Floriography: Red Roses

Chapter 7

The air in Japan was cold that morning. Not yet snowy, but the weather is always cloudy and soon it will be winter.

But Tracy does know herself to always be cold anywhere and anytime, so all her clothes are arguably warm clothes. Tracy doesn't like to dress up too pretty—because it takes time and effort more—but this event is too big for her to appear relaxed. She will always be around Violetta— who is tall all the time, with her face that looks perfect even without makeup—and even though Tracy's appearance is also not ugly, she's a twin of Gracy Manson— but Violetta's above-average fashion sense makes her look less cool that Tracy doesn't put in more effort.

Tracy sees her reflection in the hotel lobby. He wore a black knit turtleneck, and navy blue jegging pants for the winter, and black boots. The gray long-coat he was wearing looked simple and classy. Tracy kept twirling her body from side to side. He felt his clothes were too simple to bring to the Fashion event of a Violetta Nakajima.

“Hey, uh, I hope you're not offended but you're Gracy Manson's twin sister, right?”

Tracy turned her head, and found Juan—photographer Violetta— standing behind her. Tracy took a step back, feeling the man was standing too close to her.

“Iya, right. My face looks a lot like Gracy?” Spontaneously he glanced at the glass by her side, and looked at her face—Grace— face looked back at her.

“Identic. I know people must have asked the same thing a lot, but why don't you jump into modeling? You have the perfect posture—please don't misunderstand me, I'm a photographer.” Juan smiled awkwardly.

Tracy shrugged her shoulders a little. It used to be that the question made him tired and upset in the heart. But he's used to it now.

“Now, I think my passion is different from Grace. I don't like being in front of the camera. After all, there is enough Grace in the entertainment world. If I come up people will start to get confused who is who and then me and Grace will start to follow up to get the best offer.” Trace laughed a little. “I don't like to compete, let alone with Grace.”

Because I know who's gonna win. Grace.

Juan laughing. “The entertainment world is dark but I think it can be avoided. Grace Manson is the dream model of all photographers today. But for little photographers like us, Grace Manson is just an impossible dream. If you jump into the world of modeling as a newcomer, at least small photographers will also have a chance to have a good canvas to work on. No offense

by my choice of words, I mean…. Well, you know what I mean.”

Yeah, I know what that means. What that means is I could be a cheap copy of Grace, right?

“Yes, of course I know what it means. Just relax.” Trace chuckled, then glanced back at her reflection on the glass.

Trace admitted, if he gives a little effort when arranging his appearance, he does look as beautiful as Grace. Not as handsome as he is, according to Trace, but at least the designer clothes will look suitable on his body.

“Tracy, Juan, let's go.” Violetta called out from a distance, and quickly the two people caught up with Trace coming out of the hotel.

The cold air pierced the bones as they stepped out. From the hotel to Nishijin only took five minutes and Tracy had not had time to enjoy the warmth of the car he was riding, he had to go back down and was hit by the morning wind. Once inside the venue, a man immediately greeted them, and Violetta spoke at length with Violetta in Japanese. They walked in, and the collection of the Nishijin museum he could see along the entrance into distracted him.

They finally get to the room to be used for a fashion show. Simple and not as big as places that are usually used for fashion shows in general. Before long, Violetta approached Tracy and her team.

“Jam 7 we will start dirty gladi, and at 8 we will instantly clean gladi, no repeated at all. Juan, you can start taking places to put your tripod on, Candice, you go backstage and check the make-up models in the back. Reth, I'm asking you to check consumption for models and organizers, we haven't had time for breakfast, have we?” All the team and Tracy nodded small. Though the hotel provides buffets for breakfast, but because everyone is too rushed, no one has time to eat breakfast.

“Tracy, you can grab a spot on the front row and get your gear ready. If you have free time to take time to eat, please take time. Is there a question?” Violetta waited and after her team was silent she nodded.

“Ok, please help him for today, spirit!” Violetta smiled and went back to the Nishijin representative who had approached her earlier.

“Ms. Manson, if there is something we need to help, do not hesitate to ask, yes.” Reth patted Tracy's shoulder before turning away. Tracy nodded while bowing her body slightly.

“Ya, thank you very much.”

Tracy walked slowly towards the front row seat, took off her jacket and attached it to the chair she was sitting on. He took out his notes, and made a frame of points that he needed to pay attention to, and occasionally his attention was stolen by models walking on the runway. Nishijin himself often held kimono fashion shows, but Violetta kimono is not a traditional kimono that is usually exhibited by Nishijin.

Tracy was astonished to see some of Violetta's work displayed the goods once or twice during rehearsal. Before meeting Jesca-mentornya-Violetta never dared to issue a row of designs that are too eccentric for fear of design no one will buy. His ideas are unique and eccentric. But the more here, Violetta's original color became more visible and the color is now a lot of people's glance.

Especially the work of Modern Kimono this time. Kimono with a slightly fluffy skirt, kimono with petticoat, short kimono, even kimono jumpsuit. They all use lighted colors. Violetta knew that mixing modern culture and elements would bring criticism from many people, but this time, it was what Violetta wanted.

Tracy's hand quickly wrote down every impression she got from the dresses Violetta displayed, she wanted to enjoy the show later lightly. But it seems that the last model had a hard time coming out with her very elaborate and bulky dress. Tracy planned to stand up and help the commotion, but Juan patted her on the shoulder.

“Trace, we've all had breakfast, go back a minute. You can't miss their omelette.” Juan then went to find his best camera angle. Tracy turned her head back towards the gap where the models came out, but there seemed to be no progress from the last model and she decided to go to the cafeteria for a while.

He ordered a cheese and mushrooms omelette, then sat down at one of the empty tables and pulled out his phone. As usual, there was no reply from Grace. But who knows? Tracy finally decided to send a new e-mail.

From: Tracetheauthor@mymail.com

To: Gracy_Manson@mymail.com

Grace, Violetta gave me a chance

to join the Naka Fashion Magazine team, for one project only

it seems. No, I'm not joining forces to be a model, but I will

become a Violetta project journalist for her modern kimono collection.

He said you're in Kyoto now?

Coincidentally the Violetta Fashion Show was also held in Kyoto, do you want

There's a lot I want to tell you. Guess, guess,

Grace, someone just declared their love for me. Well, not love anyway,

he just said he liked me since Junior High, but it's the same as

of love? Hahaha, don't know, I don't understand either. So at least

give me a little of your policy, Grace. You're 4 minutes older than me,

and you also have more love experiences than I do.

Please answer me before you leave

Jjapanese.

I miss you.

Trace sent me that e-mail. Actually he wanted to write longer about his stories, but typed in

cell phones are really uncomfortable for Trace.

Not long after, his omelette was delivered. Sure enough said Juan, omelette is one of the best omelette

which he had eaten! Unfortunately Trace is not someone who can eat a lot of breakfast, if he can eat a lot at this hour, maybe he will order two more omelette for himself.

Just as her omelette ran out, Trace's phone shook and her heart suddenly felt like it was going to fall when Violetta's name was plastered on her screen.

“H-Hello? I'm in the cafeteria, Vi, I'm there—“

“Meet me backstage yeah, now. Thanks!”

Then the phone is closed.

Tracy had no time to even wonder what was going to happen, she immediately ran back towards

stage and turn into the back. His thick heels made a loud echoing sound as his feet entered the hall.

Behind the stage, everyone noisily surrounded a girl wearing a long kimono with a tail like wedding dress dangling large and far back, deep blue and silver in color.

“Vi?” Call Tracy quietly, everyone was speaking at the same time back then, and everyone was speaking Japanese. But it seems that Violetta heard Tracy's call and immediately turned her head towards her.

“Tracy Manson, here. I must apologize to you first, I have one request as your friend, not as Violetta Nakajima.” Violetta quickly approached Tracy and clasped her hand.

“My last dress cannot be used by any model. The designs were too long for their size, and the waist stitches were narrow. Trace, I'm sorry I had to make this very unprofessional request, and I know it's going to make you feel uncomfortable too, but can you try that dress for me? If you can wear that dress, can you present it as the cover of my fashion show today?” Violetta quickly conveyed all her complaints. Tracy had guessed where this conversation was going, since the first sentence. But Violetta is her best friend, her ego can be put aside at a crucial time like this.

Tracy glanced at the very pretty blue dress. So very…. So pretty.

“I'll help you as much as I can, Vi. But what about the report?”

Violetta shook her head. “No problem, Juan will be recording throughout the show and I think your writing will also be more convincing when you are one of the models. You're even the highlight of the show, Tracy.” Violetta turned her head towards the blue dress, her eyes almost glazed over.

“This is my best work of the year, Trace, I want to be able to present it perfectly for everyone.” Whisper Violetta slowly. Tracy nodded.

“I understand, let me try that dress.” Trace did not take her eyes off the dress. Anyway, Tracy is still a woman. She also wanted to try on a pretty dress, let alone this dress there was only one in the world today. And she will be the first woman to wear this dress in public.

Everyone helped the model to remove the dress, while Tracy quickly took off her clothes. He could not even feel how cold the air smelled on his skin. His heart was pounding for various things, adrenaline warmed his body. It's been a year since he last did the catwalk. Tracy knows her skills are not lost, as she always mimics Grace when she does a fashion show, stares at herself in the glass and acts as if she is Grace.

Tracy, Violetta and one of her assistants helped Trace wear the dress, and sure enough, the dress wrapped her body perfectly. The shape of the dress is exactly like a traditional kimono with a more mature style. The top is off-shoulder on both sides, and the arms are long with the ends of a lustrous silver black stripes motif. The material Violetta used was navy blue velvet, and her skirt bloomed with separate hemispheres starting from her knees. The tail of the dress was about a meter and a half long, with the same color, silver black stripes glittering at the ends. For the final touch, Violetta tied a satin black obi around Tracy's waist. He turned Trace's body against the glass and Trace was stunned.

As usual, she felt Grace staring at her from the reflection of the glass, and she saw Violetta's face smugly behind her.

“Perfect.”

Trace did not reply, quickly Violetta encouraged Trace to sit in one of the makeup chairs, and called Candice who quickly did hairdressing as well as makeup for Trace. His long brown hair was tied loosely low, then Candice curled the edges neatly.

Everything went quickly, after which Violetta immediately had all the models do a clean gladi, and walked one-on-one to get out. All the models that came out would remain outside and stand in line at the side of the room, while Tracy would come out last. Tracy would walk straight, walk through the street between the audience seats, then walk back to the stage before posing in the middle of the stage, and wait for other models to come up to her, then the event would be closed.

“Alright, now it's 9:30. The show will start in 30 minutes, prepare yourself and when the song starts, I hope you're all ready to walk. Remember, Naka's future is in your hands.” Violetta spoke loudly, moved around from Japanese, then translated it for her team and Trace. “I beg for help.” Violetta bowed deeply, and the other models replied to her.