Many thanks to @thatshamelessyaoishipper for subbing the entire section.
This line of dialogue (spoken by Yurio) is genuinely so important to our understanding of Viktor’s character. It’s fair to say that a lot of us kind of view his character as lovable, childlike, and whimsical, and that isn’t wrong. But this proves it, he’s only like that around Yuuri, according to somebody who has known him for three years or so at an absolute minimum.
This is the Viktor Nikiforov without Yuuri, the one the majority of people know. This is the Viktor Nikiforov who sits alone in parks in the snow, with only his dog for comfort, as he contemplates how his life even turned up like that.
I know this is a particularly bad moment, to be fair, but just look how miserable he looks.
Even here, he just looks so bored and serious.
This is Viktor without Yuuri for what? Three days?
The actual effect Yuuri had on Viktor’s life is astounding. With Yuuri, Viktor learnt to let everything go and just be him, rather than his more restrained and serious self, morphing into the usual personality we see and love for the duration of the anime.
All I can picture is the first day Viktor and Yuuri start training again at the rink in St Petersburg, and are absolutely gobsmacked to witness Viktor smiling, laughing, with his arms draped around Yuuri like he’s a buoyancy aid. Quiet, serious Viktor Nikiforov actually looking like he’s enjoying his day. He’s the opposite of the kind of man who would tickle someone publicly, but there he is, chasing Yuuri Katsuki around the rink like a five year old. It’s like some kind of bizarre dream. Even Yakov would have to admit that Yuuri’s presence has transformed him.
And perhaps Yakov even asks him once, unable to help himself, where Viktor suddenly got so much inspiration from, after so many years of misery.
The only answer he gets, as Viktor starts to walk away, is “he gave me his love, Yakov.”
Yuri: *Is busy doing the housework*
Victor: *Is lazing about on the couch like a slob*
Yuri: *Sees Victor and puts his duster down, sauntering over and getting atop him* Babe... *Takes his glasses off, flushes his hair back and smirks, licking his lips before leaning down, pecking Victor on the lips* You busy?
Victor: *Is immediately turned on* NO.
Yuri: Good. Do the fucking dishes.
Lovely, sun-filled room is perfect for plants. (The lucky lady who lives here says, “ Y’all… I am never going to get over how privileged I am to be living in this room.”)
via instagram
Source
My comedic genius is vastly unappreciated on twitter
In case anyone is unsure about what skin type they are, here’s an easy test to help you out!
I saw this meme today:
It’s of course a play on another meme (which is literally the meaning of “meme”):
I found that meme on Instagram and broke the cardinal rule of social media: never read the comments section. I was rather surprised at how many people not only bought into this, but didn’t know that Cleopatra was:
-Macedonian (not Egyptian, not Greek, not Roman, not Persian) -not beautiful
I wanted to make a post about this to explain these misconceptions and where they (likely) came from.
Cleopatra VII was part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt, and the Ptolemys were Macedonian. They had taken power in Egypt after the death of the famous Macedonian, Alexander the Great (who likely died from alcoholism and/or malaria at age 34, just a fun fact). Many people mistook Alexander the Great for a Greek, but there’s a reason for that: Alexander the Great was a Greek fanboy. He started something called a “Hellenistic Period”…you know “period” is “length of time” and “Hellenistic” means “Greek-like” or “inspired by Greece”. It would be like if famous otaku Baron Trump married one of Japan’s princesses, then went into Mongolia to take over and implemented a bunch of Japanese culture…then, a couple thousand years later, some people might think that Baron Trump was actually Japanese because why on Earth would he implement Japanese rule? It’s not really common to assume that a leader is a mega fanboy, but that’s what happened here. I cannot confirm whether he had a Greek goddess body pillow, but can confirm I made this sweet meme in Paint for my PPT:
The Ptolemy rule came to an end shortly after Cleopatra VII’s rule ended, and it was Rome that had ended said rule. This might be why Cleopatra VII was thought to be Roman by some people in the comments section.
We may not know exactly how Cleopatra VII looked, but we can say she wasn’t a beauty queen (and there’s nothing wrong with that unless you’re in a job being judged on how well you fit in with that standard). How can we be sure? Here is how she’s depicted on her coins and in stone reliefs from the time:
Some sculptures have been made based on these:
I wouldn’t go as far as to say she looked like someone we would consider “ugly”, but she’s definitely not someone I’d be captivated by based on her looks alone. If that’s the case, then how did “She was so beautiful!” start as a rumor? It had to do with the fact that she was able to impress two other leaders. Some of the people in the comments section mentioned her “several affairs”, but we do know that she was involved with two other leaders: Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The tales of her seduction, as told at the time they happened, involve her wit. Accounts of Cleopatra VII describe her well-educated (including that she spoke seven languages) and very charismatic. Combine this with her being the leader of a kingdom, and she suddenly becomes a very attractive prospect for sex, both in terms of sexual interest and reproductive interest. It appeared to be a mutual attraction for her, as she sought to expand her own power and interact with men who were intellectually, militarily, and politically on her level. In other words, she did was literally every other royal has done in history: had sexual encounters with other royalty for the purposes of strengthening political power.
So if everyone who knew her knew she wasn’t gorgeous, then why did this myth start?
After the death of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony, a rumor had been started by this guy with a long birth name we eventually came to call Caesar Augustus. He and Antony, along with another Mark, were part of this three-part ruling structure called a Triumvirate. The other Mark (Marcus Lepidus), was exiled, leaving just Antony and Augustus to lead the Roman Empire. Augustus’ great-uncle was Julius Caesar, and his co-regent was Antony, and both of these dudes had been with Cleopatra VII, producing children that could potentially try to claim/take power from him…especially relevant since both of these dudes were dead. He basically had launched a smear campaign against her after her death that talked about her as if she’s a gorgeous, deadly, conspiring woman who seduces powerful men with both her charm and her beauty.
Writers of the time jumped in on this, and some called her a lot of really crappy things. One Roman historian referred to her as “a woman of surpassing beauty…with the power to subjugate everyone.”
Kind of reminds me of Rasputin, who was creepy and smelled weird but utterly captivated women. Women explained that it was his intense gaze and what he had to say that kept them interested, but upon his death what did the murderers do? Pulled down his pants, cut off his dick, and preserved it, studied why it could be so appealing to women (they claim the girth and wart near the head are a factor). It’s like “He’s interesting” wasn’t good enough…must be dick power! In the same way, “She’s utterly fascinating, charming, and educated” wasn’t good enough…must be a sexy pout and perfect tits!
As I tell my students: history isn’t just some old collection of names and dates, it’s human drama that still happens today.
Shepard stealing her LI’s clothes?! YES PLEASE.
Bonus: Garrus not being quite as thrilled about it. Wanna tell us again how much turians hate the cold?
Eggs, Coffee, Bread, Butter by LittleLostStar | T | Yuuri/Victor | 2k
Yuuri has a small adventure at a grocery store in St. Petersburg and everything is just adorable.
~ “Yuuri, did you go grocery shopping?” “Yes, why? …What did I do?” Victor cocks his head, eyes crinkling, and just like that Yuuri realizes that he might not actually have the upper hand in this situation. “What were you trying to do?” he asks innocently, which just makes Yuuri even more furious.
Five Time Yuuri Katsuki Freaked Out About Living with Viktor Nikiforov (and the One Time It Was Viktor’s Turn) by Ame (Ulan) | T | Yuuri/Victor | 7k WIP
Viktor could not help his wide smile. Life with Yuuri in Saint Petersburg was off to a great start. He was happy; he was excited. He had never felt anything more wonderful and overwhelming and amazing in his life.Which probably meant that Yuuri was off somewhere, feeling the same, and freaking out.
leave-taking by winchilsea | G | Yuuri/Victor | 1k
Moving to St. Petersburg was Yuuri’s idea. Viktor wanted to stay in Hasetsu.
Next Level by ghostystarr | G | Yuuri/Victor | 3k
In which Yuuri and Victor settle into their new life in St. Petersburg
Safety Hazards in St. Petersburg by lucycamui | E | Yuuri/Victor | 3k
In which Yuuri moves in with Victor in St. Petersburg and Victor discovers just how distracting living with him can be.
Alternatively titled, How Many Ways Can Victor Hurt Himself? or Idiots in Love
This Curious Condition Called Love by xtwilightzx (blackidyll) | T | Yuuri/Victor | 16k
The bite of pancake is delightfully buttery, with a tang from the cheese curds. Yuuri isn’t sure what his expression is like, but Victor’s smile brightens, and his phone goes up.
“Say syrniki!”
That photo’s going to end up on Instagram in less than a minute. Yuuri ducks, and when Victor whips his phone to follow, Yuuri grabs Victor’s elbow and drags him over so they’re both caught in the shot. Victor laughs, a long line of warmth mashed up against Yuuri’s side. He tucks his arm around Yuuri’s waist and raises his phone again.
Victor uses variations of the same caption every time: Reexploring St. Petersburg with #katsukiyuuri #oneplateatatime
“You’re ridiculous,” Yuuri whispers, after the camera goes off.
Victor smiles. “Ridiculous, but yours.”
(Yuuri has done the transcontinental uprooting of his life twice before and it’s never easy, but this time there are photos plastered all over Victor’s social media, explorations into Russian cuisine, shenanigans with the Russian figure skating national team, calls and messages from friends and family, and Victor, always.
Victor, on the other hand, mostly copes by watching Yuuri adapt to life in St. Petersburg).
Safe Space by preciousbunnynoiz | G | Yuuri/Victor | 1k
Yuuri is moving in and Victor is thrilled but Victor is also noticing something is a little different about Yuuri and he isn’t sure what
(Basically these two love each other so much it’s ridiculous and wonderful)
Making a Villain Richard III by William Shakespeare Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo Tangled (2010) screenplay by Dan Fogelman No Good Deed (from Wicked the Musical) by Stephen Schwartz Untitled Poetry by Stephanie Bennett-Henry mad woman by Taylor Swift