The Proposal Ch. 07

"I think I do too," Rick replies, glancing at Todd with a small smile. "What I want to know is, why didn't you take me out in the woods and kick my ass for being a dick?"

"Kick your ass? Have you looked in the mirror compared to me? You would have snapped me like a twig. Besides, I didn't know you had it in you... and you weren't a dick, you were just... not the way you are now."

Rick grunts noncommittally. He is still tending to the food when Giselle and Charlie arrive with the butter, mushrooms, and the place settings for the table. He adds the mushrooms to the grill to warm on a piece of aluminum foil while he checks the peppers and potatoes for al dente status. By the time the table is ready, and drinks are poured, Rick is forking up the steaks, placing a pat or two of butter on each one, adding the potatoes, peppers, and mushrooms to another platter.

As they eat the conversation meanders among various topics until the end of the meal. "Have you made our immersion recording yet?" Todd asks, his voice full of trepidation, during a lull in the conversation.

Rick begins to chuckle. "What's the matter Todd? Now that the shoe's on the other foot, how does it fit?"

Everyone laughs at Todd's slight discomfort. "I'll be honest with you, it's a little uncomfortable. But fair's fair. So have you?"

Rick is still grinning at him when Giselle answers. "Yes we have."

"I assume you've experienced it. How was it?" Charlie asks, a small smile on her lips.

"Let's just say I was glad Rick was close at hand," Giselle says with a giggle. "It's a powerful experience. I came out of the immersion and I was ready, right then. No fooling around, no getting in the mood, no hugging and kissing, just let's go." Giselle giggles again then leans over and whispers in Charlie's ear, causing her eyes to widen and her mouth to drop open just bit, staring at Rick as Giselle whispers.

"Oh, Rick, you naughty boy!" Charlie exclaims when Giselle leans back. "Todd and I are definitely going to try that," she says before bursting into laughter.

"What?" Todd asks.

"Rick was giving it to Giselle while they were in the immersion," Charlie says before looking back to Rick. "I never thought we would be getting sex advice from you. And here I thought you were a prude for all these years."

Todd stares at Rick with a bemused expression on his face. "I asked this once already, but I'm going to ask it again... who are you and what have you done with Rick?"

The entire table begins to snicker as Rick blushes and looks down. "Okay, okay," he says. "Maybe it just takes the right person to bring out the real person locked inside," he says seriously, touching Giselle on the hand.

"I'll drink to that," Charlie says, hoisting her wine cooler into the air, allowing them all to clink their various beverages together.

"Okay, so what night was it? Tell me it was Tuesday night. I was more awesome than usual that night," Todd says with a smirk at Charlie, causing her to roll her eyes.

Rick thinks a moment before answering. "It was Sunday night."

"Sunday... Sunday... I can't remember," Todd says. "Give me a hint."

"Cold hands," is all Rick says.

"Cold hands?" Todd looks puzzled, and then realization dawns on him. "Wait a minute, that was early. You said ten to one!"

"I lied," Rick says with a shrug.

"That was the night that we..." Charlie trails off, blushing.

"Charlie Rose," Rick says, his voice full of mirth, "I don't believe I have ever seen you blush before."

Charlie draws herself up with dignity. "So, how was it?" she asks neutrally, as if she were asking about the weather.

Nobody says anything until Rick gives an after you motion to Giselle. "As I said, it was powerful. I can understand why you said you could tell what I was thinking in my immersion. I feel the same about your immersion. As you would do something, I could instantly grasp the thought process that went into the decision. It was uncanny."

"That's it?" Charlie asks.

"I don't know what else to say," Giselle says. "It was powerful and amazing... and very difficult to put into words."

Charlie looks deep into Giselle's eyes for a moment before turning her attention to Rick. "What about you? she asks.

"What about me?" Rick asks. "Let me just say that Todd is very lucky man."

"That's it?" Todd asks, repeating what Charlie said moments before.

"What do you want me to say, guys? You want me to tell you your wife is hot? Todd, if you don't know that already you're either blind or stupid, and I don't think you are either," Rick says before turning to Charlie. "You want me to tell you Todd would slit his own throat if it would please you? I think he probably would. But like I told him, if you didn't know that already you're not paying attention. Look, what you two have is amazing. You've been married for—" He zones out while the implant does the calculation. "—nearly sixteen years and you are still like teenagers in love. Charlie, you were making Todd wild with desire and—"

"And Todd, you were making Charlie crazy with your kissing," Giselle interrupts.

"But you already know these things. Or you should. You don't need us to tell you this, do you?" Rick asks, picking up the conversion again.

"No," Charlie says, "I guess you don't."

"No," Todd says shakes his head.

"We are dealing with powerful emotions here. Try describing red to a blind person. This— these immersions are like that. There are some things that human language simply isn't equipped to handle," Rick says. "Describe love to a person who has never felt it. It makes you warm and happy and content, but for me that only touches the surface of what love is. Same for Todd. I would hazard a guess that it's the same for you two as well," he says, looking at Charlie and Giselle. "But any person, once experiencing it, would know the feeling instantly. You can't describe it, but you can instantly recognize it." he takes a deep breath and looks to each of them in turn as they stare back. "What?"

"You have obviously given this some thought," Charlie replies.

"It is practically all I have thought about since talking with Teri," Rick explains.

"And?" Charlie prompts.

"And what?" Rick asks.

"And, Rick, what has all this thinking led you to?"

Rick heaves a great sigh. "Assuming that Giselle agrees, and we can overcome a few issues I have, I think we should release this immersion. I think you and Todd should release yours as well, or one like it, since that one kind of started in the middle."

"Before we get carried away with who is going to do what," Todd suggests, "Let's see if this is feasible. First, Giselle, are you even willing to do this? Release the immersion," he clarifies.

"It depends. Let's call it a 'maybe.'"

Todd looks to Rick. "What issues do you have?" he asks.

"I don't want this to be a porn immersion. I know the comparisons are inevitable, but I want to come up with a new term for these deeply-emotional immersions."

"Okay, I get that. You want to try to create a new market. That's a tall order, my friend. I hope you know that," Todd says flatly.

"I know, and it may not work, but I want to try."

"Then we need a new term to define this market. Something punchy. What did you have in mind?" Todd asks.

Rick scowls at Todd. "Who is the marketing genius in this group?" he asks rhetorically.

Todd scratches his head. "This is a tough stuff. It needs to imply emotional depth and love and pleasure, but I don't think we can use a made-up word. We need..."

"How about hedonism? Or hedonistic?" Giselle blurts out, interrupting Todd.

Todd snaps his fingers and points to Giselle. "There's your marketing genius," he says enthusiastically. That's a nice generic word that implies a lot and nothing at the same time. It could mean any number of things. Sex, food... anything that gives pleasure. I like it! What do you think?" Todd asks Rick.

"Sounds fine to me. But what is to prevent that from becoming just another word for porn, like 'adult' has?" Rick asks.

"Nothing. But the way you combat that is to market the hell out of the term to define it a certain way and let the market reject the connection."

"Sounds expensive."

"Not really. So long as the immersion is flying below the radar there isn't any reason to try to market the term. If it takes off, you have that income to do the marketing. Do you want to push the immersion, or do you just want to throw it out there and see what happens?" Todd asks.

"I'm thinking just put it out there and see what happens. I figure if we pushed it, we would invariably get lost in the porn immersions."

"You're probably right. I think you should take a higher standard approach. Think Ferrari versus Ford. Everyone knows Ferrari and their customers seek them out. If you start out like that, you might could build a brand image around that idea. Maybe. A lot of people try, very few succeed. The good news is you aren't trying to make money at this. Are you?" Todd asks, realizing that he is making an assumption that perhaps he shouldn't.

"No. Not really. I would like to cover expenses, but other than that, no," Rick confirms.

"I think you should price the immersion high. I mean, really expensive, so the hormone-soaked teenagers will steer away from it," Charlie explains. "I don't discount my model's fees for anyone. Some people shop only on price, but most people understand that quality costs more."

"I agree," Todd says. "That is another way to set yourself apart. You will take the top one or two percent of customers and let everyone else fight for the other ninety-eight percent. Again, think Ferrari."

"Do you think we can set our immersion apart from all the others?" Giselle asks.

"I don't know. Honestly, it is a long shot. But we can sure try," Todd replies. "It all depends on how people perceive the product. I think it's different enough to have a fighting chance, but we are going to need a few lucky breaks along the way."

"Okay," Rick says. "I'm on board. I like the Ferrari model idea. The kind of people that can afford to take a risk on something like that are not likely to be the type of client I have to worry about stealing and sharing the immersion. What do you think we should charge?" Rick asks.

Todd zones out for several long moments. "The average price for the few porn immersions that are on the market is twenty to forty dollars. I would say between two-fifty and three hundred. The way I see it, if you are going to flame out, go big. We can always lower the price if we need to, but it is hard as hell to raise it. I wouldn't be too quick to lower the price though. It is going to be a long hard slog to convince the market your product is worth ten times the price of everyone else's."

"Sell or stream?" Rick asks.

"Stream, definitely. You are going to have to keep control the product. Maybe the two-fifty buy in, then a much lower fee for additional viewings. Something like that."

Rick turns to Giselle. "What do you think?"

"I think we should try it, so long as you think you can control the immersion and it doesn't end up posted like the vid of Teri did."

"Not to worry. I might not be able keep it from being copied, but I'm certain I can make it so that it can only be experienced by those who pay for it. If you are spending that much money, you will have to expect some kind of lock on the immersion. I'll key it to their chip. If I can't lock it down, we won't do it." Rick suddenly brightens. "Hey, I can contribute something to this after all!"

"The more I think about this, the more I like the term 'hedonistic immersions.' I think we should go completely opposite of traditional porn marketing. No scantily-clad or nude models, nothing like that. Clean, simple, and mysterious. Let's make a buzz about what only the few select know," Todd says, thinking out loud.

"We are going to have to set up a company, maybe an LLC or something similar, to shelter the earning and provide legal protection. We're going to need a company name for that," Giselle says.

"Why not Hedonistic Immersions?" Charlie asks.

"Maybe," Todd says, thinking. "I think we'd be better served to have a different name for the company, though. Gives you more marketing possibilities."

"So we need a name for the company? Giselle?" Rick says, looking to her.

"I got nothing at the moment," Giselle admits. "What kind of company name, Todd? Serious? Funny?"

"I would stay away from funny-sounding names, but it can be anything, even made up. How about we keep it simple and simply name it Chamfer, Chamfer Immersions, or something like that?"

"I would just as soon not have our name that prominently attached to the immersion," Rick says.

"Me either," Giselle chimes in.

"Okay, that's out. I knew it wouldn't be that easy," Todd says with a grin.

"I think it needs to sound like fun. After all, hedonism is all about pleasure. What words are associated with fun activities?" Charlie asks.

"Fun activities? Todd asks. "You mean like sports or playing?"

"Play?" Giselle asks, turning the word over.

"Playground?" Charlie suggests.

"Immersion Playground," Todd suggests. "I like that."

"Immersion Playground," Rick says, trying the name on for size. "I kind of like it too. It isn't sexual, but it sounds like something fun and interesting. If this takes off, I can see a lot of different things coming out of this, and we wouldn't have to change anything. I don't see what Giselle gets from it, but I suspect a wine-tasting trip would fill her with a lot of pleasure and that might be worth capturing..." Rick says, thinking out loud.

"I like the name too," Giselle says. "And the idea of the wine-tasting trip. Maybe to Italy?" she adds with a smile to Rick.

"Uh..." Rick starts, then smiles back. "Sure, why not. If this takes off, let's do it and see what happens."

"Which brings up another thing," Todd says. "If this goes big, you need to be ready to capitalize on the momentum unless you want this to be a one-hit wonder. The wine-tasting trip will be a good one. It will help you from being locked into one market. But you seriously need to think about the next big thing if this immersion gets legs."

"I have this immersion that starts out with a stud with cold hands warming them on his hot wife. Would that work?" Rick teases.

"Oh no you don't!" Charlie says sternly. "If, and I mean if, I'm going to be in an adu— I mean, a hedonistic immersion, I want to be romanced first. Like Giselle. Having someone stick their cold hands on me isn't going to cut it."

Rick chuckles and looks to Todd. "Okay, I'll give it some thought. I thought I had something, but I was mistaken."

"You're damn right you were," Charlie says, teasing Rick.

"You know, this is so much easier when it is just a couple of people involved and you really don't care if it succeeds or fails," Todd jokes. "Not like at work where you can't decide what font to use on the letterhead without a focus group. All that is left is the name of the immersion."

"That's easy," Charlie says. "Island Rendezvous."

"Oooh," Giselle sighs, "I like that. Island Rendezvous. It sounds so romantic."

"Wow, that is good," Todd says before turning to Rick. "What did you need me for?"

"I don't like it," Rick says. "Actually, a better way of putting it is that I have an alternate suggestion."

"What? Why?" Todd asks in surprise. "It's a great name."

"It is, but that isn't what is important to me. The immersion isn't about where we were, or the sex, or anything else. The important thing to me is Giselle took my hand in marriage. Everything else is inconsequential."

Giselle smiles at him warmly. "That's sweet. What name would you use?" she asks.

"The Proposal," Rick says.

"I don't know," Todd says. "It doesn't have the zing that Island Rendezvous does."

"Maybe not, but it's not like we're competing for attention among a bunch of titles. It'll be the only title. I'm thinking back to your idea about being different. The kind of clients we want to attract. Do you think they would prefer an immersion titled Hard Cocks in Tight Pussies or do you think they would prefer the same immersion titled Loving Couples? If we want this to be talked about in polite company, an innocent-sounding title would be better."

"I get what you're saying, I really do, but Island Rendezvous isn't exactly Hard Cocks in Tight Pussies," Todd protests.

"You know," Charlie says, "I kind of like Rick's truth in advertising approach. When you get right down to it, that's what the immersion is about. Yes, the sex is hot, but remember what Teri kept coming back to. It was the emotional connection."

"Does Island Rendezvous suggest sex to you?" Todd asks Charlie.

"Yes," Charlie and Giselle answer at the same time.

"So, The Proposal is the name we are going with?" Todd asks.

"We can always change the name later if it completely bombs and nobody notices it, right?" Giselle asks, seeking compromise.

"I think you are making a mistake, but it's your product. And yes, companies re-launch products all the time." Todd relents. He checks the time. "We have accomplished more in thirty minutes than I did in two years at work," he marvels.

"Will you help with the marketing?" Rick asks Todd. "Logo's, copy, designs, stuff like that? I'll be happy to pay—"

"No!" Todd interrupts. "I mean, I'll be happy to do it, but you're not paying me. I owe you that, and much, more for sharing the immersion with me in the first place." Todd grins at Rick. "When this really takes off, you can hire me, and I'll work for you at some astronomical salary. How does that sound?"

"That sounds fine," Rick says with a laugh.

***

Rick is standing behind Giselle in the bathroom, looking at her in the mirror, as they prepare for bed. After thrashing out the details and brainstorming for Immersion Playground, Rick was on an emotional high, but now the doubts are setting in.

"Are you sure you want to do this? Release our immersion?" he asks her reflection.

"Am I sure? No, I'm not sure. But we have a good plan and I think this is the right thing to do," she says as she scrubs her face. She spends a moment splashing water to remove the cleanser before looking up and drying her face on a towel.

"I'm not worried about me, but what about your career? Aren't you worried how you'll be perceived?" he asks.

"First off, in contract law, it's rare that I have to go to court. Secondly, if you believe that our immersion is different, if you really believe it, you have to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. I believe it is different. I agree with Teri. We have something that should be celebrated, not hidden. Besides, it will be kind of interesting to be married to the man lusted after by millions of women," she says with a leer.

He laughs. "I'm not so sure about that."

She hops up and sits on the counter. "I am. Now, where did we leave off?" she asks seductively.

Rick smiles but doesn't say anything. Instead he steps in close, wrapping his arms around Giselle's back as he begins to softly kiss the skin left exposed by her pajamas. He hears her issue a great sigh of contentment as he nuzzles her breasts and caresses her, sliding his hand slowly, lightly, over her back.

She sighs as his lips touch her skin. She has been waiting on this moment all evening, yearning for his touch. As he kisses her, his lips ignite sparks of pleasure at every touch, his hands sliding the silk of her top against her skin sending erotic chills through her. When he lifts her from the cabinet, she clings to him, wrapping her legs tightly around his waist, kissing him on his neck and shoulders. As he carries her to their bedroom, their closeness, and the anticipation of the pleasures to come, brings her passions to life.