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 Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 7:49 pm
Ever since moving to Destiny City, Eric’s modeling career had utterly skyrocketed. It was terribly validating to know that he wasn’t just small town talent but...could really make it big on his own, in a place that was much more competition.
He was happy with his relationship too. Virell was honestly the best person in the world, and he was so lucky to be his boyfriend, and sometimes, Eric didn’t know how to cope with that, and would have to leave the room to just…grin. Stupidly.
He had been away on a shoot that had lasted nearly a month, and had included several different countries around Europe, and now he was just…tired.
Walking into the apartment he shared with his boyfriend, he grinned. “Honey! I’m finally home.”
God, he hoped that Virell would be here...it...would suck returning to an empty house but...if that did happen, he would just be able to surprise him when he returned.
Honestly, so long as he got to see Virell soon...so long as he got to give him his present…
It didn’t really matter what the timing was.
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Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 5:48 pm
It wasn’t always easy being supportive when they were in a competitive career, but Virell had never made any effort to curb his boyfriend’s career. It was easy to be jealous of the opportunities Eric was offered, but it was easier to miss him.
Some shoots could last days. Weeks. Months.
Eric had been shooting around from one project to another, and Virell was lonely.
Lonelier, because he couldn’t fall back on old habits to fill the void.
He was being good.
He’d had a few shoots of his own, but really, nothing that compared to his boyfriend, and it was hard not to compare their opportunities. In the month that Eric had been gone, Virell had become acutely aware of every minor imperfection, physical, mental, emotional, and had struggled to keep himself afloat.
Finding work in Destiny City wasn’t hard but he didn’t want to be some stock photograph, he wanted to be someone.
But he was old, and washed up, and not very pretty, and everyone who wanted him had already had him, so he wasn’t in demand anymore, and no one would ever hire him for anything amazing again.
And Eric got to go travelling! To different countries!
What Virell would have given to go with him.
...But he’d been good. He took his classes. He did his shoots. He powered up and patrolled at night, and came home and went to bed. He coordinated his schedule so he could try and talk to Eric, to FaceTime, to text, during his hours, around his schedule.
And then, Virell went to bed alone.
Sometimes, when he couldn’t sleep, he programmed. He’d taken up a few side jobs to code for websites, because now that he was ugly and unwanted, he could still do this and people couldn’t see how horrible he was from behind a computer screen.
Sometimes he read up on business law, and studied a few extra textbooks, and anxiously worried about actually setting up his own company, and worried about if he could do it, and his contacts, and this and that and, everything...
Sometimes he drank himself to sleep, but that was so many calories…
When Eric finally came in, Virell didn’t believe it. He’d been in bed, watching something on his computer, and nearly shoved the whole thing off the bed in his haste to get to the front door. He was in his pajamas, dressed down, but his hair was still braided and his face was still put together from his earlier outing.
“Eric!” he blurted as he hurried in. “You’re back? I didn’t think you were getting in until later this week! Did I mix up the days?”
He practically hurled himself at Eric, wrapping his arms around him and squeezing him so tightly.
He called him honey! He was home! There wasn’t some attractive, exotic, irresistible European hanging off of him! He hadn’t been replaced! Maybe!
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 5:29 pm
Eric laughed and squeezed Virell back, dropping his hold on his suitcases, clinging to the other male like he would shatter if they ended up letting go. “Oh my god. I’ve missed you so much. If they ask me to do a trip like this again, I’m going to tell them that I need you with me or I’m not going.”
He squeezed the male once more and finally drew away. “I’ve also decided that you and I need a vacation over in Europe. It’s so beautiful, and I want to go to some of these places with you.” Eric reached up and stroked Virell’s cheek before pulling him into a tender, lingering kiss.
“...I brought you presents, if you’re interested! I hope you are...I have some nice ones."
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 6:00 pm
Virell looked like he was pining at the idea of going to Europe, but he was doing his best not to be jealous. He’d supported Eric, encouraged him, even. Opportunities like that didn’t come by often--at least, they hadn’t for Virell, but maybe they would for Eric. The thought didn’t sting.
It didn’t.
He leaned into the touch, the kiss.
“Europe is so expensive,” he tried to justify, because he’d always been so careful with his money, and no matter how much he wanted to go, Virell couldn’t justify spending so much just to do something. Not when there were bills, and gym memberships, and makeup, and clothing, and advertising, and--
Focus!
“You didn’t have to get me anything, I’m just glad to have you back. I can’t wait to hear all about it,” he said, as if they hadn’t talked daily about everything. It was different though, to have him here in person. Different than texts, and being on the phone, and video chatting.
“...I didn’t get you presents,” he said, and then looked worried. “I kept the apartment clean! I paid bills. If I had known you were coming back, I would have had dinner, I’m so sorry!”
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 6:35 pm
He shook his head, kissing Virell once more before finally, finally drawing away. “I wanted to get you presets. I thought of you every day I was there.” Eric scooped up the second suitcase--one he hadn’t taken on the trip with him and put it onto their couch, unzipping it with a grin. “And every time I had a spare moment that wasn’t spent in shoots or talking with you, I was shopping. They gave a nice allowance, and I spent it well.”
The suitcase was filled with clothing, as well as small trinkets. He pulled out a beautiful red sweater that had small sequins sewn into it, causing it to glisten, and then a red and black shawl that looked utterly comfortable. There was a red silk shirt with white embroidered birds on the collar and sleeves, and a small collection of snowglobes, one from every city he visited.
“Ta da! Presents! I love you!” Terribly so. The last…(best?) gift was still packed away...and hopefully Virell would do just what he wanted him to...hopefully he’d go and try on the clothes and let Eric get everything ready.
But...if not…
He didn’t care. The ring was beautiful, and all he wanted was for Virell to say yes.
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 7:25 pm
Virell tilted his head, not well versed enough with Eric’s suitcases to immediately recognize that he’d gotten a second one before it was up close and he realized it didn’t match the other.
He was so impressed with all of the gifts that he forgot to be envious, and he lifted a few of the gifts, examining them quickly but smiling as he started to go through them. “Eric! I can’t imagine how much this must have cost! I should scold you! Oh, but I love this,” he said, running his fingers over the red shirt.
He hadn’t picked out favorites yet, but it helped that he could see how vibrant the color was.
“Can I go try it on?” he asked, and it wasn’t that he wasn’t willing to just strip right there--Virell did want to freshen up a bit, as quickly as possible. He hadn’t been expecting Eric home so quickly, and he wanted to at least get his hair fixed up a little, and make sure he didn’t have any circles under his eyes.
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 7:32 pm
Ah, that was the reaction he had wanted, and for a moment, Eric could only stare fondly at Virell. “Yeah! Yeah go! Please! I’m dying to see you in it, I have been since I bought it!”
He continued smiling until Virell was gone and took a moment to get the ring out from where he had hidden it in the front zippered pocket, taking another long moment to look at it, the ruby and the small diamonds sparkling in the light coming from the window. Drawing in a breath, Eric slid to the floor, on one knee, watching the doorway that Virell had disappeared into.
Hopefully...he wouldn’t be too long. Eric’s heart was beginning to pound so hard, he felt a little dizzy.
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 6:50 am
Virell laughed and hurried out; he tugged on the shirt, loving how soft it felt, how smooth it was.
He hastily fixed his hair, slapped his cheeks--it was only two minutes, but Virell knew how to get fixed up. When he came out to model the shirt, he hurried--and then froze.
“Eric, did you fall?” he asked, and hurried to help him get up--when he froze, hands outstretched to help him up.
Because, Eric was posing. He was holding something.
And Virell stared.
Because that was a ring.
And Eric was on his knee.
“--Eric,” his voice hitched, and he could already feel his ears heating up. The blood was rushing so loudly that he could barely hear his voice. “What is this, what are you doing?”
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 7:33 am
Eric grinned, loving how the shirt looked on Virell, loving how it was everything he knew it would be. Everything he dreamed it would be.
“I love you, Virell...I...I know this isn’t terribly romantic, and that perhaps I should have made a bigger gesture...but...I want to marry you. I want to spend the rest of my days by your side...I want to plan a future with you, and watch it grow. I want to be your partner until the end of our days...and I want you to know just how much you mean to me.”
He held the ring box out, his eyes soft and excited, though he still felt nervous enough to pass out.
“Will you marry me, Virell? Would you want those things too?”
God. If he said no...well.
It was as good a day as any to just...die.
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 8:18 am
”Are you sure?” he asked, because the answer was of course yes--Eric was perfect. He was sweet and considerate and talented and warm, and Virell had never wondered if he was scheming or planning something or just trying to use him.
He was so different from the other people Virell had dated.
...Being around him felt like coming home.
“You want to spend the rest of your life--with me? Because if you marry me, I’ll never divorce you, you’re too perfect.”
He seemed like he forgot how to stand up and had to sit down, cross-legged, in front of him as he admired the ring.
“You want to be with me? Forever? Really? Because--I love you. You know I love you. Oh, it’s not fair to ask me after you’ve been gone for so long, I missed you so much! Of course, I want to marry you!”
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 9:48 am
Eric almost snorted, but shook his head vigorously at the question. “Of course I’m sure. And of course I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You’re so talented, and smart and funny...you’re brave, and just...one of the best people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet...and the fact that you want to marry me...it means the world to me, Virell…”
He moved closer, shuffling on his knees and plucked the ring gently from the box, taking Virell’s hand and kissing the back of it gently before sliding it onto his finger. “I worked really hard to find the brightest ruby that I could. I wanted you to be able to see the stone as well as you can.”
Did that sound stupid? It sounded really stupid but…
God. Virell had said yes. “...I missed you too, every moment I was gone. And I meant it, I won’t be parted from you for that long again...I can’t do it, Vi.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 10:16 am
There was a lump in his throat and he felt incredibly dizzy--but in a good way. He’d been lightheaded from a lack of sleep and proper nutrients, but this was different. This was good.
His hand was trembling as Eric slid the ring on. “I don’t have a ring for you. I don’t know if I could pick out a ring as beautiful,” he said, trying to swallow the lump and failing miserably. “I don’t even want to imagine how much you paid for this. It’s stunning, I don’t ever want to take it off.” He held it to his face and examined it, letting out a breathless sigh of awe. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Second only to you, of course, but you’re not a rock.”
He was turning his hand in the light, admiring it with so much love and adoration, and then just threw his arms around Eric again.
“You’re lucky I didn’t take forever in there to preen, I hope you weren’t kneeling for long! Are your knees okay? Let me get you on the couch at least,” he said, but couldn’t even seem to push himself up before he was fawning over Eric again.
“I can’t believe you did this! I--Eric, can we even afford this? --I--” he seemed like he was overwhelmed by the technical aspects and then ******** it, they’d figure it out, and pressed his kiss to Eric’s to shut himself up and just let him enjoy this moment.
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 12:54 pm
Honestly, this reaction was better than he had hoped for, and Eric threw back his head, laughing at the statement that he wasn’t a rock. It was true but, god, it was funny.
“We can afford this, Virell. I’ve been saving for a while. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while...I just couldn’t...find the right ring. And I finally did and...obviously I wasn’t going to not do it...not after having to spend so long without you…” He moved to stand, tugging Virell with him and sitting them both on the loveseat that was against the wall.
Eric held the blonde close and lightly began to thread his fingers through his hair, sighing happily. “I’m so...so glad you said yes. Honestly...I was scared that you wouldn’t. I was afraid...afraid maybe you’d moved on or found someone better while I was gone...ah...out of sight, out of mind...you know?”
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 7:36 pm
Virell collapsed into the loveseat next to him, resting against him and melting into his fingers. “I wouldn’t have,” he insisted, almost scandalized. “I haven’t been with anyone since you were gone. Not even outings with friends. I’ve done everything alone, and it’s been, well, horribly lonely. I was afraid I was smothering you in texts. I was scared you’d find some attractive European man to bring home, but,” he held up the ring again.
“I’m sorry for being paranoid. It’s just--I know you wouldn’t cheat on me. You’re such a good person. I just--I’ve been--I don’t know, it’s been so lonely! I’ve missed you so much. But now you’re going to be stuck with me forever! And by your own choice!”
He burst into laughter and turned to hug him, tightly.
“I love you, Eric. So much, more than anything. I love this ring. I--I don’t know anything about marriage. I didn’t think anyone would ever want me, not for real! Just--I don’t know! This whole...being with you is so different from anything I’ve ever done, from anyone I’ve ever been with. I don’t--you make me feel...like me,” he said, and looked up at him with love, and some sort of fragility he rarely showed. “...Like...I don’t have to always be dressed up in nice clothes, or with my hair all done up, or makeup, and--and you know secrets, things about me, that no one else knows...and you still want to be with me and...I don’t know how to put it into words. I just. You’re so good. So good for me. Too good for me? I can’t...If you had said, the first day we met, that I’d be marrying you, I’d have called you crazy! But now, it’s--it’s all I want, Eric. Thank you. I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make sure you don’t ever regret this. Regret me.”
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Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 5:21 pm
Eric grinned and drew Virell as close as he could, a little worried by his reaction, but honestly just pleased to have him back in his arms once again. To be home once again. “I love you too, Virell. I’m pretty sure if I had told you that first day that we met that I’d be asking you to marry me...you’d have laughed in my face! You were so unhappy with me…” He let his fingers thread through the male’s hair, giving a soft, almost sad chuckle.
“I’m pretty sure I started falling for you that day, you know. I couldn’t believe that those idiots had thought I would be a better fit over you? You...were a literal God...I had never...I mean…” He sighed and shook his head. “I was blown over by your beauty. You...didn’t even seem…real...I wanted to get drinks with you, see if...if you’d ever bother with some plain backwater boy like me...but...you were so brave...I…”
He squeezed the male. “I wanted to get to know you better. I wanted to...god, I wanted to win you over so badly and...now here we are. I have the smartest, most attractive person in the world in my arms...and he just said yes to being with me…forever. I have never felt so happy, Virell. Thank you.”
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