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"Ah, my friend, it can't be that scary, can it?"
Gale was sweating bullets, hair plastered to the back of his neck, stains underneath his arms. He cursed himself for forgetting to pack another shirt.
"Easy for you to say," Gale replied, staring into the clear case below. He was surprised his iron grip hadn't shattered the glass. "Lae'zel proposed to you."
Halsin let out a laugh as he let a large hand come down on Gale's shoulder, rattling the smaller man whose nerves were already on edge. Gale said a silent ow to himself, reaching up to rub at the sore spot.
"Aren't you overthinking it?" Halsin asked. "It's only a ring. The lifetime of happiness is what truly makes it worth it."
Gale glanced up, mouth in a straight line and eyes deadpan. "You've met my boyfriend, haven't you? You tell him it's 'just a ring.'"
Halsin threw his hands up in surrender. "Fair enough."
Gale went back to staring inside each case while his friend wandered around the store.
In truth, the author knew that Astarion would appreciate whatever ring he had chosen as long as it held special meaning behind it, but Gale couldn't allow himself to simply settle on any ho-hum diamond encrusted ring. He wanted something that suited Astarion, something his boyfriend would look at and contentedly sigh like a lovestruck schoolgirl.
Unfortunately, the search for perfection wasn't easy and Gale wasn't one to accept failure. Not to mention he was nervous as hell that his proposal would fail.
The location was set, the music was planned, and reservations would be made whenever he had the ring in hand. Halsin was the only friend he trusted with all of the information. Anyone else was liable to spill their guts to Astarion.
Gale had been to three other jewelry stores in a week. Each one had plenty to offer, but none had exactly what he was looking for. What was he looking for exactly? Even he wasn't entirely sure.
His head fell down to his crossed arms, long hair encasing him in darkness. He sighed, opening his eyes and taking a few steadying breaths.
Faint light broke through the barrier of his arms. Gale spread them, looking below and then…a gasp.
Nestled in cream fabric sat a rose gold ring, three intricate bands intertwining as if they were woven vines. A moss agate sat atop it, teardrop in shape, and framed by alternating diamonds and emeralds. It was stunning. It was eye-catching. It was perfect.
~
"It's…Well, do you think it's too much?" Astarion asked, fingers tapping against glass.
"I'm sure he would love a piece of wire if you shaped it into a circle, Astarion," Jen answered. "Gale doesn't seem the type to be picky about a ring."
Astarion wasn't positive whether she was saying that to reassure him or to finally end the search for an engagement ring.
He had been saving for some time now. He wasn't exactly sure when he planned on proposing when he decided to buy a ring. He only knew that Gale was the person he was meant to marry.
Astarion was rocked by his own decision, panicking for days because he was going to commit his entire life to one person, but when that one person was someone who loved every piece of him, the good and bad, he couldn't let that go. He would be an idiot to do so.
"Excuse me?" Astarion called to the sales associate.
"Have you made a decision, sir?" The older woman came to stand in front of him, most likely happy that she would finally snag a commission.
He looked down again, eyes boring into the glass. The gold band with rings of amethyst and diamond circling it gleamed up at him.
Was this the right time?
No, no, it was never the right time, he supposed.
But if he didn't propose soon, he feared he would run for the hills.
A hand fell to his shoulder. He turned and saw Jen at his side, an encouraging and gentle smile on his face. He found himself grinning with her and face the associate again. He nodded with confidence.
"I think I have."
Half an hour later, the ring was paid for and since the sizing was custom, Astarion was told he would receive a call when it arrived at the shop.
Walking out of the door, he slung his arm around Jen's shoulder. "It's still early. Bottomless mimosas?"
"Fuck, yes please, and a huge stack of pancakes."
Astarion threw his head back and laughed as he guided them along.
~
Gale laughed loudly, swiping tears away from his eyes. Halsin had just finished telling him about Xander's recent discovery of how babies were made. With parents like Halsin and Lae'zel, it was safe to say the boy was educated and also horrified.
Gale brought his mimosa to his lips, humming at the flavor. His eyes opened and the drink was immediately sprayed over the table. He smacked his chest, trying to stop the coughing fit that came after.
Halsin reacted quickly, grabbing napkins in an attempt to clean up the mess. Unfortunately, the white linen tablecloth was ruined. Gale would leave a hefty tip for his mess before they left.
"Gale?"
The author looked up to see his partner standing beside their table along with their friend, Jen. Suddenly the small box tucked away in his pocket felt like a ton of bricks.
"Astarion, Jen, hello!" Gale rose from his chair, hugging Jen and then Astarion while also pressing a kiss to his cheek. "What are you doing here?"
"I should ask you the same. I told you I was leaving early to help Jen find an outfit for the concert later." Astarion stopped a waiter, whispering, before continuing. "We decided to come here after."
Gale watched Astarion. He kept tapping his fingers to his leg, an anxious habit Gale had picked up on. Then he noticed Jen's hands were empty. He rose an eyebrow, a questioning expression on his face.
"No luck then?" He asked.
"With what?" Astarion replied and then winced when Jen nudged him.
"The…shopping?"
"Oh! No, not a thing, darling. I told her to borrow something of mine."
"Are you alright, my love?" Gale placed the back of his hand to Astarion's cheek. "You look flushed."
"Don't fret. I'm fine," Astarion said. "I've never felt better.
~
Astarion did not feel fine. In fact, he felt quite the opposite. His hands were clammy, his heart was pounding, and the bowl of oatmeal he'd had was threatening to make a return.
He didn't have a physical ring yet but even the receipt he had stuffed inside his pocket felt like it was crinkling extra loud ever since he saw Gale. Of all the places for them to run into one another…
The waiter he spoke to brought extra chairs and cutlery to the table. Astarion and Jen took their seats, ordering and requesting extra champagne in their mimosas.
"So my dear Gale," Astarion began, grabbing the stem of his drink as it was placed down, "What are you doing here? I thought you were helping Halsin store away old pieces."
If Astarion had blinked, he would have missed the way Gale's eyes darted away. His partner was hiding something. He was sure of it. Gale abhorred the idea of going out for brunch when he "made it better himself" at home. Suffice to say, it was true. The orange juice was definitely not freshly squeezed.
"Oh, yes, well," Gale toyed with a napkin, folding and unfolding, "He and Lae'zel already had a good start by the time I arrived, so it took less time than expected."
"So you came here?" Astarion questioned, eyes narrowed.
"We did."
"You hate restaurant brunch."
"Halsin doesn't."
The men stared at each other. Before one could break, plates were brought over and sat in front of them.
Astarion poked at the sliced cantaloupe on his plate. He didn't believe Gale was up to anything nefarious, but he was certainly up to something. What that was, Astarion would get to the bottom of.
His hand slipped beneath the table and into his pocket, feeling the folded receipt. He would have to let that worry go for now. He had only a few weeks before he revealed his own secret.
Astarion smiled fondly across the table, catching Gale's eye. The grin he received back made his stomach flutter.
He brought his fork to his lips and popped a piece of fruit in his mouth, deciding to enjoy the moment with friends.
~
Gale's fork shook in his hand as it hovered over his plate, only two bites of his steak left before he would make the decision to sink down on one knee.
It had been easier than expected to invite Astarion out. Apparently, he already had plans, but they fell through. Gale made up a lie about having a meeting with Rolan at The Cove, but his agent needed to cancel. Astarion had agreed there was no point in wasting a good reservation.
He finished his dinner, pushing the plate aside. He folded his hands atop the table to stop the shaking, and he cleared his throat.
"Astarion, I wanted to speak with you about something," he said.
Astarion dabbed at the corner of his mouth, tossing his napkin on the table.
"How funny. I wish to do the same, darling."
Gale's stomach dropped. What did that mean? What could Astarion possibly want to talk about?
God, he wanted to end things, didn't he? Maybe he thought Gale had been acting too suspicious lately.
His plan was about to fall apart. Maybe he should cancel dessert…
~
Dessert was about to top off everything Astarion had planned for the night. When Gale came to him with the offer of dining at a more upscale restaurant for the night, he quickly called the one he had made reservations for and cancelled.
They dressed in their finest clothing. Gale opted for pressed, black slacks and a plum button down while Astarion wore tapered black pants and a burgundy silk blouse. He felt confident as they left their home. Now he sat across from Gale, hand tightly clutching the tiny box in his pocket.
The table was cleared. Astarion shifted in his seat. It was time.
"I want to start by saying," he began to pull out the box, "I love you, Gale. Dearly, wholly. Every fiber of my being calls your name."
Gale's eyes softened. "Oh, my love, I feel exactly the same. It's precisely why I wanted to have this moment with you."
Then, Astarion watched Gale's hand move from beneath the table. He started to stand and Astarion panicked. He stood faster, pushing from his chair. Was Gale doing what he thought he was doing?
~
What was Astarion doing? His eyes were wide and he was mirroring Gale's actions.
But Gale caught on quickly. He saw the peek of a box, realized what Astarion's words had meant, and knew that the expression in his boyfriend's eyes, one of devotion and undying love, was the same that he held in his own.
"Astarion, you…are you…"
~
"Gale, what do you think…"
Astarion watched as Gale began to kneel.
~
"Oh, no you don't. I had this planned first."
Their knees touched the ground at the same time. Gale brought the ring box forward.
~
Astarion opened the box, staring up and losing his breath for only a second.
"Gale Dekarios…
~
"Astarion Ancunín…"