true eros.

       there was something so terribly daunting about the demand. be honest. honesty was not something chris nescessarily tried to avoid; but it was so much easier when he did. life on the ice was the only life had had lived…. the only life he had ever wanted to live. he could not count all the hours devoted to producing his programs, to learning them & adding to them & bettering himself. he could not decribe the pride that welled in his chest when those around him enjoyed his work; his passion… it was addictive, really.

but what was passion when time threatened to steal it away? viktor had moved on; he was a coach now, he had been the best… though there was talk of him returning, he was special. viktor had always been special… christophe’s passion could only carry him so far & though it would not fade, his time in the spotlight would. it was possible to continue skating, he knew; but every year was another year closer to a retirement he would never quite be ready for. he didn’t like to talk about it, it was true… but there was something about the way viktor spoke that caused the truth to crawl from the pit of his stomach, to claw it’s way up his throat & grab hold of his voice. 

       “ i’m not ready for it to be over. “ the confession was quiet; hazel eyes would not meet the other’s. words well in his throat but he forces them out anyways, “ it doesn’t have to be, i know… but it will be. eventually.“

             hazel eyes are immediately drawn to the other…he had been lounging on the couch, phone in hand, his hair a mess when they had been spoken. he had been rewatching an old program of his, not too terribly old… it was from a season or two ago. still, he could not help but fret over all he had done; pick apart just what it was that had landed him in second or third or whatever had kept him from reaching the very perfection that viktor now claimed to see in him.

“ are you trying to flatter me, viktor? “ his voice is light, swiftly dancing off of his lips & over something close to surprise. it’s something he tries to guide out of his voice, out of his expression… & yet his desire to hide the fact that the words were unexpected only seemed to emphasize the fact that they were not. humility was not one of his forte’s; he would never claim it would be so… & yet there was something so daunting about hearing compliments woven into the voices of others…especially when it came to viktor. 

when he was a boy, he had idolized his fellow competitor— only a few years his senior & so talented…! he had grown past that, learned to recognize viktor as a person rather than as the skills he brought to competition – the surprises, the mesmerizing way he became one with whatever program he offered & a million other things. though a part of him, they were not all; but still, there was such an admiration to be claimed when it came to the other. something that made even subtle compliments crawl into chris’ chest & nest there. 

           a subtle smirk plays at full lips & gaze softens, “ because it’s working.”

          “ why are you asking so many questions?” voice is light, teetering on the edge of playful & not. it wasn’t even a purse — it was a satchel. 

He sighed, listening carefully to the track offered to him when asking for his input. “I don’t… know if this song really fits you. You’re more…” What was the word that wouldn’t have sounded wrong in some way? “Mature than this.”

pout forms on thick lips & brows furrow in an exaggerated depiction of disappointment. there was something so incredibly daunting about the upcoming season; not that there ever wasn’t, but something had been eating at him. at twenty-six, the end of his career was rapidly approaching. it was becoming more & more apparent, more & more difficult to think. to use the skills he had honed to put together something worthwhile of his precious seasons...part of putting that said something together, involved presenting the most incredible music he could for the sake of his program. he brushes the thought aside, at least for now. hazel eyes are drawn back into focus, resting on yuuri for only half a moment before speaking once more. 

             “ hm.i think you’ll have to try a little harder for that to be… intimidating?” words dance off of his lips. his voice is light & brushed ever so slightly with a friendly sort of sarcasm. it was a bright sound, drenched in a tone that was warm & endearing but did not inch away from poking at the other, “ … unless it’s supposed to be cute. which is still a bit debatable. “

[text;; chris] I’m not hearing no… [text;; chris] Are we sure you aren’t the one doing more of the *stinging*?