A new base of operations?

“I didn’t say you could bring friends.”

Neither of the girls wanted to be left behind, so they invited themselves to join in on his activities for the day. He originally planned to look for Jessie, but he couldn’t find the courage. If he found her and got himself rejected he wasn’t sure if he could handle it.

That was when he recalled the business card the woman in the cafe gave him. He’d almost forgotten her after all the crap that went down that night, but if he and the people he cared about were going to start being hunted, he figured he should probably follow up with her and see how she was doing.

Hence why he was standing in the reception area of her shoddy looking studio, face to face with an unenthused Arlette. There didn’t appear to be many customers. Or any at all, actually.

“They’re my models,” Leon lied. Ophelia did kind of model for him once, but the only photos Lily featured in were taken without her consent.

“No, they’re not. The sporty one over there has no idea what you’re talking about. It’s written all over her face.” She glanced at Ophelia. “I have no clue what’s going on with this one, but I find it hard to believe she’s a model. What are you doing here, runt?”

Leon felt like a tool for getting caught lying, but he was here for a reason and he couldn’t let a little embarrassment shake him off course.

“I came for those pointers you mentioned.”

“Without your model?” She’d already stopped acknowledging the other girls.

“Cut the shit, lady. Just cause he didn’t ask doesn’t mean I won’t do it. I’m his model starting today!” Lily said with a smoldering heat in her voice. She didn’t like being ignored.

“Me too,” Ophelia added.

Arlette shook her head. “Amateurs. You don’t get to choose. It’s up to the runt.”

He wanted to throw her confidence back in her face and say they could model for him with no hesitation. But... Jessie really was his muse. Lily was sexy and fun; Ophelia was mesmerizing and mysterious. Was that enough to take pictures the same quality as the ones he took of Jessie?

“I... I don’t think I can do them justice with the skills I have right now, but I want to learn.”

Arlette nodded once approvingly and motioned them all to follow her down the only hallway in the small building. “Good answer. It takes much more than words to truly take someone in as your model.”

All the doors were closed, including the one Arlette stopped in front of. “This is Studio 6. I use it for equipment storage, and not much else.” When she continued, she regarded him steadily. “What exactly are you expecting photography to do for you?”

“I already told you.”

“Yes, it’s all very cute, but why do you want a studio like that? What do you hope to get out of it?”

Leon looked behind him toward Lily and Ophelia who stood in the dim hallway listening awkwardly. He didn’t quite feel the same about them as he did about Jessie; not yet. But he might, someday soon. As for the distant future...

He leaned in and whispered, “Honestly? More than anything? I just want a place where I belong.”

“Why bother using photography for that?”

He hesitated, then responded thoughtfully. “I never really thought about it, but I guess it’s because I want to show the world these wonderful, amazing women, so I can brag that they’re all mine. My models.” He gave a short, self-deprecating laugh. “I’m a pretty shitty person, huh?”

“Shitty or not, your reasoning is entirely selfish.”

“Well, not entirely! I want to protect them too!” he said. She’d gotten him all flustered.

“Bah. That’s all justification to make yourself feel better. What you want is acceptance, validation, and - if your continued choice in models is any indication - a little bit of wish fulfillment.” There was no room for argument in her voice.

“...Maybe so. But I will justify it.”

“I don’t care. That’s between you and yourself. Photographers need to be 75% selfish, 25% attentive. Snapping a shutter and fulfilling only the client’s need is a job. Soulless income like what I’ve relegated myself to doing in this podunk studio.” Arlette pushed the door open to reveal a dark, cluttered room.

“Working together with your model to fulfill both of your needs is how true art is born.” She put her hands on his shoulders and made him look straight into her eyes. “If you want to become an artist then come work for me. The pay’s shit, but I’ll let you use Studio 6 anytime you’re not on the clock. Hell, you can live in it for all I care.”

“Work for you..? I can’t. I already have a job.” Shafting Harlan this soon would make him feel pretty bad.

Then again, having a place to live would be a huge deal... not to mention getting a job in the field he always wanted to be in.

“Not my problem. Work around it or get rid of it.”

“Your dad would be pissed if I quit,” he said more to himself than to Lily.

“Yep. Our... agreement would get more complicated if you stopped hanging around my room, too,” she said, referring to being being his sex **** in training.

“Figure out your living arrangements later. Your first lesson is on the house since you show some promise,” Arlene said, and motioned into the darkness of Studio 6. “Take one of these women in there with you for an hour. Get to know her better. Speak to one another, and your photographs will speak to your audience as well.”

Without warning, two sets of eyes bored into the back of his head. Clearly they both wanted to be picked first, but Leon already had someone in mind.

“Come on, Lily,” he said as he spun around in his heel. “I have something specific I’ve been meaning to ask.”

“Wonderful. I’ll take my leave.”

Ophelia didn’t have to express her hurt for him to recognize it.

“Please stay. I really want to talk with you too.”

Seeing her sulk was more adorable than it should have been. Unfortunately, her System was able to interpret what he was thinking just then.

“I’m not a stuffed animal, you know. I find your amusement terribly rude,” she huffed.

“Hurry it up, runt. I have a family coming in for portraits this evening,” Arlette said sternly. Then to Ophelia she said, “Impatience ill-befits a model in training. If you were my model, I’d ditch you if you kept that up.”

“That’s hardly-”

Ophelia read something from Arlette, and whatever it was made her go silent. “Very well. I’ll wait my turn.”

“Let’s have a chat,” Arlette said ominously as she led Ophelia away.

When they were down the hall, Lily voiced her opinion. “That girl’s weird. And where the hell did you meet the bitchy old lady?”

Leon angrily pulled Lily into the dark room and closed the door. “Talking shit behind peoples’ backs isn’t cool. Cut it out.”

“Whatever,” Lily said with a shrug. “Apparently your mighty power thing can’t make me like anyone but you.”

“Just try to get along with them. Especially Ophelia. She’s an oddball, but that’s what makes her interesting. It’s important to me that the two of you get along.”

“We’ll see. In the meantime - what was that thing you wanted to talk to me about?”