Chapter Text
The flashing lights of a fashion show was something that Simon didn't think he'd ever get used to.
There was always a certain buzz, a certain sort of electricity that always seemed to be present at these sort of shows, and he honestly loved every moment of it. He loved the energy, the atmosphere. He loved the way that a show like this was meant to highlight a single item of clothing, and that the designer and the models were able to turn it into a thing of beauty.
It wasn't too often that he worked on a lingerie show like this, but he didn't feel that it was all too different than working on any other show. He was a professional, and so he wasn't about to sit here and giggle over the fact that he was taking photographs of half dressed women.
It had never mattered much to him what the models were wearing, or how much skin was on show at these kind of events. He was there to photograph the clothes, and to photograph them in a way that highlighted the beauty of the pieces that were being showcased, and not the women who were wearing them. Occasionally he noticed, how could he not? But like he'd said, these kind of shows weren't about that.
He'd been working for Harper's Bazaar for a little over a year now, and he could honestly say that he loved it. Working for a high profile fashion magazine wasn't something that he'd ever really planned to do when he'd first started getting into photography, but he certainly wouldn't have changed the way that things had worked out.
He'd always loved photography, but he'd never thought that it would end up being anything more than just a hobby. He'd always thought that it would just be something that he did in his spare time. Somehow though, it had actually turned into his career, and like he'd said, he loved it.
It certainly helped that one of his colleagues at Harper's Bazaar was Roger, who just so happened to be one of his closest friends.
He'd met Roger about two years ago, when he'd first moved to New York. They'd been running in the same circles for a while, until they'd been introduced by a mutual friend of theirs, Andy, and honestly? They'd clicked almost as soon as they'd been introduced.
Roger was one of the best people he'd ever known, he had to admit. He was nothing but down to earth and sincere, and he loved the fact that there was never any drama when it came to the younger man. He'd met far too many people who thought that the world revolved around them, and so it was nice to have a close friend in somebody that was so down to earth, especially when he was so far from home, when he was so far away from his family.
He and Roger were actually working the same show tonight, which didn't actually happen that often, but it was a pleasure whenever it did. It was nice to be able to hang out with his best friend while they were working, and to actually be doing something that he enjoyed doing.
Like he'd said earlier, the show tonight was to showcase the latest lingerie collection by Sensuelle - a French brand - and honestly? He was actually more than impressed by the show so far. Harper's Bazaar was doing a piece on the new collection, and so he and Roger were there to take some photographs for the article.
"What d'you think so far?" Roger asked, raising his voice slightly so as to be heard over the music as he leaned in to his side.
He nodded, looking down at the photograph on his camera that he'd just taken for a moment longer, before glancing back up at Roger, "Really good, yeah. Much better than I was expecting." He admitted with a quiet huff.
Roger just smiled, rolling his eyes, "I know you weren't too impressed with the collection when we first saw it, but you have to admit that the pieces look better in person."
"Alright, yeah, they do." He admitted with a smile in Roger's direction, although he couldn't quite help but roll his eyes.
They'd been shown the pieces from the new Sensuelle collection earlier on in the week, and he had to admit that he hadn't been all too impressed with it. They'd done a Victoria's Secret show not too long ago, and he'd been far more taken by the collection that they had showcased. Still, his opinion didn't really matter all that much, and he knew that he couldn't exactly just refuse to cover the show just because he hadn't liked the pieces when he'd first seen them, and so he figured that he'd just shut up and get on with it.
So far, though, he'd actually been pleasantly surprised by how good the pieces looked in person. It was a relief, because it was always harder to like the photos he'd taken when he didn't actually like what the photos were of.
Maybe he was being a bit of a diva about the whole thing, but he liked to have a bit of pride in his work, and he wanted his photographs to show that.
One thing he did have to admit, though, was that he'd been a little bit taken aback by the show itself. He'd been expecting this to be a typical lingerie show, featuring tall, beautiful women wearing the pieces, and so he'd certainly been surprised by the fact that the show featured male models too. He certainly didn't have any issues with it - it had actually been a pleasant surprise, to see something that he'd never seen done before.
He'd leaned over to ask Roger about it, since the younger man had covered one of their shows a couple of months ago, and it was apparently a new concept that the brand had been trying out lately. Apparently their vision was to create a more inclusive atmosphere and a more inclusive brand, and so they had decided to feature male models in their shows as well as female models.
To be given the opportunity to photograph and cover a show like that, he had to admit that it would be pretty great in terms of his career, and so he certainly wasn't arguing.
He was pretty interested in seeing the piece that the magazine wrote about the show, though, and he just hoped to God that it would be a positive article. He knew that the article itself would be more about the collection that the brand had released, but since his name was going to attached to the article - for having done the photography - he just hoped that there wouldn't be anything negative written about the fact that there were male models showcasing the pieces.
He really doubted it, since the point of doing so was to inspire a more inclusive atmosphere, but he still hoped.
He turned his attention back to the show, although he couldn't quite help the way that his gaze was drawn to one of the models who had just walked out onto the runway, "Who is that?" He asked, leaning closer to Roger so that the other man could hear him, "The one in the white?"
Roger followed his gaze, glancing back at him after a moment with a faint grin, "That's John Taylor. He's one of the newer models with the brand, he's been causing a bit of a stir lately."
"Right.."
Like he'd said earlier, he usually barely even noticed the models themselves, considering his job was to take photographs of the clothes that they were wearing, but he just.. Christ, it was hard not to take notice of the man who had just walked out onto the runway, simply because of the fact that he was stunning.
His looks were almost feminine, in a way - with his slim figure, and rather delicate facial features. He was tall and slender, his brown hair curling just long enough to reach the nape of his neck. His face was angular, sharp cheekbones and a square chin carefully defined by tasteful makeup. A hint of blush, subtle eyeliner to define his eyes - although he couldn't tell what colour they were from where he was sitting.
The set he was wearing was rather tasteful, actually. Like he'd said, he was in white, and he couldn't help but notice just how well the colour suited him - although he was fairly sure that any colour would have suited him. He was wearing just a pair of white satiny underwear, although the sheer white cover-up that he was wearing added a touch of modesty to the outfit. The sleeves were wide and flowy, the cover-up itself reaching to about mid-thigh length.
There was nothing but professionalism in him as he walked the length of the runway, though. His gaze was fixed straight ahead of him, a blank but focused expression on his face as he walked. He was young, but he had the attitude of somebody who had been playing this game for years.
He was beautiful, though. Probably one of the best looking people he'd ever seen, and certainly the best looking guy he'd ever seen.
His camera forgotten about, he simply held it in his lap as he looked up at the model, watching as he walked up the runway. He vaguely remembered seeing the piece that he'd been wearing in the collection that they'd been shown, but honestly? He was barely even looking at the clothes.
"I haven't seen him around before." He whispered to Roger as he leaned in to his side again. He was rather surprised by that, actually, he usually grew to recognise some of the models, even with seeing them at different shows and events. He was pretty sure he would have remembered seeing this John Taylor before.
Roger nodded, raising his own camera to take a photo, "I told you, he's new. He's been with Sensuelle for a couple of months now, but he was pretty much unknown before that." He whispered back with a shrug, "I met him after the last show I covered. He's very aloof."
He hummed, settling back in his own seat as he turned his attention back to the stage. He watched as John reached the end of the runway, stopping where he was to give the photographers a minute to take some photos. He turned to give them a different angle after a moment, a hand on his hip as he glanced back over his shoulder. As he did though, he caught Simon's eye, and he cocked an eyebrow at him as he realised that he was being watched.
He swallowed thickly as he looked back up at him, completely forgetting about the camera in his hands, and the fact that he was meant to be taking photos.
He wasn't sure what to make of the expression on John's face, though - it was still carefully neutral, although there was something that looked like it could almost be interest, in the way the corners of his lips briefly turned up, before he turned away to face the other side of the runway.
Christ. He could feel his cheeks burning as he settled back against the back of his seat again, and he resolutely ignored the way that Roger elbowed him in the side.
"Were you actually planning on taking any photos, or are you just going to sit there with that starstruck look on your face?" Roger asked with a grin, watching as John turned back around to face the other side of the stage, dragging a hand through his own hair as he did.
He rolled his eyes, before raising his camera again to take a photo. Alright, maybe he'd been a little bit caught out there - he knew he should have been taking photos of John, rather than just sitting and staring at him.
He watched as John passed them again as he walked back down the length of the runway, although he didn't look back down to catch his eye again. The last time was obviously just a coincidence, he was sure that he'd imagined the look of almost interest on John's face as he'd looked back at him. Why would he have been interested? He'd probably just noticed that Simon was staring at him rather than taking photos, and had found the whole thing amusing.
He watched as John walked back down to the beginning of the runway, stopping to turn one last time - in order to give the audience one last look at the set that he was wearing - before walking backstage and out of sight.
Christ, he felt like he'd been holding his breath without realising it, and he hadn't even noticed until he let out a soft huff as he settled back into his chair.
He was surprised at himself, honestly. He was usually more professional than that, and he was sure that he'd probably looked like an idiot - just sitting there with that starstruck look on his face. It wouldn't have been so bad if he'd just been there to watch the show, but with the camera in his hands, it was very obvious that he was meant to be taking photographs.
He was almost kicking himself for the fact that he hadn't taken more photographs, though. His own feelings aside, the set that John had been wearing really was pretty, with the sheer, white cover-up. It would have been a nice piece for the magazine to cover, and he really wouldn't have minded having a couple of photos of John for his portfolio.
He'd just been a little too caught off guard by how gorgeous John was to even think about photographs, or the article, or his portfolio.
Still, Roger had been there, at least, and it looked like he had actually been doing his job and had been taking photographs of John when he was meant to be.
Thankfully, he managed to keep his head screwed on right for the rest of the show, and he actually ended up rather pleased with the rest of the photographs that he'd taken. He knew he'd gotten some good shots, and he was looking forward to seeing how the article would look once it was eventually published. Roger was a good photographer too, and so he was looking forward to seeing the photographs that he'd taken too.
At least he was actually able to focus now on what he was supposed to be doing, although he couldn't help the slightest twinge of disappointment he felt at the fact that John hadn't come out in a different set. Still, he wasn't all too surprised, he hadn't actually seen any of the models come out more than once.
By the time the show came to a close, he found that he was actually rather pleased with the collection of photographs he'd gotten from the night. Of course, not all of them would be used, but he knew that the editors of the article would pick the best ones that they wanted to use. It felt good to be able to put his name to something like that, and to be proud of the end result of it.
"Are you coming to the after party?" Roger asked as they got up from their seats, glancing over at him.
He shrugged, biting his lip gently, "I wasn't planning on it, but I could come for a bit." He said with a small smile.
Like he'd said, he hadn't actually planned on going to the after party, but now that Roger had asked, he didn't see any reason not to. It was being held in the private bar just across from where the show had been on - Room 7609 - and so it wasn't as though it would be too much of a hassle to go for an hour or so.
Besides, these kind of after parties were good for making connections - as well as the models and the photographers who'd been at the show, these parties were usually full of brand and magazine representatives. He certainly wasn't looking to move, he was more than happy with where he was in his career right now, but it couldn't hurt to have a chat. It was always good to link up with other photographers, and to get a word in with certain brand representatives.
He'd only stay for an hour or so, he certainly wasn't looking to be out all night.
It didn't take him and Roger long to pack up their cameras and equipment, although thankfully, there were people there to take their things once they were all packed away. He probably wouldn't have gone to the after party if they'd had to drag all of their equipment with them and watch it for the night.
Like he'd said, the after party was being held in the private bar across the street, and so once they had headed over, he and Roger had only had to flash their badges that they'd been wearing at the show to be let in.
The bar was more of a club than a regular old bar, but he didn't actually mind that. It was still a private, business function, so at least there weren't any drunk twenty-one year olds staggering past them. The music wasn't too loud that they couldn't hear themselves think either, so that was something, at least.
"Drink?" He asked, glancing back at Roger.
They made their way up to the bar, where he ordered them both a rum and coke, and he leaned back against the bar while the bartender made their drinks. As people started to filter in, he recognised a couple of faces that he'd seen around before - both at the show, and from other events before tonight. Yasmin Parvaneh and Renée Simonsen, models who had both been in the show tonight. Paul Young, a photographer for Elle. A couple of other faces that he recognised, but couldn't put a name to.
"Y'know, I saw Giovanna at the show tonight." He pointed out as he turned back to Roger, a grin crawling onto his face.
Giovanna was a representative from Vogue that he'd met a couple of times, and he knew that Roger was rather sweet on her. He'd seen her at a couple of these after parties before, though, and so he guessed that they'd probably see her again at some point throughout the night.
Roger huffed quietly, although there was a smile on his face as he rolled his eyes, "Yeah, she did say she'd be here, actually."
"Oh, been talking to her, have you?" He asked with a grin. He was surprised to hear that, simply because he didn't think that anything had actually happened between the pair. It was nice, though, he'd spoken to both her and Roger together a couple of times, and it was fairly clear that they both fancied each other.
It was sweet, and he really hoped that it did end up going somewhere, because he thought that she and Roger would be good for each other.
He thanked the bartender as he handed them their drinks, turning back away from the bar. He could already feel how warm it was in the room, and he didn't doubt that it would only start to feel even warmer as the room started to fill up.
He took a drink from his glass, patting down his pockets for the box of cigarettes that he knew were in there, "Hey." He started, leaning in towards Roger again, "I'm going to go out for a smoke, before it gets really packed in here."
He'd been nursing a faint headache, and so he'd been meaning to go for a cigarette once they had left the show. That was before he had agreed to come to the after party, though, and so he figured he'd just go out now, before the place got really full of people. With the familiar names and faces that he knew would be here, he knew he'd only end up being distracted talking to people, and he'd never end up getting away.
Roger nodded, taking a drink from his own glass, "Yeah, go on. I'll be around."
He'd never been to this bar before, but it didn't take him long to locate the smoking area out the back of the bar. He didn't usually have a problem with smoking indoors, but he knew that a lot of places were trying to discourage it - especially with a private function such as this. Besides, he wouldn't mind a bit of fresh air.
He stepped outside, dragging a hand through his hair as he stepped out and underneath the slight shelter that was just outside the door. It was actually rather cold out this evening, and so he wasn't planning on staying out here long, just long enough for him to finish his smoke.
As he lit his cigarette, leaning back against the wall as he inhaled the smoke, his attention was drawn by the sound of laughter from across the smoking area, and he glanced over towards the couple of other people that were outside.
He recognised Renée Simonsen, as well as a photographer that he'd seen at a couple of shows, but couldn't put a name to. He didn't recognise one of the two other people that were with them, although as he glanced at the man who had his arm draped around Renée's shoulders, he realised that it was John Taylor - the model who'd caught his eye at the show.
He'd since changed, and was wearing a pair of leather trousers and a fitted leopard print shirt. He'd scrubbed his face free of makeup, and Christ.. he couldn't help but think that he looked even more beautiful without any makeup on. He hadn't noticed at the show, but his left ear was pierced, the earring catching the light that was shining from above them. It was dark out by now, but he was wearing a pair of round sunglasses that he had to admit actually suited him.
From here, he couldn't hear what they were saying, but he watched as John dropped his head back slightly and laughed at whatever Renée had said. Jesus Christ. As he'd walked the runway, the expression on his face had been carefully blank - neutral and strictly professional - but now, as he laughed, he was almost starstruck again by just how lovely his smile was.
He watched as John ducked his head slightly to hear whatever it was that Renée said to him, before he nodded as he dropped his arm from around her shoulders.
He knew Renée around to see, but he didn't know her well enough to know if she had a boyfriend or not, and so he had no idea if she and John were actually together, or if they were just friendly with each other. He had to admit, though, if they were together, they made a gorgeous couple. They were both tall and statuesque and attractive - it was no wonder they were both models.
Once John had let go of her, Renée headed back inside, sending a smile in his direction as she passed him on her way in. After a moment, the photographer who had been with them, and the shorter man with blonde hair both followed her inside, leaving John by himself.
He watched as John leaned against the wall behind him, dropping his head back against the wall as he exhaled the smoke from his cigarette. He was holding a half empty glass in his other hand, and so he wondered if he and Renée had come over here as soon as they'd finished with their parts of the show. He couldn't have been here that long, either way.
He hadn't exactly intended to do so, but he found himself moving, crossing the smoking area so that he could approach John. Fuck it. These kind of after parties were all about making connections and swapping names and numbers, and so that was all he was doing. Nothing wrong with that.
"Hey. John Taylor, right?" He asked as he approached him.
John took off his sunglasses as he spoke to him, pushing them up on top of his head, and he was momentarily struck by how pretty his brown eyes were. He hadn't been able to make out the colour of them earlier, but he'd always had it bad for a pair of brown eyes.
"That's right, yeah." John said with a nod, raising his cigarette to his lips to take another drag, "Who's asking?"
"Simon Le Bon. I'm a photographer for Harper's Bazaar, I was at the show this evening." He said with a smile, holding out a hand to John.
John just looked at him for a moment longer, before swapping his glass into the hand that was still holding his cigarette so that he could shake Simon's hand, "I remember you." He told him, a grin crawling onto his face, "Did you actually take any photos in the end?" He teased.
He huffed quietly, barely just resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He should've known, really, and he supposed that answered his earlier question of whether John had actually been the slightest bit interested in him, or whether he was just laughing at the fact that he hadn't taken any photos.
"Yeah, I did, actually. Got a few good ones." He was rather pleased with the photographs that he'd ended up with, he'd just been kicking himself over the fact that he hadn't gotten more photos of John, "It was a good show, though."
"Yeah, it was alright." John agreed with a nod, taking a drink from his glass.
He got it, though, it probably just got old doing the same thing over and over again, and so even though he'd enjoyed the show, it was probably just another day in the office for John.
He looked over at John, biting his lip gently as he watched him inhale another drag from his cigarette, "Have you been working with the brand long?" He asked, leaning back against the wall next to John as he looked over at him.
John shook his head, shrugging his shoulders, "Not too long, a couple of months." He said, sending a quick smile in his direction as he flicked the butt of his cigarette away, "I like it there, they're a good brand to work for."
"Yeah, I have heard that, alright. It's great what they're doing with the shows." He said with a small smile. Having male models showcase the clothes as well as female models, he knew he wasn't the only one who recognised how much of a step forward it was.
"It is, yeah. It's been good to be a part of that." John agreed, swirling the the remnants of his drink around, as though he were deciding whether to finish off the dregs, or whether to leave it.
He bit his lip gently, smiling as he watched John. Close up like this, he couldn't help but think again just how beautiful he really was. There was a very faint smattering of freckles along his nose and his cheekbones, and his eyelashes were long and pretty, just about brushing the tops of his cheekbones as he lowered his gaze.
"Where're you from?" He asked after a moment, drawing John's attention back to him. He'd sort of assumed that John would be American, simply because they were in New York, and so he was surprised to hear an English accent when they had first started talking. He couldn't quite pinpoint where exactly he was from, though.
John looked back up at him, a smile crossing his face, "Birmingham. I moved here about.. four years ago, when I was twenty-three." He said with a small smile, turning slightly to face him a little better. Twenty-seven years old, then. That made him two years younger than Simon, "What about you, London?" He asked after a moment.
He nodded, "Yeah, Pinner." He said with a smile. Now that John had said so, he could hear a bit of a Brummie drawl in his voice, and he realised that he'd recognised it because Roger had the same accent, "My mate Roger is from Birmingham too, he said he'd met you after the last show he covered."
"Roger.." John trailed off, raising an eyebrow at him in a way that indicated that he didn't know who Simon was talking about.
"Taylor. He's a photographer for Harper's Bazaar too."
John nodded, humming quietly, "Right, yeah. I remember him, actually. Nice bloke." He said with a nod, before reaching into his pocket for his box of cigarettes, and raising an eyebrow as he held the box out to Simon.
"No, I'm alright. Thanks, though." He said with a smile. He was just about finished his own cigarette, and he was planning on heading back inside then. He hadn't actually come out here with the intention of talking to John, but since he'd seen him out here, he really hadn't been able to resist coming over.
They lapsed back into silence then as John lit his second cigarette, and he half contemplated heading back inside now that he'd finished his own cigarette and drink. He'd told Roger that he wouldn't be long, and while he didn't think that the younger man needed to be babysat, he didn't want John to think of him as a lingerer who couldn't take the hint and go away.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" He asked, biting his lip gently as he glanced back up at John. He hadn't intended to ask, he really hadn't, but the worst that could happen was that John would say no, and so he figured he'd just ask.
John nodded, watching him as he exhaled the smoke from his cigarette, "Yeah, go for it."
He shoved his hands into his pockets, shrugging his shoulders, "I've been trying to expand my portfolio a little bit, and so I've been doing some work on the side. Just for myself, I don't actually sell the photos, or anything." He said with a shrug. He wasn't trying to make any money off the photographs, he was just looking to get more experience and, like he'd said, expand his portfolio, "There's a studio of sorts underneath my flat, and I've been working out of there. I'd love to take some photos of you, if you'd be up for that?"
Like he'd said, the worst that could happen was John could say no, and so he didn't see the harm in simply asking.
John just looked at him for a moment longer, before dropping his gaze as he huffed quietly, "So, let me get this straight." He said with a hint of a grin, "I'm a lingerie model, and you want me to come to your studio, which is basically in your flat, so that we can do a private photo session? And you want those photos just for yourself, rather than trying to make money off them?" He asked with a grin, turning slightly where he was leant against the wall to face him a little better, "If that was you coming on to me, you could've just been upfront about it."
"No, I- that's.." He trailed off, and he hated that he could feel his cheeks burning as he rolled his eyes. Christ, he hadn't meant to come across like a creep, but now that John was putting it like that, he realised exactly how it had sounded.
"I didn't mean it like that." He insisted, biting his lip gently, "You could wear whatever you wanted, I didn't mean that I wanted to do a lingerie shoot."
That was the truth. He'd only meant that he wanted the opportunity to photograph John at all, he hadn't been asking him to do a private lingerie shoot - even he could see how that much would come across.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." He continued after a moment, "I know how that sounded, I didn't mean for it to sound like that."
He would have been okay with accommodating John and doing things the way that he wanted to. If he'd wanted to book out some space in a proper studio and do the shoot in a more professional setting, then that was more than okay with him - whatever John was comfortable doing. Now though, he was rather embarrassed that John had pointed out how it had sounded, and he'd found himself wishing that he'd never opened his mouth.
John just looked at him, before smiling and rolling his eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, handing him a card, "That's my manager's business card. Call him if you want to arrange a photo session."
He bit his lip gently as he looked at the card that John had given him. Nick Rhodes, along with a phone number underneath the name. He realised that he probably should have asked for his manager's phone number from the beginning, and that it probably was pushing boundaries to just ask John straight out. He just hadn't thought to, though.
"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come across as unprofessional, or anything like that." He said, glancing back up at John, "It's alright if you'd rather not."
A smile crossed John's face then, before he huffed quietly as he rolled his eyes, "I'm saying yes." He told him with a grin, finishing off the last of his cigarette, "I just don't make my own appointments, Nick does that for me." He teased.
"Right. I'll, uh.. I'll get in touch, then." He said, glancing back up at John.
He was sure he'd imagined it, but it almost looked as though John quickly looked him up and down then, that same grin on his face, "Alright, well, I hope we hear from you." He teased, before pushing himself away from the wall.
He watched as John passed him to go back inside, looking down at the card that he'd given him once he'd gone.
Christ.