The Next Stage - Prologue. What's New?

“After confirming speculations that, with the return of Jasper’s musical career, he has also reignited the old flame with Ryan Kurtis. There is only one question on the lips of all entertainment commentators and fans. What’s next for the couple?

Following the devastating shock death of The Obsolete member Blake. The attention was very often on Jasper Reid and how he was coping or not coping with the death of his friend. Most notably, the lack of interaction between Jasper and Ryan during this time led many to believe that the couple had broken up. With Jasper receiving a huge amount of backlash for his coping methods and his long-term boyfriend, Ryan, going completely silent, only adding to the rumors.

In addition, the couple removed their social media accounts and left fans in the dark about what was happening between them. This silence continued for the two years preceding the release of his newest album and concert. However, dramatic as is his style, lights came on during what was always known as a song that Jasper had written to Ryan early in their relationship. Ryan was shown to be on stage with him, supporting him in the revival of his career.

While, it is not known how long the couple were apart for during the suspected break-up. Most fans are supportive to see the renewal of this relationship. The announcement somewhat reminiscent of the way the couple initially revealed their romance, the two shared an intimate kiss at the end of a performance live on stage, confirming that they had indeed rekindled their tumultuous relationship.

Leading to his comeback, there was speculation about the couple reuniting. With songs titled ‘You’re My Person’, a phrase which Jasper and Ryan both used towards each other during exchanges over Twitter during the first year of their relationship, and another song titled ‘Really Yours, Always Now’, which eagle-eyed fans were keen to point out when abbreviated would spell Ryan’s name. With all these hints it was hardly a surprise when the couple confirmed this with their excessive PDA on stage.

The latest confirmation of this couple's relationship status seems to have come at the detriment of showing respect towards Jasper’s former best friend Blake. The song titled ‘There’s Always Something More’, performed by Jasper with Blake featured on the screen behind him through a video recording, was a touching song about being able to come back from your darkest times. This performance was ironic, considering Jasper’s truly shocking behavior following Blake’s death. Jasper performed this duet wearing a sentimental shirt that Blake was often seen in.

The video of Blake was filmed from his hospital bed and may have been temporarily the most talked about significant moment from the show, with Jasper and the audience all in tears, but it was soon overshadowed by the excitement held about the couple getting back together. With the highly anticipated tribute to Blake left to being only a show stopping encore rather than a main focus of Jasper’s comeback, it seemed Jasper’s priority wasn’t on acknowledging his former friend and bandmate.

All eyes are once again on the scandalous couple that became icons in the LGBTQI+ community when they publicly and unapologetically came out live on stage and continued to stand by and defend each other despite the scandals that they faced along the way, leading them to become a highly regarded and supported couple. The couple have a supportive base of fans, due to the fan culture of ‘shipping’ that saw a rise in interest towards the RySper couple before they became official and grew exponentially during the course of their relationship.

With the first solo world tour behind him, many fans are now spending time discussing theories regarding their relationship over the past 3 years, and speculating on what the future will hold for their favorite couple. What are your thoughts on this couple reuniting and what we will see from them next?” Ryan finishes reading the article and throws his phone aside on the empty seat beside himself, rolling his eyes.

“Excessive PDA? Seriously?” Jasper asks, giving a cheeky smirk as he straddles Ryan’s lap. "Given the circumstances of the last few years, they are lucky we haven't been more excessive.” Jasper teases, rolling his hips as if there was any way Ryan didn’t understand what he meant.

“That’s not meant to be a challenge.” Ryan smirks at him.

"Well look, I just want to educate them on what the word means. Besides, what do you expect when we've been through how many lockdowns now?" Jasper asks with a sigh.

"They probably assume we were living together through that." Ryan smiles as he holds Jasper’s hips to stop him from continuing to grind against him because it was distracting. “How much have you missed the media?”

“Not as much as they missed me, apparently.” Jasper replies with a careless shrug, his right hand running through Ryan’s hair and his left hand resting softly on his shoulder. “How are you feeling about being dragged back into it with me?”

“I don’t care as long as you’re ok. It wasn’t the nicest article.”

“At this point, they have dragged my name enough times over enough things, it’s lost the power to hurt me. Besides, it’s like they say, all publicity is good publicity.”

“Wait until they find out we’re married.” Ryan turns his head and kisses the ring on his husband’s finger. Jasper watches with an enamored smile on his face that Ryan catches when he looks back into Jasper’s eyes. “And about to become parents.” Ryan adds with a content sigh, so unbelievably happy with his life.

“Mm, they have a lot to catch up on, that’s for sure.” Jasper says as he leans in, collecting Ryan’s lips in a very sweet but very needy kiss. Ryan runs his hands up Jasper’s back, lifting his shirt up and breaking the kiss only to pull it off and lace kisses across Jasper’s collar bone. Ryan then wraps his arms around Jasper and stands up, pressing Jasper’s back against the wall of the plane and kissing him again, passionately for far too short of a time, not that Jasper had any intention of complaining when Ryan pulled away only to start kissing his way down Jasper’s chest and stomach.

“Hello passengers, the seatbelt sign is on so please return to your seats and ensure they are secured. We are expecting some turbulence as we are coming in to land. Thank you.” The pilot announces over the speakers.

“Oh, come on.” Jasper groans.

“Ah, you did have a whole flight, you really could have chosen any other time to grind on me.” Ryan smirks, standing back up and fetching Jasper his shirt.

“You shouldn’t have let me sleep for so long.” Jasper sighs and sinks down in his own seat, putting his shirt back on and doing up his seat belt.

“Have you met yourself when someone has woken you up? I’m trying to stay married here.” Ryan jokes.

“I just hope we get some time at home together to settle in before the baby comes.” Jasper leans his head on Ryan’s shoulder and holds his hand. “Knowing our luck though, Grace will go into labor the moment we hit the tarmac.” Tour had been insanely busy in the most fulfilling way, but he was so glad it was finally over, and he could spend some time with no plans other than to take full advantage of all the time he and Ryan possibly could, before they had to share that time with a newborn.

“Are you excited, though?” Ryan asks, looking forward to being home and preparing for the rest of their lives.

“A whole new stage. It’s going to be amazing.” As Jasper finishes the sentence, the engine noise changes, and they hit a pocket of turbulence as they begin the descent towards the runway. “Here we go.” Ryan squeezes Jasper’s hand.

“Here we go.” Jasper repeats as he squeezes his hand back. They look at each other, sharing equally anxious and ecstatic smiles before leaning in for a quick kiss filled to the brim with excitement, love and a thrilling amount of uncertainty. Ready to land. The world once again knowing they are a couple, new dramas to face, a new home, a new baby about to be born and a whole new adventure ahead of them.