Back in August 2017, Ryan was on the hunt for streamers to watch when he stumbled upon a cute brunette playing Lux and casually shredding on the piano between matches. That was Valerie—sharp-witted, effortlessly funny, and the kind of person you just wanted to be around. Ryan stuck around for the jokes but stayed for the late-night gaming sessions, and soon enough, he went from a regular viewer to a regular duo partner. Their friendship leveled up quickly. Shared interests, mutual roasting, and deep conversations turned an online connection into something more meaningful. By the time Ryan graduated college in 2019, it was time to take this friendship into the real world. So, he and a friend made the trek from the Twin Cities to Devils Lake, where Valerie had been living since 2017. That weekend was filled with League of Legends, Letterkenny marathons, and Ryan cooking up his family’s homemade spaghetti and meatballs. They parted ways, but their bond only grew stronger. Valerie became Ryan’s go-to for advice, support, and general life shenanigans. Then, in 2022, it was her turn to visit him. She spent a week at his apartment, and somewhere between the gaming, the late-night talks, and just being together, she dropped the words that would change everything: “I love you.” The timing wasn’t quite right—yet. But love, much like a well-timed Lux ultimate, always finds its mark. On February 11, 2023, after years of friendship, near-misses, and undeniable chemistry, Ryan and Valerie finally made it official over a dinner at The Ranch. From there, things escalated quickly (in the best way). Ryan started visiting Devils Lake more often, and Valerie, being a teacher, spent her summers with him. Then, life threw Ryan a curveball—he lost his job. Standing at a crossroads, he prayed for direction and found it in Valerie, whose passion for teaching lit a spark in him. Inspired, he pivoted careers and made the decision to move to Devils Lake to start a new chapter with her. Despite the difficulty of moving away from friends and family, Ryan knew in his heart that this was where he was meant to be. In January 2024, just under a year into their relationship, he packed up his life and moved to Devils Lake. Soon after arriving, he started working at the middle school as a para and began working toward his teaching license. And 11 months later, he decided to make it permanent. On November 30, 2024, in the private upstairs of Geraldine's Supper Club & Lounge in Indianapolis, Ryan got down on one knee—surrounded by tealights, with Valerie’s mother, Deb, and brother, Calvin, there to witness—and presented a custom-made League of Legends ring box, complete with a sapphire and diamond ring set in white gold. At exactly 7:18 PM, Valerie said yes. And because they’re a little extra like that, they decided to honor that moment by setting their wedding date for July 18, 2025 (7/18) in Fargo. Their story started with gaming, laughter, and a little bit of fate. Now, it continues with love, commitment, and a lifetime of adventures ahead.