To Love Unconditionally V/O 1/1 PG-13
Jan. 11th, 2006 04:12 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
akashaelfwitch.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
vigorliTo Love Unconditionally
By Akasha Elfwitch
Synopsis: Viggo consoles Orli after bad reviews and comments from old friends.
Pairing: Viggo/Orlando
Rating: PG-13
Beta (s): the wonderful, Namarie
AU/ADULT/
Warnings: angst, some fluff
Thank you Tien for use of your artwork *hugs*
To Love Unconditionally
By Akasha Elfwitch
Pairing: Viggo/Orlando
Rating: PG-13
Beta (s): the wonderful, Namarie
AU/ADULT/
Warnings: angst, some fluff
Disclaimer: I do not claim to know these beautiful men. This is all made up in my mind, this never happened; I make no claim to know either actor’s sexual preference nor do I gain any profit from this endeavor. This is solely for entertainment purposes.
Feedback is appreciated akashaelfwitchvamp@comcast.net
Fanfiction: RPS
Synopsis: Viggo consoles Orli after bad reviews and comments from old friends.
***
Orlando cocked his head, studying the coffee machine. He had seen Viggo work the darn thing a thousand times, but he still couldn’t figure out how to get it started. After fussing with the contraption for a few minutes, it seemed he had gotten the hang of it. He pressed the button and watched intently (just in case he had done something wrong) as the hot water began to pour into the coffee pitcher.
Satisfied that it was working correctly, he returned his attention to the stove and noticed that eggs that were beginning to burn. “Shit!” Orli quickly turned off the burner. He glanced at the eggs, they looked salvageable. They weren’t burned too badly…maybe Viggo wouldn’t notice.
Before he could contemplate more on the burnt eggs, a high pitched sound went off and the coffee machine was shaking. “Bloody hell!” he cursed, trying to shut it off, spilling coffee beans onto the counter and floor in the process. “Fuck!”
Viggo bolted out of bed. “What the…” he muttered as he ran down the stairs. What had caused that terrible noise? And now the dogs were howling, adding to the chaos. He made a beeline for the kitchen and stopped in the hallway as he saw his lover fighting with the coffee machine.
Viggo could not help but smile adoringly at the picture displayed before him. Orli and technology did not mix well, the poor lad was swearing under his breath as he struggled with the coffee maker. “Sodding, stupid machine…” Orli muttered angrily as he finally yanked the plug from the socket.
Orlando ran his hand through his unruly curls, not noticing Viggo leaning against the doorway, a warm smile on his lips. “Need help, angel?” he asked soothingly. “Here, let me make the coffee; the machine is old and temperamental. I really should replace it…”
Orlando looked up from the mess of the spilled coffee beans, his cheeks red from embarrassment. “I…umm…wanted to surprise you…” he said, trying to clean off the counter with his hand.
“Oh, I’m surprised…” Viggo said with a crooked smile, walking over to Orlando and wrapping his arms around the younger man. “Thank you.” He placed a kiss onto Orli’s forehead.
“I made eggs…”
Viggo’s eyes widened in mock surprise, “You cooked for me?” He was touched at Orli’s gesture.
Orli nodded and grinned, “Yeah, well, I *tried*…they’re over there…they didn’t turn out very well, I’m afraid…”
Viggo finished fixing the coffee machine and continued to smile at Orli, “I’m sure they are fine.” He winked.
Orli grabbed two plates and served them the charred eggs, nervously biting his lower lip. Viggo always prepared such nice breakfasts, he had wanted to do this for Viggo and it had turned into a disaster. “You don’t have to eat them if you don’t want to…”
“Nonsense,” Viggo said as he turned on the television to watch the morning news.
Viggo didn’t flinch or make a face as he looked at the half burnt eggs, instead he squeezed Orli’s hand to reassure him and began to eat. Orli watched him anxiously. “Do you like them? Are they all right?”
“You made them, they’re delicious.”
Orli smiled happily and turned his attention to the television, surprised when he heard his name being mentioned. His smile slowly faded as he heard the entertainment reporter’s words, “…and Orlando Bloom has graced us with not one, but *two* flops this year, earning him *two* votes in the raspberry category. Just goes to prove a pretty face doesn’t mean you can actually act…considering his large fan base, its seems even the teenage girls know bad acting when they see it…on the other side of the spectrum we have the talented Viggo Mortensen, whose dynamic performance in ‘A History of Violence’ kept us on the edge of our seats… ”
Irritated, Viggo switched off the television. “Don’t listen to them,” he grunted.
Orli bowed his head, obviously mortified by the report. Viggo could see the melancholy begin to seep into his lover’s eyes. Orli was so tired of hearing one bad review after another, he was crushed. After all the hard work he had put into each of his roles, he felt he had little to show for it.
Viggo walked over to Orlando and squatted next to him. He cupped Orlando’s chin. “Hey, you okay? You can’t take what those jerks say to heart.”
“They like *your* movie…” Orli answered meekly, his finger lightly tracing the edge of the table.
“I don’t care if they like it or not…what matters to me is if *you* liked it.”
Orlando remained silent, directing his gaze elsewhere. He couldn’t look Viggo in the eye. He suddenly felt depressed as the reporter’s words came back to haunt him. And that guy wasn’t the first to jab at him and his acting skills, seemed every paper he read lately had something negative to say about him.
Then there was the phone call from Robin last night, telling him that he did not get the part he auditioned for. He had really wanted this part, and failing to get it just added to the other disappointments. Though she hadn’t said it in as many words, she implied that he had his shot at leading man and he blew it, it was best for him to go back to doing what he did best; being a sidekick. It seemed to Orlando that even she was losing faith in him.
Viggo was continuing to reassure him, as he always did; speaking words of comfort. But Orli was too heartbroken this time and he was too embarrassed to tell Viggo he’d lost the part. Unable to meet Viggo’s eyes, he stared at the newspaper sitting on top of the table. Something in the paper caught his eye and he tuned out Viggo momentarily as he read the article. Orlando suddenly stood up, covering his mouth with his hand as if in shock. He looked at Viggo with dismay, tears collecting in his eyes.
“No, no, no…don’t cry, angel.” Viggo shot up immediately and placed his hands on either side of Orlando’s face, his thumbs caressing Orli’s cheeks. “They aren’t worth your tears. Shhh…it’s okay, whatever it is, it’s okay…”
Orlando tried to speak but a huge incoherent sob came out instead. He shook his head, indicating that it was *not* okay. Orli broke free of Viggo’s grasp and ran out of the kitchen, overwhelmed by the emotions flooding him. He bolted up the stairs, not stopping until he reached their bedroom.
.
“Orli!” Viggo chased after him, puzzled. “What’s wrong? Orli!”
Orlando plopped onto their bed; curled up into a ball and hid his face in a pillow, attempting to find solace for his tears. Viggo walked in, a worried frown etched between his brows. He gently lay next to Orlando, pulling him close. “Baby, what is it? It can’t be that stupid reporter…is it?”
Orli shook his head, unable to speak. Viggo stroked Orli’s hair and placed comforting kisses in it. “Then what happened…” he asked with concern. “Did I say something to upset you?”
“Nnn—no. Maybe th—that reporter is—is right…” Orli tried to force the words out. “My last two mo—movies failed mis—miserably. And…to make ma—matters worse Robin called yester—yesterday. I—I didn’t want to tell you but…” he buried his head into the pillow, feeling ashamed. “The last au—audition I did…I was turned down.”
“Oh, baby…” Viggo didn’t know what to say to comfort Orli. “I’m so sorry,” Viggo hugged Orlando tighter, he leaned over and kissed Orli’s tear stained cheek. “I know how much you wanted that part. Don’t be discouraged, there will be other films—”
“I’m too—too high risk right now…Robin all but suggested I go back to pla—playing ‘sidekick’ roles as they work bet—better for me…” he gasped for breath. “I’m beginning to bel—believe that I don’t have wha—what it takes…am I really that horrible? That even my fr—friends would say such things?”
“Of course not,” Viggo replied, then, stopped in mid-sentence. “Wait. *Who* bad mouthed you?” he asked, his voice very serious.
Orlando turned around, burying his head against Viggo’s chest as he continued to cry. Viggo asked him again who had said bad things about him, but Orlando only shook his head, refusing to answer.
Viggo did not press his lover any further, he concentrated on comforting him instead.
***
Once Viggo had gotten Orlando to calm down somewhat, he ventured back downstairs to make Orlando some hot tea. As he picked up kettle and headed toward the sink, he happened to glance over at the newspaper sitting on the table. Curious if to see if this was somehow connected to what had upset his angel, he leaned over and scanned the paper.
John Rhys-Davies’ name popped out at him from the column. He put the tea kettle down and picked up the paper, his eyes widening in shock and surprise as he read the article:
"He's hugely, badly managed," Rhys-Davies recently said of Bloom's post-"Rings" career choices. "I look at Orlando's career and say, 'Oh, God.' "
While the upcoming "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequels will likely right the course of the English actor, his former co-star said films such as "Troy" and "Kingdom of Heaven" have put the onetime red-hot hunk's career on ice.
"What stroke of genius does it take to take young Orlando, who has a huge and powerful fanbase in the 8 to 18 female base worldwide ... and put him in a film that is R-rated, so that his fans can't get in to see it?" Rhys-Davies asked. "Obviously, his managers are making a bucket of money out of him, but they're not looking after him, and they're not looking after his long-term interests. And that annoys me intensely."
"It's not an unpleasant boat that he is sailing on," Rhys-Davies said of Orlando Bloom's career. "It's hugely successful, and hugely lucrative, and in some ways he is doing well. He is a very sexy, attractive young star and he's got a huge fanbase. Now the trick is to use that fanbase to be able to get the money and the parts that you want. Grow that fanbase from that fanbase. Don't imagine that just because you played the elf in 'Lord of the Rings' you can carry a film like 'Kingdom of Heaven.' "
After referring to "Heaven" as "not a good film; strangely cut, strangely structured, [with] no point or purpose to it," Rhys-Davies trudged back onto the set of "Dungeon Siege," holding his aching back beneath a layer of medieval armor.
Viggo didn’t hesitate as he dialed John’s number, trying to make sense of what he just read. That did not sound like John. This had to be what had hurt Orli and brought him to tears.
While critic’s reports had depressed Orlando, nothing could be more important to Orlando than what one of his friends thought of him and his acting skills. It had to be a mistake…John would never…
Viggo took a deep breath, he would get to the bottom of this…there had to be some logical explanation...
Viggo strummed his fingers impatiently on the counter as he waited for John to answer the phone.
“Hello?”
“John?”
“Yes, this is he.”
“It’s Viggo—”
“Viggo! Oh, how wonderful to hear from you. What can I do for you?”
“Well, umm…I’m hoping you can clear up something for me…”
“Oh? Certainly….” John answered, “What is it I can help you with?”
“Umm…well, you see…shit, I don’t know how to put this…so, I’m just going to come out with it… I’m calling about the article in the paper. I’m confused as to why you would talk about Orlando that way? I just don’t understand…”
“What are you talking about?” John asked curiously. “I have not spoken ill of our elfboy.”
Puzzled, Viggo picked up the newspaper and read him the article. John sighed in frustration. “It figures, you have to love the media,” he said sarcastically. “They love to twist your words and contrive what you said into something else entirely. Viggo, please believe me when I say that is not what I meant.” He paused.
“Let me see if I can try and sort this out…Viggo, Orlando is immensely popular right now and I feel his management is taking advantage of that…of *him*. They are not looking out for *his* interests. I fear they will chew him up and spit him out, then discard him like garbage once the next ‘hot new actor’ comes around. They’re predatory sharks and they are using Orlando as chum. It pains me to see him used in this manner. You, better than anyone, know how passive Orlando is…now add to that the fact, that he is new to this business; I’m not indicating that he is naïve …but perhaps, he doesn’t fully realize just *how* backstabbing and manipulative this industry can be. One minute they adore you and the next, you’re yesterday’s news. I don’t want to see that happen to Orlando; this is his dream and it’s about to shatter before him if he doesn’t wisen up. Those people don’t care about him the way you and I do, they care about how much money he can bring in...”
Viggo began to smile. This was the John he remembered, concerned about his friends and their well-being. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ve tried to ‘guide’ him as best I can, but you know Orli, he’s so independent about things…he feels he has to prove himself. He doesn’t want us to coddle him…but right now, well…he’s feeling pretty low, due to recent reviews and such…I’ve tried to tell him that he’s a lot better actor than he gives himself credit for...”
“*Exactly*, but tell me, why is our elf depressed?”
“I think it’s a build-up of things. First, it was that reporter on the morning show bad mouthing *both* of his films…”
“Oh, no…” John felt sympathy for Orlando. “Those ruthless bastards…never any consideration…but do go on, tell me what else has happened.”
“As you know, the critics have been less than kind with reviewing his last two films. To top things off his agent called him last night, telling him he didn’t get the part he wanted. Orli fears no one will want to cast him as a lead again…but that’s not what depressed him…what hurt him the most was that article I just read you... well, you can imagine how he took it.”
“Oh no, this is terrible. I was only trying to look out for him…” John sounded upset; he needed to talk to Orli and explain things. “Is he there? Can I talk to him?”
“Yeah, he’s here but…he’s resting. He’s pretty upset and I don’t want to push him right now. I can ask him to call you back once he’s a bit more…serene. You know how he gets when he’s distraught…give him time…he’ll come around.”
“I can only imagine what he must be thinking about me right now.” John sighed again. “I will wait until he is ready…when he is up to it, please have him call me. I want no ill feelings between us.”
“There are none between you and me, Gim. Thanks for explaining things, I can go feed this information to our elf and that should calm him down quite a bit. He always did care more about what *we* think than the critics, but they’ve hit him pretty hard this past year…so his defenses are low.”
“Perfectly understandable; and Viggo, thank you for trusting me enough to call and ask me about this fiasco…I appreciate that.”
“Anytime. I’ll talk to you soon,”
“Vig?”
“Yeah?”
“If Orlando doesn’t call me back…could you at least let me know how he is doing?”
“Of course,” Viggo smiled warmly.
***
Orli was still curled up on the bed, he had ceased crying but his tear stained face still carried a dark look of melancholy. Viggo sat beside Orlando and brushed the hair away from his face. “I made you some tea, would you like some?”
“Tea would be nice,” he answered, his voice sounding raspy.
Viggo helped Orli sit up and handed him a cup of his favorite tea. “I saw the article. Is that what upset you? The interview with John?” he asked soothingly.
Orli nodded timidly.
“I have to admit, I was pretty riled up myself after reading it; so I called him.”
Orlando’s eyes widened in surprise and curiosity. “What did he say?” he asked, unsure he really wanted to hear the answer.
“Well, he said that the paper twisted his words and that is not what he meant. He’s more concerned about your future and thinks you are being mismanaged and taken advantage of and *that’s* what he is upset about.”
“He…he didn’t mean those things?”
“Not in the way the paper portrayed it, no. John wants you to call him, he’s pretty worried that you’re angry with him. You know he would never say or do anything to consciously hurt you. Give him a call when you’re ready.” Viggo placed a kiss on Orli’s forehead.
Orlando reached over and caressed Viggo’s cheek, the love for his man shining in his dark eyes. “You’re amazing, you know that? Thank you…” he put the tea cup down and nuzzled against Viggo’s neck and shoulder.
“Thank you? For what, angel?” Viggo asked modestly.
“For always being there for me…for loving me…for everything.” Orlando ended his statement by placing a tender kiss on Viggo’s lips.
***
Orlando paced in the room, cordless phone in hand, as he waited for John to pick up on the other line. He chewed on his nails until he heard a “Hello?”
Orlando cleared his throat. “Uh, yes…is John there?”
“This is he...”the voice sounded confused, as if it did not recognize the caller.
Orlando suddenly felt awkward and nervous. “This is Orlando…I’m…uh, calling you back…”
“Oh, my dearest elfboy, you don’t know how relieved I am that you called,” John said sincerely. “Let me begin by extending my sincerest apologies; that article certainly made a mess of things. I suppose the media is not happy unless they can anger or hurt someone else by what they print. Viggo read me the interview and I want you to know that I would never, never say such harsh things about you. It was taken totally out of context.”
“What did you mean by it?” Orli asked, nervously biting his lower lip.
“What I was most concerned about was how mismanaged you are; It seems as if they are taking advantage of you and your popularity. I fear once it dies down, they will discard you like yesterday’s news. I’m not saying you don’t know what you’re doing or that you’re naïve about things…perhaps you are aware of your management situation…I’m only just concerned; hoping they won’t eat you alive because you’re fresh meat.”
“I appreciate your concern…but, I’m afraid I don’t fully understand where all this is coming from?” Orli said, somewhat befuddled by John’s words.
“You see, I believe you are being pushed too hard, taking on projects that you are not yet ready to handle. Not because you lack the talent to do so, but because you don’t have the experience. I happen to think that you have great potential and talent; that in *time*, you will be able to carry a film like Kingdom of Heaven.” John reflected on his words. He didn’t want to end up sticking his foot in his mouth and making matters worse. “You are young and new to this Hollywood game…I don’t want to see you being used as a damn chess piece…I just…I just want you to be careful. I *worry* about you,” John said, sounding distressed.
Orlando slowly smiled, relieved that John had said those things in the paper out of genuine concern. “I was afraid that you thought I was a…some kind of joke…or had no talent… or something…” he muttered, picking apart the edge of one of Viggo’s sketch books.
“No, no, no. I don’t think that at all. Do not doubt your acting abilities; you have come a long way since Rings. You started out strong and with the right choices, you will continue to grow. Do not give in to pressure, if you feel you are not ready, then take a step back…try some theater, good experience there…whatever you decide to do, do it because *you* want to, not to benefit someone else.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right…” Orli answered still not fully convinced.
“Now, tell me honestly, did you *feel* ready to take on a film like Kingdom of Heaven?”
Orli thought a moment before answering, “I was very nervous about it…a bit unsure, yeah…but I was excited to have gotten the part…I’m proud of my work in Kingdom.”
“I’m not saying you did a bad job, Orli; I’m asking if you felt confident, secure about the project itself…”
“Mmmm, I was nervous…it was the first film where I was the leading man…” Orli bit his thumbnail, unsure of where this conversation was leading.
“Ah-ha, I *knew* it. It was a bit overwhelming for you, wasn’t it? To suddenly be thrust into the lead with no safety net to catch you if you fell. You were instantly shoved from co-star to lead star within one film…while it was exciting to you, I’m almost certain part of you was terrified.”
“Yes…guess I still have a lot to learn…”
“No, no, no…that’s not a bad thing. Everyone in this business has gotten some type of stage fright. From what you had to work with, you did your best. That is what counts.”
“From what I had to work with?” Orli asked with uncertainty. He found it difficult to decipher what John was referring to.
“To me, the movie itself seemed a bit rushed …and the editing! Oh, Orlando…the editing killed your performance…but since it was your first appearance as leading man and in an epic no less, it was a bit overwhelming and unfair to put that kind of pressure on you to you to save the picture...especially with that horrendous editing job. Now, before you think I’m putting you down, I can assure you that I am not. Does this make sense? Or am I sticking my foot in my mouth?” John laughed nervously.
Orli silently admitted to himself that he was not pleased with Kingdom’s editing either. “I think I understand what you are trying to tell me. You want me to take things at my own pace and not be pressured….” Orli replied gradually. “You don’t think I’m ready to take on bigger roles…”
“As of yet…as of yet…” John repeated.
Orli tried to smile as his friend tried to reassure him, but the tears welled up in his eyes again. “I don’t know, John…maybe the critics are right…my movies fell through because I…I…” he couldn’t finish the sentence.
John frowned, this was not how he wanted the conversation to go. “Orlando, *listen* to what I am saying…You *have* the talent, it’s just being misdirected. And try not to take to heart what those half witted critics have to say, what do they know anyway? Don’t you waste a single tear drop on them…*ever*,” John scoffed, feeling over protective of Orlando.
John could hear Orli sniffling, attempting to conceal his tears. He became angry, not at Orli, but at the critics that had crushed this wonderful and selfless being. “They’re venomous vipers, striking out; hoping to bring someone down with their poisonous words. Don’t let them. Don’t allow them to discourage you. Don’t let them win…show them you can do it, despite what they think. So, your last two movies did not do so well…every actor has had that experience…Viggo, Ian, myself…it happens. Don’t let it depress you. There will be other films, other opportunities. And don’t blame yourself if a movie goes bad. There are many factors that can make a film go wrong…the editing, sound, direction, production, and so forth…but everyone is quick to point the finger at the actor and make him the scapegoat.”
“But …”
“No. Stop. You are *not* to blame.” John cut him off; it was breaking his heart to hear Orli softly sob on the other end. To make matters worse, John knew the elfboy was attempting to hide it from him. John took a deep breath before speaking again. “They put you in a situation that you were not ready to handle due to inexperience. That is no fault of your own; it is poor management. They tossed you from a small lake into a bottomless ocean, threw in some chum and waited for the sharks. It’s Hollywood’s sink or swim theory…” he added sardonically. “But you hold your head above the water and you keep swimming…don’t give up, even if it seems the tide will pull you under. You are stronger than that…you can and will defeat this minor slump in your career. It’s not the end, but a new beginning.”
John fell silent for a moment, hoping his explanation would ease Orlando’s hurt. When Orlando did not speak, he broke the silence. “For what it’s worth, my dear elfboy…I am truly and honestly sorry if *anything* I have said has upset you or hurt you in any way. I care about your well-being and if my words come across harshly on printed text or from word of mouth, please know that above everything else, I value our friendship. I would never do anything purposeful to hurt to you.”
Orlando heard the genuine contrition in the older man’s voice and wiped his tears away with the back of his sleeve. “No worries here, John, we’re good. I know you are looking out for my best interests…” he was starting to feel a little better. “Can’t have Legolas in a row with Gimli, can we?” he teased lightly.
John sighed in relief, for Orlando to be joking with him, was a sure sign of forgiveness. “I’m glad that things are all right between us. I would hate for us to lose our friendship over a misunderstanding.”
“Me too.”
“Listen, next time you and that ranger of yours have a free moment, why don’t you both come visit. It would be nice to see you both again.”
“I would love to, John. I’ll talk it over with Vig…see what he says…but I don’t see why he would object. We would have to collaborate our schedules, you know Vig…he’s always doing something. An art show, a presentation, a book signing…he’s always so busy…”
John chuckled, “But he always finds time for his elf, doesn’t he?”
“Yeah…yeah he does…” Orli grinned.
“You both deserve it. Take time for yourselves, Orlando. You and Viggo overwork yourselves; it’s a wonder neither of you have collapsed from sheer exhaustion.”
“Vig and I have talked about taking some time off…”
“Wonderful. I hope to see you both when that time comes. Don’t be such a stranger, give this old dwarf a call now and then, eh?”
Orlando lightly laughed, “You do the same, despite what my father, Thranduil, says, dwarves give good advice and…they are loyal friends.”
John laughed, things were right again with elf and dwarf and he couldn’t be happier.
***
Viggo looked up from washing the dishes, “How did things go with John?” he asked, studying the look on Orli’s face, searching for some sort of clue to how the conversation went.
“Good…in fact, he wants us to come visit him sometime.” Orli replied. “Don’t you think it would be fun to go and see him…just the two of us….”
“Yeah, it would be good to see him. Let’s see when the three of us have some time off. John is a workaholic, not sure when he will take a break, if ever...”
Orli giggled. “You know he said the same thing about us.”
“Yeah?” Viggo grinned sheepishly. “I suppose he’s right.”
“Vig?”
“Yeah?” Viggo replied absently as he dried his hands on a dish towel.
“What was your honest opinion of my performance in Kingdom?” Orli looked up at Viggo, his big brown eyes holding onto every word Viggo would say.
Viggo brushed the stray curls away from Orli’s face, tucking them behind his ear. “Okay. But, remember you asked for honesty…”
Orli’s heart sank, but he tried his best not to show it. He mentally began to prepare himself for the emotional onslaught he was certain would happen. Nothing he could do about it now, he had asked Viggo to be honest. He brought this upon himself.
“Come here,” Viggo said, taking Orli by the wrist. He sat down and pulled Orlando onto his lap and lovingly wrapped his arms around Orli’s waist. “Let me begin by saying that it would be unfair of me to compare you to another actor, as it would be unfair of me to compare two artists. Each one of us has our own style of doing things, our signature as it were. You are still developing that skill, trying to see what works and what doesn’t…granted, you have not had many diverse roles, but you aren’t afraid to try them. You don’t try to limit yourself, which is an excellent trait. You always pour your heart into the role, giving it your best. You have *nothing* to be ashamed of…you gave it your all. You’ll find your niche, as we all do. And you have been careful enough to not be type-cast. You have chosen your roles hoping to gain experience from working with other actors and directors. That’s very wise, you’re thinking ahead. Don’t worry about if it turns out successful or not…do you think every movie I’ve been in has been at the level of Rings or A History of Violence?”
Orli shook his head. “No, but I always thought your performance was good in every film…it didn’t matter to me if the story made little sense or that the editing was off…it was *you* that made the movie work for me.”
“And that, my angel, is how I think of your performances,” Viggo answered with a sincere smile, playfully tapping the edge of Orli’s nose with his finger. “And remember, regardless of the level of success of your films, I will love you unconditionally. I love *you*, not your status or success, but *you*.”
Orlando melted into Viggo’s arms, showering him with soft, tender kisses. “I love you, you know that? I’m so glad I have you…you are always there when I need you the most…”
“Always and forever, angel.”
Orli giggled and gave Viggo a playfully Eskimo kiss. “Let me show you my gratitude…” he said roguishly, pulling back as his hand played along the edge of the zipper of Viggo’s jeans.
Viggo raised his eyebrows, “Hmm…maybe you should get bad reviews more often,” he teased, leaning in to kiss his lover…
Suddenly a loud noise from behind them caused them to break away from the kiss. They both looked up startled and Viggo turned his head around to see what was causing the terrible racket. “I’ve really got to replace that coffee maker…” he muttered as the dogs began to howl again.
Orlando nuzzled into his neck, giggling uncontrollably.
The End.
By Akasha Elfwitch
Synopsis: Viggo consoles Orli after bad reviews and comments from old friends.
Pairing: Viggo/Orlando
Rating: PG-13
Beta (s): the wonderful, Namarie
AU/ADULT/
Warnings: angst, some fluff
Thank you Tien for use of your artwork *hugs*
To Love Unconditionally
By Akasha Elfwitch
Pairing: Viggo/Orlando
Rating: PG-13
Beta (s): the wonderful, Namarie
AU/ADULT/
Warnings: angst, some fluff
Disclaimer: I do not claim to know these beautiful men. This is all made up in my mind, this never happened; I make no claim to know either actor’s sexual preference nor do I gain any profit from this endeavor. This is solely for entertainment purposes.
Feedback is appreciated akashaelfwitchvamp@comcast.net
Fanfiction: RPS
Synopsis: Viggo consoles Orli after bad reviews and comments from old friends.
***
Orlando cocked his head, studying the coffee machine. He had seen Viggo work the darn thing a thousand times, but he still couldn’t figure out how to get it started. After fussing with the contraption for a few minutes, it seemed he had gotten the hang of it. He pressed the button and watched intently (just in case he had done something wrong) as the hot water began to pour into the coffee pitcher.
Satisfied that it was working correctly, he returned his attention to the stove and noticed that eggs that were beginning to burn. “Shit!” Orli quickly turned off the burner. He glanced at the eggs, they looked salvageable. They weren’t burned too badly…maybe Viggo wouldn’t notice.
Before he could contemplate more on the burnt eggs, a high pitched sound went off and the coffee machine was shaking. “Bloody hell!” he cursed, trying to shut it off, spilling coffee beans onto the counter and floor in the process. “Fuck!”
Viggo bolted out of bed. “What the…” he muttered as he ran down the stairs. What had caused that terrible noise? And now the dogs were howling, adding to the chaos. He made a beeline for the kitchen and stopped in the hallway as he saw his lover fighting with the coffee machine.
Viggo could not help but smile adoringly at the picture displayed before him. Orli and technology did not mix well, the poor lad was swearing under his breath as he struggled with the coffee maker. “Sodding, stupid machine…” Orli muttered angrily as he finally yanked the plug from the socket.
Orlando ran his hand through his unruly curls, not noticing Viggo leaning against the doorway, a warm smile on his lips. “Need help, angel?” he asked soothingly. “Here, let me make the coffee; the machine is old and temperamental. I really should replace it…”
Orlando looked up from the mess of the spilled coffee beans, his cheeks red from embarrassment. “I…umm…wanted to surprise you…” he said, trying to clean off the counter with his hand.
“Oh, I’m surprised…” Viggo said with a crooked smile, walking over to Orlando and wrapping his arms around the younger man. “Thank you.” He placed a kiss onto Orli’s forehead.
“I made eggs…”
Viggo’s eyes widened in mock surprise, “You cooked for me?” He was touched at Orli’s gesture.
Orli nodded and grinned, “Yeah, well, I *tried*…they’re over there…they didn’t turn out very well, I’m afraid…”
Viggo finished fixing the coffee machine and continued to smile at Orli, “I’m sure they are fine.” He winked.
Orli grabbed two plates and served them the charred eggs, nervously biting his lower lip. Viggo always prepared such nice breakfasts, he had wanted to do this for Viggo and it had turned into a disaster. “You don’t have to eat them if you don’t want to…”
“Nonsense,” Viggo said as he turned on the television to watch the morning news.
Viggo didn’t flinch or make a face as he looked at the half burnt eggs, instead he squeezed Orli’s hand to reassure him and began to eat. Orli watched him anxiously. “Do you like them? Are they all right?”
“You made them, they’re delicious.”
Orli smiled happily and turned his attention to the television, surprised when he heard his name being mentioned. His smile slowly faded as he heard the entertainment reporter’s words, “…and Orlando Bloom has graced us with not one, but *two* flops this year, earning him *two* votes in the raspberry category. Just goes to prove a pretty face doesn’t mean you can actually act…considering his large fan base, its seems even the teenage girls know bad acting when they see it…on the other side of the spectrum we have the talented Viggo Mortensen, whose dynamic performance in ‘A History of Violence’ kept us on the edge of our seats… ”
Irritated, Viggo switched off the television. “Don’t listen to them,” he grunted.
Orli bowed his head, obviously mortified by the report. Viggo could see the melancholy begin to seep into his lover’s eyes. Orli was so tired of hearing one bad review after another, he was crushed. After all the hard work he had put into each of his roles, he felt he had little to show for it.
Viggo walked over to Orlando and squatted next to him. He cupped Orlando’s chin. “Hey, you okay? You can’t take what those jerks say to heart.”
“They like *your* movie…” Orli answered meekly, his finger lightly tracing the edge of the table.
“I don’t care if they like it or not…what matters to me is if *you* liked it.”
Orlando remained silent, directing his gaze elsewhere. He couldn’t look Viggo in the eye. He suddenly felt depressed as the reporter’s words came back to haunt him. And that guy wasn’t the first to jab at him and his acting skills, seemed every paper he read lately had something negative to say about him.
Then there was the phone call from Robin last night, telling him that he did not get the part he auditioned for. He had really wanted this part, and failing to get it just added to the other disappointments. Though she hadn’t said it in as many words, she implied that he had his shot at leading man and he blew it, it was best for him to go back to doing what he did best; being a sidekick. It seemed to Orlando that even she was losing faith in him.
Viggo was continuing to reassure him, as he always did; speaking words of comfort. But Orli was too heartbroken this time and he was too embarrassed to tell Viggo he’d lost the part. Unable to meet Viggo’s eyes, he stared at the newspaper sitting on top of the table. Something in the paper caught his eye and he tuned out Viggo momentarily as he read the article. Orlando suddenly stood up, covering his mouth with his hand as if in shock. He looked at Viggo with dismay, tears collecting in his eyes.
“No, no, no…don’t cry, angel.” Viggo shot up immediately and placed his hands on either side of Orlando’s face, his thumbs caressing Orli’s cheeks. “They aren’t worth your tears. Shhh…it’s okay, whatever it is, it’s okay…”
Orlando tried to speak but a huge incoherent sob came out instead. He shook his head, indicating that it was *not* okay. Orli broke free of Viggo’s grasp and ran out of the kitchen, overwhelmed by the emotions flooding him. He bolted up the stairs, not stopping until he reached their bedroom.
.
“Orli!” Viggo chased after him, puzzled. “What’s wrong? Orli!”
Orlando plopped onto their bed; curled up into a ball and hid his face in a pillow, attempting to find solace for his tears. Viggo walked in, a worried frown etched between his brows. He gently lay next to Orlando, pulling him close. “Baby, what is it? It can’t be that stupid reporter…is it?”
Orli shook his head, unable to speak. Viggo stroked Orli’s hair and placed comforting kisses in it. “Then what happened…” he asked with concern. “Did I say something to upset you?”
“Nnn—no. Maybe th—that reporter is—is right…” Orli tried to force the words out. “My last two mo—movies failed mis—miserably. And…to make ma—matters worse Robin called yester—yesterday. I—I didn’t want to tell you but…” he buried his head into the pillow, feeling ashamed. “The last au—audition I did…I was turned down.”
“Oh, baby…” Viggo didn’t know what to say to comfort Orli. “I’m so sorry,” Viggo hugged Orlando tighter, he leaned over and kissed Orli’s tear stained cheek. “I know how much you wanted that part. Don’t be discouraged, there will be other films—”
“I’m too—too high risk right now…Robin all but suggested I go back to pla—playing ‘sidekick’ roles as they work bet—better for me…” he gasped for breath. “I’m beginning to bel—believe that I don’t have wha—what it takes…am I really that horrible? That even my fr—friends would say such things?”
“Of course not,” Viggo replied, then, stopped in mid-sentence. “Wait. *Who* bad mouthed you?” he asked, his voice very serious.
Orlando turned around, burying his head against Viggo’s chest as he continued to cry. Viggo asked him again who had said bad things about him, but Orlando only shook his head, refusing to answer.
Viggo did not press his lover any further, he concentrated on comforting him instead.
***
Once Viggo had gotten Orlando to calm down somewhat, he ventured back downstairs to make Orlando some hot tea. As he picked up kettle and headed toward the sink, he happened to glance over at the newspaper sitting on the table. Curious if to see if this was somehow connected to what had upset his angel, he leaned over and scanned the paper.
John Rhys-Davies’ name popped out at him from the column. He put the tea kettle down and picked up the paper, his eyes widening in shock and surprise as he read the article:
"He's hugely, badly managed," Rhys-Davies recently said of Bloom's post-"Rings" career choices. "I look at Orlando's career and say, 'Oh, God.' "
While the upcoming "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequels will likely right the course of the English actor, his former co-star said films such as "Troy" and "Kingdom of Heaven" have put the onetime red-hot hunk's career on ice.
"What stroke of genius does it take to take young Orlando, who has a huge and powerful fanbase in the 8 to 18 female base worldwide ... and put him in a film that is R-rated, so that his fans can't get in to see it?" Rhys-Davies asked. "Obviously, his managers are making a bucket of money out of him, but they're not looking after him, and they're not looking after his long-term interests. And that annoys me intensely."
"It's not an unpleasant boat that he is sailing on," Rhys-Davies said of Orlando Bloom's career. "It's hugely successful, and hugely lucrative, and in some ways he is doing well. He is a very sexy, attractive young star and he's got a huge fanbase. Now the trick is to use that fanbase to be able to get the money and the parts that you want. Grow that fanbase from that fanbase. Don't imagine that just because you played the elf in 'Lord of the Rings' you can carry a film like 'Kingdom of Heaven.' "
After referring to "Heaven" as "not a good film; strangely cut, strangely structured, [with] no point or purpose to it," Rhys-Davies trudged back onto the set of "Dungeon Siege," holding his aching back beneath a layer of medieval armor.
Viggo didn’t hesitate as he dialed John’s number, trying to make sense of what he just read. That did not sound like John. This had to be what had hurt Orli and brought him to tears.
While critic’s reports had depressed Orlando, nothing could be more important to Orlando than what one of his friends thought of him and his acting skills. It had to be a mistake…John would never…
Viggo took a deep breath, he would get to the bottom of this…there had to be some logical explanation...
Viggo strummed his fingers impatiently on the counter as he waited for John to answer the phone.
“Hello?”
“John?”
“Yes, this is he.”
“It’s Viggo—”
“Viggo! Oh, how wonderful to hear from you. What can I do for you?”
“Well, umm…I’m hoping you can clear up something for me…”
“Oh? Certainly….” John answered, “What is it I can help you with?”
“Umm…well, you see…shit, I don’t know how to put this…so, I’m just going to come out with it… I’m calling about the article in the paper. I’m confused as to why you would talk about Orlando that way? I just don’t understand…”
“What are you talking about?” John asked curiously. “I have not spoken ill of our elfboy.”
Puzzled, Viggo picked up the newspaper and read him the article. John sighed in frustration. “It figures, you have to love the media,” he said sarcastically. “They love to twist your words and contrive what you said into something else entirely. Viggo, please believe me when I say that is not what I meant.” He paused.
“Let me see if I can try and sort this out…Viggo, Orlando is immensely popular right now and I feel his management is taking advantage of that…of *him*. They are not looking out for *his* interests. I fear they will chew him up and spit him out, then discard him like garbage once the next ‘hot new actor’ comes around. They’re predatory sharks and they are using Orlando as chum. It pains me to see him used in this manner. You, better than anyone, know how passive Orlando is…now add to that the fact, that he is new to this business; I’m not indicating that he is naïve …but perhaps, he doesn’t fully realize just *how* backstabbing and manipulative this industry can be. One minute they adore you and the next, you’re yesterday’s news. I don’t want to see that happen to Orlando; this is his dream and it’s about to shatter before him if he doesn’t wisen up. Those people don’t care about him the way you and I do, they care about how much money he can bring in...”
Viggo began to smile. This was the John he remembered, concerned about his friends and their well-being. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ve tried to ‘guide’ him as best I can, but you know Orli, he’s so independent about things…he feels he has to prove himself. He doesn’t want us to coddle him…but right now, well…he’s feeling pretty low, due to recent reviews and such…I’ve tried to tell him that he’s a lot better actor than he gives himself credit for...”
“*Exactly*, but tell me, why is our elf depressed?”
“I think it’s a build-up of things. First, it was that reporter on the morning show bad mouthing *both* of his films…”
“Oh, no…” John felt sympathy for Orlando. “Those ruthless bastards…never any consideration…but do go on, tell me what else has happened.”
“As you know, the critics have been less than kind with reviewing his last two films. To top things off his agent called him last night, telling him he didn’t get the part he wanted. Orli fears no one will want to cast him as a lead again…but that’s not what depressed him…what hurt him the most was that article I just read you... well, you can imagine how he took it.”
“Oh no, this is terrible. I was only trying to look out for him…” John sounded upset; he needed to talk to Orli and explain things. “Is he there? Can I talk to him?”
“Yeah, he’s here but…he’s resting. He’s pretty upset and I don’t want to push him right now. I can ask him to call you back once he’s a bit more…serene. You know how he gets when he’s distraught…give him time…he’ll come around.”
“I can only imagine what he must be thinking about me right now.” John sighed again. “I will wait until he is ready…when he is up to it, please have him call me. I want no ill feelings between us.”
“There are none between you and me, Gim. Thanks for explaining things, I can go feed this information to our elf and that should calm him down quite a bit. He always did care more about what *we* think than the critics, but they’ve hit him pretty hard this past year…so his defenses are low.”
“Perfectly understandable; and Viggo, thank you for trusting me enough to call and ask me about this fiasco…I appreciate that.”
“Anytime. I’ll talk to you soon,”
“Vig?”
“Yeah?”
“If Orlando doesn’t call me back…could you at least let me know how he is doing?”
“Of course,” Viggo smiled warmly.
***
Orli was still curled up on the bed, he had ceased crying but his tear stained face still carried a dark look of melancholy. Viggo sat beside Orlando and brushed the hair away from his face. “I made you some tea, would you like some?”
“Tea would be nice,” he answered, his voice sounding raspy.
Viggo helped Orli sit up and handed him a cup of his favorite tea. “I saw the article. Is that what upset you? The interview with John?” he asked soothingly.
Orli nodded timidly.
“I have to admit, I was pretty riled up myself after reading it; so I called him.”
Orlando’s eyes widened in surprise and curiosity. “What did he say?” he asked, unsure he really wanted to hear the answer.
“Well, he said that the paper twisted his words and that is not what he meant. He’s more concerned about your future and thinks you are being mismanaged and taken advantage of and *that’s* what he is upset about.”
“He…he didn’t mean those things?”
“Not in the way the paper portrayed it, no. John wants you to call him, he’s pretty worried that you’re angry with him. You know he would never say or do anything to consciously hurt you. Give him a call when you’re ready.” Viggo placed a kiss on Orli’s forehead.
Orlando reached over and caressed Viggo’s cheek, the love for his man shining in his dark eyes. “You’re amazing, you know that? Thank you…” he put the tea cup down and nuzzled against Viggo’s neck and shoulder.
“Thank you? For what, angel?” Viggo asked modestly.
“For always being there for me…for loving me…for everything.” Orlando ended his statement by placing a tender kiss on Viggo’s lips.
***
Orlando paced in the room, cordless phone in hand, as he waited for John to pick up on the other line. He chewed on his nails until he heard a “Hello?”
Orlando cleared his throat. “Uh, yes…is John there?”
“This is he...”the voice sounded confused, as if it did not recognize the caller.
Orlando suddenly felt awkward and nervous. “This is Orlando…I’m…uh, calling you back…”
“Oh, my dearest elfboy, you don’t know how relieved I am that you called,” John said sincerely. “Let me begin by extending my sincerest apologies; that article certainly made a mess of things. I suppose the media is not happy unless they can anger or hurt someone else by what they print. Viggo read me the interview and I want you to know that I would never, never say such harsh things about you. It was taken totally out of context.”
“What did you mean by it?” Orli asked, nervously biting his lower lip.
“What I was most concerned about was how mismanaged you are; It seems as if they are taking advantage of you and your popularity. I fear once it dies down, they will discard you like yesterday’s news. I’m not saying you don’t know what you’re doing or that you’re naïve about things…perhaps you are aware of your management situation…I’m only just concerned; hoping they won’t eat you alive because you’re fresh meat.”
“I appreciate your concern…but, I’m afraid I don’t fully understand where all this is coming from?” Orli said, somewhat befuddled by John’s words.
“You see, I believe you are being pushed too hard, taking on projects that you are not yet ready to handle. Not because you lack the talent to do so, but because you don’t have the experience. I happen to think that you have great potential and talent; that in *time*, you will be able to carry a film like Kingdom of Heaven.” John reflected on his words. He didn’t want to end up sticking his foot in his mouth and making matters worse. “You are young and new to this Hollywood game…I don’t want to see you being used as a damn chess piece…I just…I just want you to be careful. I *worry* about you,” John said, sounding distressed.
Orlando slowly smiled, relieved that John had said those things in the paper out of genuine concern. “I was afraid that you thought I was a…some kind of joke…or had no talent… or something…” he muttered, picking apart the edge of one of Viggo’s sketch books.
“No, no, no. I don’t think that at all. Do not doubt your acting abilities; you have come a long way since Rings. You started out strong and with the right choices, you will continue to grow. Do not give in to pressure, if you feel you are not ready, then take a step back…try some theater, good experience there…whatever you decide to do, do it because *you* want to, not to benefit someone else.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right…” Orli answered still not fully convinced.
“Now, tell me honestly, did you *feel* ready to take on a film like Kingdom of Heaven?”
Orli thought a moment before answering, “I was very nervous about it…a bit unsure, yeah…but I was excited to have gotten the part…I’m proud of my work in Kingdom.”
“I’m not saying you did a bad job, Orli; I’m asking if you felt confident, secure about the project itself…”
“Mmmm, I was nervous…it was the first film where I was the leading man…” Orli bit his thumbnail, unsure of where this conversation was leading.
“Ah-ha, I *knew* it. It was a bit overwhelming for you, wasn’t it? To suddenly be thrust into the lead with no safety net to catch you if you fell. You were instantly shoved from co-star to lead star within one film…while it was exciting to you, I’m almost certain part of you was terrified.”
“Yes…guess I still have a lot to learn…”
“No, no, no…that’s not a bad thing. Everyone in this business has gotten some type of stage fright. From what you had to work with, you did your best. That is what counts.”
“From what I had to work with?” Orli asked with uncertainty. He found it difficult to decipher what John was referring to.
“To me, the movie itself seemed a bit rushed …and the editing! Oh, Orlando…the editing killed your performance…but since it was your first appearance as leading man and in an epic no less, it was a bit overwhelming and unfair to put that kind of pressure on you to you to save the picture...especially with that horrendous editing job. Now, before you think I’m putting you down, I can assure you that I am not. Does this make sense? Or am I sticking my foot in my mouth?” John laughed nervously.
Orli silently admitted to himself that he was not pleased with Kingdom’s editing either. “I think I understand what you are trying to tell me. You want me to take things at my own pace and not be pressured….” Orli replied gradually. “You don’t think I’m ready to take on bigger roles…”
“As of yet…as of yet…” John repeated.
Orli tried to smile as his friend tried to reassure him, but the tears welled up in his eyes again. “I don’t know, John…maybe the critics are right…my movies fell through because I…I…” he couldn’t finish the sentence.
John frowned, this was not how he wanted the conversation to go. “Orlando, *listen* to what I am saying…You *have* the talent, it’s just being misdirected. And try not to take to heart what those half witted critics have to say, what do they know anyway? Don’t you waste a single tear drop on them…*ever*,” John scoffed, feeling over protective of Orlando.
John could hear Orli sniffling, attempting to conceal his tears. He became angry, not at Orli, but at the critics that had crushed this wonderful and selfless being. “They’re venomous vipers, striking out; hoping to bring someone down with their poisonous words. Don’t let them. Don’t allow them to discourage you. Don’t let them win…show them you can do it, despite what they think. So, your last two movies did not do so well…every actor has had that experience…Viggo, Ian, myself…it happens. Don’t let it depress you. There will be other films, other opportunities. And don’t blame yourself if a movie goes bad. There are many factors that can make a film go wrong…the editing, sound, direction, production, and so forth…but everyone is quick to point the finger at the actor and make him the scapegoat.”
“But …”
“No. Stop. You are *not* to blame.” John cut him off; it was breaking his heart to hear Orli softly sob on the other end. To make matters worse, John knew the elfboy was attempting to hide it from him. John took a deep breath before speaking again. “They put you in a situation that you were not ready to handle due to inexperience. That is no fault of your own; it is poor management. They tossed you from a small lake into a bottomless ocean, threw in some chum and waited for the sharks. It’s Hollywood’s sink or swim theory…” he added sardonically. “But you hold your head above the water and you keep swimming…don’t give up, even if it seems the tide will pull you under. You are stronger than that…you can and will defeat this minor slump in your career. It’s not the end, but a new beginning.”
John fell silent for a moment, hoping his explanation would ease Orlando’s hurt. When Orlando did not speak, he broke the silence. “For what it’s worth, my dear elfboy…I am truly and honestly sorry if *anything* I have said has upset you or hurt you in any way. I care about your well-being and if my words come across harshly on printed text or from word of mouth, please know that above everything else, I value our friendship. I would never do anything purposeful to hurt to you.”
Orlando heard the genuine contrition in the older man’s voice and wiped his tears away with the back of his sleeve. “No worries here, John, we’re good. I know you are looking out for my best interests…” he was starting to feel a little better. “Can’t have Legolas in a row with Gimli, can we?” he teased lightly.
John sighed in relief, for Orlando to be joking with him, was a sure sign of forgiveness. “I’m glad that things are all right between us. I would hate for us to lose our friendship over a misunderstanding.”
“Me too.”
“Listen, next time you and that ranger of yours have a free moment, why don’t you both come visit. It would be nice to see you both again.”
“I would love to, John. I’ll talk it over with Vig…see what he says…but I don’t see why he would object. We would have to collaborate our schedules, you know Vig…he’s always doing something. An art show, a presentation, a book signing…he’s always so busy…”
John chuckled, “But he always finds time for his elf, doesn’t he?”
“Yeah…yeah he does…” Orli grinned.
“You both deserve it. Take time for yourselves, Orlando. You and Viggo overwork yourselves; it’s a wonder neither of you have collapsed from sheer exhaustion.”
“Vig and I have talked about taking some time off…”
“Wonderful. I hope to see you both when that time comes. Don’t be such a stranger, give this old dwarf a call now and then, eh?”
Orlando lightly laughed, “You do the same, despite what my father, Thranduil, says, dwarves give good advice and…they are loyal friends.”
John laughed, things were right again with elf and dwarf and he couldn’t be happier.
***
Viggo looked up from washing the dishes, “How did things go with John?” he asked, studying the look on Orli’s face, searching for some sort of clue to how the conversation went.
“Good…in fact, he wants us to come visit him sometime.” Orli replied. “Don’t you think it would be fun to go and see him…just the two of us….”
“Yeah, it would be good to see him. Let’s see when the three of us have some time off. John is a workaholic, not sure when he will take a break, if ever...”
Orli giggled. “You know he said the same thing about us.”
“Yeah?” Viggo grinned sheepishly. “I suppose he’s right.”
“Vig?”
“Yeah?” Viggo replied absently as he dried his hands on a dish towel.
“What was your honest opinion of my performance in Kingdom?” Orli looked up at Viggo, his big brown eyes holding onto every word Viggo would say.
Viggo brushed the stray curls away from Orli’s face, tucking them behind his ear. “Okay. But, remember you asked for honesty…”
Orli’s heart sank, but he tried his best not to show it. He mentally began to prepare himself for the emotional onslaught he was certain would happen. Nothing he could do about it now, he had asked Viggo to be honest. He brought this upon himself.
“Come here,” Viggo said, taking Orli by the wrist. He sat down and pulled Orlando onto his lap and lovingly wrapped his arms around Orli’s waist. “Let me begin by saying that it would be unfair of me to compare you to another actor, as it would be unfair of me to compare two artists. Each one of us has our own style of doing things, our signature as it were. You are still developing that skill, trying to see what works and what doesn’t…granted, you have not had many diverse roles, but you aren’t afraid to try them. You don’t try to limit yourself, which is an excellent trait. You always pour your heart into the role, giving it your best. You have *nothing* to be ashamed of…you gave it your all. You’ll find your niche, as we all do. And you have been careful enough to not be type-cast. You have chosen your roles hoping to gain experience from working with other actors and directors. That’s very wise, you’re thinking ahead. Don’t worry about if it turns out successful or not…do you think every movie I’ve been in has been at the level of Rings or A History of Violence?”
Orli shook his head. “No, but I always thought your performance was good in every film…it didn’t matter to me if the story made little sense or that the editing was off…it was *you* that made the movie work for me.”
“And that, my angel, is how I think of your performances,” Viggo answered with a sincere smile, playfully tapping the edge of Orli’s nose with his finger. “And remember, regardless of the level of success of your films, I will love you unconditionally. I love *you*, not your status or success, but *you*.”
Orlando melted into Viggo’s arms, showering him with soft, tender kisses. “I love you, you know that? I’m so glad I have you…you are always there when I need you the most…”
“Always and forever, angel.”
Orli giggled and gave Viggo a playfully Eskimo kiss. “Let me show you my gratitude…” he said roguishly, pulling back as his hand played along the edge of the zipper of Viggo’s jeans.
Viggo raised his eyebrows, “Hmm…maybe you should get bad reviews more often,” he teased, leaning in to kiss his lover…
Suddenly a loud noise from behind them caused them to break away from the kiss. They both looked up startled and Viggo turned his head around to see what was causing the terrible racket. “I’ve really got to replace that coffee maker…” he muttered as the dogs began to howl again.
Orlando nuzzled into his neck, giggling uncontrollably.
The End.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-01-11 05:10 pm (UTC)**smooches**
no subject
Date: 2006-01-13 06:37 pm (UTC)