Doll me up! (205 views)

Todd was looking at his phone to try and find the name of his stylist when he heard the curtains dividing the makeup studio from the scene shift. He put his phone down on the table and looked over at a tall woman approaching him, with sunglasses over her eyes and a smile on her lips. Todd straightened up in his chair and smiled over at her, too.

”Hello. I’m Todd Bennett but oh, you already know that and uhm, I’m your model for today... but you already know that too. I... guess I’m kind of like actual Cinderella... I can’t say I’ve ever actually done drag,” he admitted. Well, she probably knew that already, right? He shook her hand and then looked at himself in the mirror in front of them, blinking his eyes as he did so.

”Oh, I’m fine, I’m just... nervous? I guess? I just hope I don’t wind up looking too masculine. Though, I mean, you’ll do fine on me! I just, well, I’ve never worn a dress before. Except to get fitted for that one but I...” He exhaled and clenched his hand into a fist. Deep breath. Don’t ramble. ”What were your plans for my makeup and hair? Is it going to be long hair, or short...? The company provided a wig over there if you wanted to use it.”

Todd didn’t mind when Toni grabbed him by the chin and inspected him – he let her, doing his best to keep his body still so that she could get an accurate appraisal of him and his features. He was used to being touched like this and it actually made him feel more confident, seeing Toni’s unwavering confidence even at his shy introduction. When she removed her hand from him Todd exhaled and listened to her compliment him.

”Thank you, I guess I’m lucky I’m kind of feminine right now.” He said, glancing over at the wig resting on the mannequin head. She said that she wanted to style it slightly modern, but up, and that seemed pretty Cinderella to him! Todd really didn’t have many opinions regarding what was going to happen to him today. That was all up to Toni, she was the stylist, and when it came to drag style or feminine makeup... he had no idea what to expect, or what would even look good on him.

Though when she mentioned fake eyelashes Todd felt momentarily scared. How did people get those on? Clue, right? He’d worn mascara for photoshoots, but never false lashes. He was scared that Toni was going to rip his natural ones off. And they were barely there as it was – they were blond, and thin, and annoying. ”That sounds good to me! All of that sounds... well, I don’t understand any of it, but... I mean, do whatever you think looks best. I’m just the model, and I’ve never worn drag before, so...”

He didn’t mind when she turned around and took off her sunglasses. He expected her to, after all, this was bad lighting with sunglasses on! But then she turned around and he made eye contact with her and he blinked rapidly a few times. Wow – he usually got compliments on his eyes, but he hadn’t ever seen eyes quite as impressive as hers. He thought she said something and she smiled at him and he was just getting over his shock so he quickly looked away and felt his face begin to heat up as he stared at his toenails hiding in the glass slippers he wore. No! She had to have seen him stare, but he didn’t mean to! But her eyes were just so... big. They were interesting – and he liked seeing them.

”Uhm – I – I have no idea I’m just the model, I, I man that all sounds fine with me. Just, uhm, do you put glue on my eyes for false lashes? That would... hurt, I think.” He looked at her, because it was polite to look at someone when you spoke to them, but then he got distracted by her eyes again so he tried to look elsewhere – choosing her nose instead. He smiled at her light little laugh. ”Uhm... I’m fine if you start with my hair. I actually never got to try on the wig before... only the dress.”

She didn’t seem like she was happy he’d stared at her. He didn’t mean to. He really didn’t, but it just – surprised him to see how unique her eyes were. That was the best word he could think to describe them. He hesitantly kept his eyes focused on her nose as Toni’s expression shifted and she responded to him. Had he made her uncomfortable by staring?! Oh, no, he always did that to people! He always did that to people and he hated it.

”I’m sure the makeup will come out amazing, I – I mean I’m not – worried about it,” Todd stuttered out. He should apologize right? But then if he did and he just read too much into her reaction, she would be annoyed if he said something, or even hurt, right? Oh, he hated not knowing what to do. He hated it so much and he was sorry this meeting got off on such an... odd start.

But, fortunately, Toni was more focused on her job. Todd appreciated that. He winced a little when she said that glue would be needed, but... he trusted she knew what she was doing. She would be able to apply the glue and not rip his eyelashes out of his skull... he was certain. When she moved behind him and started to put the cap on his head Todd had to admit that it was a... weird feeling. Really weird. He didn’t want a cap on his head and he didn’t think he’d really like the wig either. It was just an odd sensation to have hair longer than his ears. He didn’t like it.

Still, he didn’t mind someone else’s hands in his hair, brushing it back, ghosting across his forehead. It was always nice to get his hair done, for that reason. The cap was a little uncomfortable but not that tight. As she worked on his hair and he stared into the mirror, watching as he began to look bald, he watched the girl with the fascinating eyes putting bobby pins in his hair. He wondered if she thought he was weird for agreeing to this. She asked about it not too long after and Todd smiled slightly.

”Uhm... my manager talked me into it. He said it’d be good for my portfolio and, well, that’s the most important thing for a model, so... I’m not really curious, I mean, it’s cool to see but I just... I’ve never had an interest.” He didn’t need one, though, to model it. He kept his head straight as he looked himself in the eyes, trying to avoid looking at Toni’s that were reflected in the mirror. ”No, it’s not too tight. It feels fine. Weird, but fine.”

Todd felt odd, looking at himself without any visible hair. He listened as Toni spoke, watching as she inspected his feature and decided what to do next. He was used to being inspected like this so it didn’t bother him. He had stopped feeling self-conscious years ago, when he first started his modeling career. Right now he was at the height of his aesthetic attractiveness and he fit a unique bill.

”Uh... well, it’s mostly just a collection of work we’ve done. But, yeah, it’s pretty diverse. Or it has to be anyway. The more experience you have at standing out, the more they want you... they don’t really like people who fade into the background.” And it was probably some of the reason he wanted to do this. Drag would stand out, make him desirable, and maybe that could combat his naturally modest and shy tendencies. The idea had been Gavin’s but Todd latched onto it easily. Pressure... yeah. Todd was feeling the pressure. He was expected to join XYZ agency right after he graduated and while that was impressive, and having a job after he graduated was good but if he messed up, or didn’t impress them enough... he’d be kicked out. The modeling agency, despite their kindness at times, was not nice. They were only nice when it suited them and when he became less of an asset to them... he was gone. He just didn’t want to be a nobody and get run out of the business. He wanted to thrive in it, and then retire of his own accord, but... he didn’t know if he could really do that.

When she asked her question Todd blinked. That was... odd. People didn’t usually ask him about his life. Or, well, stylists didn’t. He didn’t mind though, but he felt like his reason was so particularly bland and not as dedicated at other models. It was noble, maybe, but saying it made him feel like a kiss up. Still, it was his reason... whether or not anyone actually believed him. ”I got into modeling when I was a kid. I was always photogenic, and my manager... Gavin... he noticed me and he convinced my parents to let me work for the agency. Uhm, my dad kind of, didn’t want me to, but... they paid my family really well, so I did it. And ever since I’ve just uh, liked it here. It’s something I can see myself doing... so I do it.”

He blinked in the mirror, curious about Toni and why she was a stylist. He watched as she positioned the wig on his head and allowed her to do whatever she wanted with his head – though his eyes kept bouncing to hers in the mirror. It was hard not to stare but he was getting better at it. After a few minutes, the wig was on and Todd blinked at himself in the mirror. He felt like he looked dumb... himself, but in a wig, one that looked kind of like straw. Toni knew what to do with the wig and makeup... he hoped. He didn’t want to doubt her, but this photoshoot would be a real highlight in his portfolio if it went well.

”Uhm... why’d you become a stylist?” He decided to ask. ”I’ll let you do the whole... makeup thing. Right now I just... look like myself in a wig. Which is what I actually am, but uhm, not very Cinderella....ish.”