More shooting

After Ashley has finished eating she gets some time to unwind, but then it's back to work. Mr Jekil has many more photos of her taken around campus, and then it's off to a studio for the glamour shots.

The studio, it turns out, is a repurposed auditorium. For a moment you're reminded of picture day at school, but this is far more elaborate than that. It's a professional setup, not a cheap tarp everyone has to line up to be photographed in front of. For starters, they've set up several large, colorful backdrops complete with props and appropriate floor covers laid out in front of them. Then there's a whole wardrobe and makeup area. And finally, a team of photographers the likes of which you imagine models have to contend with.

Mr Jekil is absent, having only been responsible for the "live" half of this. In his stead a new lead photographer and Jessica Hyde are here to greet you. "Hey you three. I hope the first half of your day went acceptably?"

"It was fine," Ashley answers. "I mostly walked around, which is good since now I know my way around campus. And we made friends with the cheerleaders."

"They are a welcoming group," Hyde says. "What about the jungleball team, did they bother anyone?"

"They didn't say much of anything, actually," Ashley says.

"They were preoccupied with their game," you add.

"There is a big match coming up, so that makes sense," the dean acknowledges. "Well then. Allow me to introduce Mr Okowata. He'll take over for Mr Jekil. Unlike before there won't be any unscripted interactions here, he mostly wants you to model a number of outfits with the Spruceville-Tyler crest and strike some poses. So if you don't need anything else I'll leave you to it. Mr Okowata? "

"Thank you. Why don't we start by taking a look at all the things you'll be wearing for the camera? All of you, come this way."

The three of you follow the angular, black-haired man to the changing area. They have everything here, from thick winter parkas to a little green bikini. Mr Okowata is quick to reassure Ashley that the bikini isn't part of the program when she gives it a sceptical look. You wouldn't mind taking it home for a private show, but decide against embarrassing your pet by asking. You can tease her about it later.

The first outfit Ashley is asked to change into is a varsity t-shirt, a pair of track pants with the name written down one of the legs that end at her knees, sneakers, and a jungleball cap with the logo above the brim. The cap is cut to let Ashley's bunny ears stand proud without being bent out of the way. Once she's out of the changing room several assistants sit her down in front of a mirror to do her makeup, starting with a layer of special foundation they explain will prevent her skin from appearing pale under the bright lights.

"We don't even have to use concealer," one of them says, "No blemishes here. How do you do it?"

"I don't know, it's just always been great skin. Easy to care for." Ashley shrugs and looks over at Tibby to see if she can help her out. She doesn't like to be the centre of attention like the cat does.

Tibby comes to her rescue. "Maybe it's a petgirl thing. We're all just too cute for our own good."

"That you are!" says one of the makeup artists, a dirty blonde who introduced herself as Pansy. She moves like she's going to swipe Tibby on the nose with the foundation, but pulls short at the last minute so she doesn't contaminate anything.

Once the foundation is in place, they put on powder 'so that she doesn't shine where she's not supposed to.'

"Now onto the fun stuff?" squeals Tibby. She claps her hands and eyes all of the palettes of makeup spread out.

"Sorry, it's better if we save the fun stuff for later," Pansy chuckles. "We want to keep it basic for the first round and get bolder as we go. It's easier to add layers than to remove them after all."

Tibby accepts that explanation, though she does look a little disappointed. For now, the only thing left to apply is a some light eye-shadow and mascara, as well as lip gloss that brings out the natural color of Ashley's lips. Then she's whisked off to the first backdrop. This one doesn't really look like anything, just an assortment of floating shapes. They're going for some profile shots like you'd find in a biography.

It doesn't take long to get those pictures, but there are a lot more to come. As soon as they're done with the first backdrop, Ashley is dragged back to the wardrobe. Her casual outfit is replaced with an oversized sports jersey and a pair of jean shorts, but the cap stays. Her makeup is added to with more blush, mauve eye shadow, and a skillful dash of eyeliner. It starts off at a pale lilac, but turns into an intense violet as it shoots past the outer corner of her eyes.

"Ooh, pretty!" Tibby coos. "But I'm surprised you didn't make that green too."

"I think she has enough green on her,” you remark with a gesture to the jersey and cap.

"That's right. If we make everything match, it'll look like a costume rather than real life," the woman who applied the eyeliner explains. "This is a more pleasant contrast, don't you think?" she asks, swivelling Ashley toward the mirror.

"Yeah, I like it! Anything else, or is that the only change for now?"

"Well, we could change out your lip gloss for lipstick."

Ashley agrees, and the gloss coating her lips is replaced by a lipstick that goes well with the gradient of the eyeliner, a pink with blue undertones. To your surprise, Pansy wants you and Tibby to sit down for a makeover too. The wardrobe assistant gives Tibby a jersey to pull over her clothes, while you get a cap and one of those foam hands to wear. You have to endure some makeup as well, but fortunately yours doesn't even go as far as Ashley's did in the first round. Just foundation, powder, and a bit of mascara on your top lashes. Tibby's goes further, with orangy-brown eye shadow, brown eyeliner and coral lipstick, a cute look that won't take the spotlight off the star of the show.

Then you're brought to the second backdrop, this one showing a packed jungleball stadium. There are actually some seats set up here, and Mr Okowata claims that with some editing it'll look like you're really part of the audience. Some props (empty snack boxes and drink cups with the school logo, a little flag to show your support) are pressed into your hands and the moment you sit down the cameras start flashing. You grin and wave your foam hand as instructed, stand up when Mr Okowata calls for you to cheer like a point's been scored, and that's the second backdrop done. Now you understand why both girls got more blush on their cheeks; it makes them look more excited and the eyeliner brightens their eyes.

Then the angular photographer speaks up. "OK now let's pretend that it's not winter." He looks at Ashley when he asks, "The bikini stays off limits, but are you willing to show a little more skin?"

Ashley nods noncommittally and says it depends on how much he considers little. Mr Okowata gestures to a wardrobe assistant, Yvette, who picks up the hangar beside the bikini and brings it to Ashley's changing area. The way she's holding it makes it hard to tell what kind of clothes she grabbed, so you're left wondering just how revealing this is going to be... and how Ashley feels about it!

Ashley's POV

While your jersey comes off, the shorts stay on. They feel skimpy due to belly-exposing shirt that was on the hangar, but you don't say anything yet. Wait and see what they look like in the mirror, you tell yourself as a hairdresser, Mary, has you sit down and take off your hat and hairband. Your hair is pulled into two pony tails which then get twisted around a wire that goes up and back down again. Is she making a pair of bunny ears out of your own hair? She takes the ends of the pony tails and bobby pins them out of sight between the wire ears.

Once everything is secure, Mary pops her head out to call for Pansy. They exchange a couple of words, and after a moment Pansy joins you in the changing area with a tin of bronzer. While the hairdresser takes care of some finishing touches, Pansy brushes the bronze powder all over your face, especially on your forehead and nose and the tops of your cheeks. The brush tickles your nose and you can't help but twitch it as you try not to sneeze. They add more pink to your mauve eye shadow and touch up your eyeliner so it doesn't lose contrast against your newly bronzed skin.

When you're finally allowed to to leave the changing area, you're not sure how you feel about the girl looking back at you from the mirror. Would you have agreed to this if you'd known what you'd look like ahead of time? You're not sure you would have. Then again, while they don't cover as much of you as you'd like the clothes are by no means slutty. And what Mary did with your hair... it'd be a shame to ruin that by insisting on a wardrobe change now. You can also see that Tibby and John like what they're seeing, which always feels nice. As long as they don't start drooling or run over to smack your ass. Someday you'll train that naughty cat to leave your butt alone in public!

Sighing, you give the assistants a nod to indicate you're OK with this and head to the next backdrop.

This time for the shoot, you're handed a flying disc. Since the school logo is on the back of the shirt, most of the shots are from behind or mostly behind. Many of them have you looking over her shoulder, raising the disc or holding it to the side to keep it visible. But there are some action shots too, where you angle your arm or stretch it out as if in mid-throw. For the last couple photos you drop the disc and pretend that you just threw it.

Walking away from the backdrop after the final picture has been taken, you don't lower your voice when you remark, "Most of these shots weren't very studious."

Mr Okowata replies with "Don't worry. This is to set the mood for the final exam shots."

That doesn't sound very convincing, but whatever. There are no wardrobe changes this time, just guidance to walk around the backdrop to a scene set to look like the library, though the backdrop itself is just a blue screen, the other side of the sports backdrop used in the previous scene. "We'll edit in various images of the library to complement your photos," the photographer explains.

The props for this scene are a table with big books left open in a circle around an empty chair. A backpack with the university crest sits by the table leg. When you sit down he starts to circle, capturing you from all sides. However, you can't move as much as you'd like. Bending down to write on the notebook in front of you makes the hair ears droop forward, the wire apparently not enough to keep them straight. You don't think it's a big problem, but Mr Okowata disagrees. The angle has to be just so, he keeps saying as you try to adjust how you're sitting to make him happy.

John's POV

You think Ashley looks uncomfortable as she tries to follow the photographer's directions, but it also puts a look of concentration on her face as she finds the tipping point for her ears. You decide not to tell her that when she reaches for some of the big books in front of her the side of her shirt pulls up under her arm, drawing perilously near the band of her bra. You know thinking about that will just make her nervous and stiff, drawing this out even longer. For her sake you want all of this to be over soon. You just hope the photographer keeps his camera aimed where it's supposed to be.

Fortunately the library scene doesn't take too long. What's less fortunate is the scene that follows it. The group is lead around another corner, and you find yourself staring at a garish imitation of a girl's bedroom. Pastel pink walls, heart-shaped pillows, and a large amount of bunny-themed toys littering a bed made with hot pink satin sheets. There's no other furniture in sight, and a notebook lying open on the bed makes it apparent that they want Ashley to lie down as if to get a last-minute cram session in before going to sleep.

This is downright ridiculous. You don't even want to know what outfit they chose for this scene. Tibby might be interested, but she keeps quiet when she sees Ashley's reaction. The bunny is clearly aghast. "What is this?" she says, almost whispering the words.

"Well, we thought..." Mr Okowata starts, but he seems nervous as well.

You don't let him finish. "You thought what? That having her spread out on a bed like that would be appropriate advertising material?"

"Calm down young man," he says, gathering himself. "It's not like we were going to put your pet in lingerie! It's just supposed to be her studying at home."

Ashley turns on him. "And you thought this was the best way to show me studying? Not at my desk or at the kitchen table?"

Even Yvette speaks up to support her viewpoint. "Yeah, this is... unprofessional. The clothes we picked out for the final shot would have been cute in an ordinary bedroom setting, but not in front of this backdrop."

Mr Okowata indignantly defends himself, but nobody shares his opinion. In the end, the bedroom scene is scrapped and you all sit down with Jessica Hyde to discuss an alternative. After a few ideas are suggested only to be shot down again, Ashley has the most convincing idea. "What if I just have a real study session with my friends or some classmates once I've gotten to know them? Whether it's in our living room or a reading room at the university, we can take plenty of pictures that will actually be presentable."

It takes some more time to hash out the details, and you make sure to insist on seeing the photos that were taken today before they're published. That makes Ashley shoot you an appreciative look, and then she blushes when Tibby whispers something in her ear.

Finally everyone says goodbye to each other and you can leave. After another visit to the makeup desk to scrub your face clean, that is. On your way out, Jessica apologizes again and presents Ashley with two large bags that had been laid out on a desk next to the door. "We wanted to give you some apparel to take home. You don't have to wear it all the time, but..."

Ashley smiles. "I don't mind throwing on a uni sweater once in a while. As long as you don't expect me to be a walking billboard."

Yvette chuckles. "Everything in those bags is something other students already wear without having signed a marketing contract. I made sure of that."

"Thanks Yvette. It's too bad we couldn't see your final outfit selection today." She exchanges a few more words with the friendly assistants, then hooks her arm into yours and pulls you out of the building.

On a whim, you decide to stop by the Petgirl Cafe instead of leaving the city right away. Claudia isn't there to greet you this time, but you still have a good time cuddling on a booth bench over some hot chocolate before going to the train station and home.