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( the only person who has gone out of their way to watch everything Yuri does is his grandpa. this might explain some at home practice in his living room, and why it's kept so spartan. he dances for his grandfather even now, but ice skating, something he can't remember pushing for, fighting for, bleeding for (though now he's hit blisters and the like and he's getting used to the different yet similar aches and pains this brings on top of what dance has taught him to endure), that he does for no one. not even his job, though that is likely to change if he can negotiate a raise.

look.

you take what you can get.

though what she says is appropriately dramatic enough he laughs, knowing he's flushing in pleasure instead of embarrassment or anything else. she's so Extra. )

Unless it's a once in a century meteorological event. Then you better go to the stars first, okay? Friend mandate. I'll be very mad if you're here instead.

( half a lie. he'd love it. he's a selfish enough person to want to think he's that important to anyone else, but in the end, the only person he knows cares that much beyond a shadow of a doubt is his grandfather. and his grandfather will never be able to make it to everything he does.

but Dave and Anya are a support network he has more faith in now than he had months ago, so he believes Anya more than he might have otherwise. so he doesn't say he doubts it or that he believes it. he simply lets it be. )

Everything? ( he arches his eyebrows, cocking his head to the side. ) Gee, Nastenka, now you're just sounding greedy.

( teasing with half a smirk; he knows what she means, and he's a long way from minding. )

[she's just going to keep being Extra.

which is why even as he teases her, she doesn't even hesitate. she can tell that he's happy, it reads all over his expression, and as such it's hard for her to feel anything less besides absolutely delighted to mirror his feelings. so she giggles even as she chirps back confidently:]

Mm, you're right! But I do not ask for a lot, I think? [debatably. she asks for more from her friends but she's such a Go with the Flow kind of person that she doesn't bother to make requests] So if there is something that I can ask for, it's this.

I want to see everything that Yuratchka can do. No matter what, even if the sky is doing something rare.

[and she tilts her head up toward him since his skates do give him that over her. she squeezes his hands just once more as she makes a point just to be defiant - stubborn and steadfastly supportive over her friends always]

And then after I watch you skate, even if it's a once in a century meteorological event, we can go and watch it together.
Friend mandate!

( he laughs; it's what he likes hearing, and he admits that to himself right now. but it's unreasonable, and that he also admits. though he doesn't hesitate to throw his arms around Anya in a purely affectionate gesture; she gets bearhugged up off the ice. for once it's not a return gesture for what kind of reassurance she seems to need. it's pure, spontaneous affection on his own account. )

Thanks for saying so.

( he sets her back down, though he's planning to take hold of her shoulders to keep talking — )

[this just in, yuri confirmed to manhandle anya the most out of anyone, now including actual affectionate gestures (though maybe he's tied with yato there specifically). either way she's not expecting it as she emits a briefly surprised noise even as she throws her arms around him in return naturally for support -

and she's giggling even as she actually gives him a proper hug back once she gets with the program.

happy yuratchka is just so gosh darn cute.

and then she's getting set back down. y'know. on the ice. and she thinks she's got it, she really does, but wearing normal people shoes on the ice really isn't supposed to be a thing (and that zamboni worked really hard, you know) which is why she's going to make another surprised noise as her normally fantastic sense of balance fails her in the face of slipperiness and she's going to fall right into yuri, clinging onto him yet again]

Ah!

[sorry you were saying]

( he braces and catches her even if it has him sliding back a few centimetres, keeping her close because he needs to watch his balance lest they both end up on their arses on the ice. )

Watch it!

( this draws his eyes down, head tipping to the side as he really... considers what the heck's on her feet. )

Nastenka, does it ever occur to you to wear anything other than heels? Especially on ice?

( he shakes his head, the ghost of a conversation with Kiyomitsu months ago flitting through his head. he ignores it, for the most part. Anya really doesn't need to have all eyes on her for her shoes. she tends to garner the attention by her personality alone. )

You need to start thinking about saving that stuff for when you've got a boyfriend — or girlfriend — you know? Once in a lifetime stuff is important, right? So you don't have to make it about everyone else. It's enough that you want to be there. We can catch the normal stuff together.

( he pauses, getting a feel for if she has her feet back under her again. )

Though if you've still out of the dating game and something really cool comes up, I'm not opposed to going. Just don't feel like you have to make me important when other stuff's come up. I won't mind.

( the damndest part of this is... he means that. he's a little... uncertain how he feels okay with this, but it's not about distance: it's actually being firm in his belief in Anya (and Dave, and maybe even Sorey) (m... aybe even Karkat) that they're still okay and still friends even if they can't always be there.

and it's not abandonment. it's okay. it's okay. )

[thank god for yuri and his skates and his new skating skills that don't have him wobbling around like a newborn deer so anya can properly hold onto him and trust him not to let her fall. and don't get her wrong she has a lot to say in response to... well. that.

but.]

... I didn't think I'd be out on the ice, Yuratchka...

[you're the one who picked her up from her perch and then set her back down on the ice?? wow. not her fault this time. though admittedly she doesn't have a response for why she's always wearing heels so she moves right along. she shakes her head even as she finds her balance, letting go of yuri once she feels stable again.]

But ah, mm... "when" I get a boyfriend or girlfriend?...? Ah everyone tells me these things as if it's inevitable.. but I do not feel that way about anyone right now?

[She smiles a bit - she's completely unaware of anyone else who might be willing to date her, but she knows that she's not feeling in that direction at the moment.]

What I do know for sure if how I feel about Yuratchka - and if there was a once in a lifetime thing to see, I would want to see it with you. Ah - after you skate. And I would probably invite Davechka and Jade and Karkat...

[let's be honest she would throw a giant party for it]

But don't get me wrong - I'm not making you important. You already are and always will be important to me. That's how it is. I'd want to do everything with you, priceless stuff and normal stuff both.

( he drops his arms away though he's watching for if she slips when moving back to the sidelines. of which he motions they should go; for one, the people who tend to trickle in at this hour should be doing so, and for another, she's not actually supposed to be out here without skates on. )

Nastenka, you're ridiculous, you know that?

( he sounds both exasperated and fond, finally holding out his arm for her to take if she wants. )

I don't think someone so full of... I don't know, full of love like you won't ever feel the whole romantic nonsense for someone else. You keep shoving your nose into everyone else's romantic business, it would serve you right to get bitten by the whole idea too one day. Maybe tomorrow, maybe ten years from now, who knows.

( he shrugs. which is enough on that subject; his opinions are more along the lines of "be careful" than "it's immediately inevitable." he'd also be the sort to call it ill-advised. but that's for him. he's at least aware his normal doesn't and shouldn't be everyone else's. )

You want to share everything with your friends. It's nice. It's also impossible. We can't all be where you want us, when you want us. Which is what I'm trying to say.

( he makes a gesture with his other hand, encompassing the room as he steps off the ice. )

You can't do everything with me and that's okay. It's not like I can do everything with you either. I don't think you care any less about me just because of that. Does that make sense?

( this is remarkable progress for Yuri to admit to and actually accept. REMARKABLE PROGRESS. )

[even though she totally had it and probably could've gotten back to the sidelines without landing on her backside without falling on her own, she's also going to take the offer an arm once it's made. she hooks her arms with yuri's even as he lectures her...

goodness... bring back the unfettered happiness of earlier, please.

she's still giggling and she opens her mouth to tease "with how much you lecture me about it, maybe I should just fall in love with you" - before, ah, thinking better of it. that's right, she already promised that she won't make jokes anymore.... even if she doesn't know what the future holds, she knows better now than to play with possibilities in a way that makes yuri uncomfortable.

so she just sighs.]

I want to find love - of course I do. It sounds nice... but I'll wait until it happens. I'm not looking. I think one day I am supposed to just know. And I do not know yet, so I will not worry about it.

[clearly she doesn't... care... she's happy with her friends. even if one day she wants to love someone, she's not going to force it.]

But it does make sense - and you are right. Maybe sometimes it will be impossible for everyone to be together. They might have work or other things that keep them away. But... in hypotheticals, it's okay to hope, isn't it? Ideals and dreams should be okay too.

In reality - everything that I can do with you, I want to. And the things that I can't... well, that's okay, because we'll always be there in heart.

[parroting it back in a different way, though she is also quoting a conversation that they'd had before. but she does understand, it's just not something she wants to naturally accept.

the problem of being so starry-eyed, probably]

( he at least seems to accept her answer now. then again, not going looking makes sense to him. not so much the "one day I am supposed to just know" — he's not sure that's practical — but not being in any hurry, yes. that he understands. there's so much more important stuff in life to focus on before entanglements of that kind.

so feeling like he's said all he cares to, he moves on. )

Hope is fine. Dreams are important, though... dreaming about people can be complicated.

( he shrugs off his own words as they step out, taking his arm away from her since he's planning on sitting and getting his skates off. )

People stay in your heart no matter the distance. Or the ones who matter to you most will, so it works out.

( the ones who may matter but don't quite stay are another matter. one he doesn't dive into. )

Is your Mom expecting you home soon?

[Dreaming about people has been complicated - that's true. She assumes that he means it literally.... because that's what they've all been doing with the hallucinomemories, right? Still, she'll step to the side even as he's getting his skates off and tilts her head at the question.]

Mama? Mm.... No, not yet. I may stop by the hospital to see her before I go home... or I can stay with Yuratchka until closing? Or... I will see and make sure that Yato and Occhan are not drinking too much. The pageant was difficult on them....

[can she make it into the bars??? who knows. she's just thinking out loud though, contemplating what her options are. though the thoughts back to the pageant remind her of the memory she had - being on stage with another person? and she'd ask this of dave too probably but yuri is here right now and]

Yuratchka... would you like to dance together soon? Mm, different from usual. Not just the same choreography - but pair dancing?

( he pulls his head up as he tugs off one boot, mouth opening: then hesitating. )

Pair dancing isn't my strong point.

( it comes across sounding like a confession. it is one. he's reserved, he screws up in the give and take, he's too commandeering as a lead, he's too fractious as a follow. Yuri's managed better periods, but it's been actually worse since he moved to Recolle. )

[ . . . . a surprise. In truth, Anya might've had a suspicion - but they haven't been friends for long. Maybe Yuri didn't want to pair dance with anyone who wasn't a friend if he didn't have to. And Anya would always be swept up in a new dance with Dave anyway.... but she looks amused - and excited.]

Something that I can teach Yuratchka? Wow!

[and she giggles even as she tilts her head and smiles]

You don't have to if you don't want to - I can ask Davenka - but it's my favorite. And ah... after the pageant, I had a hallucinomemory too. Not as new as Yuratchka's... but Anya saw a stage! [and because she's Extra, she'll hop onto an empty space on another bench nearby to elevate herself like she saw in her memory, mimicking the ending pose she saw in her head, smiling bright as the moon] And bright lights. Singing, dancing - with someone important to me.

That feeling... Doki doki! I want to feel it again. That is why I ask.

[it's a new feeling to her - to care this strongly about something that isn't the stars, but well... she plans to eventually master this too, you know?]

( he turns his face her way to show he's paying attention even as she's hopping on benches and his fingers are working at laces. he snorts, a little amused in spite of himself. part of him is prepared to say no... and probably would have, if doki doki hadn't followed her saying what she really loved in that recollection was the performance. )

Davenka's still the better option, but okay. I'll try.

( for whatever it is that she gets out of it, and for, not so selflessly, his own general improvement as well. )

[Yuri's a good friend.

Which is why Anya's absolutely ecstatic as she shifts to turn back to him, clapping her hands together.]

Yay! Then it will be fun! And we will learn new things - and...!

[she's ready to keep going, she really is - when her phone buzzes in her pocket? oh. she makes a second noise of delight, hopping down from the bench almost immediately]

Mama's shift got changed. She's going home - goodbye, Yuratchka, bye bye! Thank you, proud of you, love you!

[and there it is

anya being a mama's girl above all else kicking in as she's legitimately sprinting right back out the doors of the stardust]

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