#he sees yuuri a couple of times

[shh-im-writing-queer]

yoi in a nutshell

!!!!!!!

[dancingontheblades]

Why Yuuri is surprised to see Viktor cry

Yuuri’s famous three words at the end of episode 11 have been a source of anxiety and distress for fans ever since Yuri!!! On Ice first aired.

Yuuri’s surprise about Viktor crying is the result of thoughts and decisions prompted by his anxiety disorder and his tendency to self-deprecation and depressive thoughts. That he ends up saying this line has been carefully foreshadowed throughout the series:

1. Viktor making Yuuri believe that he only wanted to coach him until the GPF

Viktor never explicitly states that he will coach Yuuri only until the Grand Prix Final—it’s the conclusion Yuuri’s anxiety brain draws from his words because anxious people question everything and find interpretations that comply with the source of their anxiety. Like never being enough.

And the unintentionally ambiguous comments continue, while Yuuri is within hearing distance:

The first time I watched the anime, I got a queasy feeling in my stomach during this scene because Yuuri is so convincing and relatable as an unreliable narrator. It’s the source of fear and confusion. Like what does that even mean? Is Viktor talking about his career or is this a carefully crafted answer to convince the press to leave him and Yuuri alone for the next couple of weeks? This secret will probably be forever between Viktor and the YOI creators alone. Viktor is that adept at talking to the press.

2. Lack of self-esteem

Although Yuuri becomes more confident throughout the series, his self-deprecating side has a low opinion about his own skating. From his perspective, his contribution to the sport seems less valuable than Viktor’s, even when he begins to understand that he’s far more than a dime-a-dozen skater. The realisation that he is as least as talented as Viktor, only drives home the moment he breaks Viktor’s world record.

Because Yuuri has such a low opinion of himself, he doesn’t understand how much Viktor enjoys watching him skate, which is another aspect factoring into his decision to retire.

3. Guilt

Yuuri genuinely believes that Viktor wants to return to the ice and would rejoice when Yuuri retires. Having just witnessed Viktor watch his competitors skate (and do better than him) cements the decision he made at the Rostelecom Cup. The fact that basically everyone has told Yuuri throughout the series so far that he’s keeping Viktor from skating gives more weight to the idea.

Yes, you got that right. Yuuri decided to retire, before he proposed to Viktor and before he bought two matching rings and put one of them on Viktor’s finger. However, Viktor’s readiness to keep coaching Yuuri for as long as Yuuri wants to keep skating, forces him to release Viktor from his duties and he chooses the date at which Viktor has allegedly planned to end their work relationship.

“Let’s end this” is not about breaking up. Yuuri is releasing Viktor as his coach. He is sacrificing his career so that Viktor can keep pursuing his own career which Viktor once sacrificed for him.

Of course, he’s surprised that Viktor bursts out in tears.

Yuuri has the right to retire whenever he wants. He doesn’t need to consult Viktor. If he thinks (for whichever stupid reason) it’s time, he can make this decision without consulting his coach and partner. Although it would have been better, but then verbal communication isn’t one of Yuuri’s strength.

The decision to retire is the antipode of selfishness because it stems from Yuuri’s agape, even though his mental issues distort his thinking. However, Viktor takes personal offence in Yuuri’s choice, calling him selfish, because he’s conflating the coach and the partner. His inability to understand that Yuuri did that for him inflicts feelings of hurt and rejection, causing a drama Yuuri was not prepared for.

However, neither Yuuri nor Viktor are to blame since the whole situation is created and exacerbated by their individual underlying mental issues. Viktor still only scratches on the surface of understanding how Yuuri’s anxiety and lack of self-esteem inform his actions and distort his thinking. And Yuuri doesn’t know how miserable Viktor was when he was still competing.

If both had better communication skills, they would have sooner found a solution with which both would be happy (both training in St. Petersburg *wink* *wink*). However, it’s neither malice, nor insensitivity, or shitty behaviour that drives Yuuri to this point, but his mental issues. And love.

[triptychgrip]

Yuuri’s love of Viktor’s extraness

Something that I've seen a lot of in Yuri!!! on Ice post-canon fanfic is a tendency to write Yuuri exhibiting a certain amount of chagrin around Viktor's extra-ness.

Perhaps I've misinterpreted intent and simplified instances that in actuality were meant to convey something completely different, but at times, I've noted this implicit (or explicit) weariness attributed to Yuuri when it comes to his reactions to Viktor's behavior.

Specifically, his excitability and charisma.

To reiterate: I'm talking about post-canon content, meaning that Yuuri and Viktor have already bridged that initial gap between them and are in a committed relationship. I say this b/c a certain amound of overwhelm/wariness in response to larger-than-life Viktor is very understandable in the beginning, when Yuuri is not only struggling to understand why the hell his idol has come to Hasetsu, but is also realizing that the public persona that Viktor exudes doesn't match up with the flesh-and-blood being that is the real him.

This "God, why in the hell am I engaged to an excitable child?!" characterization of Yuuri confuses me, because one of the most endearing parts of the show is the fact that Yuuri is capable of 1) being just as extra as Viktor (but in different ways) and/or 2) matching Viktor's extra-ness in the way of the whole "meeting him where he is" theme.

I think there are plenty of examples of #1 (that quad flip at the Cup of China!!), and the Chihoko incident is a perfect encapsulation of number 2. With the latter, note that Yuuri doesn't minimize Viktor's insecurities by being all "you're being ridiculous, Viktor, why is THIS your way of trying to get my attention?"; instead, he tells Viktor that he could search the entire world and still find no one better. Oh, and then at Viktor's request, he strips down and joins him on the top of Hasetsu Castle.

Writing him as only being tolerant of Viktor's extra-ness (rather than celebrating it) also confuses me because as they get to know one another, I would imagine that Yuuri is able to see more clearly than most how Viktor was at a breaking point before coming to Hasetsu. You don't get to be a 5-time World Champion without being somewhat of a workaholic with extreme discipline, and there is more than enough evidence to support the idea that prior to coming to Hasetsu, Viktor hadn't really allowed himself to let loose, have fun, and do something entirely for just himself in a very long time (aside from that Sochi banquet night, of course).

So then, after coming to understand just how much Viktor might have been suppressing his true nature prior to their coming into each other' lives, why would Yuuri make Viktor feel bad about this intrinsic part of his personality? I've always gotten the impression that Yuuri would adore Viktor's innate curiosity and excitability, especially when he comes to realize that Viktor is keeping true to his episode 4 request to just be himself.

I might make a part 2 to this post, because there are honestly a lot of Viktor headcanons floating around in my head, particularly with respect to the fact that he seems like a man who has been told his entire life that he is "too much". Thus, to perceive this same attitude from the love of his life (again, maybe not explicitly, but implicitly) would probably tear him up inside.

I actually explicitly addressed this in Chapter 7 of my post-canon Olympic Games series, by way of a GQ "Couples' Quiz" appearance that the Katsuki-Nikiforovs make. Their last question to one another asks them to list the things they think their partner loves about them the most, and frankly, it was healing for me to be able to write Viktor answering that he thinks his husband loves his charisma/excitability 😭🥹

[ticklygiggles]

New Year's Resolutions| Victuuri

Collab with @otomiyaa ✨

A/N: Our first Collab of the year 🥺 Even though Ginny already retired, I keep bothering her, asking her to do collaborations together. Thanks for accepting again, my deeear! I have a blast as always~ I looove you ❤️

Summary: it's the fresh start of a new year and Victor and Yuuri find themselves talking about their resolutions.

Words: 1.8k

The first couple of days of the new year found them curled up in bed, sleeping with their legs intertwined, hugging each other and their faces so close together, breathing the same air. It was warm and cozy, in their hearts they couldn't wish to be anywhere else than in each other's arms. They would stay in bed until their bellies started to rumble and right after breakfast, they would jump back to bed to enjoy each other some more. 

A hand sneaking here and there would lead to a giggle or a kiss and then another hand going further down would make one of them let out wonderful pleased sounds that would guide them to consummate their love with kisses and caresses until their bodies got tired and they had to take long naps together. 

It was a lazy routine and at first they both felt a little uncomfortable, especially Victor, who really liked to go out and have a good time, but neither of them could resist the other's warmth and kisses. 

“Yuuri?” Victor had mumbled one morning, his voice still hoarse with sleep as he comfortably laid on his side with Yuuri snuggling against him; his long fingers carding through his lover's hair. 

“Hmm?” Yuuri nuzzled closer to Victor, taking a deep breath when his nose touched Victor's throat. 

“When are you going to tell me your new year’s resolutions?” 

Yuuri didn't immediately answer him, and after a few seconds, Victor thought he had fallen asleep again, but he didn't and when he talked again, Victor jumped slightly. 

Yuuri giggled when he felt Victor flinching and he hugged him tightly. “Are you supposed to share your resolutions?” 

“Hmm, I don't see why not. I can share mine with you and maybe you can join me in some resolutions and I can join yours?” 

“... I see. Alright.” Yuuri yawned. “You first.” 

A charming low chuckle could be heard from his husband. Ah, husband… Yuuri was still stuck in his sweet bubbly feelings when he felt Victor pinch his lower side playfully, making him let out a weird strangled noise.

“Don’t be mean Yuuri, I asked you first,” Victor argued, making Yuuri giggle.

“Okay okay!” Yuuri huffed, and he was very aware of Victor’s hand that remained on his side, but it did not move again, so he held his breath and thought for a moment.

“I would like to try more recipes. Learn to cook more good food for you, Vitya. Also eat good food together.”

“That sounds nice,” Victor agreed.

“I’d also like to visit more places. We talk more about traveling and don’t actually do it. Let’s visit some new places this year,” Yuuri continued, now feeling inspired. 

“Oh, and pick up my old workout routine. Maybe you could help me, coach,” Yuuri said playfully. He tingled when Victor’s thumb rubbed his side in approval.

“I’ll help you, student,” he said.

“Another resolution is… To tell you that I love you, more than I did last year. Hmm… Yeah,” Yuuri said, and he yawned sleepily. 

“I’m touched, Yuuri,” Victor said fondly. 

“Now, tell me yours?” Yuuri moved closer against him if that was even possible. He was pressed tightly against Victor and nuzzled him like a cat. 

“My new year’s resolution…” Victor thought out loud, and Yuuri could feel his hands on his body climb up - the one on his side trailing up his ribcage, the other moving from his waist further up as well, and he tensed up.

“Victor?” he whispered curiously, but Victor was still humming, deep in thought.

“Ah, yes. My only resolution is to tickle Yuuri more.” And suddenly his fingers dug into Yuuri’s sensitive torso, drawing out a loud pitchy laugh from him.

“Vityahaha! Nohoho!” he howled, but he had given himself quite the position in his lover’s arms and it seemed he was going to be stuck there for a while as Victor continued to tickle him with quick and playful scribbles.

“What do you mean no, Yuuri?” Yuuri’s cheeks flushed hearing Victor's teasing tone as his fingers wiggled against his ribs, making him throw his head back with loud laughter. “You have to help me with my resolutions since you're in them!”

Yuuri shook his head, shrieking as Victor moved down to his tummy, under his shirt. “You tihihihickle mehehe plehehenty ahahalreahady!”

Victor only hummed and Yuuri cackled, jumping and jerking as his lover's hands jumped from spot to spot, gently squeezing, scratching, poking and jabbing at his warm, ticklish skin. No matter how hard Yuuri tried to cover his weakest spots, Victor already knew the map of his body by memory and his fingers found every little patch of skin that had him shrieking.

“Yuuri!” Victor whined when Yuuri almost caught his hand. “Stop trying to stop me! I'm trying to do something here!”

“Dontticklemethere! Dohohon't tihihickle me thehehere- ahahaha!” Yuuri squeaked when Victor grabbed one of his wrists and pulled it above his head, exposing his underarm. “Plehehehease, Vihihihictor!” 

“Don't act as if you don't enjoy this, my love,” Victor purred and so his fingers finally touched his very vulnerable underarm.

Yuuri’s eyes widened before squeezing shut and he threw his head back, howling hysterically. It tickled so bad! It was way too early for this! And yet… he felt warmth and happy tingles spread through his body. Victor wasn’t wrong, it’s not like he didn’t enjoy this particular feeling. Laughing at his relentless husband’s mercy.

“Lehehehet go ohohof my ahaharm ahahahaha!” Yuuri kicked his legs when Victor wouldn’t stop tickling his helplessly exposed underarm.

“Alright, but promise you won’t move.” Victor was quick to agree and buried both hands under Yuuri’s arms, thumbs rubbing into the center areas of his armpits and tickling Yuuri so bad he was shrieking.

“Nahahaha Vityahahaha!” He flailed his arms and instinctively tried to push him away.

“You promised not to move!” Victor gasped. 

“I dihidn’t prohohomise ahahanything huwhaha!” The last bits of sleepiness were completely gone as Victor pinned him down and tickled Yuuri’s sides and ribs with admirable determination. 

Yuuri tried to keep in his laughter in an attempt to make Victor lose interest, but that was an impossible task when he was already laughing like a mad man, especially when he felt Victor chasing after his hips. He shrieked, panicking, trying to squirm away from those mean fingers wanting to dig into the soft and terribly ticklish flesh of his hips. 

“Hey, what are you hiding from me, huh? Why do you keep moving away, Yuuri? Am I going for your best spot?” 

Yuuri shook his head, but he then screamed with laughter when Victor finally grabbed at his hips and started squeezing them. He jolted and squirmed wildly, tears of laughter falling down the sides of his face. Victor laughed too, teasing Yuuri with comments about how ticklish he was and saying that his resolution was going just fine. 

Yuuri could barely speak as he was cackling his lungs out, his hands uselessly trying to catch Victor's, but noticing that wouldn't work, he gather the bit of strength he had left and moved both his hands under Victor's arms, his fingers wiggling into the warmth of his armpits. The sound that left Victor's mouth was inhuman and Yuuri laughed even harder as his lover's hysterical laughter replaced his own. 

“Oh my god, Yuuri!” He said in English before throwing his head back in ticklish hysteria. “NAHAHAT THEHERE! YOU TRAHAHAITOHOR!” 

It was actually hilarious that Victor tickled him so much when he was this ticklish himself. Yuuri blushed at the reconfirmation: he really didn’t mind Victor tickling him to death sometimes. However right now…

“Traha-traitor? Me? N-now why would you say that, honey?” Yuuri teased breathlessly as he managed to overpower Victor with tickles. Victor fell back, and Yuuri chased after him and continued the tickle attack under his arms, taking along some of those sweet spots on his upper ribcage as well.

“YUUREhehehe! Nohoho! Hohohonehehey!” Victor could return the pet names or anything, but nothing was better than this. Yuuri smiled fondly and wiggled his fingers mercilessly against his husband’s tickle spots.

“You’re the one training me, coach. Don’t tell me you forgot I’ve got stamina for two?” Yuuri asked, still out of breath a little but handling his teases toward Victor quite well. Victor cackled and squeaked, flopping adorably underneath him.

“I knohohow! Buhuhut my rehehesolution - ahahaha!” 

Yuuri cocked his head and concentrated on that great spot between Victor’s ribs. “Your resolution?” he asked dreamily, staring at the blush on Victor’s cheeks as he tickled him.

“Tihihickle you - wahhaah! Nohohot thihihis!” 

Yuuri nodded, taking in that sweet laughter. “But I like this a lot, too. I might add one more resolution,” he said. “Also, didn't you say we could join each other's resolution? I might want to tickle you more this year as well!” 

Victor shook his head as he shrieked with laughter. “Mehehercy on thihihis old mahahahan! Ack! Yuhuhuhurihihihi!” 

Yuuri giggled, “now you're an old man? Don't act as if you don't enjoy this, Vitya,” Yuuri giggled brightly, seeing Victor's cheeks flush pink. It was true that Yuuri was the one that really liked being tickled, but maybe after so much time together, Victor had started to like it as well and that made Yuuri's heart jump excitedly inside his chest. 

“I dohohon't- ahahahah, Yuuhuhuhuri! Leheheave my poohohohor ahaharmpihihits alohohone!” 

“Sorry, didn’t catch that,” Yuuri said, and he couldn’t hold back a giggle at his own bad joke. He could hear and understand each word Victor sputtered through his hysterical laughing fit, but that didn’t stop him and his fingers from enjoying this game a little bit longer.

Only when Victor started to sound really tired, Yuuri slowly stopped his attack, and he smirked. “Mercy?” he asked, poking Victor one more time. Victor nodded tiredly and snorted.

“Yeheheah whahatehehever!” he laughed. Yuuri finally moved back in their previous embrace. They were now both all messy; messy hair, sweaty, teary and blushy faces, and each wearing a huge smile as they caught their breath while staying in each other’s arms. They both sighed deeply and looking at each other's eyes, they couldn't help but break into loud laughter again.

Yuuri thought holding each other like this, laughing and giggling and sneaking some tickles here and there, was the perfect way to start the year and he hoped dearly inside his heart that he could spend all this new year with Victor like this, loving each other and enjoying silly little moments together. 

“Yuuri?”

“Hmm?”

“We'll have a great year,” Victor said softly, his eyes a bit droopy, feeling sleepy after their little tickle fight. “We’ll go to new places and eat yummy food together and I'll tickle your little head off every chance I get.” Yuuri giggled, feeling fingers walking up the curve of his waist. “So be ready, Yuuri, because we'll have a blast! People will get mad they only see our pictures on Instagram.” 

Yuuri smiled and nodded before kissing Victor's lips gently. “I love you, Victor.” 

He knew every year would be enjoyable if Victor was with him. 

[marumafan]

Hello, I am an old fan of KKM and I am really glad that I found your blog. Especially, since I have seen your conclusion about some additional information: You are right. Indeed. Yuuri is gay or bi...and he did go on dates with guys before or he would have had no reason to feel bad at a certain point in time, when the one whom he had defended resigned the team.

Yuuri has basically no interest in going out with girls, but pretends that he is solely interested in them.

What I also considered interesting is that he basically was thrown out of the team because of defending a love interest...He punched the coach, when I remember correctly...and he did get himself into the engagement with Wolf, because he did not dare to really punch him with a fist, because he felt at least attracted to him physically at that time.

So thank you for your your analyses up until now.

Hello there! Yes, but it's not like he goes around acknowledging it. I think that Yuuri is deep in the closet.

He's a character of his time. No way a teen would admit to being gay in the 2000s (they don't even do it in the 2020s here in Japan).

Just go to wikipedia and look at the summary table at the end of the article here to see how many rights LGBTQ+ individuals lack. Every red cross is an inequality. The dates Yuuri went on with those guys were very hush-hush, and I don't think he could quite admit to himself or others that he's gay or bi. For me, the clearest acknowledgement that he's 'not straight' is when his mom asks him if he's into 'people who wear uniforms' and he starts crying in Change /(Convert) the same story where he goes on a 'Christmas date' with the other guy.

After that story, there was no doubt in my mind that he already knew he was non-straight before meeting Wolf; but also that he was keeping it quiet.

I think his extreme closetness is difficult to understand by younger people and/or people who do not live in Japan. Anyone who lived in the 2000s America and is or knows LGBTQ+ people knows very well how closeted people were, especially after Matthew Sheppard. All of my closeted friends went deeper into the closet... and the ones out of it, quietly went back. It was a time of horror and I can only imagine it was worse in the past. That's simply the case that I recall as the horror of my time in the West.

I have many personal stories about the cruelty in treatment of LGBTQ+ people in the 2000s by Westerners AND Japanese, but I don't wanna get into it.

I'm just saying, I get Yuuri. Anyone living as 'non straight' during those years 'gets' Yuuri. And his wishful thinking about how 'getting a girlfriend will magically make him straight ', I know well and have seen myself.

This is a very realistic character of the 2000s.

It gets annoying at times, cuz he is a fictional character and why can't he just get it on in this fictional world with the cute guy that he's very much into?!

Stories are fantasies that we go on to escape the cruelty of reality, and when this guy 1) goes to a place with no sexual discrimination, which is what has kept him closeted 2) is surrounded by cute dudes and 3) the cutest dude is also into him , also he's like the king, you wonder... why can't he just accept the blessings the rest of us don't have?XD

But I think he struggles, like a lot of people, with his sexuality, and so he doesn't know really what to do.

Having said that, idk.... I feel like once they 'start sleeping in the same bed and have a child', there's a very clear innuendo that they're banging , but idk. The author keeps everything in a state of 'deniability' .

Which again... understandable.

You didn't read this from me, but def she's writing herself in Yuuri.

I think it's clear though, as the years go by, that she turns Yuuri and Wolf into a very solid couple with stories like Do you want an Exorcism, Crossheart, Misepan 2. Misepan 2 was released with the ending of the anime on DVD (2010s when she stopped writing), and Yuuri showing his love for Wolf in that story with the 'I would give you anything, Wolf' phrase, really sealed the deal for me.

After that we've gotten quite a few stories, and she even married them in It happens to everyone 2 and Shibuyas , two of the last stories that present them in the 'future'.

Like I said many times, they've been end-game for a while... it's just that no one noticed, cuz they're two guys.

[akwolfgrl]

Pakan no omega (the pakhan's omega) part 2

Part 1

Viktor was excited to finally meet his adorable little omega. He was finally ready to start that part of his life. He walked away from the dead body of a drug pin who decided it was a good idea to skim off the top of the drug sales with a spring in his step. Makka falls into step behind him, wanting attention. He wiped blood from his hand to pet her curls. She wagged her tail happily, licking at his wirst in thanks.

“Soon, Makka, he'll be here soon,” he told her.

“Yo, old man!” A familiar angry voice called out. “Why do you have that stupid look on your face?”

Viktor looked over at Yuri. He was still so young looking, but he had started to shoot up in the last couple of years. His pale blond hair was getting longer. “Yura! Don't be so mean, my face is just happy! My Yuuri will be here soon,” his good cher was real at the moment. It was an odd but plesnet feeling.

Yuri faked gagged, “That piggy? Are you still going on about him?” Yuri had issues that needed to be adressed when it came to omegas.

“Oh, Yura, don't let babushka (grandmother) hear you. You remember what happened last time,” Viktor warned him. She wouldn't tolerate Yuri insulting another omega.

Thire babushka was an omega, and she had always been plump. She was also beautiful, soft, and warm but had a spine of steel. He was never able to get away with anything. Yuri has been on the receiving end of irer quite often himself. He may be his cousin, but he always felt more like a little brother to Viktor. She had raised both of them after all.

“She's not here now, so who cares,” Yuri grumped crossing his arms.

Viktor grinned. He was still such an angry kitten, which was the worst thing about him. Yuri was a cat person, unfortunately. He couldn't help but wonder if his Yuuri was a cat or dog person. Did he even like animals? “Besides, omegas are supposed to be soft,”

“Get the stupid look off your face! That one’s no better than the last,” Yuri yelled at him. “Go shower, or your piggy will faint when he sees you,” With that, Yuri walked away, grumbling under his breath.

Viktor watched him go before heading towards the shower. He stepped out due to the buzz from his phone. Makka licked the drops of water from his legs as he stood looking at the photo Phichit had sent him. It was of Yuuri asleep in the back seat. His face pressed against the window, his glasses sat askewed on his face. He looked peaceful and serene. Soon, Viktor would be able to see him face to face, be able to touch his lovely omega, and drink his heavenly scent.

Viktor quickly dressed, putting extra care into his appearance. He fussed with his silver hair. He wanted to look perfect for his perfect omega.

“Viktor,” a knock and a woman's voice stole his attention. She had short red hair and bright blue eyes and was dressed impeccably. It wasn't much of a surprise that she always had a date. Viktor didn't care as long as she got her job done.

“Ah, Mila, come in, come in, are the rooms ready?” he asked. Mila was his assistant and Yuri's enemy. Before he had started to shoot up in height, she had teased him relentlessly. Yura usually just yelled and hurled insults at her.

“All but the last-minute ballet studio, we ran into a few issues, but it should be finished within a week. Did you still wish to check the rooms over one last time?” she asked

Viktor nodded, “Yes, everything must be perfect,” the ballet studio was a recent addition after Phichit had sent him a video of Yuuri dancing. He knew he had to see him dance in real life. Thankfully, he knew a prima ballerina who was mated to his uncle.

He quickly checked over Yuuri's rooms, Makkachin at his side. These rooms used to be his babushka's, so a lot had to be changed. Fortunately, Yuuri's parents and older sister had been quite helpful in accommodating for his omega’s tastes. Soon, he'd know for himself.

His phone went off once more.

<>

Phichit

pullin up the road he’s still asleep

Viktor

I'll come and get him don't wake him.

Phichit

k

<>

Viktor and Makkachin watched as Chris drove up the driveway. Each second felt like an eternity. He was mere moments from his Yuuri. As soon as Chris parked, Viktor hurried to the car. He quickly unbuckled Yuuri, gently scooping the sleeping man in his arms. Yuuri snuggled closer, burying his cute nose in his neck and admitting a barely audible purr. He was adorable all curled up against his chest. He smelt like smoky vanilla, amber, and cinnamon - such a perfect representation of Agape. He carried the sleepy omega to his new bedroom. Viktor had to resist the urge to put Yuuri in his own bed, to surround him in his scent. He tucked him in, taking his glasses, shoes, collar, and cuffs off. Viktor couldn't wait for the rest of their lives to start

[rikeijo]

Today's translation #585

Febri vol. 40, Toyonaga Toshiyuki x Uchiyama Koki interview

Part 11.

((💀This part can be really upsetting, so proceed with caution. In addition to unfavorable interpretation of Y&V relationship, it's also full of Jp brand of homophobia))

-- Hearing your explanation about that scene, a thought came to my mind that it was like a very realistic argument of a couple (laugh).

Toyonaga: Yes, yes, that's right! One person gets very emotional, but at the same time the other person is the opposite, very composed. That's why I think that the way we acted was closer to slice of life shows than anime. For me it was a bit of a shock, like "I see, so this is another possible interpretation, huh".

-- How do you see the relationship between Victor and Yuuri from your perspective, Toyonaga-san?

Toyonaga: Hmmm... From Yuuri's point of view, the Legend that, in the beginning, he was looking up to, tells him that he's going to be his coach, and is so close to him, so for Yuuri it probably felt as if he was dreaming. And from there, their relationship slowly started to be that of a coach and his student, I think. But from Victor's perspective, I think it all started from a surprise, a place of "what should I do next?". So he's using Yuuri quite a bit - or in other words, I think for him it all started from something like: "It will be interesting if I become a coach and make a Japanese skater win, won't it?". But as the story progresses, he starts to get inspired by Yuuri more and more... That's why I don't think it's a relationship that you can describe easily. They are not friends, and there isn't really a hierarchy in their relationship, so it's not really a master and a student relationship either.

-- And they're not simply rivals.

Toyonaga: Yeah. Having said that, to the question if they are lovers or not, I think that no, they are not. If you call that "love", it a deeper kind of love. I think that for Yuuri, as he said, Victor had a bigger impact on him than his family, so I think that they have a stronger relationship than a family usually has.

-- Listening to you right now, I thought that their relationship is close to a relationship of comedian duo...

Toyonaga: Yeah, it is perhaps something close to that. They don't talk with each other that much, and have separate dressing rooms, but they are tied together with an invisible string. And when the stage curtain goes up, they do their job nicely. I think that this is the kind of relationship that they built as the story progressed.

[Notes: 💀💀💀 Jp brand of homophobia, the kind of "why do you need to have what the "normal" people have?", "why do you need to get married like "normal" people do?" + when it's a man and a woman, then it's just "romantic love", but when it's a same sex relationship then "romantic love" is deemed not "good" enough, all of sudden, it has to be more "noble" and "pure" to be acceptable - you can very often see fujos referring to same sex relationships, such as that of Y&V, as "big feelings"... Even though they draw porn of the characters to get off as a hobby, at the same time a lot of fujos still firmly believe that referring to canon relationships as "gay" or "romantic" or "sexual" is offensive. Toyonaga here does exactly the same thing - "they are not lovers and if you call their relationship 'love', then it's a deeper kind of love😊" - I wonder if he has the same opinion of his own relationship if he has a girlfriend/wife - that it's somehow a worse kind of love, because it's romantic 🤔? I bet, he doesn't.

It's just pure discrimination, for the sake of discrimination, "I'm normal, you're not - you shouldn't have what normal people have" - there is no "religious beliefs" involved, for example.

Also why they suggest that comedian duos are not even friends or talk to each other? 💀 I'm sure a lot of those duos are best friends...

This interview was published March 1st, 2017 - there was a lot of talk about backtracking around that period, and you can see it here, too, imo.]

[this-is-krikkit]

Also I need more

i mean. brace yourself? i got a little intense about it 👉👈

you know this is all to blame on yuuri really, bc victor finds out about that art while they're vacationing in Japan and he's like "oh my god yuuri wouldn't that be great for us to try??" and unlike all the many other times he's had to shut his husband down yuuri................. hesitates.

(mistake #1. (well, mistake #1 was marrying victor, according to yurio, but what does he know, right?))

but like it's not truly his fault either it's just.. it legitimately looks cool and like something that maybe he and victor would be good at if they trained for it? like. it's all about being synchronized with your partner and wearing a fancy costume and lifting each other up, which they kind do on knife shoes on the ice every single day already. so he says something like "yeah maybe, we'll see" and smiles.

which well. that's mistake #2.

because when he asks for something, there's only two possible outcomes: victor either hears "victor NO" very firmly, or he understands "go ahead you badass genius, live your dream and kickass while you're at it" (not to mention, hearing that first answer does not, in anyway, guarantee that he'll listen. ask yakov. (actually please don't. he's enjoying a victor-free vacation right now and he needs it. please.))

anyway, a week later yuuri finds out they're both signed up to appear in a lion dance show in Beijing ("it's where we had our first kiss, yuuri!! do you remember??" yes vitya he remembers. the whole world remembers it was BROADCASTED ON INTERNATIONAL TV. also it was yuuri's very first kiss, and with his all time idol, and just... stop asking him if he remembers all the times you blew his mind or if he likes you or if he'd still love you if you were a worm it's always gonna be yes!!.... well, apart from the sochi banquet. oh. ok i see where you're coming from actually nvm) in a couple of months, but of course victor didn't plan any time for them to practice that skill beforehand. because vitya's obviously very hardworking when it comes to figure skating, but for some reason he thinks that.... translates into anything? which led to a few disasters, like when yuuri found out while seating in their rental car on their honeymoon that vitya doesn't, in fact, know how to drive ("but i can jump a quad flip with my eyes closed, so how much harder can this be?") or how he burned part of the kitchen the first time he tried to cook brunch for a sleeping yuuri (shooting directly into the top 3 times he woke up instantly, which in itself is kind of impressive. but hey don't tell victor that!!!)

it's too late to back out, unfortunately: phichit has already made social media announcements about it ("of course i invited him to come along, yuuri, he's your best friend!") and so has chris.

their two friends are both very excited by this new adventure. victor thinks it's going to be great for their fans + to work on yuuri's anxiety off the ice. yuuri... is questioning a lot of his life choices.

(makkachin's living her best life, convinced that victuuri finally got her a pet sibling (yes, it's the dragon costume. give her a break ok? she's an old lady.))

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers LOST EDEN ー Kino Maniac [Epilogue]

Monologue

Ever since that day,

the treatment I received,

improved by quite a bit.

While Yuuri-san was still there,

to take care of everything I needed,

it no longer felt like I was being watched,

around the clock.

That being said, 

I wouldn’t go as far as to say I was free to go wherever I wanted.

However, I could not help but worry,

about how Ayato-kun was doing. 

So while Yuuri-san was not around,

I quietly snuck towards the dungeon. 

ー The scene starts in the dungeon

Yui: Ayato-kun!

Ayato: ...Chichinashi! You made it out alive!

Yui: ...Yeah. I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble. 

Ayato: Ahー I’m glad. I thought you had been burnt to a crisp. 

Right after I stopped hearin’ your voice, that Yuuri dude showed up to extinguished the fire. 

It’s just...I had no idea what was goin’ on inside your cell because the wall was in the way.

The fuck happened to you? 

Yui: Well...

Apparently Kino-kun ultimately gave Yuuri-san the order to come save me. 

Ayato: Hm. Kino did, huh...? 

Yui: I honestly don’t understand why he suddenly decided to save me when he’s the one who started the fire...

( I honestly have no clue what goes on in that guy’s head... )

Ayato: ...And? Did you talk to Kino afterwards? 

Yui: No, we haven’t. I haven’t even seen him ever since. 

Kino-kun...He won’t leave his own room at all after all. 

( He’s been cooped up in there the whole time... )

Ayato: ...Then why don’t you go see him? 

Yui: Eh? That’s...

( Why would I...? )

Ayato: God. I noticed this before as well but...

I just can’t help but feel that when it comes to Kino...you just become more stubborn than usual, or somethin’... 

Yui: ...

Ayato: And Kino as well, he’ll use every opportunity given to him to bother you. You should just ignore it.

Yui: Right. I know that myself too but...

Ayato: See? There you go again. 

Yui: Eh...?

Ayato: In other words, you can’t help but want to look out for him, don’t you?

Yui: Eh!?

Ayato: You know what the two of you remind me of? A married couple having a fight.

Yui: A-A married couple...

( Is that how it came across...? )

( I mean, it’s true that I have a hard time letting it go. )

( But that’s only because I fear what he might do if he’s given free reign... ) 

Ayato: Haah...Why aren’t you saying anything? I guess you weren’t aware of yourself at all, huh? 

Well, that’s fine. But try to put yourself in my position having all of that rubbed in my face. 

Yui: ...We’re not rubbing it into anyone’s faces!

ー Kino approaces them

Kino: ...Hm. Seems like you two are having a great time? 

Yui: ...Kino-kun...

Kino: Sure, I told Yuuri that he can let you roam around the house freely...

But while you are out here talking with this guy, isn’t there something you should tell me instead?

*Rustle rustle*

Kino: ...Come with me.

*Thud* 

Yui: Kyah...

Kino: Come, I said!

ー Kino drags her away

Ayato: ...

Monologue

The only reason why I saved her from the dungeon,

is for those powers.

Because she is Eve.

So I might need her in the near future. 

This whole time,

I’ve convinced myself of that again and again.

I thought it was case closed. 

Yet, before I know it,

I realize that once again,

my mind has been occupied with thoughts of her. 

When I saw her,

talking with Ayato,

I could feel terribly dark feelings,

boil up inside of me. 

However, I did not feel the urge,

to kill her.

Instead, 

I wanted to get her away from Ayato,

as soon as possible. 

Lately, I feel as if I am becoming more and more of a mystery,

to myself. 

ー The scene shifts to Kino’s room

Yui: ...

Kino: Hm. Look who seems to be in a bad mood again...

( Even though she looked so happy talking to Ayato earlier... )

I went out of my way to save you when you were on the verge of death, you know? Isn’t there something you want to tell me?

Yui: ...Not really. I have nothing to say to you. 

Kino: ...

Yui: Besides...I don’t remember asking you to save me.

Kino: ...You really are a natural at making me upset, aren’t you? 

Yui: That isn’t my intention. 

I’m simply pointing out where I think you are wrong. 

Kino: ...And that’s exactly what pisses me off...ーー 

Yui: Yuuri-san told me about your childhood. 

Kino: ...Yuuri did? Che, he really shouldn’t have...

Who cares about the past? That no longer matters, does it? 

Yui: ...

Kino: Haah...Anyway, I’ll have to punish Yuuri for this later. Fufu...

Yui: ...Stop! Like I told you before, doing such things is pointless...

Kino: No. It does have a purpose. It only makes sense to get back at those who have done something which upset you, right?

Yui: ...But! Then you’ll be stuck in that vicious circle forever!

Kino: And what’s the problem with that? If you don’t want people getting back at you, then get strong.

Yui: ...

Kino-kun. You should know this better than anyone else, you know...?

That revenge only gives birth to more hatred...

What you are doing is no different from when the Ghouls used to take out their anger towards Demons on yーー

Kino: Silence!

...Then, let me ask you. Deep down, you want to get revenge as well, don’t you?

Yui: ...Me?

Kino: I mean, you’ve been at the mercy of those Vampires this whole time, haven’t you? 

They unreasonably drank your blood, regardless of whether you consented or not...

The reason why you haven’t gotten back at them for that, is because you lack the power to do so. 

I’m convinced that if you were to somehow get strong enough to be able to fight back against them, you would seek revenge as well!

Yui: Well...

Kino: ( ...Exactly. You want to get revenge as well, don’t you? )

( There isn’t anyone in this World who would be okay with always getting shit on. )

( If you don’t want to get the short end of the stick, you have to get stronger and work your way to the top. )

( Overwhelming powers, so nobody will be able to stand against you... )

Yui: I wouldn’t do that.

Kino: ...

Yui: Not once have I felt the need to get revenge on Ayato-kun or the others.

I’ll admit that I am powerless. Perhaps that is why the thought has never crossed my mind. 

However...Even if were to get stronger somehow, I don’t believe I would use those powers in such a way. 

Because I know just how meaningless that would be...

Kino: There’s just no way!

*Thud*

Yui: ...!

Kino: I’m sick and tired of hearing about your idealistic morals. I know you don’t actually feel that way deep down...

Yui: ...

Kino: Even right now, you’d love to get back at me, wouldn’t you? That’s why...

( You glare at me like that. )

...

*Rustle rustle* 

Yui: ...Kino-kun...?

Kino: ...Honestly, there’s no talking to you. I’m kind of exhausted.

There’s just no way you could ever understand what I’m trying to say...

Yui: ...

Kino: There isn’t a single person in this World who understands me. 

...Of course, I’ve known that since forever. 

Yui: ...

Kino: No matter what you say, I shall get my revenge...

I will grow even stronger, and have the whole World bow down at my feet.

I won’t let anyone get in my way...Never...

ー He walks towards the door

Yui: Wait!

*Rustle*

Monologue

Before I knew it,

I had latched onto Kino-kun’s back. 

Because I had noticed,

that even though his words,

were even more aggressive than usual,

on the flip side, his voice quivered ever so slightly.

I felt that he was lonely. 

Ever since the day he was abandoned on this land,

he has been all by himself,

living off the hatred he felt,

towards the Ghouls, towards his Father...

as well as everything and everyone else in this world. 

I am sure that I have absolutely no idea,

how painful that must have been. 

Perhaps he is right,

and there truly is nobody in this world,

who can understand him.

However...Even so,

I simply could not turn my back to him. 

I did not want for him,

to have to feel lonely any longer.

Kino: ...What are you playing at? Let me go...

*Rustle* 

Yui: ...Hey, Kino-kun. 

I...don’t want to give up. 

If possible, I’d like to get to know you better.

Because I believe that you’ll never understand what I’m trying to tell you otherwise... 

Kino: ...

Yui: That’s why I won’t back down.

Until I get you understand...what is right and what is wrong. 

Kino: ...You really are one hell of an annoying woman...

Yui: ( ...Perhaps I am. )

( Maybe Ayato-kun was right...and I worry about him too much. )

( But can you blame me? ) 

( I mean, it’s stronger than myself... )

Kino: ...Be my guest?

ー The scene shifts to black

Yuuri: ...

Kino, he...accepted her...

...Then, I’m sure now...

...

ー The scene shifts to the Church

???: Kino, that fiend...He got rid of the Familiar we sent to him, huh...?

Fufu, I see...I suppose he has finally declared war upon us...

Well, I knew this would happen sooner rather than later. In the end, he is a Vampire as well...

It was obvious he only wanted to join forces temporarily. From the very beginning, I never trusted him. 

Male Clergyman A: However...Sakamaki Ayato is currently on his side. 

???: Well, you do have a point. I believe he assumed that he would be able to manipulate us by using that man as bait... 

...However, I will not fall for his schemes that easily. 

Kino...I believe it would be best to turn him into one of our loyal watchdogs as soon as possible. 

...Right? Don’t you agree with me as well?

Richter?: ...

Even as a watchdog, his descent is a definite plus.

In that regard, I feel sorry for Kino for being related to Karlheinz. If we can get our hands on Ayato and his brothers as well, then... 

The Demon World will be ours at last...Fufu...Fufufufu... 

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

[nyerus]

Can I ask from this ask game : https://www.tumblr.com/toomanyfandomsthings/749729499738996736/send-me-a-ship-and-a-number-and-ill-tell-you?source=share

No. 2, 10, 11, 12, 15 for HuaLian and Victor/Yuri (RIP YOI movie)....Thanks 🌻

Waaahh, RIP the YOI movie indeed! 😭But I'll happily still answer for both Victuuri and Hualian~

What their love letters look like

Hualian: assuming Hua Cheng's handwriting is legible to at least Xie Lian... then I think their love letters would be super poetic and lovely, back and forth. And maybe a little sensual, especially from Hua Cheng's side!

Victuuri: for them, I think their love letters would just be really cute. Victor would of course pour his heart out, but Yuuri's always struggled with words. He'd try though, he really would, and it would be so adorably awkward that it'd make Victor cry with joy.

What TV shows they watch together, and which ones they hide from the other

Hualian: tbh, even in modern AUs, I don't see Hualian to be the type to watch shows. But I think Xie Lian would really like slice-of-life stuff, where everyone is happy by the end. Regardless, they wouldn't hide any guilty pleasures from each other haha!

Victuuri: I always had a silly headcanon that Victor kind of hate-watches shows like ANTM as his guilty pleasure lmaooo. The two of them would absolutely binge-watch sports anime, of course.

What their first impression was of each other

Ohhhh I think we know very well for both of these couples! Their first impressions of each other were THEEE iconique moments of the story. Hua Cheng meeting Xie Lian when he was caught and saved. Xie Lian meeting Hua Cheng properly as a wonderfully considerate "ghost groom" (though, you have all the prior "first impressions" that came before, little did he know! Especially Wu Ming!) Yuuri seeing Victor skate for the first time, and Victor meeting a very special side of Yuuri at that banquet hahaha (idk if that counts as a first impression, but it definitely was the impression lol). For all of them, they were enamored from the start!

What they do for their anniversary

A very romantic day for both couples, of course. I'm talking the full wine-and-dine experience, followed by a lovely evening enjoying each other's company. Whatever that may entail. ;) I think they'd get each other gifts, but nothing over-the-top. Something subtle, and meaningful.

What they would change about each other

Hualian: absolutely nothing. "What matters is you, and not the state of you!"

Victuuri: also nothing! They inspire each other, exactly as they are.

Thank you for this! It was so cute and fun to do hahaha. Hope you have a lovely day, anon!!~ ❣

[pinkprimrose05]

What do you see for the future/post series for Yuya or like if the Yu boys and Yu girls all come back post series what would happen, would they be like sister and brothers, couples, etc.?

I'm in this funny position where shipping is a foreign battlefield but I'm still open to considering it as an interpretation in some cases. Let's tackle this gradually:

- The ones I always default to thinking of in a sibling context are Yuuto and Ruri (and Shun! Do not separate the Xyz trio please), Yuzu and Serena, Yuugo and Serena (squabblers extraordinaires), Yuugo and Yuuya (writers you had one job-), and... that's about it, yeah. These groups/pairs are the ones that sound like they'd have sibling energy the most to me (as someone with ample experience regarding The Sibling Experience).

- Fruit to me has the most potential to be a legit romance, and while Apple does too, I oscillate between the possibility of Rin reciprocating Yuugo's affection that way, or being too used to thinking of him as a brother figure and him just going through a puppy crush of sorts that he lets go of over time. It's one hell of a dilemma, let me tell you that.

- You may have noticed a distinct lack of Yuuri in all of these cases, and this mainly stems from the fact that I think he needs a lot of time to ease into a semblance of normal relationships with anyone. This cabbage has so much to unlearn and learn, but I believe he'll get there! Eventually!

(But not in the shippy way, I'm afraid. Yuuya makes him watch one of those sappy movies one time, and he proceeds to gag for ten minutes straights at the happy get-together at the end.)

[dancingontheblades]

"... and then he casts aside the coach he seduced and moves on to the judges..."

For my Yuri!!! On Ice novelisation (LINK!!!) I subjected the scene in which Yuuri flaunts a big portion of extra sass by opening his short programme with blowing that kiss a closer examination.

This scene has two possible readings, and each one has different implications for both the plot and Yuuri’s characterisation and motivation.

Let’s take a closer look at each one!

1. Yuuri blows Viktor the kiss

Such a move would neatly join the ranks of Yuuri’s past performances of Eros. What strikes me here as a breach of the pattern, however, is the anticlimactic manner the blow-kiss has to it compared to the sensual lip-licking from the Cup of China. So far, Yuuri became flirtier with every performance of Eros, and would naturally expect him to double down on that with an even lewder gesture.

In a continuous escalation of the Eros intro, the blow-kiss would happen after the flirty nod and before the lip-licking. But that’s not what happens. A blow-kiss for Viktor at this point in the story would imply that Yuuri no longer needs to seduce Viktor because he accomplished that at the Cup of China and now focuses on keeping the love alight. However, the flippancy of the move contradicts the current stage of Yuuri and Viktor’s relationship as them being madly in love and only days away from Yuuri blurting out a proposal at the airport reunion. It also contradicts Yuuri’s intention to form a bond with Viktor because it stands in stark contrast to the commitment Yuuri has been showing regarding his relationship for the last couple of episodes.

Just by looking at Yuuri’s characterisation, this scenario seems not that likely to me.

2. Yuuri performs to the judges

Yuuri’s short programme at the Rostelecom Cup has one main theme:

Before the crowd can intimidate me in enemy territory, I must intimidate them.

Skating in Viktor’s homeland and in front of the people whose hero he has stolen, puts immense pressure on Yuuri that forces him to skate better than ever to cement his claim. Flirting with Viktor will no longer do it, Yuuri must seduce convince the audience that Viktor didn’t waste his time on him and that includes seducing convincing the judges. On the inside, he is freaking out over the possibility that this might be the last competition with Viktor as his coach and we see that foreshadowed in the hotel scene. Unlike at the Cup of China where his inner monologue while skating revolved around his prowess of seducing Viktor, his thoughts are now centred around the audience. Every skater knows that an excited crowd generates the power to motivate them to perform even better, and the effect of that is not lost on the judges, either. By flirting with the judges, Yuuri can increase his chances for a high score and a ticket to the Grand Prix Final, and he gets rewarded with a new personal best. Figure skating is a crazy sport and athletes can be quite eccentric, but a direct flirt probably isn’t on the list of things the judges see that often—and if they did, they rather saw it from the likes of Chris. (Figure skating 101: Skaters are expected to perform to the judges to increase their presentation mark. More direct interactions like touching the boards right in front of them have become popular in the 2023/2024 season, but only a small part of the skaters bold enough to actual flirt with the judges, like Loena Hendrickx in her free 2023/2024 programme.)

It really takes guts to flirt with the judges. Yuuri is known to show guts in the most desperate situations and when the stakes are astronomical, and the Rostelecom Cup puts him to the test. He has grown so much that he no longer needs to rely on performing to Viktor to deliver a perfect skate. He now has the confidence to achieve any goal he sets his mind on with his skating and by doing exactly that in episode 8, he shows the world that coaching him wasn’t a waste of Viktor’s energy and time.

However, at the same time, Yuuri is sending a certain message to his coach and boyfriend. Paying no attention to Viktor in a moment in which Viktor anticipates to be the centre of Yuuri’s attention is a small but sweet revenge for Viktor ignoring Yuuri when he needed his coach to send him off. This little gesture of saying “I can flirt with the audience, too” has the power to stoke Viktor’s desire and make him even more devoted to Yuuri than he already is. I wish Makkachin was less greedy.

To think this even further, Yuuri’s flirting with the judges is also a reference to the story he invented in the beginning to get an idea of Eros: “…and then the woman casts aside the playboy she seduced and moves onto the next man.” Not that Yuuri would ever cast Viktor aside for another man, he just knows how to pay him back in kind and get the message across. Beware, Viktor! This extra-large serving of katsudon his spicier than you can take.

Like Yuuri, Viktor has come to Moscow with a goal. “I want everyone to focus on Yuuri” opposes Yuuri’s goal to convince the audience of himself. All his words and actions strictly adhere to his goal, starting from the interview in the beginning, to lacing Yuuri’s boots and kissing his blade. Except for that one time when Viktor greets his fans like an overexcited puppy. Thankfully, Yuuri’s eros that is quick to remind him and the world who Viktor belongs to.

These two kinky dorks absolutely deserve each other.

To wrap this up…

That Yuuri blows the judges a kiss is more in line with his characterisation and the themes in this episode than Viktor being the recipient of that kiss. The cut towards the judges right afterwards supports this theory from a technical viewpoint. The Rostelecom Cup’s SP is the first time we get a glimpse of the judging panel during Yuuri’s performance. We’ve not been shown the judges’ shocked expressions right after Yuuri blew the kiss because that move was so scandalous. Yuuri has been more scandalous in the past and the creators didn’t bother to show us the judges then and instead showed us a blushy Viktor and a stuttering commentator. The cut towards the judges is a deliberate choice to drive home whom Yuuri was flirting with.

It’s amazing how much meaning the YOI creators poured into even these couple of seemingly insignificant but hilarious seconds. And that deepens the love and appreciation I feel for this beautiful show.

If you enjoyed this analysis, please consider spreading the love to your followers by reblogging this post, or checking out my canon works on AO3 (link in bio).

[triptychgrip]

Now complete: The Katsuki-Nikiforovs Take Vanity Fair's Lie Detector Test

My story covering Yuuri and Viktor's appearance on Vanity Fair's Lie Detector Game series -- with Yurio, Phichit, and Otabek tagging along -- is now complete! Read the second chapter (covering Yuuri's turn in the hot seat, from Viktor's POV) here. Be prepared for some major feels along with the laughs.

Below is an excerpt that I hope piques your interest in this story, or my other Yuri!!! on Ice work:

----

“As we’ve shared with our fans more and more candidly over the years, I was rather shameless in the early part of our courtship.”

He let his lips quirk at Phichit and Otabek’s slightly muffled laughter, and Yuuri’s cautious smile.

“Your ‘Yuuri on Ice’ Free Program is a very taxing one, and right after the first training session during which I joined you for successive run-throughs of it – with the full jump layout in addition to max difficulty on the step and choreo sequences – I made a big show of collapsing right outside the entrance to Yu-topia. I then begged for you to help me up the stairs to my room. You were so attentive and sweet that, naturally, I couldn’t resist the temptation to milk this opportunity in the following weeks.”

With only a brief flicker of guilt (what else was he supposed to have done?! Desperate times, as they say…), Viktor kept his eyes glued to the page and continued reading.

“At strategic points over the next month or two, I may have played up my fatigue, or orchestrated a few sympathy-induced falls when feeling particularly touch-starved. However, there were a few hints that cropped up now and then to suggest that you knew about my deception. And yet, you appeared to have no problem indulging me, anyway, practically carrying me every time that I whined about my pitiful stamina, or my achy knees.”

He looked up. Yuuri’s cheeks were charmingly pink, and Viktor’s fingers itched to poke at them.

“So, that being said, anata: did you know about my little charade, back then?” he asked, already aware of the answer but eager to see his love’s reaction, nonetheless. “And if so, why did you let it continue?”

Yuuri began to scratch the back of his neck, his flush growing even rosier.

Viktor nearly cooed.

How was he so cute?!

Even after over two years of marriage and four-and-a-half as a couple, Yuuri still grew adorably embarrassed around some of the particulars of their early beginnings.

His spouse gave a tiny cough and kept his gaze affixed to the table they were seated at.

“Maybe not from the very beginning, but eventually? Yes, I knew,” he responded, and from the slight upturn of his lips, Viktor could tell that he was reminiscing. “And you know exactly why: your little scheme started before we officially began dating, so it gave me an excuse to be close to you and to take care of you, for a change.”

Yuuri glanced at him and his face changed, as if he’d suddenly realized what he’d said.

“Not that you had asked to be taken care of, in so many words…but I liked having the roles reversed, so to speak, at least for those brief exchanges,” he went on, without a trace of levity. “You were doing so much for me, and it felt nice to be able to make sure that you were ok, too.”

The subsequent awwww’ing was somewhat drowned out by the way Viktor proceeded to half-stand and envelop him in an eager hug.

He giggled at Yuuri’s yelp of surprise.

“My Yuranya is sooo sweet!” he cried, swaying them back and forth. “And I love that you take care of me. You’re very good at it.”

There was a brief pause, but then his embrace was being returned with equal fervor. “I try my best, Viten’ka. You deserve it,” his husband replied, sounding so earnest that it made Viktor’s heart skip a beat.

“Sit down, geezer! That half-standing position can’t be good for your arthritic back!” Yura called out, the caustic words only slightly intruding on his bubble of bliss.

“Careful, Yura!” he challenged, good-naturedly, after breaking out of Yuuri’s hold.

“Off-season or not, I can still put restrictions on your diet at dinner tonight if I want to.”

Viktor allowed himself a smirk when his student seemed properly dejected at the prospect of this threat.

“Ok, so no lies, so far, right Funmi?” he asked, to which she gave an enthusiastic thumbs up.

[blithesrps]

Hihi! Ara with ⚔️ and 👑 if thats ok? Thank you!

THANK YOU ;v; These are great ones

Ara and Sebek:

Well. Funnily enough. :T Sebek is the one member of the cast Ara has real beef with.

It all began when Ara tried to join the Equestrian Club. She was like "Mounted combat would be a useful skill to know..." Rat of course tagged along as well. The thing is...horses do NOT like Hivechildren. They're somewhere alien between a beastman and a human and it weirds horses out. So after an afternoon of getting bucked onto her ass, Riddle finally talked her into giving up ("investing her skills elsewhere" as he put it). Sebek was PRETTY UNHELPFUL through that process and FAIRLY SMUG that she was sent packing. Rat meanwhile found the horses didn't mind him so much, so he started helping out quietly when he could. Mucking the stalls, helping feed the horses or brushing them down after practice. He was pretty enamored with watching the three club members practice, especially Riddle. It blew his mind seeing someone as small as he was be able to command such a large powerful beast so effortlessly. After many weeks of working up his courage he finally asked if he could properly join the club. It turns out that he had a bit of a talent for it, but he also REALLY irked Sebek, who started to ride his ass pretty hard. Something about his timidness and lack of self confidence just bothers Sebek, so he goes after him often. Things like "WHY WON'T YOU SPEAK UP!" or "STAND UP STRAIGHTER WHEN YOU SPEAK, CREATURE!" and "HOW DARE A HUMAN AS LOWLY AS YOU BUMP INTO MY LORD MALLEUS". Rat already rides a fine line between 'functional' and 'terrified' on a good day, so he was ready to quit when he finally told Ara what was going on. Guard Dog Ara immediately went to have a candid conversation with Sebek, thinking they could sort it all out no problem but well...he's Sebek...so things did NOT in fact de-escalate and it ended with Ara popping him in the jaw. Of course Sebek was HIGHLY AFFRONTED AT THAT and they got into a little bit of a brawl... A couple bloody noses and a few 'Off WIth Your Head's later and things were settled, though Sebek still gives Ara a wide berth and she still scowls when he passes by. For the record, Yuuri thinks this was very good for Ara! uvu Look at her, forming her own opinions and letting herself dislike someone for the first time! Malleus and Lilia also find it terribly amusing (Silver not so much).

Ara and Vil:

Ara did not have much interaction with Vil until after book 6, when they ended up at STYX at the same time. She mainly knew Vil as Leona's ex and sort of friend, and because of Rook who had taken to chasing Rat around campus in his free time (a guy has to have hobbies). Through the events at STYX Ara became a little enamored with Vil. He's always so cool and confident and put together u_u. And beautiful of course. Ara grew up in a literal cave and feels VERY SHY and unconfident when it comes to testing out how she wants to express her femininity. After she worked up the courage she asked Vil if he might consider teaching her a bit about make up and Vil was like A NEW PROJECT YOU SAY? Vil discovers Ara occasionally sings at the Mostro Longue and starts hounding her to put on a bit more of a show, which Ara finds she really enjoys. In the end, Ara ends up looking up to him as an older sister figure. Leona wishes he'd stop trying to convince Ara to dump him though B(

[enter-the-performapals]

@arcvmonth Day 5: Action Magic- Overpass

Alright, so I know the Dragon Boys Roleswap Shuffle is a pretty basic AU but I feel like I have an interesting take on it!

For the art today I wanted to draw Fusion!Yuya (hes gotta have some absolutely messed up anglicised name... Eia? Taking suggestions lol) being intimidating during the Xyz war, but it turned into POV: You're getting turned into a card. And stormy ambiance because Winter storms have been pretty crazy over here...

AU thoughts under the cut!

(Quick content warning for mental absue!)

Ive seen a couple of people theorise that Yuya, if roleswapped with Joeri, would still be happy-go-lucky but in a murderous psychopath kinda way. Personaly, I think the opposite.

In my idea of a roleswap, Yuya would be grow up as an orphan, desperately doing whatever he could to eventually get into Academia, which he does around ~10 years old.

Having pretty poor social skills, but still having a positive attitude, he'd make some acquaintances in the first month or so until he catches the attention of Leo Akaba.

Leo, terrified of what Yuya would become, decides to isolate him. While his peers are jealous that he gets special treatment, Yuya is over the moon and starts to see Leo as a father figure and idolises him, following his every move.

Around the same time, Fusion!Yuzu would be taken in Leo as well. Over time, Yuya would see how much better Yuzu would be treated than him, the way Leo doesnt let him too close to his replacement daugter, the hate that would occasionally flash in Leo's eyes when talking to him, and he would start to resent them.

Yuzu's no saint in this AU either, being coddled by Leo so much that she'd view herself above everyone else. She'd figure out how to manipulate Leo into getting whatever she'd want, and rub it in people's faces. She'd act perfect around Leo, but as soon as as shes away from him, she'd demean and undermine the people around her. And Yuya would be her favorite verbal punching bag- as hed also been selected specially by Leo-and save the worst insults for him. She'd probably be known as The Princess of Academia.

With hs confidence beingbeaten down by this version of Yuzu, shunned by his peers who are jealous that he was hand selected by Leo, and just knowing that Leo hates him for a reason he has no idea of, he'd just... mentally shut down. Spiralling into a deep depression.

He would never smile. Barely speak a word outside of duels, which he'd be ruthless in. His eyes would be cold and dead, other than occasionally showing flashes of an intimidating gold.

Of course, even though he knows Leo hates him, hed still do anything for the Professor, in a futile attempt to be loved and accepted by him. Hed be a major player in the war, and hed still kidnap Xyz!Rin and Synchro!Ruri

He'd still be the personality with the most amount of Zarc in him and at the end of the AU, standard!Yuuri would probably show him that he deserves to smile and that no matter what hes faced in the past, there will be people there to support him and be his friends.

After a charater arc duel where he breaks down after defeat and vows to become a better person, Leo would have an angry rant about him being useless tool to the reigime and a worthless demon child that he never should have taken in and expunge him, where then hed fuse with Yuuri.

My thoughts for his deck would be something similar to Sergey's deck, but instead of humanoids theyre animals (like the performapals) in a very old, black and white, rubber-hose style constricted with vines, chains and locks to symbolise a trapped but not lost sense of innocence.

If youve read this far, thank you so much! Let me know-either by dropping me an ask or putting it in the tags- if youd like to see more of this AU, because Boy Howdy have I thought about it In Depth. Thank you for reading!

[seeingteacupsindragons]

I’m thinking a lot right now about pacing, specifically as it applies to characters—particularly protagonists.

Yes, this definitely spawned from the fact that I watched classic 90’s anime and then one episode of the reboot, but this isn't about that. This is about the fact that the contrast in this element between them threw this thought into relief for me. I have tons of examples in this post, and those two are none of them.

I just think exploring it as a concept is good for my brain and going to be an interesting read.

For the purposes of this post, there are two potential primary tactics for characterization pacing:

Shoving all the important/relevant bits about a protagonist as soon as feasible (usually within an episode or two if it’s a show, or the first couple of chapters if it’s a novel, etc.)

Doling characterizations out in bits and drips and drabs to treat things like reveals

The first often has the advantage of making people feel like they know a character immediately. It works well for shorter works, and adaptations expecting its audience to have at least some idea of the source material—there’s not a lot of reveal in Steve Rogers being Captain America, for example, so there’s no reason to play coy with it. It shows a lot of exciting things quickly to get people hyped and invested early.

But telling a story this way can also feel like a lot of information thrown at someone at once, and the character ends up feeling shallower because there’s nothing to explore. No matter how much there is there, if it’s all upfront, it can be hard to sort through it all and see what parts of the character interact with what parts of the story. It can be hard to recognize and discern signal from noise. It can also limit emotional impact and investment in their character—if everything is shared up front, then there’s no build, tension, or emotional investment in the punch, if you’re hoping for one.

There is something very special about reacting with, “Oh God, I was so wrong, I didn’t know, I didn’t know,” about a character, about a facsimile of a person, than there is about a plot, even. The complicated feeling of realizing you didn’t understand someone and now you do, or that you actively misunderstood something, is only possible when you’ve been given time to adjust to a normal without that before learning more.

I’m not talking “sudden character flashback” when I talk about layers, either. I’m talking about things the character is fully aware of and acts on, that simply aren’t made clear to the audience immediately because the story isn’t rushing to tell you everything.

Here, let’s explore some examples that might clarify what I mean.

Consider Yuukoku no Moriarty. William has a lot going on with him. There’s lots of things we don’t know about him at first, despite the first chapter being a double feature length flashback explaining his origins, motivations, and goals. And chapter two established his current situation. Cool.

But you know what we didn’t know about him until volume 6? That he was suicidal. He knew he was suicidal. He was taking actions based on that. You can infer a little bit from some of the odd moments prior to the Reveal. It’s a necessary part of his characterization and the climax of the story wouldn’t work without that being critically ingrained in him.

And yet, the creators chose not to share it with the audience in a clear, stated way, or clearly apparent and undeniable until volume 6. He didn’t change: that was always a part of him. But the audience didn’t know it was there yet. But we had to wait a while to pick up that piece of the puzzle.

Compare to something like, Yuri!!! On ICE, which came out the same year Yuukoku no Moriarty started, so I’m not talking about changes story telling trends of over time. Yuri!!! On ICE wasn’t based on anything, so the reboot factor wasn’t in play. But it’s short, and by the end of episode two, we know Yuuri is stubborn, emotional prone to wild outbursts, obsessed with Viktor Nikiforov, obsessed with skating, and very unsure of himself. No other major character traits were ever revealed in the twelve episodes. Even the whammy of a plot twist in episode 10 was based on those traits: prone to wild outbursts, obsessed with Viktor, very emotional. He grows and becomes more sure of himself, but we never learn anything new about who he was and what situation he was always in that really matters.

And no, this isn’t limited to anime. Take this novel I just finished reading the other week that came out this year from an American writer and an American publisher set in America: the protagonist, in first person, introduced himself in the first chapter or two as a flamboyant, femme gay boy who loves talking too much and is tight with his friends and stubbornly wants to prove himself. That’s fine enough. But even if he grew or changed (a…little), there were no other important character traits that affected the story. We knew all we needed to know right away.

Meanwhile, something like Jeweler Richard, which was originally a novel series, set up that Seigi was a blackbelt in karate, that he was weird about relationships and bad at pursuing them, awkward at making his feelings clear, and even that he had a bad childhood and abusive father. But it’s not until volume 6, from a first-person narrator in the same style as the book above, that he tells us he’s terrified of being in a relationship because he knows the statistics of victims of domestic violence becoming abusers themselves. And everything slots into place. So many of his prior actions and behaviors make so much more sense.

So maybe this is a short vs. long thing? Not necessarily.

The Eden of the East anime only has 11 episodes and manages, depending on if you consider Saki or Akira the protagonist, to show different aspects of their characters toward the end of it: Saki’s connection to the Eden program comes up for the first time about halfway through the episode run, and the reveal that Akira has been changing his name over and over and over comes even later. Now, he didn’t know that, either but I can easily see a show having a flashback of some kind or having it mentioned by another character in the first episode so the audience at least would know how he got there. There are ways to get that info crammed in there if the creators wanted you to know it. We know Princess Aurora is cursed to be The Sleeping Beauty even though she doesn’t.

Meanwhile, I sat through four seasons of My Hero Academia and Deku’s character and story was pretty set pretty early. Maybe something changed later in the story, but I never saw any spaces for it to arise.

Because that’s part of what’s missing in the upfront narratives: any breathing pause for the audience to go, “Hmmm,” and think about the story for themselves and notice something a little odd. There are no questions raised to be answered, because the answers, as far as the characters are concerned, is set.

I don’t think the character necessarily has to know the thing about themselves, necessarily. I think it helps, but there’s also things like Sam’s demon blood thing in Supernatural, which wasn’t revealed until season two, even though it was obviously planned with his psychic visions well before the reveal. The audience was given something to poke at for a bit before it became clear how it fit into the character. I’m talking about things pre-established with a character that aren’t explained why or how they’re reacting the way they do.

I think one method or the other is more common in some genres and some mediums than others, although I can compare within one medium and find examples of both. It definitely depends at least a little on country and culture of origin of the story (Lord knows how much harder a time I have pulling slow examples from American media). And I especially think it depends on when it was written.

I don’t have stats for this. God knows I don’t watch and read enough media to even take a stab at it. But it’s feeling a lot more common these days to make sure everything is easily packaged and digestible up front, as much with characters as it is with plot and the rest of the story.

Maybe it’s because they want to show you their favorite interesting shiny bits as soon as they can and they get excited. Maybe because it’s easier. Maybe because they just like those kinds of stories. Maybe because they don’t want to deal with fans who have no patience or don’t understand that the layers were always there.

Each gives a story a completely different flavor, and it’s a completely difference experience of enjoying and comprehending the story. One is slowly uncovering a treasure box and the other is being given a treasure box to dig into and coo over.

I think the slower approach helps a story feel richer: it gives the impression there’s so much more that could be uncovered and the world is more expansive and the characters full of deeper lives. I think the quick and shiny approach helps a story feel flashy and dramatic, and some stories should be flashy and dramatic.

Do you want an hour-long firework show, or do you want to set off all your rockets in five minutes? You get the same amount of rockets either way. It’s up to you.