Colin's posts

"On the stage." Val replied.

She then got onto the stage, and looked around, as he moved the lights and checked the camera, almost spending 10 solid minutes on it.

"Right." he said.

"I need you to look like you're a confident woman that's not scared of anything." he told her.

"You're walking down this alley, even though people have said it's dangerous, but YOU DON'T CARE! You need to BE somewhere, and NOBODY is going to stop you!" he declared.

"Mid-stride, NO hesitation, you are GOING through this alley, and THAT is THAT!" he barked.

As he spoke, she could certainly hear the passion in his voice. It was clear as day, But now there was a certain undertone to it. One that stated that this was how it was going to go... and she had better listen to him.

"Clearly!" he called back.

"I'm photographing a goblin, NOT a pre-teen girl!" he shouted.

He then sighed, and shook his head.

"Right." he mumbled, as he finished setting up the area.

He put a backdrop of an alley as the background, and made sure the lights were pointed where they should be, and he would adjust them as needed.

"All right..." he then said.

"Urban... then beach... then pool... then lavish.." he listed to himself, going over what they would be going through, and then turning and waiting for Izea, tapping his foot as he did so.

"Quite." he responded.

"We have a full day ahead of it." he then told her, gesturing to the rack of outfits, as well as a circular curtain for a changing room.

"First things first." he said.

"I want you to change into the skinny jeans and tank top." he went on.

"The first photoshoot will be urban-themed."

"...noted." the agent on the other side replied.

"You remember the word in case you need immediate backup?" they asked.

"Legend." she replied.

"Good." the agent responded.

"...and good luck." they finished, as the door opened, revealing Val.

He looked around, saw Izea, and gestured for her to come inside... looking rather insistent, this time.

"See you!" Hal responded as she left.

When she did, he looked at the contract again, scanning everything.

"...this seems on board." he said.

"It's all proper... no way to weasel out of it..." he mumbled.

He then looked at it more closely, and something caught his eyes. He read it over, before scratching at his chin.

"...hmmm... so his models essentially have to agree that he calls all the shots during each session... with their limits into consideration of course..." he muttered to himself.

Something about that didn't sit right with him.

Hal chuckled when she said that.

"Glamours have come a long way." he told her.

"In the past, when an actual spell was used to disguise the individual, yes, an itching sensation was common, over the whole body." he said.

"However, with advancements in both technology AND mana, we can now have things like... well, the ring." he went on.

"It's a perfect disguise." he proclaimed.

"...except for... when one may accidentally and legitimately lose it." he then admitted.

"You do that." Hal replied.

"We'll discuss further strategy on Monday." he told her.

"For now, good work." he said.

"Hopefully this will all end up being for nothing." he went on.

"...that would be optimal." he sighed.

"But all we can do is wait and see."

Hal shook his head.

"Not much of it." he said.

"He hasn't released anything to the public as of yet, and the Council and Triad only have access to a few photos, unless they have reason to demand them." he told her.

"Most I've seen is a shot of a... dryad, I believe." he continued.

"I admit, it WAS very good." he then said.

"He seems to know what he's doing."

".......hm." Sharp mumbled.

"Well, that can just be explained by an artist's preferences, or just their little idiosyncrasies." he said.

"But he seems above-board, eh?" he asked.

She nodded.

"All right, tell me everything." he told her. "What you discussed, how he acted, everything." he said further.

She took a deep breath and explained EVERYTHING, handing him the contract at the end. Hal looked it over, and raised an eyebrow.

"...either he has a REAL hidden dark side, or these reports are people ganging up to try and ruin him for... reasons." he said.

"Because the stories they're putting forth are in complete contrast to all this."

Jake buzzed her in, and she quickly made her way to Sharp's office, where he was waiting for her with the door open.

"Come in." he said when she arrived.

She stepped in, closed the door, and got up into one of the chair, and Hal sighed.

"All right." he said.

"Tell me what you've learned." he told her.

"And how's this guy looking so far?" he asked further.

Jake just sighed as she spoke to him.

"Good to see you." he said.

"Glad to see you... uh... well, appear to be okay..." he mumbled.

"I don't know. That disguise is REALLY good." he commented.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"The creep hurt you yet?"

"Indeed." Ty responded, as they pulled into a parking space.

"All right, Sharp's expecting you." he told her.

"Head on up and see him. I need to return this rental car." he continued.

"We only needed it for today." he went on.

"See you later."

They neared the Unit, and he sighed.

"Just keep your wits about you." he told her.

"That's all we can ask for." he said.

"See what this fella's deal is..." he mumbled further, trailing off a little at the end.

"It's weird how there's no red flags, though..." he then admitted.

"Makes me wonder what those reports are based off of..."

"Hmmmm." Ty mumbled.

"I see, I see." he said.

"Well, just be sure to keep your wits about you, though I'm sure you already know that." he told her.

"We need to be ready for anything, really." he continued.

He then looked at her briefly, and paused a moment, before turning his attention back to the road.

Something seemed... off... about Izea. But not in a bad way. She seemed a bit... lighter than before. A smidgen more on the cheerful side, though he couldn't pinpoint how, or why, or anything like that.