Stardust~

[Kit Estenial]

Kit's hand was practically snapping his sketchbook in half as he looked out of the window of skyscraper. He wasn't used to being this high up in a building, he had climbed mountains this size before, but something about this man made structure put him on edge. Probably with the bold lines of the building heading straight to the concrete floor of the city, he was definitely out of his element. His dress pants and his shirt had been freshly pressed and cleaned and he had taken a thorough shower this morning. He was completely unarmed in terms of his weapons, his kukri safely stashed away in his duffle bag in the corner of the room, hidden behind an office desk. He wasn't sweating, but his other hand rolled the bell of his collar in betwixt his thumb and index finger, looking down on the cars. This was territory not traversed by Kit before, though he did know that there was big, and he knew BIG money could be very well involved. And it was rather simple to Kit: design clothing....Kit was an artist, and a damn good one at that; he had designed original pieces for several of his works, and a few he was rather proud of. It was a simple matter to take his favorites, then actually do dimensions and materials for it to make the sketch at least plausible to be worked with.

Kit started pacing now. He knew these big companies were ones to grasp major uniqueness in designs, and Kit was starting to doubt himself. He didn't know if these agents would even consider his work. No, no, no, Kit was over-thinking the matter. He had achieved so much without so much money, so why should it matter? Maybe it was some deep part of Kit that longed for approval of some sort, in his art or his music, but he never really cared before. He enjoyed to express his ideas and emotions, and it pleased him when it sounded and looked beautiful to him. But he wasn't here to please himself, he was here to please the agents. He started to straighten his hair and bring up his rather loose tie, though he didn't bother to fully button his shirt, so a few of his larger scars were showing, though he honestly could care less, they made good conversation pieces, at least.

He stared at the bottle chilling in a bucket of ice on a nearby desk. Cerisian Cabernet Sauvignon...not his usual Red Merlot but he wasn't the one who'd set it. It did spark something in his mind, though. Something he'd read in a fashion tabloid not too long ago. It was an article on Tanandra Collier, the foremost name in fashion these days. She had a taste for the stuff, if he'd remembered correctly, but...no, that was probably his mind making false connections, or maybe not....he chuckled to himself, laughing at the thought. The little joke his mind had played on him loosened him up a bit, as he took a relaxed seat at a chair looking straight at the only doors into the office he was occupying. He crossed a leg over the other and started to rub his chin with his newly emptied hand, his sketchbook lying right beside the chair legs, and his other hand still rolling his bell in his fingers. His serpentine eyes waited, anticipated the door handle to move, the hinges to move a bit in expectation. He was like a tiger, waiting for his new prey, though with a smile on his face, his right fang resting over his lip.

[Lust]

There was always a certain safety in fashion, despite the designs always being cutting edge and the market being always-changing. Maybe that's why it was safe for Tanandra. She knew its ebb and flow, and that even if the styles changed dramatically, they were things she herself could now influence. Her name was attached and associated with so many high-end clothing labels, her life spent escalating from Victoria's Secret ads to modeling Prada and Gucci down the catwalks of Milan. Sure, the fashions that were exhibited were often extreme and almost caricatures of real clothing intended for people, but she knew it was just part of the filtering process. Some was just plain weird, some was highly-practical and innovative. Truly, fashion was and always would be Tanandra's first home, not matter what changed in the tastes of the market, and genuinely loved having a well-manicured hand in it.

There was also a safety in fashion that just didn't exist with movies always. Movie-goers weren't always as loyal and were easily swayed by the tabloids, but models could more easily grace in and out of galas and events, and try to tie themselves in with the public more easily. Well, she could, at least. When she'd told her agent she needed to do a little reputation-tidying, he agreed immediately, but he was always kind of a yes-man. So when Tanda told him to look into some indie fashion shows, or finding her some new material, it didn't take long for Claude to compile a list and samples. There were lots of budding designers out there, fresh from fashion school, and some just diving in with no pedigree at all. But so many who filled the bigger cities in Creta, Esparia, and Le Cerises to try and have their samples chosen by an established attelier or desginer who wanted to hire them. Tanandra had gotten her own start on a lucky break and gone from there, so Claude reasoned that the model giving a loving push to a few lucky beginners with talent would be just what her reputation needed and would help erase any dirty words put there by tabloids.

So it was agreed, and set up by the beady-eyed man in the nice suit that sometimes Tanda felt she overpaid that she'd meet with the lucky handful of budding fashion designers, one by one, and look at their templates in person. The dark teal suide dress clung to Tanandra's dark-skinned body, tight around her waist and hugging her curves, a netted pillbox hat tilted almost rakishly on her hair. The one-on-one meeting had been planned out, and as the model rode the elevator up to the office, she wondered if Claude had told Mr. Estenial just who would be meeting with him today. Dark red lips smirked playfully, the doors opening with a ding and the fashion icon strutting casually down the hall. Well, he'd be in for a surprise if he hadn't been informed, now wouldn't he? The back of her knuckles knocked gently before Tanandra let herself in slowly, a very pleasant look washing over her face, golden eyes catching the young man from behind the teal netting of her hat.

"Bonjour, monsieur Estenial," Tanandra purred, walking toward the young man and extending her hand politely before smoothing out her skirt and sitting down. The Rouen accent was heavily laced in with her Esparian, creating something exotic. "I am Tanadra Collier. I believe it was Claude you spoke with? He said you had some templates to show me, and after I looked at the sample I wanted to come chat with you and see your work."

[Kit Estenial]

My, no one told Kit he would be visiting with a woman today, he would've taken a mint and possibly some cologne if they had. He smiled warmly, a genuine sign of good faith. She had some sort of veil of netting over her face, like something a morning widow would wear at a funeral, only a brighter color, teal if he was correct. Though, the luscious red lips, the olive skin, but it was the hair, the excellent tresses that fell down from her head gave her away. That walk was also another tip; she walked towards him just like back in Milan fashion show he saw in the electronics store. One of his most important muses, the whole inspiration why he was getting into fashion, or at least giving it a shot. He was in the presence of Tanandra Collier. He had literally pages of her in his sketchbook, using her as a template, a model for many of his finest work. Unfortunately, that same sketchbook had his templates and was resting against the leg of his chair, though he was so perplexed that he didn't take time to consider it.

"[color:a920=993366]Bonjour, monsieur Estenial" She cooed, extending a well manicured hand to him, he took it, and after a strong debate, kissed one of her knuckles before looking up at her to smile genuinely, his ears twitching slightly outward, his mouth open a bit, showing a glimpse of fang. His tail whipped back and forth as she sat, his hand drifting to his chair handing her his sketchbook. It was a skin hugging dress, tight around the chest with an immediate V at the center of the line, seeing as how it was strapless. The dress itself is knee height for the model and black, which itself was Tanandra, shyly looking at the view, winking, her hair tied in a loose ponytail by a crimson sash which flowed to her waist.

Kit practically glided to the desk behind his chair, taking two wine glasses and filling them with the libation so generously given to them, holding the stems between his knuckles in his hand, before sashaying back over, tail swishing with his feet as he sat down, extending a glass to the muse across from him. Internally, he was having a heart attack of epic proportions, but he hid it well with a kind visage and cool demeanor. He smiled again, looking for any hint to her liking of his work in her expression.

"As you wish, Ms. Collier, that's perfectly fine. I hope you find everything to your liking.~" He cooed, words dripping with honey and a smile could light up anyone's day, or rather what he would call his 'business' face.

[Lust]

It was a cozy little office, and Claude had done well to make sure that the seats were nice enough to sit in and that the spacing was good. Tanandra liked to keep a closeness with her company, but she wasn't fond of being too close right off the bat. She needed time to study them and read them, to see what it was they really wanted of her. And the young designer was a knuckle-kisser, too, something Tanandra would never grow weary of. That was always one of her favourite gestures that a gentleman could make toward a lady. Long legs crossed delicately, Kit passed the notebook to her as he nearly popped up to pour the glasses of wine.

Examining the main page the sketchbook had been turned to revealed... well, herself. Again, certainly not something she minded. The sketch of her wasn't bad, and the outfit designed for her wasn't either. Black, and a decently classic cut, which was a plus right there. She smiled gently, accepting the proffered wine and holding the glass delicately in her palm, giving it a gentle swirl. The plunging V in the front of the dress was rather alluring. A manicured nail turned the page gently, looking over the sketches on the next few pages, noting the choices of colour and the cuts, and the tedious notes about fabric. There were a few thigns that would need reworking here and there, but these would make a most interesting showcase. Finally Tanandra took a small sip of the deep red wine, smiling as she pulled it away from her lips that left no trace of stain on the crystalline glass.

"Very nice, monsieur.I enjoy your selection of templates very much." The wolf's lips curved into a smile with the sweet, dark allure of black cherries as she took another sip. "If you would permit for it, I think I know just the patternmaker who could create these outfits of yours.... that is, if you were interested in publicly showing them." Offering and hinting at the possibility of a show. She was offering the fruit of temptation from her palm and she knew it, but at the same time, she loved it.

[Kit Estenial]

Kit's eyes were warm and yet strangely scary the way he was staring at her. Observing anything that could give away anything that would reveal her attitude towards his works. He was nervous and incredibly excited inwardly, I mean, this was TANANDRA COLLIER, his fashion muse! Though, he played it as coolly as he could, though his tail and ears twitch, swished, and flicked wildly like an excited pet. His hand was gripping his raised knee tightly, his other close to cracking his wine glass.

Kit needed to get his mind off her judgement, so he turned his attention towards her and her alone. He knew she came from small beginnings and look where she got. Famous. Famous...maybe that isn't what Kit needed now. He had quite a few 'unfavorable characters' after him, though he be damned if he brought that up, lest he wanted to be kicked out. Kit could barely remember what he put on that pages besides the first, but he specifically remembered a few scandalous pieces...which were extremely daring for Kit's sensibilities, but if SHE liked them, then it didn't matter.

Then she smiled as she complimented his designs...well he had no choice than to sigh then, his snowy ears drooping as his eyes closed in relief. Then, his ears perked up again as she started to speak again, her voice amazingly seductive, alluring to his sensitive hearing and his eyes bright and wondering. Then she said it. Publicly showing his designs, which meant a show. One day and he was getting THIS?! What was he gonna do, turn it down?!

"Yes. Yes! A million times yes, a fabulous idea, Ms. Collier." As hard as he was to have his body contain his excitement, his voice displayed it all.

[Lust]

As much as she hated to admit it, there was a certain light that came into peoples' eyes when their hearts raced and their dreams came true. It was a feeling that brought butterflies and sometimes queasiness, dizzy lightness, pure elation... It was very much like falling in love, but without hopping into bed. Well, sometimes hopping into bed, depending on what the dream coming true was. And even as Tanandra knew that she was no blue fairy turning a puppet into a real boy, somewhere deep inside she did like the feeling. Her own career had been a lucky break and she'd climbed the webs and become the spider after learning to weave. Giving that silken rope to others was a nice-enough gesture. True, it was very possible they'd get caught in that web and eaten long before they even knew they were trapped, but that was the cost of the dream.

Kit's body language was fascinating, like a cross between watching one of her own wolves and a teenager who was why but pretending to be suave. The way he twitched. The way Kit tried to distract himself as polished nails turned the pages of his sketchbook with agonizing slowness. Catching how his fuzzy ears lowered and then perked with sudden awareness as the light came into his eyes. He was charming in his own way, and it was amusing. Dark red lips smiled, her voice dark and silky as purest black cacao. "I am so glad you approve. Some of these are very... innovative. This red one caught my eye." Tanandra turned the book back a few pages to a red dress that laced like a corset where the wide, twisted ribbons made up the bulk of what was covering the body. The deep red she loved, and the way the laces made a herringbone pattern that hugged was lovely. "Red is one of my favourite colours. It is the colour of passion in every sense of the word. And this one. The way the pearls create the shape of the dress is very creative."

Truly unique designs were always interesting to work with. At one point Tanandra had been at a show where she modeled a dress made entirely of chocolate. With a gentility that could almost be read as tender, Tanda put the sketchbook down in her lap to pick her wine glass back up, taking a polite sip. God, Claude was good. Of all the men in the world, he was one of the few Tanda might write off as both not prey and indispensible; finding people who knew what you liked as second-nature as they knew how to breath was hard to come by. "So. What I would need from you is a whole lineup. These are good samples, and you need to add to them at least twenty more for the patternmaker to being on them, and from there the best are selected for showing and shoots. If you can create a full portfolio of designs like these to go with, I can have Claude send you a contract." Like a deal with the devil, but without signing in blood. Too messy.

[Kit Estenial]

Of course she'd like the red one. It's always red. But he realized something very quickly about this work that he internally slapped himself for. It was devoid of a signature, and seeing as she liked it so much...he immediatley picked it up as gently as he could as to not disturb flow and slid his index finger across the tip of his fang, slicing it open with ease. He made sure not to inhale the blood this close to him and in a wispy scrawl, inscribed his first name onto the bottom left corner and dated it. Then, with a slow and steady tear, took it from the sketchbook and handed the page to her. It was both a sketch of her and the dress in question, so maybe she'd like it as a memento. He said nothing, but gave a smile and a hand gesture for her to keep it, flitting his hand towards the page twice.

And a lineup of 20+? That didn't seem like too hard of work. He'd probably stay close by in Esparia, surrounded by different sources of inspiration so his works could have some individuality to them...maybe a dress of leaves, white fabric, and petals of various flowers of the season...It could very well work. He was so excited and entrapped in thought of new designs and his new job, his tongue made a slip. "Of course Ms. I mean of course Ms. Collier, I'll have those to you whenever you'd like. Now there's some que-" He was immediately stopped by the electronic ping of an office telephone. He held up a finger as if he'd finish his thought as he went to the device and picked up the receiver.

It was Claude of all people. Talking in his calm tone, he remembered it well when he spoke with him about the interview, but now was a strange request. Let Tanandra get to know him, get her into a more relaxed scene, and just like that, he told Kit that reservations had been made at "Temptation", and from what he was told, it was a rather excellent restaurant, something Kit wouldn't know, he'd never had enough money made at one time to even afford the drinks. He chuckled at a joke Claude made about to watch himself and hung up with a subtle good bye."It seems that reservations had been made at 'Temptation'...for the two of us. Claude tells me it's a fantastic place. Are you feeling hungry, Ms. Collier?" He raised a eyebrow as his own stomach growled fiercely, the scent of his blood off his finger lingered up to his nose while he was on the phone. The voice was coming back, roused by hunger, but Kit did all he could mentally to push it back into its corner.

[Csilla Angelis]

{BUMP}

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