He took a deep breath, unsure if he should really be calling at this moment in time. His palms were sweaty and his heart was clearly hammering in his chest. The stress of the photoshoot was getting to him already, "Hey," the defining ring of the cellphone was cut short when his brother answered, "What's up, lil bro?"
Diarmuid blinked, looking at himself in the mirror. He was already dressed up, the soft white shirt wrinkling with every movement he made, "I… I got the money for you."
"Woah! Already?!" It had been less than a week since the blue-haired man asked and his little brother had delivered—as was custom of him, "Ten thousand is the price you placed on your soul? I would have bargained for a million."
"What? No!" Diarmuid grunted as he shook his head, turning to check that the door was still closed.
"Oh!" The younger man could here his brother smirk, "So, you found yourself a sugar mama?"
A groan elicited from Diarmuid's lips, "Cú…This isn't a joke."
Cú sighed, "Bro, I told you it wasn't that bad, I hope you're not involved in the mafia."
"No." He deadpanned, "I got a job; like any normal person would."
There was a gasp, "Hopefully not in a brothel."
"Cú, quite being stupid. Now," he huffed, "will you tell me how you got indebted."
Cú's side of the line went dead silent for a long while until he took a breath, "Do you really want to know?"
"Of course. It should be evident since I am to be working for this."
"Fine… It all started when…"
"Please get to the point."
"Okay, okay; I bet a gerbil couldn't eat an entire cake. There, happy?"
A blink. Two. Finally, a third, "What?"
"Right, who knew those tiny animals could eat so much? Even I can't eat an entire cake—I mean I could but I wouldn't."
"You bet ten thousand that a gerbil could not eat a cake. You have done some senseless and outright ridiculous things but this, this tops the icing on the cake."
Cú groaned, "Don't rub it in, I know it was a mistake but it's done and past now."
Diarmuid heard the door knob click and his head shot towards the door once again, the short woman stepping in, "Are you prepared?" She asked, her green eyes blinking at him.
"Who's that? A client?" Cú asked and Diarmuid could feel impatience bubbling up inside of him.
He cleared his throat before formulating an answer, "I will contact you later in the evening." After hanging up, he turned towards his new manager and gave her a nervous smile, "Is it time, Ms. Pendragon?"
"Saber," she corrected and then proceeded to nod, "Yes, they seem to be waiting for us now."
"Arturia Pendragon," she extended her hand towards him, "But you may call me Saber as many of my models do."
He took her hand, "Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. Might I ask why they call you Saber?"
The woman blinked, "It is simply a nickname that stuck." She replied as she led him towards the door of her office. She pushed a small button and the doors opened for her while she continued out of the room.
Her stride was strong but graceful, like that of a King's. She barely bounced on her feet and her head was held high, "Jeanne, may you please cancel all of Emiya's appointments—even today's; he quit."
"Emiya quit?" Diarmuid caught sight of a girl sitting at a big desk near Arturia's door. She seemed short as well despite her long braided hair and big violet eyes.
Her eyes finally landed on Diarmuid and the end of her lips curled slightly, "Good day,"
"Jeanne, I would like for you to be acquainted with Diarmuid, our newest model. He will be working part time as he must be attending his first job. Diarmuid," the green-eyed female turned to him ever so slightly, "meet Jeanne; my personal secretary."
"Nice to meet you Diarmuid," Jeanne seemed bright, loving and very sweet. She didn't even bat an eye just as Arturia had before; he usually received unwanted attention from women, "I look forward to working with you."
Diarmuid nodded his head and returned the warm smile before Arturia continued on her way after a short good-bye. He followed pursuit.
"Jeanne is the sweetest and most understanding girl you will ever meet. Emiya… you need not worry; he quit. I have no doubt you will quickly become one of the most—if not the most—loved model; your only threat would be Gilgamesh. Which whom you so happen to share your first shoot with."
"Gilgamesh?" Diarmuid blinked at his short manager, who had mentioned the man once again. After getting home the day he was hired, he had one some research on who this Gilgamesh was. It was only when he had seen the various pictures of the man that he recognized him from the many magazines that would be up for sale at grocery stores.
Arturia gave a nod, her lips a straight line, "Yes. As I had mentioned earlier, you will be sharing your first shoot with him. I arranged a simple shoot for you, I hope Medea will be pleased with you."
They made it to a door and the female managed to push it open, revealing a busy sight before the man. There were people walking about with clothing in their hands. Some other with make-up brushes while lights shun at a white wall. A golden haired man seemed to be taking all the attention as he stood talking to the photographer.
Arturia strode through the crowd expertly, people parting at her sight in order to let her slip through with all her glory. Diarmuid had snapped out of watching her move gracefully and followed after her instead. A woman with long pastel purple hair stood next to the photographer, wealth written all over her blemish-less face.
A long violet velvet dress clinging softly to her pale ivory skin, black heels keeping her tall enough so that he wouldn't be looking completely down to her, "Ah, Arturia." Her voice assured him her power and astuteness.
"Medea, I would like to introduce you to today's model; Diarmuid Ua Duibhne." Arturia looked proud and quite glad that she had such a man under her company, Medea could tell.
Medea's eyes that matched the shade of that pale hair of hers landed on Diarmuid in a black suit, a smile snaking unto her lips, "You've outdone yourself this time, Arturia dear." Her eyes had sparkled at him, she was star struck and so very excited.
Arturia gave a small smile, pleased with her work, "Only the best of men could model your works."
"Oh, you flatter me." Medea giggled, "And here I thought no one could compare with Gilgamesh or Archer. You have brought me a jewel. How long have you been hiding him under your sleeve?" She smirked, lightly pushing Arturia's shoulder.
"I have only recently hired him."
A throat was cleared and the two females immediately looked towards the sound, Diarmuid following their gaze.
"This mongrel? Better than a king?" Red eyes glared at Diarmuid, making him feel less than flea. The blond man was something special.
Medea's smile dropped, "King? It's been a year since you've gotten that title, I feel you should have gotten over it by now, Gilgamesh."
Gilgamesh rolled his eyes, forgetting about Diarmuid, "Well," he blinked, "it's been a long time, Arturia."
"Not long enough." Arturia was quick witted, and that made Diarmuid smirk.
Do not be fooled, though, Gilgamesh would never give up that easily, "How about I take you for a coffee after the shoot?"
The short manager huffed, crossing her arms over her chest, "Are we here to needlessly seduce or to have a photoshoot?"
"Right!" Medea interrupted, "I do need my summer collection to start being promoted. Where is Youth?"
"Right here." A Lady walked in, red glittering dress trailing behind her. Burgundy hair coiled in bouncy, playful curls, "This dress is superb, Medea, your skills are simply magnificent." Her voice was between sexy and divine.
It wasn't always that Diarmuid thought that—in fact, he never had before. This woman was mesmerizing, even as she walked towards him, giving him a wide red-lipped smile.
"You are definitely new. Are you here to replace Emiya?" She asked, long and curly eyelashes flickering as she blinked up at him, "Are you with the Pendragons?"
"Uh…uhm." He was speechless, his heart beating rapidly in his chest and his mind only focusing on her enchanting green eyes.
The woman giggled, nodding her head, "The dress is very overwhelming, I had the same expression as you when I first saw it." She looked down at the sleeveless dress, lifting her burgundy head back up, extending her slender sun kissed hand, "Youth is my stage name, but it's really Sileas Cooney."
"Sileas…" He echoed as he took her hand, shaking it slowly.
Her smile widened, "It means young, or youth. And you are?"
"Diarmuid."
Without enemy, she giggled a bit, "Interesting, does mister Diarmuid have a last name?"
His cheeks burned as he looked away at the set for a bit, "Uhm, y-yes. Ua Duibhne."
"It is Diarmuid's first time shooting and I do hope we'll go easy on him," Arturia interrupted them, snapping Diarmuid back to reality and out of the mesmerizing green glow that were Sileas' eyes.
Medea nodded, looking over at the photographer that was her husband, "Kuzuki, dear, please be sure to be nice to our new model."
The expressionless male gave a nod, signalling the models to hurry to the set.
Diarmuid followed after Sileas, unsure of what to do. Arturia had told him to 'look pretty' but what did that really mean? He could not just stand still and smile. Plus, what if his smile was ugly? What if he wasn't cut out to be a model? Wasn't it too late to back out now? Arturia had lent him the money already.
"Relax," the woman next to him hushed, tilting her head towards him but still looking at the camera.
Gilgamesh looked at his watch and soon after the blinding light of the camera and its equipment flashed throughout the sent, catching Diarmuid off guard for a second as he finally regained his sight.
A few more shots went by and Diarmuid still had not gotten used to the flash, seeing white for a few seconds afterwards.
"He's a bit stiff," Medea complained to Arturia.
The blonde nodded, "He is quite fresh. Let me see if I can fix it." She strode up to the man without hesitation, cutting the shoot short for a second.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled, blushing a little as he believed he was causing his manager trouble already.
"You need not apologize," she replied and took his hand, "relax, take a deep breath. You won't be used to the flash for a while, but shake it off. Look at me," she ordered as she folded his sleeves to his mid-arms, exposing strong and toned arms. She fixed his collar as he did what she asked, her eyes were trained on his, "look at me the way you did when I told you to have my motorcycle fixed by the following day."
"What?" He furrowed his brows.
"Just follow my instructions."
He gulped and then looked at her as he had that day, as if he knew she was crazy but he tried to hide it.
"Perfect," she praised, "ease your eyebrows, and clench your jaw a tiny bit." He did as asked of him, "Never mind, relax the jaw. Lid your eyes a bit. Now lift your chin. Great."
"Am I doing good?" He mumbled, trying his best not to damage her hard work with his expression.
She gave a nod, "Here, take the blazer, swing it over your shoulder."
"Okay." He took the black blazer in his hand and threw it over his shoulder, whacking the female behind him with the cloth, "Oh my god, I'm so sorry." He apologized after she squeaked.
"Don't ruin your facial expression!" Arturia was trying her best not to laugh. She took a deep breath, calming herself, "Look at the camera." With that, a few more pictures were taken. She tried to help him ease all throughout.
Sileas had not mentioned the blazer incident throughout the shoot.
Medea had requested one last shoot, one that Diarmuid was quite uncomfortable with, "Youth, smile as bright as you can and Diarmuid and Gilgamesh will be going to 'kiss' your cheeks. I'm sure this one will be great."
Sileas grinned, already practicing her bright smile. Gilgamesh stretched a bit as he knew this was the last set of pictures that they were going to take. Diarmuid, on the other hand, was wide-eyed and a blushing mess all over.
They tried to take a picture but Diarmuid had looked as if he was about to kiss a toad.
"Wait!" Arturia called, holding her arm up, "Diarmuid," she sighed as she now trudged toward him, tired of having to correct his poses all the time.
"I'm sorry." He lowered his head, "I just…"
"Do not fret." She took a deep breath, "Look at me again," he lifted his head, "Pucker your lips."
Instead of puckering, he hid them and shook his head, "It's embarrassing."
"Pucker your lips." She repeated, not giving him leeway.
He pouted them.
"As if you were about to kiss… a puppy."
He puckered.
"Not like that! You look like a duck. Would you kiss a puppy that way?" She asked, raising a brow.
"Yes… They're cute," he whined a bit.
Arturia thought for a bit, tapping her finger on her chin, "Pucker as if you were… gently going to kiss your bride on your wedding day."
He stood still for a while, looking at one of the lights in the ceiling. He looked at her and puckered, gently, just as if he had said 'I do' and the love of his life stood in a white dress in front of him, his eyes flickering closed and his cheeks rosy red.
"Perfect." He heard the short woman compliment and he immediately covered his face with his hands, "Perfect."
