Hell's Actor-Chapter 90: Fashion Week

Azes Fashion Week, held annually in Tokyo, was the sixth-largest fashion event in the world.

It gained recognition in recent years by attracting young fashionistas and recognizable brands who wanted something different from the usual fashion events.

Unlike the other fashion events, this one held a different theme every iteration. So, the designers who wanted to participate had to show their artistry within the limits of the theme.

This year’s theme was Glamorous Warmth.

It was not a competition, but the top brands silently fought for prominence and more exposure nonetheless.

Serpbliss was one of them.

It was one of the top ten most lucrative brands, and it was considered the holy grail of classy, elegant looks.

Tonight, one of Serpbliss’s designers was showcasing two of her designs.

Yoko Roy was the brand’s youngest designer, and she was preparing for the event in one of the rooms provided by the organizers.

She was a girl dedicated to her art, but she had a secret.

Up until a few weeks ago, she loved only one kind of man.

The submissive man.

She liked reading Chinese BL novels. She would often cry while watching two men ’go at it.’

She rooted for the submissive, less socially secure guy.

It was so shameful that she had to bury her head in her books while talking about boys with her friends when she was in high school.

Naturally, she liked smoother-faced boys.

But now, she had another obsession.

Bad boys.

’I’m hopeless,’ she thought while measuring one of her models’ waist. ’Can’t I like something normal for once? Why have you made me like this, God?’

While watching BSPH, she had obsessed over Asmodeus Binsfeld unknowingly. She fantasized about him treating her like trash and reveled in it.

’Can’t think like that in front of him. Please, stupidity, leave me be for one day.’

She had tried her luck by inviting Averie Quinn Auclair to be her model for a day, and he had agreed.

It was such a joyous moment when she received the email. His team had even sent his measurements in advance.

It was only a day they were going to share, but it was still a highlight in her life.

’I am going to make you so cozy, my Quinn. People will forget how scary and indecent you were on TV. You are going to be the quintessential hot guy of a BL novel!’

The girl had lost her marbles.

"Are the pieces prepared?"

Her assistant placed two garment bags on the table.

"Everything’s ready."

Yoko rubbed her hands nervously.

"Now, we need to wait."

Suddenly, the door opened, and two figures came in uninvited.

"How are we today, Yoko?"

It was Shauna, a forty-year-old photographer who had worked with Serpbliss in the past. She was here to capture pictures for the company’s autumn catalog.

Yoko had met her plenty of times. But the woman who entered alongside her was not familiar to her.

"This is Ilya Rosen." Shauna introduced her. "She is the editor of Cross Town."

She was a strict-looking woman sporting a gray suit and rimless glasses.

"Oh really?" Yoko exclaimed.

Cross Town was one of the big three of fashion magazines. Their issues could be found even at some remote mountain-side bus stops at the edge of the globe.

Unlike the other two of the big three, instead of featuring popular Hollywood stars, they put importance on fashion above all.

Most of their features were professional models, and only a few were actors or musicians. Now and again, they would feature some entirely unknown person who would turn out to be the next big thing in the modeling world.

Yoko was glad to be acquainted with the editor behind such a magazine. When she was little, she used to read it too. Their history was long, that much she knew.

"Are you friends?" she asked.

"Well, we have known each other for decades, so I suppose," Shauna answered. "People were pestering her out there. So, I brought her here."

"They are all pretentious fops," Ilya commented in a very condescending British accent. "I would not be here if it weren’t for my intuition."

"Intuition?" inquired Yoko.

Shauna took out her camera and attached one of the lenses she was carrying.

"Ilya has had good intuition for a long time. She is the one responsible for sniffing out all those unknown talents."

"Oh? Did you find someone new?"

"Who knows?"

Frankly, she was ready to go home. Only her curiosity and austere discipline kept her there.

It was 6 PM when Averie, dressed in his usual attire, arrived at the venue.

He was with the main cast of BSPH in the middle of countless flashes.

"No one told me you lot would be here," he uttered through his clenched jaw.

Peter Kang laughed in his face.

"You think we would not hear about you doing some fashion stuff here?" He whistled. "You think we would miss that?"

John Strom waved at a crowd of fans that had somehow snuck in.

"We didn’t have much interest, but Peter dragged us here, saying it would be fun to laugh at you. This is his revenge for what you said about, you know, his granny."

"Well, I am only taking photos for a catalog. So he will be disappointed."

They spent some time meeting and greeting some of the industry folk—actors, directors, and musicians.

Talks held him back for long, but Averie was finally able to get away.

"This way," Hyerin beckoned him.

She had gotten in through the back entrance.

She led him to a room where half a dozen ladies had gathered.

Min-Ha introduced each of them.

The hefty one was Shauna. The strict one was Ilya. The one trying her hardest to appear sane was Yoko. The thin ladies by her side were her assistants.

’Something’s wrong, I can feel it.’

"Alright, Mr. Auclair, should we get started?" Yoko asked.

"Sure."

’Why is that editor staring at me? She has nothing to do with me, right? I didn’t troll her online or something, right?’

Averie sat down on the chair in front of the large mirror. Min-Ha and one of Yoko’s assistants began his make-up.

They had prepared a plan for how they would approach it to achieve the preferred look.

His black piercings, silver chains, and rings were removed. His foundation and eyeliner were changed. Eyebrows were neatly shaped. Hair was made so beautiful that Hyerin almost cried out of envy.

While that was going on, Yoko was preparing the clothes, making sure there was no lint or crease. She left the rest to her assistant and approached Averie.

"How are you feeling, Mr. Auclair?"

"Fine."

"Have you ever done a ramp walk before?"

Averie frowned in confusion.

’As Gene Conti, yeah.’

"No."

"They hired someone who hasn’t done this before?" Ilya whispered to Shauna. "Are they kidding? Who is he anyway?"

"I don’t know." Shauna typed on her phone. "An actor who recently debuted, it says."

Ilya found such a bizarre choice to be complacent.

"Surely, they could have gone for someone more interested, at least."

But Yoko, undeterred, took out a diary.

"I prepared some notes for you. This will help."

Averie took a look at it. He had question marks all over his face.

"Why would I need this?"

"For your ramp walk, of course."

For a minute, he stared at her in silence.

His head slowly swerved towards Min-Ha.

"What did you do?" he whispered with poison in his eyes.

She hid behind Hyerin.

"You said you would leave it to me because I am your stylist."

He gritted his teeth and cursed her internally.

’You are a professional, Averie. You can do this.’

"So, I have to walk the ramp in whatever clothes you have prepared, right?"

"Yes."

"Then take pictures for the catalog?"

"Exactly."

He looked at himself in the mirror.

’You can do this. You can spend one day without violence.’

He closed his eyes, took a breath, and haughtily snapped his fingers.

"Doll me up like one of your French girls."

Hyerin hid her reddened face in her hands. Her friend had been watching too many films.

’I’ll need to find him a good script to keep him occupied. Who knows what else he’ll end up saying at this rate?’

But Ilya had a completely different reaction.

She cleaned her glasses and looked back at the man who, only seconds ago, looked inexperienced and lethargic.

’What is that?’

His aura had completely changed. There was a sort of spark in his eyes.

’The gravity of a star.’

Not a superstar. No, she meant a literal cosmic star.

"This looks interesting," she muttered to Shauna, who had similar thoughts.

There was a great picture there, she knew it.

"Let me tell you a little about our interpretation of the theme and what you will be representing," Yoko continued.

"Hmm," Averie nodded thoughtfully.

"It’s about two hot guys who have sexual relations."

Averie tilted his head to the side. "Huh?"

’That’s kinda gay.’

It was indeed gay.

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