Dirk is riding on cloud nine. Actually probably closer to nine thousand. He feels like he's on top of the world. In fact, he might actually be at the top of the world right now. He's pretty sure, like eighty-six percent sure, that he got the two of them into the right building and up the right elevator to the right floor. But even if he didn't, he doesn't care. All that matters right now that he can see all of the Vegas lights in his love's green green green eyes.

Everything is a bit brighter, a bit fuzzy and perfectly clear at the same time. He feels like the wind is going to buffett them over the edge but he knows the rail is sturdy enough. Just look at that engineering. It's already caught a couple of sways against it as they moved around to a quieter corner.

Jake's looking out over the city with the biggest grin. Dirk's heart almost floats out of his chest. Jake is so ruggedly handsome, his normally coiffed hair, usually all swept to one side, is now wind tossed and free. Dirk's hair is probably the same. Their suits are a bit mussed up too. But with that long of an elevator ride, who wouldn't get mussed up.

He feels the butterflies in his stomach try to revolt. He pulls a flask out of his back pocket and takes a swig. Not much left. Not with how they've been partying all night long. They have another bottle back at the room and hell bars are almost every two -well actually more like twenty five to forty- feet. They are both tipsy. Well, Dirk might be drunk, but he holds his liquor well enough to stand. It burns down his throat briefly before it joins the warm glow in his gut. Liquid courage some people call it. And boy does he need it.

He planned this out ages ago. He made his decision a while back, but he wanted to save it for the perfect moment. Of course, he wasn't just going to leave it up to chance. No, fate is too whimsical for that. He made the perfect moment happen. He engineered it. Starting from that one night that he laid awake in their bed back at home while Jake slept sprawled out over him.

He planned the trip to Vegas. He planned the fancy hotels and the extravagant events. He planned the nice dinners and the nicer outfits. He even planned the windfall at Jake's work that convinced him that a weekend, which turned into a week, trip to Las Vegas was a good idea, a good way to spend that extra money. Of course Jake started guessing at Dirk's subterfuge as soon as the concierge welcomed 'Mr. Strider' to their accommodations for six nights instead of just two. He caught on when 'Mr. Strider' already had reservations at the fanciest places they have ever eaten at. He didn't quite plan on the amount of drinking they had been doing tonight, but when they happened to win the jackpot in the casino and turn that windfall into easy millions even with taxes, they took their winnings and ran.

He made this decision a long time ago. The liquid courage is just to get him down on one knee. He feels the iron floor bite a little into his knee but it's a far away sensation. He looks up at Jake and his love is still staring out over the railing. Probably entranced by the fountains and their various patterns. Dirk tugs lightly at Jake's hands to get his attention and then immediately regrets it as he hasn't even pulled the box out of his jacket. But even as he's fumbling through his pocket he can't look away from Jake's face as he turns, pauses, and looks down. His eyes go wide and his hand comes up to his mouth.

Shit shit shit, the box isn't in his jacket. Maybe it's in the other jacket. Dirk knew he should have worn the other jacket. Or maybe it fell out of his pocket. He'd hate himself if it fell out of his pocket, but he keeps the surprise, frustration, and anger at his stupid self off of his face as he thinks about an alternative. Seconds later he's pulling at the necklace around his neck, a leather band that only burns a little as it snaps at the back of his neck. It's something Jake gave him as a souvenir from one of his wild adventures, but it will do the trick.

Dirk grabs Jakes other hand and starts wrapping the necklace around the base of his ring finger, making sure not to cut off circulation or anything. His eyebrows furrow as he has to concentrate on that through the drunken haze.

"Jake, my love, my jungle, my heaven, my hope. You've been my best friend for so many years. And yet, you still decided to be my boyfriend. And then you let me fall in love with you. And somehow, fuck, somehow you, you, you fell in love with me. I want... I want to spend the rest of my life with you. If you'll have me. Will you, will you marry me, Jake English?"

Jake stares at Dirk for a moment. Usually Dirk can read his face but with the shock currently on his face and the alcohol in his system makes his face blank. Dirk knows that Jake will say yes, he knows down to his core that he will say yes, but there's that moment, there's just a moment where that hope falters and Dirk feels like he's on a precipice and about to fall too far-

"Yes. Oh bloody hell, yes! You bloody fool. Yes, yes, forever yes." He grabs Dirk by the lapels and drags him up to his feet. And immediately kisses him deeply. Dirk barely recognizes the sounds of cheers and applause from the bystanders around them. He's too lost in Jake to care.

"Yes yes yes yes," Jake murmurs against his lips, "I would marry you in a heartbeat."

"Jake... Jake... I'm going off script now."

"Yes, Dirk?"

"We're in Vegas. We could get married here. Right now."

"Yes! Let's! Let's get married!"

Dirk's pretty sure it's the alcohol talking for the both of them but he can't bring himself to care. Jake said yes. He said yes to the necklace wrapped around his finger. He said yes to Dirk for forever. Forever is a fucking long time but he still said yes.

"You thought I was going to say no, you bloody fool," Jake murmurs against Dirk's lips against the wall of the elevator. "I saw it there on your face for a moment. You bloody fool, I love you so much. I love you so much."