[Closed]

[yokunaru]

who: Yuuri, Yuri P., Viktor, and Otabek
what: A very belated birthday party
when: 4/11
where: Communal housing
warnings: Excessive amounts of animal print, maybe. Other than that, none!


[A lot of effort goes into the prep for the surprise party, with some time spent searching for the right presents, and even more time spent getting the ingredients for lunch. Even though both Yurio and Otabek don't remember anything from the Eluvio, Yuuri's just relieved that the four of them are still here together to celebrate like this.

There's a knock on the door, and Yuuri looks up from the pork cutlets he's arranging over the four bowls of rice and egg. Internally, he goes down the list--katsudon, check. Cake in the fridge, check. Present wrapped and hidden away in the room? Also check.]

Um, Viktor. [He pauses. Old habits are still hard to break, apparently.] I mean, Vitya. That's probably them. Can you let them in while I finish these up?

Comments

[genice]

( Old habits that he's forgiving about, more or less, though he keeps himself from looking back to Yuuri until he hears Vitya. Partly because it's definitely what he likes hearing from Yuuri. Partly because he was likely to make sad puppy faces at Yuuri until he corrects himself otherwise. No one needs that.

Nevertheless, the table's set with glasses for water and alcohol, something he'd tasted during the festival that he liked and thought would be a good counterpoint to the katsudon. It's there for all four place settings — without a pause. Flashing a smile at Yuuri he straightens, heading around the corner of the table toward the door. )

Sure. ( The door opens readily, Victor smiling out and... down to Yuri and Otabek. ) Right on time! Yuuri's finishing up with the katsudon.

( He steps to the side, gesturing for them to come in: there are shoes set neatly to the side of the door, and neither Yuuri nor Victor are wearing shoes. Join them barefoot or socked, guys... it's gonna be a great night. Right? )

[bringbackgold]

[ Otabek had liked the idea of being able to celebrate his friend's birthday. He wouldn't really been given the opportunity otherwise. At home, they would soon be off to their own countries, and it would be much harder to do something like this. Otabek was standing near Yuri, holding his gifts, when Victor opened the door.

He nods in acknowledgement of Victor, but in what is probably expected, he doesn't say anything. Quietly, he steps in and tugs off his shoes, leaving them at the door. He hangs close to the door, waiting for Yuri. He doesn't seem too keen for separating himself from his friend for long.

His eyes shift towards Yuuri. ]

Thank you for cooking.

[ His attention shifts back to Yuri. ]

[bespredel]

[ So far as it went, Yuri was doing his best not to really think too hard about his birthday. As far as he was concerned, he had both missed it and hadn't had it yet. Alternate timelines were confusing things, and more stress than he wanted to add to an already hectic and confusing life. If he had known what was up, he might not have come. He might not have come anyway, if not for the promise of katsudon.

Yuri hated to admit it, but Katsuki's food was good, and Yuri couldn't help himself if he was looking forward to it, just a little. So much so that his complaints about the invitation at all had been almost polite. Almost. ]

Yeah, that. Whatever. [ Yuri shrugged, toeing off his sneakers and keeping his hand shoved into the pockets of his hoodie, pursing his lips and gazing around the apartment. It was nearly identical to his own, though the colour scheme was slightly different. The bag that Otabek had carried up with him had been a point of curiosity for Yurio, but when the other had said it was something for Yuuri he'd bought it. Even if it made him a little annoyed, for some reason. What the hell was Otabek doing buying stuff for the pig anyway?

Edging further into the room, Yuri followed his nose. Heading towards the table almost immediately, lured by the promise of good vitals. ]

[yokunaru]

[Here, when they're all gathered in the apartment together, it's easy for Yuuri to smile at Otabek, a knowing sort of curl to his mouth. That he's willing to go along and surprise Yurio with them like this speaks well of their friendship, Yuuri thinks. Yurio, for all his prickliness, could do with more people in his life.]

Here we go. [It takes two trips for him to bring the four still-steaming bowls to the table, one for each of the them. There's just a slightest hesitation when he smiles at Yurio this time.]

It's not as good as my mom's, but it should be decent. [He hopes so, at least. It was one thing to cook this when it was just him and Viktor before, But Yurio's had a taste of his mom's cooking, too. Yuuri, of all people, knows how high a bar his mom has set when it comes to home-cooked meals.]

[genice]

( He closes the door once the teenage skaters have fully entered the apartment, allowing his finace to take point while be brings over the katsudon. Viktor moves to slide an arm around Yuuri's waist, leaning in and pressing a kiss to his temple in a display that will, doubtlessly, piss of Yurio: but frankly, be that it is they're celebrating Yuri's birthday or not, he's not reigning in his affectionate ways over a teenager's sensibilities.

Especially considering he leaves it at that, saying conversationally enough: )

More than decent. I know.

( No further PDA is forthcoming, past Viktor pulling out a chair for Yuuri... if Yuuri catches on to take it. )

We're glad you both could make it! Mm, before I sit down, does anyone want something other than water? We have some kind of fruit juice too.

( Water being already on the table, and the alcohol also just there, hanging out, ready for the drinking. Everyone has chopsticks rather than forks, but that's to be expected. )

[bringbackgold]

[ Otabek doesn't seem to mind the PDA. He nods towards Viktor, then towards Yuri and moves to take a seat. He sets down the gift bag near the door, opting to leave it there. Otabek had never been a good liar. Always a straightforward and honest person, it was even harder to lie to Yuri about what it was. But it was reasonable to bring gifts to someone else's home when visiting, so it proved to work. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to keep up the lie for long.

He knew that after he was caught, Yuri would know his poker face, and he'd never be able to do it again. He still had another couple of things at home, too, opting to bring only a couple of things here. He wouldn't say, but he liked to shop for Yuri, even if he didn't actually like shopping. He felt like even without Yuri there, he was learning more about him by picking up things that he felt like his friend would like. ]

Water's fine.

[ Otabek knew that this was the best option. His expression is still even, but he's looking at Yuri. He seems to be just quietly watching him. ]

[bespredel]

[ When Viktor motioned to wind his arms around Yuuri's waist and kiss him, Yuri's tongue lolled out, making a faux vomiting sound, before grumbling out, ] Gross. [ As he dropped into what he would make his seat, feet kicking out underneath the table as he scowled. ] The two of you make me sick. Keep that up and I'll throw up all over the damned table.

[ Huffing at the question, Yuri's shoulders drew up. He slumped deeper into his chair, his posture deplorable. ]

Something stronger. [ He grunted, crossing his arms and glancing away. ] I'll need it to stand you two.

[yokunaru]

[Yuuri takes the offered seat, smile widening with amusement when he catches Yurio's reaction to the PDA. It's exactly what he'd expected to see, honestly.

His cheerful expression freezes at the mention of alcohol.]

Ah, just water for me.

[He's indulged a little too often in the past few weeks, and Yuuri would rather avoid bringing his wilder drunk side out for a long time if he can help it.]

[genice]

( Vitya simply observes everyone with a ready, resting smile; he's in a pleasant mood, overall, and they're here for a reason that matters to him regardless of what the past might seem to indicate. Yuri's sixteen, even if that math doesn't add up right; Viktor doesn't want to say how the math lines up almost too perfectly for him and Yuuri.

It's an unfair burden. He'll hold that off for another night. Not this one.

So instead he laughs, short and happy, taking his own seat at last and passing the alcohol (more a mead than a wine, really) toward Otabek, nodding his head to Yuri. Pass it along? His own fiance gets his empty glass filled by Viktor, a process he repeats for Otabek, himself... and then reaching across the table, for Yuri.

Drink as you like, young man, but have a chaser on hand. The groundless grumblings don't earn more than a twitch of Viktor's lips. )

Unless someone has a particular driving need to say grace, shall we?

( He pauses to wait for the members of the table; but he holds up his hands, clasped together in front of him, for a quick: )

Itadakimasu!

( Either way. He can't remember if they got Yurio a fork. Should they fish out part of his gift already? He's not all that adept at using chopsticks... )

[bringbackgold]

[ Otabek is quiet. He opts against drinking alcohol, mostly because of how his first few days there had gone. The club and the experience of not feeling himself once was more than enough for his first couple of weeks here. He quietly passed the drink to Yuri. He gets comfortable sitting in the chair, eyeing around the table. He's not much of a talker - sorry, everyone. But he does like to listen and observe.

Also, he doesn't know Viktor or Yuuri well, so it leaves him a little unsure. He was here for his friend more than anything. He blinks when Viktor speaks, but takes that as a prompt to start eating.

He picks up the chopsticks and uses them easily. He had never had Katsudon before, but he knew how much the others liked it. He eats slowly, tilting his head to look at Yuri as he does. He was looking forward to giving Yuri the gifts he had brought for him. They didn't really celebrate birthdays at home...so this was new. ]

[bespredel]

[ Yuri eyed his chopsticks as though they had personally offended him. And really, they sort of had. Viktor and Yuuri knew better, didn't they? He always asked for a fork. It wasn't like these kitchens didn't come with them to begin with, so Yuri knew they had them around!

Grumbling, Yuri fisted his chopsticks awkwardly- and stabbed violently into a piece of pork, trying to use the pork like a scoop to capture some of the rice and egg, and shovel it into his mouth. After his first bite though, he paused to glance at Otabek, before flashing the other his teeth, and nudging Otabek with his elbow. ]

It's good, right? [ He had almost forgotten that this was Otabek's first time trying the dish, and Yuri hoped that Otabek would like it- even just half as much as Yuri did. ]

[yokunaru]

[Favorite dish or not, Yuuri waits before digging in himself--now that he's the one cooking, seeing the birthday boy and his friend's reactions actually outweighs the food in importance. For a hot second, at least.

Something in him does relax when it looks like they're enjoying it, and Yuuri finally picks up his chopsticks and begins to eat.]

Ah, Yurio... [He can't watch Yurio struggle with the chopsticks for too long. All of a sudden, he remembers something else he and Viktor had picked up at the market before this.] Hold on, we have something that will make the chopsticks easier to use.

[genice]

( Meanwhile here is Victor, remembering Otabek being fairly friendly (well, sociable, he'd been curious enough in what'd been discussed and polite in applauding the relationship status change that hadn't actually been happening) that he finds the not so subtle shift of focus to Yuri alone interesting. his eyes narrow a sliver in thought; not his business, he decides, but he wonders if Otabek has only had friendship in mind, or something more. if Otabek knows more about what's eating at Yurio. if this relates to that; but ah, Vitya, Vitya. he knows he doesn't know, can only make educated guesses.

he can only hope that either way that his young rinkmate finds bonds and happinesses to hold on to. this place is going to be difficult enough long term. it's already trying to shape Yurio into someone Victor doesn't think Yurio really needs to be.

but that, too, is his business. isn't it? so he smiles, and he says nothing, not in remonstration, not to call out Otabek on his focus, not to alert his own fiance to any of the thoughts in his head.

he smiles, tips his glass toward Yurio, and says: )

We still haven't picked up any traditional cutlery, sorry, Yurio, but this will help.

( the anger is at least centering and focused, as is the lilt heading toward laughter on Victor's behest. after all, this is a special night! probably? birthdays were important to some degree or another, and Yurio certainly hadn't been arranging his own. still, he deserved the acknowledgment and reminder that even in a place like this with a bigger chip on his shoulder than ever, people still cared about him. Victor's fairly certain that's important: not only important, but true.

and then there is Yuuri, presenting part of their gift to Yurio for being sixteen (sweet? sixteen? no, too American): white tiger themed learners chopsticks. they're so good. )

[bringbackgold]

[ Otabek nods at Yuri when the question is asked, food in his mouth. It's impolite to talk with food in his mouth, after all. They never really had things like this at home, or did things like this. He's pretty pleased, and he's having a hard time hiding his enjoyment on his face. His eyes light up a little, but otherwise his expression seems pretty even. His attention diverts back to the food until Yuuri says something. His eyes shift, and he notices that they're getting out a gift for Yuri. He swallows his mouthful of the katsudon. ]

It's very good.

[ He stops eating so that he can focus more on what's going on versus what he's eating. He watches as Yuuri and Viktor present the gift to Yuri. It's why they're here after all. It makes him excited to give his friend the gifts he picked out. A small, half-smile is present on his features.

It's a thoughtful gift, he realizes. Viktor and Yuuri know Yuri well.
They're friends, despite how Yuri seems to act around them. ]

[bespredel]

I thought I told you idiots not to call me that. [ Yuri pouted a little, cheeks tinging pink with embarrassment. He wanted to be cool in front of his best friend, and 'Yurio' was not a cool name! Not in his mind, anyway.

Helpfully, he was able to project himself at Viktor next, scowling as his grip tightened on the chopsticks he gripped, albeit incorrectly. ] That is such bullshit! These stupid apartments come furnished, asshole. Just give me a damn fork!

[ But then Yuuri was pulling out the training chopsticks, and Yurio couldn't decide whether or not to be insulted, or to exclaim that they were the best things ever. ]

Where the hell did you get those? [ He demanded, reaching for them with his free hand, while the other set down the chopsticks he had been using. It wasn't outright rejection, at least. ] Shit... so cool... [ He muttered, running his fingers over the small tiger's ears, and honestly struggling not to look pleased. ]