[ 4 ] video; un: @altin ( early morning 11/1 )

[bringbackgold]

[ Otabek wants to post the video relatively early. There’s a calm when the video comes on. Otabek’s hair is is still fuzzy from having just woken up, having not been styled yet. There’s a sense of ease about him, too. While he’s normally pretty calm, it’s just different from what one normally sees from him. Also, it appears his laptop is set up in a different spot than normal. It’s on a kitchen table, and behind him is a counter, on it - a container with remnants of cake.

He’s wearing a tank top, but it’s not hiding the markings on his neck and shoulders. He finally speaks, but not without a small meow in the background from the little black cat who seems fond of making appearances. ]

Thank you for coming to the party last night. I was glad to see everyone. Also, as of yesterday --

[ A pause. ]

I’m nineteen. I don’t really celebrate birthdays. It was a good birthday, though. I’m curious...

[ Leans forward, is quiet. ]

What birthday traditions do you have?

[ He sits back. Clearly, his tone is about to change. Otabek never leaves it at one thing. ]

Also... As you may or may not know, I am in charge of entertainment at a few clubs here. So - this is also a job posting. Singers, DJs, musicians, and otherwise musical acts are all welcome to apply, either for one night or something more long term. It is a paid job, of course. You can either reply here, come visit me at the club, or send me a message privately.

[ He’s said a lot more than he typically does in any given moment. Then, something seems to grab his attention, and he turns back towards the bedroom, then back to the camera. He turns it off. ]

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[bringbackgold]

[ Otabek turns off the video, but leaves his laptop there for now. He leans towards Yuri, returning the kiss. He feels...relaxed and happy. Just different and so good. He appreciates the way he feels. And he appreciates seeing Yuri in one of his shirts. He feels like he's never really celebrated a birthday before now. And he was glad that he got to celebrate with Yuri. There's no one he'd rather be with. After he returns the kiss, he shifts to stand, so he can effectively tug Yuri into an embrace.

It is unusual for him to wake up first. Otabek sleeps heavily through the night, and prefers sleeping in if possible. Since he was taking most of the day off today, he thought he'd surely sleep in late. ]

I slept great.

[ He shifts a little, relaxing his hold on Yuri. ]

Did you?

[bespredel]

[ Yuri goes easily, it doesn't take much to coax him into Otabek's arms these days. After all, why should he refuse himself the comfort of the other's embrace? Winding his arms around the other's neck, Yuri nuzzles against the other's shoulder for a moment, before settling, leaning against the other just a little, his eyes closed. He's still not quite awake- but certainly getting there. Though being snuggled up in the other's arms is a bit of a step backwards towards waking up. Humming lowly, he settled his head on the other's shoulder. ]

Better than I have in months. [ He admitted, voice quiet, but honest. ] It was really nice. I even slept in. [ He chuckled lowly, grinning a little and squeezing his arms softly around Otabek's neck. ] Did you have a good birthday?

[bringbackgold]

[ Yuri's answer makes him really happy to hear. Otabek sleeps very soundly, but he has figured out in the time since Yuri has moved in that he doesn't always sleep soundly at night. He holds him close and tight, loving the way Yuri feels in his arms. He doesn't want to ever, ever let him go. He realizes, over the course of these past couple weeks, how fast and hard he has fallen for the other. His body settles there, holding Yuri. ]

The best I've had yet. [ A soft smile. ] I'm glad you slept well. That just means we have to do that more often. [ And he definitely means that. ]

[bespredel]

[ Heat bloomed through Yuri's chest, rising on his face and flushing his cheeks a tender pink. His lips quirked, a soft huffing breath of laughter leaving him as he hid his face away, shy to speak of what they had done the night before without the comforting blanket of darkness. In the daylight, it seemed all the more real- beyond the addled haze that pleasure offered. Yuri didn't regret it, though- not for anything he had asked for, not for anything he had given freely. If anything... he felt himself blessed to have been the one chosen by Otabek to share such things with. ]

Well. I'll look forward to topping it next year. [ He murmured, his voice muffled against the other's shirt, his smile curving against the other's skin. He squeezed softly, before finally lifting his head to look at the other properly, a ridiculous- dare he say, shit-eating- grin spreading across his lips. He looked pleased with himself, smug beyond measure but also... happy. Free. Feeling lighter than he had in months. Buoyed and lifted by Otabek; his firm presence, his guidance, and above all- his love.

It hardly seemed to matter that they hadn't shared the words, yet. Without having to say it, without having to ask- Yuri knew. Otabek loved him, and he loved Otabek. What else could what they shared be? Yuri had felt it the night before, too. Something that thrummed well beyond the heat of lust. Something that burned lower, yet hotter. Something that held firm, yet yielding. A balance Yuri had ever known with his grandfather, and now... Otabek. ]

I could be convinced. [ Yuri teased, biting at his lower lip, gazing at the other from beneath his lashes with just the hint of a smirk, his hands sliding to the other's shoulders and gripping softly. It was hard not to stir, already the suggestion of more enough to fuel the teen's libido, but Yuri did his best to keep himself in check. For now, at least. ] Maybe anyway. If you ask nice.

[bringbackgold]

[ There's the slightest blush on his cheeks, as he relaxes here against Yuri. His hands shift, resting to the small of Yuri's back to hold the other close, and he looks down - not far - he feels like Yuri has gotten taller, but he won't say that right now. He's glad Yuri's the person he's experiencing these things with for the first time. He's glad Yuri has chosen him, and accepted him. He couldn't have predicted that that little crush he had when he was twelve years old would actually get here. He leans, steals a chaste kiss. ]

You don't have to top it. I like time alone with you. [ A happy sigh. His fingers grip tight, holding Yuri there, and unwilling to let go. ] You look good in my shirt, by the way.

[ A smirk. ] I'll just have to convince you, then. Want me to make breakfast?

[bespredel]

[ Yuri has gotten taller; no matter how he might not want to admit it, or register it. He's growing- in more ways than one. Getting taller, growing up. He's on track to finish his high school diploma through his home courses in just a couple more months; ahead of schedule all thanks to Michael. Even though he wasn't in the Quarantine anymore... Yuri couldn't bring himself to stop his hard work. It would have felt like letting him down.

And then there was this- growing with Otabek. Letting their relationship blossom, letting the other in. It wasn't always easy, Yuri still wasn't very good at talking- through his feelings or otherwise. But he was getting there. They were both getting there. Learning one another's nuances and idiosyncrasies. Becoming... to Yuri, what felt like so much more than just boyfriends. ]

I like alone time with you, too. [ Yuri mumbled softly, smiling despite himself and tucking closer, just letting himself hold and be held in return. ] But I also like doing nice things for you. surprising things. So. I'm going to top it. Get better every year. Just try and stop me. [ He lifted his head to look at the other, grinning wickedly, before leaning forward to catch the other's lips again, just because he could. ]

Shouldn't I be the one to make you breakfast? I wouldn't say no, though.

[bringbackgold]

[ Something about the way Yuri says that makes Otabek totally believe it. When he's watched him, he's always seemed to put his everything into something he was doing. That meant he could always expect to be surprised on his birthday. He hoped that Yuri wouldn't always think that he needed to surprise him, though. He didn't really want much out of his birthday. Otabek's never felt this sort of closeness before. It feels like there's so much between them. And the way he holds on in that moment says he's never going to let go.

But he does want to eat breakfast. So he does get himself comfortable there, cuddled against Yuri. ]

Should you? I don't mind at all.

[ In fact, his birthday was over now, so to him, doing what he'd like to do anyway seems to be the way to go. ]

I'd like to, actually.

[ It's difficult, but he finally loosens his hold on Yuri so that he can make some breakfast. ]

[bespredel]

[ It was just like Otabek, to not mind being against the grain- not doing things in a more traditional manner. Well, that was just fine with Yuri too. After all, he wasn't exactly the sort of person to confine himself to anyone's definitions, or boxes. Besides- Otabek made a pretty damn stellar breakfast. Yuri could always cook the other dinner again, later. And as for what Otabek wanted out of his birthday, well... Yuri would have had a few words for the other on that, too. It wasn't that he felt obligated to surprise the other; anything but. No, the fact of it was that above all else... making Otabek happy made him happy. Sure, the other might not have needed much, but being able to go above and beyond? To see the way Otabek smiled? The soft crinkling at the corners of his eyes, the way his lips curved and his eyes gentled- that was worth everything to Yuri. To see that side of Otabek, something special. Something only for him. He wanted to spoil Otabek not because he felt obligated to, but because he wanted to, and he didn't think he would ever tire of that feeling, or have it go away. ]

Alright, if you insist. [ Yuri mumbled softly, smiling a little and nudging his cheek against the other's shoulder, letting out a low, soft hum of contentment as he held himself in place in the other's arms, for just a moment longer. Finally, reluctantly he loosened his grip, chin tilting up as he smiled warmly at Otabek, shifting to take a seat at the island, elbow resting on the table and chin in his hand. ]

Can I help with anything?

[bringbackgold]

[ Otabek was good with a less traditional mindset. Growing up - everything was fairly traditional at home. A traditional family, with traditional roles, and he was anything but. He was considered a rebel - a bad boy at home. So of course, expectations and traditions weren't things he needed or really wanted to fall back on. Unless he was making them with someone else. He'd enjoy making things for him and Yuri to share. Traditions of their own.

A nice night alone on his birthday, followed by a good breakfast the next day. Otabek really loved the thought. And...the more he thought about it, he loved Yuri, too. Something that he hadn't quite gotten himself to say, but knew that he would. He needed to. Being honest and straightforward was just part of who he was. And something he found that came easily to Yuri. He opened the fridge, taking out some eggs, turkey bacon, and yogurt. From the freezer, he got bananas and strawberries. Some eggs, bacon, and a smoothie. Fairly healthy, but delicious.

He liked to make them breakfasts like this.

Once he started heating a pan, he turned around, shifting to Yuri's side of the island, leaning towards him and placing a kiss on his cheek, resting his face against Yuri's neck. ]

No need.