Tumblr Prompt #36: "Fine, just do what you have to do." - "Can you stop being so freaking cute so I can concentrate?"

I chose Artist Eren and Model Annie, modern au!


The artist and the Model


The studio was set up in a way that the model would be right in center, stools, and rusted metal chairs surrounded the wooden pedestal that Annie stood on. Discarded easels laid against the side of the wall near the large windows. Each of the windows were drawn shut to stop the afternoon sunlight from drenching the whole studio in muted oranges.

It was dark, safe for the three lamps, and a heater all pointed to his muse of the day, casting shadows onto the crevices, dips, and curves of her body, she was taut as a piano string, one hand flexing away cramps while the other held up the thin white blanket draped over her petite frame.

She was stark naked underneath, Eren could practically see the rising goosebumps on her forearms. The studio was quiet, for it was the only two of them who occupied the space, the only noise came from his scribbling and scratching of charcoal on paper. The audible sift of the blanket, and intakes of breath as the seconds passed by.

It was peaceful. He was glad she agreed to be his personal model, if only for a day. The pose he'd put her in was starting to cramp her muscles however, she rotated her shoulders a bit, easing out the kinks.

"Almost done." He murmured, focused solely on his portrait.

He sketched in long strokes, darkening lines, smudging certain spots and leaving portions where the light touched her body blank as the paper. Annie watched him through heavy lidded eyes, tired from having to hold the same position for ten minutes straight. She'd agreed to be his model, since she had owed him a favor.

And she trusted him enough to bare her body. Well… some of it. Surprisingly it wasn't awkward for neither of them when she had stepped out of the curtain of the backroom, naked with only a blanket wrapped around her bosom. He was professional through, and through. Maybe a little too professional. Annie frowned, but remember she was still supposed to be acting as a statue.

"Alright and-" He added one last stroke, furrowed his brows, then licked his thumb, smearing the shadows of his work further. "Done."

Annie let out the breath she'd been holding, relaxing her posture, she tightened the blanket around her body. Eren looked up from his drawing, a small smile gracing his lips. "Come here, take a look at it, I think I captured your face perfectly."

Annie faltered, she was still bare, and pretty cold. The blanket was only held up by the knot she'd tied across her chest, and her pinned bun was coming undone, loose tendrils of blonde hair fell in front of her eyes. But Eren was looking at her proudly, smiling in the low light of the studio, he was even more welcoming than when she had first met him. And maybe that was what pulled her to descend the steps of the pedestal, Eren held out his hand to her, she took it, careful not to trip over the fabric tangling itself between her legs.

She resembled a greek goddess, Eren thought, with how the blanket fitted the curves of her body, tousled hair framing her heart shaped face. But he didn't let his mind wander to much on her physically, she was still only a hired model doing her job. And he was still, a lonely artist.

She came around the easel, Eren right behind her. The first thing she noticed about the drawing, were the eyes. They weren't staring straight at her, but in a far off distance somewhere above her head. The whites of her eyes were prominent since the shading was so opaque against the white of the a paper, her expression was stern, yet serene all out once. Lips dark, and full, her aquiline nose a small feature he took care not to mess up. And her hair, white also contrasting with the soft black smudges surrounding her head like a dark misty halo… the folds of the sheet covering her, so delicately shaded, it appeared realistic. He made it seem like she was wearing an actual dress, how it pooled at her feet.

She looked like a warrior. A fierce Queen.

"It's amazing." She was struck in awe.

"I'm glad you like it."

Annie took a step back. Taking in the art piece fully. It's too bad she couldn't buy it off him.

"Will you be showcasing this?"

Eren chuckled. "Oh no, no! This is just practice."

"Practice?!" She had to crane her neck to look into his bright green eyes, seeing as how he towered over her. "You made me stand for a good twenty minutes in an uncomfortable pose, freezing my ass off, just to practice?!"

Eren rubbed sheepishly at his nape. "Well… yeah."

Annie folded her arms. Clearly a tad irritated that she couldn't help but pout. Eren snorted, "Alright, alright, I'm sorry, how about this-" he stepped closer to her. Annie fought to not retreat from his overbearing presence- "I'll draw you something, and it'll be a gift from me, so you don't have to pay a dime. How's that sound?"

She thought about it. Looking to the art piece he'd just made, "Can't I have that one?" She nodded to the drawing. Eren made a little whining sound, looking as if she pinched him.

"Ehh, no. Sorry, that one is going into my portfolio. But I can make you a new one? I don't mind drawing you again, so as long as you're able to put up with standing still, and freezing your ass off for twenty minutes." he laughed.

Annie narrowed blue eyes. Her living room wall was quite boring without anything decorating it, all she had was a couple photos of her father, herself, and her cat. She wouldn't mind sprucing it up a bit with some art.

She sighed. "Fine. So, do I take the same pose as before?"

Eren put a hand to his chin, rubbing the sparse facial hair there. "Nah, actually. For this one, I was wondering if you could go fully naked?"

He asked the question so simply, it was as it he was asking for extra condiments on a burger at some local restaurant. Now as a part-time class model, Annie did charge for visits to many artists. She did not charge Eren however, she didn't even schedule that she was set to see him on this day, didn't even notify her agent. Which was stretching the rules some- okay, she was stretching the rules a lot. But, since she had nothing else scheduled for today…

"Alright." Annie concluded. With one bold tug of her finger, she unfurled the knot holding the sheet together, it fluttered to the ground by her feet. Wanting to not waste anymore time, she ascended back up the wooden pedestal, perhaps swaying her hips to much. She heard an audible gulp from the artist behind her. Annie took her place in the middle of the lights.

"Tell me what pose should I make, or do I stand still?" She cocked her hip.

Eren's mouth felt dry. He's seen many naked models before, men and women alike. But, somehow, seeing Annie, bare as the day she was born, made his gut fill with butterflies, and heat rush to his cheeks. He felt like he was fifteen again, seeing his first naked woman. Eren cleared his throat, pushing impure thoughts from invading his mind.

"Right," He managed to smile despite becoming awkward for a moment, because Annie started to pout again, all the while tapping her foot impatiently.

"You don't have to pose for this one, just stay still, try not to move so much, okay?"

Annie huffed. "Fine, just do what you got to do." She let her arms fall limply to her side, staring straight at the wall behind him.

Eren reached for his charcoal, mumbling under his breath. "Well, if you can stop being so cute, I can actually concentrate…"

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing…" He smirked. " I just think you're cute."

Annie's mouth fell open like a fish out of water, a pink hue colored her pale cheeks, Eren actually had the gull to laugh at her. "Hey, no moving! I told you, I need complete stillness!"

She shut her mouth. But still continued to pout, all the while blushing furiously as he began sketching.