#viktorniliforv

an abominable iced chai latte for @viktorniliforv !

Oh you are totally fine! Send me all the asks you want to bby! 

Anyways! Oh my gosh, I can’t tell you how much I love the idea of this. Model Yuri has always been my ish, I can’t lie. His body slim, legs long and face beautiful. He is the apple of the fashion industries eye but he gravitates towards things that are edgy and fun. 

Thank you, that’s sweet of you! 

I didn’t create that comic to make a point, since this idea has actually been sitting on my to-draw list for over 1.5 months now, but I posted it fully aware of the recent tension in the fandom surrounding Victor’s depiction in art/fics/headcanons, and also more specifically, the contention over “dishcourse”. I was unsure about  addressing the matter before, but since you’ve brought some of it up, I’d like to take this opportunity to voice my thoughts on it in this post, and I hope you don’t mind.

(Please note that when I use “you” in the following text, I’m actually addressing people of the fandom as a whole.)

I think the phenomenon that allowed this tension to rise was overrepresentation, especially the overrepresentation of a not 100% flattering depiction of a beloved character that has many other wonderful facets yet to be explored. There is nothing inherently wrong with a post that pokes fun of a character, or one that derives humour from two characters in a heated argument where one ultimately loses. It is when we keep seeing the same kind of representation we become convinced that the fandom is only interested a specific kind of character/relationship depiction.

I think it’s important to remember that each creator in the fandom jumping on the bandwagon and making a single post about a popular joke (as is their right) at Victor’s expense is enough to create the illusion that the fandom is entirely and continuously obsessed with painting Victor as an incompetent airhead. The accumulation of posts with Yuuri sassing Victor probably also makes Yuuri out to be quite a horrid fiancé…despite the fact that these posts were probably individually created out of great fondness for both characters and their relationship. A while ago there were a few compilations of instances where Victor was quite savage towards Yuri/Yuuri in canon (often hitting where Yuuri has low self-esteem), but nobody would interpret that as the OP wanting to depict Victor as a generally mean person. We don’t read the comics/headcanons about “I don’t feel like it kissing it if it’s not gold” and think Victor is being emotionally manipulative (because he’s not; Victor knows in that situation what he says will not affect Yuuri’s certainty of his love for him) …until we think there are too many of them, and Victor making Yuuri feel bad about his silver is all we see. 

I truly believe this depiction of Victor and focus on arguments are trends that will change with time. I don’t think creators who write/draw them having arguments think that it’s the only aspect of the relationship worth exploring; it just happens to be popular right now. These very same creators have drawn/written lots of content about Victor and Yuuri being loving dorks, or Yuuri being the butt of the joke before, and they will continue to do so. In fact, the two of them being disgustingly and happily in love is something that has a lot of creations about and never seems to feel “overrepresented”. Admittedly, some trends - like the two discussed - stick longer than others, and it’s understandable. People find depictions of arguments in relationships relatable, and enjoy the assurance that no matter how bad an argument gets, Yuuri and Victor will not stop loving each other. People also find humanizing characters first presented as god-like extremely satisfying, and go to extremes in doing so: the more invincible and untouchable a character is initially depicted to be, the more the audience is determined to make him out to be a clueless idiot. This is also a beloved trope in anime: genius character is completely useless/incompetent in what they don’t specialize in, which is everything else.

In the end, when it comes to enjoying the character/ship, the interpretation “Victor can’t do chores to save his life because he neglected every aspect of his life outside of skating for 20 years″ is as valid as “Victor does all the chores regularly because living alone has made him responsible”, which is just as valid as “Victor knows how to do chores well, but because he is human, he’s lazy about them, and living alone has previously allowed him to get away with letting the dishes pile up and washing only the minimum amount of utensils needed for each meal, but now he has a fiancé to share the dishes with so his lifestyle needs adjusting”. There is no right way to have fun with a ship/character.  Some people might be new and find the popular joke funny and want to contribute to it when you are already tired of it. Some people might just enjoy the joke longer.

What we can do when we feel like something is overrepresented is to encourage the representation of something else. If you are a creator, draw/write something with a different focus, a different interpretation. If you’re not comfortable with making art/fic/headcanon posts, go around the fandom and talk about it. And perhaps, if your new focus relates to social justice, go to the creators, explain why this new focus is important, and (very) gently ask if they would explore a bit of it in their work. 

This is just my view on the matter. I am not, in any way, trying to force this view on the fandom, but I’ll be super happy to discuss it.

HERE YOU GO AGAIN MAKING ME SQUEAL WITH THE SONG RECS. 

In particular these lines:

I know it’s cold when we’re apartAnd I hate to feel this dieBut you can't give me what I wantJust give it time

I think the stripper idea would be mostly a prank he want’s to pull on the normally stoic Kazakh man. JJ so stoked on finding a way to see the guy turn several shades of red and what better than to expose him to the sensual gyrating of an ‘exotic dancer’ (because JJ is a gentleman and refuses to call the poor girl a stripper, that’s “demeaning!!!!” in his own words).

Word gets around pretty quick, especially when the person doing the planning has a big, fat mouth–it’s a wonder Otabek didn’t find out himself well before it happened. Yuri catching hold of the information would have the blond on JJ’s tail so fast, jerking him aside and demanding he spill every single last detail on what was happening, how he was going about it, and where he was getting the entertainment. For a little thing, Yuri’s grip is firm and his hold brash…JJ isn’t scared for his life or anything, but at least he can tell that he means business.

The moment that Jean lets it spill that he’s planning on hiring a female dancer, Yuri is stomping the breaks and pulling EVERYTHING to a full stop. Shoving the idiot away, Yuri’s head is shaking, clicking his tongue loudly as he crosses his arms over his chest with a brow raising up to the clouds.

“Are you completely dense, or are you just fucking stupid? Otabek is gay as hell, there’s no way that a female stripper is gonna be getting under his skin. Instead of flustering, the poor guy might upchuck his dinner at the first sight of bare tits. Just…let me do it.” 

Confusion hits the elder like a ton of bricks, blue eyes blinking a few times before squinting at the grumpy face of the blonde kitten who he assumed was joking at first, but slowly realizes that he’s completely serious. That confidence alone is enough to have another idea hatching right along side it once his initial shock fades and his brain is churning again. 

“No…lets both do it! We can wear themed costumes–something to really get him going!”

By no means are they professionals, but Yuri’s lithe form and nimbleness gives him the advantage he needs, and JJ is too overly confident in everything he does to even WORRY about the fact that he doesn’t know the first thing about erotic dancing…let alone peeling off his clothing while doing said erotic dancing–but how hard can it honestly be??? 

Yuri’s costume of choice ends up being a ‘naughty’ cheerleader, JJ goes with the cliche fireman suit…both clashing so hard, but when did they not? It didn’t matter as long as they got the result they sought…and honestly, Otabek really has NOT a single clue what he is in for. The makeshift stage set, while Leo (who was paid pretty handsomely to make sure Otabek was RIGHT where he needed to be) dragged the oblivious man up front. Just as blue, purple, and red flashing lights start to sway, the rhythmic sound of electronic music bumps from shitty speakers–and soon both Yuri and JJ are on the stage…a skirt dropping from smooth legs and revealing a pair of stripped female underwear, the yellow jacket slipping from tanned shoulders and showing off gaudy tattoos and bare chest. 

You are always the one to come through for me when it comes to music that inspires otayuri thoughts and I absolutely adore you for it. Sorry it took me a while to get back to you on this, btw--I wasn’t able to look it up until now BUT aaaaaah. 

I can’t get the thought of Otabek doing a mix of this at one of his gigs, one he knows Yuri will be at and just making sure to play it when Yuri’s attention is on him; pointedly looking at the younger to make it known silently between them that this is a mirror of what he feels, in which Yuri gives a small little thumbs up with the cutest expression on his face.