Marshall got up and sat on Alyx's other side, wrapping an arm around her. Now the three of them formed a closed circle, as they had so many times in recent weeks.
"Alyx, listen to us," he said with his deep, serene voice. "What Lily and I have with you can't be compared to anything. Nothing. What we share, the three of us, is unique. It's special. It's... it's like that building you painted, with the golden cracks. There's no other like it in the world."
"And the Barney thing," Lily continued, "is a job. Money for our trip. For the trip of the three of us. Because when we go to Scotland, when we look for Nessie and get lost in castles and sleep in rooms overlooking the lake, you're going to be there with us. Always."
Alyx felt the tension dissolve, as always with them, and thanks to them.
"And you don't mind?" she asked, looking at Marshall. "That Lily spends hours with another naked man, however Barney-esque he may be?"
Marshall shrugged. "It's Barney. His nakedness is about as threatening as a wiener dog's. Besides..." He smiled, with that smile of his that lit up entire rooms. "I trust Lily. And I trust you. I trust us. After everything we've been through, what could Barney do to break that?"
"A lot," murmured Alyx. "Barney could do a lot."
"But he won't. Because deep down—and never tell him this—Barney loves us. In his own twisted, sick way, he loves us. And he wouldn't do anything that would really hurt us."
Alyx thought about the afternoon of the discovery. How Barney had hesitated. How he had spoken about Marshall's painting with unexpected respect. Marshall was right. Deep down, Barney loved them.
"Okay," she said finally. "But with one condition."
"Anything," said Lily and Marshall in unison.
"I want to see the process. Not all of it, not always, but every now and then. I want to stop by the apartment while you're painting, Lily. See how it's progressing... I don't know, be a part of it somehow."
Lily smiled. "Done. And more: you can give your opinion. Suggest poses. You can make sure Barney doesn't get too full of himself. You'll be my art director."
"Art director for a Barney Stinson nude? That's not a job; it's a punishment."
"But it's our punishment," said Marshall, kissing her temple.
And so, amidst laughter and hugs, the decision was made.
The first painting session was a disaster of epic proportions.
Lily had prepared the apartment with everything necessary: easel, canvas, oils, brushes of all sizes, and a bottle of wine for herself (and another for Alyx, who had arrived punctually with her sketchbook and an expression of "I'm not missing this for anything in the world").
Barney arrived on time, which was suspicious. He arrived on time and also brought a toiletry bag.
A red leather toiletry bag with his initials embossed in gold.
"What's that?" asked Lily, pointing at the bag.
"My modeling kit. Contains everything necessary for an epic painting session: moisturizer, body oil to make my muscles shine, a small towel for breaks, and a signed photo of myself in case you need inspiration."
"A signed photo of yourself?"
"Just in case. You never know."
Alyx, sitting in a corner with her sketchbook, could barely contain her laughter. Marshall, who had decided to stay and watch the start of the session before going to work, wasn't so lucky. He let out a laugh so loud it made the windows shake.
"Okay, Barney, let's begin," said Lily, in her professional voice. "I need you to sit there on that stool, with the light from the window hitting your profile. And I need you to..."
"Wait, wait, wait." Barney raised a hand. "Before we start, we need to talk about the pose."
"The pose?" asked Lily.
"Yes, the pose. I can't just sit here like a piece of furniture. This is art. Immortality. My pose has to reflect who I am. The essence of my being."
"And what is your essence, Barney?" asked Alyx with a malicious smile.
Barney placed a hand on his chest in a theatrical gesture. "My essence is greatness. The confidence, the security of a man who knows his worth and isn't afraid to show it. I want a pose that screams, 'I am a Greek god fallen to Earth, but fallen with style, without hurting myself.'"
Marshall and Alyx exchanged a glance. Lily sighed.
"Okay. Do you have any idea what pose you want?"
Barney nodded and pulled a folded magazine from his pocket. He opened it to a marked page and showed the image: a male model, completely naked, with a sword in one hand and an expression of dramatic intensity, as if about to fight an invisible army.
"I want this. But with my face. And with less body hair. More attitude."
Lily studied the image. "Barney, that's a photo of a professional model with professional lighting and a sword. Do you have a sword?"
"Of course I have a sword. Who doesn't have a sword?" Barney pulled from his toiletry bag a fencing sword—the kind used in sport, but clearly with a dull edge. "It's from my collection. I use it for my erotic fencing classes."
"Your what?" the three asked in unison.
"It's a class. You learn fencing, but with erotic connotations. Don't ask."
Marshall stood up. "I think it's my time to go to work. Good luck, Lily. You're going to need it."
Before leaving, he approached Alyx and gave her a long, slow kiss—the kind that said more than words. "Enjoy the show," he whispered against her lips.
"It's going to be hard not to."
When Marshall left, Barney was already in position: seated on the stool, the sword resting on his shoulder, his chin lifted at an angle meant to be heroic but came off as simply ridiculous.
"Like this?" he asked.
Lily looked at him, assessing. "Barney, the sword isn't working. Take it off."
"Take off the sword? But the sword is essential! Without the sword, I'm just a naked man. With the sword, I'm a naked warrior. There's a difference."
"The difference is that with the sword, you look like a cosplayer at a geek convention. Without the sword, you look like a man trying to look like a warrior and failing spectacularly."
Barney looked at her, offended. "That was cruel."
"It was honest. There's a difference."
Alyx let out a little laugh from her corner. Barney shot her a glare, but she just shrugged. "Just observing. Go on."
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Chapter started. Barney arrived with a modeling kit, sword included. Lily tries to maintain her sanity. Alyx draws in her corner. And you? Did you survive the first session without laughing (too much)?
Tell me ALL about it in the comments. Follow me and support with power stones so the second session is even more chaotic!
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