#elijah cornwall

Episode 169: Last days with new friends

While Kendall continues to deepen his new acquaintance, Robin and Alexander got a late start to the day. Although they were already up just before Kendall left, they had decided to lie down again. By early afternoon, however, the lazing about came to an end; Alex took an invigorating shower, and Robin raided the fridge a bit. Afterward, they wanted to go out and do something, since they had only a day and a half left there.

Even though the weather was a bit lackluster today, they decided to visit the beach—specifically, the larger of the two. It was a popular spot for evening beach parties, too. For anyone who found swimming in the sea too risky, the pool offered a perfectly good alternative.

Salomon and Elijah apparently had the same idea about going to the beach. And despite his solitary nature, Mo came along too. He’ll be flying back to Canada in a few days, but he has already lined up appointments with new musicians who want to record with him. So, there will be plenty of work for him in the near future as well.

Alexander is also enjoying being by the open sea again. The water is crystal clear, and you can walk out several meters without going under. Over the past few days, the guys and Elijah have had plenty of time to get to know each other better. They have all decided to definitely stay in touch.

Robin has brought a novel along. He doesn't usually read all that much, but sometimes he finds something that captures his attention—a story about ghosts who don't know where they belong or where they came from.

Elijah, who isn't really much of a sun-worshipper, lets the sun warm his back a little anyway. Besides, sunlight is good for the mood. He is doing much better now than a week ago, when he was depressed and toying with the idea of ​​perhaps ending his life. But neither can do without the other, and he loves Salomon more than his own life.

8:52 PM. The swimming fun is over, and everyone is enjoying the last few rays of sunshine. "So, what do you want to do tomorrow—your last day here?"/ "Hmm, maybe we’ll go to the movies or back to the meeting spot."/ "If you like, you can come by and see us again, too." / "Can I pet the snake again then?" / "Hahaha, whose snake?" Everyone laughed, understanding exactly what was meant by the question. "We’d love to come by again!"

Back at the accommodation, Kendall was already waiting for the guys. Alexander immediately noticed his satisfied expression. "Oh, hey, how was your date?" / "Hmm, a gentleman enjoys the moment and stays discreet." / "Hehe, so it went well—I’m glad to hear that. We went to the beach, ran into Elijah again, and we’re invited to his place tomorrow." / "You guys have really enjoyed an incredible privilege so far." Alexander put his arm around Robin’s shoulder. Robin looked back at him contentedly. "That’s true, but he’s still really cool and down-to-earth. We’re going to get some sleep now." / "Good night."

Kendall disappeared into his room. "Well, just tomorrow left, and then that’s it." / "Yeah, I’m really amazed at everything that’s happened in this one week." / "Yeah, it was a lot… I’m looking forward to being home. And then we have to really kick things into high gear at school." / "Oh yeah…" They exchanged a few more affectionate moments until tiredness won out. The journey home is drawing near…

Midnight. The last few days had been very exciting for everyone. A small farewell party was scheduled for the next day—held especially for the two boys, who had had to wait so long and had feared the concert wouldn't happen. But it did happen, and that’s something they won’t soon forget.

Episode 164: Ready, set, record… (Part 1)

It was already past nine o'clock, and usually, no one drove by the Salon at this hour. But since everything was about to change, a new stage outfit was needed—and fast. "What do you think? Should I get a haircut?" / "That’s up to you; you’re not supposed to be changing your entire image, after all." Elijah stared into the mirror, examining himself with a particularly critical eye. "But maybe… maybe that’s exactly what I need?" / "Then you have to listen to your gut… I’ve always liked your hairstyle up to now. But something new… That would certainly be interesting…".

"Okay… Listen to my gut…" / "Hehe, you’ll do just fine. Afterward, we can talk about whether anything needs tweaking—okay? Just be yourself; let your inner self shine through." / "Sorry, I don't actually feel like puking right now…" / "Hahaha… You’re almost back to your old self again. Come on, I want to go to bed.".

After the styling. Elijah had felt a few qualms. He wanted to change things up a bit—both on the inside and the outside. "Oh man, now you look younger than I do, hehe." / "Not good?" / "Oh, on the contrary—incredibly good… Did you find something good for the stage, too?" / "Yeah, I don't think you need to take another look at that; I was happy with it." / "Well, alright then."

The age gap between the two is only a few years. Elijah is the older of the two—even if he doesn’t look it. On the other hand, he is also the more reserved one. But he really doesn’t have to be. Salomon always knew just how to boost his self-confidence again. “Let’s go home now, okay? Mo is coming over tomorrow, and we’ve got a lot planned.”

11:48 PM. The evening unfolded quietly and contemplatively for everyone involved—and, in part, sensually as well, for Salomon and Elijah felt as though they were a brand-new couple all over again, despite knowing each other so well. This guarantees a solid foundation for their shared journey ahead. The next day, the plan is to head to the recording studio in the morning.

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10:26 AM the next day. After meeting up for breakfast, they drove together to the building Robin had spotted just a few days earlier—the recording studio. Originally, he had intended to record a song behind his boyfriend's back, but now things had turned out differently. In truth, though, isn't it actually much better to make music together? "Do you think he's there yet?" / "Sure—always on time, that guy.".

The recording studio was located at the back of the building. To reach it, one first had to walk through the record store. After admiring a few posters and album covers, they headed toward the back. There, sound engineer Mo was already in his element. "Ah, look who’s here—the master himself…" Mo was always fully focused on the task at hand. He was really just making a few minor adjustments, but generally speaking, he always executed his work with meticulous precision.

Once everyone had entered the room, Mo stood up. "It’s really hard to tear you away once you’re sitting at the mixing console." / "Hehe, yeah, sorry about that—I’ve all ears for you guys now. Hello, my friend." / "Very good. Hey, how are you? We haven't seen each other in ages." / "Yeah, I know. I'm doing well—and back in Canada, everything is still standing, hehe." / "That's good to hear.".

Elijah, too, was greeted with a hug and eyed with curiosity. "Hmm… where did all that hair go?" / "It came off yesterday; I just felt the need to make a change." / "It actually looks really good. And otherwise—are you doing okay?" The question escaped Mo’s lips in an almost probing tone, yet Elijah knew exactly how to respond. "Yes—now, more than ever." …After that, Alexander greeted the man who would be recording their song with them today. "Nice to meet you… And which of you two will be singing?" /…

"That’ll be me." Robin initially observed everything from a safe distance. Then Mo’s gaze fell upon him. "Hmm. Is this your first time in a recording studio?" / "Yes, for both of us." / "How many times have you played the song together already?" / "Not at all yet." Mo looked from one to the other without betraying any expression. Then he pursed his lips and eyed the two skeptically. "Interesting. And you think you’ll get it right on the first try? Well, I have my doubts…" / "Why?" asked Robin, sounding a little teasing. "You have to get in sync with each other—rely on one another—if you want to make music together."

“Oh, we do, we always rely on each other. And I’m sure we’ll pull it off.” At that moment, Robin’s overflowing self-confidence went unnoticed by no one. “Hmm… But you’re still nervous, aren’t you? Let’s do a rehearsal first. I want to record the instrumental part first, since I’ve never heard the song before,” Mo said decisively, then looked over at Alexander. “Can you play it flawlessly?” / “By now, yes…” / “Okay, once I’ve got that in the can, we’ll do it again with vocals.”

"O.K., we just have one request…" Robin spoke up, his voice trembling with excitement. But Mo was experienced enough by now to immediately put the boys at ease. "I think I already know what concerns you have. Don't worry—at most, I’ll just be adding things. The keyboard is for the melody; I’ll keep track of the beat myself; and we’ll try something out with drums. Trust me, okay? You just have to tell me later if the tempo feels right; we’ll keep doing run-throughs until we’re all on the same page." / "O.K… Phew…" / "Haha, sounds like a lot, I know, but it’s actually easy."

Once everything else had been discussed, the boys headed into the recording booth. For the moment, they couldn't hear what was being said in the control room. "They’re still so young, and his voice is a little shaky…" / "…I know, but somehow, it has a certain something." / "Hmm. Just recording something once so he can hear himself—I’ve never had a request like that before. Alright then…" Mo took his seat at the mixing console. And Elijah and Salomon? They positioned themselves slightly to the side, in the background, confident that they wouldn't be disappointed.

To be continued…

@dandylion240 , @greenplumbboblover 😊

Episode 163: Back into the Light (long, long, sorry^^)

10:39 a.m. "Oh man, finally! I thought it would never stop raining." / "Hmm… and what are we doing today?" / "No idea… Have you heard from Salomon yet?" / "No, he hasn't gotten back to me. Oh man, what if he can't convince him?" / "I'm trying to accept it now, otherwise I'll just get even more annoyed." / "Hmm… I've finished the new song, the sheet music is pretty much done too." / "Really? Cool."

"Oh, by the way, when we get home, we're celebrating my niece's birthday." / "Oh yeah? What do you think… her and my brother, could something come of that?" / "Hehe, hmm, maybe, then she'd be your sister-in-law someday, haha…" / "Yeah…hnn, do you think the recording studio thing will work out?" / "We'll see, okay? So, everything's clean again, he can't complain about that." Come on, let's go outside, otherwise we'll go stir-crazy here.".

Even though art isn't exactly their cup of tea, they decided to visit the art gallery. From the outside, the building certainly doesn't look like it's just full of old junk. They wanted to at least take a look inside, so they could say they'd seen everything the city had to offer.

"Oh man, this is…" / "Quite a colorful mix, oh yeah…" / "Nothing's separated here, I've never seen anything like this before." / "That's probably what makes it special…" The guys just looked around a bit; after all, not every art gallery is the same, and they don't all have the same things on display. And art isn't just art, either. But they know: music is also a form of art…

Egyptian music plays from various speakers in every room of the art gallery. It's meant to put the visitors in a certain mood, like it must have been in the grand palaces of old. But you don't really feel like you're in a palace here. But you can see a few rare exhibits. "What's that? How old is it?" / "Approximately 2600 years…" / "It's just sitting here in the open like that? Apparently, you're not afraid it might be stolen.".

"Well, I don't think you've gone without security measures. You know how it is in the movies. They probably have sensors under the sculptures and on the paintings that react immediately if you even try to touch them." / "Yeah, you might be right…" / "Hnhn. Oh, come on, let's go to that arcade again, it was quite nice there.".

The last time the boys visited Crystal Plaza, they were captivated by the pool table. But since there are many more ways to pass the time here, this time they opt for video games. A round doesn't cost much, so they try to play against each other a bit, even though the games are completely different. "I bet I can beat the high score on my board faster than you can on yours!" / "Haha, okay, bet's on." That's how we spent practically the entire afternoon…

After the two of them had had enough of playing, they decided to go to the park in front of the town hall. There was a place there where they could prepare some food. So they bought a large pack of sausages and the necessary equipment to make some hot dogs. "That looks really good, guys, can we have some?" / "Uh…" A familiar voice came from behind them.

Robin initially thought he'd misheard, but then he saw the face, which he remembered looking different just a few days ago. Sad, apathetic. Today it was relaxed, cheerful. "Hello… um, yeah… There are plenty, oh man!" Alex just glanced over his shoulder and smiled. He had to concentrate on making sure the sausages didn't burn.

While Robin and Elijah stood somewhat awkwardly facing each other, Salomon watched Alexander grilling. Alexander looked at him with another smile. "It's lovely to see them together here." / "Yes, I didn't think it was possible until last night either. Looks good, do you cook at home?" / "No, actually my mother does more, but when we live together on our own later on, it should be good, right?" / "Hehe, yes." / "Is there still hope? I mean, for her and Elijah?" Salomon glanced to the side. Then he nodded slightly. "I think we're on the right track." / "Great!"

Robin noticed Elijah's still rather tired eyes. "You look exhausted. Did something happen?" / "No… Everything's fine. I… I just didn't get much sleep last night." Elijah didn't want the boys to worry. That's why he asked Salomon not to tell them about what had happened the previous night. "I'm sorry I upset you like that. I should have acted differently, but…"/ "It's okay. You surely had your reasons.".

The boys certainly hadn’t expected this. A meal with their favorite singer, together with his friend and maybe-again manager? "Hmm, I don't mean to be rude, but… what about the concert?" Alexander asked. "Hnhn, don't worry, guys. It'll still happen, but not until a day later, if that's alright with you? We had to sort some things out and revisit a few things." Their eyes lit up. And of course, they agreed. "No, it's no problem, we're here until Sunday.".

"Sal told me you guys make music, is that right?" / "Yes, but it's more of a hobby. I play keyboard and compose some of my own stuff; I've finished two complete songs now." / "Wow, that's something. And you've been together for a while now… and very close." / "Yes, I imagine he's already told you quite a bit, including about the accident?" / "Yes, I hope that was o.k.?" / "Sure.".

"You were out of commission for many months. I don't think I even need to ask how you felt, you didn't feel anything… right?" Elijah was already ashamed of asking that question a few seconds later. But Robin gave him a reassuring smile. "of course, I knew when someone was there. It was just like… being trapped inside my own body the whole time. I couldn't do anything, couldn't say anything…" / "That's really intense. But now you're sitting here, that's great." / "Oh, guys, I just made a call," Salomon said then.

"Acall?" / "Yeah, about the recording studio. I had to book it. Have you reconsidered about the song?" Salomon asked them again, just to make sure everything he'd done hadn't been for nothing. Then Robin nodded with a smile. "Mhm, we'll do it since we're already here and meeting some professional musicians…" / "Great, then I'll contact our sound engineer today, he'll be here tomorrow, he's coming all the way from Canada." / "Really? From that far away?" / "Hnhn, yeah.".

"How are Mo and his husband doing?" asked Elijah Salomon after he had finished eating. "Very well, so far."/ "Wait… Your sound engineer… is into men, too?"/ "Hehe, yeah…" Alexander and Robin couldn't help but grin. Somehow, it actually felt nice to be in the company of others who were just like them. "We'll let you know when he gets here, and then we can meet in the recording studio."/ "Yeah, okay." "I’d love to be there, too—if you guys don't mind?" said Elijah with an expectant smile. The guys were pleased by his interest. "Yeah, absolutely. I just hope I won't be too nervous.".

"So, you're going to be singing? I'm really curious to hear it… I still remember the first time I stood in a recording studio for my very first session. It took me quite a few takes because there were so many eyes fixed on me from behind the glass." / "I think you just have to focus on one specific thing—the lyrics… And the music." / "Yeah, and above all, it takes good timing. But when you know your own song, it comes pretty easily."

The four of them chatted for quite a while longer about various topics. The boys would have loved nothing more than to sit there with the two men all night long, but eventually, fatigue won out—partly due to all the excitement—so Alexander and Robin said their goodbyes and headed home. Elijah and Salomon, however, remained seated for a moment longer. "They really are very nice guys—so down-to-earth," Elijah said quietly, now that everything had been discussed. "See? I told you so." / "Mhm… I… I still need a new outfit, Sal." / "May I offer you some advice on that?" Elijah's eyes began to light up, and he slowly reached for Salomon's hand. "Yes, please."

For a moment, the two companions shared the silence that had settled around them. No cars were passing, and the few other people out that night were slowly making their way home. Then, Elijah looked at Salomon with a touch of wistfulness. "Would you… move back in with me, Sal?" And as if his words had been exactly what was wanted, Salomon responded in kind. "Where else would I go, huh? I’m not leaving your side ever again." / "Is that a promise for life?" / "Even beyond that—okay? Shall we head over to the Salon? I think I spotted a few nice things on the way over that you could use on stage."/ "Mm, okay…" Elijah was glad to have his friend back by his side, and he didn't want to dwell any longer on what might have happened had Salomon not shown up. Without him at his side, he simply didn't feel complete.

Episode 166: Satisfaction

Mo is a loner, and for a moment, he enjoys the quiet. At the same time, he quickly finds himself missing home. He has already been through a great deal in his life; his anchors are his husband and his adopted daughter, Wally—whom they have welcomed into their family several years ago. She is the same age as Alexander and Robin, though her interests lie elsewhere. She has just recently started seeing someone who is a few years her senior. This was something of a sore point for Mo. Yet, ultimately, her happiness and well-being are what matter most to him. And so, he accepts this relationship.

The break following the recording session was put to good use. They chatted for a while longer, seizing the opportunity to get to know one another a little better. Drinks were served, and they even paid another visit to the record store. Alexander found a few good CDs that he didn't already own. Afterward, they headed back to the studio. Mo played the boys the unfinished recording—which he had already begun editing. "Oh man, that really is my voice!" / "Hehe, yeah. Surprised?"

"Yeah, you always sound somehow different to yourself." / "That’s true. And you really have never taken singing lessons? Had a vocal coach?" Mo asked Robin once more. "Mmhmm, no." / "Well, then you really are the first person I’ve met with that much raw talent. You guys make a good team… And you’re doing this just as a hobby?" Alexander felt Robin take his hand. And he knew exactly what he was trying to signal to him. "Yeah, we don't aspire to the big stages; it really is just pure entertainment. I’m an aspiring writer." / "Ah, hence the great lyrics—mmhmm. Alright, let's try something."

For Alexander, this kind of technology was nothing new; he had downloaded something similar onto his computer quite some time ago to experiment with it himself. However, he met with only limited success—there are simply far too many functions available for making music. It was therefore a good thing to have an expert take a look at it. Mo added a few elements to the keyboard arrangement—pieces that the boys were simply meant to listen to.

"How’s this?" / "Yeah, not bad… Could you maybe make it a little less echoey?" asked Alexander, who had long held a rough idea of ​​how the whole thing ought to sound once edited. "Sure…" / "Well, if you ask me, it actually doesn't sound half bad with that slight reverb…" / "You think so, Elijah?" / "It’s just my opinion; ultimately, it has to please the two of you. It took me at least five or six tries before I finally got my first song in the can—whereas you guys… I have to admit, I’m a little jealous." / "Oh, come on!"

It took a while for the guys to be satisfied with the result. The vocals hadn't been altered, and the other recorded elements meshed really well with Alexander’s musical contribution. "So, is this it, then? In that case, I’d get it ready for you. Hmm, this would make a great single…" "No. I can put it in writing for you: no release," Alexander insisted again. Mo looked at him and just grinned. "Hehe, you’re persistent. Okay, let’s leave it at that.".

Salomon approached Alex again; he had overheard part of the conversation. "Anyone blessed with that much talent ought to do something with it—make something of it." / "Yeah, maybe. We’re different… Things have always been different for us." / "Yes, you said that. Well, the concert starts tomorrow afternoon at 4:30; we couldn't get the venue for a later time." / "Okay, we’ll be there."…

Their time in the recording studio came to an end, and all in all, the day had been a complete success for Alexander and Robin. They had a well-polished version of their song in hand. Mo had thus fulfilled the job he was brought in for. However, he wanted to see Elijah’s performance, so he decided to stay for a few more days. The day ended with a small house party at Elijah’s place, which Alexander and Robin were also invited to attend. Later, Mo drove them back to their accommodation. Now, everyone felt confident that it would hopefully be a great performance!

Episode 170: Farewell Party

Saturday, shortly before noon. It is the last day Alexander and Robin are spending here. The two of them have just set off to see Eliah; he wanted to host a small party—simply to spend a little more time with the guys and say goodbye to them. He and Salomon have already picked up drinks and invited only a few people.

In the meantime, Salomon was preparing some food for everyone. Mo was allowed to join the party too, of course—which suited him just fine. "Say, can I borrow a few of those video games?"/ "Sure, most of them have already been beaten anyway—at least by me." / "Well, I used to have some of those, but unfortunately they got lost—a meteorite fell on them."/ "No problem."

Elijah still remembered the terrifying news from back then well. "How long ago was that now?" / "I stopped counting the years… The fact is, if you see something like that hurtling toward Earth, run for your lives… Now look at that—I’ve overtaken him again, haha. What are you actually planning to do with those drinks? Trying to get the kids wasted?" / "Nonsense, they're for the adult guests." / "Hehe, okay…" Of course, Mo was just joking…

A short while later, Alexander and Robin arrived. In a way, the two of them were practically the guests of honor today. And Elijah was, naturally, the first to greet his guests. "It’s great that you could make it. I’m really happy about that." / "We’re the ones who are happy." / "So, where did you leave Robin?" / "He wanted to take a closer look at the hot tub—that’s okay, right?" Elijah chuckled a little; the hot tub was indeed very popular whenever guests visited. "Make yourselves at home here; just relax." / "Hehe, we already did that this morning…" / "Oh really? *chuckle".

The party wasn't limited to male guests; anyone who received an invitation was welcome. That included Nikki, a good friend of Salomon and Elijah. "Hi, thanks for the invitation. It’s a real surprise to see the two of you together again…" / "Hn, yeah, I know. We haven't seen each other in a long time, either…" / "Yeah, that's true. I've got a lot on my plate, too." / "But not today—go ahead and grab a drink, have a good time." / "Thanks."

Alexander had struck up a friendship with Bones the snake by now; he seemed to really like the little creature. "Hey, you cheeky little thing—sticking your tongue out at me. I know, you do that all the time; that’s how you pick up scents. I’d love to just pack you up and take you with me, but your owner wouldn't go for it, and neither would my mom. Maybe it’ll work out someday, though, when I’m living with Robin." Alex muses dreamily.

Robin is enjoying the luxury of visiting a star and has commandeered the hot tub. "Man, I’m going to miss this. It’s really great with the guys. And you don’t feel left out in the slightest here. After all, we’re all the same… Hehe, if only my dad were here right now…" He finds it amusing to imagine how uncomfortable Orlando might feel. But by now, he has fully accepted the fact that his son loves a boy.

After the guests had arrived, Elijah suddenly felt like having a jam session. He didn’t stay solo for long, either. Sometimes it can be fascinating when two musicians meet up and spontaneously make music together. It either sounds completely off-key or simply amazing. And everyone else in the room agreed that the latter was definitely the case here.

The party is in full swing, and everyone only has eyes for their partner. Nicki and her dance partner actually used to be a couple. Their relationship had its rocky moments, so they had agreed to maintain a good, friendly rapport. Furthermore, everyone took a moment to reflect on the past few days. Things could have turned out so differently. The boys might have been back home by now, disappointed by the rejection Elijah had initially given them… But no—they’re heading home with new experiences under their belts. And they’ve made a few new friends along the way, too.

A short while later. Salomon watched as the two boys helped themselves to a couple of drinks from the table. Naturally, he felt a certain sense of responsibility. "Hey, some of those drinks have alcohol in them; you shouldn't have too many…" / "Are you going to snitch on us to our parents?" / "Hehe, no. Just that one glass, okay? I'll take you home later, and I didn't see a thing." / "Thanks." … It was the very first time the two of them had ever had anything alcoholic to drink.

Later. Shortly after 6:00 PM. Alexander disappeared into the bathroom, but when he didn't come out after a while, Robin followed him. "What's up?" he asked, sounding almost a little worried. But Alex just turned around and giggled sheepishly, "Hnhn… Nothing, I just had that one drink and now I'm… kind of horny…" / "You're tipsy, Alex…" / "Yeah… aren't you?" / "A little, maybe; I only had one too, but I guess there was less…" Robin couldn't finish his sentence because Alexander stepped closer and touched his hips. "What are you doing?…" / "What does it look like?" / "Are you crazy? Not here…" / "No?…"..

At first, the situation was a little awkward for Robin. The small bathroom; outside, the hosts and a few guests. And even though he had consumed less alcohol, he still felt the same pull Alex did—a desire for the person standing before him. They kissed. And with every kiss—each one tasting better than the last—their inhibitions fell away. They spent several minutes in the locked bathroom, undisturbed by anyone.

Later on, as the evening slowly drew to a close, everyone sat down for a meal together. "I hope you guys had fun; I know the party wasn't exactly a blast." Elijah’s words made them both grin broadly, though they didn't let on any more than that. "There were some nice people there. Um, I noticed the sink in your bathroom doesn't drain very well." "Yeah, we’re aware of that. I’ll drive you two back, okay?" "Okay, thanks.". After the meal, the two said goodbye to the guests who had stayed until then. They also thanked Salomon for the delicious food. And so, they slowly took their leave of their new friends.

Episode 162: Salomon & Elijah (Part 4, long)

Many hours later. It's still relatively early. Salomon stayed with Elijah all night, making sure he slept peacefully. The doctor had told him to make sure Elijah drank plenty of fluids, mostly water, of course, to flush out any remaining alcohol. He made himself a coffee and stared almost blankly into the room. But then he was jolted out of his silence. "What are you doing here?"

Without a word, Salomon placed his coffee cup in the sink and approached him. Elijah didn't look particularly exhausted, considering he had nearly died the previous night. "Are you feeling better?" Salomon asked him calmly and with concern. But Elijah's gaze only narrowed, and he grumbled back, "Maybe I should have taken something stronger…" / "Nonsense! Don't ever do that again, got it?" / "Oh, you don't care what I do, Sal." / "No, I do care! … Believe it or not, I was absolutely terrified until a few hours ago, okay?" / …

“Tch, don’t tell me anything… if I were important to you, you would have contacted me.” Salomon raised his hand and pointed at the man opposite him. “YOU didn’t want to see me, have you forgotten already? YOU didn’t let me get a word in edgewise!” / “Yeah… Yeah, that’s how it was…” Elijah remained calm, looking to the side. “Why don’t you want to do your concert? You’re letting down a lot of fans.” / “Hmm, so you’ve heard about that too…”.

Elijah went to the patio door and looked outside. The weather was bad today; it was raining, and it didn’t look like it would stop anytime soon. “I met some guys who were pretty upset. They came from quite far away…” Elijah stared silently into the distance, but answered relatively quickly: "Hmm, a blond guy and one with glasses?" / "Robin and Alexander, yeah." / "Hmm…they're just a couple of guys, they don't have a clue." / "You think so? You're seriously underestimating them! You haven't really gotten to know them yet." / "But you have?" Elijah asked, glancing over his shoulder at Salomon.

“Yes, I had a long chat with them, and that’s what I wanted. Believe me, they remind me a lot of us. They’re not just a couple of fans. They have a really interesting story, considering how young they are.” Elijah continued staring out the window. “And… what is it?” Salomon realized he had finally piqued his interest. So he told him everything he had learned about Alexander and Robin.

After listening to everything without saying a word, Elijah slowly turned around after a while, without looking at Salomon. “The boy was in a coma. And… he fought his way back… Because of me?”/ “Not just because of you, primarily for his friend. Do you understand? I know it’s not comparable to our situation, but… Elijah.” Salomon's voice trembled slightly and sounded somewhat desperate. "I always tried to forget everything. The pictures… You with him, where is he anyway?"/"No idea, but I certainly didn't run off with him, in case that's what you're thinking.".

Elijah walked past him silently and sat down in the armchair. “Listen,” Salomon began, “it was just that one time, you know that. You were constantly on edge and then always down again, don’t you think that got to me too?” / “Yes, I know… I’ve got it under control a long time ago, okay? But I have no motivation anymore, I feel completely empty… And alone.” At that moment, Elijah showed his sensitive, vulnerable side for the first time in a long time.

Saomon stood in front of him and then slowly knelt down. “What, hey, don’t play the pity card, Sal…” Elijah said, trying to push him away with his hand. But Salomon held it firmly. "I won't, Elijah, okay? Look at me!". Elijah quickly realized there was no point in resisting, so he calmed down and Salomon continued. "Well, there's no one more important to me than you. We've been through so much together. And …" He paused deliberately… "I just can't be without you…".

Elijah narrowed his eyes briefly and shook his head silently. But Solomon spoke on. “I need you, and it looks like you need me here too.” Then Elijah opened his eyes and looked at him. And he could clearly see that he meant it. “H-h, yes…” he whispered, his voice trembling. “Yes, I need you, Sal, I… I can’t handle all this alone, all the pressure, I have so much to take care of.”/ “Why didn’t you get a manager?”/ “I didn’t want anyone else, no one… no one could have handled everything… like you.” Now not only Elijah's voice was trembling, but his whole body as well.

Salomon held his hands firmly and continued speaking in a calm, gentle voice. "If you want, I'll help you, okay? But you have to promise me you won't take any more pills; they'll only make you worse." / "You… You were really worried about me?" / "Yeah, oh man, I don't even want to think about what would have happened if I hadn't come in time." For Elijah, Salomon's words were like a release. And for a moment, there was nothing more to say.

After the two kissed, Elijah pulled Salomon onto his lap. And again, they gazed into each other's eyes for a long time. "I missed you so much, Sal, I would have given up on everything, I just didn't know… how to go on. Please stay." / "I will. If you promise me we'll go to the clinic, it's just for a follow-up appointment and a consultation." Elijah still held eye contact. Then he took a deep breath. "I promise."

They had the most important conversation behind them. But what they missed most simply couldn’t be replaced by anything else. Salomon had always liked Elijah’s sensitive side. Until the day he went too far, he always knew how to handle him. And he doesn't want to make the same mistake again.

Elijah relished being able to experience Solomon's familiar body again with all his senses. He completely blocked out all the negativity that had accompanied him in recent months. Even though he would surely have to deal with it again later, for now it didn't matter. The two took their time together for their reunion.

Later. The two got dressed to drive to the hospital together. Elijah was once again very thoughtful, but clearly relaxed. "You saved me. Sal, thank you." / "You're welcome, okay? We should go and then we'll talk about tomorrow evening." / "The concert… I don't know. Can we… at least postpone it for a day or two?" Elijah asked, giving Solomon a cautious look. "Okay." But remember, you owe it to the boys, okay?" / "hh…mhm….."..