text with image;

[juniorchampion]

[ Yuri is very used to social media, but the network here isn't quite like the social media back at home. That doesn't stop him from trying to use it in the same way.

He posts a picture of himself in a simple all-black outfit in front of the skating rink. ]

First day back at skating.

#iceskating #yuriplisetsky #goingtokeepwinning

[ Nailed it. ]

Comments

[vanishings]

Oh, wow! That's really impressive! You must be very skilled.

[juniorchampion]

That doesn't mean I can slack off.
Whoever hid the building out here pisses me off.
It's hard to find.
But if you want to see for yourself, I'm going to do be doing shows.
I'm not some kind of pervert who touches people so I'm charging for the show.

[vanishings]

That's admirable to keep that dedication to your craft.

( but lmao. that feels like such a strange callout, but he can understand it, too. some people don't like idle touching and that's perfectly fine. )

But, I would be interested. I've never seen any kind of professional skate in person before.

[juniorchampion]

[ Yuri can handle touch. He's just rarely the first to initiate it, and it's different when he's in a world full of strangers. ]

At least you know what skating is.
I'm going to have to give lessons just so that people know what they're going to watch.
What kind of world doesn't have skating?
It sounds boring as hell.

[vanishings]

Well, I'd say it's the kind of world that gives people animal parts. I guess they just have different priorities.

( 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃 )

At least you've found a rink now, right? That's the part that matters most.

[juniorchampion]

They don't have tournaments here, but they have a skating rink.
Some people never even heard of skating on ice.

There's a place to skate.
A ballet studio is next.
Are you a dancer?

[vanishings]

Oh, no, not at all. I could probably handle lifts pretty easily, but don't think I'd be good otherwise.

[juniorchampion]

[ Yuri doesn't immediately reply. Instead, he's thinking. He largely skates single, especially during competitions. But, Yuuri and Victor were practicing couples skating. It isn't that Yuri cares so much about couples skating so much as he doesn't want to lose to them. Now that he knows someone he can stand - Otabek - maybe it's something he should look into. ]

How much can you lift?

[ Because obviously 5'4 of skinny is hard to lift. ]

[vanishings]

( kind of a weird question, but he'll go with it. )

It's been a while since I did proper weight training, but the last time I did lifts I was in the 150s.

[juniorchampion]

[ Easily above Yuri's weight. That's good. Obviously, it's not going to happen on the ice right away, but you can practice in dance before you practice while skating. ]

Then you can lift me.

Sometimes, skaters dance as a couple. I don't have any practice with it. You can help me practice.

[vanishings]

( well. okay. this is weird. )

I'm not so sure I could do that on ice...

[juniorchampion]

We're not going to start on the ice. We'll start in a studio, and I'll teach you how to skate enough to move to the ice then.

[ There probably should be a question mark there, but hey, Yuri has to take training seriously. He's already missed too much and might more when his Moonblessings kick in. ]

[vanishings]

( oh. well. okay? )

I... guess I can help?

[juniorchampion]

Huh?
Really?

[ He didn't really expect a stranger to go along so easily. It was worth a try, but Yuri assumed his chances were low. ]

[vanishings]

I don't see why not. It isn't as if I'm incredibly busy here or anything like that. Not sure how good I'll be, but I don't see the harm in trying.

[juniorchampion]

[ Somehow, his 'i'll push ahead and my plan will work' plan somehow usually does work. ]

I have to practice at the rink a bit.
It's not a studio, but I found a gym with enough space for dancing.

[ A handy address is sent his way. ]

Are you free at 1?

action y/n?

[vanishings]

Sure, I'll meet you there. I'm Shiro, by the way.

y

[juniorchampion]

I'm Yuri.
I'll be there before then. You've seen my picture.

[ As promised, he shows up early in order to practice. When Shiro arrives, Yuri has already moved up to more difficult stretches. At 5'4 and slender, it really doesn't seem like he would be very heavy, which is a blessing for someone who would be lifting him over and over. ]

[vanishings]

( maybe he should've sent a picture as well, but it doesn't actually cross his mind. instead, he busies himself until it's time to leave then dresses in something he can move easily in before heading out. it isn't difficult to find and he goes inside to look for yuri. eventually, he finds him and waits for a few moments until it seems like an okay time to interrupt his stretching and goes over with a smile. )

Hey, you must be Yuri. Nice to meet you.

[juniorchampion]

You're Shiro?

[ Lowering his leg to the ground, the blonde turns to face the bigger man. He's had more time to think over the proposition since their agreement and now, he's a bit embarrassed about it. At the time, he spoke before thinking, motivated by the annoyance that came with missing practice until he was able to find the skating rink and gather the chroma. Despite that, Yuri's determined to push through this.

Besides, the guy seemed nice enough. Ironically, most people here seemed easier to handle. There's less teasing about his age, and he's already taken more seriously. It helps to be one of the few who can ice skate. ]

I need to see your stretching. Can you show me on your own, or do you need to see some of mine?

[vanishings]

( at the question of who he is, shiro makes a soft sound of acknowledgment. he honestly has no idea what to expect from any of this, but thinks it might wind up being a good decision. he needs to get out more, anyway, and stop sitting around his apartment. )

Stretching?

( not that he doesn't know how to or anything, he's no stranger to working out at all. but because of the question, he wonders if there's something more to it. )

What kind of stretching? I exercise and do warm-ups before going running... Like that? Or do you mean something else?

[juniorchampion]

[ While in theory, Yuri can do all the impressive bits on the ice, it'll look even better if Shiro is capable of doing a trick or two. ]

Come hold the bar.

[ Placing a hand on the metal bar that runs along one wall, he stretches his leg behind him until it's perfectly horizontal while his posture regains upright. ]

This is what you're trying to get to. It's called a Grande Battement Back.