maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

But I'm only going to use them to get some sponsors. I'm making new ones after that.

Mmm, makes sense for a new season. Any themes in mind yet?

I was thinking about strength. I know that's kind of vague to start with...

Not at all! All my programs stated with something vague like that. Ah, though normally by this time I'd have something four months developed by now ...

So it'll be an extra challenge for us.

For me especially—if you want me to choreograph, that is.

I can choreograph it myself! [He huffs and leans back against the counter.]

[...]

But you can look over it when I'm done.

Oooh, you're looking to produce it yourself?

It's the next step that makes sense, isn't it? I won gold, so I should be pushing myself even harder.

[ He laughs lightly. ]

True enough, but you still have a number of years ahead of you! You don't have to do everything all at once, you know. You'd do well to learn how to choreograph before you try it out, make it a personal project to study how others do it first.

Maybe... But you can't choreograph your programs and Katsudon's and mine, can you?

Sure I can. I'm your coach, after all! I'll be taking care of you both.

Three new routines with a back up for each one—that's six, Viktor. Eighteen for all of us. Are you sure that's not too many?

Oh, don't worry about that. Just think about how you want to expand on your strength idea. Try writing it down on a notepad and see what else comes to the paper.

[Yuri narrows his eyes suspiciously...but eventually huffs out a sigh.]

Okay, I can do that.

Mmm! Flesh it out into two ideas, one for short and one for free skate. Or try for three if you can; you can stretch it to your exhibition too. I've found doing opposing ideas on the main theme leads to bigger surprises for the audience, but lets see what you come up with, okay?

Ugh, I'll try, but how the hell do you have opposing ideas for strength? Strength is strength!

Oh no, Yura, there's differences in strength. There's physical strength sure, but that's the brunt, obvious path. There's also the strength of mind, to work around the problems that you could only punch your way through. A good step sequence could convey that idea rather well ... Ah, but there's also the strength of heart, to persevere even in the face of absolute failure; to continue fighting when there's no hope left. There's room for quite a bit of storytelling with that as a plot.

And then you have the opposite end of all those different strengths: weakness and timidness, vulnerability, flaws. Just because your skating is showcasing frailty doesn't mean your skating itself will be frail. You could make it into a tale about overcoming that frailty in order to gain strength. And then the opposing theme could be about how absolute strength can crumble in the face of uncertainty.

[ It's there that Viktor glances over to Yuuri; it's subtle, but if Yuri looks up at the right moment, he'd be able to catch it. ]

But those ideas are just off the top of my head! You'll be able to come up with even more if you take a moment to write it all down.

[When Viktor looks up, Yuri is watching him with a look halfway between exasperation and actually being impressed enough to pay attention.]

Now you're just showing off... You make it sound so easy to figure something out.

I have been doing it for quite a while, you know~ But I remember some magazine article that interviewed me a few years ago called my process of creation unique so I guess it is!

Isn't your process just doing whatever you want?

It starts that way, sure, but there's the discipline that comes after. You've seen how I've done it, haven't you?

Ah, but I guess I always start the first few months by myself ...

Right... By the time I see you in practice with them you've already got the foundations planned out.

Yeah, I guess I usually start piecing together the components for the next season between Nationals and the European Championships ...

[ Viktor wasn't kidding when he said he was almost four months behind then. ]

Seriously?! I thought you were exaggerating!