm. What do you think, Mr. Ishida?"
Uryuu was still mumbling at the photo of Orihime and Yumichika he held.
"Mr. Ishida," Tara repeated.
Uryuu looked to her, then to the photo of Hatchett. "Oh, she did it, all right."
Miss Ray nodded. "Guilty."
Uryuu held up the Vacation photo higher. "I don't think this is good at all."
Tara raised an eyebrow. "You think Orihime should go home?"
"No! He should," Uryuu jabbed Yumichika's side of the photo.
Tara sifted through the pile of photos to draw out the one of Momo and Rangiku. "Red Amazon and Barbarian Queen," she said while Virgil snapped the photo from her as Gin reached for it. "I guess you're not the blind one."
Virgil placed the photo before him. "These two worked well together in the shoot today."
"'Course they did," Gin said, trying to pull the photo out from Virgil's fingers.
Virgil held the photo to the table before him. "Not just the give-and-take in the action shots, but how they seemed to read each other, with Rangiku trying to stay out of Momo's light during the shoot."
"Yeah, yeah, nice," Gin said, frowning and trying to slide the photo closer. "Let me see it."
Virgil's hands anchored the photo before him to the table. "Momo's light here gets lost. Even with Rangiku looking out for her, she weaves too far from the lamps, angles her face away. Now, Rangiku looks flawless in most shots. Correct lighting, beautiful skin tones, lovely -"
"Yeah, we can see it," Gin said, two determined fingers on the edge of the photo.
"I'm saying she takes a great photo."
"I know what you're saying. Now shut up about it," Gin said, tugging the photo closer.
"Are you telling me my business?" Virgil asked heatedly.
"I'm agreeing with you." Gin edged the photo an inch closer. "She's gorgeous. Let me see it."
"Boys," Tara said with a giggle. "There's enough of Rangiku to go around."
Both Gin and Virgil's heads snapped in her direction.
"Got your attention now, hmm?" she said, smiling. "Virgil, let Mr. Ichimaru see the photo."
Virgil let go of the photo. Gin pulled it closer, smiling down at it.
"And the Chrome Robot," Tara said, pulling Nemu's photo from the stack. "Looks too much like an Oscar award to me. More shiny than good lighting."
"I agree," Miss Ray said. He and Tara looked to the other judges, who were preoccupied with the two other photos. "As stunningly generic as Nemu's is, I still think Momo is on the lowest rung this shoot."
Tara nodded, looking to where Gin still had the photo trapped beneath his fingers. Virgil sat with arms crossed beside him, miffed.
Gin tapped the photo. "Do I get to keep this?"
"Absolutely not," Virgil said before Tara could speak.
Gin frowned and looked back to the photo. "How about just half of it?"
Virgil shook his head. "No."
Tara sighed. "Have we come to our conclusion?"
A few moments later the contestants returned to their line at the end of the runway carpet, looking back at the judges table. Tara stood before the table, a stack of photos in hand, looking out over the girls with a somber expression.
"Eight beautiful models in front of me, but only one can be The Next Top Model," Tara said dramatically. "There are only seven photos in my hands. If I do not call your name, you must go back to the house, pack your belongings, and go home," she said emphatically, looking over the row of contestants. After a long pause she turned over the first photo in her hand. "Nanao. Congratulations, girl."
Nanao put her hands over her mouth in surprise and came quickly down the runway.
"The judges thought your photo caught the light well, but still kept the chill of Hatchett."
Nanao smiled and turned back to take her place in line.
Tara looked up. "Rangiku."
Rangiku took her stride down the runway to Tara, throwing Gin a smile and wink, which he intercepted with a wide grin. Virgil looked from Rangiku to Gin, and then back to Tara.
"Congratulations. You're still in the running for The Next Top Model," Tara said. She called off the next few names, Yoruichi, Orihime, Yumichika, Nemu.
Only Momo and Soifon stood at the end of the carpet. Tara called them down to stand before her.
"Momo, Soifon," Tara said in turn, "today it was all about staying in the light. Soifon, we asked you for energy and warmth, and even in the light all we get is a cool glint. Momo," Tara turned to the smaller girl, "your fellow model stayed out of your way, and you still couldn't find the light. Both of you have so much potential, but one of you will be leaving tonight." Tara turned over the last photo of Soifon. "Congratulations, Soifon. You're still in the competition."
Momo frowned, lower lip quivering. "Okay," she said barely audibly.
Soifon looked to her with atypical softness, and then put a consoling arm around her for a quick hug. Momo smiled back at her.
"Bye!" Momo called to the other contestants as she turned back down the runway. They all waved, calling their goodbyes, Rangiku sending her a sad smile.
"Hey, nice shot with the gum!" Gin called after Momo as she reached the doorway.
She looked to him, slowly smiling.
And then there were seven.