A Beautiful Woman of Science and Other Absurdities | ✔️ [COMPLETED]

Chapter 30

Having survived an onslaught of potentially deadly false alarms, Viviane, Kylian and Luc finally arrived at Acel's private photo studio. From the outside, it looked modern with a flat roof on top of a two-story high commercial retail front with straight vertical and horizontal edges. No typical windows were installed. Instead, large panes of plate glass flowed seamlessly into the walls pretending to help hold up the building.

The time had arrived. Viviane hesitated to ring the doorbell. "Well, we're here," she told the men. Before Viviane could reach for the doorbell button, the front door swished open and Acel Yu burst out to greet Viviane. He acted and sounded like he had been ingesting caffeine all morning.

"Ah, Viviane! You're here just in time!"

Acel reached out and grabbed Viviane by the hand, whisking her inside. He noticed Kylian and Luc too.

"And I see you've brought along TWO boyfriends! Usually, it's just one, but I suppose if you can have that kind of relationship with two men at the same time without them being jealous of each other, then good for you for making it work. I know it would never be possible with two women."

"Oh, it's not like that at all!" Viviane tried to correct Acel's misconception.

"There now, you don't have to explain your kinks! You're perfect just the way you are. Please come in, all of you."

Acel led his three visitors inside his photography studio. Acel walked with a peculiar gait which might have gone unnoticed to the casual eye. It was not a "limp"; it was more stiff than relaxed. It was probably the walk of a self-absorbed person living in his own reality bubble. Acel led them into a spacious, tall room used for taking pictures. It had all the equipment and lighting similar to that of the Soyeux photo studio.

Acel took notice of Luc because of his STS uniform.

"This friend of yours, he has a name?" asked Acel.

"The name's Luc, buddy." Luc eyed this suspicious Acel Yu fellow.

Acel examined Luc a bit and became more animated after just a few seconds. "His cosplay is very impressive! The costume you have on is quite convincing. You must have worked very hard to assemble all the details. For the work of an amateur, I'm thoroughly impressed! It's very realistic although I'm afraid you cannot fool a professional such as myself. However, I have to say that whoever designed the uniforms for the STS did a dreadful job. No attempt at aesthetics to speak of at all."

"Listen pal," Luc growled, "I'm the real deal! I'll bust your noggin' wide open if you try anything funny with me around."

"How perfectly delightful! He speaks in-character, too!"

Unconvinced that Luc was a genuine STS Agent and pleased with his misconception, Acel now turned his attention to Kylian and tried to size him up. He scratched his chin and held his elbow in his other hand while he looked Kylian up and down.

"Who is this stuffy individual we have here? Please don't be offended my staid guest! I only mean stuffy as compared to the faux STS Agent, who is at least attempting to be interesting."

"That's Kylian Bouche," said Viviane.

"Yes, 'Kylian Bouche' appears to be an appropriate name," said Acel. "He looks like a 'Kylian Bouche'. Why, he can't be anything other than a 'Kylian Bouche'. Isn't that right, my starchy guest?"

"Ah..." was all Kylain could say.

Acel became all animated again and slapped Kylian hard on his back making him stumble. "You see? Of course, I'm right! He can't deny that he is a 'Kylian Bouche' because the name fits him and he fits the name and they define each other so well that they can never be separated. My God! I am a genius to be able to recognize the obvious!"