ETHAN ALVAREZ
Phoenix
Posts: 210
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Antonio Alvarez
Played by:
Noe
he thought about wanting to feel like he had been made for something more than dying.
Last seen May 3, 2024 22:38:39 GMT
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Post by ETHAN ALVAREZ on May 25, 2021 22:21:38 GMT
Ethan started having regrets the second they started driving – he wondered just what the hell he was doing and deep down, he knew he was going to have so many regrets later but then again, he knew he was going to have regrets if he didn't go meet his parents, so either way, having regrets is guaranteed. Ethan's leg was bouncing a little, but it was mostly a nervous tic that he developed over the course of the years as he rubbed his clammy hands against his thighs. He was chatty during the ride but that wasn't something out of the ordinary for Ethan because he was usually a talkative person but right now, it was a lot which also showcased the fact that he was nervous. He just didn't know what to expect. Would his parents greet him with a hug? Would they ask him just who the hell he was? Would they tell him to get the hell off their property? His head was reeling with possibilities and almost all of them were bad ones because he knew his parents, he knew what kind of people they were, so the chances of them actually hugging him and welcoming him home were pretty slim. As they got closer to his family home, his throat ran dry and in that moment, he went quiet which was even more out of character for someone like Ethan who just loved talking.
Ethan reached for the door handle of the car and got out shortly after as he turned to face his family home which didn't change even though it's been so long already but his parents weren't normal people, so they definitely didn't age and it seemed like the house was supernatural too because it really didn't change one bit. Ethan looked off to the side, noting that they had a neat little garden now. He used to play in that area back then, he'd always wind up getting hurt and going home only to earn more disappointed glares from his parents. He wondered just how they kept those flowers alive when they could barely take care of him back then. "This place hasn't changed one bit..." Ethan spoke up as he looked at the house from the outside. He wasn't so sure whether that was a good thing or not.
"I used to love being out here. The air always smelled so nice... So pure, I guess." Ethan's lips stretched to form a hesitant smile. "It was always so intoxicating in there. My dad used to, uh, drink a lot. I dunno if that changed or not... Probably, uh... Probably not." Old habits die hard they say, right?
He took a step forward before he stopped, blue eyes worriedly scanning his surroundings as if his parents were going to manifest out of the blue and suddenly start questioning him. He wasn't ready to face them yet. He wasn't sure he'll ever be.
That's why he was stalling right now.
"I also used to love playing in the backyard. There was a tree there that I loved to, uh, climb. It was really, um... Really tall, yeah. I think I broke my arm because of it one day. It was definitely an, um... An experience." Ethan licked his surprisingly dry lips. "They're probably not home, right...? I'm probably worrying over nothing... right?" His eyes shifted to settle on Antonio worriedly, his heart resting heavily in his chest. He was probably just worrying over nothing.
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ANTONIO ALVAREZ
Dragon
Posts: 225
Age:
124
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Ethan Alvarez
Played by:
Emma
For so long I was blind but now I see
Last seen May 5, 2024 0:54:15 GMT
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Post by ANTONIO ALVAREZ on May 25, 2021 23:06:43 GMT
Antonio had managed to patch things up with his own parents after they had decided that they were going to attend the wedding after all but it wasn’t that way for Ethan. He hadn’t seen his parents since before he left to fight in the war and during that time he’d died. Antonio was pretty sure that they didn’t even know that their son was still alive but they were going to find out soon enough. He and Ethan had talked it over a lot both before and after they got married and in the end Ethan had decided that he wanted to reach out to his parents. They had taken some time off work so that they could go and see them and Diego was watching the kids. They were teenagers now and they were more than capable of looking after each other but Antonio couldn’t deny that he still felt better knowing that his brother was there for them if they needed him. His parents had decided to stick around after the wedding as well, they had decided to make Mystic Falls their home so it felt like things were finally starting to fall into place and he hoped that it would be the same for Ethan when he saw his parents again. Antonio knew that Ethan’s relationship with his parents wasn’t great, they had forced him to fight in the war and they had never been loving towards their own son. It had taken Antonio a long time to convince Ethan that he deserved to be loved and that he was loved dearly and he would be lying if he said that he wasn’t worried about reopening old wounds but they’d recently found out that Ethan was Elias’ biological dad and Antonio was pretty sure that this was something that his husband needed to do. He had offered to drive to try and make things easier for Ethan and he wasn’t at all surprised when Ethan talked most of the way. Antonio knew that he was nervous and he couldn’t blame Ethan for that one bit but he wasn’t alone and more than a few times Antonio found himself placing his hand on Ethan’s leg as he drove to try and stop his leg from bouncing up and down out of nervousness quite so much. The closer they got to the house the quieter Ethan became and Antonio risked a glance over at him out of the corner of his eye as he drove. Finally they reached the house and he pulled the car up to the kerb before stepping out and moving so that he was standing next to Ethan. “It’s still how you remember?” Antonio asked, not sure if that was a good thing or not. Ethan had told him a bit about what life was like while he was growing up but not a lot and Antonio hoped that Ethan wasn’t going to end up regretting this now. “You never know, he might have changed,” he offered as he took Ethan’s hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. Antonio’s parents had changed but he wasn’t sure how Ethan’s parents were going to react. No matter what happened, though, Antonio knew that he was going to be there for Ethan and he would help him through it. Looking around them as Ethan told him a bit more about his childhood, Antonio nodded. “I bet it was,” he said gently. As Ethan said that they probably weren’t home and that he was probably worrying over nothing, Antonio’s expression softened. “There’s only one way to find out but you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. It’s completely your decision,” he said gently, knowing that he would completely understand if Ethan decided that he wasn’t ready after all given the circumstances. ETHAN ALVAREZ
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ETHAN ALVAREZ
Phoenix
Posts: 210
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Antonio Alvarez
Played by:
Noe
he thought about wanting to feel like he had been made for something more than dying.
Last seen May 3, 2024 22:38:39 GMT
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Post by ETHAN ALVAREZ on May 25, 2021 23:45:47 GMT
It’s still how you remember?
Ethan nodded his head, his eyes scanning over the house from the outside. "Yeah, it is." He breathed out, his features still giving away that he was too nervous about this. He just wasn't so sure how it was going to go with his parents being unpredictable people. It was either going to go well, or it was going to go terribly. He just didn't want it to go terribly with Toni right here with him. It just didn't feel right. But they were husbands now, they've agreed to be there for each other through thick and thin, through the good and the bad. This was an example of the bad, so he gave Toni the choice to come along and he took it. But then again, did he actually want to think about how he would have felt if he had decided to go through with this alone? He probably would have been a mess. But at least right now, he wasn't doing too terribly. "It's like no time has passed at all." Which was quite creepy when you think about it. He hasn't been home in the longest time and he expected them to have changed at least one thing but no... The house still looked depressing on the outside as much as it was on the inside.
You never know, he might have changed,
Ethan's attention drifted to Toni, his reassurance making a weak smile tug at the corner of his lips as he nodded his head a few times as he gave Toni's hand a gentle squeeze. It reminded him of when Toni had placed his hand on his leg to stop him from bouncing it so much and it definitely helped him control it a little bit more. At the time, he apologized to the older but now, there was no apology needed. If anything, he wanted to thank Toni for always reassuring him like this. "Thank you." He finally said it, his voice soft.
I bet it was, There’s only one way to find out but you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. It’s completely your decision,
Ethan's attention drifted to the door one more time before he gulped dryly past the cotton ball lodged in his throat. "We're already here... It'd be a waste to just turn around and leave." He said with a quick nod of his head following as he started approaching the door once more. Once he was standing in front of it, with the hand that wasn't holding onto Toni's, he lifted it and paused, hesitating a few times.
He looked over his shoulder at Toni, reminding himself that he wasn't doing this alone before his attention drifted back to the door. He finally knocked once then twice before he lowered his hand down and took a small step back so that he was standing next to Toni now. The waiting game was a lot worse and it made his anxiety rise again as his heart began beating fast. "L... Looks like, uh... Looks like no one's home. Let's just g..." Before he could tuck his tail between his legs and run off, the door opened and his eyes widened as they relaxed on the girl that had opened the door.
"Can I help you?" Such a simple question that Ethan couldn't answer at first as he looked at her with bewilderment. Did his parents move out? His lips parted and closed a few times as his brain scrambled for words to say. "I... It's... I'm..." Ethan tried to talk but it seemed like his tongue had decided to fail him entirely.
"Who is it, Cassidy?" A very familiar voice chimed in behind the girl who had answered the door. Ethan subconsciously tightened the hold he had on Toni's hand because he knew that voice. It was his dad.
It wasn't long before he was opening the door wider and tapping Cassidy's shoulder to get her to move away entirely. With one more odd look thrown at them, she turned and walked away, leaving his dad at the door. The man seemed to take a moment before he realized just who it was. "Um... Hey, dad." Ethan greeted, his tone sounding a little shaky as he looked at the man who played a huge part in making Ethan feel like he was never enough for anyone. "Ethan." No hugs, no warm smiles.
Cold as ice. As always.
So he was right, huh? Some things will just never change. Ethan's lips stretched to form a hesitant smile before he nodded his head. "Took you long enough. Did you forget the address or something?" The man questioned with a familiar look of disappointment on his face that made Ethan's smile disappear. He noticed how his father's eyes moved down and his face hardened as if he had spotted something that upset him. He didn't need to look down to know what it was. He was looking at the intertwined fingers with so much judgment in his eyes that once again didn't seem to surprise Ethan all that much. "Come in. Both of you." To Ethan, it didn't sound like an invitation but a demand, but was he surprised? No. Not in the slightest. He watched his father disappear back into their home and Ethan seemed to stand frozen for a few seconds before he looked at Toni. "Are you sure you wanna come with me?"
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ANTONIO ALVAREZ
Dragon
Posts: 225
Age:
124
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Ethan Alvarez
Played by:
Emma
For so long I was blind but now I see
Last seen May 5, 2024 0:54:15 GMT
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Post by ANTONIO ALVAREZ on May 26, 2021 20:59:10 GMT
Antonio had always wondered what the house that Ethan grew up in was like. His relationship with his parents hadn’t always been great but he at least knew that they loved him. When it came to Ethan, though, he’d never really had that. Antonio had met Ethan when he was just a kid enlisting to fight in a war that he hadn’t wanted to be a part of. He had been pushed into it to try and please his parents and while Antonio was glad since he knew that they might not have met otherwise, given the way that their lives had brought them back together so many years later he liked to think that they would have found each other anyway. It had been such a big thing for him to have his parents at their wedding and he’d asked Ethan if he’d wanted to try and get his own parents there but he had decided against it. It had been an incredible day for the two of them anyway and seeing how nervous Ethan was now he knew deep down that his husband had probably made the right decision. His parents might have changed and Antonio hadn’t given up hope that they would want to be there for Ethan now after not seeing him for so long but he knew that there was only one way to find out and that was why they had decided to make the trip that day. So much had changed in such a short space of time and Antonio honestly hoped for Ethan’s sake that this would go well. All Antonio could do was nod as Ethan said that it looked like he remembered and that it was like no time had passed at all. “The house might still look the same but your parents might be different. You’ve changed a lot from the kid you were when we first met,” he said gently. It had been such a long time since then and Antonio knew that just about anything was possible. It had been about eighty years since Ethan had last seen his parents and even though he often tried to make out that it didn’t matter to him that they weren’t a part of his life Antonio knew that it did matter to him deep down so he wanted nothing more than for this visit to at least start fixing things between Ethan and his parents. Antonio had lost Ethan once all those years ago and Ethan had almost lost him last year. It had made both of them realise just how precious life was and Antonio wanted Ethan to have the best one possible so he knew that it had to be worth a shot. As Ethan thanked him, Antonio shook his head. “You have nothing to thank me for,” he assured Ethan. It had been Ethan who had made the decision to go and see them but Antonio had known that there was no way that he was going to let him go alone. Ethan had stood by him through everything with his own parents so he knew that it was his turn to return the favour. “If you’re sure,” Antonio said, giving Ethan’s hand a reassuring squeeze as he spoke. He didn’t want Ethan to feel like he had to do anything that he didn’t want to but he seemed to have made up his mind and Antonio followed Ethan up to the front door. For a moment he wondered if it might be better if they weren’t holding hands when Ethan’s parents opened the door considering that they might not even know that their son was still alive let alone that they’d recently got married but Antonio wasn’t doing this for Ethan’s parents, he was doing this for Ethan and he knew that if Ethan had wanted to let go then he would have done. In a way Antonio hoped that even the small point of contact would calm him a little and reassure him that he wasn’t on his own. For a moment it did look like there wasn’t anyone home but then the door opened and a young woman stood before them. Ethan couldn’t seem to find the words so Antonio was about to explain why they were there but before he could another voice sounded from inside the house and Antonio knew that it could only be one person. Soon enough Ethan’s dad was standing between them and the way it seemed to take him a moment to even recognise his own son didn’t sit well with Antonio. He knew that it had been such a long time since Ethan had last seen his parents but he knew that if he ever went that long without seeing any of their kids then he would still recognise them instantly and so would Ethan, that was just a part of being a parent. As he asked if Ethan forgot the address it was enough to make Antonio’s blood boil but he didn’t let it show, knowing that he needed to stay calm and support Ethan. Ethan had warned him what his parents were like but Antonio had hoped that they would have changed like his own had but now he wasn’t so sure that that was the case. The way the man’s face hardened as he spotted their joined hands didn’t go unnoticed either and Antonio gave his husband’s hand a gentle squeeze, needing him to know that he wasn’t alone. The way they were invited in seemed more like they had to than anything else but as Ethan turned to him a few seconds later and asked if he was sure he wanted to go with him, Antonio brought his free hand up and pressed a light kiss to his lips. “I’m not letting you do this alone. You have my back and I have yours, remember?” he asked gently. “You’ve got this and I’m going to be right here with you.”ETHAN ALVAREZ
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ETHAN ALVAREZ
Phoenix
Posts: 210
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Antonio Alvarez
Played by:
Noe
he thought about wanting to feel like he had been made for something more than dying.
Last seen May 3, 2024 22:38:39 GMT
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Post by ETHAN ALVAREZ on Jun 9, 2021 7:11:13 GMT
The house might still look the same but your parents might be different. You’ve changed a lot from the kid you were when we first met, You have nothing to thank me for,
"I hope so, Toni." Ethan didn't exactly believe it himself, but... Maybe he was wrong, maybe he was judging his parents a little too harshly right now based on the bad experiences he's had with them when he was living under the same roof as them. He gave his husband a gentle smile and a quick nod of his head. "I still appreciate it quite a lot." He added a moment later. Ethan was the type of person who worried a lot and so to have Toni by his side like this, always reassuring him, meant a lot to him.
Ethan was really beginning to believe that his parents really might be different but he realized not too long after that all of it was just nothing other than wishful thinking because now that he was talking to his father, he realized that the man hadn't changed a single bit. He was still the same harsh man he'd always been and there were so many red flags raised and alarms ringing in his head as a part of him wished he could just turn around and leave because he was having so many damn regrets right now. Ethan felt really bad for dragging Toni with him because no one should ever be on the receiving end of his father's harsh comments, especially his husband.
Ethan really wanted to give Toni a chance to turn around and wait for him in the car instead but Toni didn't take it. He was both relieved and saddened by that because he just wanted to protect his husband from being placed in an awkward and uncomfortable situation. He felt a gentle smile form on his lips when he felt Toni press a light kiss to his lips. He leaned forward and returned the kiss with ease before he leaned back. "I remember." He said with a soft smile forming on his lips. "Thank you. I really appreciate it." Ethan gave his husband's hand a gentle squeeze before he finally faced forward. He hesitated for a moment before he finally entered the house, blue eyes doing a quick search of his surroundings. The house didn't look as run down as it had looked back then and it was definitely a big surprise to him that his father would spend a single penny on renovation.
At least that part has changed about him.
Ethan took a step forward, followed by another as he awkwardly lingered by the door for a few seconds before he finally started making his way to the living room with his husband's hand still clasped in his own. In there, he found his father sitting on the chair with cigarette smoke leaving his lips. Ethan gulped past the cotton ball lodged in his throat and started making his way to the couch so he could sit down. "Dad, I..." Ethan began, but stopped when he felt his father's eyes on him, still as intimidating as ever.
"Here I thought that War would teach you to become a man, but instead it taught you to be like... this?" The man jerked his chin to their joined hands which made Ethan feel like a bucket of ice water had just been dumped on his head. "I was waiting for you to come home with kids and a good, loyal wife, Ethan. I was waiting for you to make me proud. But as always, you chose to disappoint me." Ethan was instantly just back to being a teenager unable to stand up to his father or his verbal abuse. He thought that part had changed about him, at least. He thought that he would be able to stand up to him by now, but apparently he'd overestimated his change because now, he couldn't even look at his father as his words repeatedly stabbed his heart, leaving him feeling like a little kid again.
Nothing had changed at all.
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ANTONIO ALVAREZ
Dragon
Posts: 225
Age:
124
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Ethan Alvarez
Played by:
Emma
For so long I was blind but now I see
Last seen May 5, 2024 0:54:15 GMT
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Post by ANTONIO ALVAREZ on Jun 9, 2021 17:58:25 GMT
Antonio knew that Ethan didn’t really have high hopes for how this was going to go, it had been clear as soon as he had mentioned that he was going to see his parents that he was nervous and Antonio really couldn’t blame him. Ethan’s relationship with his parents was complicated and they hadn’t seen each other since Ethan had headed off to fight in the war. Before they got married Antonio had asked about whether Ethan wanted to reach out to his parents and invite them to the wedding but he had decided against it. They had talked a bit about what Ethan’s past had been like and Antonio had seen some of the damage that Ethan’s parents had done but he didn’t know everything that had happened just like Ethan didn’t know everything that had happened with his own parents. They were always open and honest with each other but there were some skeletons that were more difficult to dig up than others and Antonio hadn’t wanted to press Ethan about his too much. Something seemed to have changed when Ethan had found out that Elias was his biological son, though, and Antonio had known that there was no way that he was going to let his husband face this alone. “There’s only one way to find out but no matter what happens you’ll always have me and the kids,” Antonio assured him. He wanted this to go well for Ethan more than anything and he felt a smile form on his face in response to Ethan’s. He knew how worried Ethan was right now but he wasn’t on his own and Antonio was glad that Ethan had let him be there for him. The moment Ethan’s dad showed up at the door the mood changed in an instant but Antonio knew that he wasn’t going to let anything bad happen. Ethan had toughed it out with his parents so Antonio knew that it was his turn to do the same with Ethan’s. Antonio’s smile widened as Ethan returned the kiss. “I’m always here for you,” he said, letting his forehead rest against Ethan’s for a moment before they headed inside. What was going to happen next Antonio wasn’t sure but he knew that they would get through it together. Antonio couldn’t help but look around them as they headed inside. Ethan had told him a bit about the house and he’d said that from the outside it looked the same but inside didn’t seem quite like Ethan had described so some things had changed at least. Again Antonio briefly wondered whether it would be better if they didn’t walk in hand in hand but Ethan’s dad had already seen them like that and Ethan didn’t seem to want to let go so Antonio knew that he wasn’t going to either. He didn’t doubt that it would be a lot for Ethan’s parents to see their son again after so much time and learn that they were married but right now Antonio was more worried about Ethan and he knew that he was going to stand by his husband. As Ethan began to speak but his words trailed off, Antonio’s heart sank. Ethan had worked so hard to move on from everything that had happened with his parents and put the way they had treated him behind him but in the space of a moment Ethan was back to being like the kid that he was when they first met. Shifting his gaze to Ethan’s dad, Antonio knew that he should probably stay quiet and let the two of them work this out but he could see how bard Ethan was feeling and he knew that he couldn’t just stand by and say nothing. “With all due respect sir, you’re wrong,” he said, the words spilling out of his mouth before he could stop them. “Ethan fought in the war to try and please you, that’s where we met, and I had the privilege of seeing him become a fine soldier and an even better man. He gave his life to protect others and he still risks his life every day for people he doesn’t even know,” he said, knowing that every word was true. “I understand that this might not be what you expected but Ethan is the bravest and most kind hearted person I’ve ever met and he’s someone who is strong enough to follow his heart even if that means dealing with being judged for it like you’ve just done. If that’s not someone you feel you can be proud of then I feel sorry for you.”ETHAN ALVAREZ
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ETHAN ALVAREZ
Phoenix
Posts: 210
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Antonio Alvarez
Played by:
Noe
he thought about wanting to feel like he had been made for something more than dying.
Last seen May 3, 2024 22:38:39 GMT
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Post by ETHAN ALVAREZ on Jul 6, 2021 6:11:12 GMT
There’s only one way to find out but no matter what happens you’ll always have me and the kids, I’m always here for you,
Ethan nodded his head a few times. "I know. They raised me but you guys have always felt like a family more than them. More than they'll ever be." Ethan said with a sincere smile tugging at his lips. He was speaking from his heart when he said that. "So if they don't wanna know me anymore by the end of this, then so be it. I have you guys and that's everything that I need." Maybe it would hurt at first to know that his own parents didn't quite accept him, but then again there was no pointing holding onto a family that wanted nothing to do with him for being who he was.
"This whole thing feels like a band-aid, it'd be better to just rip it off all at once, right?" Ethan breathed out as his eyes momentarily left Antonio to look at the house where he grew up in. "I just need to do this and be done with it, so I don't feel any guilt." Ethan was doing all of this so he wouldn't feel any guilt afterward. He'd know that he did everything he possibly could.
But it still hurt, though. In fact, it hurt a lot to hear his father say those things to his face. It made him feel like he was a kid all over again, unable to stand up to his father. Ethan's lips parted to say something but what could he even say to his father? He couldn't even look him in the eye. Ethan hated this. He hated feeling like a kid again. He didn't go through all of this pain and heartache to feel this little again. Why? Why couldn't he say anything to stand up for himself?
Ah, because he was a goddamn coward, that's why-
The harshness of his thoughts came to an end when he heard Antonio's voice. His eyes widened slightly as he lifted his head to look over at his husband as he stood up for Ethan when he couldn't do it. He watched his husband with an amazed expression because he really didn't expect that but then again, this was Toni. The ache in his heart eased in an instant as he felt a small smile appear on his lips. He was eternally thankful for Toni's words because they really did mean a lot to him and the way he stood up to his father made him realize that there was nothing to be afraid of.
Ethan looked over at his father, noticing the way he looked shocked by Antonio's words, caught off-guard for the first time before he released a noise that gave away the fact that he was offended by what Toni had just said, his frown pulling at his features. "Listen here, I did not invite you into my home to spew nonsense. In fact, all of this is your fault–" His father began, but this time, he was cut short by Ethan.
For the first time. It was the type of courage that he got from Toni, his words encouraging him to stand up for himself for the first time.
"His fault?" Ethan interrupted him with a bewildered look on his face because he truly couldn't believe how fast his father tossed the blame at Toni. "No, dad. It's really not. It's your fault." Ethan pointed his index at his father which made the man look at him with a shocked expression because he truly did not expect Ethan to say anything or to even stand up for himself.
"So don't blame him when he'd been there for me through thick and thin. When he'd done more for me than you or mom ever have." Ethan felt his voice break near the end as tears began to gather in his eyes. "Do you have any idea how much it hurt to be treated like you're easily replaceable by your own parents? I had to do everything you asked of me so you could spare me a second or two of your attention. I lived my entire childhood begging for your attention and the only way I could get it was by joining the war, now tell me how is that even fair, dad? How is it fair that the only way for me to get your attention is for me to die? And before you give me a speech about honor and meaningful deaths for the sake of our country, we both know it was never like that for you or mom. We both know you don't give a damn about honor. All you or mom ever cared about was how others saw you, but what about me? Why couldn't you care about me too?" Ethan questioned in a trembling voice as his eyes hardened. All he ever asked for was to be loved.
His eyes slowly moved to the new figure that had entered the room. His mother. She didn't say anything, though. Not right away. She didn't even tell him that she'd missed him. Once again, he realized he had very high expectations when it came to his parents and those high expectations were all crashing down. "I don't know what you expected us to do, Ethan." His mother's voice was distant, cold.
"But you do, mom. You do. I expected nothing more than to be loved by you two. But I guess that was too much to ask for." Ethan's lips spread into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"You were never like this, Ethan. I think I know why you've changed. It's your friend here–" Before his mother could toss the blame at his husband, Ethan butted in again. "He's my husband, not my friend. But I guess you're too ashamed to even say that out loud, aren't you? Don't treat him like he's my friend who is coming over for a sleepover, mom. But you're right, he did change me." Ethan looked over at Antonio with a gentle smile pulling at his lips but this time, it was sincere. "But for the better. He showed me that I was worth loving. He showed me everything that you couldn't. So if you're going to talk to him or about him, then do so with respect because he means a lot more to me than you guys ever will." Ethan's anger was evident in his tone as he directed his anger at his parents. He got up from where he was seated, Toni's hand still clasped in his own. "C'mon, Toni. Let's go. There's nothing here for me anymore." There simply never was.
His eyes softened as his gaze rested upon his husband. "Let's go home." How ironic it was for him to say that when he was already in his home, but this place... It meant nothing to him. His true home was back in Mystic Falls with Toni and the rest of their perfect little family. That's his home.
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ANTONIO ALVAREZ
Dragon
Posts: 225
Age:
124
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Ethan Alvarez
Played by:
Emma
For so long I was blind but now I see
Last seen May 5, 2024 0:54:15 GMT
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Post by ANTONIO ALVAREZ on Jul 6, 2021 22:08:23 GMT
This was such a big deal for Ethan and Antonio wanted nothing more than for it to go well for his husband. He knew that Ethan hadn’t seen his parents since before he’d left to fight in the war and he also knew that Ethan had unfinished business with them. They had never been the kind of parents that Ethan had deserved, Antonio knew that he was probably at least a little biased but as far as he was concerned the guy deserved the best of everything. Ethan had never experienced the kind of unconditional love that kids were meant to feel from their parents though, the kind of love that the two of them had towards their own children, and every time he thought about that it was enough to make his heart ache for Ethan. He deserved so much better than that and deep down Antonio knew that he perhaps should have tried to talk Ethan out of this to spare him any potential heartache that might be coming his way but it wasn’t that long ago that they’d learned that Elias was Ethan’s biological son after all and he completely understood Ethan’s need to try and make things right with his family. “If that’s what they decide then it’s their loss because they would be lucky to have you in their lives,” Antonio assured him gently. Even back when they first met he had known that Ethan was an incredible person. They hadn’t gotten along at first but over time that had changed and he had soon come to realise that he’d needed Ethan in his life. They’d started making plans to travel together after the war and even though that hadn’t happened, Ethan had always stayed with him. “It probably is best to get this over with but you have nothing to feel guilty for, do you hear me?” he asked as his eyes met Ethan’s, hoping that his husband would listen. “You haven’t done anything wrong.” Saying that and Ethan believing it were two very different things but Antonio knew that after everything his parents had put him through it was only natural that he would be reluctant to see them again. Antonio had wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt but he had seen the way that Ethan’s dad was before he had even realised that they were together and once they were inside the way he spoke to Ethan was enough to make Antonio’s blood boil. He knew that he had to stay calm, after all losing his temper wouldn’t help matters at all, but he couldn’t just sit there and let the man talk to Ethan like that. Now he was definitely starting to see why Ethan had had trouble believing that he deserved to be loved because the truth was he wasn’t even sure whether Ethan’s dad was capable of it. How a man like that could have had a hand in making someone was kind hearted as Ethan was beyond him but he knew that it wasn’t his place to say that. Antonio knew that the man would have expected him to bite his tongue and say nothing while he berated his son but Antonio couldn’t do it. He didn’t know Ethan’s dad but he was already starting to dislike the man for thinking that it was acceptable to talk to Ethan like that and make him feel the way that he probably had done so many times when he was younger. He really couldn’t blame Ethan for not being able to find the words but the moment Antonio started speaking he couldn’t stop. For a moment he wondered if perhaps he had overstepped the mark but as he glanced across at Ethan and saw the smile on his lips it was enough to make Antonio hope that he hadn’t. Antonio wasn’t at all surprised when the man started to blame him, he hadn’t expected the man to own up to his mistakes and he had been ready to talk back to him but what did surprise Antonio was the way that Ethan stood up to his dad to defend him and he couldn’t stop a look of pure pride from crossing his features as he looked over at Ethan. Ethan’s words were enough to make Antonio’s heart ache for him and as he saw the tears form in Ethan’s eyes he reached over with his free hand and placed it over Ethan’s so that both of Antonio’s hands were covering his and Antonio gave his hand a gentle squeeze. He stayed quiet as Ethan finally said what he had been holding inside for such a long time and as a new figure entered the room Antonio looked up and his eyes fell upon Ethan’s mom for the first time. There wasn’t any love in her eyes for the son she hadn’t seen in almost a hundred years either, if anything she looked just as cold and just as disappointed as her husband and Antonio couldn’t even begin to imagine what it must have been for Ethan to grow up with them. Antonio’s own parents had been distant with him in the beginning because they’d lost so many of their children before him but as soon as they’d realised that he was different they had opened their hearts to him and they had tried to do what they thought was best for him ever since. The same disapproval was there when Ethan’s mom began speaking and she too blamed him which was enough to make Antonio laugh but before he could say anything Ethan was speaking again and saying that he was his husband, not his friend. They hadn’t made any move to hide their wedding rings but hearing Ethan say those words to his parents was enough to make his breath catch in his throat and he found himself smiling at Ethan in return. Words couldn’t even begin to describe how proud he was of Ethan right now and even though Ethan had spoken up to defend him Antonio knew it didn’t matter because at the end of the day Ethan had finally said the things that he’d been needing to say for so long. Nodding as Ethan said they should go, Antonio got to his feet and felt a smile form on his face as Ethan said that they should go home. “We will, there’s just one more thing we need to do first,” he said, giving Ethan’s hand a gentle squeeze before reaching into his pocket with his free hand and pulling out the photo that he’d brought with him. “I don’t think you’ll ever understand how difficult it was for Ethan to come here today and face you like this. He told me what it was like growing up here but I didn’t truly appreciate it until now,” he said, knowing that they had to hear this before the two of them left. “You made your son feel like he didn’t deserve to be loved and that he had to move heaven and earth to be worthy of your love but you’re wrong, he deserves so much better than you’ve ever given him. You can blame me for this all you like and I don’t doubt that you will but one day you’ll realise that you have no one to blame but yourselves. I’m not what you expected from a partner for Ethan, I know that, but I love your son with everything I have and we make each other happy. I know that might not be easy for you to understand after all it took us a long time to come to terms with it ourselves and my parents didn’t react well at first either but they came around in the end and I still hope that one day you will too,” he said as he held the folded up photo of the two of them and the kids out to Ethan’s parents. “We came here today because Ethan wanted you to be a part of his life, of our lives, and those of our three amazing kids. We might not fit your idea of a picture perfect family but to the two of us our family is perfect and if you change your minds then perhaps you can be a part of it one day,” he said before giving Ethan’s hand another gentle squeeze. “Let’s go home,” he said, a smile forming on his face once more as his eyes met his husband’s and he led the way out of the room. ETHAN ALVAREZ
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ETHAN ALVAREZ
Phoenix
Posts: 210
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Antonio Alvarez
Played by:
Noe
he thought about wanting to feel like he had been made for something more than dying.
Last seen May 3, 2024 22:38:39 GMT
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Post by ETHAN ALVAREZ on Jul 15, 2021 20:45:09 GMT
Ethan felt a soft smile tug at the corner of his lips when Toni told him they would be lucky to have him in their lives. Ethan always had a screwed up way of seeing himself and his own self-worth, so at times he thought that people would be better off without him and that he was just someone with baggage slowing him down but whenever his thoughts strayed that far into the bottomless pit that was self-hatred, Toni was there to pull him out of it before he could suffer any longer. His eyes relaxed upon his husband, his words making him feel at ease as he nodded his head once, to show Toni that he was listening to him and that he was going to try his best not to feel guilty over anything that involved his parents. ”Thank you.” Ethan breathed out, his gratitude visible on his face as his eyes remained fixed on his husband because looking at him offered him a lot of comfort and it was everything he needed in that moment. ”I really appreciate you saying that.”
He hoped that he was judging his parents too harshly when he thought that it was all going to go terribly once he’s inside the house, but no. Ethan did not judge them harshly because they were still the same. Their words were still as hurtful. What did he expect, honestly? Time changes everything, even the planet they’re on, but apparently, it’s not enough to change the way his parents see him. It’s not enough to erase that venom that seems to be dripping from their tongues each time they talked.
Ethan should have defended himself too. He should’ve stood up for himself when his father dragged him through the mud and back, but he couldn’t. The only reason he stood up against his father’s harshness was because he had directed it onto his husband and he was not going to stand there and watch that happen. He could tell that it had caught his father off-guard because he definitely didn’t expect something like this from Ethan. He thought he was going to duck his head and look at the floor like he always does when he’s getting an earful from his parents, but not this time around.
Not when it came to Antonio.
Ethan stopped when he heard Antonio’s words, his eyes which were filled with curiosity relaxed on him as he tilted his head slightly to the side, wondering what his husband wanted to say to his parents. He was quiet as he listened to his partner, his smile slowly becoming evident on his lips even though it was sad and his eyes were filled with unshed tears but he didn’t want to look weak in front of his father. Ethan was grateful that Antonio had taken it upon himself to tell his parents about their little family and he could tell that his parents were shocked to hear that they had kids, too. His mother looked like she wanted to say something but Ethan was tired of waiting on her. He was tired of waiting for any glimmer of kindness or motherly warmth from her because he had a feeling he’d be waiting forever.
He gave his husband a gentle squeeze and nodded his head. ”Let’s go home.” Ethan breathed out, his voice shaking a little but it was mostly due to him being a little emotional. It was a mixture of what had happened and what his husband had just said. But once again, he was forcing all his tears back because the last thing he wanted was to cry in front of his father.
”Ethan, wait…” His mother’s voice broke the tense silence and stopped Ethan in his tracks. His back was now facing them and the door was so close to him, he almost regretted not walking faster. Almost.
”For what?” Ethan asked, his tone exasperated as he turned around a little bit so his blue eyes could settle on his mom’s face. ”For you to continue telling me how much of a disappointment I am? For you to make me feel small? I’m sorry, mom. But I can’t. I can’t wait anymore.” Ethan shook his head as his lips stretched into a sad smile. ”Don’t you think I’ve waited enough for you to do the right thing, even once?” Ethan’s eyes slowly moved away from his parents to look at his siblings. Or well… He assumed they were his siblings. ”The only thing I can say to you both right now is treat them better so they don’t grow up hating themselves with every waking moment. Treat them better so they don’t grow up feeling what I felt.” Ethan’s unforgiving blue eyes moved back to look at his parents.
It wasn’t often that Ethan’s eyes hardened and lost the glow of kindness in them. It only ever happened when he was upset and right now, he was a mixture of things. But one of those emotions was definitely rage. He shook his head, whispering something under his breath before he started walking closer to the door once more, his hand reaching out to open it. ”You’re being unfair, Ethan…” It was his mom once again, her words making him stop in his tracks again.
”No, mom. I’m really not. All I’m asking is to be loved, how is that me being unfair?” Ethan’s voice broke, all the iciness in his eyes disappearing as his eyes softened and gave away just how heartbroken he actually felt. ”I can’t do this anymore,” Ethan breathed out as he finally stepped out of the house. Almost instantly, the air felt different outside and he almost couldn’t get enough of it.
”They haven’t changed one bit.” Ethan let out a chuckle though there was nothing even remotely funny about the situation.
Nothing at all.
But he was just so heartbroken and so angry that he had no idea what to do or even react as he stood not too far away from his parents house. ”I’m sorry I brought you here.” He really did feel like he owed him an apology for putting him through such an awful situation. ”I… didn’t want you to see this ugly side of me.” Ethan’s lips stretched into a smile but it didn’t quite reach his eyes as his eyes glistened with more unshed tears. He wondered for how long he could hold them back before the dam broke altogether.
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ANTONIO ALVAREZ
Dragon
Posts: 225
Age:
124
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Ethan Alvarez
Played by:
Emma
For so long I was blind but now I see
Last seen May 5, 2024 0:54:15 GMT
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Post by ANTONIO ALVAREZ on Jul 15, 2021 23:27:37 GMT
Antonio knew that there was every chance that this might not go well but he honestly hoped that it would for Ethan’s sake. He could still remember the scared young man he’d met while they were waiting to be deployed to fight in the war and he had felt bad for Ethan when he had realised that everything he was doing was to try and earn his parents’ respect and love. Antonio’s relationship with his own parents had always been somewhat complicated but he had always known that they loved him, there had never been any doubt about that. It wasn’t like that for Ethan, though, and Antonio had spent a long time during the war trying to make Ethan see that his life really was worth something. The guy had had self esteem issues for years before they met and Antonio had realised that it was all to do with the way that he was brought up and he had done his best to make Ethan see that everything that he had been made to believe was wrong. He was an incredible person with such a big heart and the thought of anyone hurting him was enough to make Antonio’s own heart ache. Even back when they weren’t getting along too well he had always been protective of Ethan and that hadn’t changed. Antonio had been doing his best to help build Ethan’s confidence during the time they had spent together since he’d arrived in Mystic Falls and Antonio could see that his husband was in a much better place now than he had been and he hoped that this trip wasn’t going to end up undoing all of that hard work. He knew that Ethan would have gone on his own if he’d let him but there was no way that Antonio would have ever let him do this without him. As Ethan thanked him, Antonio felt a smile form on his face. “You don’t need to thank me, it’s the truth,” he assured him as he brought his hand up and let it rest gently against his husband’s cheek. Ethan might not always see just what he was worth to those around him but Antonio did and he knew that he wasn’t going to let Ethan forget it. He’d spent the best part of a century believing Ethan to be dead before the two of them found each other again and he knew that he didn’t want to go through that again. Ethan meant far too much to him to ever want to lose him and Antonio honestly hoped that the time apart might have made Ethan’s parents realise that they wanted Ethan in their lives as well. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case, though, because it wasn’t long before Ethan’s dad was having a go at him in the way that Antonio could already see that the guy had done so many times before. Ethan didn’t need to say anything for Antonio to know that he was in pain and before he knew it words to defend his husband were spilling out of his mouth. Antonio knew that he might have overstepped but Ethan had worked so hard to build his confidence and he refused to let one man undo all of that hard work now. He hadn’t expected Ethan to speak up but Antonio couldn’t help but feel proud of him when he did. He knew that Ethan was doing it to defend him rather than to stand up for himself, or at least that was how it started anyway, but whatever the cause of it he knew that everything that Ethan was saying was long overdue. Both of them wanted to get out of there but Antonio knew that they couldn’t do so until they had done what they had gone there to do. He wished that things could have gone better for Ethan’s sake but even if his parents weren’t ready to accept their son right now Antonio knew that they at least needed to know exactly what they were going to be giving up. It was clear that they were shocked and Antonio could tell that Ethan’s mom wanted to say something but she didn’t and Antonio nodded as Ethan said they should go home. “Let’s get out of here,” he nodded, knowing that he didn’t want Ethan’s parents to be able to say anything else to make him start doubting himself once again. Before they could leave Ethan’s mom finally spoke up, though, and Antonio was a little surprised by Ethan’s outburst but he was proud of his husband nonetheless. Antonio’s heart ached as Ethan said that he was only asking to be loved and asked how that was unfair. “A parent’s love for their child is meant to be unconditional. That’s the love we have for our children and I’ll never understand why you’ve never felt that for Ethan. He deserves so much better than you and if you treat your other children the same way then so do you,” he said, sparing a glance in the direction of the girl that had opened the door and the boy that had appeared since. “If you ever need us, you can reach us on this number,” he said, pulling out one of their cards for the adoption agency that had their mobile numbers on it out of his pocket and holding it out to Cassidy. Antonio turned back to Ethan as he said that he couldn’t do this anymore and his expression softened. “You don’t have to, let’s go,” he said, giving Ethan’s hand a gentle squeeze before they headed out of the house together. As Ethan said that his parents hadn’t changed one bit, Antonio’s heart ached for him once more because he knew how badly Ethan had wanted things to have gone differently. “I’m so sorry,” he said gently. As Ethan apologised to him, a surprised look formed on Antonio’s face as he looked over at his husband before pulling Ethan into his arms as he saw the tears in his eyes. “You have nothing to apologise for, there’s no way I was going to let you go through that alone,” he assured him before kissing Ethan’s forehead gently. “For the record you don’t have an ugly side,” he added as he offered Ethan a gentle smile. “I’m sorry I encouraged you to meet with them, you said they weren’t bad people just bad parents but you were wrong, they’re awful people and I have no idea how they gave birth to someone as incredible as you,” he added. It really was astounding and he was pretty sure that he was never going to understand it but he was still glad that they had done. “I know that wasn’t how either of us wanted it to go but I’m so proud of you for standing up to them,” he said, that same pride evident on his face as his eyes met his husband’s. “I meant what I said, you deserve so much better than them.”ETHAN ALVAREZ
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ETHAN ALVAREZ
Phoenix
Posts: 210
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Antonio Alvarez
Played by:
Noe
he thought about wanting to feel like he had been made for something more than dying.
Last seen May 3, 2024 22:38:39 GMT
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Post by ETHAN ALVAREZ on Jul 17, 2021 19:22:09 GMT
Ethan felt like he could finally breathe once he was out of the house. Though not before looking one last time at his siblings, giving them a slight smile because even though he despised his parents, they had nothing to do with it and shouldn’t feel the weight of his fury that seemed to be directed only at his parents who played a big part in Ethan’s lack of self-love. Thanks to them, he grew up thinking that he was lesser than a lot of people. He grew up thinking that it was a lot of work to love someone like him but then Antonio came along and made him realize that he was worth being loved and he gave Ethan everything he had ever wanted in the past.
Thanks to Antonio, he knew what it felt to be loved unconditionally, no matter what. He also learned how to love someone just as much because it had always been a weakness of his, not knowing what it felt like to love someone because he was never shown what that emotion was even like. All he saw in his parents’ eyes was dismissal and coldness, like they were looking at a stranger and not their own son and it really did hurt.
Ethan snapped out of his thoughts, his blue eyes moving to settle on his husband, his words making his heart clench. ”Why are you apologizing? It’s not your fault, Toni.” Ethan whispered, hating the way his voice was still shaking from everything that had happened. He let out a shaky breath of relief when he felt Antonio’s arms wrap around him. He wrapped his arms around Antonio, his eyes closing for a moment or two, allowing himself to just get used to how comforting Antonio’s embrace truly was. ”I really appreciate that you came along with me. This would’ve gone a lot differently without you.” He probably would have stayed quiet and let his parents tear at him again and again because he was still stuck in the mindset of a kid who couldn’t find his own voice against the cruelty of his parents.
Once they had leaned back from the embrace, his eyes relaxed on his husband as he lifted his hand up to his face, wiping the tear stains off his cheeks before he let out a chuckle when Antonio told him that he doesn’t have an ugly side. ”Not even when I’m snoring and drooling a little bit on my pillow after a long day at work?” Ethan joked with a light smile tugging at the corner of his lips, his eyes focused solely on his husband.
Hearing Antonio’s next words made his heart fill with relief because at least now he doesn’t have to feel guilty for thinking they were awful people, too. Ethan’s lips stretched into a genuine smile when he heard the remaining bits of Antonio’s sentence. His words definitely filled his heart with a sense of joy and warmth, something he didn’t feel inside of his own home. ”No, it’s okay. I’m actually I got this over with and I’m glad you encouraged me to do this because otherwise, I probably would have stayed home and felt guilty for not at least trying to talk to them.” Ethan’s shoulders lifted and dropped into a quick shrug, his eyes still focused on his husband. ”Thank you. I’m actually, uh, surprised that I did.” Ethan felt a smile tug at the corner of his lips once more when he saw just how proud Antonio was. ”Our little family is all that I need, honestly. You guys make me really happy and that’s all I could ever ask for.” Ethan’s voice was soft as he spoke, his eyes fixed on his husband. ”Now c’mon, let’s get outta here. I could probably use a drink or two if I’m being honest.”
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ANTONIO ALVAREZ
Dragon
Posts: 225
Age:
124
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Ethan Alvarez
Played by:
Emma
For so long I was blind but now I see
Last seen May 5, 2024 0:54:15 GMT
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Post by ANTONIO ALVAREZ on Jul 17, 2021 22:38:11 GMT
Antonio had wanted Ethan’s reunion with his parents to go so much differently to this but deep down he knew that it always would have ended up like this. Ethan’s parents weren’t good people, they were awful and he honestly didn’t know how Ethan had survived being around them for so long. He knew that Ethan had wanted to do this alone but Antonio had seen the way that his husband was around his parents to begin with, he was afraid to speak up no matter what they said to him and Antonio knew that the last thing he wanted was for Ethan’s parents to undo all the progress that Ethan had made to believe that his life wasn’t worthless. That was what Ethan’s parents had given him, they had made their own son feel like he didn’t matter and Antonio wasn’t sure that he was ever going to be able to forgive them for that. They had gone to see them in the hope that they had changed and to see if they could be a part of their grandchildren’s lives but right now Antonio knew that that wasn’t a good idea. If they were like that with Ethan then there was no way that they were going to let them get anywhere near their kids because no matter what happened he knew that he and Ethan were always going to want to protect their children in the way that Ethan’s parents had never even tried to protect him. He had mentioned Ethan tracking down his parents before their wedding and Ethan had refused because he hadn’t wanted them to spoil their day and now Antonio definitely understood why his husband had felt that way. Things had changed after Ethan had found out that Elias was his biological son and Antonio knew Ethan had wanted things to work out differently but it seemed like his parents hadn’t changed at all. Wrapping his arms around Ethan, Antonio stayed quiet as Ethan said that it wasn’t his fault. More than anything he wanted to protect Ethan from getting hurt again and he felt like he’d failed but he knew that Ethan didn’t need to hear that now. He was clearly upset after what had happened and Antonio couldn’t blame him so he knew that he needed to support his husband. “I could see how much your dad didn’t approve of us when he saw we were holding hands,” Antonio admitted. “It might have gone differently but I don’t think he would have treated you with the respect you deserve. Even if he hadn’t known we were together he’s still a bully and he seems to take pleasure in making others feel small.” Antonio had seen that time and time again over the years and he couldn’t deny that he was glad that Ethan was away from that now. As Ethan spoke again, Antonio couldn’t help but laugh. “Not even then,” he chuckled, not even having to think about it before answering. It had taken him a long time to realise that he saw Ethan as more than a friend but now one look at him was enough to make Antonio’s breath catch in his throat. He had felt love before from his family and he had felt the unconditional love of a parent from the moment the girls were left on his doorstep but he had never been in love before and he knew that there wasn’t a feeling like it in the world. “You don’t need to feel like that now. You gave them a chance and that’s more than most would do after the way they’ve treated you,” Antonio admitted. Most people would have just walked away and never looked back but Ethan had wanted to give them the chance to see the error of their ways and be a part of his life and Antonio was proud of him for that even if it hadn’t worked out the way either of them had wanted it to. As Ethan said he was surprised that he stood up to his parents, Antonio felt a smile form on his face. “I’m not, I always knew you had it in you,” he said gently. Ethan was stronger than he often gave himself credit for. As Ethan spoke again, Antonio’s smile widened. “That’s good because you’re stick with us,” he said, leaning forward and pressing his lips gently against his husband’s. “Sure. Do you want to drive home tonight or shall we find a hotel and drive back in the morning?” he asked, not sure what Ethan would rather do since Diego was keeping an eye on the kids for them anyway. ETHAN ALVAREZ
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ETHAN ALVAREZ
Phoenix
Posts: 210
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Antonio Alvarez
Played by:
Noe
he thought about wanting to feel like he had been made for something more than dying.
Last seen May 3, 2024 22:38:39 GMT
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Post by ETHAN ALVAREZ on Jul 18, 2021 23:01:23 GMT
Ethan nodded his head slowly, not at all surprised to hear that about his father. ”He always thought that I was going to wind up with a pretty wife and a kid of my own one day. He wanted me to carry out the family name once they die.” That, and his father was just an awful person with a cruel heart. He shook his head when Antonio pointed out that it might have gone differently, he didn’t believe that in the slightest and it seemed like Antonio believed the same thing. It almost made him laugh just how quickly Antonio saw how awful his father really was. He always worried that he was judging his father too harshly from past mistakes, but it seems like his father remained the same, same with his mother. Both of them were still awful parents and now, he could easily say that they are awful people, too. There was no kind flame in their eyes and they never saw him as a son, but more of a way to bring honor to their family. ”You’re right, nothing would have changed. Not in the slightest, even.” Ethan breathed out with a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips but it wasn’t a sincere one. ”He still would have been terrible to me because that’s just who he is. He takes great pleasure in tearing me down.”
Ethan let out a chuckle at Antonio’s words, looking quite happy about it. ”That’s true love right there.” He said with a proud smile resting on his lips as his eyes remained fixed on his husband, feeling warmth spread into his heart, replacing all the hurt. Ethan nodded his head, agreeing with Antonio’s words. He knew there was nothing he could do now and that it was all up to his parents if they wanted to change or remain distant from Ethan and continue on with their lives. Either way, he was not going to wait for them to make up their mind. He was going to continue living with Antonio and the rest of their family because they meant a lot more to him than his family ever did.
Ethan didn’t always believe in himself and always seemed to think of himself in a different way but Antonio was the type of person who never allowed him to think badly about himself. His kind words were always ringing in Ethan’s ears, reminding him that he was strong and most importantly, that he was worth being loved unconditionally. He closed his eyes and returned the kiss when Antonio leaned forward to kiss him. He melted against his husband momentarily, feeling warm and loved which was exactly what Ethan needed after such an overwhelming experience with his parents. When he leaned back, there were no traces of sadness visible on his face. ”Let’s find a hotel for the night and drive back in the morning. We’re here, might as well enjoy some time alone, right?” Ethan’s shoulders lifted and dropped in a quick shrug as his lips stretched into a grin. ”There should be a hotel nearby, but since I haven’t been here in ages, it might not even be there anymore, so it might be safer to use Google Maps instead.” Ethan pointed out with a chuckle falling from his lips shortly after.
"C'mon, let's go before I decide to egg their house or something.' Ethan joked as his eyes moving to the house momentarily before he turned around to start making his way to their car with a heavy sigh falling from his lips.
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ANTONIO ALVAREZ
Dragon
Posts: 225
Age:
124
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Ethan Alvarez
Played by:
Emma
For so long I was blind but now I see
Last seen May 5, 2024 0:54:15 GMT
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Post by ANTONIO ALVAREZ on Jul 19, 2021 23:06:52 GMT
“I might not fit the pretty wife role but hopefully I’m not too much of a step down for you,” Toni said, his tone light and teasing as he tried to make Ethan feel a little better after what he had just been through. “I know we’re not what your parents expected for you but they might surprise you and come around in the end. You might not be carrying on their family name but you are carrying on ours and you already have three kids whose lives they can be a part of if they choose to,” he added gently. Whether or not they would remained to be seen but Antonio still hoped that they would come around sooner or later. “Don’t forget that it took my parents a while to come around to the fact that we were getting married even after they knew we were together,” he said, not wanting Ethan to give up on them completely. He’d meant it when he’d said that Ethan’s parents were bad people and they clearly hadn’t changed yet but that didn’t mean that they wouldn’t in the future now they knew exactly what they were going to be giving up. Antonio wouldn’t be surprised if Ethan’s parents never completely accepted him being in their son’s life but he could cope with that, it was Ethan and the kids that he was more concerned about. He wanted Ethan to be able to have a relationship with his parents and he wanted their kids to know their grandparents but that would only happen when Ethan’s parents were ready and right now they definitely weren’t. Things might have gone slightly differently if Ethan had gone alone because then he at least might have been able to break the news that they were married gently rather than the two of them finding out the way they had done but something told him that the end result would have always been the same and he was glad that he’d been there to help Ethan find the courage to stand up to his parents at last. “No parent should ever do that to their child, it’s no wonder you lacked confidence the way you did when we met,” he admitted. He had always wondered what Ethan’s home life was really like while he was growing up. Ethan had told him some about it but it was difficult to truly imagine it without seeing it firsthand but now Antonio had and his heart went out to Ethan that much more. As Ethan spoke again and said that was true love right there, Antonio couldn’t help but laugh. “You got that right,” he chuckled. He had never felt this way about anyone else and he knew in his heart that he never would. Ethan was the one for him and Antonio loved him completely. He knew how much Ethan had struggled believing at he was actually worth something over the years but Antonio had always tried to make him see that he was and he hoped that it was still working now. It was easy for Antonio to lean in and kiss Ethan and he felt a smile form on his face as Ethan kissed him back. When the kiss broke and Ethan leaned back he looked much happier and that alone was enough to make Antonio’s smile widen. “Now that’s my Ethan,” he breathed, genuinely happy that his husband seemed to be feeling better. As Ethan suggested that they find a hotel for the night and drive back in the morning so they could enjoy some time alone, Antonio nodded. “I like the way you think,” he admitted, knowing that it would probably do Ethan some good to get everything out of his system tonight before feeling like he had to go and put on a brave face for the kids. “We’ll find one, don’t worry,” Antonio chuckled before a grin formed on his face as Ethan said they should go before he decided to egg his parents’ house. “They’d deserve it if you did but you’re getting pretty good at being the bigger man these days so best not revert back,” he grinned. “Come on,” he said, taking Ethan’s hand in his once more and heading in the direction of the car. Climbing into the driver’s side he pulled his phone out of his pocket and started scrolling through looking for a hotel. “This one will do,” he said as he settled on one that had five stars. “We might as well make it worthwhile,” he added with a smile as he started the car and they headed in that direction. It didn’t take them long to reach the hotel and before long they were checked in. “Do you want that drink now?” he asked as they dropped the couple of bags they’d brought with them in their room. ETHAN ALVAREZ
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ETHAN ALVAREZ
Phoenix
Posts: 210
Occupation:
Firefighter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Antonio Alvarez
Played by:
Noe
he thought about wanting to feel like he had been made for something more than dying.
Last seen May 3, 2024 22:38:39 GMT
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Post by ETHAN ALVAREZ on Sept 6, 2021 0:45:42 GMT
I might not fit the pretty wife role but hopefully I’m not too much of a step down for you, I know we’re not what your parents expected for you but they might surprise you and come around in the end. You might not be carrying on their family name but you are carrying on ours and you already have three kids whose lives they can be a part of if they choose to, Don’t forget that it took my parents a while to come around to the fact that we were getting married even after they knew we were together,
Ethan chuckled at Antonio's words, his sadness slowly but surely easing away and it was all thanks to Antonio. "Who says that you don't?" He teased him as his lips stretched to form a soft smile. There was a hint of gratitude in his eyes, feeling eternally grateful that he had Antonio in his life because he can't even begin to imagine how badly he would've taken it if Antonio weren't by his side, always defending him and making him feel good about himself when his parents continuously tore down his confidence and the image he held of himself. He nodded his head slowly at Antonio's words, his lips stretching to form a small smile when Toni mentioned his kids, his heart feeling a lot lighter just from their mention alone. "I hope they surprise me, Toni. I really do. I hope they finally learn how to be parents." Because right now, they aren't his parents. They never were. "I know. I really do hope that this has some sort of happy ending where both of our parents finally drop those outdated visions they have and focus on the future. On what makes us happy. Hell, they might even befriend each other. They sound like they'd get along all too well," Ethan said with a small shrug following shortly after as his eyes momentarily moved away from Antonio to look at the house once again, noticing that one of the blinds were pulled down a little bit, but he couldn't see who it was.
No parent should ever do that to their child, it’s no wonder you lacked confidence the way you did when we met,
"It was their favorite hobby, tearing me down and making me feel like a welcome mat than an actual person." Ethan said with a small scoff falling from his lips. He was probably really miserable back then, no confidence, no friends, and no sense of belonging. Back then, he so desperately wanted to be loved. He wanted to finally belong.
Though Ethan didn't stay sad for long. How could he when he had his wonderful husband by his side? It didn't take long for a genuine smile to actually form on his lips, no pretense, no forcefulness. It was raw and genuine happiness and it was all thanks to Toni.
Now that’s my Ethan, I like the way you think, We’ll find one, don’t worry, They’d deserve it if you did but you’re getting pretty good at being the bigger man these days so best not revert back, Come on,
There was a bashful smile that momentarily pulled at his lips at Toni's words. That's my Etham.' It probably shouldn't have affected him this much, but it definitely made him quite happy to hear Toni say that. He was definitely trying to be the bigger man these days, dropping his reckless behavior that he once adapted in the past. Sure, there were still moments where he let that side of him take control but most of the time, he was pretty level-headed because he knew that he wasn't alone anymore. He had a family to go back home to. "Okay, yeah. You're right. I can't break my 67 days with no reckless behavior record. They're definitely not worth it." He wasn't actually keeping tabs on how many days it'd been since his last reckless call, so he was just messing around. With a final look at the house, he finally began making his way to the car, his hand holding onto Anotnio's, his lips stretching to form a gentle smile.
Ethan looked at Toni's phone, his curiosity getting the best of him. "Oh, five stars, hm? Planning to spoil me tonight?" He teased in a light-hearted voice. "How very charming of you." He said with a soft smile forming on his lips.
It didn't take long for them to find the hotel and once their bags were inside their room, he quickly nodded his head. "Oh, definitely." He said with a quick nod of his head following. "Should we order room service and get a bottle for ourselves or do you wanna hit up a bar?" Ethan questioned, not minding either option really.
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