Heaven's BBS [Video]

[latebloomingeros]

From: Yuuri Katsuki
Date: September 9th

[The camera is focused on a wide, empty room -- smooth wooden floors, mirrored walls with a built-in barre. A dance studio. As Yuuri steps away from where he's set it up, he puts his glasses down next to it and takes a deep breath, then sighs it back out.]

I'm not sure how many people will watch this, but... I've been working on it for a while, and I think I'd like someone to see it. And... the people I'd most like to show, I don't think they're here anymore, so...

[He touches something at his neckline, looks like he might say something else for a moment, then thinks better of it. Instead, he leans over to hit play on a recording, then gets in position to begin, closes his eyes, and dances.]

[The music is quiet and wistful, somehow sort of introspective, bordering at times on plaintive. An orchestral piece, slowly building and intricate, dramatic in an understated sort of way. It's just about the opposite of what he usually dances to when he's working with Sparkle Motion, but somehow, it fits Yuuri like a glove. There's a softness to the performance, a heart-rending sort of vulnerability, but he's as sure in his movements as he is graceful. He's obviously skilled -- he moves with the ease of breathing, even as the music builds in pace and volume and the steps to the dance get more obviously challenging.]

[It can't last forever, though, and as the last strains of the music fade from the air, he falls back into the same posture as before, timid and nervous as he faces the camera.]

...Thank you for watching.

[He bows before the recording ends.]

Comments

[timeshields]

You're very talented. The music seems to suit you.

[latebloomingeros]

That's very kind of you. I don't know if it I'd say it "suits" me, but I felt sort of drawn to it, somehow.

[timeshields]

It sounds wistful. Like you're missing something.

[latebloomingeros]

[Like he's missing something...]

Maybe that's what I liked about it. I think the art that moves me most usually seems like it's in search of something...

[timeshields]

Is there something you're looking for? Or is it the sound of it.

video;

[spes_phthisica]

Ohhhh.

[Just sitting here with his chin in his hands, beaming happily.]

That was so beautiful! I don't really know all that much about dance, but you're truly amazing. [He'll offer Yuuri some applause too just to really embarrass him.]

[latebloomingeros]

[Yuuri's never too sure what to feel about effusive praise. His instinct is to turn it down, to minimize and mitigate it, to explain why it isn't right, not really, but... that's disrespectful in a way, isn't it? He feels like he ought to know better than that.]

[Still, he blushes, readjusting his glasses awkwardly as he replies.]

That's... Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it?

[spes_phthisica]

I really did.

[Aww, that's cute. Souji looks incredibly pleased at having made Yuuri blush, because he's an absolute little shit like that.]

Weren't you expecting to be praised? You must know that you're incredibly skilled, right? [Yeah, he's going to keep poking at it.]

[latebloomingeros]

[Oh god stopppppp. And now Yuuri feels nearly guilty, because he DOES know, objectively, that he's got some level of skill, and when he posted the video he felt like he was just getting something off his chest, but now it feels sort of like he was fishing for compliments?? He shakes his head rapidly, the blush darkening slightly.]

I w-wasn't really thinking about it! I've just been working on the piece for a while, and I wasn't sure where else I could perform it anyway, and...

[spes_phthisica]

[Yeah, there's no way that Souji isn't going to giggle happily at Yuuri's reaction, because he's just terrible like that. He can't interact with awkward nerds without wanting to tease them? BUT WITH LOVE, OK?]

You probably didn't, huh? I mean, since you're so embarrassed by someone complimenting you, maybe you would've tried to find a way to avoid it otherwise. [He winks.] I'm not complaining, since that meant that I got to see you dance, so everyone wins.

[He also sounds a lot like he's flirting when he's teasing people... sorry.]

[mersunary]

Whoa, that was really good! Like, super amazing, you must really love dancing.

[latebloomingeros]

[Okay, Yuuri, BE GRACIOUS. Don't give in to the urge to fight against any and all compliments!]

Thank you very much! My first god used to practice dancing a lot, and I've been fond of it since then.

[mersunary]

[Everyone's proud of your efforts, Yuuri.]

Did the two of you get to practice together much? Having someone around who knows what they're doing is always super helpful for learning something like dance.

[latebloomingeros]

[It's a little bit disconcerting to him! Especially since his own efforts so rarely seem to him like they're enough.]

Not too much. He'd get a little bit irritated with me if I took up too much space while he was practicing, but I did get the chance to watch him sometimes :)

[mersunary]

[At least it's easy enough to present a mostly collected demeanor over text, right?]

I'm sure watching him was a treat, if he inspired you to get into it in the first place. My dad's a really talented dancer, too, so I know how captivating it can be to watch someone who knows what they're doing!

Does that mean you're self-taught, then?

I'm so sorry, I can't html on my phone even for fonts

[leapingchuu]

Viktor watched as if the performance were the most important thing he'd ever seen, and maybe it was. It certainly felt like it, even if he had to push down the niggling vague discomfort it brought him.

"That was beautiful."

If he sounded breathless, well...he was.

[latebloomingeros]

Yuuri's already a bit flushed from the exertion of dancing, and realizing that Viktor was watching (even though, well, why wouldn't he be?) just makes him blush all the brighter. He feels somehow caught in the act, especially since so much of his inspiration came from thinking about him...

"Viktor?"

He's suddenly glad he didn't really think about the possibility of Viktor seeing the video. He'd probably have tripped over his own feet, or been too cowardly to post it, or... or something. He's never put a finger on why exactly, but he's always ended up wanting to impress Viktor, to be worthy of his praise.

"You think so?"

[leapingchuu]

"Of course I think so. I hope you never stop dancing."

He wanted to tell him that he'd watch him forever, that he'd never take his off him, but it felt far too familiar. Sure, they'd shared the same god but it wasn't as if they knew each other well enough for Viktor's chest to be aching the tiniest bit as he kept his eyes glued to his phone. Not at all.

[latebloomingeros]

Yuuri fought the urge to bite his lip, feeling... feeling something. Fluttering, warm. Like a schoolgirl trying not to giggle when she talked to a popular boy.

He was already used to not thinking about things too hard, anyway.

"I don't see any reason I should have to, now that you mention it... I won't be getting older anyway, will I?"

Video

[very_goodman]

[The feed flicks on to the sight of Barry clapping, grin a mile wide.]

You've been gettin' real good lately.

[latebloomingeros]

[Barry is one of the few people Yuuri really trusts with compliments about his dancing -- one of the few he trusts to know what he's talking about and not sugar-coat it too much if he needs to be doing something differently. He beams, unselfconscious for once, brushing his messy hair back away from his face.]

I knew I had to do something to that music when I heard it! You liked it?

[very_goodman]

Yeah, it was great. When you first started out, your form was real stiff, like you were thinkin' about every move you were gonna make. But this time you just flowed with the music.

[His smile quirks up just a little.]

That piece must be pretty special, huh? You get it from home?

[latebloomingeros]

[Yuuri shakes his head at the question, still glowing a bit from the praise.]

No, I was just listening through some composers' works on YouTube and found it. I really felt it, though, you know?

[thirdbeauty]

[This is him. It has to be! Natsuru sees the video not long after it's posted to the network, but it takes her a while to work up the nerve to respond.]

Um, e-excuse me...

[A very nervous, or possibly just shy, blue-haired girl sits against the backdrop of her bedroom in the treehouse temple she lives in.]

Are you... involved with Sparkle Motion? I think Maria-sama told me about you.

[She hurriedly adds that last part, as if worried what he might think of her seeming so interested.]

from: Obi

[yasei]

Oh~ Mister, that's really pretty, you're really good at that! So graceful!