"Oh! C'est bien! My, Triton you have done wonderful work today, I'm very impressed. I will run these directly to post production. I think our client will be happy with the concept. It was wonderful working with you – usually models are so difficult."
Shrugging his brown parka on Trowa failed to respond to Arnaud the director's gentle fawning.
"Perhaps dinner tonight? My treat." Arnaud's toothy leer melted as Trowa's green eyes bore holes into his face.
"Umm, it has been a long day Arnaud," Triton's assistant Cherie piped in from the sidelines, "besides Triton has another shoot in 3 hours. His schedule is pretty rigorous with New York Fashion Week looming we barely have time to wrap things up here in Nice before heading off to the US in a few more days to prepare for the catwalk. So much to do…" Cherie's babbling continued as the director nodded smiling dismissively.
"Another time then Triton, you simply must visit me, I'd love to have you."
"il faut que je pait." Triton replied as he turned to make his exit Trowa internally wished he could skulk off instead.
"Triton," Cherie began as her short legs fought to keep time with Trowa, "I know I'm just your assistant but please don't make things harder than they need to be. Everyone loves you here in France and I know part of your allure is your mystery but Arnaud could easily make or break your career."
"Cherie." A warning lashed out from Trowa's thin lips silencing Cherie's pleas.
"Right." Quickly Cherie seemed to seize her words before continuing, "We have approximately 3 hours to get to Valmonde's cover shoot in Marseille and once that's finished we are taking a flight to Heathrow. I believe we have an interview scheduled with Newland a former BBC correspondent turned fashion rogue. I'm so sorry you've been overbooked but you did agree to this interview and I'm hoping you can get a few hours sleep before we get there. I think it would be fair to warn you that Newland is no push over and I hope that our preparations for this interview last week are still fresh in your mind."
Turning his mind to the task, Trowa slipped into the sleek black chauffeured Audi waiting by the curb and closed his eyes. The next few hours would be a blur and being this busy meant he had no time to think of Quatre; he hardly had time to think of himself.
"Welcome back to our viewers and if you're now joining us we have a treat for you in the shape of Triton Bloom. He has taken the fashion world by storm and now this international man of mystery is here in London giving up the goods in his first ever televised interview. Well don't we feel special?" British snobbery at its best Trowa thought, and here I thought I'd left this crap behind with Quatre.
"Now for a moment of truth – Triton Bloom, I know you have reservations about posing nude for Vogue but it's a tremendous honor. It's come to us from inside sources that your scars are a bit of an issue. I think seeing scars on a model will rejuvenate and mirror life. Here we are, as a global sphere in a post war phase and it would be a wonderful type of advocacy if you could step forward – this is the point where high fashion and life meet. There is a certain level of realism in art and fashion and it can't be mimicked. I think you could make history with this shoot for Vogue."
"I'm just a canvas." Trowa's muted reply seemed to upset the interviewer as much as his cool glances over sunglasses. Trowa has whorled onto the set, sitting through a few dustings in makeup and sound check before he took a seat on an overstuffed sofa with his sunglasses on. Elaborately arranging his long limbs to appear relaxed and at ease Trowa allowed himself to appear aloof even bored. This persona Triton Bloom was a simple shell, a kind of unaffected autopilot and it worked for Trowa. Triton didn't seem to feel, didn't seem to have emotion and it was acceptable possibly even revered.
"Uhh" the interviewer seemed stunned by Trowa's lack of response but recovered quickly, "You're definitely an in demand canvas. Has it been all you expected working with such huge names in the business?"
"It's been okay." Splaying long fingers on the arms of the sofa, Trowa took a moment to inspect each digit as they seemed novel in some way.
Quatre's eyes crinkled softly as he watched Trowa's interview, 'Still the same Trowa, no matter how many times you change your name,' Quatre thought, 'you're still the same.'
"I wanted to spend a moment talking about your past Triton, you seemed to come from nowhere and everyone is scrambling for your back story. Where did you come from, who is Triton Bloom really?"
"I'm just a guy." a timid smile blinked across Trowa's face barely registering.
Oh Trowa, Quatre's heart ached, without meaning to the pale tips of Quatre's fingers brushed the screen.
"Mr. Winner," shattered the reverie of Quatre's thoughts as he watched Trowa on the monitor over his desk.
"DAMMIT Alcide! I've HAD IT up to HERE! What!? WHAT DO YOU WANT now!"
"My- my- my," Alcide stammered, "I'm sorry your sister is on line 3. I'm not sure which one …"
"Quatre Raberba! What's all that yelling about!" Querulous blue eye glared at him in place of Trowa's stormy green as his sister's face replaced what Quatre has previously been watching. "Be a dutiful brother and pay attention, since you are technically the head of this family – it's time you thought about our family's future. I'm not trying to pressure you but it's been 2 years. We all loved Trowa…"
"No you didn't Ilene. No one in this family liked Trowa or supported our relationship."
"He was an urchin Quatre. I mean honestly I want to see you happy, we all do and that's why this party is going to be the perfect opportunity for you to finally get back out there. I don't want us to have a fight, I'm your older sister and I want what's best for you."
'Trowa is what's best for me,' Quatre thought but he remained silent as his sister prattled on.
"Duo is going to be there, I personally invited him – it's no easy feat tracking that kid down but I did it and he's going to be here soon. Even if you're not thrilled by the prospect of dating again, at least come see Duo. I know that it's going to take you some time to wrap things up on the main cluster so you have 1 week to get your affairs in order, hope a shuttle and be at the mansion by Tuesday next week – 7 days is all you get. It's going to be a serious soiree."
"You've been planning this for weeks haven't you." Quatre's defeat was sealed.
"Yes, actually it's a bit of everything I suppose. There will be a wide cross section of people, not the usual stuffy colony affair. I think … well I don't want to give it away but we will have some visitors from earth attending."
"Dignitaries?" Quatre mused.
"GOD no! It would be a snore-fest for sure. Buck up Quatre I promise you'll enjoy yourself!"