5th Summer 516AV
Amelia was all for self-improvement. Even a young woman like her, with all her social know-how, fashion genius and modesty, there was some minor room for improvement. And in the case of Amelia Trisswell-Barker, these areas of development were to be conquered and mastered with military-like efficiency. If she wanted to be her best, all she needed to do was to learn how.
Today, she sat on a rather uncomfortable stool in Tain’s Studio, an easel in front of her, on which stood a large canvas. In truth Amelia had little appreciation for art in the form of paintings or pottery – fashion was, in her opinion, the superior form of self-expression – but she did appreciate good tuition when she found one. Likewise, she was aware that in terms of fashion design, her greatest shortfall was her own artistic ability. She could sketch a dress or skirt, but when it came to the human body, Amelia’s artistic skill was lacking. Her drawn models always ended up looking grotesquely malformed, with large heads and eye-wateringly stumpy legs.
It simply wasn’t good enough.
“Today we will be learning how to recreate the human body with charcoal and canvas,” Nat Hawker, the partner in both business and romance of the handsome Tain Shan, said to her small class, “paying particular attention to biological accuracy. Of course in some forms of art, accuracy is not needed. But for medical diagrams, it is crucial that recreations are correct and precise.”
Beside Nat Hawker stood an unfamiliar male. He was chiselled, dark haired, and olive skinned. If art looked more like that, it would be far more interesting…
But Amelia’s sexual attraction to the male quickly gave way to other desires. His colouring – those deep, warm eyes of his – needed to be paired with navy blue to bring them out. Maroon would be another option. His build was stocky, and so cut-off britches would have to be avoided in order to lose precious inches in height. Amelia’s lips pursed and she tilted her head in concentration as she further assessed the male’s style needs. Definitely an autumn, not a summer…
Unbeknownst to Amelia, Nat had continued with her introduction and was now waving a hand towards the handsome young man beside her. “Rafe, whenever you’re ready…”
Rafe stepped forward into the centre of the semi-circle of easels that surrounded him. With a quirk of his eyebrows and the briefest of winks thrown back to Nat, the young male untied the velvet sash that hung around his waist. The gown melted to the floor, and he stood proudly, and entirely nakedly, before Amelia and her fellow students.
The seamstress gave a tiny shriek. She dropped her charcoal lump, breaking it into several smaller, useless pieces. Her classmates all turned towards her, scowling in disapproval. Amelia blushed and half-fell, half-slipped off her stool to gather up what remained of her charcoal and dignity. “Sorry, sorry. I didn’t expect… all of that.” She said vaguely, waving a hand towards Rafe’s naked form. The male smirked, his fine lips tugging lopsidedly upwards. It took Amelia a tick to remember where she was. “Can I get a bigger bit, please? Of charcoal, that is.”
Amelia was all for self-improvement. Even a young woman like her, with all her social know-how, fashion genius and modesty, there was some minor room for improvement. And in the case of Amelia Trisswell-Barker, these areas of development were to be conquered and mastered with military-like efficiency. If she wanted to be her best, all she needed to do was to learn how.
Today, she sat on a rather uncomfortable stool in Tain’s Studio, an easel in front of her, on which stood a large canvas. In truth Amelia had little appreciation for art in the form of paintings or pottery – fashion was, in her opinion, the superior form of self-expression – but she did appreciate good tuition when she found one. Likewise, she was aware that in terms of fashion design, her greatest shortfall was her own artistic ability. She could sketch a dress or skirt, but when it came to the human body, Amelia’s artistic skill was lacking. Her drawn models always ended up looking grotesquely malformed, with large heads and eye-wateringly stumpy legs.
It simply wasn’t good enough.
“Today we will be learning how to recreate the human body with charcoal and canvas,” Nat Hawker, the partner in both business and romance of the handsome Tain Shan, said to her small class, “paying particular attention to biological accuracy. Of course in some forms of art, accuracy is not needed. But for medical diagrams, it is crucial that recreations are correct and precise.”
Beside Nat Hawker stood an unfamiliar male. He was chiselled, dark haired, and olive skinned. If art looked more like that, it would be far more interesting…
But Amelia’s sexual attraction to the male quickly gave way to other desires. His colouring – those deep, warm eyes of his – needed to be paired with navy blue to bring them out. Maroon would be another option. His build was stocky, and so cut-off britches would have to be avoided in order to lose precious inches in height. Amelia’s lips pursed and she tilted her head in concentration as she further assessed the male’s style needs. Definitely an autumn, not a summer…
Unbeknownst to Amelia, Nat had continued with her introduction and was now waving a hand towards the handsome young man beside her. “Rafe, whenever you’re ready…”
Rafe stepped forward into the centre of the semi-circle of easels that surrounded him. With a quirk of his eyebrows and the briefest of winks thrown back to Nat, the young male untied the velvet sash that hung around his waist. The gown melted to the floor, and he stood proudly, and entirely nakedly, before Amelia and her fellow students.
The seamstress gave a tiny shriek. She dropped her charcoal lump, breaking it into several smaller, useless pieces. Her classmates all turned towards her, scowling in disapproval. Amelia blushed and half-fell, half-slipped off her stool to gather up what remained of her charcoal and dignity. “Sorry, sorry. I didn’t expect… all of that.” She said vaguely, waving a hand towards Rafe’s naked form. The male smirked, his fine lips tugging lopsidedly upwards. It took Amelia a tick to remember where she was. “Can I get a bigger bit, please? Of charcoal, that is.”