Chapter 23: Model Behavior

"Just what IS this shit you have on my face?" Petra grumbled, his voice naturally sounding muffled, covered as he was from neck to crown of head with a moist towel, reclining in a folding lounger.

"Wow!" Michele told him brightly. "That's a pretty good guess!"

"What?!" Came the muted response. "Y-you're joking right?" There was a long pause. "Hello?" Petra almost whined.

"It's a natural astringent made from guacamole and cucumbers" She finally replied. "All those years of heavy makeup have rendered your skin too sensitive for standard cleansers." Walking over, Michele uncovered one of Petra's eyes.

"And you're allergic to cold cream!" she added firmly. "Or maybe you'd like to have that 'pretty boy' action star mug of yours swell up till you could face double for a sumo?" Michele snapped before recovering it. The only response forth, coming was a grunt, before Petra settled back, lighting up, the cigarette looking like a chimney sticking out from the center of the towel.

"Dip shit." Michele shook her head sadly, walking back toward the tent.

"I'm ready for my close up Mr. De Mille!" Mihoshi called as she slowed her approach, throwing her arms up in one of her patented 'hurray for everything!' gestures.

"Wow!" Tony looked up from his worktable, instantly enchanted. "You certainly are!" Mihoshi posed coyly for them, enjoying immensely the appreciative way they were staring at her. it gave her a warm glow she could feel in her stomach, a pleasant tingling all over. This more than any other was the reason she liked working at the bar. It felt so good to be the center of attention for a change.

"Slide on over here with me little lady!" Tony continued with a smile matching her own. "There're a few details to cover while Michele takes a look at you!"

"You silly goose!" Michele scolded playfully as Mihoshi strolled over to the indicated stool. "We were setting up this tent!" She continued tweaking Miho's nose. "If you'd waited a moment you could have changed up here and not had to run all the way to your house and back!"

"It's ok, I'm not tired!" Mihoshi sighed, only slightly embarrassed, she really had not thought about it. "Me and my partner run ten miles before dawn four days a week."

"Wow!" Michele said, clearly impressed. "I guess that explains these!" She gestured at Mihoshi's legs. It took every thing she had, remaining perfectly still as the older woman clinically raised the short pleated skirt revealing her to the waist, unable to keep the deep blush from coloring her face.

"Lovely." Tony breathed, glancing down smiling even more widely. He seemed more intent on looking her in the eyes however before sighing. "It's going to be a real pleasure working with you." "But first down to business." He said, gesturing at the stool behind her. "First of all, and this is a stupid question, have you ever worked professionally before?"

"Huh." She said, thinking while smoothing her skirt Mihoshi sat while remaining at attention focusing on his voice. "Well a lot of different places really." Mihoshi held up a weight gloved hand. "Dicard construction, for about two weeks." She started, counting off on her fingers. "Burger blasters." She paused. "That was until I had to leave suddenly and they fired us, Moi-Moi's puff shack, they make the best Octopuss puffs by the way!" She brightened. "Not nearly good as Sasami's but they have this great honey sauce? It just melts in your mouth!"

"I meant, as a model dear." Tony smiled patiently, rolling his eyes.

"Oh!" Mihoshi started, realizing how silly she must have just sounded. "No." She added hoping she hadn't just made a bad impression.

"Ok!" Tony beamed, relived and just a little worried. "Well, what we are doing today, from your perspective, is referred to as... 'a freelance contract'." He paused checking to see if he had her full attention. "Now, in layman's terms I, meaning the photographer, am hiring you, the model, to work for today only, alright? Now, all that really means is, I'm paying for you, 'directly' for services rendered, you see? You work for me," He emphasized. "Not the company or any entity which employs me, understand?"

"Roger!" Mihoshi answered making a pistol with her fingers. It seemed simple enough.

"So," Tony paused momentarily, halted by her charms. "Since I'm paying you directly, out of my own pocket, any pictures or 'images' WE create are a joint venture with each of us owning about forty percent."

"Oh?" Smiling, slightly uncertain at this point, Mihoshi raised a hand.

"Hang on!" He told her. "And I'll explain why I'm flapping my gums in a moment." "If any such 'images' are desired by the company which hired me for this job, they will then pay me then I in turn will pay you." Tony again halted, fixing her with a glance. "That's over and above what I pay you today, incidentally. Follow so far?"

"Aye-fimitive! Commander!" Mihoshi quipped, saluting.

"So to that end," Tony continued, shaking his head with a smile. "I will have you sign a release so that any images I pass on to my employer may be used, as they then see fit!" Tony stood up and glanced elaborately around. "Hmmm, " He then mused aloud. "Why, it seems I haven't got any of those forms on me?" He added, with a mild grin.

"Is that a problem?" She asked cocking her head to one side.

"Yes and no." He said, grin widening. "You see, all I need is your consent so that I can take the pictures, which with a witness," He gestured at Michele, "Constitutes a verbal contract that is valid in a court of law."

At least in America it does, I am guessing international laws might have a similar flavor?

"But without such a release form, my company can't use any images of you other than the ones I say are ok, because I am assumed to have joint ownership."

"Meaning?" She asked. Following every detail, she was a policewoman after all! Mihoshi understood forms, paperwork and legalistic double talk not to mention diplomatic triple speak quite well, actually having crafted a few fine examples her self from time to time.

"Meaning," Tony nodded. "That, after today, if any of the image we take of you get used in a fashion, which angers or harms you..." He trailed off. "You could turn around and sue the pants off 'em!" Tony stopped for a moment, looking deep into her eyes. "I've seen this business eat too many pretty young things alive!" He stated with sudden emotion. "And I'll be dammed if I ever stand idly by and let that sort of thing happen."

"Do all photographers work like this?" Mihoshi asked, crossing her legs, As she understood it; in addition, what she already of various legal systems, she could also conceivably sue him as well!

"Hell no!" He swore, unable to keep from being 'riveted' ok, fine sue him, if he was a legman. "And you stay away from those god damn sharks!" Tony added venomously.

"That's awfully sweet of you!" She told him smiling finding his protectiveness positively charming.

"Ahem!" Michele coughed, causing both to look her way. "If you're through scaring the model I'd like to get to work on her please?"

"Of course!" Tony replied with obvious enthusiasm. "That's if you're ready hon?"

"Yes sir!" Mihoshi told him coming to her feet, crisply saluting.

"In that case," Michele said, taking Mihoshi by the hand. "Come with me dear." The two of them disappearing inside 'zipping' the modest tent closed behind them leaving Tony continuing the endless process of loading and checking cameras.

"Alright dear," he over heard Michele. "Drop the jacket and the skirt please, so I can have a look at you."

Tony smiled, he'd heard it all before but it was still always exciting to be around a new model, particularly one as beautiful as Mihoshi. He had not felt this good in years!

"I need you to turn around for me dear." Michele was saying. "Oh! Now don't you just have the longest legs I have ever seen!" she said appreciatively. "And so muscular!"

"Well, Some guys don't like that sort of thing." Miho replied a little sadly. "And we got a name for em where I come from sweetie." Michele told her succinctly. "Calls 'em damn fools we do!" The response was a delightful giggle, which found Tony shaking his head. Anyone who thought that blond angel was unfeminine had to be out of his or her mind!

"The suit seems to lay just fine on you though honey." Michele continued.

"It's kind'a snug!" Mihoshi admitted, with a hint of audible shyness.

"Well sweetie, it was meant for someone a little ... smaller than you?" Michele emphasized. "And about a head shorter I'd say."

"Christ!" Tony complained happily. "I'm getting too old for this sort of thing!" Of course the day a prospect of photographing a beautiful woman did not send his heart soaring, it would be defiantly time to head out to pasture!

"It's not so bad." Mihoshi said. "The suit stretches a lot"

"Well, I can make some adjustments." Michele told her. "But in the mean time, go 'head take it off. Then I want you to hop up on the table." Tony stopped what he was doing and closed his eyes. listening intently at the delightful sound, or at least the ones he imagined, of Lycra sliding on skin. Of course, when the sound of motion stopped was the moment his metal was truly tested.

"Sometimes being so professional is a burden!" He muttered, never would he even dream of sneaking a peek! That did not stop a man from wishing a zipper would fail or a divine wind would rip that tent open!

"Were going to have trim you a little hon." Michele was telling her. "Its clear you don't normally wear anything as high cut as that one piece, and we want you pretty for the camera." When he heard the electric buzz, Tony knew he'd reached his limit. Shouldering one of his camera bags, he walked a discrete distance away.

Twenty minutes later Mihoshi emerged, a vision in pink, white and ready for action! Now sporting a yellow stencil running down her right leg emblazoned with the word "anpebble". The name of the Tire Company incomplete due to the initial letters hidden under her short skirt. An intriguing challenge to any one literate and lecherous enough to appreciate it. Taking charge, Tony marched her over away from the rest of the film crew with Michele in tow. Arriving at the spot he had set up for the shot.

"But, we don't have a car." Mihoshi was saying. Staring more than a little confused at the small stack of steel belted radials, six-point safety harness, racing seat and assorted car, slash racing theme type products. "How does any of this stuff 'tie into' the shrine?"

"It doesn't!" Tony laughed smiling. "Trust me darling! All that logic will get you is a headache!" As Mihoshi did everything short of scratching her head. "Ok, Rather than try to explain why this makes no sense at all," Tony mildly unburdened his soul. "I'm stuck with the job of making it look good on film." He continued as Miho she took up her directed position beside the tires. "One made particularly easy when you're in the frame! Tony sighed, prompting a giggle.

"Ok!" He continued. "Now, all I want is for you to stand next to the tires and..." He hefted one, standing the tire on end atop a stack of the other four. "Place your right hand on top of this one." He directed, "And trace the lettering on the side with your finger."

Mihoshi looked at him curiously before shrugging. Doing as instructed she began tracing the first letter.

"Now look at me," He added, almost as an after thought. "And think sexy!"

"Huh?" Mihoshi asked, now clearly confused.

"You know!" He prompted brightly. "Pucker your lips, run your hands through your hair, sigh! Gaze longingly at the tire." Tony stopped for moment, scratching his head responding to 'the look' she was giving.

"Pretend it's your boyfriend!" He then said, gesturing at the twelve inch steel belted radial. "That it's your lover!"

"You're kidding me, right?" She asked, looking at him then glancing at the tire then back. "Not at all!" Tony exclaimed. "Its how you sell a product! By lending it, ssseeeex appeal!" He told her drawing out the word as Mihoshi stared. The glanced again back at the tire again for a moment.

"No." She finally said. "I'm definitely not getting this at all."

"Well." Tony began, trying to think of an alternative way of explaining.

"But ok!" She shrugged smiling. "If that's how it's done!" Leaning cautiously forward Mihoshi began gently stroking the tire with her hand, lightly caressing its surface with the tips of her fingers.

CLICK! "Good!" He called. Encouraged, she began making slow circles with her fingernail across the surface of the tire just above its brand name.

CLICK! "Excellent!" Tony said jubilantly. Slowly carefully tracing each one of the letters Mihoshi was rewarded by a click of his camera every few seconds.

CLICK! "You got it babe!" He told her smiling. Smiling herself, she lifted her left hand and trailed it through her hair while running her fingers down the tread pattern.

CLICK! "Ouch!" He sang. "That's hot!" Mihoshi leaned over and kissed the tire.

CLICK! "Oh mama!" Tony called. "Go to it!" Still bent over, she closed her eyes and licked the whitewall.

CLICK! "YUCK!" She spat, face contorting.

"What the hell are you doing??" Tony asked, dropping his camera to swinging by its strap, totally astounded.

"You said get sexy with it!" Mihoshi whined. "BLEECH!''

"Fraternize honey!" Michele called from the sidelines. "Not fornicate!"

"Ewww!" She rasped, shaking her head, tongue flapping, while Tony and Michele made unsuccessful attempts at keeping straight faces.

After a while, it became clear this was nothing like she had expected. Sure, she had seen magazines, watched enough television to have 'kind'a sort'a', an idea the way 'model photography' worked. It just wasn't the same as actually experiencing it first hand. She tried to keep from asking what were almost certainly stupid questions.

For instance, why keep striping down to just the swimsuit only to get dressed again? Sometimes, just the suit and her shoes, sometimes just it and the sun-visor. Skirt on skirt off. Jacket zipped, unzipped in so many variations, it was almost mind boggling. Not to mention potentially tiring, they had been shooting easily for an hour, long enough for Mihoshi to give thanks, she and Kiyone maintained a high level of fitness. When Tony stopped, stepped forward and adjusted the tires yet again. This time however, he looked over at her critically.

"I'd like to try something, a bit daring and visually tricky." He said raising his eyebrows. "Think you're up for it?"

"Sure!" She replied brightly. After all, she was having a ball! Unless you count finding out why 'vulcanized rubber' wasn't one of lifesavers best selling flavors! Taking Tony's lead, she moved over opposite him, the pile of tires again between them.

"Ok. Now lean in a little." He directed. "Fold both your arms on top of the tire and place your chin on the backs of your hands ... like that, Perfect!" Leaving her in that position Tony walked around behind her, gently indicated she widen her stance guiding her with his hands.

"Now honey." He began, once satisfied, moving back around to the other side of the pile. "I'm going to show you what I want." He added, his voice gentle and low. "Just tell me to stop if your get scared." So saying he reached carefully behind her neck, presumably she thought to adjust her hair as any number of times before. A slight gasped escaped, when he slowly pulled releasing the drawstring holding her top.

"Are you ok with this?" Tony asked looking directly into her eyes.

"I'm not sure." She answered quietly, matching his gaze hugging the tire protectively, holding her top in place. "I-I don't know what it is you want."

"Well, The idea is to make it look like you're naked behind there." He told her carefully.

"Why?" She asked coyly, not frightened really, jut mildly confused.

"Because it's sexy!" Tony smiled at her trying to reassure. "And that's what sells." Tony touched the tire thoughtfully. "I promise you there won't be any shots taken that you might feel uncomfortable about."

Mihoshi did not answer right away just stood looking shyly down. She hadn't realized what he was about to do, or hadn't she? She'd seen enough 'behind the scenes' shows about this sort of thing to know some nudity might be involved. Flipping though any 'swimsuit issue' was enough to acknowledge freely, the real 'issue' was anything but!

"And if I don't get at least a few shots of you with your navel showing." He continued buoyantly. "I'll never forgive myself!" Tony finished speaking, waiting patiently for some response. When finally she did look up her expression was still uncertain, perhaps even a little afraid.