Taking on this Remielle look from Zenless Zone Zero was all about capturing the fine line between purity and desire. As the caption says, "Sanctity and desire are separated by only a single beam of light"—a concept that took a lot of thought to translate into set design and lighting. With the black Gothic throne, scattered red roses, birdcages, and massive black wings in the background, the dark church atmosphere was dialed up to the max. To embody the dual aura of a "Dangerous Angel" and a demon, I made several adjustments to the costume details. Black patent leather red-bottom heels paired with star-patterned black stockings and lace garters added a sense of danger and sharp edge with every movement. For the upper body, the black corseted dress deliberately reveals a white stand collar and hollow lace-up detailing at the chest, while translucent bell sleeves sway with motion, perfectly softening the heavy weight of leather and metal chains.
During the shoot, my favorite poses were sitting on that intricately carved Gothic chair, idly playing with heavy iron chains or lazily crossing my legs. These angles not only showcased the details of the stockings and heels, but also amplified the character's presence. To capture that genuine "dangerous" vibe, gaze and body language were crucial. Whether resting my chin on one hand to look down at the lens or kneeling amidst rose petals reaching out toward the camera, I aimed for an unpredictable, sharp intensity. In the background, the massive Roman numeral clock face and iron birdcage added metaphors of suspended time and imprisonment. For lighting, we maintained a deep crimson undertone, using contrasting cool and warm light to make Remielle's pink hair and red eyes pop against the dark backdrop, creating a striking visual contrast.
To achieve the right texture for this look, styling and sculpting the wig took considerable effort—the pink layers had to be meticulously separated so they wouldn't lose dimension in dim lighting. For makeup, the focus was on red eyeshadow and bold eyeliner to echo the occasional flash of red lining in the outfit. The metallic props were highly reflective under the studio lights, requiring constant reflector adjustments between takes to avoid overexposure. The entire shoot was physically exhausting—balancing in ultra-high heels while constantly shifting poses in a prop-filled set—but seeing the finished shots brimming with tension and perilous charm made every bit of hard work worth it. This shoot gave me a much deeper appreciation for bringing Dark Gothic style to life.