Context: You are a photographer and your bread and butter tends to come from models. They've come in all shapes and sizes and you've learned how to draw out what makes them themselves before the lens. It's a challenge, but you've never met a client you couldn't make shine. Until, perhaps, today?

Setting: Your photo studio

Tags:[M4A][Burned Firefighter Speaker][Photographer Listener][Shy Boy][Self-Conscious][Reverse Comfort][Pep Talk][Flirting?][Mild Tension][Wholesome?][Mild Angst][Mildly Spicy][Brokenhearted][CW: Mentions of Burn Accident/Implied Trauma]

Usage: You may tweak or record this script. Gender flipping is OK! Please credit me if you use this script in any of your projects. If you would like to use this script for a paywalled recording, please note:

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***

[Scene opens in your photo studio]

[SFX: The door opening and some heavy footsteps padding in]

[A man steps inside your studio, glancing about]

“I, um. Hello? I think I’m your 11 AM?”

[Like most of your clients, he’s incredibly good-looking but seems oddly shy]

[Pause]

“H-Hi, uh. Hello. You. Y-You, um… You must be the photographer everyone talks about.”

[Pause]

“Uh, y-yeah, I… I’ve never done a professional shoot before so, um, sorry if I’m really bad at it. W-What should I do? Sit or… o-or like, stand in a corner and look creepy? P-Please don’t ask me to take my pants off, t-there’s no way I’ll be, um… ready? Sorry, a little nervous, haha. I hear you’re the best at shooting models so I think that’s an extra level of “Aaaahhh!” haha. What do you want me to do?”

[Pause]

“Sit here? O-OK, sure. I, um, like your studio. I-It’s nice and quiet.”

[<3 Pause <3]

[SFX: The Listener helping pose the Speaker a bit]

“H-Huh? Yeah, I-I’m Aidan. T-The firefighter doing a, um… fireman calendar. Y-Yep.”

[Pause]

“W-What? S-Shirt off? B-But… Nnh… I-I have burns…”

[Pause?]

“N-No, they don’t hurt, but… they’re ugly… People notice them before they ever notice the rest of me, a-and I don’t think anyone wants a b-burn victim trying to act sexy in front of a camera.”

[Pause]

[SFX: Aidan taking his shirt off]

[He sighs and tugs his sweater off. Burn tissue runs up from his right hip, across his chest, and up to under his chin]

“... I knew t-this was a mean prank. I should have known better…”

[Pause?]

“When m-my cousin told me to come in, I figured it was for something stupid. S-She said it was for a fireman calendar shoot, b-but I thought she’d j-just have me keep d-dressed and tilt my head away… Out of pity, sure, b-but this is just cruel…”

[Pause]

[He looks near tears, arms consciously folded over his chest]

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to waste your time. If you see her, please tell her that she’s the worst and not invited to the family dinner.”

[Pause!]

[He pauses as you approach him]

“... It’s legitimate? I don’t understand. Mira k-knows I’m still dealing with the consequences of my stupid little stunt, why would she want me in a legitimate fireman shoot?”

[Pause]

“W-Well, yeah, I am a fireman… a-and I got my injury on the job… but isn’t this calendar for p-people who want to just… ogle half-naked buff guys?”

[Pause]

“I d-don’t get it… If y-you don’t want me to present as an oily m-musclehead looking t-to seduce someone on an old-timey horse ranch, then what am I m-meant to be?”

[Pause]

“Me? I don’t understand…”

[Pause]

“People w-want to see the person behind the muscles? Even… burned ones?”

[Pause]

“O-OK. I’ll try…”

[SFX: Some shuffling / adjusting]

“Look this way… Mmhm. Relax this shoulder… Look like I’m daydreaming…”

[SFX: Photos being snapped]

“Y-Yeah? That was good?”

[Pause!]

[A tiny smile crosses his lips]

“Now look… brooding? H-How? OK, look down, shoulders in… Now frown?”

[Pause]

[He does and the shadows cast across his face dramatically]

[SFX: More pictures being taken]

“Y-Yeah? I’m doing good? Huh… Hm? Do I know why?”

[Pause!]

“It’s…me? I d-don’t understand…”

[Pause]

“U-Um, OK. W-What do you want me to do next?”

[Pause]

[He looks at you, still so shy but something clawing in his eyes. Wanting]

“Look at you… like I want you more than anything? Like… this?”

[He shoots you a sultry expression that almost knocks you to your knees]

[SFX: A camera taking pics]

“Was… t-that OK?”

[Pause]

[He smiles shyly]

“I-It’s… me, huh?”

[Pause]

[He chuckles, rubbing the back of his head]

“I mean, I’m glad you think I’ve got talent. I’m just some nobody, at the end of the day… I thought Mira had just brought me in out of pity, you know? Something to make me feel better after the fire.”

[Pause]

“I-I mean… I ran in there to help someone like a firefighter is meant to do. I don’t regret it, even if it feels like it ruined my life… Even once I was healed up, my ex said she couldn’t “stand to touch me anymore” thanks to the burns. I mean, eheh, damn. Fair, I guess… Almost all of them are just on my chest and back, but this one trailing from under my chin down is what got her. She used to brag about her “hot” boyfriend… I-I’m sorry, I don’t mean to chew your ear off talking.”

[Pause]

“Y-Yeah, you c-can direct me again. I don’t mind.”

[He shivers as you adjust his posture and the angle of his face, and tousle his hair gently]

“Oh…”

[Pause]

“No, I’m sorry… I-I’m not used to people touching my burns.”

[Pause?]

“N-No no no, it doesn’t hurt. It’s nice… to have someone who doesn’t think they’re disgusting…”

[He tenses as you cup his face in your hands, squishing his cheeks together]

“Ahm… OK, yowr squishing mai face now…?”

[Pause]

“...Ahm wistening tu yu, ai pwomise!”

[Long Pause]

[You give him one of your patented pep talks, trying to put that passion in his smile or some boyishness to his gaze. Instead, his eyes are teary]

“Snf… w-wow…”

[Pause?]

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong! I just… I’ve never felt confident. N-Not once. Even when I got into shape, e-even after becoming a firefighter. I don’t know how b-but you just made me feel like… like I might be attractive and e-even if I’m not, people will s-see me smiling a-and owning my burns and… and maybe they’ll feel like… t-they aren’t so alone…”

[He straightens, takes a breath, and flashes you a more confident smile]

“Alright. W-Work your magic, sweetheart! What do you want to see next?”

[Pause]

[He turns red, smiling that adorable smile]

“Just…me. That’s all you want to see, huh?”

[Pause]

“Eheh, alright. I’ll do my best… Thank you. For...everything.”

[SFX: More photographs being snapped]

[The End?]