#eric:autumn

[esanders]

//The Hawkins Reception. May 9th.

closed starter for @autumnonheels

This was Ingrid and Joel's evening, and the whole town (and more) celebrated with them, but one person appeared there for a whole different reason: tonight, he knew exactly where Autumn Manchester would be. Tonight and only tonight, her presence in Carroll was a given because tomorrow she could be partying her anger away on the other end of the world.

Eric tried to attract as little attention as he could while he snuck past the guests Bond style. Casual, but taking strategic pauses whenever his cover threatened to blow. Not that he expected to find Autumn in the middle of the dance floor, but as soon as he spotted Mr and Mrs Hawkins dancing, his gut told him he should be looking for Auttie somewhere close... And there she was: standing with a flute in one hand, looking stunning, and watching her friend dance with his wife, with that mix of joy and sadness in her eyes that made Eric want to run to her. Close her in a tight embrace and never let go... Or maybe he should stay there, watch her from afar, safely, and head back to Italy.

No, he only had two or three hours, and he didn't want to waste a single second. In the sea of lights, loud music, and laughter, Eric made his way towards Autumn unnoticed and stopped right by her side. Not more than two seconds must have passed before he made another move or uttered a word, but it felt like an eternity. His fingers reached for her hand, froze mid-way, and he retreated them before trying again. Finally, he decided the worst had already happened, and he had nothing to lose.

His fingers brushed against her free hand as if by accident, and he took it in his, taking the first step into her field of vision. Just one dance and I'll leave you alone, he seemed to promise with his eyes when he took one more step, inviting her to disappear together in the waves of people a few feet from them.

[esanders]

//Port Carroll, Eric's house. April 18th.

closed starter for @autumnonheels

Usually, cooking helped him relax. It was a delicious allegory where the final result depended on how much heart he would put into the preparations. It didn't happen often that he had enough spare time to cook like he used to, and the foodie in him missed those days, so when he actually had enough time on his hands to make Autumn dinner, it was a real treat in and of itself.

Nothing fancy, just a cute let's hang together and eat homemade sushi and kimbap, and Eric promised himself he wouldn't greet her with an ominous "I know." He wouldn't let a word slip until the moment was right, even though he had been bursting at the seams, intimidatingly happy to become a father again, even if she was scared. This was his family; Auttie, Vivienne, and now their baby.

It wasn't until their dinner had entered its touchy-clingy stage that he allowed himself think about that again. "My work has the worst timing, I swear. I wish I could stay with you now... But it's just three months and then I'm back." A little nervousness broke through despite his best efforts, and mixed with the growing excitement.

[esanders]

//Manchester Community Center NYE party & Autumn's afterparty.

closed starter for @autumnonheels

With the kids having fun at their own party, safe and in their favorite trio, it was damn easy for Eric to relax. Hell, he and Zach could go back in time when the drinks in the bloodstream took over, and karaoke started to sound like a great idea, which could actually be that if they only picked the right song. Who chooses nice over funny, though? Feeling like kids themselves, they took turns jokingly reminding each other not to embarrass their dates and friends.

Autumn was busy being the beautiful host and spent more time away from her date rather than with him, but whenever they bumped into each other, there were sparks; a quick peck, a brush of hands, a dance if they were lucky enough to fit it into their busy party schedules. He waited patiently for the right moment to steal her for longer, and fortunately, it didn't hurt so bad when his consolation prize was admiring her from afar. Despite so many sparkly looks flickering like colorful flames, Eric easily picked her out in the crowd, for she burned the brightest, and he couldn't ignore the moth metaphor that crossed his mind at some point.

Who cares? His wings had been scorched for years.

*

The dance floor slowed down a notch with the next song, a merciful jog between the sprints, but Eric still took Autumn's hand and started leading her out of the crowd. After a few songs, he wanted a moment with her. Just with her.

Hands resting on her hips, as soon as he turned to face her, Eric smiled against her lips between several playful kisses. It was no secluded corner, no more than a few feet away from where they were dancing a moment ago, but he zeroed in on her as if they were alone. Someone tried to pull Autumn back in as female giggles and pleas caught up to them, so Eric protested by making a discontented noise, a smile broke through every sound he made, though. "No... Don't go," he cooed.

[esanders]

//Rome, Italy. Evening, date with Auttie.

closed starter for @autumnonheels

He knew exactly where he would take Autumn. Since his first day in Rome, Eric had been adding new places to the list of perfect date spots, hoping he'd get to make use of it sooner rather than later. There were a couple of adorable cafes and restaurants, cute gelato spots, and some non-touristy places for evening strolls, along with some typical must-sees. She had to give them one more chance; they didn't make sense with anyone else but each other.

And then everything happened so fast; the wedding reception in Carroll, Britney trying to stir the pot, Auttie deciding she needed to leave the town and agreeing to come to Rome. There he was, having dinner with Autumn Manchester at one of those restaurants he had planned to take her to.

"Vorrei pagare, per favore," he smiled at the waitress and turned back to Auttie. He had missed her so much: her presence, the physical contact, especially the most intimate form of it, and to know that the yearning was mutual gave him hope. They didn't make sense with anyone else but each other. Eric risked overshooting it early into the night and reached over the table for Autumn to take his hand, but something was telling him she wouldn't ignore him. "Did you like the food? I think their pasta is among the best I've tried."

[esanders]

//closed starter for @autumnonheels

Maybe they shouldn't have skipped the auction dates, when those were the classic Valentine's Day ideas one couldn'tgo wrong with, and he had won Autumn's company with a safe bid. Instead, the voucher had been passed on to another couple as a favor and Eric ended up prepping a dinner for Auttie himself, hoping he wouldn't regret it.

To tell her to close her eyes wouldn't suffice when Eric was sure she could be trying to steal a peek, especially once he led her to the terrace and still didn't stop there. He used a scarf to blindfold Autumn as the first thing after greeting her, and hopefully, it made the surprise more exciting. "Okay, careful now," he instructed her once they were outside, and Eric started walking backwards, down the wooden stairs and then the slightly less steep path of stone steps that ended at the beach. His own beach, even if Eric only owned a small bite of the whole cake; at the foot of the cliff his house stood on, there was a small rocky headland with a tiny arc-like passage that guaranteed him the access to the soft sandy part of the beach, and since it was just the length of his property and ended with a sharp headland and natural, tall rock walls on both sides, privacy was guaranteed. The rocks served as a natural fence protecting his piece of paradise. However, his favorite spot, and something many envied him, was a small cave-like rock formation the couple just stepped into.

It was just them hidden in the embrace of the ocean crashing against the shore, and the stone walls were now decorated with flowers and lights. Large bouquets of red and tea roses sat on natural shelves at their eye level and lower; tealights, candles, and torches burned slowly, waiting for the sun to set so their beauty could be fully appreciated. Maybe he should have picked different flowers, or asked Auttie what her favorite flowers were, but it was too late for that. Rose petals had been scattered around a few large blankets in the very center of the cave. There were pillows and more blankets in case they were cold. A small table with even more roses perched in two corners revealed the menu for the evening; Eric had included some of his date's favorite fruit and finger foods, and the wine that went with them.

The scarf covering Autumn's eyes was no longer needed, but as soon as Eric told her she could look around, he wanted to lead her back up because suddenly it all seemed not enough. A small screen hiding in one of the corners in case they wanted to watch a movie, or the towels, if they were in the mood for a refreshing swim... Those were such wild guesses; he should have made sure a beach/cave picnic was something Autumn would actually enjoy. Somehow, he managed to keep those fears to himself, and he finally looked at her because what could go wrong...

"Happy Valentine's Day, baby."

[esanders]

// @autumnonheels

[📱text: Significant Otter🖤 ] I have a question, answer it without overthinking anything.

[📱text: Significant Otter🖤 ] Would you wanna fit on a baguette?

[esanders]

//Los Angeles, Eric's apartment.

closed starter for @autumnonheels

For the last stay in Los Angeles, Eric had been offered a gorgeous, expansive apartment in this new LA hotel, and he immediately texted Autumn, saying they should come here sometime. The food was exceptionally good, and the apartment itself was just the right amount of minimalistic, elegant, and cozy. Hands down, it had the most comfortable bed he had ever slept in as well.

Despite the luxuries the apartment offered, Eric's stay felt like a loop of screen tests, fittings, and all the appointments with various coaches. Table reads, dinners, some sleep. No wonder he couldn't hide the exhaustion in his voice when he was recording his goodnight message for Autumn, on the ride to his floor.

Eric closed the door and sighed in relief, impatient to get to the shower and then that amazingly soft and comfortable bed... When he realized that something was off. At first, he didn't know what exactly the feeling was – uneasiness that he wasn't alone? – but when he took a few steps into the apartment, a familiar scent hit Eric's nostrils, wrapped around his heart in a tight hug.

Her perfume.

"...Ottie? Baby?"

[esanders]

//Food Stalls. Spring Carnival.

closed starter for @autumnonheels

Having freshly returned from Los Angeles for a break, Eric could only be caught feasting his eyes on his beautiful date. Waiting in line for their first Carnival cider and snacks was far from something he had to push through. He was happy being there and doing whatever as long as it was with Auttie; sickly sweet as usual, the couple had a lot to catch up on in the PDA department.

"You like it," he observed with a satisfied smile, as his free hand reached for the egg-shaped pendant he had sent her with flowers a few days prior, to turn it in his fingers a few times before letting go. "Easter Egg hunt - check."