Scent Match

1: Commission

The second day of the convention had proved to be less lucrative than Amber had hoped. At this rate, she would likely break a little over even with the stall and overhead. Not terrible, but she had higher hopes for her first convention as a vendor. Especially since she debuted her webcomic earlier in the year.

It didn't help that most other vendors near her seemed ten years her junior. Somewhere in their early- to mid-twenties, already popular in their art or writing. It made that sense of imposter syndrome - or the thought she should have done something with her life by now - dig in deep.

Little attention on her stall, plus some rather big name speakers drawing her potential customers away every hour, had left her feeling even more morose. It didn't help that her best friend, Addie, kept taking off, eager to take in all the sights and programs. Of the two of them, extroverted Addie was more equipped to handle customers.

And had been the one to convince Amber to risk money on this venture.

Losing her tenth customer for the morning, Amber had resorted to idly sketching in her sketchbook, letting the sounds of the event wash over her. Her introverted batteries were at risk of exploding if she plastered her customer service smile on for yet-another easily-distracted con-goer.

A constant flow of talk, of bodies constantly moving, of noisy little doodads or televisions played. Overhead, a screen indicated upcoming events and, occasionally, played ads concerning prices at the convention hall's food court. Farther away, near the doors of the main hall, cosplayers posed and cameras flashed.

Someone's hand leaned at the edge of her table, the plastic creaking under their weight as they leaned to peer at her art. Amber tensed, braced for questions or maybe even a request for a free drawing. Her mechanical pencil continued to sketch, pretending to be too focused to pay the interloper any mind.

"So, I take it you don't like Montos?"

Apparently, someone couldn't take a hint. Then again, Amber was supposed to be hawking her wares. Namely her art and webcomic. Still, she was bitter over her circumstance and her MIA co-worker.

Shrugging, Amber didn't bother looking up as she continued to work on the not-so-flattering caricature of Montos, fan favorite villain of hit streaming show Of Wolf and Blood. "The character is okay - as far as a bad guy, y'know - but the actor is just overhyped."

The interloper chuckled, deep enough that the resonance made a tingle shoot down Amber's spine. There was a smile in their voice as they replied, "I hear that. I've been on his sets."

"Is that so-" Unimpressed and ready for some harebrained lie, Amber shot the visitor a skeptical look. Her disbelief faded as her eyes landed on Augustine Prime. A pompous name for an even more arrogant actor, if tabloids were to be believed. "Oh."

For a beat, all she could do was stare at him. From the back of her mind, she could hear Addie's gushing voice relaying details about this very man. He/him, seven foot, a lycan with alleged hellhound blood in him, and built like a strongman competitor.

Amber could see why he was a fan favorite from his size alone, but those dark gold eyes and chestnut brown waves - worn in a way that made Amber think of a surfer dude - certainly didn't hurt. The fact he was half-shifted didn't hurt, either. Walking around like a damn anime character with wolf ears and tail on full display. Faintly, she tried to recall if his clothes - a suit with some obnoxiously bright tie - was from a anything she recognized.

"Oh." It was curiosity and realization that made her glance down at her sketch, part of her trying to gauge how accurately she was. It took her a half-second to realize that perhaps drawing a less-than-flattering picture of an actor would result in retaliation. Her eyes swung back up to Augustine's face, that infuriating smirk still tilting at his lips. "Oh no."

"So, how much?" He nodded to her hands, to her sketchbook.

Amber's brain grappled for understanding. "H-how much?"

Augustine's smile spread a little further, showing off unnervingly perfect - slightly sharp - white teeth. "For the drawing."

Instinctively, she snapped her sketchbook shut, slamming it down on the table and folding her hands atop it. "Wh-what?"

Amusement quirked further through his features as he raised an eyebrow. "The drawing you were just working on."

She clutched her sketchbook to her chest, barely keeping a whine down at the back of her throat. From the way the man's infuriating grin broadened yet again, she was willing to bet he could hear it regardless. Something broke in her mind. Agitation over his smarminess cleaved through her shock and surprise.

When she answered, her knuckles hurt from clutching to her sketch pad so hard. "I charge $200 for commissions."

Augustine's other eyebrow rose to join its counterpart. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but commissions would mean I'd ask you to draw."

"I-It's not finished." Amber wanted to bite her own tongue for stuttering, but she sat straighter and tried to sound firm, "So you'd be asking me to complete it."

It was only then that she realized people were staring. Hell, they were amassing around her table. There were obvious fans, hoping to catch Augustine's attention, and nosy busybodies who were undoubtedly wondering what exactly this star was doing at her table. Heat clawed up Amber's back, threatening to spill a blush across her cheeks.

Gods, why couldn't he have dropped by when Addie was here?

"Can't argue there. Here you go." Finally, Augustine shrugged and pulled his wallet out. Amber numbly stared as he slapped down two $100 bills. Her eyes swung to his face, mouth open to protest, but he silenced her with a wink and a grin. "Deliver it to the VIP section when you're done."

Augustine swept away from her table, taking most of the accumulated crowd with him. If he noticed his silent entourage, he didn't take any notice. As her hand smacked over the cash, sliding it closer to her, she watched the actor swagger off.

Though most of the crowd had left, quite a few people had remained. She realized they were asking about her art, her webcomic, her relation to Mr. Prime and she fielded the question while still trying to process her own shock.

There was one thing, however, that lit up in her mind.

She really should have charged him more.