#my name is Victor and I like ice skating. does this say enough

[bigender-cowboy]

I was actually so sad when Ice Adolescence was canceled. You don’t even know. Back in the days where I had just realized I was queer, 11-12, I watched Yuri on Ice. And I rewatched it. I watched it when I got home from ice skating practice. It was something I loved so deeply. And then there was the movie I was waiting on, for years. AND THEN THEY CANCELED THE MOVIE.

[yoificfinder]

Hi! I was wondering if you would be able to find some time travel/time loop AUs where Victor and Yuuri (and other members of the YoI cast) are thrown around in time please? Thank you so much!

Hi! These are some time travel fics (mix of both canonverse and AUs) I read and enjoyed:

Previous rec of time travel fics where they meet their other self in the other timeline

a great desire to love by lily_winterwood / @omgkatsudonplease [T, 22K]

For some strange, inexplicable, fantastic reason, Yuuri Katsuki and Viktor Nikiforov are trading places. Kimi no Na wa AU.

All Our Yesterdays by @kitsunebi-uk [E, 102K]

York, England, 2120: Yuuri Katsuki is a dime-a-dozen techie, spending his days doing routine repairs at the university. He hangs out with his friend Phichit, goes for a drink, watches holograms. It’s an existence – but is it a life?

Crowood Castle, Yorkshire, 1392: As the son of a baron, Sir Victor Nikiforov makes judgements where lives hang in the balance. As a knight, he must sometimes end them. It’s what he was born to do – but what of the heavy burden on his soul? Death is all too commonplace, while life and love remain elusive.

When a brilliant scientist goes rogue, journeying to the Middle Ages with the world’s first time machine, Yuuri is stunned to be called on as the last hope of preventing her from changing history. After an abrupt departure, he lands at Crowood Castle disguised as an enemy of the Nikiforovs, Sir Justin le Savage – and will need to act the part if he is to survive. It’s a tall order for someone who can barely tell the back end of a horse from the front. But if Ailis, in her own disguise, discovers who he is, his mission will end in a blaze of laser-gun fire. He must not give his real identity away, even to the beguiling knight he’s falling in love with…

Elevators Out of Order by mtothedestiel [E, 31K] *WIP

A Kate and Leopold AU. In 1876, Victor Nikiforov is a handsome duke with an inventive imagination and a dwindling fortune. The search for a wealthy bride brings him to America, and the capital of progress, New York City. Can an encounter with a mysterious stranger offer Victor a future he never dreamed of?

Meanwhile in 2017, physicist turned paper-pusher Yuuri Katsuki is just trying to get through the day, which is tough enough without surprise phone calls from his roommate announcing he has a 19th-century aristocrat out cold on their sofa.

To top things off, it would seem every elevator in Manhattan is suddenly out of order. What a coincidence.

Here Once and Back Again by Cbear2470 [E, 77K] *WIP *Major Character Death

“What?” was all Yuuri could say as a numbness froze over his body.

Something—something wasn’t right. It was then he realized he couldn’t remember getting to the rink. He couldn’t remember even stepping on the ice to start his program.

He couldn’t remember.

He tried to remember.

*

As Yuuri is skating his free skate, he knows something is off. But, he brushes it aside, too focused on executing the program flawlessly.

It isn't until after it's all over that Yuuri comes to discover that he just skated his gold-medal winning, record-breaking program at the 2014-15 Grand Prix Final in Sochi. The very same final Yuuri had once upon a time placed last in over two years ago.

here's to the glory still to be by @foxfireflamequeen [Not Rated, 12K]

“Hi,” says Viktor, smile bright and camera-ready. His hand, when he extends it, is small and delicate. “I think you know who I am, but we haven’t met.”

His accent is very thick, very Russian in a way Yuri has never heard before. He looks from the offered hand to Viktor’s face, barely an inch higher, and tracks his hair, long and pale and spilling over his shoulders. He can’t be older than, well, Yuri.

“No,” says Yuri. “We haven’t.”

in another dimension series by @alykapediaaa [T, 8K]

Summary of first fic in the series

Entertainment >> Celebrity News

Viktor Nikiforov: Finally Found!

SOMERSET – Russian model Viktor Nikiforov, 27, who has been declared missing last May of this year was finally found earlier today. Nikiforov, known as the face of luxury brand Stammi Vicino, was vacationing at Bath, Somerset after a successful season when he suddenly disappeared, leaving all of his belongings, as well as his poodle, behind. Yakov Feltsman, Nikiforov’s manager, has yet to release a statement. Read More.

Life Unwoven by ayn2390 [M, 23K] *Indefinite Hiatus

Five-Time Consecutive Grand Prix Final Winner Katsuki Yuuri meets Five-Time Consecutive Grand Prix Final Winner Victor Nikiforov.

or,

In which things are tangled, and untangled, and tangled again. And Victor will always be there to save Yuuri.

Maelstrom by @feels-like-fire [E, 44K]

Victor Nikiforov is poised to win gold in his fifth consecutive Grand Prix Final. He has the world at his feet, is unparalleled in the sport--right up until a snowstorm blows into Sochi, and he finds himself repeating the same day over and over and over. He stumbles over Yuuri Katsuki, and everything changes.

(Or, the time loop au. Loosely based on Groundhog Day.)

On My Love by RikoJasmine [T, 73K] *WIP

For the second time, the Sochi Grand Prix Finals arrive, and with it a reborn Yuuri Katsuki. “Viktor,” Yuuri thinks over the pounding of his heart, the crowd going silent as the music begins. “I’ll show the world what you meant to me.”

Yuuri often thinks of his life as Before and After Viktor Nikiforov, the marking point being the day Viktor swept into his life and turned his world upside-down. After many years together, an accident leads to Yuuri suddenly waking up in the Before—back in Detroit, before the GPF, before he ever knew Viktor as anything other than his childhood idol.

As if it had all been just a dream.

paso doble by @cafecliche [G, 4K]

"Long before skating, or even ballet, Yuuri would hear about it at festivals, in the boiling humidity of Hasetsu summers dancing the Bon Odori in the streets. He remembered years where Mari would take him home alone, while their parents comforted lingering, distraught dancers. Sometimes, Mari had explained, they were crying because they’d seen lost loved ones. Some cried because they didn’t see who they’d hoped, but a stranger. And some cried because they hadn’t seen anyone at all.

Because it’s not just the steps. The dancers need, even for a second, to feel the exact same thing."

(Or: days before Hot Springs on Ice, Yuuri receives a visitor from another time.)

The League of the Green Carnation by @abarero [M, 62K]

There was one golden rule to being a Time Scientist: do not bring home anything that was a fixed point in history. This meant most artifacts, extinct animals and the like were permissible. Historical figures? Not so much.

But what about an author? Namely, Yuuri’s favorite author, who was murdered in 1887. Could he be saved?

Well. Yuuri was sure as hell about to find out.

Turn Back the Clock by IronScript [T, 59K] *WIP

When Yuuri and Viktor wake up over thirty years in the past, they don't know what to do. Does the other remember?

Luckily that particular question is quickly answered and they can relax slightly, but what about afterwards? Viktor was brought back to right before his first Olympics, and Yuuri isn’t even old enough to compete in Seniors’!

Then there's the fact that they're still very much in love, but a physical relationship would be illegal (and would gross them both out considering Yuuri's age), and they can't count on anyone to just trust them not to do anything age inappropriate. So maybe being long-distance (with as many in-person meetings as possible) would be better until Yuuri becomes a legal adult physically, never mind his actual age.

But it's hard to behave and act naturally when you're forced to be apart from your husband of twenty years, especially during one of the most stressful parts of anyone's life, so Yuuri and Viktor have to distract themselves somehow, right?

Right.

And if everyone around them ends up completely confused and blindsided at their sudden changes (though admittedly they seem to have changed for the better), then so be it!

[turtlycute]

do you have an anime watch list for beginners like the best animes of all time

Hello Nonny, thank you so much for your question. This is going to be a long post so get comfortable.

Like any anime lover, I have my own ideas of what some of the best animes for beginners might be. Unfortunatly, a lot of the "best of all time" type anime is not really the best for newer viewers. Like for so many others, my first animes were epic series like Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Sailor Moon and Inuyasha. These all hold special places in my heart and are all fun nostalgic or first watches.

The anime genres I tend to gravitate towards now are slice of life, comedy, drama, romance and shoujo with some sports, supernatural and mystery animes thrown in. So, keep that in mind as you read this list. If those are not your kinda things, then this is not the list for you. A lot of shows on this list are classics or highly popular in these genres. I've also choosen anime that comes in both English sub and dubbed versions because, for beginners, dubbed is sometimes easier to follow and enjoy. Subbed or dubbed, there is no judgment here as long as you are enjoying what you watch. Finally, I tried to stick to anime with mostly 1-3 seasons only. There is nothing wrong with the more epic long running series and many of these fall under "the best of all time" heading but seeing that an anime has 100+ episodes can be kinda daunting for a novice viewer. Now to the list...

First of all, if you are just wanting to try anime but, not wanting to commit to a whole series, I would recommend starting with a movie or two. Some classic films I would recommend would be Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle from Studio Ghibli. Some more contemporary films like, Your Name, Weathering With You, A Silent Voice and Wolf Children, would also be great anime starting points. These films are staples for any anime collection.

Now, as for anime series, here is just a list of 10 that I think quality animes and would be great beginner watches.

Ouran High School Host Club:

Haruhi Fujioka is a scholarship student at the elite Ouran High School. One day, Haruhi becomes accidentally indebted to the school host club. Now she must work off her debt by playing the role of a male host to the female student clientele. Hilarity ensues.

This reverse harem show is a much loved modern classic for a reason. It's full of fun characters and lighthearted comedy moments with just enough drama and romance to keep you coming back for more.

Maid Sama:

Misaki Ayuzawathe is the first female student council president for a previously all boys school. Now, her life is busy with maintaining top grades, keeping the male students in line, recruiting more girls to the school and keeping her part-time job at a maid cafe a secret. When one day Takumi Usui, the most popular boy in school, discovers her secret job, Misaki finds herself doing everything she can to keep him from revealing the truth to the whole school.

This shoujo has enough of comedy, romance and drama to satisfy anyone's appetite.

Fruits Basket:

After finding herself orphaned and homeless, high schooler Tohru Honda makes a new home with classmates Yuki and Kyo Sohma along with there guardian Shigure Sohma. But the Sohma's have a dark secret, they are under a curse that causes them to change into animals from the Chinese zodiac when hugged by members of the opposite sex. Now, Tohru must keep their secret as she learns more about this family and their curse.

There are actually 2 different versions of this show. Many people would recommend that you start with the completed classic 2001 version but, I'm going to say it's okay to skip that for later and dive into the 2019 reboot and ongoing series. The newer series is so beautifully animated and has a more detailed version of the story than its predecessor. This shoujo is full of drama, comedy, romance, supernatural mysteries and inspirational moments. You'll definitely need a kleenex box when watch this one.

Kamisama Kiss:

One day high school student Nanami Momozono finds herself abandoned by her father, penniless and homeless. After she saves a mysterious man in the park, he offers to help her by giving his home to her. She soon discovers that this gift home is really a rundown shrine and she has magically become local land god. Now, she must learn to juggle her school life and her new position as a land god. Luckily for her, a reluctant fox familiar named Tomoe comes with the shine and has to give her assistance with it all.

This classic is part shoujo comedy and part supernatural adventure. I definitely recommend this in the English dub if for no other reason than to enjoy J. Michael Tatum's voice work as Tomoe.

The Morose Mononokean:

Hanae Ashiya spends his first week of high school with a mystery illness that has left him feeling increasingly weak. He eventually discovers that the cause of his illness is a large fluffy creature that has attached itself to his back. When Hanae comes across a flyer advertising an exorcist who expels youkai, he decides that exorcism might be just the thing to remove the creature. The flyer leads him to the Mononokean and a magical tea room which suddenly appears. The Mononokean turns out to be a fellow classmate, Haruitsuki Abeno, who reluctantly helps Hanae but, demands that Hanae work as his assistant to repay him for the exorcism. Now, Hanae spends his free time working to learn about yokai spirits and how to best help the yokai that live in the mundane world.

This supernatural comedy is just fun to watch, with enough drama to keep you interested. It really has that classic Saturday morning anime adventure feel but, for a slightly older audience.

The Devil is a Part-Timer:

Just as Demon Lord Satan, a.k.a the Devil has nearly conquered the world of Ente Isla and destroyed his enemies, a hero named Emilia corners him and forces him and his top general to escape through a portal to modern day Earth. Emilia, of course, follows him determined to finally defeat the Devil. But now they all find themselves on Earth with no powers, they must discover how to survive even if that means the Devil must get a part-time job at Mc Ronald's just to pay the rent.

What can I say about this show... It starts out with an almost stereotypical supernatural action/adventure anime feel only to turn into a comedic slice of life with a little romance and the ocational fight sequence thrown in. This show is one of the best examples of how versatile anime can be and a great way to get a little taste of a lot of genres.

Death Note:

High school student Light Yagami stumbles upon a supernatural notebook that allows its owner to kill by simply writing someone's name down. Light soon sees the death notebook as a way to reform society's ills by killing criminals and undesirables to create world without crime. Once the police discover that a mysterious serial killer is targeting criminals, they bring in the worlds greatest detective, L, to find and capture this serial killer. This begins a epic battle of witts between Light and L.

This classic anime is a lot darker than anything else on the list but, it's definitely worth mentioning. It was one of the earlier animes I watched and I'm still a fan to this day. It falls mostly into the categories of thriller, supernatural, mystery, horror and crime drama. It is also another one that I'd strongly recommend the English dub over the subbed version. So, if you want to take little walk on the anime dark side, this is a good place to start.

Yuri On Ice:

After a disastrous performance and coming in last place at the Grand Prix, ice skater Yuri Katsuki is thinking about retiring. That is until his skating idol and living legend Victor Nikiforov shows up to his home offering to be his coach. Now, with Victor's help Yuri works to rebuild his career and fight his way to a gold medal at the Grand Prix Final.

Yuri On Ice is my all time favorite anime so, of course it's going to make the list. So much about the struggles and perseverance of the characters in this sports anime is inspiring. Then, when you add in a little romance, flashy skating routines to a great original soundtrack and the drama of competition, everything about this show gets a gold medal.

Free!-Iwatobi Swim Club:

Haruka Nanase has always had a strong connection to the water and a passion for swimming. As he starts high school, Haruka is reunited with childhood friends from a youth swim team, Nagisa Hazuki and Makoto Tachibana. The three decide to start a school swim team. Now, they must recruit a fourth member and train to be able compete in their first swim meet. Watch to see these guys bond as a team and friends and as they pursue their goal to compete at Nationals.

There are a lot of great sports anime out there but, this one is a good one to start with. Free! exemplifies so many standard tropes within this genre and does in an engaging way with an easy to understand sport. There are multiple seasons and movies for this series but, the first season, Free! -Iwatobi Swim Club, is satisfying enough as a stand alone.

My Roommate is a Cat:

Subaru Mikazuki, an introvert writer with social anxiety, adopts a stray cat after a chance encounter. Together they both learn they are not as alone as each of them believed.

This slice of life anime is sooooo relatable, cute and funny. If you're looking for something that's low key and will make you feel all warm inside, than this is the show you should start with.

Here are some honorable mention animes to also consider: Toradora, ReLife, Princess Jellyfish (I just love this show and think everyone should watch it), Black Butler (if you're willing to sort out the correct viewing order it can be worth it), the classic Avatar: The Last Airbender (yeah, yeah, yeah is it anime or isn't, doesn't matter it's a great gateway) and Kakuriyo- Bed and Breakfast for Spirits

So here are some of my top favorite anime for beginners recommendations. A nice mix of classic standards and a few newer shows that really show off specific genres. These are just my opinions, I'm sure there are many other animes that should probably make this list. As always, if anyone wants to add to this list or make some different suggestions please feel welcome to add your own favorites in the comments or as a reblog. Thank you Nonny for the ask and I hope you find this list helpful.

[lcdrarry]

LCDrarry 2020 Master List

Dear lovely Participants, Creators, Alpha and Beta Readers, Commentors, Cheerleaders, Readers and Fans of our fest,

Our 2nd installment of LCDrarry is coming to an end, and we'd like to thank you all for taking part in our little fest, for creating so many amazing new Drarry works for us all to enjoy, for commenting on your favourite creations, for sharing and recommending the LCDrarry gems with your friends and blog followers, and for making this fest another amazing experience for us mods.

We hope we could bring you some joy and diversion in these trying times and send you lots of love, strength and perseverance wherever you are :*

Under the cut, you can find out who created what ;D The works are listed in the order they posted during the fest.

Happy reading & squeeing & don’t forget to follow your favourite creators!

~Your LCDrarry Mods Tami @celilasart​ and Suzi @erin-riwen​

PS: Reblogs are very much appreciated <3

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Love, Actually, is All Around

Prompt: #180 | "Love, Actually" - 2003 - Richard Curtis Author: punk_rock_yuppie Word Count: 9,975 words Rating: Teen and Up Warnings: Wizarding Politics, Discriminiation, Slight power imbalance

Summary: It's Christmastime, and Harry has just started as the new Minister of Magic. It just so happens that Draco happens to work in his office as well, a holdover from Kingsley's tenure. Naturally, love is in the air.

Read "Love, Actually, is All Around" now on AO3.

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Drarry on Ice

Prompt: #150 | '"Yuuri!!! On Ice" - 2016 - Series Artist: RunningOutsideTheLines Art Medium: Traditional Art Rating: General Warnings: none

Summary: Harry and Draco find love on the ice. I love Yuuri on Ice and Harry and Draco seem like such a perfect fit for Victor and Yuuri. I'll leave it up to your imagination as far as which is which. This image is from the final scene when the two of them do a exhibition skate together.

View "Drarry on Ice" now on AO3.

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Boats, but Not the Ocean

Prompt: #203 | "Groundhog Day" - 1993 - Harold Ramis Author: p1013 Word Count: 15,551 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Very minor mention of suicide, some mild horror

Summary: If Draco ever gets his hands on this Bill Murray character, he's going to kill him.

Read "Boats, but Not the Ocean" now on AO3.

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When I Put My Eyes On You

Prompt: #193 | "The Way He Looks" - 2014 - Daniel Ribeiro Author: Zzzara Word Count: 31,155 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Summary: When a hero defeats a villain, there's supposed to be a happily-ever-after... but when did anything ever happen to Harry Potter the way it was supposed to? Having sacrificed himself to the greater good, Harry is left alone in the darkness, blindly groping for the shreds of the life he knew. When the enemies meet, how is the story supposed to go, once they learn there's more to it than the eye can see? A story of pain, hope and things we discover, once we stop looking for them with our eyes.

Read "When I Put My Eyes On You" now on AO3.

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Spellbound

Prompt: #113 | "Overboard" - 1987 - Garry Marshall Author: mortenavida Word Count: 15,878 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: Amnesiac Draco Malfoy, Widowed Harry Potter, past Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, Dub-Con due to Amnesia (Only Kissing)

Summary: It’s been years since Harry left with Ginny to get away from the bad memories of war. The small town of Elk Cove, Oregon, had been a perfect place to raise their children. Now widowed, Harry works hard to make sure his children never want for anything. When an old rival steps into his life, everything changes and Harry finds the perfect opportunity to get back at Malfoy for everything the Slytherin did to him -- if he doesn’t regret falling for him first.

Read "Spellbound" now on AO3.

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Of Labcoats and Animagi

Prompt: #97 | "Queer Eye" - 2017 - Series Author: meandminniemcg Word Count: 10,868 words Rating: Mature Warnings: mention of past abuse, panic attack (tw at beginning of chapter, can be skipped)

Summary: Fashion icon Draco? That's long past. After the war, he never bought any new clothes and lives in his labcoats. When he doesn't feel confident enough to meet his pen friend Prongs in real life, Luna decides to stage an intervention with a little help from the Fab Five.

Read "Of Labcoats and Animagi" now on AO3.

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Title of Their Sex Tape

Prompt: #112 | "Brooklyn Nine Nine" - 2013 - Series Author: Cibee Word Count: 12,428 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: None

Summary: What are the Wizarding world's most elite law enforcers doing when they aren't catching criminals? It seems Auror Malfoy is often caught throwing food into Auror Potter's mouth when he's mid-yawn. This story isn't about Draco throwing food at Harry. What it does have is: Undercover! Heists! Draco pining for Harry! Harry being oblivious, but also can't help noticing how good Draco smells! Banters and jokes! That's about it.

Read "Title of Their Sex Tape" now on AO3.

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Harry Potter and the Beast

Prompt: #204 | "Beauty and the Beast" - 1991 - Gary Trousdale Author/Artist: Miakagrewup Word Count/Art Medium: 5,655 words/31 illustrated pages Rating: General Warnings: None

Summary: Arrogant prince Draco is cursed to live as a terrifying beast until he finds true love. This fairy tale consists of 31 fully illustrated pages.

Read "Harry Potter and the Beast" now on AO3.

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So Open Up My Eyes, Tell Me I'm Alive

Prompt: #191 | "Secret Garden" - 1993 - Agnieszka Holland Author: mycucumbereyes Word Count: 12,865 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: trauma, canon typical violence, homophobia, use of f-g/f----t, mention of suicidal thoughts, character with a disability

Summary: When Draco Malfoy comes to live at Godric’s Hollow, he finds it full of secrets. One night he hears the sound of crying…

Read "So Open Up My Eyes, Tell Me I'm Alive" now on AO3.

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i demand to dig my own grave

Prompt: #10 | "Psych" - 2006 - Series Author: M0stlyVoid Word Count: 20,836 words Rating: Mature Warnings: None

Summary: Draco finds himself in hot water with the Aurors, and in a burst of panicked inspiration manages to wiggle out of it by claiming to be a Seer. There's just one little problem– Senior Auror Harry Potter, the Prat Who Lived, who's known him for a decade, knows full well Draco doesn't have a single psychic bone in his body and seems determined to pull him up for it. Now, the Department is demanding he help them solve cases, Potter's looming over his shoulder at every turn, and worst of all, he hasn't had a shag in weeks because of all this bother. What's a pseudo-Seer to do?

Read "i demand to dig my own grave" now on AO3.

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As You Wish

Prompt: #37 | "The Princess Bride" - 1987 - Rob Reiner Author: Pineau_noir Word Count: 21,917 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: Canon-typical (Harry Potter and The Princess Bride) violence, mention of suicide, canon-typical character death

Summary: Draco was raised on a farm in the small country of Witshire; his favourite pastimes were flying on his broom and tormenting the hired farm boy. Though his name was Harry, Draco never called him that. On Harry's forehead there was a scar shaped like a lightning bolt, so Draco called him Scarhead. Nothing gave Draco as much pleasure as ordering Harry around.

Or a story about fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, True Love, and miracles.

Read "As You Wish" now on AO3.

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Queer Eye for the Drarry Guys

Prompt: #97 | "Queer Eye"- 2017 - Series Author: blowfish_diaries Word Count: 18,201 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: none

Summary: Teddy's dads are great! Really! They just need a little push from five *fabulous* gays to get them to see what's right in front of them.

Read "Queer Eye for the Drarry Guys" now on AO3.

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Casecation

Prompt: #112 | "Brooklyn Nine Nine" - 2013 - Series Author: Mfingenius Word Count: 4,293 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: AU, canon-typical discussion of heavy topics, discussion of mpreg

Summary: "Draco Malfoy, I swear to God-” Hermione snaps under her breath, causing Draco to laugh lowly as he ducks under a hanging plant pot. “Draco Potter, ‘Mione,” Harry murmurs with a helpless grin; they’re not really supposed to be speaking – they're walking through the halls of Antonin Dolohov’s beach house, on their way to arrest him – but Harry can’t help marking the difference, even a year after they got married. “Be quiet,” Ginny says, rolling her eyes. “If he hears us and escapes-” Draco signals at them, and they all steel themselves for when he throws the door of the bedroom open. “Shit!”

Read "Casecation" now on AO3.

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Don't Blink!

Prompt: #179 | "Dr Who" - 2007 - Series Author/Artist: Gnarf Art Medium: Digital art Rating: General Warnings: None

Summary: Harry had always had exceptionally bad timing. It's not different this time.

Read "Don't Blink!" now on AO3.

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A Demon and an Angel Visit the Ritz

Prompt: #167 | “Good Omens” - 2019 - Series Artist: ravenclawkward Art Medium: Digital Oil Painting Rating: General Warnings: None

Summary: Harry the demon and Draco the angel just finished saving the world. They've earned their celebration, wouldn't you say?

Read "A Demon and an Angel Visit the Ritz" now on AO3.

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Change on the Horizon

Prompt: #57 | "Shameless (US)" - 2011 - Series Author: static_abyss Word Count: 118,645 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Character with depression, mentions of not wanting to exist and lethargy, though no actual suicide or mentions of suicide. Unhealthy coping mechanisms, specifically not taking prescribed medication for depression. Internalized homophobia, and general homophobia from parental figures, though there is a happy ending. Casual relationships.

Summary: A canon AU drarry fic based on the relationship between Mickey and Ian from Shameless. A story about the aftereffects of the Second Wizarding War and how Draco and Harry come together and break apart over and over. How maybe, somewhere along the way, they find a way to live with themselves.

Read "Change on the Horizon" now on AO3.

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The Thrill of the Chase Moves in Mysterious Ways

Prompt: #192 | "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" - 2012 - Series Author: VeelaWings Word Count: 32,569 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Heavy Drinking, Smoking Cigars, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Minor Character Death, Implied/Referenced Abuse, Implied/Referenced Kidnapping, Non-Graphic Violence, Gun Violence, Poisoning

Summary:

“Do you have a personal interest in this case, Malfoy?” Harry asked, arms crossed and blocking the view of the body behind him.

“Not at all.” Draco smiled sweetly, cuddled into the side of tonight’s date. “Although I did briefly own that painting until it proved to be stolen.” He helpfully pointed to the Renaissance portrait a few metres to their left.

“Why is it always so complicated with you?”

+++++

Some people might argue that Draco didn’t have very good ideas. That was a lie. Draco had fantastic ideas, however, due to mankind having free will, the planning and execution of those ideas didn’t always pan out in his favor.

(Or — Draco solves crimes that don’t technically belong to him and Harry tries not to fall in love. Co-Starring: Hermione, High Heels, and Hiccups along the way. #dat 1920s lyfe)

Read "The Thrill of the Chase Moves in Mysterious Ways” now on AO3.

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Burn Your Life Down (but look back to me)

Prompt: #202 | Casablanca - 1942 - Michael Curtiz Author: Triggerlil Word Count: 35,910 words Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Warnings: Alternate Universe - World War II, Film Noir, Self-Medication, Alcohol, Infidelity (not between Harry and Draco), Smoking, Mention of Slavery and Human Trafficking

Summary:

It's been years since destiny walked into an apartment on Rue Azais, and Harry is over it. Really, he is. He has Blaise, he has his work, and if necessary, he still has his memories. But with the onset of WWII, the foundations of his life are crumbling, and suddenly a certain blond man is walking back into his life, asking Harry to make important, and dangerous, choices.

Read “Burn Your Life Down (but look back to me)” now on AO3.

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Super Rich Kids

Prompt: #24 | "The Bling Ring" - 2013 - Sofia Coppola Author: Thusspoketrish Word Count: 81,000 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Thriller, Murder, Dark Humour, Angst, Depression, Nihilism, Existenialism, Jealousy, Hurt/Comfort, Gaslighting, Very Brief Instance of Suicidal Ideation, Immorality, Implied/Referenced Domestic Violence (not between Harry and Draco), Abusive Drug Use, Manipulative Behaviour, Heterosexual Sex, Threesomes, Candaulism, Possible Infidelity Due to Unclear Relationship Status (please read the tags on AO3 carefully, this list is not exhaustive)

Summary:

Draco Malfoy has become disillusioned by the glitz and glamour of the scandalous lives of the Post-Second Wizarding War Pureblood Elite. Enter: one existential crisis, one group of cynical friends, and several terrible, terrible decisions.

Read “Super Rich Kids” now on AO3.

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We Built This Right

Prompt: #48 | "Yuri on ice" - 2016 - Series Author: remy_writes5 Word Count: 15,344 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Homophobic Language, Anxiety, Strained Relationship with Parents

Summary:

At last year's Grand Prix Final, Harry had an accident that left him with a lightning scar on his forehead, a concussion and a twisted ankle. Now everyone is waiting to see if his career is over - including former rival, Draco Malfoy.

Read "We Built This Right” now on AO3.

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[stilydinski]

Anime Pretty Boys™️: A List

So basically no one asked but all of a sudden I felt the need to make a top 10 ranking list of some Pretty Boys in animes I could think of so why not share with the weebs.

To clarify: When I say Pretty Boys I mean pretty and not hot in general ! There are so so many more attractive characters out there but this is a list of guys that just look so incredibly beautiful it makes me want to bawl my eyes out. While I ofc would sell my organs for tons of anime boys, these are just the ones that make me go "mmhhhmm pretti" before thinking they're hot or whatever. I hope this makes sense aha ha.

10. Chisaki (My Hero Academia)

Those of you who haven’t seen the show might be asking yourselves what’s up with that mask but let’s just ignore it (masks are a thing everywhere now anyways right? man’s just staying safe ssjsj). Basically when I first saw this man I was speechless because wow his face is so ?? intense and pretty at the same time. The hair is casually messy, the eyes boring into your soul and the ear piercings are just hot. Also his style??? hot damn?? i mean the jacket he always wears looks so mf expensive and the suits like Yes Sir fuck me UP but at the same time he is so intimidatingly pretty that I wouldn’t mind joining the bad guys here. However because of the high hotness factor he’s lower in the list might be the dangerous aura who knows

9. Sesshomaru (Inuyasha)

Basically this man has more elegance than anyone could ever obtain. The way he always wears this fur thing on his shoulders just as a statement and never gets it dirty or loses it? an icon. Everything from the hair to let’s call it the “make up” to the outfit is just on point and you won’t ever catch the man slipping. This is the only character ever that could make me disregard the fact that he’s technically a dog demon and over 500 years old and just let him step on me.

8. Daisuke (Fugou Keiji: Balance:UNLIMITED)

I don’t think I need to say much here. First time I saw this man I was legit already on my knees without knowing a single thing about him. Some of you might say he’s more hot than straight up pretty but I beg to disagree because he is genuinely one of the most beautiful men I have ever seen. Now I do agree that in comparison he certainly can be considered more hot which is why he’s a little lower on the list however you can’t tell me that his face wasn’t shaped by God personally.

7. Usui (Kaichou wa Maid-sama!)

ON GOD if this man asked me to marry him I would not hesitate for a single second. Effortlessly pretty, the flavor is immaculate, never tasted anything like this before. Not only is he the perfect man but his face is so insanely pretty. Now Usui’s more of a casual beautiful because his face doesn’t necessarily have something outstandingly special but as a whole there is just not a single flaw.

6. Victor (Yuri!!! On Ice)

Now, you can’t tell me the hair doesn’t hit different. The man literally looks like a Greek God like that’s just a FACT we all know that, he knows that, Yuri knows that, the other Yuri knows that. Man's literally chosen to do the most elegant sport looking LIKE THAT as if he wouldn’t completely change figure skating forever. His face is so pleasing to look at because he just has this angelic aura around him that makes you think he came down from heaven personally to raise the bar for us all.

5. Yato (Noragami)

Let me just say what we are all thinking: EYES. I can’t think of anyone with prettier eyes and that’s for a good reason. Yato’s not a God for nothing, the godly looks are very evident even if he’s a little bruised up in the gif. His face is perfect, the hair looks elegant and yeah the eyes are just mesmerizing. Homeboy might be spotting a track suit at all times but damn he can wear it while living his Immortal Pretty Boy Life.

4. Guren (Owari no Seraph)

This one’s a funny one because let me tell you I know absolutely nothing about this man. I have not seen the anime and I barely know his name but I saw this man a few weeks ago and when I tell you I almost started crying I mean it. It’s hilarious how this man could be the biggest asshole who murdered my family and I’d still think he’s insanely beautiful. Now I sadly can’t get into this as deep as with this others because I have zero knowledge about him but the fact that he was the third person I thought of when making this list even if I don’t know him should say enough for now. Face is 10/10, he’s living that pretty boy lifestyle doing whatever it is that he does but god does he look graceful while doing it.

3. Shoto (My Hero Academia)

Now THIS. This is interesting because can you BELIEVE that this incredibly handsome boy does not even KNOW how pretty he is? Looking like that he would be allowed to have such a huge ego but he isn’t aware of the facts??? The two colored hair and eyes are both iconic and groundbreaking. His face just screams pretty boy in every possible way and on god i would do anything for him to realize that. Everyone in Class 1A knows how beautiful he is except him?? I could write you a three pages essay on how beautiful he is and that would just be the outer appearance without getting into his great personality. I would be ready to declare my love for him on 10 pages in four different languages but let’s not get into that now.

2. Akaashi (Haikyuu)

I honestly don’t even know how to start this. Akaashi is one of a kind. I lie awake at night thinking about the fact that he is so insanely beautiful and I wonder what the creators were thinking. Imagine you wanna create a volleyball anime and while drawing someone who is not even on the main team you come up with this? What kind of process goes through your head?? How could you publish a character like this knowing no other character you ever draw will ever live up to his pretty face? I wouldn’t know how to act. Looking at Akaashi is the most pleasing thing and the fact that he is not only crazy pretty but also has the best personality just sends me over the edge. No one’s doing it like him. This man can have my credit card, my house, my family and my liver, he can take it all and I would still worship him like the God he is, thank you.

1. Howl (Howl’s Moving Castle)

Ladies and gentlemen, may I announce the prettiest Pretty Boy of all time. This wouldn’t be a list of Pretty Boys without Howl. The man literally invented being pretty and god is he dramatic about it. Most of us probably count him to our childhood crushes. Remember when he said “I don’t see a point in living if I’m not beautiful” because he accidently dyed his hair black? I have never seen anyone this dramatic but of course his ego is big with a face like that I mean if I looked like THAT I would act up too. I would drop everything for this man and that’s on Sophie leaving behind her life to live in his castle yeah i know she didn’t do it for him back then but lbr i would. Anyways Howl literally said I support the ugly community but it ain’t me and it’s true, if you look up Pretty in a dictionary his picture will show up. I honestly don’t know what else to tell you because Howl leaves me speechless on a regular but that’s fine.

This marks the end of my list, please let me know if I forgot someone. If you made it this far with reading this mess thank you for keeping up with my amazed ass, i’ll go cry over how beautiful everyone on this list is now. I will probably regret the rankings in a week from now so don't mind them too much

[peace-coast-island]

Diary of a Junebug

Cozy knits, cardamom donuts, and turtledove butterflies

There's something so warm and inviting about hand knitted stuff. Maybe I'm biased because I'm a knitter, but there's really something special about knitting things. With needles and yarn, the possibilities are endless!

This gyroid event is a cozy knitwear theme, a collaboration between Daisy Jane, Tiffani, and Rowan. Collecting gyroids around the camp has been putting me in the mood to knit again, specifically a big project.

It's been years since I've made a sweater but I really feel like making one. Sweaters tend to be a hit or miss with me, which is why I rarely make them. Measurements aren't my strong suit but they're a big deal if you're making clothes. Constant counting as well because you have to make sure you have the exact amount of stitches or else everything's off. Also, it takes commitment to make a sweater, even a simple one, so that's another reason why I stick to simple projects like scarves.

I'm in the process of looking up simple sweater patterns so let's see how long this spark of motivation lasts. Making a sweater can be frustrating and time consuming, but it really is rewarding when it's finally finished.

Tiffani and Rowan are here with us at the camp to join in on the event as well as take a well deserved vacation. I feel like it's been forever since I've seen either one - Tiffani had dropped by the camp a couple years ago while Rowan's been out and about traveling the world. It was a pleasant surprise to find out that they've been working on gyroid designs with Daisy Jane.

I'm glad to see many entourage members thriving, especially after things went downhill with the university. Tiffani started her own fashion line called Stellar where everything's ethically made and a good portion of the proceeds go to charities that help abuse victims. Being a survivor of child abuse, Tiffani puts a lot of time and effort to use her influence to spread awareness and resources to help those who need it.

Rowan, a figure skater, is the co-founder of Stellar. He too grew up in an abusive household and is also an activist for abuse victims as well as the trans community. He's got an interesting story, one of victory as he and a couple friends were responsible for taking down a corrupt fashion design label.

In fact, he's working on a memoir tentatively titled "How I Destroyed Traynor's By Being Super Fake". The title alone sounds like an interesting read. People have approached him for years about writing a book, something he was considering as he had a lot to say about his father and stepmother. By now enough time has passed that his ex-family are beyond caring so he can freely talk about them without dealing with their associates threatening him.

Rowan always had a complicated relationship with his father. His mother died of cancer when he was ten and he never forgave his father for not letting him say goodbye to her. Not too long after that Wilfred married his mistress Caitlin and Rowan gained two step-siblings, Portia and Chad. Wilfred and Caitlin created Traynor's Fashion, an elite luxury label that developed quite a reputation.

Growing up in that household was torture for Rowan, so he left as soon as he could. He found solace in ice skating, an activity he and his mom bonded over. Rowan practiced for hours while his so-called family mocked him and eventually his efforts led to him getting a scholarship with a shot at a career in competitive figure skating.

Unfortunate circumstances and burnout forced Rowan to go back home, where he was known as the loser who couldn't kick it in the real world. Determined to get out, Rowan tried to work his way up in Traynor's, only to remember that hard work at a place like that won't get him anywhere, especially for someone like him. Rowan considered fashion design as a backup if figure skating didn't work out, but Traynor's was the absolute last place he wanted to start over. He only stayed for a few months before getting kicked out because of Portia and Chad.

Rowan would’ve been broke and homeless if it weren’t for aspiring fashion designers Victor, Ella, and Michele. The three were screwed over by Traynor’s and were trying to put together evidence to bring the company down. Victor used to work there before getting thrown under the bus in order for the company to save face. If it wasn't for that alone, Victor would've quit anyway because of the toxic environment and questionable ethics. Michele, another fashion designer, had her career end before it even started when Portia and Chad stole her work and accused her of plagiarism. Ella was the founder of Fairytale Castle, a small fashion company that ended up shutting down because friends of Wilfred and Caitlin were sent to harass her and sabotage her designs.

With Rowan on their side, exposing Traynor’s corruption became a reality. By disguising himself as a snooty fashion designer named Creighton Adcock, Rowan was able to infiltrate the studio. He wore a ridiculous getup and sported an exaggerated English accent - the more fake he came across, the more believable he was. It was pure torture, having to pander to his so-called family but it was so totally worth it.

The big expose took place on an important night for Traynor's and overnight the company fell. Spite and revenge had never been sweeter. Most of the employees as well as Rowan's ex-family were stacked with numerous charges like harassment, assault, embezzling, tax evasion, unethical practices, etc - they got what they deserved. Of course, there was backlash but once that died down, Rowan and the others were ready to move on.

Rowan went back to ice skating, though more for performance than competition - which was the reason why he almost quit in the first place. While posing as Creighton, Rowan had to sit through some shit, so to unwind, he would go out to the ice rink. Being on the ice made him realize how much he missed skating, though not the competition part. Rowan always says he's more of a performer than a competitor - the latter being the reason why he almost gave up because it took away the fun for him.

As for fashion, he does some design on the side like Tiffani. Then the two got together and launched Stellar earlier this year. He considers his relationship with fashion design as a sort of love-hate thing. For obvious reasons Rowan grew to resent it, especially when his father tried to force him into the business. He didn't hate it entirely, but when it's associated with people who failed to give you a good upbringing, it's hard to separate the two. Though since meeting Jamie and going back to skating, Rowan's slowly stepping back into the fashion design world after being on the fence about it for so long.

Joining forces with Tiffani and starting Stellar was unexpected. The partnership just came together and before they knew it, they were coming up with a bunch of ideas together. I honestly was surprised to hear from Jamie that Rowan was working on fashion designs. Then Stellar launched not too long after and it's actually been kinda therapeutic for Rowan and Tiffani.

I'm glad that both of them are out there living their best lives, far, far away from their abusers - most of whom are in jail, thankfully. They got lucky and after what they've been through, they want to do whatever they can to help other abuse victims. They're the kind of people who keep their word and they actively work to make the world a better place. No performative bullshit here.

Tiffani and Rowan have been here for a couple days now, enjoying the camp and all its lovely scenery. We've been collecting knit gyroids around the camp and checking in with OK Motors. Rowan had some car trouble so it was lucky that it managed to survive the long trip from Peace Coast to here. Since his car's pretty old, the repairs will take a while, which he doesn't mind. Beppe's also throwing in a free paint job so the car will be like new once it's finished.

Yesterday we went to the mountain trail, where not only we found gyroids, but also turtledove butterflies. They only show up around this time and after three years, I finally got to see them! I hardly venture around these parts because it's kinda out of the way but now I'm slowly expanding my horizons.

Turtledove butterflies are such majestic creatures. From the way they flutter about, their soft blue and white patterned wings contrasting nicely with the mountain view - like straight out of a lovely painting!

There's so much around the camp that I have yet to explore, I hope one day I'll know these places like the back of my hand.

Along the way and back we collected gyroids. Crafting gyroid furniture is always fun, seeing what kind of stuff we can make from them. I love the cozy knitwear aesthetic so much, it's easily one of my favorite themes! Tiffani, Rowan, and Daisy Jane did an amazing job with the designs. Given how much fun they had with the planning, there's likely going to be a second collaboration in the future, which I'm definitely looking forward to.

In between collecting gyroids and camp activities, we also got into knitting. That's why I've been in a knitting mood again. Rowan just learned how to knit last year and it's his new favorite hobby. He made a pair of leg warmers that look super snazzy, Tiffani's working on a cute beanie, Daisy Jane got started on a pretty lace scarf, and I just finished with a beaded headband.

Now I'm looking for sweater patterns and I already have some saved. Since I'm rusty with clothes, I'm sticking to something simple. The seed stitch ones are catching my eye as it's a simple pattern that looks nice, especially in pastel since that's what I've been into lately. Hopefully by tomorrow I have settled on a pattern so I can get started while I'm in the mood.

Today was a chill day where we stayed at the main camp. In between crafting, collecting, and camping, we baked donuts. I was kinda intimidated by donuts because it involves using the deep fryer but the whole process itself isn't too complicated. Making the dough was easy, using the deep fryer took some getting used to.

We made a bunch of different kinds - cardamom cream, apple cider, vanilla spice, and pumpkin pecan. The cardamom and vanilla ones are from Emilia Eats, the apple cider from Rustic Kitchen, and pumpkin pecan from Calico Bakery. They're all great, though if I had to choose, my favorite would be the cardamom cream. Pumpkin pecan comes a close second.

Since the donuts were a hit, we're thinking of baking cookies next. Tiffani wants to try out a black sesame recipe, Daisy Jane bookmarked a maple hazelnut recipe, Rowan has his eye on chocolate chip cheesecake cookies, and I always wanted to try earl grey shortbread.

Right now, we're enjoying donuts while knitting and crafting gyroids. Rowan's really becoming a pro at knitting as he wants to take on cables next. I kinda have a love-hate relationship with cables - they look good but take a bit of effort. I'll admit I haven't quite mastered them yet as I can't do a simple cable without having to refer to a pattern as a reference.

Warm, cozy knitwear and fresh baked goods - it doesn't get any better than that!

[bangtan-madi]

Aloooo~ Can you do relationship headcanons of Victor Nikiforov? I know that he is for Yuri lol, but I just keep wondering how would it be to be the girlfriend of this handsome ice skater

Victor Nikiforov Relationship Headcanons

Honestly, being Victor’s girlfriend would be sooo much fun.

I mean, we all know this man is just about perfect in every way, and we know he and Yuri are perfect for each other, but he is canonically bisexual…so lets delve into what would happen if this lovely Russian figure skater had a girlfriend!

Well, obviously, skating is a must. It doesn’t matter if you’re good at it or not. Victor’s entire life revolves around the ice. He lives and breathes for this sport, and any lover of his would have to acknowledge that.

That’s not to say you have to be a figure skater! If you aren’t a professional, he’s going to drag you to a rink at some point. If you like it, it’ll make his heart sing. If you don’t, you both can at least laugh at how badly you’re doing as this silver-haired god skates circles around you.

“Haha, Victor. So funny! Is my pain really that amusing?”

“Nooo. Well, maybe a little bit…”

After that, he’ll never force you to do anything you don’t want to do. But you can bet that he’ll see you at just about every practice and competition, screaming at the top of your lungs and waving the biggest banner with his name written across. You’re his biggest supporter, and that goes way beyond whether or not you like to skate.

However, if you are a professional skater, get ready for some serious competition. We all saw how competitive Yuri and Victor were there at the end of the season, and I really think that’s just part of Victor’s nature. He thrives in the game, the competition, the shock and awe from the crowds. He lives for it, and he never wants to be predictable.

If you’re also a skater, it doesn’t matter that you’re in different competitions (him in the men’s, and you in the women’s.) Every single practice between the two of you always ends in a race to see who can land the most complex combination of quads or salchows. You fire each other up, much to Coach Yakov’s dismay.

“Kakogo cherta, Victor? One of these days you are going to hurt yourself bad enough that you will not be able to skate!”

But there’s a lot more to Victor than just skating, especially when it comes to your personal lives. 

When you’re not skating or doing your day-job, most of the time you both can be found at home. Believe it or not, despite Victor’s flair for the dramatic and competitive spirit on the ice, he’s actually a home-body. Some of his favorite days are when you both just chill at home, in between practice days or after a Grand Prix.

Over the years of being a bachelor, he’s had to learn to fend for himself. Cooking, cleaning, the works. When you two first get together, you were inspired by how self-sufficient he was. Not only is he a world-class figure skater, but he really doesn’t need anything or anyone. He loves what he does (and let’s be honest, he makes enough to hire people to do things like cooking and cleaning.) But he insists on doing those things himself. When you ask him why, he just smiles softly.

“Why wouldn’t I? I am no better than anyone else. Besides, it helps me feel like a normal person and not just…Victor Nikiforov, gold medalist and figure skater. Sometimes…Sometimes I just like being Victor, da?”

Despite all this, you still love to show him that you care. One of the ways you like to do so is cook for him. Nothing makes you happier than seeing him try your different recipes. One of your hobbies is picking up a recipe from every country you visit. After traveling the world for some amount of years, you have quite a few under your belt. And Victor lives to the way you bounce up and down with a huge grin on your face when you place your newest creation in front of him.

His favorites so far are your ochazuke and churros. 

When you’re not cooking, the two of you can be found curled up together on the sofa with Makachin, binging all the anime you’d gotten behind on while out of town. You’d introduced Crunchyroll and Funimation to him a few weeks into your relationship, and you instantly had him hooked on Attack on Titan and Steins;gate.

Although you’ve also caught him watching Fruits Basket.

He reminds you a lot of Kyo, and you have no idea why.

If it’s after a long and exhausting trip, you’ll both cuddle closer and closer until eventually falling asleep like that.

If you wake up before him, you’ll pull the blanket tighter around you both and adjust the pillows, never moving enough as to wake Victor. Your chin on his chest, you watch him as he sleeps. Eventually, his steady breathing and heartbeat lull you back to sleep. 

If he’s the first to wake, after seeing you snoring softly with your body still pressed up against his, he smiles down at you and gently slips out of your grasp. Even in sleep, you reach out for him. Before you awaken, he scoops you up and carries you to the bedroom, being extra gentle as he tucks you back under the duvet.

But if he thinks he’s getting away from you, he’s dead wrong. You latch onto him and force him under with you. Legs instantly tangling up again, he pulls you into his chest and rests his chin on your hair. Feeling you relax once again and your sigh against his neck brings another smile to his face. 

All of this isn’t to say that he’s a recluse. No, he loves going out with you. Some of his favorite memories are ones where you wake up and randomly decide to visit a museum or go to a market or a friend’s party.

When your mutual friend Yurio graduates, you both throw the craziest party you can imagine (with the help of Chris, of course!) You invite all your skating friends, everyone from Christophe Giacometti to Coach Yakov to Yurio’s grandpa. It’s an absolute blast.

“Can we have a pole–?”

“–Absolutely not, Chris!”

Even Yurio has fun, despite his insensate whining and complaining. Once he sees you and Victor invited Otabek, his spirits are suddenly lifted and he’s having a much better time. You throw Victor a wink at that, earning a knowing laugh from him. It wasn’t often that Victor plays matchmaker, but damn he’s good at it.

All in all, having a relationship with Victor is never boring and never dull. Your lives are filled with joy and excitement, both on and off the ice. With your extended figure skating family and Victor by your side, you couldn’t be happier. There’s a lot of love and light in Victor, and in the life you’ve built. Things are better when you’re together, and you wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world.

[angelsarts]

I'm sorry to be a bother but, could we have a new anime list? I don't mind if it involves the animes on the original list!

O-K!! I will friendo!

1. My hero Academia! - adventure, superhero

Born without special powers in a world where 80% of the population has them, Izuku Midoriya still dreams of becoming a hero. An unexpected encounter with the legendary hero All Might gives him a chance to change his fate, but first he must master his newly-acquired Quirk in order to pass U.A.’s entrance exam.

2. Ore Monogatari! - Romantic comedy

With his muscular build and tall stature, Takeo Gouda is not exactly your average high school freshman. However, behind his intimidating appearance hides a heart of gold, and he is considered a hero by the boys for his courage and chivalry. Unfortunately, these traits do not help much with his love life. As if his looks are not enough to scare the opposite sex away, Takeo’s cool and handsome best friend and constant companion Makoto Sunakawa easily steals the hearts of the female students—including every girl Takeo has ever liked.

When Takeo gallantly saves cute and angelic Rinko Yamato from being molested, he falls in love with her instantly, but suspects that she might be interested in Sunakawa. With his own love for Yamato continuing to bloom, Takeo unselfishly decides to act as her cupid, even as he yearns for his own love story.

3. Gakuen babysitter - Comedy-drama, Slice of life, School story

After their parents are killed in a plane crash, Ryuuichi and his younger brother Kotarou are taken in by Youko Morinomiya, the stern chairman of an elite academy whose son and daughter-in-law died in the same accident. The Chairman makes it clear that in exchange for being their legal guardians, Ryuuichi must work outside of class hours at the school’s daycare, where Kotarou will stay during the day.

The series tells the story of the daycare children’s antics as well as how the two brothers adapt to their new lives.

4. Fruits basket - comedy romance slice of life

After her mother’s death, Tohru Honda finds herself living with the Sohma family consisting of three cousins: Yuki, the ‘prince charming’ of their high school, Kyo the hot headed, short tempered outcast, and Shigure the mischievous novelist, if not sometimes that of a pervert. Tohru finds out the Sohma family secret that when a member is hugged by the opposite gender or they are tired out, they turn into the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. Filled with many lovable character and many plot twists along the way, life at the Sohma house will never be the same again.

5. Say I love you - pure shoujo

Friends will only let you down—that is the sad truth Mei Tachibana lives with, ever since she was wrongfully blamed for the death of a class pet by her so-called friends in grade school. Since then, she stays away from people in order to avoid ever being hurt again. However, Mei’s life begins to change drastically when a misunderstanding in high school causes her to encounter popular student Yamato Kurosawa.

Yamato finds her intriguing and insists on being her friend, even though Mei wants nothing to do with him. But when a dangerous situation ends with Yamato kissing Mei to save her from the unwanted attention of a stalker, Mei begins to develop feelings for him. On the heels of her discovery that their feelings are mutual, they start dating and she gains not only a boyfriend, but friends as well. Mei, however, finds it very hard to adapt to this new lifestyle, especially in expressing her true feelings towards Yamato.

6. Yuri on ice - sports

After a disgrace in the Grand Prix Final, Japanese figure skater Katsuki Yuri seeks to retire. Victor Nikiforov, Russian world champion in figure skating is known for his surprises but is feeling stuck when he realises he has no more surprises left. When Yuri dances to Victor’s most famous routine 'Stay Close to Me’ the video is posted online and is seen by Victor. In this moment the Russian world champion decides to move to Japan and become Yuri’s coach. Over the course of various competitions, the two form a powerful bond and see that each other was all they needed to accomplish what both had hoped for.

7.  Kyou kara maou - comedy, fantasy adventure with a hint of gayness

Kyou kara Maou! revolves around Yuri Shibuya, your average Japanese teenager. One day, Yuri sees a classmate being harassed by bullies. Thanks to this intervention, his friend is able to escape, but unfortunately Yuri becomes the new target of the bullies in the process and gets his head shoved into a toilet. But instead of water, the toilet contains a swirling portal that sucks him into another world, largely resembling medieval Europe. There, he is told that he will become the next Demon King due to his black hair and black eyes, traits only possessed by the demon’s royal lineage.Yuri’s arrival is met with some skepticism by some of the demons, who view him as unworthy to be their king. However, after Yuri wins a duel by utilizing his magical powers, the demons slowly begin to acknowledge him as their monarch. Yuri must now learn what it takes be a true Demon King, as he tries to keep the peace between demons and humans in this strange new realm.

8. Princess Jellyfish -  comedy romance

Ever since her late mother took her to an aquarium when she was young, Tsukimi Kurashita has been obsessed with jellyfish, comparing their flowing tentacles to a princess’s white dress. Now living with five other unemployed otaku women, 19-year-old Tsukimi spends her days as a social outcast dreaming of becoming an illustrator.

However, her life changes forever when one day, a beautiful woman unexpectedly helps her save a jellyfish in a local pet store. From then on, the stranger—confident, fashionable, and the complete opposite of Tsukimi and her roommates—begins to regularly visit the girls’ building. This trendy hipster, though appearing shallow at first, harbours some secrets of her own, starting with the fact that “she” isn’t really a girl at all, but a wealthy male college student named Kuranosuke Koibuchi!

9. Fullmetal Alchemist - adventure, sci fi, dark fantasy

The Elric brothers’ mother is dead and their father has long since abandoned them. Deciding to perform a forbidden human transmutation to bring their mother back, they end up losing their bodies. Now Edward must join the military in order to gain certain alchemical privileges, with his one goal being to restore his brother to his original state. But with war on the horizon it’s only a matter of time before they are both forced to question their morals and ultimately decide the value of human life.

10. The world god only knows - comedy romance

Keima Katsuragi prefers immersing himself in the 2D world, chasing digital girlfriends. However, after answering a mysterious email he finds himself bound by a contract helping the demon Elsie capture 'lost souls’ from the underworld. He must now win over these real-life ladies in order to fill the void in their hearts which these souls have entered, releasing the souls and allowing for their capture. Also to further motivate, if he does not perform this 'duty’ a collar around his neck will explode.

[yurionice-secretsanta]

To @hotaruyuki From  @mrscalculation

It’s late October, Yuri has been in Detroit since mid-August, and Viktor is in the United States for the first time since the injury that ended his competitive career.

It’s fine, he’s fine, and Yuri is definitely fine. Viktor is coming to visit after the end of Yuri’s midterms since Yuri won’t be able to come home until late December, and he’s sure Yuri is fine. He’s an incredible artist and perhaps the single most stubborn, obsessive, competitive asshole Victor has ever met. There’s no way that he didn’t absolutely annihilate his midterms, especially with this being his first semester. They were probably on boringly easy stuff on the theory behind everything he does, anyway. Or maybe drawing something so easy it’s like stick figures to Yuri. Viktor doesn’t know. He never went to art school.

He never went to university, actually.

While Viktor had every intention of giving Yuri his space on this visit, Yuri makes it far too easy for Viktor to throw that idea out.

“Hey, old man,” he says, “I’m going to a friend’s tonight to celebrate the end of midterms. You don’t have to come. You should sleep.”

What Viktor hears is instead, Oh, loving adoptive older brother of mine, wouldn’t you love to meet my friends? Drink with them? Tell them embarrassing stories from my childhood, then brag about me until I can’t decide which I’d rather die from? Please come with me. Please embarrass me.

What Viktor says is, “Yura! I’d love to go with you! I can always come back early if I’m too tired, but I don’t get to meet your friends every day!”

Yuri groans and threatens to end Viktor’s life if he embarrasses him, to which Viktor gives a chipper, “I would never!”

Viktor must say, he’s a little disappointed at the things Yuri has been getting up to in America.

For one, this celebration turns out to be five guys playing a drinking game in one of their apartments. They’re playing what is apparently a very difficult level of a single-player video game, and any time one of them dies, they take a shot and pass the controller to the next person.

For another, someone thought that this rubbing alcohol passed as vodka.

After a brief squabble during which Yuri launches himself at the guy who’s best at the game—also named Yuuri, funnily enough—and the whole thing being put on Instagram for the world to see, Yuri sends Viktor away to get more alcohol for the group. Viktor knows he should be a better influence than buying alcohol for his underage brother, but they’re Russian, and if they were in Russia, all of this would be acceptable and legal, so he only puts up a fight long enough to get Yuri angry about being treated like a child, but not enough for Yuri to actually fight him.

Viktor has never been happier to be a poor influence.

As it turns out, the other Yuuri is a cute drunk, very clingy and affectionate and loud and wont to praise Viktor to the moon.

He’s also a figure skater, apparently.

“I used to look up to you so much,” he says, hoodie off and leaning across Viktor. Leo has gone back to the dorm he and Yuri share, and Phichit has stepped outside for a call. Yuri is passed out with his head pillowed in Otabek’s lap, and Otabek, who either did not drink at all or is completely unphased by alcohol, sits with his headphones in, scrolling through his phone, absentmindedly running his fingers through Yuri’s hair.  “Nikiforov. I used to want to be just like you. You were the best.”

While Viktor appreciates the praise, he’s also never heard Yuuri’s name in his life before because he hasn’t really followed figure skating for years. “Thank you,” he says, and is rewarded with Yuuri wrapping his arms around Viktor’s shoulders.

“Are you okay? Viktor? Are you okay?” Yuuri’s eyes are glossy and his glasses are crooked and falling across the tip his reddening nose. Viktor?” he asks again.

“I’m fine,” Viktor says reflexively, then, “but what about you?”

“No, Viktor, I’m fine. Viktor! I mean. Up here.” Yuuri goes to poke Viktor in the forehead but misses, getting him in the bottom of the eyebrow. He squints his eyes and tries again, and he’s closer to the center this time. “I was so sad when you got hurt, Viktor. I wish you could skate again. I don’t know what would happen if I couldn’t skate again, but I know I wouldn’t be okay up here.” He presses his finger a little harder into Viktor’s forehead.

Viktor feels his eyes water just a little. He wraps an arm around Yuuri’s shoulders and moves him to sitting upright. “I’m doing a lot better,” Viktor says, and he means it. It had taken a lot, but Viktor had eventually learned to live off the ice. “Thank you for asking.”

Yuuri, still swaying just a little bit after being moved, wraps Viktor into a hug. “Good,” he says, and it’s a little watery and very genuine. “I thought so. I watched your videos and you seemed better, but I wanted to make sure.” He giggles a little bit, but maintains his hug. “I mean, I didn’t think I would ever get to make sure because I don’t know you, but now I can.”

“I’m so good now, Yuuri,” Viktor says as he gently, awkwardly returns the hug. Yuuri has his arms trapped, and it’s a little bit of a struggle to get them free, but he manages it and folds Yuuri against his chest for a second. “Thank you,” he says into Yuuri’s hair.

After another moment, they pull apart. “Hey,” Yuuri says, listing to the side without Viktor to hold onto. “Watch me, okay? I have a competition next weekend. Watch me.”

Viktor nods, and Yuuri makes a happy sound.

“I’ll be skating for you,” he says.

Viktor is shocked, then beaming, then completely empty of Yuuri too soon as Phichit returns.

“All right, Yuuri, let’s go,” he says, hoisting Yuuri up and tossing his hoodie back to him. “I already called an Uber, so you have three minutes to get it together before we have to go.”

Viktor gets Yuuri a glass of water while Phichit gathers their things. Yuuri wiggles a little while he drinks it, and is then being shuffled out the door by Phichit.

“Nice to meet you, Viktor!” Phichit says over his shoulder as they go.

If Yuuri says anything, Viktor doesn’t hear it.

Viktor goes to an art gallery with Yuri and Otabek, looking at the art that Yuri’s classmates have on display and for sale. As it turns out, Yuri had skipped the opening of the gallery in favor of the drunken video game kickback at Otabek’s, and Viktor honestly can’t blame him. As great of an artist as Yuri is, he’s never been one for schmoozing, and that seems to be all that’s happening here. Viktor pulls Otabek away when Yuri runs into someone he knows and gets caught up in conversation.

Viktor likes Otabek, really. It’s clear that he balances Yuri out and is a calming influence, and he speaks Russian, which not only makes wrangling Yuri easier, but shit talking as well. Viktor likes Otabek, which is exactly why he pulls Otabek now.

“How old are you, Otabek?” Viktor asks in Russian.

“Excuse me?” Otabek’s face stays completely passive as usual.

“How old? I’m just curious.”

“Twenty-one at the end of the month.”

“And Leo and Yuuri and Phichit?”

“Leo and Phichit are twenty, and Yuuri will be 24 next month. Why?” Otabek finally questions. He’s not putting up a fight, and doesn’t even seem genuinely curious. It seems like he just thinks he has to ask.

“Oh, no reason,” Viktor says lightly, plastering his friendliest smile for the public on his face. “I was just wondering how Yuri got to know all of you when none of you would be in the same classes, since you’re all older.”

“Ah,” Otabek says, then doesn’t tell Viktor. Viktor swears his lack of an answer must be deliberate; Yuri would never befriend someone who wasn’t at least a little bit of an asshole.

“Well?” Viktor prompts. “How did you meet Yuuri?”

“He’s roommates with Leo. Leo and I used to skate together, and Leo is friends with Phichit, so when Leo found out that Yuri used to skate, he invited us all to the rink where Phichit and Yuuri train.”

It’s the most Viktor has heard Otabek say since meeting him, but he appreciates it. “Thank you,” he says because he feels obligated to do so. A slow smile spreads across his face. “You know, to show how much I appreciate you looking out for Yuri, let me tell you something,” he says conspiratorially.

Otabek raises an eyebrow, which is a more enthused response than Viktor has gotten out of him up to this point.

“When Yuri was younger,” Viktor starts, then looks around to see if anyone is trying to eavesdrop just in time to see Yuri’s blind fury before his hand is around Viktor’s throat.

“Whatever you’re going to say,” he says lowly, “I recommend rethinking it if you value your life.”

“Next time, then!” Viktor says chipperly once Yuri lets him go. He rubs at his throat.

Yuri shoots him a death glare, but from behind him, Otabek mouths next time.

When Viktor gets back to Russia, far enough that he knows Yuri won’t be able to judge him, he looks up everything he can on Katsuki Yuuri.

For the first year after his accident, Viktor had purposely avoided all things skating. He still heard about things, of course, but he spent his time in physical therapy practicing walking without a walker or cane, not worried about trying to balance on skates or which blade to land on after a jump. He hadn’t wanted to remind himself of what he would never do again, so he avoided watching competitions or keeping up with scores or anything related to competition at all unless it was for some of his friends. He didn’t bother following anyone new, even once he felt comfortable skating for fun again.

If he had continued to compete, or if he had chosen early retirement instead of having it forced upon him, Viktor is certain he would have followed Yuuri’s journey.

He’s heading into his first competition of the Grand Prix Series, where he’ll make his comeback after a disastrous performance at last year’s final and a broken ankle that kept him off the ice for months. While Viktor’s injury had been career-ending, Yuuri describes his in interviews as embarrassing and motivating.

“I let my life distract me so much from my skating that I was injured, which negatively impacted both,” Viktor reads in one article. “It’s difficult and embarrassing to have fallen this far, but I’ve decided I want to try one more time for all the people who have supported me through this. I hope to show them that everything I do is for them.”

Viktor watches Yuuri’s programs from the year before, both his qualifiers and at the final, and is shocked to see the dramatic difference between Yuri’s mostly clean and beautifully-emotional qualifier free program and his messy, numb performance at the final.

The commentator declares that the next jump is supposed to be a quad-triple combination, but in its place comes a rough fall, gasps from the commentators, and Yuri’s powerful attempt to finish the program despite obvious pain.

Viktor closes out the video, trying to reconcile the image he has in his head of a slightly snarky Yuuri enjoying Yuri’s anger with the fumbling mess that Viktor saw on ice, the affectionate but loud and lewd Yuuri of one or two or five drinks too many with the polite, nervous Yuuri of interviews. At its best, it comes together to form a beautiful, talented skater whose programs leave the audience aching for just another glimpse, just a moment longer; at worst, they leave behind the hollow-eyed remnants of a skater who drinks his way through social interactions.

Viktor doesn’t feel like he knows either of those people.

He finds Yuuri’s YouTube channel, slightly awkward with the knowledge that Yuuri has apparently seen some of his videos, but accepts that he knew what he was doing when he started a channel. Almost none of Yuuri’s content has anything to do with figure skating, but is instead him playing video games with Phichit, which explains why he was so much better than everyone else at their dumb drinking game. His channel goes back a few years, starting just a few months before Yuuri’s senior debut and aligning perfectly with when Yuuri moved to Detroit to skate. It doesn’t seem like he posts on a schedule, but he seems to have at least one for every two weeks, sometimes more. Viktor clicks on an earlier one where he and Phichit take turns playing a dating simulator, and Viktor is entirely charmed at how confidently Yuuri makes ridiculous choices when designing his character, but how easily he gets flustered when Phichit tries to direct them to the dating part of the dating sim.

“Yuuri! You aren’t trying to make friends with them, you’re trying to sleep with them!”

Yuuri’s face goes noticeably red on screen, and his shoulders stiffen. “What’s wrong with being friendly to someone you want to sleep with?”

Several hours later, Viktor pulls himself out of a spiral of content and into the living room. He opens the doors to the storage in his TV stand and smiles.

Well, he might as well.

“Good morning, amazing people! Today I’m doing something a little bit different, inspired by a few of Katsuki Yuuri’s videos with Phichit Chulanont. I’ve never done a video like this before, so I hope it works! If you like it, I may make it a series of me trying to play games I’ve never played before. We’ll see!”

Viktor isn’t lying. He really hopes it works. He didn’t have any of these games just lying around, and he spent far too much money getting them, but at the very least, it should be fun. It’s chaotic and he knows it, but it was cheaper than buying another ticket to Detroit.

Of course, during the create-a-character section at the beginning of the game, he makes it far more like a makeup and fashion tutorial than it needs to be, but the subscribers come to his channel for the content he produces, so he should probably stay on brand.

When he uploads the video, which is mostly him being a disaster and making all the datable characters dislike him (which, how? There’s only three dialogue options at a time, so how does he always choose the wrong one?), he tags it with Yuuri’s channel and Phichit’s name. He also tags them both in his Instagram post promoting his new upload, just in case.

Two days later and the video has done moderately well with just about average metrics for his usual videos, and Yuri has texted him telling him to chill the fuck out and not to tag anyone he knows in videos again.

I thought you didn’t watch anything I post, Viktor sends. He gets several messages of just middle finger emojis in response.

Viktor still hasn’t heard from Yuuri, though, so he doesn’t quite count it as a success.

He foregoes a video game upload for the next week, uploading instead a few Halloween makeup tutorials. He has fun doing them, though Makkachin isn’t overly fond of posing as Viktor’s sidekick for some of the shots. The makeup videos do better than the video game one, but that usually happens around this time of year anyway. His old tutorials are getting more views lately, too, so he can’t really be disheartened by it, but he really wants an excuse to post another video game video.

After a few days, Viktor has still heard nothing from Yuuri, but he tries not to dwell on it. He knows it’s competition season, and he knows exactly how much energy Yuuri doesn’t have to spend on social media.

He also knows exactly when Yuuri’s performances are, because he has alarms set to watch them live. He plans on taking a midday nap today so that he’ll stay awake for the performance that Yuuri has just after midnight.

Viktor considers making a video of him reacting to watching Yuuri’s performances, but he decides that’s too weird.

(He’s glad he doesn’t, because it might be too revealing how enthusiastically Viktor cheers when Yuuri lands a quad loop in free.)

The day after Yuuri’s free program, Viktor posts a picture to his Instagram story wishing Otabek a happy birthday, which immediately ends up on Otabek’s own story with a “thank you” and nothing else.

Yuuri still doesn’t contact Viktor, which, okay, he never said he would, but he did say he would be skating for him, which seems like it should mean something. But apparently not, which is totally fine with Viktor, absolutely.

Viktor should have gotten Yuri’s number.

The week before the Rostelecom Cup, Viktor uploads a video of him playing another simulator. This time, he designs a house for simulated versions of himself and Makkachin and Yuri and Yuri’s cats, then purposely makes Yuri a bad at everything and prone to burning things down by accident. He tags Yuri’s art channel in it.

(“You’re not funny,” Yuri says when he calls Viktor.

“Maybe not to you,” Viktor says, thrilled by how furious Yuri is that he can’t hit Viktor through the phone. “I made you pretty, at least.”

“You gave me purple eyeshadow, Viktor. What’s the point of being a makeup artist if you’re going to give people purple eyeshadow. Fuck you.”)

Yuuri doesn’t respond to this video, either, but a new upload does go up on his channel two days later. In it, Phichit is playing the same simulator, finding creative and horrible ways to kill his characters until Yuuri walks in, horrified.

“Phichit! Stop drowning people!”

Not only does Phichit not stop drowning people, he also tries to flirt with the grim reaper.

Viktor is inspired. His version of the video, where he and Yuri compete to the death but Yuri loses almost every time, is uploaded and tagged with Phichit and Yuuri the morning before Rostelecom.

Which is perfect, because Viktor has a train to Moscow to catch.

Viktor had just wanted to see a competition again, that’s all. Since his accident, he hasn’t seen a live competition, and he thinks it’s about time that he accepts that the figure skating world was going to move on without him one day, anyway.

It’s absolutely just a coincidence that Katsuki Yuuri happens to be competing at the one he chooses to go to.

It makes sense, of course, that if Viktor was going to drop money on tickets to a competition it would be the one in Moscow. His parents still live there, after all, so it’s a great place for him to spend a few days. It also just so happens to be that Yuuri’s final qualifier before the final is the Rostelecom Cup. And that Viktor only bought tickets to the men’s singles events.

Viktor has another old friend from his years in competition here, too, so it just makes sense that he would come to this event.

He drops his bags at his parents’ apartment, then goes to breathe in Moscow. He doesn’t come here nearly enough.

Almost immediately after posting a picture from his favorite cafe in the Moscow twilight, Vikor receives a call from Yuri.

“The fuck are you doing in Moscow?”

“The heck are you doing awake?” Viktor asks, matching his energy and mocking his tone.

“I have a class in an hour, don’t avoid the question. Why are you in Moscow?”

“I can’t just visit home?” Viktor asks cheerily. “You should do it more often, Yura, mom and dad would love to have you around, and I’m sure your grandfather would love to see you, too.”

“You pay for my plane tickets, then. But I know you aren’t visiting home, asshole, so what the fuck are you doing?”

Viktor sighs exaggeratedly. “Well, if you must know, Chris is competing here in the morning, and I thought it might be nice to visit him.”

Yuri is quiet for a moment. “...no,” he finally says.

“No what?”

“Beka was right,” he says, which Viktor really wishes he could have recorded to keep forever.

“What?” it takes Viktor a second to catch up, realizing that by that pig Yuri means Yuuri and not Chris, by which point, Yuri is already blazing on.

“He said he saw you two being all gross and stuff when I fell asleep but I ignored him, Yuuri is just an idiot when he’s drunk—well, he’s always an idiot, but you know, more of an idiot—he tried to challenge me to a dance battle once, so I really thought that even if you were being all gross and stuff, any dancing really would have stopped this from becoming a thing, because his dancing is terrible, but no, you really do have a thing for that dumb pig, don’t you?”

Yuri clearly isn’t asking the question for an answer, but he does make the mistake of pausing for breath, during which Viktor takes the time to say as brightly as possible, “maybe if you didn’t get so drunk that you passed out on your boyfriend, you could have stopped this from happening!” 

Viktor waits just long enough to hear Yuri’s spluttered “what—we’re not—” before hanging up on him.

Viktor is at the event early the next morning, hoping to use the time before the competition actually starts to get used to the feel of a rink again. It isn’t as bad he expected. Hearing the familiar announcements and the scrape of blades on ice and the click of blades landing after jumps fills him with more nostalgia than anything else.

From his seat in the stands, he manages to get a somewhat-blurry picture of the men’s warmups that has both Chris and Yuuri in it, though not super clearly. He accompanies it with other pictures of the stadium when he hears a few concerned noises from some of the people milling around him. When he turns, he sees Yuuri righting himself after having clearly fallen on the ice.

Viktor goes still, looking for any of the telltale signs of significant injury, but Yuuri seems fine, though a little out of his head. Viktor watches for another quiet minute until the announcement clearing skaters from the ice sounds.

He wants to watch all of the performers, but he has time before either Yuuri or Chris goes on, so he takes a second to post his pictures to Instagram. I’ve missed this, he captions the shots of the ice and the advertisements and the kiss-and-cry, the last picture in the group being the one he took of the warmups. He tags both Yuuri and Chris in it.

After the short program, Yuuri ends up in fourth, Chris in second, with some younger kid that skates like ice all over the world belongs to him is in first.

When he’s in his old, tiny bed in his parents’ house that evening, considering whether he should move some of the stuff in Yuri’s room around just to piss him off when he comes back for his winter holidays, Viktor absentmindedly checks Instagram for the thirtieth time that day. He had already had an entire conversation with Chris in the comments section of his post determining that they would meet up at the end of the event before Chris’s flight leaves, and Viktor is actually looking forward to seeing him in person for the first time in several years.

In his notifications is an almost-insignificant sentence telling him that Yuuri has liked his post.

Before the free skate the next day, Yuuri doesn’t flub any of his practice jumps, and Viktor spots him chatting comfortably with his coach for a moment just before the first skater takes the ice.

Viktor’s phone buzzes in his hand with a message from Yuri. stop being gross, it says. When he looks up again, Yuuri is gone.

Yuuri performs beautifully when it’s his turn, and he cries at the kiss-and-cry when his scores are announced. He’s pretty much guaranteed a spot in the final.

Chris also snags a spot in the final, but that’s no surprise. He’s made it to every final for the past four years. That doesn’t stop Viktor from giving him a bouquet when he finds him after the event.

“Congratulations, Chris!”

“Thank you,” he says as he absentmindedly touches the silver medal around his neck. “It hasn’t been the same without you. How have you been? I haven’t seen you in so long.”

“I’ve been doing really well,” Viktor says, actually somewhat surprised with the accuracy of it, then beams at Chris. “Is it different because it’s easier for you to medal with me gone?”

Chris smirks back at him. “I would have beaten you eventually,” he says. “Come on, let me go change and drop this off at the hotel before we go out.”

“At least take me to dinner first,” Viktor says, and he’d forgotten how easy being friends with Chris was.

“I’m trying,” Chris says with a wink, and Viktor laughs with his whole body. He can’t believe he may have let these sorts of friendships die.

They make easy banter on the way back to the hotel, talking as if barely any time has passed at all, and Viktor realizes, somewhat sadly, that when you travel as much as he used to for competitions, maybe four years isn’t really that big of a gap when you only see someone three or four times a year anyway.

The doors to the hotel elevator are closing when Viktor sees someone approaching. He sticks his foot in the doorway to stop it from closing while continuing his conversation with Chris, who turns to greet the newcomer.

“Yuuri! Congratulations!”

“You, too. Thanks, Chris,” Yuuri says genuinely, eyes a little puffy from crying, but clearly in a good way. He turns and looks at Viktor as the elevator doors close. “Oh.”

“Congrats, Yuuri! I’ll watch you at the final!” Viktor says. He isn’t sure how else to make it clear that he’s here specifically because of Yuuri.

“Thank you,” Yuuri says, quieter than before.

“Yuuri, we’re going to dinner after I drop some things off in my room,” Chris tells him. “Would you like to join us?”

“Oh, uh,” Yuuri says, looking down, then back and forth between Chris and Viktor. “Um, yeah, that would be nice,” he decides as the doors open on his floor.

“Meet in the lobby in twenty!” Chris says as Yuuri steps off the elevator.

“Yeah,”  Yuuri gets out before the doors close.

The elevator is quiet for a moment, then Chris breaks it with, “You know him.” It’s not a question.

“I do,” Viktor agrees easily.

“How?”

“He trains where Yura goes to school,” Viktor says. “They know each other.”

“Hm.” Chris is quiet until the elevator dings their arrival to his floor. “You like him,” Chris says.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Viktor says, extremely grateful to be getting off the elevator. He walks forward and out of the small alcove the elevators are housed in, then realizes he has no idea which direction he needs to go. He stops.

Behind him, Christophe snorts. “Sure. Left.”

Viktor turns and starts walking.

“He likes you, too,” Chris says.

“What was that?” Viktor asks in Russian. “I don’t speak English.”

Chris switches to French for a few colorful phrases, then back to English. “You’ll see him in a few minutes anyway, so you’ll figure it out,” he says, finally stepping in front of Viktor. “Here, it’s this one,” he says as he stops in front of a door.

“I’m not the one who needs to figure it out,” he says, then pushes Chris into the room. “Get yourself together so we can go, hurry up.”

“Easy,” Chris says, but obliges anyway.

When they get back downstairs, Yuuri is already waiting for them.

“Hey, Yuuri,” Chris says easily. “Is there anything in particular you want to eat? Viktor is from around here, so just let him know and he’ll take us to a place.”

“Uh, no, not really,” Yuuri says. “I kind of just want to try whatever local thing is best.”

“Do you mind a little bit of a walk?” Viktor asks them both, who both shake their heads no. “Okay, perfect. I know a great traditional place a little less than twenty minutes from here.”

Five minutes into their walk there, Chris pats his pockets. “Damn,” he says, “I think I left my wallet upstairs. I’m going to go grab it, you two go on without me! I’ll meet you there!”

“Are you sure? We could walk back with you, it isn’t that far,” Yuuri offers.

“No, it’s fine! Viktor, can you message me the place?”

Viktor glares at him but agrees as Chris takes off back towards the hotel. “Give me a second,” he tells Yuuri as he pulls up the location of the restaurant and shares it with Chris. “Okay.”

They walk in silence for a second before Yuuri asks, “How have you been?”

“Oh, great!” Viktor says genuinely. “I’m working on some new things for the channel that combine my usual stuff with other media, and I’m enjoying it a lot. How are you?”

“Yeah, I’ve seen some of that,” Yuuri says vaguely, “and I’m really good. Nervous. Excited about the final.”

“Nervous?” Viktor asks as his phone buzzes in his hand. “Oh, that—” he cuts himself off as he looks at Chris’s message.

Definitely didn’t leave my wallet, it reads, but you can tell him I think I left it at rink. Good luck! ;)

“What’s going on?” Yuuri asks.

“Chris is an idiot.”

“What happened?” Yuuri seems genuinely concerned.

“He left his wallet at the rink,” Viktor says, surprising himself. The smile he gives Yuuri is far too wide and is brittle at the edges. He’s going to kill Chris. “He says to go on without him.”

“Oh.”

“Do you just want to go back?” Viktor asks. Yuuri had agreed to dinner with Chris, after all, and not with him.

“No! It’s okay,” Yuuri says. “Let’s keep moving, it’s cold.”

“How’s Yuri?” Yuuri asks after another few moments of walking in silence.

“You tell me,” Viktor says. “You see him more than I do.”

“Just because I see him more doesn’t mean I talk to him more. He trusts you.”

Viktor sighs. “I hope so. He doesn’t always tell me how he is when he calls, but I think he’s doing well. He’s got more friends than he did when he was growing up, and he complains about the classes, which means he’s actually learning something.” Viktor pauses for a moment, considering. “Can you do me a favor?”

“Yeah?”

“If you ever notice Yuri acting way off, can you let me know? I mean,” Viktor interrupts himself, “you don’t have to, like, keep tabs on him or anything, but if you ever notice something really wrong.”

“I mean, of course,” Yuuri says, “but I won’t have to.”

Viktor looks over at him. “What do you mean?”

Yuuri stops walking. “You know, the night I met you, Yuri kept glancing over at you, and at first I thought it was because he didn’t want you there because he’s around his friends and suddenly you’re there, but then I realized that he was looking out for you.” He pauses like he’s waiting for Viktor to say something, and when he doesn’t, he continues, “he made sure to angle himself so you were always included in the group and everything.”

“Huh,” Viktor says, and he smiles softly at the idea of Yuri trying to be protective.

“And Viktor,” Yuuri says, suddenly more serious. “I’ve seen that video of when he tells you that he’s officially your adopted brother.” It’s been almost a year since Viktor posted that video, but it’s still his favorite. “Why do you think he went through that trouble with your parents when he was already seventeen? He didn’t have to do that, and I’m sure no one could have forced him to if he didn’t want to. But he surprised you with it. Because he wants you to know that he loves you, and he trusts you, and he wants you in his life.”

At that, Viktor laughs. “Try telling him that,” he says. “Make sure Phichit sends me the video of Yura beating you to death when you do.”

Yuuri smiles. “But you see what I mean, right?” he says, then turns to keep walking. “Don’t worry about him too much. If he needs you, he’ll let you know. In his own way.”

“Yeah,” Viktor agrees. “Can I ask you a different favor, then?” He feels Yuuri’s slightly concerned glance, then continues, “even if you aren’t letting me know how he’s doing, call me sometime?”

“Oh, uh.” Yuuri shuffles a little as he walks, looking at the ground. “Yeah,” he says. “I’d like that.”

Yuuri’s flight is early the next morning, but they spend several long hours of the night staying up, talking about how different their lives are now than what they expected years ago, about the things they enjoy that aren’t their professions, about the music they’ve been listening to on repeat and what food they’re most excited to eat when they get home. They talk through the restaurant and shops and all the way back to Yuuri’s hotel room, where they settle in and talk more.

Viktor finally leaves Yuuri’s room about three hours before Yuuri needs to leave for his flight.

“Text me when you land,” Viktor tells him, leaning his forehead against Yuuri’s and breathing him in.

“I will.”

“Fly safe,” Viktor says as he pulls away from Yuuri, then brings Yuuri’s hand to his mouth and gently kisses his knuckles. “I’ll be sure to watch you at the final.”

It’s a full day later before Viktor receives confirmation that Yuuri has made it to Detroit, but he doesn’t mind that. It’s worth it for the picture he gets of a jetlagged Yuuri with Yuri, Otabek, and Phichit in the background with a big banner that says “Congratulations, Yuuri!” Phichit has a tinier sheet of paper that, thanks two a second photo that comes in, Viktor can see says, “On gettin’ the guy!”

Yuuri sends one final picture of Yuri making a gross face at Phichit’s smaller poster, and he loves it. Absolutely worth the wait.

[damaless]

To All The Skaters I’ve Loved Before

This is my very first foray into writing fanfiction. I don’t know if I’ll be able to complete the whole thing I have in mind for it, but I thought I’d at least try to write the first chapter and see how it goes.

Chapter One

Waiting for luggage is the worst. If everyone would stay a few feet back from the conveyor belt, it would be easy for anyone to spot their luggage coming and step forward to get it. Instead, everyone crowds close, jostling each other out of desperation to retrieve their belongings as quickly as possible, making the process more inefficient and unpleasant all around. Normally, Yuuri Katsuki makes sure to travel light enough to fit everything in a carry-on, to avoid this exact situation. But now, returning to his hometown after failing miserably at the Grand Prix Final, he’s stuck here, hovering at the edge of the crowd, waiting for all of his earthly possessions to be carelessly tossed down a chute. Finally, the mob has dispersed, and he sees his bags making their way forlornly around the curve. Taking them in hand, he turns and continues on to the next leg of his trip.

It’s mid-afternoon when he arrives in Hasetsu, but he finds himself blinking blearily and fighting sleep. That’s what he gets for blowing up his career and having to travel halfway around the world to lick his wounds, he supposes. Someone shouts his name and he jerks around to find the source. Minako is there, apparently waiting for him, leg extended behind her in a beautiful arabesque. He smiles in spite of himself. A dancer will always be a dancer… will a skater always be a skater?

“You didn’t have to come get me, Minako,” Yuuri says, mouth twisting. He is going to be enough of a burden on his family and friends in the coming months, he doesn’t need them acting as his chauffeurs on top of everything. “I could have taken a cab.”

Minako rolls her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. You haven’t been home for years. We wanted you to have a proper welcome. Your parents and Mari would be here too, if they weren’t busy at the onsen.”

He looks at the sign she’s holding, now. Large, somewhat messy letters spell out, ‘Welcome Home, Uncle Yuuri!’, and glitter is scattered haphazardly all around them. It looks like it was made by a child. Or children. Yuuko’s triplets, maybe? That’s cute. He’s looking forward to meeting them; he’s heard they are quite the mischief-makers, though.

Yuuri follows Minako back to her car, trying to avoid looking at all the skating posters of himself around town. How embarrassing, now that he’s failed so thoroughly. The car ride goes quickly enough, with them chatting a bit about his life in America and how things have been back here in Hasetsu while he’s been gone. When they arrive at the onsen, he does his best to struggle through properly greeting his parents and sister, but he can barely keep his eyes open and they shuffle him off to his room after just a few minutes.

Closing the door to his room behind him, he huffs a sigh and looks around. He cringes internally at all the posters of Victor Nikiforov that are still lining the walls of his room. Victor is an amazing skater, but remembering the crush he held onto for most of his teenage years is uncomfortable. All of the years of training and living abroad to claw his way into the ranks that were worthy to skate on the same ice as Victor, all thrown away over the course of a few disastrous days. He feels a pang in his heart, thinking of how different things are to how he had expected to return home. Vicchan, running up to him with her tail wagging, jumping up and down for attention. People cheering for their hometown’s skating success story. Yuuri returning feeling accomplished and fulfilled, instead of directionless and insignificant.

Shaking himself, he sets to the task of unpacking, as much as he can do before passing out, anyway. Unzipping his largest suitcase, he carefully removes the old shoebox containing his deepest secrets. He lifts the lid and sifts through the envelopes inside. Sometimes he finds it hard to believe that he’s held onto these letters for all these years, but every time he’s thought of getting rid of them, it feels like he would be getting rid of a part of himself. Each of these letters feels like a representation of a different time in his life, even if none of them are particularly applicable at the moment. The names jump out at him as he places them back in the box one by one.

Yuuko, his childhood friend.

Mei Nakamura, from skate camp, over a decade ago.

Victor Nikiforov, of course.

Jeremy Meyers, an American skater from his first international junior competition.

And Phichit Chulanont.

Everyone he’s ever been in love with. Yuuri is very good at articulating his feelings. On paper. In a letter to be sealed in a box and never sent. In person? Not a chance. And a good thing, too, because his feelings of romance have always faded over time. When Yuuri had first met Phichit, he had fallen hard and fast. Phichit was just so alive and energetic, he had a magnetism to him that made it impossible to look away. Yuuri had needed to get his feelings down on paper before they came spilling out his mouth and making a fool of him. Of course, Phichit had turned out to be an amazing roommate and training partner, and while Yuuri considered Phichit to be a treasured friend and was sad to be apart from him now, the idea of a relationship was laughable.

As for the rest, he had been “in love” with Yuuko at seven years old, had known Mei Nakamura for all of two weeks, and had had one conversation with Jeremy Meyers that happened to coincide with an especially inconvenient rush of teenage hormones. And Victor Nikoforov… well, his bi awakening had to happen sometime, and everyone is entitled to a celebrity crush or two, right? Yes, it’s a good thing he restricts his thoughts of romance to the form of secret letters that will never see the light of day. He doesn’t need the potential complications and heartbreak of an actual relationship.

He replaces the lid of the box and sets it aside. He shoves a few handfuls of clothes into drawers until the suitcase is mostly empty. Blinking blearily, he falls back on his bed and decides the rest can wait until his body has recovered from the abuse of the last twenty-four hours of travel.

***

Axel has admired Uncle Yuuri for all her life, even though she’s never met him. She and Lutz and Loop faithfully watch every competition, collect every poster, and grab Mama’s phone whenever they can, to check Uncle Yuuri’s roommate’s instagram for new pictures of him. Ever since Mama told her that Uncle Yuuri is coming home she has been asking when she will be able to see him. She doesn’t understand why Mama gets so frustrated when she asks again, now; it’s been at least five minutes since the last time she asked.

The walk over to the onsen is taking forever. And it’s boring. It would be so much better if people could skate wherever they needed to go. Uncle Yuuri would probably want to skate instead of walk, too. Here they are, now. Auntie Mari says that Uncle Yuuri is sleeping and they have to wait until next time to meet him. But Axel really wants to meet him now; she’s been waiting forever, so that’s more important. A quick huddle with Lutz and Loop and the special triplet sneak technique is in action, allowing Axel to get away without the grownups noticing, while the other two make it seem like all three of them are still there.

Down the hall and to the left is Uncle Yuuri’s old room. One time, she and Lutz and Loop were supposed to stay overnight at Grandma’s house, but she missed her own room so much, she couldn’t fall asleep and had to go back home. Uncle Yuuri has probably been missing his room all this time, and that’s where he would want to sleep now. She carefully nudges the door open and peers inside. She barely contains her excited gasp as she realizes she was right; Uncle Yuuri is here, sprawled out on his bed, and a bit of drool is dribbling out of the corner of his mouth.

“Uncle Yuuri, wake up!” she whispers, as loudly as she dares, because if a grownup back in the main room hears her they will come and get her before she can talk to Uncle Yuuri. “Uncle Yuuri, we walked all the way to the onsen to meet you and we’ve been waiting forever. Please wake up so I can tell you how I can skate almost as amazing as you, and then you can go right back to sleep, I promise.”

Axel reaches out to poke him in the side, but he just grumbles in his sleep and rolls over. He’s not waking up. Maybe he’s too sleepy. Her lower lip starts to tremble and she fights back tears. This is just so disappointing. She’s waited so long. Uncle Yuuri shifts again and something falls to the floor with a soft thump. A box is upside-down on the floor and the lid has come off. She bends down to look and finds a few letters. Axel loves getting letters in the mail, and she’s been asking Mama if she can send a letter to a friend sometime. Uncle Yuuri is probably going to be really busy with all the friends and family who want to see him again now that he’s back home... and Papa says if she’s going to be sneaky she should try doing nice sneaky things instead of ‘mischief’.

Her mind is made up. She collects all the letters that fell out of the box. She’s going to do a nice sneaky thing and put Uncle Yuuri’s letters in the mail for him.

[saultnpeppah]

Paris

I know, I know. Super late, but I am trying to get this done slowly but surely. I hope you all still enjoy this story I wrote for Day 3 of the WonderBat Holiday event. Theme for day 3 was: Sexy.

This one is set in the DCEU

December 24. Wayne Residence - Paris, France. 16:54.

"I can't believe you let Ms. Diana talk you into this."

I turn to face Alfred, my butler, the man who has been like a father to me for more years than my actual father was able to. He shrugs his shoulders and turns towards the blinking oven, but I can tell there is a smug smile on his face. There is always a smug smile on his face when he mentions Diana.

Alfred thinks he is subtle. He thinks his witty comments and snarky jabs go unnoticed, but I can hear them. I always hear them. So does she. And the more I think about it, the more I think she enjoys them, like it some sort of validation to what she wants to believe. I guess that's why she loves Alfred so much. He humors the idea that we could be something more than teammates, something more than friends, and as much as I would love to agree, I can't let myself go down that path again.

I gave up on love, happiness, and a prospect at having someone there for me, a long time ago. I have lost too many people: my parents, Dick, Jason, Selina. The last person I want to risk losing is Diana, so I will bite the bullet and push her away. I will keep her away from burrowing deep into my chest, not allowing her to grab hold of my heart, no matter how much I would love it. Diana is amazing and beautiful, both inside and out. I am not proud of the number of times I've imagined holding that beautiful body in my arms as I kissed her lips, making love to her throughout the night. It's something I want more than anything, but I know I can't have her.

"It's been over a century since she's had a meal with close friends," I say, finally taking a break from my thoughts to respond to Alfred's comment. "She wanted a dinner with everyone instead of a gift."

Alfred nods but doesn't turn from the oven that has now begun to beep, signalling the roast he has been cooking is nearly done. He pulls the roast from the oven and places it on the island behind him, the smug smirk on his face never fading as he wipes a hand on the apron over his shirt and slacks. "What?" I ask, taking a sip from the glass in my hand, letting the wine relax my nerves. I know having Diana over for dinner shouldn't make me nervous, we've done it many times, but it will be the first time I've seen her since the incident at the lake.

That incident….I wish I could take it back, but at the same time, I wish I could make it happen all over again. She had forced me to go ice skating on the lake near my house, and I had kissed her, and like a fool, I ran away. I always run away. It's much easier than facing those unresolved feelings. Call me a coward, but it's easier to blame the mission in Gotham and my never ending commitment issues, than to fall in love and get hurt once more. I'd rather not go through that all over again.

Alfred glances over his shoulder at my way and shakes his head. "Well, if you're going to sit there and try to convince me that you do not have any feelings for Ms. Diana, then it would do you well to wipe that smile off your face. It screams of a man in love."

I pull the wine glass from my lips and scowl at Alfred. I want to yell at him, but I know I can't, because the truth is, I am in love with Diana. It started when I caught her stealing my drive at Luthor's party, the first night I laid eyes on her. I had never seen someone that beautiful, that breathtaking. That was the first night I had dreamed of her, albeit it had not been as wholesome as I'd like to admit. Then she saved my life and fought beside Clark and I, and I finally understood the secret she had been hiding. She was the first person I went to when it came to finding the others, and the more and more we discussed things, the longer and longer her dinner visits would become, until one night she left and I realized I wanted her to never leave again. I was in love with her- am in love with her- and I wish I was man enough to admit it to her.

I open my mouth to respond to him, however the doorbell rings, interrupting me. Alfred and I turn towards the door, both knowing the woman we have been discussing is behind the door, along with a man who can hear any remaining conversation we decide to have. "I'll get it," I say, placing my nearly empty wine glass on the counter, before I make my way to the front door of the vacation home I own in Paris.

When Diana had made a comment about wanting to have the team together for Christmas, I had jokingly offered to host a dinner at my house. The look on her face at that moment was so pure, so innocent, I knew I couldn't take it back, so instead I began to arrange for travel to Paris, where my parent's old vacation home was. I knew my home in Gotham would not be spacious enough for everyone, and the old manor was still going through renovations for the League's headquarters, so it was the only place available for all of us to enjoy our dinner. Alfred was all too happy to cook for everyone, and everyone, although slightly confused by my sudden invitation to a Christmas dinner, was all too happy with a free trip to Paris.

I reach the front door and take a moment to inhale deeply, trying to regain my composure, before I reach out for the handle. I slowly open the door and plaster a small grin on my face, happy to see the, mostly, happy group of people standing on the stoop. "Merry Christmas Eve!" the person in the front exclaims. Mrs. Kent smiles widely before she hugs her jacket close to her body, giving me a small wave, before she looks over her shoulder at the lights from the city. I wonder if this is the first time she has ever left the country.

"You too, Mrs. Kent," I say, offering her a small smile. "Please, come inside." I move aside and let the older woman into the house, watching as a shiver runs down her spine when she lets the warmth of the house hit her cold body.

Behind Mrs. Kent is Clark, who is holding a pile of wrapped gifts. His eyes meet mine and he only shrugs before he steps inside. "Ma made me," he whispers on his way in, and in that moment I let out a small chuckle. Mrs. Kent is persistent if nothing else.

Ever since I saved her that night, the night I decided to end my meaningless persecution against the Superman, Martha Kent has been a beacon of hope for me. She is one of the sweetest women I have come to know, and I am absolutely positive when I say Clark is absolutely one of the luckiest men alive to have her as his mother; I feel as if Clark has voiced this to his mother as Martha has treated me like the second son she never had after I bought the farm back from the bank.

Lois walks into the house after Clark, her jacket covering half her face as she braces against the cold. Her red hair peeks out from under a knitted cap and she has her nose covered by a matching knitted scarf. "Bruce," she greets as she rushes into the house, into the warmth.

"Ms. Lane," is all I say, before I turn towards the door just in time to see Barry run into the room. He opens his mouth to speak, but I already know what he's wanting to know. "Kitchen is down the hall to the right," I say. He is off with only a flash of lightning surrounding the spot in which he once stood, before I even finish my sentence.

Arthur walks in next, his heavy coat the same one I have seen him wear multiple times. Even a king enjoys a familiar item of clothing. He walks in and gives me a nod, before his eyes glance up at the ceiling, taking in the chandelier that dangles from the middle of the tall ceiling. "Damn, Wayne," he says with a whistle.

"Aren't you a king?" Victor asks, walking in behind him. "Don't you have a throne made of gold or something?"

Arthur shrugs. The two of them walk into the house, leaving the last person out on the stoop, the one person I've been waiting to see for two weeks.

She stands there, dressed in a pair of jeans, red blouse, black boots, and a black jacket. Her hair is pulled back into a high ponytail and over her ears is a knitted hair band, keeping the cold from hitting her ears. She looks up from the phone in her hand and notices me staring at her, offering me a quiet smile. She doesn't say anything, only nods, and in that moment I know: she's still thinking of the last kiss we shared - the last kiss I screwed up by awkwardly running away.

Diana steps inside, out of the cold, and I close the door, my eyes never leaving her body. She is so beautiful, and part of me wants to reach out and grab her, pull her close, and kiss her senseless, let her know that that is all I've been thinking of doing since she jumped into her car and drove off. But I won't do it in front of our friends, and with the way she is avoiding my gaze, I know it would be a terrible thing to do without talking to her first. So I settle for a small nod, silently whispering her name, flashing her a smile when she turns to finally face me. She smiles back, genuinely smiles, and I know all hope is not lost. Maybe I'll be able to win her over once again - if only we can get through this meal.

December 24. Wayne Residence - Paris, France. 20:47.

"Alfred, dinner was wonderful."

Alfred looks up from his seat besides me and gives Mrs. Kent a wide smile, before he nods towards the older woman. "I'm glad you enjoyed it," he says. "Would anyone like another glass of wine?"

Alfred looks at me and I shift my eyes towards Diana, before I raise my glass, silently asking him to fill my cup. Diana has ignored me all night, and the more I stare at her, watching as she fiddles with a loose strand of fabric on her jeans, the more I realize she is embarrassed about what happened at the lake. She thinks I didn't want her, that I don't want her - if only she knew how wrong she is.

Alfred gives me a look, trying to decipher what is wrong with me and Diana, before he raises the wine bottle and asks who else would like a refill. Diana is quick to raise her glass, and Alfred obliges, filling her cup, before he moves to fill Clark's.

"Well, I'd love to stay and chat," Arthur says with a smug smile, and we all know he would much rather leave and go back home to Mera; I wonder why he didn't bring her. "But a King's duty is never done." He stands from his seat and walks to the door, grabbing a bottle of whiskey off the counter as he leaves the room. "You mind?" he asks over his shoulder, not bothering to wait for an answer before he is out of ear reach and at the door.

I ignore Arthur and continue to watch Diana. Besides, he took the cheap whiskey anyway.

Martha is the next to stand from her seat. "Alfred, let me help you with clearing the table," she says, grabbing her plate, Clark's, and Lois'. She doesn't even let Alfred protest before she's in the kitchen, trying to clean up the mess we've all made.

Victor and Barry are the next to leave, when Victor gets an alert that a bank in Central City is being robbed. "It never ends," is all Barry says as he runs out of the room, only to come back seconds later to pile the remaining dinner rolls in his arms. He shoves one into his mouth and gives us a wink, before he's out of the room once more, earning a chuckle from Diana and Lois, and a groan from Victor, who only places his hand over his face and grumbles something incoherent as he leaves the house.

Clark and Lois stay for a while longer, entertaining both Diana and I until Alfred shoos Mrs. Kent from the kitchen, telling her she has done her fair share of cleaning and should enjoy the holidays. The three quickly say their goodbyes, and I thank them for coming. When they leave I turn to Diana, who sits quietly on the couch in the living room, nursing her glass of wine. She watches me with fierce eyes, deciding whether she should stay and entertain whatever excuses come out of my mouth tonight, or get up and leave like the others; I am grateful when she makes no move to get up.

I quickly walk over to her, grabbing my own half empty glass of wine from the head of the table, and take a seat on the couch besides her, letting my knee gently graze hers as I take a sip from the glass. It is quiet as both of us stare at the fireplace in front of us, neither knowing how to start the conversation we so desperately need to have. I can tell she is itching to ask me why I left, but she is also very aware of how I might respond….but I don't think I can take this silence much longer.

Diana takes another sip from her wine, before she clears her throat, places the wine on the table in front of her, and turns to fully face me. "Are we going to ignore what happened?" she asks. "Because if I recall, you're the one who kissed me."

She is very blunt and I can't help but smirk at the way she recalls that event. "Yes, and yes," is all I say, forcing her to frown. It nearly breaks my heart in two to see that frown on her face, knowing I am the one who caused it. "Diana," I begin, placing my hand gently on her arm. She glances down at the hand on her bicep and I know she is struggling not to respond to my touch, just as much as I am struggling not to respond to touching her. But there's something about her arm in my hand, her body so close to mine, that is making it nearly impossible to think.

"Bruce," she warns, as her eyebrows furrow. She has gotten this speech from me many times before and I can tell she is tired of it. "If we are going to continue to be nothing more than teammates, nothing more than friends, you need to make up your mind."

I chuckle. It is a nervous response and a defense tactic I've perfected over the years. "Why would you want to be involved with someone like me?" I ask jokingly, however the look in her eyes tells me she does not think this is a joking matter.

She pulls my hand from her arm and places it in between hers. "Because I love you," she confesses, and it takes me by surprise. "You are an amazing man. A brilliant, kind, caring man, who is selfless in everything you do, and you are my dear friend," she says, squeezing my hand gently.

I place my glass of wine on the table near hers, confused by her latest confession. Diana cannot be in love with me. Diana should not be in love with me. To the outside world, I am a narcissistic playboy who only flaunts the money my dead parents left me to get attention. To her, I am a nutcase who dresses like a bat and fights criminals nightly. No sane woman would ever dare admit to loving someone like me.

But when Diana squeezes my hand once more and flashes me one of the most radiant smiles, I know it is true, and I know without a doubt, I want her, more than anything.

I place my free hand on her face, cupping her cheek, and watch as she closes her eyes, letting my hand warm her face. My thumb gently swipes over her lips, the lips I've been wanting to kiss all night, and she smiles, kissing the pad of my thumb as one of her hands covers the one on her face. Without a word I pull her close, letting our lips crash together in one of the best kisses I've ever had. Her hands move to grab my collar, pulling me closer, and I smirk against her lips when she gasps as I run my tongue along her bottom lip.

Suddenly she pulls away, and I am left both confused and wanting more. "Diana?" I ask, questioning why she is doing this. Is she having second thoughts? Is she realizing this is actually all a mistake?

Diana only grins as she rises from the sofa and takes a step down the hallway. "You didn't think it would be that easy, did you, Bruce?" she calls over her shoulder, before she disappears into one of the rooms.

I let out a groan as I bury my head into my hands. This is all I ever wanted, and now she's making me work harder for it. I stand from the couch and make my way to the room, a grin on my face when I see Diana sitting in the middle of the bed. "A little presumptuous, aren't we?" I ask. Diana only shrugs.

"Either you walk out and let me sleep, and we'll pretend the whole thing didn't happen," she says. She lifts her feet so she can unzip her boots, pulling them off as she stares at me, tossing them onto the floor. "Or you can finally admit you share the same feelings, and we can both retire here for the night." Diana pulls her hair from her ponytail, letting her long tresses fall to her shoulders, and I am instantly hit with that all too familiar smell.

It doesn't take long before I have my answer. It has been the answer all along, only I was too much of a coward, too willing to hide behind the cowl, to admit to it. I quickly turn on my heel and face the doorway, and I can hear her let out a small sad sigh as she thinks I am about to walk out. Instead, I grab the door and close it quietly, locking it quickly so Alfred will not disturb us, before I turn to see her grinning.

I quickly walk to where she sits and join her on the bed, undoing the knot in the tie around my neck as I take a seat besides her. "You're so stubborn, Bruce," she says with a smile, placing her hand on my thigh. "Why didn't you just tell me how you felt after we defeated Steppenwolf?"

I give her another chuckle. "You knew how I felt," I say.

I watch as she flashes me a small smile, before she lets her eyes wander over me, settling on the tie that hangs loosely around my neck. "But I wanted to hear you admit to it," she says softly, as she continues to watch me. She remains quiet as the question burns the deepest part of her soul. "Bruce," she finally says, watching as my eyes move to meet hers, "Are you in love with me?"

Instantly I'm hit with two emotions, fear and love, and I don't know which one is weighing heavier on my heart. There is part of me that fears hearing that question, just as I have from many women before. Loving someone means opening myself to the potential to get hurt. But this isn't anyone. This is Diana, and loving Diana…...well that is a feeling I can't explain.

I move closer to Diana, placing my hand gently on her shoulder, watching as she continues to look me deep in the eyes, waiting for my answer. My fingers curl in her hair, earning another smile, and I can't help but look down at the lips that beg for my kisses. "I am," I finally answer. "Since the first moment I saw you," I confess.

Diana only moves closer to me, wraps her hand in the loose tie around my neck, and pulls gently. It's not enough to move me, but I take the hint and fall towards her, watching as she lays on the bed and pulls me on top of her, before she pulls me down for a kiss.

My heart begins to beat faster as her other arm loops around my neck, pulling me closer to her body. It elicits an uncontrollable response from my body and the only way I am able to respond is with a low growl, nipping her bottom lip in an attempt to hear a response from her. I am rewarded when she gasps from underneath me, yanking the tie from around my neck and tossing it to the floor, before her hand finds the buttons of my vest. She quickly unbuttons my vest, closing her eyes when my wandering hands find a particularly sensitive spot on her lower back. She whispers my name and unbuttons my shirt, exposing my bare and scarred chest to the cold winter air, before her hands snake up my torso, up to my chest, and onto my shoulders, before she pushes the shirt and vest off my body, letting them join my discarded tie on the floor.

Diana's hands fall to my waistband and she works quickly to undo my belt, pulling it from my belt loops, as I kick off my shoes. My lips move from Diana's and I begin to trail a path down her neck, planting sweet kisses on the bare skin I can find, finding it harder and harder to concentrate the more she moans underneath me. Diana moves to my pants and she unbuttons them, and suddenly the trousers are much too tight, pushing against my growing need for the woman who has invaded my every thought for nearly two years.

Without a word, I pull away from Diana, smirking at the look of disappointment on her face when my lips leave her body. I unzip my pants and quickly push them down my legs, leaving me in only a pair of boxers. I watch as Diana takes the time to yank her blouse over her head, letting it fall to the growing pile on the floor, before she leans back onto the bed, propping herself up on her elbows, a smirk on her face as she takes in my nearly naked body. Her eyes fall to the button keeping my boxers closed, keeping me confined in the article of clothing, and I can't help but smirk. I knew she wasn't as innocent as everyone was made to believe.

I climb on top of her, capturing her lips with my own, startling her for a second. She, however, recovers quickly, running her tongue along my lips, begging for entry. I open my mouth and close my eyes with a small gasp, as her hand travels down my chest to the waistband of my boxers, and our tongues begin to fight for dominance.

My eyes open when I feel Diana reach into my boxers and wrap her hand around me. Her hand on my bare skin is driving me wild, but when she starts to stroke me, I am unable to control myself. I pull my lips from hers and let out a deep moan, digging my fingers into her bare hips, silently warning her that if she continues her movements, the big event will be over before she is even completely nude. Diana ignores my warning and continues to move her hand, smirking as I let out a groan.

I quickly reach up and unhook her bra, yanking the lacy article of clothing from her body, releasing her perfect breasts for my eyes to feast on. It's only a moment before my mouth is on one of her breasts, nipping and licking the smooth skin I find. Diana responds with a moan of her own, squeezing me gently. My hands trail down to her jeans and I unbutton them, gently pull down the zipper, and pull them, along with her underwear, down her legs, leaving the Amazon goddess completely bare in my bed.

Diana's hand releases me, and I know she is wanting the same thing I want; I will no longer deny her or I something we've wanted for years. My boxers are off in a moment and I am soon laying on top of her, our bare bodies pressed together as my lips find hers once more. My hips move and my breath catches in my throat as I begin to push into her, into the warmth I have only been able to dream of until this moment. Diana lets out a small moan, shutting her eyes when I begin my slow and torturous pace, and I only know it's a matter of time before she forces me to speed up.

"Bruce," Diana says after a gasp. One of her hands grabs my shoulder, letting her nails dig into the unscarred skin found there, as the other grips the sheets tightly. My hips move faster and I grab Diana's legs, hiking them up around my waist, allowing me to move deeper; there is obviously no disapproval from Diana, as her moans become louder and more frequent.

I continue to thrust, faster and harder, as I bury my face in the crook of Diana's neck. I continue to nip and suck on the skin I find, the noises coming from the mouth of the woman I am making sweet delicious love to inspiring me more and more each moment. I know Diana is near her end, I can feel it; I will not be far behind.

I thrust a few more times, mentally reminding myself I am not done until I give Diana the best orgasm of her life. Diana's hand rests on my arm and she digs her nails into my flesh, as her body tightens around me. She arches her back and calls my name, finally giving into her body's desire. She forces my release when she clenches around me, and I call her name into the quiet room, biting her shoulder as I try to regain some form of control. Diana is the only woman who has done this - the only woman who has made me lose control like this.

I pull away from Diana with one final kiss, before I lay on the bed besides her, both of us staring at the ceiling in silence, trying to gather our thoughts. The only sound in the room is that of our labored breathing, letting each other know we were victorious in giving the other a well needed workout, especially after all the food consumed earlier. We continue to stare at the ceiling, neither knowing what to say. We have finally crossed that line from friends to lovers, and although I know it should scare me, I smile knowing I welcome the change.

"Now I know why women love sleeping with you, Bruce," Diana says, attempting to chuckle. She, however, is still trying to control her breathing, and merely turns to face me, gently placing a hand on my chest.

I don't say anything in response. Nothing I say can truly articulate how I feel. Instead I pull her close, letting her rest her head on my chest, as I wrap an arm around her back. I open my mouth to say something, wanting to tell her how amazing this was, when there is a knock on the door. Diana sits up quickly, the sudden realization that we were not alone in the house hitting her; I could care less, as Alfred has walked in on many of my nightly escapades with women.

"Master Wayne, Ms. Diana," Alfred begins. His voice is neutral and pleasant, but I know the old man is harboring a smirk that would make even the Joker jealous. "Master Kent is here and says you're both needed downtown. Something about Luthor and a museum."

I turn to Diana, who only blushes as the realization that Clark and his super hearing has also heard what we were doing; who am I kidding, anyone within a one block radius would have heard what we were doing. She sinks into the bed and pulls the covers over her face, embarrassed. I only chuckle, glad to know the most perfect woman in the world can still be embarrassed from time to time. I'll have to keep that in mind. "Tell him we'll be there as soon as we can," I say through the door.

I turn to Diana, laughing once more when I notice she hasn't come out from under the covers. Without a word I yank the covers from her body, smirking when she lets out a small shriek. "Bruce!" she exclaims, trying to keep the warmth that has settled over her body from disappearing into the cold room.

"It's okay," I begin, my smirk growing as I glance over her naked body once more. "I think I know a way that can warm you up."

@fyeahwonderbat

[yoificfinder]

Hi! Hope you’re doing well! Do you have any recs for Magic AU fics? Thanks in advance and stay safe! 💖

Hi nonnie, here are some fics where they have magic--categorized into HP/Hogwarts AU and Other Magic AUs (I excluded superhero AUs tho as there's already a masterlist for that):

HP/Hogwarts AU

Canis Major by @yuripaws [G, 8K]

Viktor Nikiforov: Head Boy. Quidditch Captain. Outstanding in all his O.W.L.s. Excelling in all his N.E.W.T. classes.

Something about his eyes reminds Prefect Yuuri Katsuki of the strange dog that likes to patrol the corridors with him at night.

darling, we both know by @astoryaboutwar [E, 31K]

You can grow up with someone and be simultaneously better and worse for it.

(Or: the HP Wizarding World (not set in Hogwarts!) AU where they meet as preteens, fuck as teenagers, fall in love as adults, and occasionally find time to magically figure skate.)

Defying Gravity series by rinsled05 / @dreaming-fireflies [T and E, 58K]

Summary of first fic:

Imagine if Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, after the demise of you-know-who, started accepting foreign students in an effort for greater unity among wizarding communities around the world. Imagine that, in this changing climate of diversity and social acceptance, Hogwarts also decided to host an exchange programme with select students from Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic for a semester.

Imagine, then, if a young Japanese wizard by the name of Yuuri Katsuki had transferred to Hogwarts to escape his past, just in time to meet a Russian Quidditch player who would blow open the very doors he was trying so desperately to close.

A story of love, magic, and teenagers trying to find themselves.

Falling For Your Charms by Reiya / @kazliin [T, 32K]

Professor Katsuki’s crush on Professor Nikiforov is supposed to be a great secret.

So naturally, the whole school knows

Open At The Touch by @kiaronna [T, 6K]

Maybe Nishigori got ahold of a lock of Viktor's hair, and some Polyjuice potion. Maybe it's all an elaborate prank. With this as his only reasonable explanation, he steps forward, snags Viktor by his robes and tugs him in.

"Nishigori," he says in Japanese, "this prank isn't funny. Your English is better than when I left, though."

"Ah," says the fake Viktor Nikiforov in English, voice dipping, and is he blushing? "What was that?"

"Maybe I got hit in the head by a Bludger," Yuuri muses. Viktor's smile grows ever wider, tightening at the edges. "Maybe I never came home from my international Quidditch competition. Maybe I'm lying in the hospital right now, hallucinating."

There has to be an explanation, mystical and magical or medical, for the best Seeker in the Quidditch world showing up at his door; something besides his portrait, which won't stop talking to Yuuri anyway.

Technical Support by @possibleplatypus [T, 18K]

Research had needed a new field-tester (they always needed new testers, as most Aurors would “test” an artefact only once before screaming to be reassigned), and thus the most decorated Auror in recent history was currently shouting into a modified “smart phone.”

Viktor was quite certain that phones were not alive, so he did not understand how they could be intelligent. He found that when it came to Muggles, it was best not to think too deeply into things.

“THIS IS NIKE,” Viktor bellowed into the thin, rectangular case. “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”

The Dance of the Veela by @satbiym [M, 17K] *WIP

Listen, Victor has a lot on his plate, not only is he dealing with the dreaded Veela Maturity in a den of iniquity (ahem Hogwarts ahem), but he also has to find an appropriate Consort for his upcoming Veela Maturity Ball, held during the Winter Solstice, amongst the hundreds of people he is surrounded by everyday.

But How Does He Know?

A Fairy Tale in 3 Arcs.

Viktor is Luna Lovegood: The AU series by seventhstar / @pencilwalla [T, M, and E, 33K]

Magical theory nerd Viktor is determined to win quidditch prodigy Yuuri Katsuki's heart. Luckily, Yuuri is too busy crushing on him to notice his throngs of admirers.

warm-up hogwash series by antikytheras [G, 16K]

Summary of first fic:

Viktor Nikiforov is a genius. He tops the level without having to study and he can perform most spells without his wand. He was the second-ever first-year Seeker in the school, and the first Slytherin one at that. He’s a Parselmouth and he’s tamed the other basilisk hidden in the school’s plumbing. He has washboard abs and really defined hipbones. He’s the only son in a long line of pureblood Slytherins and he’s half-Veela and he can speak Mermish and he was born as Voldemort’s secret daughter which is why he’s prettier than half of the girls in school and—

‘Where do you even get all these?’ Viktor asks, eyebrows drawn together in bemusement. 'I'm not even a pureblood, I'm Muggleborn.'

Other Magic AUs

And Miles to Go Before I Sleep by @orchids-and-fictional-cities, @iruutciv [M, 41K]

Katsuki Yuuri has been cursed to spread misery and grief to those who dare to come close to him. Viktor Nikiforov has been sentenced to wander the earth, unable to die, granting wishes to mortals in the hopes that one of them might give his life meaning in exchange.

They meet in a tempest of April snow.

in distant castles mirrors broke by lily_winterwood / @omgkatsudonplease [E, 7K]

Yuuri had discovered his powers at a very young age.

For as long as he remembers, people have talked in hushed whispers around him, about him. About how the Northern Lights had shone at the hour of his birth, about the stars that had burst into existence alongside him. Yuuri has known, from a young age, that he’s destined for some sort of greatness.

The problem is, he’s not sure what sort of greatness it is, or if it’s even really greatness at all. After all, everyone says that sort of stuff about princes.

in which there is a moving castle by @fireblazie [T, 3K]

When Viktor opens his eyes, Yuri is staring at him with a horrified expression.

Granted, Yuri greets him with that face every time Viktor opens his mouth, so Viktor doesn’t quite grasp the gravity of the situation at first. But then it comes to him in stages: a gradual ache settling in his lower back, a peculiar stiffness in his joints, and, most horribly of all—

He runs towards the nearest mirror and freezes at the reflection that gapes back at him.

His hair.

Viktor screams.

(A sort of Howl's Moving Castle AU.)

My Name On Your Lips by @feels-like-fire [E, 108K]

Yuuri Katsuki has been betrothed to the High King's son, Victor, since he was just a child; furthermore, as an omega, he's forbidden from practicing magic in combat. For years, he's been able to put off the former because the Prince was traveling abroad, and gotten around the latter by practicing with his mentor in secret.

Now Victor Nikiforov has finally returned home, and Yuuri is being summoned to the capital for their wedding. He needs a plan to put off marriage long enough to find a way to break the betrothal, while keeping his practicing from being discovered.

If only the Prince didn't have other ideas.

Roses of May by @cuttlemefishwrites [E, 46K] *WIP

At age five, all children are assessed for talent and beauty in the City of Hasetsu and the other eight cities of the Empire. Every year, five are branded with the mark of a rose before being carded off to the Emperor’s palace where they are trained to become Roses, or sacrifices to be sent every May to the Ice Spirit that lives in the castle at the top of the mountain. Roses never return, except for Katsuki Yuuri, who shocks the Empire when he appears again two years after his departure with a silver crown on his head and a blond baby in his arms, demanding the Emperor step down or face the wrath of his husband, the Ice King. But, not everything is what it seems.

to the water's edge by @ebenroot [T, 84K]

Once upon a time, in a secluded tower that rests upon a cliff and is surrounded by tall trees, there lives a young man that faces a certain conundrum:

Katsuki Yuuri has fallen in deeply in love with a man he has never met.

Your Breath, My Skin by @lavenderprose [T, 5K]

"What did you do?" Yuuri mutters as Viktor takes off his coat and scarf.

Viktor's mouth moves soundlessly for a moment, then gestures for a pencil and pad. Yuuri yanks his way through several drawers and finally finds a grocery list pad and an old charcoal. He throws them in Viktor's direction and shuffles into the kitchen to turn the kettle on. Viktor tugs on his sleeve eventually, like a timid child, and Yuuri turns to see what he's written.

"A succubus?" Yuuri demands, teeth going on edge. "Viktor, oh my God. What did you do?"

Or: Viktor needs to stop finding new and creative ways to get himself hexed. Yuuri is Suffering.

---

ETA - Other people's rec:

A Story of Withcraft and Wizardy by @sophialala1 (She also recs other magic/fantasy AU fics in the replies and here's her ao3)

Magic & Ice by @ajwolf84

when the ice melts in the snow (that's when you'll love me) by lilithiumwords / @amberstarfight

Thanks for the rec, @alistairvt! ❤

[muwi-translates]

木の葉隠れの陣 謙信&佐助V.S.顕如&蘭丸～フリースタイル忍者バトル～

Ikemen Sengoku Drama CD 4: Hidden Battle in the Foliage, Kenshin & Sasuke VS Kennyo & Ranmaru ~Freestyle Ninja Battle~ Part Two

Part One **Please don’t move this translation or claim it as your own.**

Requested and links courtesy of @nyktoon-ikemenlove!

Note: I will mainly be focusing on the Chinese subtitles, with light cross-referencing of the Japanese, since the former is the one I’m more comfortable working with. There may be some slight differences between the languages, but the general story should be the same. Enjoy!

Note 2: Sasuke uses a lot of English-loan words, and to not make things so confusing, I have italicized them. You’ll be able to hear them, of course!

Sasuke: Now then, let’s begin the Freestyle Ninja Battle.

Ranmaru: ‘Fu- furisutairu? Ba-batoru?’

Sasuke: It’s a style of competition where we have the highest degree of freedom, and mutually display our ninja arts, where the winner is the one who is capable of showing the highest degree of ability. The judging can go to Kenshin-sama and Kennyo-san.

Kennyo: But then Kenshin can pick you, and I can pick Ranmaru.

Sasuke: When it comes to determining victors, Kenshin-sama is a fair person. And I believe Kennyo-san is also that kind of person.

Kennyo: Don’t overestimate me. I am a demon that lives for revenge...

Ranmaru: Isn’t that a given? Kennyo-sama is just and upright, and also compassionate.

Kennyo: Ranmaru. Don’t interrupt when people are speaking.

Ranmaru: Sorry...

Kenshin: If you’re done boasting, hurry up and start.

(0:52)

Sasuke: Yes. Then, I will begin first. First... (heh and hah noises)

Kennyo: Oh, he can walk and scatter caltrops at the same time. I see he is a nimble one.

Ranmaru: He~eh, he’s not bad.

Sasuke: From walking caltrops to running caltrops.

Kenshin: Hoh, he’s accelerating.

Sasuke: And here, I turn! Triple axel caltrops!

Ranmaru: He rotated and scattered the caltrops?!

Sasuke: Now... moonwalk caltrops. 

Kennyo: What a strange way of walking. He pretends to be walking forward, but is actually walking backwards...

Sasuke: Ina bauer [1]... um, caltrops.. 

Ranmaru: What an amazing arch, his body is pretty flexible!

Kenshin: Just then... did he almost forget the two words he put in front of ‘caltrop’?

Sasuke: And then, somersault caltrops!

Kennyo: A somersault technique, I’m surprised he didn’t lose consciousness.

Ranmaru: That being said, he scattered so many, the fact that he hasn’t step on any is a bit amazing.

Kenshin: However, just being able to scatter caltrops cannot be the key point to determining the victor.

Sasuke: You are too naive, Kenshin-sama. The path of the ninja... begins with the caltrop, and ends with the caltrop. Am I right, Ranmaru-kun?

Ranmaru: Eh? I- Is that so? Anyhow, I felt Sasuke-dono’s mysterious passion for caltrops!

Sasuke: The one who controls caltrops can say they have controlled the way of the ninja. Besides, I did not just scatter them about. Please take a look at the ground.

Kenshin: This is... He wrote something out of caltrops?!

Ranmaru: What? You’re lying!

Sasuke: It’s decided. Ultra C [2].

(2:49)

Kennyo: What did he write? ‘I...’

Kenshin: ‘...love...’

Ranmaru: ‘...you’? ‘I love you’?

Sasuke: If you use this skill when you’re confessing to the person you like, I guarantee you will be able to put on a good show.

Kennyo: But I feel like the chances of the other person feeling bewildered is quite high.

Sasuke: That’s strange. If I was being confessed to, I would give them a high mark.

(3:16)

Ranmaru: That said, does Sasuke-dono have a girl he likes?

Sasuke: That’s...

Ranmaru: That’s...?

Sasuke: A secret.

Ranmaru: If it’s a secret then there is someone! You were definitely thinking about your special girl just then, right?

Kenshin: Oi, Sasuke. The woman you were just thinking about... is it that one who’s your friend?

Sasuke: My friend? I don’t know who you’re referring to.

Kenshin: Don’t play dumb. The woman who smiles carefreely, in Azuchi.

Kennyo: Azuchi... perhaps it is that girl. Indeed, her smile is carefree. Perhaps you can also say pure...

Ranmaru: Kennyo-sama, do you know her?

Kennyo: Yes. She’s a strange girl.

Ranmaru: Hm~ if Kennyo-sama says it like that... I want to see that girl too!

Kenshin: No. A suspicious brat with doubtful origins like yourself should get lost.

Ranmaru: Even if you say that~ Kenshin-sama and that girl don’t have any relations either.

Kenshin: Sasuke’s part is over. If you don’t hurry up and start, I will forcibly give this competition a victor.

Ranmaru: Gyaah! Scary~ don’t do that!

Kenshin: I don’t believe this ninja has the qualifications of a victor. Just let me-!

Ranmaru: Ha! You shouldn’t underestimate me. Ninja don’t just merely rely on strength to battle.

Kenshin: Hoh, what an impertinent mouth. So this is your true self.

Sasuke: That cunning behaviour... it’s to throw off his opponent!

Kennyo: No, this is just his hobby. Probably.

Sasuke: ... Hobby.

(5:00)

Ranmaru: Alright! I’ll give it all I’ve got and show you my ninja arts! Ninja Arts~ The Art of Sexual Appeal! [3] 

Sasuke: !! His hair unraveled!

Kenshin: It’s getting harder and harder to tell if he’s a man or a woman.

Ranmaru / Orchid: My name is ‘Oran’ (Orchid) [4]. I live in the small village nearby, I got lost in the woods when I came out to buy things... I’m scared that wild beasts might come out... Look, my leg is shaking... look here ♡

Sasuke: A high level technique in which you roll up the hem of your clothes to let your legs become visible! This is the Art of Sexual Appeal...

Kenshin: When his opponent is looking down, he uses that split second to approach and dispatch them!

Kennyo: It appears no matter happens you can always think in such a dangerous direction.

Ranmaru / Orchid: Um... can you... hold my hand? If you do that, then I won’t be scared anymore.

Kenshin: This time, he’s planning on closing the distance between him and his opponent, and taking his hand to limit his movements before killing him in one strike.

Sasuke: It really is a dangerous way of thinking. Well, as an assassination method, it does have its effectiveness.

Ranmaru / Orchid: Eh? What kind of men do I like? Those kind of things... Orchid doesn’t quite know yet... Buuut~ if I must say, it would have to be a person who warmly and cutely adores me! Just like... you. Aha~ If you want to, we can go to a place where the two of us can be alone together. And slowly~ talk a bit~?

Kenshin: If this is a man with poor taste, these sweet words are enough for him to take the bait.

Kennyo: To have even the woman-hating Kenshin’s approval, then Ranmaru’s Art of Sexual Appeal is worthy of evaluation. Aside from the ridiculous name.

Ranmaru: After all, to be a ninja, it’s important that you need to sometimes know how to win the enemy over and infiltrate to get information.

Kenshin: I only said my general thoughts. You won’t find a weak man who becomes careless when a woman greets him in my Uesugi troop.

Ranmaru: Is that so? If the girl Kenshin-dono likes came to greet you, would you not become careless? Likeeeee, the girl we were talking about?

Kenshin: Why are we talking about her again?

Ranmaru: Who knows? But I was just thinking, if you don’t have any relations to her, your reaction is pretty excessive!

Sasuke: Even though I won’t deny it. But that sentence, I feel like that can also be asked at Kennyo-san.

Kennyo: !!

Ranmaru: Ah. He wavered a bit. I’m becoming more and more interested in this person!

Kennyo: I did not waver.

(7:49)

Kenshin: I don’t know why but I am starting to feel excessively unpleasant. I really feel like cutting down everyone here.

Sasuke: Aaah, that’s bad. Let’s go back to what we were talking about. Winning over the enemy also counts as a ninja art. It was perfect with no blind spots.

Ranmaru: Sasuke-dono probably can’t do it. Sasuke-dono is, how to say it, expressionless.

Sasuke: Mm. But I think my emotions are plentiful.

Kennyo: It is utterly impossible to see.

Kenshin: A ninja art where you smile happily at the opponent is not something my ninja needs. However, someone who cannot beat a ninja like that is also unforgiveable. Sasuke. Smile for me. It’s an order.

Sasuke: Kenshin-sama. I believe that even if it wasn’t me, with you pointing that sword, the amount of people who can smile right now is quite small.

Kennyo: However, Sarutobi Sasuke needs to show the God of War that he is not just an expressionless man, and that he is also a man who is hard for Ranmaru for win over.

Ranmaru: Really? Kennyo-sama! Which side are you on?

Kennyo: Didn’t you say that I was going to be fair? However, finding a winner among these two ninjas with different directions is going to be difficult.

Kenshin: Not to mention it was a boring competition. If you don’t show me more exciting ninja arts, you won’t move my heart.

Sasuke: An exciting ninja art... huh.

[1] Ina bauer - an ice-skating move. Imagine Sasuke doing this.

[2] Ultra C - originated from the Japanese Olympics gymnastic team in 1968, it;s a colloquial term for one’s trump card, or to do something that goes beyond the ‘best score’.

[3] Art of Sexual Appeal - a Naruto parody, I suppose?

[4] Oran - comes from the first word of Ranmaru’s name, meaning Orchid. ‘O’ is polite suffix.

This was really fun! I’ve never actually done this long of an audio translation before but I really enjoyed it ;v; I’d actually like to do the ones that haven’t been done in the series if there are subtitles!

[lcdrarry]

LCDrarry 2020 Anonymous Master List

Dear lovely Participants, Creators, Alpha and Beta Readers, Commentors, Cheerleaders, Readers and Fans of our fest,

Our 2nd installment of LCDrarry is coming to an end, and we’d like to thank you all for taking part in our little fest, for creating so many amazing new Drarry works for us all to enjoy, for commenting on your favourite creations, for sharing and recommending our drarry gems with your friends and blog followers, and for making this fest another amazing experience for us mods.

We hope we could bring you some joy and diversion in these trying times and send you lots of love, strength and perseverance wherever you are :*

Happy reading, commenting and catching-up,

~Your LCDrarry Mods Tami (@celilasart) and Suzi (@erin-riwen)

PS: Please have a look at the author notes and tags on AO3 for additional information and more detailed warnings. Thank you!

***

The creations are listed in the order in which they were posted during the fest.

***

Love, Actually, is All Around

Prompt: #180 | “Love, Actually” - 2003 - Richard Curtis Author: Anonymous Word Count: 9,975 words Rating: Teen and Up Warnings: Wizarding Politics, Discriminiation, Slight power imbalance

Summary: It’s Christmastime, and Harry has just started as the new Minister of Magic. It just so happens that Draco happens to work in his office as well, a holdover from Kingsley’s tenure. Naturally, love is in the air.

Read “Love, Actually, is All Around” now on AO3.

***

Drarry on Ice

Prompt: #150 | ’“Yuuri!!! On Ice” - 2016 - Series Author: Anonymous Art Medium: Traditional Art Rating: General Warnings: none

Summary: Harry and Draco find love on the ice. I love Yuuri on Ice and Harry and Draco seem like such a perfect fit for Victor and Yuuri. I’ll leave it up to your imagination as far as which is which. This image is from the final scene when the two of them do a exhibition skate together.

View “Drarry on Ice” now on AO3.

***

Boats, but Not the Ocean

Prompt: #203 | “Groundhog Day” - 1993 - Harold Ramis Author: Anonymous Word Count: 15,551 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Very minor mention of suicide, some mild horror

Summary: If Draco ever gets his hands on this Bill Murray character, he’s going to kill him.

Read “Boats, but Not the Ocean” now on AO3.

***

When I Put My Eyes On You

Prompt: #193 | “The Way He Looks” - 2014 - Daniel Ribeiro Author: Anonymous Word Count: 31,155 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Summary: When a hero defeats a villain, there’s supposed to be a happily-ever-after… but when did anything ever happen to Harry Potter the way it was supposed to? Having sacrificed himself to the greater good, Harry is left alone in the darkness, blindly groping for the shreds of the life he knew. When the enemies meet, how is the story supposed to go, once they learn there’s more to it than the eye can see? A story of pain, hope and things we discover, once we stop looking for them with our eyes.

Read “When I Put My Eyes On You” now on AO3.

***

Spellbound

Prompt: #113 | “Overboard” - 1987 - Garry Marshall Author: Anonymous Word Count: 15,878 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: Amnesiac Draco Malfoy, Widowed Harry Potter, past Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, Dub-Con due to Amnesia (Only Kissing)

Summary: It’s been years since Harry left with Ginny to get away from the bad memories of war. The small town of Elk Cove, Oregon, had been a perfect place to raise their children. Now widowed, Harry works hard to make sure his children never want for anything. When an old rival steps into his life, everything changes and Harry finds the perfect opportunity to get back at Malfoy for everything the Slytherin did to him – if he doesn’t regret falling for him first.

Read “Spellbound” now on AO3.

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Of Labcoats and Animagi

Prompt: #97 | “Queer Eye” - 2017 - Series Author: Anonymous Word Count: 10,868 words Rating: Mature Warnings: mention of past abuse, panic attack (tw at beginning of chapter, can be skipped)

Summary: Fashion icon Draco? That’s long past. After the war, he never bought any new clothes and lives in his labcoats. When he doesn’t feel confident enough to meet his pen friend Prongs in real life, Luna decides to stage an intervention with a little help from the Fab Five.

Read “Of Labcoats and Animagi” now on AO3.

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Title of Their Sex Tape

Prompt: #112 | “Brooklyn Nine Nine” - 2013 - Series Author: Anonymous Word Count: 12,428 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: None

Summary: What are the Wizarding world’s most elite law enforcers doing when they aren’t catching criminals? It seems Auror Malfoy is often caught throwing food into Auror Potter’s mouth when he’s mid-yawn. This story isn’t about Draco throwing food at Harry. What it does have is: Undercover! Heists! Draco pining for Harry! Harry being oblivious, but also can’t help noticing how good Draco smells! Banters and jokes! That’s about it.

Read “Title of Their Sex Tape” now on AO3.

***

Harry Potter and the Beast

Prompt: #204 | “Beauty and the Beast” - 1991 - Gary Trousdale Author: Anonymous Word Count/Art Medium: 5,655 words/31 illustrated pages Rating: General Warnings: None

Summary: Arrogant prince Draco is cursed to live as a terrifying beast until he finds true love. This fairy tale consists of 31 fully illustrated pages.

Read “Harry Potter and the Beast” now on AO3.

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So Open Up My Eyes, Tell Me I’m Alive

Prompt: #191 | “Secret Garden” - 1993 - Agnieszka Holland Author: Anonymous Word Count: 12,865 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: trauma, canon typical violence, homophobia, use of f-g/f—-t, mention of suicidal thoughts, character with a disability

Summary: When Draco Malfoy comes to live at Godric’s Hollow, he finds it full of secrets. One night he hears the sound of crying…

Read “So Open Up My Eyes, Tell Me I’m Alive” now on AO3.

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i demand to dig my own grave

Prompt: #10 | “Psych” - 2006 - Series Author: Anonymous Word Count: 20,836 words Rating: Mature Warnings: None

Summary: Draco finds himself in hot water with the Aurors, and in a burst of panicked inspiration manages to wiggle out of it by claiming to be a Seer. There’s just one little problem– Senior Auror Harry Potter, the Prat Who Lived, who’s known him for a decade, knows full well Draco doesn’t have a single psychic bone in his body and seems determined to pull him up for it. Now, the Department is demanding he help them solve cases, Potter’s looming over his shoulder at every turn, and worst of all, he hasn’t had a shag in weeks because of all this bother. What’s a pseudo-Seer to do?

Read “i demand to dig my own grave” now on AO3.

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As You Wish

Prompt: #37 | “The Princess Bride” - 1987 - Rob Reiner Author: Anonymous Word Count: 21,917 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: Canon-typical (Harry Potter and The Princess Bride) violence, mention of suicide, canon-typical character death

Summary: Draco was raised on a farm in the small country of Witshire; his favourite pastimes were flying on his broom and tormenting the hired farm boy. Though his name was Harry, Draco never called him that. On Harry’s forehead there was a scar shaped like a lightning bolt, so Draco called him Scarhead. Nothing gave Draco as much pleasure as ordering Harry around.

Or a story about fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, True Love, and miracles.

Read “As You Wish” now on AO3.

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Queer Eye for the Drarry Guys

Prompt: #97 | “Queer Eye”- 2017 - Series Author: Anonymous Word Count: 18,201 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: none

Summary: Teddy’s dads are great! Really! They just need a little push from five *fabulous* gays to get them to see what’s right in front of them.

Read “Queer Eye for the Drarry Guys” now on AO3.

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Casecation

Prompt: #112 | “Brooklyn Nine Nine” - 2013 - Series Author: Anonymous Word Count: 4,293 words Rating: Teen and up Warnings: AU, canon-typical discussion of heavy topics, discussion of mpreg

Summary: “Draco Malfoy, I swear to God-” Hermione snaps under her breath, causing Draco to laugh lowly as he ducks under a hanging plant pot. “Draco Potter, ‘Mione,” Harry murmurs with a helpless grin; they’re not really supposed to be speaking – they’re walking through the halls of Antonin Dolohov’s beach house, on their way to arrest him – but Harry can’t help marking the difference, even a year after they got married. “Be quiet,” Ginny says, rolling her eyes. “If he hears us and escapes-” Draco signals at them, and they all steel themselves for when he throws the door of the bedroom open. “Shit!”

Read “Casecation” now on AO3.

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Don’t Blink!

Prompt: #179 | “Dr Who” - 2007 - Series Author: Anonymous Art Medium: Digital art Rating: General Warnings: None

Summary: Harry had always had exceptionally bad timing. It’s not different this time.

Read “Don’t Blink!” now on AO3.

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A Demon and an Angel Visit the Ritz

Prompt: #167 | “Good Omens” - 2019 - Series Author: Anonymous Art Medium: Digital Oil Painting Rating: General Warnings: None

Summary: Harry the demon and Draco the angel just finished saving the world. They’ve earned their celebration, wouldn’t you say?

Read “A Demon and an Angel Visit the Ritz” now on AO3.

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Change on the Horizon

Prompt: #57 | “Shameless (US)” - 2011 - Series Author: Anonymous Word Count: 118,645 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Character with depression, mentions of not wanting to exist and lethargy, though no actual suicide or mentions of suicide. Unhealthy coping mechanisms, specifically not taking prescribed medication for depression. Internalized homophobia, and general homophobia from parental figures, though there is a happy ending. Casual relationships.

Summary: A canon AU drarry fic based on the relationship between Mickey and Ian from Shameless. A story about the aftereffects of the Second Wizarding War and how Draco and Harry come together and break apart over and over. How maybe, somewhere along the way, they find a way to live with themselves.

Read “Change on the Horizon” now on AO3.

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The Thrill of the Chase Moves in Mysterious Ways

Prompt: #192 | “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries” - 2012 - Series Author: Anonymous Word Count: 32,569 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Heavy Drinking, Smoking Cigars, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Minor Character Death, Implied/Referenced Abuse, Implied/Referenced Kidnapping, Non-Graphic Violence, Gun Violence, Poisoning

Summary:

“Do you have a personal interest in this case, Malfoy?” Harry asked, arms crossed and blocking the view of the body behind him.

“Not at all.” Draco smiled sweetly, cuddled into the side of tonight’s date. “Although I did briefly own that painting until it proved to be stolen.” He helpfully pointed to the Renaissance portrait a few metres to their left.

“Why is it always so complicated with you?”

+++++

Some people might argue that Draco didn’t have very good ideas. That was a lie. Draco had fantastic ideas, however, due to mankind having free will, the planning and execution of those ideas didn’t always pan out in his favor.

(Or — Draco solves crimes that don’t technically belong to him and Harry tries not to fall in love. Co-Starring: Hermione, High Heels, and Hiccups along the way. #dat 1920s lyfe)

Read it now on AO3.

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Burn Your Life Down (but look back to me)

Prompt: #202 | Casablanca - 1942 - Michael Curtiz Author: Anonymous Word Count: 35,910 words Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Warnings: Alternate Universe - World War II, Film Noir, Self-Medication, Alcohol, Infidelity (not between Harry and Draco), Smoking, Mention of Slavery and Human Trafficking

Summary:

It’s been years since destiny walked into an apartment on Rue Azais, and Harry is over it. Really, he is. He has Blaise, he has his work, and if necessary, he still has his memories. But with the onset of WWII, the foundations of his life are crumbling, and suddenly a certain blond man is walking back into his life, asking Harry to make important, and dangerous, choices.

Read it now on AO3.

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Super Rich Kids

Prompt: #24 | “The Bling Ring” - 2013 - Sofia Coppola Author: Anonymous Word Count: 81,000 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Thriller, Murder, Dark Humour, Angst, Depression, Nihilism, Existenialism, Jealousy, Hurt/Comfort, Gaslighting, Very Brief Instance of Suicidal Ideation, Immorality, Implied/Referenced Domestic Violence (not between Harry and Draco), Abusive Drug Use, Manipulative Behaviour, Heterosexual Sex, Threesomes, Candaulism, Possible Infidelity Due to Unclear Relationship Status (please read the tags on AO3 carefully, this list is not exhaustive)

Summary:

Draco Malfoy has become disillusioned by the glitz and glamour of the scandalous lives of the Post-Second Wizarding War Pureblood Elite. Enter: one existential crisis, one group of cynical friends, and several terrible, terrible decisions.

Read it now on AO3.

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We Built This Right

Prompt: #48 | “Yuri on ice” - 2016 - Series Author: Anonymous Word Count: 15,344 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: Homophobic Language, Anxiety, Strained Relationship with Parents

Summary:

At last year’s Grand Prix Final, Harry had an accident that left him with a lightning scar on his forehead, a concussion and a twisted ankle. Now everyone is waiting to see if his career is over - including former rival, Draco Malfoy.

Read it now on AO3.

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Please help promote the fest by sharing your favourite submissions, so more people can enjoy all the amazing new Drarry works of LCDrarry. Thank you!

Author and artist reveals are on 15 June.

[katzuyas]

pulchritudinous

for @nerdbully thanks to @victuurisummerloving ❤️

I know this isn’t any of the prompts you’ve given me, but I hope it’s sweet enough to make up for it? ;3c

There's an elegant line to Victor's nape when he bows his head over the small piece of paper with jumps and combinations scrawled onto it in a confusing sequence of symbols that no one other than a figure skating junkie could decipher. Victor's hair is brushed away from one side of his face and falls gently on the other, lovely tresses of silver moonlight draped over his ear. Yuuri's fingers twitch to touch, to tuck in that one little flyaway lock that slipped out of the rest, but he forces himself not to: he doesn't want to disturb Victor when he looks so... he looks...

He looks... regal.

That's the only way Yuuri can describe it. Even if there's nothing kingly about Victor's low cut V-neck shirt that exposes his collarbones, or the sweats that he's wearing, which have slipped a little from the on-ice training and now ride so low on his hips that when he breathes, the hem of his shirt rides up and Yuuri gets glimpses of his pale skin; there should be nothing dignified about it and yet...

Victor doesn't look like a prince, nor is he trying to look like one. Sure, he likes to dress nice, but he doesn't dress to impress: he only does it to look nice for himself. And sometimes for Yuuri, too, but that is a whole another matter that makes him even less princely and more a dork, which Yuuri knows he is.

But the fact that from time to time Yuuri can't help the comparison in his own mind just adds more to his starstruck mooning. Victor doesn't seem to catch it while he chews on his lower lip in thought and that, like everything about him, is way too majestic – or it looks like that to Yuuri, who whimpers out loud when Victor finally releases the plump, now delightfully red flesh from the capture of his teeth.

"Anything to add?" Victor asks.

"Um..." Yuuri gives, as intelligently as his dizzy mind is capable of at the moment.

Victor smiles at him when no more words follow and it's that smile, the heart-shaped, lovely one that makes Yuuri's face flush and something adoring and vulnerable sting hot at his eyes. Victor turns to him while his forearms still resting on the rink barrier in a way that makes his shirt ride up on his back. Yuuri's eyes glue to the spot where Victor's spine arches and when he blinks, it feels like his body has moved completely of its own will, because he finds himself with a hand resting right there.

Victor's skin is warm. Yuuri presses himself into Victor's side and lets his hand sneak under the hem of the shirt to run his fingers over it. His hand isn't cold per se, but Victor sucks in a surprised breath.

Even then, he looks imperial. Beautiful. Glowing.

"I think it's perfect," Yuuri says.

You're perfect, he means.

He has no idea what Victor was saying before, but no matter what it was he's fairly sure he struck the nail on the head since Victor smiles at him again and his love melts into the tiny wrinkles around his eyes. They, like everything about him, look refined.

"Are you sure?" Victor asks again while Yuuri follows the soft curve of his cupid's bow with his gaze. It's lovely. So cute. Yuuri loves it, wants to press his lips to it. Right now.

"I wouldn't want to overwhelm you," Victor keeps talking, but Yuuri is barely listening, too distracted by the way Victor's mouth moves as he speaks. "I know you haven't thought about it yet, but April is close and if we want to plan the wedding ourselves there's only a little time left after Worlds to–"

"W-wedding?" Yuuri chokes out, stepping back from Victor so fast that he almost trips over his own skates. Was that what Victor was talking to him about?

Flushed and thrown out of the loop Yuuri looks at him again... only to see Victor's cheeks flush as hard as his own. The reason for it is vastly different, however. While Yuuri's face burns from a mix of surprise, embarrassment and heart-fluttering delight, Victor goes red from how hard he's trying to hold back his laughter.

It's only when Yuuri purses his lips as he realizes it that Victor breaks into a fit of giggles, which somehow make him no less handsome, no less exquisite... but more.

Victor was teasing him, Yuuri discovers in a bout of brilliance.

"Why would you say that," Yuuri complains quietly, hoping Victor would miss it among the sound of his chuckles, but he doesn't.

"You weren't paying attention," he simply says. Victor isn't upset, Yuuri knows, yet the indignation rises in him nonetheless.

"I was!" he argues. Then flushes, because he really wasn't: at least not to Victor's words. Victor's eyes laugh for him, only making Yuuri's flush deepen as he's caught in a lie red-faced. "Okay, I might have been a little distracted, but it's not what you think."

Victor hums. "I like when you pay attention to me, though."

"I was," Yuuri insists, this time truthfully. "Just not to your words."

He ducks his head a bit when he realizes how that must have sounded, but it's more than alright – Victor gives a chuckle and steps up to him to take both his hands and kiss his knuckles twice, like the prince he is. Yuuri's heart melts into a gooey, swooning mess, which he doesn't mind one bit, because that's just what Victor does to him and he's used to this by now. As much as a person can get used to a gorgeous, gorgeous man like Victor kissing his hands with so much pure adoration in his smile, of course.

"What were you paying attention to, then?" Victor asks and Yuuri has a sneaking suspicion that he knows very well what it was that Yuuri's mind mulled over in his speechlessness, but he still asks. He still wants to hear it, and Yuuri thinks of indulging him for a wild moment, but then he thinks again.

They were never that good at speaking anyway, were they?

Instead of doing it with words then, Yuuri pulls one hand out of Victor's grasp and lifts it up to tuck that little strand of hair that's been bothering him all this time back behind Victor's ear. He lets his fingers caress the lovely shell of it: it's soft and tender, and when Yuuri's touch slides lower Victor twitches a little as if he was ticklish there. And he is, Yuuri smiles to himself, a lazy, slow smile. He knows that now, just like he knows all the other areas of Victor's body that make him like this. The ones that make him blush, the ones that make him giggle, the ones that make him pant Yuuri's name into a pillow–

Yuuri moves on and slides his hand over Victor's jaw, to his chin, and presses his thumb against his lips as he lines that sweet mound of Victor's cupid's bow with the tip.

Victor's silent, fallen still, and Yuuri takes the opportunity to lean in close.

"I'd love an April wedding," he says through his own blush, and watches it being mirrored on Victor's face. Even with a blush, Victor looks so sweet, so beautiful, so–

"But I'd love a kiss a little more right now, I think."

It doesn't take more convincing for Victor to dip his head down and press his lips against Yuuri's. It's a little kiss, soft and not overtly passionate, but it fills Yuuri's lungs with a sigh content enough that once they break apart and Victor pulls him closer by the hip, Yuuri nuzzles their noses together. It's sweeter than honey, more addictive than any drug, and Yuuri knows that what his heart is feeling now cannot be described as anything other than utter bliss.

"I feel like I should reprimand you for trying to distract your coach while we're supposed to be practicing," Victor whispers. His breath fans over Yuuri's lips, which Yuuri licks out of habit.

"Me? Distracting you?" Yuuri asks back. "You're the one that's distracting, looking so, so–"

He pauses, but Victor doesn't let him stay quiet.

"So?" he prods, grinning ever so lightly.

Yuuri makes a conflicted noise, because he doesn't know if he wants to say lovely, or sweet, or princely, or beautiful, or perfect, or–

"–pulchritudinous," Yuuri says when his mind short-circuits from how utterly smitten he is in this very moment with this very man who is also his fiancé and whom he loves so very much it's impossible to express in words.

Victor draws his eyebrows, adorable confusion on his face.

"I'm sorry, what? I don't think I know that word."

He's cuter than allowed and Yuuri can't really help it when he tips almost onto the toe picks of his skates to kiss him again. One kiss turns into two, and between them and the third and fourth and fifth, Yuuri mumbles:

"You're beautiful," He presses his lips to Victor's, "and delightful," Kisses him again, "and dazzling."

The last kiss is longer and Yuuri holds onto Victor's face with both hands a little afraid to let go and speak the rest of what already sits heavy with affection on his tongue.

"And I've never felt this way about anyone before. Nor will I ever again, I just know it."

Victor's looks flushed and dazed, but his gaze is warm when their eyes meet. His mouth smiles sweetly and Yuuri melts into it when Victor kisses him again, so soft, so precious.

"April it is then," Victor says finally, out of nowhere going back to what they were talking before. "Or maybe March? No, not March – February!"

It means nothing that Yuuri doesn't reply, because Victor sighs to himself blissfully and hugs Yuuri close. His lips are kiss-warmed and pressed against the shell of Yuuri's ear, making him shiver with each breath. It makes him feel cherished and loved, however, so he buries himself into Victor without qualms.

"I can't wait to marry you," Victor whispers.

And Yuuri wraps his arms around Victor's back, and squeezes, and holds him tight, and gives:

"I promise I'll take care of you to the best of my ability."

Victor laughs into his neck.

"You don't need to," he says, his voice kind and overflowing with love, and once again Yuuri thinks of how he sounds, and looks, and holds him like a prince from a fairytale. "All I want is to be by your side, and for you to stay by mine."

"You'll have it," Yuuri promises. "And me. Forever."

"That sounds like heaven," Victor says softly and Yuuri can't disagree – it really does.

His own little heaven with a prince charming who loves him, and whom he loves just as much. Life couldn't get any better than this.

(It could and it does when Yuuri adds the five gold medals he's promised his now husband to their joint medal display case in their new St. Petersburg apartment, which they share with Makkachin, their new puppy and a whole lot of happy memories.)

[r-herring]

Victuuri Fic Recs

I haven’t done a rec post in a while, so I think it’s about time. Here are a few from my embarrassingly long master list—more incoming as soon as I have time! Some of these are quite popular, but others are criminally under-appreciated and deserve more love and kudos. Please be aware that some of the fics below are heavier than my usual fic rec fare (we all know I am easily bruised when it comes to Victuuri angst). Please take care and mind the listed TWs and the tags within the fics themselves. In no particular order:

I’ll be your Steady Satellite by @catalists

"After seven months as Hawking Space Station’s resident astrobotanist, Yuuri Katsuki hasn’t managed to grow any plants in zero gravity. What have grown are his feelings for his childhood hero and now-coworker, mathematical genius and exobiologist Viktor Nikiforov. When a mechanical error leaves them at the mercy of the empty vastness of space, Yuuri and Viktor are forced to confront their budding relationship in the face of a terrible sacrifice.”

Space AU! Space settings and loneliness go together like peanut butter and jelly and Yuuri and Viktor. My heart grew three sizes reading about two very lonely people falling in love in a confined setting and then shattered when space became the dangerous place it so often is and a terrible choice had to be made. What I really appreciated about this fic is that the effects of that choice weren’t shrugged off and weighed on Yuuri and Viktor for quite a while. Everything will be okay though, because they have each other. If you want a story about loneliness, love, and sacrifice, and feel like a good cry, this one will hit you like a mallet wrapped in the softest cloth. 

TW: suicidal ideation and attempt 

Into That Good Night by @lavenderprose (MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH)

“‘What was it like?’ Yuuri asks. The scrape of his skates is slow and gentle on the ice, and Viktor looks up to watch him come near. He stops inches away, eyes fixed on the stands. ‘To be in front of thousands of people? To hear them shouting your name?’ Viktor looks at him, this beautiful man he's somehow found on the other side of the world in a town that doesn't exist, and says, ‘It was marvelous.’ Viktor Nikiforov has neglected life and love for over seventy years. Fighting a losing battle with illness, he takes up residence in what is known as a twilight town. In a city on the sea built of dreams and memories, he meets another dying man.”

Me? Recommending a story with Major Character Death? This is a first. Relax, it’s a San Junipero AU, so it’s MCD Lite. That being said, this story is soft, melancholy, and bittersweet more than straight ANGST, but it’s not for the faint of heart. Lavenderprose’s prose is gorgeous and it will make you think just as much as it will, on occasion, devastate your poor heart. 

If you’d like something lighter, I also recommend Take Hold, a lovely Soulmate AU. 

TW: MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH (have I said that enough?)

The Fall of this Empire will be Loud by @vntya

"In 1991, the Soviet Union collapses. In 1989, the Berlin wall falls. In 1987, Viktor Nikiforov, iconic figure skater and darling of the USSR, defects to the United States. In 1986, Yuuri Katsuki falls in love.”

This fic recently updated after a hiatus and I am so, so happy it’s back. It’s a Cold War AU and danger lurks around every corner for our star-crossed lovers, but you know it’s going to be okay from the very first chapter. However, the road to the eventual happy ending is rocky indeed.  

TW: period-typical homophobia Hide and Seek by @senshoo

"Thankfully, the walk only took a few moments and soon, Yuuri was juggling both the child and the key while he shouldered his way into the apartment, set the kid down on his second hand couch, and then sighed, sinking to the floor. One deep breath. Maybe two. And then, it hit him. Holy shit. Did he just kidnap a child? Or: The one where Yuuri accidentally becomes a father at twenty three. Oh, and there's still skating.”

Don’t brush this one off as kid fic. Trust me. Do not. Little Yuri does not overshadow the adult characters or decimate the plot like a wrecking ball hopped up on Pixie Sticks. He is well-written, as are Yuuri, Viktor, and Phichit. If you love found family fic, you will love this! Tadaima by @stammiviktor

"After decades of wandering, Viktor finds a home in the Katsuki family.”

Speaking of found family fic, this Victor-centric one is a masterpiece. As I sit here trying to come up with a summary for this fic, I am drawing a blank; there are too many good moments to condense into a little paragraph. This fic is soft, poignant, and just so, so beautiful. I cried over a paper bag. Really. You will understand once you read it. READ. THIS. FIC.

Confidential Information by @iwritebetterthanispeak​

"Yuuri never imagined that being able to figure skate would be useful for his job at Interpol. He was very, very wrong. Viktor Nikiforov, as a famous athlete popular in the public eye, has received threats before. There are very few he takes seriously. However, as more secrets are uncovered and nothing is as it appears, the stakes rise until it becomes clear that there may not be a way to save him this time."

Yuuri is an Interpol agent, Viktor is still a skater, and I am a nervous wreck reading about them. This fic has a thriller-like pace, particularly in the later chapters, so if you want something with a little more get-up-and-go, this is a must read. 

TW: major character injury; minor character death; death threats against major characters; violence; homophobia The Crow Upon the Sea by @amberstarfight

"Supposedly, Katsuki Yuuri can hear strange messages on the radio, the government is raiding random homes in his town, and Viktor Nikiforov has disappeared. The truth is a completely different story.”

A genetically modified Russian spy AU. This fic is a difficult one to summarize since, as a well-developed AU with excellent world building, it is packed to the brim with detail. Government conspiracy, romance, this fic has it all in spades. If you like Sci-Fi and/or Spy AUs, this is an absolute must read!

TW: major character injury; forced medical procedures

The Clockwork Prince by @momothistle

“Figures are beautiful automatons designed to entertain. Artisans are those specially trained tend to them and keep Figures in working order. Yuuri became an Artisan in hopes of meeting the Figure that captured his heart as a child, the ice dancer Viktor. Yuuri had long given up his dream and opened a small shop. Then one day, his entire life changes when Prince Yuri comes and requests Yuuri to make emergency repairs on his Figure, the one and only Viktor.”

I debated whether on not to put this on the list since it hasn’t updated in some time and I suspect it might be dead. Nevertheless, what we have been given is a beautiful and very unique Steampunk AU. Even if it stays incomplete, I think it is worth the read! [Fair warning, there is side Otayuri if that’s not your thing.]