"You needed a model, Mihael. I promise you, he is as talented as any woman in the industry, I've seen several of his shows and hired him once or twice myself." L Lawliet paused, studying his apprentice's face, the pure embodiment of disgust currently.
"Have I ever led you astray, Mihael?" L sighed, raising an eyebrow at the short-tempered blonde. "I'll go grab him so you two can talk about the contract, I'm not letting you pass up this opportunity."
Mihael watched in horror as his mentor stood, walking to the door. "He's here? This was never an option to begin with, was it, L?" The raven-haired man paused at the door, looking back at the blonde with a grin, "Of course not, I know you will come around and see things my way eventually." Mihael could only huff in response, indignant as usual. He didn't want to meet this Nate guy that L thought so highly of. Not when he had specifically requested a female model, not a scrawny boy in heels. At this point there was no getting around it, however. L had made his decision and Mihael had to take Nate for at least a "test-drive" or risk making his mentor very angry with him.
So he waited, anxiously, to meet the boy who was to model for him. He didn't have to wait long as L returned in a matter of minutes with a boy so pale and white-haired he might disappear if thrown in snow naked. He was wearing what must have been what he considered casual attire, consisting of a loose fitting pastel blue sweater and white skinny jeans, feet in a pair of short, grey heels. He looked anything but comfortable, however, and was tugging at his wavy, white hair continuously, a habit that would need to be broken if he was to succeed as a model, Mihael noted. Almost reminded him too much of L… It wouldn't do to have someone who looked so positively out of place and fidgety walking down a runway, not with his name on the line with him.
There was an awkward moment between them as Mihael stared Nate down, until L cleared his throat, "I'll leave the two of you to it, have fun getting to know one another. The contract papers are all on the coffee table." The older designer disappeared from the room with that and Nate returned to looking up at Mihael, somewhat impatiently.
"Stop playing with your hair, it's unprofessional." Those happened to be Mihael's first words to the young man who had so much to prove to him. They could have been the last too, with the look Nate gave him, hand falling to his side.
"I wasn't aware leather was listed under the curtain term of 'professional' either, Mr. Keehl." Nate's first sarcastic retort towards Mihael was bitter and sharp but his tone remained flat and calm like the steely pools that were his eyes. That made Mihael's eye twitch, 'It's called fashion, Nate, have you ever heard of it?' He wanted to snap back but stopped himself, motioning for Nate to take a seat across from him, which the boy did, folding one leg against his chest. Odd sitting position, another flawed habit to be broken, Mihael took note of everything that would need to be changed in order to perfect his new model. The stubborn resilience in the boy's eyes told that this would not be easy.
"So L chose, you, what history do you have with him?" Mihael tried conversation after taking a deep breath. Nate looked over at him from across the mirror-coated coffee table, head tilted just slightly.
"Did L not tell you himself?" Nate fired back almost immediately, pausing before giving Mihael an actual answer, "I worked for him several times, not only that, but I have been on his list for potential models to permanently hire for a while now, I think he is going for something like that between us…" Nate paused again, one hand finding its way up to his hair to twirl a curl between his slender fingers again. "I figured he would have mentioned the specifics of our arrangement to his apprentice. This isn't supposed to be a one time thing, Mihael." He didn't hesitate to use Mihael's first name this time, losing formalities with him already. Two could play at this game, but Mihael could turn things around on Nate just as easily.
"Well, Mr. River, it was my understanding that we were only to meet and discuss the terms of working together. Not that we are guranteed be working together. I am an independent designer, I can choose my own model if you don't satisfy my requirements. Now. Let's discuss my terms. As designer, I have full reign over what you will be wearing during shows and, in part, what you will be doing after them. I will not permit excessive partying that may damage your health nor will I accept excessive weight gain, meaning that gaining any more than ten pounds will not be tolerated. I can't have you drastically losing weight either. I need my model's size to remain as constant as possible." Mihael paused, looking at Nate for any sign of reacting negatively to his requirements. "Oh and there will be a few habits of yours needing broken. Feet on the ground, sit up straight, and stop playing with your hair. Most important though, I need you to meet me where and when I call you to meet me. This career comes before everything, Nate, I have to be able to trust you to be reliable. I mean… yes, we will typically have meetings scheduled, but I will call you and request that you come in on occasion."
Mihael stood, walking over to Nate, picking up the papers and a pen, handing them to the smaller male. "There are more things written out, mostly minor things of course but still, read through it before signing… I'll want to see you in a few of my designs before we really make this official. L did tell you I design dresses and other women's attire, correct?"
Nate looked up at Mihael, studying the blond's face, taking the papers from him and looking away, focusing on the print before him. He read through it quickly, nothing he hadn't seen before. "Do you want to see me model for you before I sign?" Was all the white-haired male asked, looking up at Mihael after a few minutes of skimming the contract. Mihael was once again surprised by Nate's stoicism but shrugged it off, nodding and heading over to the closet where he kept completed pieces, digging around until he found something sure to get Nate to say something. A pair of tight, black leather pants and a silky black button up with three-quarter length sleeves were his weapons of choice, black stilettos and a pair of amber sunglasses topped off the outfit perfectly. He laid the outfit out for Nate to examine as the white-haired male joined him.
"Where should I go to change?"
'So much for that. I'll find something another time…'
"There is an area over there, behind the panels, just toss your current clothing over them as you change into these." Mihael motioned to the other side of the room for Nate, "This outfit should fit you properly, if not call me over and I will see what I can do. Take your time."
"How is this, Mihael?" It was nearly thirty minutes later when Nate's voice caught Mihael's attention and he turned to face the area where Nate had been changing into the outfit provided. The view he was met with was beyond expectations. It would appear Nate had come more than prepared, going as far as to apply shining black lipstick and paint his nails black in stark contrast with his pale skin. To say Nate looked flawless would be an understatement. He was was a statement of boldness, elegance, and beauty coming together as one young model who was no longer the fidgeting, awkward mess of a boy who hardly looked like a professional model. This was why L had sent him to Mihael.
The contract was signed and dozens of photos taken to announce the new face of MK, Mihael Keehl, Nate River.
As anyone who could look into the room where this meeting took place could see, the contract was only the beginning to something much more than a business relationship between designer and model.