Chapter Text
A white background with black text appears on the screen. The words below stretched across it, in the same font style as on the “The Romantic” album cover.
Risk It All
A Very Special Music Video
06. 26. 21
The chords of a, by now, familiar, slow, romantic mariachi music floated through the speakers. It was lively and yet tender. The video slowly opens to said mariachi playing, Bruno Mars sits in front of them in a suit, cowboy hat, and a guitar. It was similar to the opening sequence of the original music video released at the start of the year, but this time they were in a garden of an expensive-looking property, rows of bright flowers peeking behind the ensemble, with the walls of a big house serving as a backdrop. The video’s treatment was of colour saturation and nostalgia, the same as the original.
Overhead, the sun shone softly while a soft breeze rustled the leaves.
In the lower-left third of the camera, a big fuzzy brown dog was lying on her belly on the grass, asleep as the sun shone on her. She would’ve been easy to miss if she hadn’t yawned a beat before the singer started his crooning.
For just the chance to win your heart
You could set the bar beyond the stars
I'll do anything, anything you ask me to
The music switched to a more sedate arrangement. Still lively. Still tender.
The scene cut to a close-up of a bowtie with a man’s hand fixing it. A hint of a gold chain was visible to the audience as the sunlight came through the windows. The camera zoomed out a bit to show the back of an older man’s head – he had been the one fixing the bowtie. He was shorter than the man in front of him, allowing the audience to see the other man’s cupid’s bow lips, his clean-shaven chin, and strong jaw.
A cut. Blue eyes sparkling.
There’s a shift again, and the audience is treated to a full-body shot of the man’s back; the head of dark-blonde curls was a notable detail. The viewers can now clearly see the older man’s features: David Hollander, wearing a suit, albeit much more muted than the younger man's.
His lips were moving, eyes emotional as he looked at the younger man. The blonde nodded and then hugged the older man before him. The tears were unseen, but the slight tremors from the taller man’s shoulders were a sign. David patted his back.
Say you want the moon
Watch me learn to fly
Ain't no mountain you could point to
I wouldn't climb
The video shifted again to the singer, waiting at the end of an aisle as he strummed his guitar and sang.
A cut, and then the guests were shown mingling on the lawn. The sun, the clear skies, and the same flowers suggested this was in the same area as the opening scene. A series of medium shots filled the screen.
Marleau, St Simon, Pike, and Boiziau were exchanging what seemed to be amusing stories. Cliff and Victor laughed while Hayden was making a funny face as a reaction to whatever it was J.J. was saying. They were in formal wear fit for the summer.
The next shot was of a group of Centaur players: Bood, Dysktra, Boyle, Chouinard, and Barrett, in a debate that was becoming a bit heated. Bood, frustrated, takes out his phone and starts typing with urgency. Dykstra kept talking. Barrett rolled his eyes.
Kyle, Svetlana, and Harris were discussing something serious, probably swapping stories about what it’s like to be in management. Svetlana covers her mouth, aware of cameras around them, as she delivers a piece of gossip to both. Kyle and Harris were flabbergasted when she was done. Sveta was nodding empathetically.
In one corner, Price, Hunter, Bennett, and Hayes were taking photos. Price, being the tallest, was holding the camera for a selfie. Bennett and Hunter were holding up peace signs. Hayes was throwing a finger heart.
Far away from the crowd, but still within Hayden’s eyesight, were Haas and little Arthur Pike, drawing quietly in one corner. Arthur reaches for the colour blue and looks up at the sky before looking back at his drawing again.
Across them were the Centaurs rookies LaPointe, Young, and Holmberg with the kids Jade, Ruby, Willa, and Andrew. The smaller and larger kids were playing an overtly complicated game of rock, paper, scissors. Young was somehow losing here while the kids laughed at him.
Coach Weibe and his wife were talking to Max Riley and Leah Campbell. Both men had their arms around their wives, swaying slightly to the music.
Rose Landry and Fabian Salah were in a larger group mostly made up of the Centaurs’ wives, but includes other guests like Jackie Pike and Kip Grady-Hunter in the mix. Everyone was listening in as Fabian told a story, gesturing with his hands. Kip quipped with something, and the group dissolved into giggles, some holding on to each other as they belly-laughed.
It's crazy, but it's true
There's nothing I won't do
I'd risk it all for you
Bruno Mars walks through a house, hat in hand, stopping at several framed photos. The contents of the photos were not made public. He stops at a large framed photo on the wall, the content of which the audience is still not privy to, but there’s a heaviness in the air, a significance to the photo. As he leaves, a hint of hockey sticks in an X formation was displayed on a wall behind where he was a moment ago.
A cut – freckles. Brown eyes. A familiar pair of cufflinks. A woman’s hands skillfully securing each button and pin.
Yuna Hollander comes into shot over a young man’s shoulder, looking every bit like the mother of the groom. She was intent on taking care of the buttons. When she looked up, her eyes were misty, and she was trying not to cry. She cupped the young man’s face and said something. Her voice did not come through, but the words “Your dad and I love you” were easily read.
The young man’s head bowed a bit, shoulders relaxing. He proceeded to hug his mother. Through misty eyes, Yuna tightened the hug and kissed his cheek.
To hold your hand and call you mine
I'm tryna be your man 'til the end of time
Oh, I'll do anything, anything you ask me to
The singer was outside again. The same place where the guests were milling around earlier, but no one was around, just empty seats. Close-up shots of the aisle decor – flower arrangements, seat covers, petals on the floor – as he walked through the aisle. Fingers lingered on the chairs as he passed by.
The camera angle then panned over the chairs on the other side, a slow transition revealing that the guests were now standing in front of their designated seats. They are facing the aisle, excitement palpable as they look to the side toward the entrance. A close-up of the kids, standing together, leaning as kids do to get a better look.
Shane Hollander was standing at the end of the aisle.
His black hair was trimmed and styled for the day. His plump lips took on a smile that seemed forever etched on his face. His eyes unfocused and glazed, looking at something over the camera lens, zeroing in on his goal.
He walks, dreamlike, as if he were stepping on clouds. Afraid that at any moment, it will burst.
It does not stop him from taking a step too fast, eager to reach the person on the other end.
I would run through a fire
Just to be by your side
If your heart's on the line
You could take mine
Ilya was shown on the other end of the aisle.
He was standing somewhat rigidly, as if he relaxed enough, he would not be able to stop himself from running towards what he was looking at. His eyes took on a stormy blue hue as tears gathered, but his smile mirrored that of Shane’s – soft, forever.
David and Yuna were then shown to the side. Yuna was openly crying while David’s arms were around her. His tears threaten to fall, too.
Anya was sitting on the grass at their feet.
It's crazy, but it's true
There's nothing I won't do
I'd risk it all for you
The singer appears on screen again, this time he’s alone in the garden, playing fetch with the same brown dog from earlier. It was Anya.
As the dog brings the ball back to the singer, the scene changes to inside the house. The same photos shown earlier were now seen in full.
A screengrab, printed, of that cheek kiss from the 2017 All-Star game.
Ilya, asleep on his stomach, wearing a Hollander jersey.
Shane, on the couch, looking up and wearing a Raiders jersey with a C in front. The hair suggests this was way before this year. His smile was wide and easy, eyes crinkled with happiness, and something rarely seen in public.
A family photo – Yuna, David, Shane, and Ilya – taken in a living room. The cake and gifts suggest it is someone’s birthday. Ilya was wearing a 24K Magic World Tour merch t-shirt.
A photo of them at the cottage, taken sneakily but clearly, showing them lounging on the deck. There were two large lounge chairs, but they were crammed into one. Ilya was lying on top of Shane, his eyes closed, and his head came up to the other man’s chest. Shane’s hand was on his head while the other one held up a book as he read. Ilya’s arms were around Shane’s.
Then, finally, the framed photo on the wall. It was grainier than the rest of the photos, obviously a screenshot from a video, angled higher than eye level to capture the majority of the room. There was a date stamp at the bottom: 11/Oct/2020.
Shane and Ilya, standing in a nondescript living room, facing each other. Shane, in a magician’s cape and top hat. Ilya, wearing a red bow tie and a flowered headband. They were both holding a plastic ring. The Pike twins were across them. Arthur was on the side, holding a musical toy. There was a scattering of stuffed toys on the floor, made to look like guests. The giddiness of that day radiated through the screen, making the mock wedding more real than it was.
I would swim across the sea just to show you
Sacrifice my life just to hold you
I could go on and on
To prove that you belong here in my arms
Shane and Ilya were at the aisle now, in a full-body shot showing they were standing in front of the justice of the peace. A close-up of their hands, holding each other’s, flashed before the music cut off at the end of its crescendo.
The shot transitions to show the two men, showing their faces as they recite their vows.
“I, Shane Hollander, take you and all that you are, Ilya Rozanov, to be my lawfully wedded husband.”
“I, Ilya Rozanov, take you and everything that is you, Shane Hollander, to be my lawfully wedded husband.”
Say you want the moon
Watch me learn to fly
Ain't no mountain you could point to
I wouldn't climb
The newlyweds kiss as the audience behind them goes crazy, flower petals showering them, clearly thrown from behind the camera. A tear can be seen from both grooms.
The camera then goes for a slow 360-degree shot, as one would see at the end of a romantic movie. It stops at its original point and freezes there. The video fades to black.
But not for long.
It's crazy, but it's true
There's nothing I won't do
I'd risk it all for you
A new clip, different from this curated video, came to view. It was an older one, and while still professionally shot, technological advancements date the video to around ten years ago. It was in an ice rink, taken specifically on centre ice. The younger versions of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov slowly skated to the middle, all serious, game face on.
Until they reach each other.
And they start laughing.
The carefree attitude, the ease they have towards one another, and the early sparks of love were evident in their eyes.
The screen truly fades to black this time
It's crazy, but it's true
There's nothing I won't do
I'd risk it all for you
The music fades out.
A voice-over, clearly Yuna’s, comes on. “So since when?”
“Since rookie season,” came Shane’s serious reply.
“Since rookie season?!”
A Russian accent comes through, playful. “Not true, Hollander. The summer before.”
A photo fills the screen again. It stays there for a moment: Ilya and Shane, backs to the camera and holding each other’s waists, both wearing Centaurs jerseys. Hollander, 24. Rozanov, 81.
Fade out