[Anonymous | Text]

[beautiful_monster]

[After a series of texts early that day, Yuri spent the rest of his morning trying valiantly to figure out how to hide his name from the network. There was a very serious matter he needed to ask about, and he didn't want to think of the consequences he'd face if anyone knew he was the one asking.]

What the hell are you supposed to do on a date? A first date if that matters. Something like that has to be special, doesn't it? So...what do people expect? Do you have to dress up? How do you know who pays for everything?

I really don't know anything about this junk so I'll take any advice people have got.

[Viktor would never let him hear the end of this if he knew.]

Comments

[beautiful_monster]

I said it would have been.

[He frowns and glances up uncertainly, questioning.]

Do you want to?

[fourlevels]

Of course I do!

[beautiful_monster]

Then say that first! It sounded like you were trying to brush me off instead.

[fourlevels]

It sounded like you didn't want my "ridiculous" help!

[beautiful_monster]

Viktor, what would you have done if you knew it was me asking about a first date from the very beginning?

[fourlevels]

[ He holds up the phone again. ]

Given the same advice? And maybe ask what you thought about wearing.

[beautiful_monster]

Eventually, maybe, but first you'd have gotten too excited and asked a bunch of embarrassing questions.

[fourlevels]

Mmm, maybe on a different day ...

[ He goes quiet at the end with another one of those sad smiles, but he tries to perk up again. (It's a little fake-looking, but hey, he's trying. ]

It's with Otabek, right? You mentioned him being a DJ.

[beautiful_monster]

[Not hard enough to keep another lance of guilt from hitting Yuri. He looks at his phone to avoid looking at Viktor and seeing that smile.]

...Yeah. Don't act weird when he picks me up, okay?

[fourlevels]

Weird like how?

[beautiful_monster]

Weird like—weird! Don't overwhelm him!

[fourlevels]

I don't think Otabek is the kind of person that gets easily overwhelmed.

[beautiful_monster]

It can happen.

[It's kind of charming when it does. It makes him seem more real and less like some amazing figure that's just swept into Yuri's life from some bizarre fantasy world.

Yuri seems too distracted by his phone again to be thinking at that, however. He's frowning at one of his comment threads again, a little confused now.]

[fourlevels]

[ He's about to ask when such an instance occurred, but Yuri's distraction makes him curious. He refreshes the page on his phone and scrolls to see if he can find the cause. ]

What is it?

[beautiful_monster]

[He types out another reply and chews on his lip while he waits for the response, essentially ignoring Viktor's question.]

Nothing...

[It's immediately proven a lie (as if that weren't obvious already) when he makes a startled sound and his face abruptly drains of color.]

[fourlevels]

[ He's just watching Yuri's face when he makes the noise, eyes widening. ]

Yura, what's the matter?

[beautiful_monster]

[The unsettling pale quickly gives way to a bright pink blush. For some reason?!

Yuri practically smashes his phone typing out another message as he hops off the counter.]

It's—nothing! It's fine! I have to go. Out.

[Finally he looks up long enough to point at Viktor vehemently. It is not even a little bit clear why he thinks he needs to point at Viktor like this. What a rude child.]

Everything's fine so don't worry!

[fourlevels]

[ For some INEXPLICABLE reason, Viktor is strongly reminded of that time in Barcelona when Yuuri’s face did something similar right when he spotted that jewelry shop. The shop where he bought their good luck charms slash engagement rings.

He just blinks at the finger being pointed at him, almost going cross-eyed at it since he was barely three feet away in their kitchen wtf Yuri. ]

You're clearly upset over something ... Did someone point out something obvious that you failed to realize until now?

[beautiful_monster]

I'm not—no! No?! [Had it been obvious? How was he supposed to know?!]

Shut up, Viktor!

[That'll show him.]

[fourlevels]

Are you sure? It's not like it's the first time that's happened to you.

[beautiful_monster]

Viktor, shut up.

[fourlevels]

Then what is it?

[beautiful_monster]

I'll tell you when I get back!

[He is, in fact, trying to make a break past him for the door even before he's finished talking.]

Maybe!

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor's not exactly purposefully impeding him, but he does make a big block at the entrance to the kitchen. ]

But where are you going?

[beautiful_monster]

Just—out! Not far.

[He tries to slip around Viktor, determined to get past him.]

Stop asking questions!