Chapter Text
The Daily Prophet
Breaking News: Black Swan Designs Hosts a Casting Show – Your Chance to Rise to the Highest Ranks of Fashion!
Yesterday, the noble House of Black made a surprising announcement: Walburga Black's sons, Sirius Black and Regulus Black, currently two of the most famous models worldwide, will be hosting a model casting show. The winner of this show will be accepted as an official Black Swan model, the most prestigious and exclusive label to model for. About fifty models will be invited, including rising stars like the Black sisters – Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Andromeda Black. Applications are open to everyone, and the selected cast will be revealed gradually. Those wishing to participate should visit the Black Swan Designs website. The show will be filmed for six months, featuring various challenges, photoshoots, and runway shows to select the best candidate. Many believe this show aims to dispel rumors of interfamily abuse, racism, homophobia, and more. More information can be found on page 7.
~Pandora~
She'd read the article three times already and still couldn't quite believe it. But there it stood – black letters on white paper. A model casting show. Hosted by none other than the Black family.
This was their chance!
"Evan!" she called excitedly. "Come quick!"
Moments later, her very sleepy-looking twin came stumbling around the corner of their living room. "What happened?" he yawned.
Pandora handed him the newspaper. "Read it!" she squeaked. "This is our chance, Evan!"
She practically glowed with enthusiasm and struggled to keep her limbs still as she waited for her brother to finish reading.
"That's... unexpected," he finally said. Oh well, there was still room for improvement with his enthusiasm, for sure. But she wasn't going to let that bring down her mood.
"Let's apply! I just know we'll get picked! This will be so much fun!" She gave up on standing still and instead jumped around the room, bubbling about how great this would be.
She and Evan had been modeling for ages. Not as a real job, though – it was more like a hobby. Something they shared.
They shared quite a lot, to be honest. They had the same dark skin, the same golden-brown eyes that looked like they glowed in the sunlight, the same blonde braids (though Pandora's were much longer than Evan's), the same cheekbones, and the same full lips. Both had dyed their eyebrows lighter to match their braids.
That had been one of her favorite moments ever. Evan had been scared, constantly looking at fail videos on his phone while the bleach was already in his eyebrows. He swore it hurt his skin and would leave a trail of pimples where his eyebrows had been. Pandora had been dying of laughter. In the end, even her twin had to admit it looked good.
They also shared a flat and attended the same university, though their departments differed. Evan studied art, and she chose a fascinating combination of nature and psychology.
They lived a good life in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. The sun shone almost every day; they had a funny group of friends; their parents lived nearby; and university was going well for both of them. Pandora played volleyball, Evan played badminton, and they both painted a lot.
But ever since they were little, they'd shared another dream: becoming supermodels one day. This was their chance. Pandora could feel it.
When her twin still didn't show any reaction, she asked carefully, "You don't seem too happy – do you not like this idea?"
"I don't know, Dora. Seems impossible to get in, you know? Half the world will be applying for a spot!" Evan explained slowly.
So he did want to go, but he didn't want to get his hopes up because he was scared of disappointment – got it! She knew her brother well enough to read between the lines.
"I know, Ev, but if we don't try, we'll never know! Come on, we'll just apply! That doesn't hurt anyone!" she said happily.
She saw the exact moment Evan gave in. Something in the way he looked at her shifted, and his facial muscles relaxed. "Fine, we'll try. Who knows? Maybe we'll get in after all..."
"That's my Evan!" she cheered, throwing her arms around him in a bear hug. "Have I told you you're my favorite brother in the world?"
"I'm your only one," Evan laughed and he hugged her back.
The next half-hour was spent assembling their application materials and sending them off to the noble House of Black. It wasn't much work for them – they already had experience and plenty of material.
Later, as Pandora lay in her bed, she watched the stars through her ceiling window. She knew almost every constellation by heart because she studied them every night. Her brother did too. They often talked about the stories behind the stars. Her favorite was the tale of Orion and Scorpio; Evan's was the myth of Castor and Pollux, the twin stars.
Right now, she could see the constellation Leo, its unmistakable shape shining through her window. It was her and Evan's astrological sign. Pandora waved at the brightest star in Leo – Regulus. Her thoughts drifted. Regulus was also the name of the younger Black brother hosting the show. She decided this had to be a good omen. Smiling at the star one last time, she closed her eyes and drifted into dreams.
~~~
Weeks later, the letter finally arrived. Pandora was home when it came. She was so close to ripping it open alone out of impatience but distracted herself by reciting every flower name she'd ever heard:
"Tulips, roses, lilies, peonies – Evan must be home any second now – sunflowers, daisies, buttercups (those were her favorite, by the way), hibiscus, snowdrops..."
Finally, the familiar sound of keys in the door reached her ears, and the second Evan stepped inside, she was right in front of him, jumping with excitement.
"We got the letter, we got the letter, we got the letter!!!"
Evan smiled gently. "That's great, Dora, really... Just... please be prepared that it might be a no, okay? So many people applied – chances aren't high, exactly."
"I know, I know! Now come on, quick! I've been waiting to open that damn thing for what feels like ten impossible minutes!"
They went to their kitchen, and Evan let her break the wax seal (she'd always wanted to do that – they looked so cool!). She opened the letter, and they read quietly. Then realization hit her like a truck.
"...pleased to inform you that we have decided to cast you, Pandora Elisabeth Rosier and Evan Aedion Rosier, as models in our upcoming TV show, Black Feather, hosted by the Black family. Further details can be found on page 3..."
"YEEEEESSS! WE'RE IN, EV!" she laughed, hugging her brother tightly. "WE DID IT! WE'RE IN! TOGETHER!" She still couldn't quite believe this was happening. But it was. Evan looked just as stunned.
"That's... no way!" he said, completely baffled. "We're actually cast? Both of us? That's amazing, Dora. I'm so happy."
They hugged and laughed, and Pandora almost cried from sheer joy.
This had been her dream ever since she was a little girl – and now, it was about to become reality.