[ 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. ]

Comments

[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.