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It was time for the beach shoot. Time for Velvette and Vox’s, anyway, as Valentino would be showing up for his at another time. Apparently something blew up at his studio. From the expression on Vox’s face when he showed up, she actually believed something had.
Whether physically or metaphorically, it didn’t matter.
Still, Vox was the one she had more difficulties with getting into certain outfits, so she appreciated some time to focus on him without Val whining. Val wanted to try everything and then be praised for looking amazing. Velvette had nothing against that, but it did get in the way of work.
“This is a special edition,” Velvette reminded him. “I have plenty of models, of course, but we are the ones showcasing all the top pieces. Everyone else will be there, smaller, just to prove it fits on other body types.”
“I read the abstract for the project,” Vox assured her. “I know you’ve already picked out who is wearing what.”
Velvette had only brought it up because sometimes Vox’s bad mood made him forget how he had already agreed to such things. Velvette simply pursed her lips, nodded, and glanced over their “beach”. Of course they weren’t at an actual beach today. They were in one of their water parks where everything about the shoot could be controlled and transportation didn’t take too long. But it would do. Even if a part of her missed an actual beach, she did not miss other people around to fuck things up.
She started off with the swim trunks and loose tops she knew Vox would be most comfortable with. Things he would not be about to complain about. The photographers got single shots of him as well as shots with the both of them. She could lounge over his thighs or hang over his back with her arms over his shoulders too, because Val wasn’t there to overly touch her or make Vox hard and gross.
Velvette was not a touch sort of person. She didn’t want to admit she was actually comfortable like this though. Sitting on Vox’s shoulders and resting her arms on top of his head or slung in Vox’s arms with her posed exuberantly like they had been playing in the water he was standing in.
There was a feeling she couldn’t label. It was comfortable, but more than that. Somehow nostalgic, except she hadn’t had this when she was alive. Well, she supposed there were the times her uncle would save her from being “around” her parents. At least, until her uncle stopped coming and abandoned her.
Of course, then came the other swimsuits she had in mind. Velvette was ready for the battle which would ensue, but at the same time he had already signed off on whatever she had chosen. She would win it.
“There are some I have fitted for you, Val, and me.” Velvette snapped him into it before she changed herself. “Most of the shoots will be all three of us together, but some I wanted individual shots.”
Vox looked down at himself. Velvette was ready. She saw the expression on his face go neutral, then glitch for a second. Except, instead of immediately demanding her to change her idea, his posture changed. Relaxed?
“All right. Show me what you want, my dear.”
Velvette stared. If it weren’t for how it couldn’t be anyone other than Vox, she would have thought she was faced with an imposter. “Really…?” Surely there would be some push back. She had scheduled time in for that, fully expecting it.
Vox raised an eyebrow. “Something wrong?”
Of course nothing was wrong. That was what she couldn’t figure out. “No. Not at all.” She pushed him in the direction of the rocks they would be posing against. Was it because Val wasn’t around? Had something else happened today? Velvette didn’t know. How much could she get away with?
The next one was more feminine. Vox didn’t even bat an eye. Velvette’s heart pounded. She followed that up with something not as feminine, but definitely more revealing. That did get him to stare down at himself for a moment, but once again Vox simply dealt with the photos.
Would he actually let her show him like this? Was something about to happen to all the tech in the room and ruin the pictures? Velvette felt dizzy.
“Velvette, are you all right?”
“Are you all right?” she asked, tone more harsh, but then she flushed as she realized how much concern came out.
Vox rested underneath the umbrella on the beach towel, the edge of his head propped in a hand. He patted the sand in front of him. Velvette fidgeted, then sat down cross-legged in front of him.
“Have no doubt that I’m going to be freaking out about this later,” he said, voice smooth. “So just get this done while I’m able to stay calm. All right?”
Velvette blinked. Somehow, when he put it like that, there was less to worry about. Nothing had happened to Vox. He was just doing this… for her. Whatever had caused him to be in a good enough mood so he could hold back his usual distaste for wearing things he thought didn’t fit him (though they did), she wished she could replicate.
“That okay with you?” He poked between her eyes.
Velvette scowled and swatted his hand away. “Got it! Just… you were acting weird! That’s not my fault!”
“As you say.” He smirked. It really didn’t look like he was holding back any frustration or dread at all. Usually it did.
So despite returning and finishing the rest of the shoot, Velvette had to wonder. This was for her. Vox did so much for her, but it usually wasn’t anything like this.
The photo shoot wrapped up and the crew were told to get moving. Vox bent over in the water and splashed Velvette with it, getting her wig drenched. She gasped, then tackled him.
It was a different day. Velvette hoped they could have another like it.