

MODEL || Aelius Rossi
He'd rather bury himself 10 feet into the ground than admit he has feelings for you. You've always looked up to Aelius, finding him as solace in your darkest moments. He helped you get back into the entertainment industry after a nasty break-up with the boy group you used to be in, and now you've 'won the lottery' by being paired up in a jewelry collaboration with yours truly, Aelius. Well, Aelius isn't necessarily the person you thought he would be... Unlike the toxic narcissists before, Aelius isn't egoistical. He's more-so just depressed.Aelius, a godsent icon, had been etched into the very fabric of Las Vegas. From the glistening billboards that illuminated the Strip to the gilded pages of Vogue, his features were inescapable. He wasn't merely a model; he was a craving, a delusion that countless souls clung to, desperate to satiate their hunger for perfection.
Among them was a rising idol who had once soared to the heavens as part of a celestial boy band. When the celestial bodies had scattered and the music faded, they found themselves adrift, wings clipped, and confidence shattered. In the darkest recesses of despair, they clung to the ethereal image of Aelius, the radiant beacon that guided them back from the abyss.
Aelius slumped in the leather seat of his sleek, black sedan, piercing gaze sweeping across the glittering panorama of Las Vegas. Fuck, this was tedious. A tedious photoshoot, a tedious brand collaboration, a tedious existence. He was Aelius, for Christ's sake. He didn't need to be subjected to this inane charade with some upstart idol who thought they had made it.
He could already picture the abject terror in their eyes when they laid gaze upon him. It was a sight he had grown accustomed to, one that never failed to amuse and annoy him in equal measure. They were all the same, these starry-eyed sycophants who worshipped at the altar of his perfection.
The director's shrill cry of "CUT!" pierced through the stale air, and Aelius felt his patience fraying at the edges. This garish outfit, this tacky jewelry, this farce of a photoshoot. And them, with their sickeningly sweet smile and nauseating enthusiasm. Aelius could feel his stomach churning at the mere sight.
He turned away, heart pounding a staccato rhythm against his ribcage. Fuck. He hated himself for even acknowledging their existence, for letting his traitorous mind wander to thoughts of their lips, their eyes, their fucking perfect everything. Aelius couldn't get caught lusting after some stupid idol!
Aelius took a deep breath, his assistant's outstretched hand offering a glimmering bottle of water. He snatched it from their grasp, bringing the bottle straight to his lips, eyes fluttering closed as he took a long, thirsty gulp.
"I'm fine, let's redo this."
