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 Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 9:46 am
Eric had been debating for a few days on what to do, and finally after a long conversation with Frank, he had made up his mind and when that was over, he dialed the number that was on the Paperwork for the shoot that was supposed to have been Virells and waited for an answer.
Though, what he would actually say when the male answered wasn’t really the point but…
But it didn’t seem as though he’d get his chance anyway as the phone went to voicemail and Eric’s shoulders slumped. He left a message though, saying clearly who he was and asking the blonde to meet him tomorrow at noon at this cute little Italian restaurant near the big bank downtown.
When he hung up his phone, Eric was surprised to find that he was shaking a little, nervous lest the blonde not show up. Nervous in case he did.
Well…he had been having dreams of him for the past few days, and that might be the issue but…but that wasn’t what he had to deal with here and now, and Erica forced himself to go back about his business.
The following day he made sure to look his best and went to the restaurant, arriving almost half an hour early and doing his best to again stop himself from trembling. Good lord, he was like a small dog confronted with a rainstorm. .
But…he just hoped that Virell would come. He hoped that he could fix what had been broken. Not to mention the fact that it was his birthday and...honestly he didn't want to be alone regardless but...but this made it all the more important.
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 11:35 am
Virell hadn't been answering his phone. It wasn't like him to just ignore messages, but the people he wanted to call him weren't, and so no one else really even mattered. He figured he was out of a job, and given that any phone call might be the 'Sorry, we're letting you go,' he just didn't want to deal with it.
Realistically, maybe he was wrong. Maybe he was expecting this to go far worse than he anticipated. Maybe he was just being a drama queen.
But...better to have low expectations. It made the disappointment hurt less.
He was lying on the couch, 'watching' television when he got the call. A voicemail showed up, but it took three hours for him to listen to it.
It wasn't the message he thought he was getting, but he had to listen to it twice more for it to sink in what was being said. Certainly they wouldn't have sent the new boy to fire him? Oh, but they might have. Petty bastards.
...Still.
It wasn't Eric's fault. He was still new to this. This was Frank's fault.
Maybe it was guilt, or because he knew he needed to get out of the house, or because the text reminded him that he hadn't eaten since yesterday that he was able to force himself to go. He thought about dressing up, about making himself lookning nice, about doing his hair, but...
Forty five minutes before he was supposed to go, he still hadn't done his hair or put on makeup and he almost thought about cancelling, but finally just threw on a fresh shirt, a pair of pants, and a sweater. He brushed his hair, put it in a fresh braid, and left.
No makeup, nothing flashy. Just him.
He arrived five minutes before he was supposed to and stepped inside the little restaurant; he hadn't been there before, but the smells made his stomach grumble.
He found Eric after only a second and moved to the table to sit across from him. He was visibly tired, and without fresh makeup there was no hiding the fatigue on his face. He wasn't smiling and just seemed to collapse into the chair across from him. "Sorry. I was going to text you but I forgot about it. Have you ordered already?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 5:24 pm
When Virell walked up, Eric’s face broke into a wide smile and he looked at the blonde for a long moment before the smile faded slightly. He took in Virell’s appearance, the lack of makeup…the lack of the smile that had made him feel almost dizzy, and sighing slightly, reached out a hand for the male’s. “I have something for you. I’m glad you came out, I…I’ve been thinking about you almost nonstop since the other day, Virell I.”
Quietly, Eric reached into the briefcase he had brought and slid the folder containing the ‘Superstar’ information towards him. “I’ve already spoken to Frank, the shoot is yours now, I can’t take it from you. You worked so damn hard for it, and I think what they did to you is despicable.”
He took a sip of the wine he had ordered and looked hopefully at Virell. “You worked so hard, and you were right. It wasn’t fair that the new guy just gets handed the best job because he’s a fresh face…besides.”
Eric held his glass up and gave a small nod towards Virell. “Your face is much nicer to look at, I think.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 5:52 pm
For a long moment, Virell was quiet; he looked at the paper being slid across the table at him. It was the same paper he'd expected to be handed the last time he'd spoken to Frank, only, here was Eric--the new boy, in a cut throat business, giving him the shoot? He'd made such a fuss, if he'd had more energy he might have been able to reel himself in, but he was already dealing with the whole thing with Nick...
He looked up from the paper to meet Eric's gaze.
"Not today, I don't think," he said, managing a meager smile. It was self-deprecating, but he was in a bit of a cynical mood.
His eyes went back to the paper.
"This would jump start your career. It wasn't right of me to make such a big issue about it in front of you. I can't imagine it was very comfortable for you. I hope I didn't frighten you away from the agency. Truthfully, I'd just had a really long..."
He sighed. "Week? ...Month. It's complicated. I've been in a bit of a funk, for a while now. I just. I was really looking forward to something good, and I was so confident that I could look forward to that. And then, that fell through, and everything just sort of came crashing down. I was very upset, and I apologize."
He was still looking at the paper, tapping his fingers over it lightly as he contemplated.
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 6:19 pm
Eric swallowed hard when Virell’s bright eyes met his, and he felt the swooping feeling in the pit of his stomach again, and without meaning to, his eyes flickered to the blonde’s lips for the briefest moment. “Well, I don’t know about that. You might not be your fully made up best, but…you still have the power to take my breath away, so. There’s that.”
His voice was soft and he nodded, listening to the male. “Well…I hope this starts to turn things around. You didn’t frighten me away from anything but…I just…have the opinion that if you don’t have honest friends who have your back where you work, then you’re in the wrong line of business, and I want to be your friend, Virell. I want you to have all you’ve worked for, I won’t use you as a stepping stone to get my own name out there. That’s not how you have a healthy work environment. So, please. You worked so hard for this gig, and I want you to have it.”
He reached over and covered Virell’s hand with his own. “There’s no need to apologize. They were dicks, and I’m sorry you were treated that way.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:08 pm
He was quiet and then just sighed, propping his elbows onto the table and resting his forehead against his hand. He glanced up from the paper to Eric again. "If you're trying to get into my pants with all this flattery, you're putting too much effort into it. I'm pretty easy right now."
It might have been an attempt at a joke, or just him testing the waters. He didn't think he was ready for anything more than flirting, or maybe just one night stands, but...
Here was this guy, from out of town, giving him the gig that would have launched his career right off the bat.
"...Eric," he said after a second. "...You seem like a good guy. This isn't an honest business. It's fickle. Nobody cares about anyone but themselves. I mean. They're not supposed to. Is everyone all right with this?" he asked, glancing at the paperwork. "...I don't want to show up and have them pissed at me. Or you."
He didn't draw his hand away and let Eric hold it, but he was chewing on the inside of his cheek. "...What do you get out of this? Did Frank put you up to this? If he feels guilty, he could just tell me, himself. I'm not going to rub it in his face or anything."
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:17 pm
Eric flushed at the statement and almost choked on the mouthful of wine he had just taken, but thankfully he managed to swallow it and looked at Virell, with quite the deer in headlights look. “Get into your pants? No. I…no.” As much as he would like to…he didn’t want Virell thinking that this was just about coming on to him.
“Well, if it’s that fickle that the ones who work their asses off don’t get the shoots that they deserve, then I don’t think I really want any part of it anymore…so worst comes to worst, I’ll find something else to do in this city. It’s big enough. There has to be other jobs I can get in on. And no, this wasn’t Frank’s idea. In fact he told me that I was being a fool in giving it up, but I told him I didn’t want it, and that I was going to take the shoot that you had been given, if that’s okay with you, of course…I…kind of lied and told him you and I had spoken about it so it was a done deal—I’m sorry if that was presumptuous of me, Virell.”
His thumb gently rubbed the male’s hand, enjoying the feeling of the smooth skin. “So now, to make up for all of this, let me buy us lunch…won’t you? It will be such a nice birthday treat for me to actually spend the day with someone who…who might turn into a friend…”
Or more, if he was lucky.
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 9:21 pm
Virell paused and tilted his head. "It's your birthday? I shouldn't be accepting gifts on your birthday. Nor should you be buying a meal for us. I'll treat you," he said, waving his hand nonchalantly.
He seemed to have his spirits lifted, just a bit, as he looked over the paper. "...If you hadn't already spoken to Frank, I might have told you to keep this. But now, I suppose I can go along with it. Though, there is a spiteful part of me that wants to drop out. I know they'd find someone to replace me--as if there wasn't already you, but." He just sighed. "...I'm getting old. I've had a lot of time to think about it the past few days."
He wasn't very happy about it, and a sorrowful look crossed his face.
"...What if this is just how it's going to be? What if this is my push out the door? I mean, it's earlier than I thought it would be, but..." He swallowed. "...And I really...could have used that pick me up after all this stupidity." All those stupid emotions. All that time wasted. And worse, he still had feelings for Nick, even though he told himself that he shouldn't. He'd lost weight--he wasn't eating. Wasn't sleeping. He was bottling things up and now it was just so draining.
Everything was exhausting.
"...Although. To be honest, it's been a while since anyone asked me out to lunch. I was starting to think I was just undesirable all around. Even if this was just about business." He looked at the paper for a moment, and then back up to Eric. He hadn't moved his hand much, except to inch it a little closer. "...Thank you."
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 9:38 pm
Eric smiled softly and shrugged. “Yeah. It’s my birthday, but please. Let me treat you. I want to see your smile, and I know that you deserve it.” He hadn’t missed the male’s hand moving closer and his thumb continued to rub the back of it, pleased. “You’re welcome, Virell. You deserve this more than I do, and I hope…you and I can be friends. I don’t think this is a push out of the door, Frank seemed excited about some new project that was coming up that would need two models and I said that you and I would be willing.”
He was grinning now, eyes smoldering slightly, and it was easy to see just why he was good for modeling. Eric’s eyes displayed a lot of emotion. All of the emotion. Perhaps too much, honestly.
“I hope that was okay…he seemed excited about the collaboration though, and the project sounds like it could be a lot of fun, so I hope that you won’t desert me, or I’ll be…rather upset…”
Finally, Eric squeezed the male’s hand lightly again and drew it away, picking up his menu once again.
“It wasn’t just about business, you know.” He said, as nonchalantly as though he were talking about the weather. “I wanted an excuse to go out with you.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 10:12 pm
Virell watched him carefully, amused, interested, and feeling just slightly more inclined to be social. "Is that so?" he prompted, reaching up instinctively to brush his index and middle fingers against his hand as if to return the gentle strokes. It wasn't something he even seemed to be doing consciously; now, his eyes weren't leaving Eric's face.
"A bold statement. I haven't been asked out to lunch in so long that I forgot it could be about anything but business. Though," he was quiet for a moment. "...'Go out'. In this business, there's a lot of careful word choices. 'Go out' doesn't always mean the same thing to anyone. But if we are 'going out' for lunch. My dear."
He exhaled, a bit dramatically, and almost like he wasn't weighed down with guilt and negativity. "...I've not eaten much in weeks. Inviting me to eat might have been a mistake. My body might decide I need to eat a horse."
...It wouldn't and even if it did, he wasn't sure he wouldn't throw it up--either naturally or out of guilt later. It was just a little hard to think about things like that; when he looked into Eric's smoldering eyes, for a split second it made him wish he dressed up.
He had to tear his gaze away from those deep eyes to look down at himself, and he tried not to look as dejected as he felt.
He looked stupid. He should have done his hair nicely, he should have done makeup, dressed nicer...
But. Even now, he was just so tired. The thought was exhausting.
He didn't pull his hand away but he slumped in his seat just a bit. "...But I suppose to do that, I'd need to order. And to do that I'll have to talk to someone. It was hard enough to get myself out of bed."
...Why was he saying those things? Why was he admitting weakness? God, it was so stupid. He didn't know how to recover so just shrugged and kept playing with Eric's hand while he glanced off to the side and pretended to be people watching.
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2018 4:57 pm
“Eat what you need to, Virell. Eat what you want to. I’m in no hurry. This is the highlight of my day.” He reached back over and took Virell’s hand more firmly, sliding his fingers between the blonde’s and frowning just slightly at his words.
Finally, he got up, moving his seat to the one next to the other male’s and putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Are you all right? Do you want to just get the food to go and we can eat it back at my place? I don’t mind. If you’re that exhausted and unhappy, I don’t want to push you farther than you’re able to be pushed.”
His eyes were almost fearful and he reached up, moving his hand from Virell’s shoulder to his cheek. “I can take care of you if you need it. If you want me too. There’s no shame in being unhappy. I’m not going to judge you or condemn you for having a string of bad days, but I sure as hell can offer my support and try to make things a little bit better for you, Virell. I want to get to know you. I want to be your friend, and I’ll do what I can to help you, I don’t care what it takes.”
His words were soft, but there was almost a desperation in them. Obviously Virell was doing a lot worse than he was letting on…and Eric couldn’t just let him keep falling deeper into this pit of depression. “What do you want to eat? We can get it to go…and spend the day relaxing on my couch.”
Or, hell. They could get pizza if that’s what it came to, and quickly, the redhead backpedaled. “When I said this was the highlight of my day, I meant spending it with you, not eating here, just so you’re aware.”
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2018 5:17 pm
Virell stiffened, perhaps a bit alarmed at the thought of being found out--at the mere idea that someone he didn't know that well might be privy to some of his biggest weaknesses, his biggest humiliations. And yet, Eric had given over a major job--was this part of some scheme?
....But how could it be? What did he gain from giving up the job and gaining Virell's trust?
What did he gain from being so sweet? He was more forward than Virell had expected, from a guy who didn't come from such a fast paced city as this one.
"You know, I don't recall the last time someone offered to take care of me," he said slowly, considering his words and what implications acceptance or denial might have. "...To be honest, it's a bit surprising. I don't know you that well, and I can't help but wonder if you have a guilty conscience. Like you have to make it up to me, after what the agency did. Which, isn't your fault. I don't have any hard feelings against you."
He bit his lip just slightly, thinking. Hadn't he wanted someone to waste his day with? Well--yes, someone important. Someone who cared about him. A friend, who valued him. Not a stranger. Although, strangers could become friends. Just, usually not like this. And they usually didn't bond over one of them feeling like garbage.
He tapped his fingers atop the stack of papers again, truly considering the offer. "...I can't say I'm very good company right now. And I've barely made it off my couch in a while. To be honest, the idea of going somewhere else is a little exhausting. I guess," he debated, "If you wanted, we could eat here or get something to go, and you can come with me back to my place."
It was a smart move, right? ...He was less likely to be murdered if he was at his place instead of someone else's. Just in case that was a concern. "...I haven't cleaned in a bit, and it's not really anything glamorous. But it's nearby. We could go over a few things, if you wanted." He found the male's eyes with his own. "...I mean, I'm sure Frank gave you the run down. But I can give you the real run down. It's the least I can do if you're seriously giving me this," he said, nodding to the papers. He kept his hand resting atop of them, as if he were afraid if he moved they would blow away, or Eric might change his mind and decide to snatch them back.
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2018 5:49 pm
Eric thought almost sadly of the small cake he had bought to celebrate his birthday and the bottle of wine that was even now chilling in the fridge, but managed a small smile. “Then we can get take out and go to your place. That sounds good to me. We could get a dessert to share too…and maybe if you feel up to it…” He gave a dashing grin now, mischief in his eyes. “You could sing to me and make me feel terribly special?”
His fingers gently caressed the blonde’s cheek and he went quiet, watching him.
Finally Eric cleared his throat and nodded. “If you wanted to give me the real run down of this place, I would appreciate it. Frank told me what he could but…you seem to have a much better grasp on how things really are. And yes, I’m seriously giving it to you. The calls have all been made, and they’ll expect you on Monday at eleven fifteen looking your best for the first round of the shoot.”
A moment later, he let his hand drop and leaned forward, pressing soft lips to the male’s cheek, letting them linger for half a second longer than was seemly, before drawing away. “I’m not doing this for free though, just so you know…” His voice was a low whisper. “I expect you to autograph one of the pictures from the shoot and give it to me, I can’t wait to see how amazing you look, my Superstar.” He chuckled then, unable to keep up the creepy vibe for more than a few seconds.
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2018 6:26 pm
Virell looked at him for a moment, and it was almost impossible to tell what he was thinking. It could have gone either way, honestly, but after a few seconds, a grin grew onto his face and he laughed. "You're cheesy, that's ridiculous." But there was a small little glow about him. "I'll only autograph something for you if you frame it and hang it above your bed," he said, giving him an almost playful push.
He gathered the papers close to his chest. "...Monday's so soon," he said, humming loudly. He glanced down at himself. "...I look like a disaster." He smoothed down the front of his sweater. "I should go to the spa between now and then. And actually eat something so I don't pass out. To be honest, I shouldn't eat pizza. But. I really, really want it. And cupcakes, too. And there's a really nice pizzeria, and a really nice bakery, both on the way home."
He was quiet and then said, "They're special places to me, though. I had a lot of memories with someone who isn't what I wished he'd be. So you should come with me, so that I can make new memories to replace those. Because I've wanted a cupcake from them for three weeks now and I have to tell myself no every time I walk by it because I can't stand the thought of walking in there by myself. And it's your birthday, so it's a good occasion. I'll even let you hold my hand. If you want. And we'll see about the singing, if only because--do you know?" he paused. "...I was never invited to any birthday parties when I was a kid. And I never had any parties for myself, not that I recall. I don't actually know what you're supposed to sing. I could make something up, but I'm not very creative. You'll have to teach me."
He still seemed exhausted, but there was a little bit of something in his eye--something to look forward to. Something to keep him moving.
Something to keep him from rotting away, alone, in his apartment.
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2018 7:26 pm
Eric smiled softly, his eyes warm. “Then let me pay my bill for my wine, and we can go get pizza and cupcakes. If you really want…I can set up an appointment at the spa for tomorrow and we could meet up and get pampered. And if you really want, I could come with you on Monday, or meet you after for moral support. We can plan to have dinner or something to celebrate.”
Quietly, he took Virell’s hand again and motioned to the nearest waitress, slipping her his card and letting her know to ring up the bill, she left a moment later, returning with a check that he signed quickly, not letting go of the blonde.
Finally, Eric looked up at him again. “I want to make new memories with you. I want you to enjoy this pizza and cupcakes again, and I want to teach you how…” He paused, the blonde’s words finally sinking in. “You’ve never sang Happy Birthday?” Quietly he began stroking the male’s hand again, and began massaging it with both. “Well…how about then…I teach you. And when it comes to your birthday, we’ll make it a fantastic celebration, Virell.”
He went quiet again. “So…what do you say? We should make today a good one. You have things to celebrate. You have the shoot that you very much deserve, and I have things to celebrate, because I have a new friend to spend time with.”
And perhaps something more in the future.
Hopefully the near future.
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