[video]

[goldkiss]

Who: Victor Nikiforov and OPEN
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva's Hospitality Deck (common area)
When: Shortly after he wakes up and has had time to explore a bit, so sometime in the middle of the "day"

[The video shows a man wearing a black T-shirt and coat. He is smiling and seems to be happy and cheerful. He has the strap of a sports bag over his shoulder. One hand is to his face, a finger touching his lips.

Despite having just woken up in the middle of space with no idea how he got here, he seems completely at ease.]

I wish someone had told me I was going to be on television today. Honestly, I'm grateful that you took me on my way home from practice because it means I have my skates, but I would have dressed up for the occasion had I known. A nice suit perhaps? At least a decent sweater. [He hand moves down to grip the sports bag's strap.]

I could look so much better given a little bit of notice. [Then he winks, and it's not clear if that's meant for anyone who is receiving this message, the much bigger audience they're told exists, or just because he likes winking.

Then, after a moment, he gets to the true purpose of this message.]

Oh, and if anyone has seen Yuuri Katsuki please let me know. He's Japanese, about 173 centimeters in height, has black hair and brown eyes, and wears glasses. Let him know that Victor is looking for him if you see him, hm?

Comments

[goldkiss]

Genji... Ah! That means you're Japanese too??

I don't know a lot about Japanese history, I'm afraid. I had learned a bit over the past year because I was living with Yuuri's family to help him train. They have a ninja house in their town. But I think that was from--

Wait. Does that mean they really can take people from any time? Wow. That's amazing.

[ahappylie]

Yes. My name is Soujirou. [Sort of.]

And yes again. I've met someone from far into the future, someone from my past, and everyone in-between. There are talking animal people and people not from Earth, and even talking objects.

[goldkiss]

Wow!

I'll have to meet one of the talking animals or even one of the objects! If I could have had a conversation with my dog back home I would have loved the chance.

[ahappylie]

Oh, you have a dog? What is its name? I have a piglet. Would you like to see?

[goldkiss]

His name is Makkachin. Piglets are very cute. [He says this with some humor in his voice.] What is yours called?

> video;

[ahappylie]

[He switches to video and Victor will get a camera full of a grumpy looking piglet.]

Makkachin is a really cute name! This is Saizou.

[The piglet grunts and sniffs the camera before turning away and nestling back under Okita's arm.]

I woke him up from a nap so he's mad at me.

[goldkiss]

[His eyes widen a bit] Cute!

They let you have pets here? Did Saizou come from home??

[ahappylie]

We have several on my ship, but they all arrived at our last port of call. I found him locked inside a treasure chest in the middle of a temple in the ocean.

[That sounds insane, but well, they're on a space reality tv show.]

Perhaps one day you'll find Makkachin? Hopefully not underwater again though.

[goldkiss]

I hope not! Makkachin also wouldn't like being inside of a chest.

Still... there's hope that I'll see my dog while I'm here. That's a relief.

[ahappylie]

People, and animals, often show up when you least expect them.

There's always hope. [Even if he, himself, is losing it day by day.]

[goldkiss]

That much is true no matter the situation!

[ahappylie]

True, true!

Ah! But I forgot to ask your name, although you now know mine, Celebrity-san.

[goldkiss]

I'm Victor Nikiforov. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[ahappylie]

[So definitely a Western name, but good gods, how does he even begin to wrap his mouth around all those syllables. He takes a few seconds to rehearse it and then? Well, he tries.]

Nikifor..ov-san? The pleasure is mine. Please excuse my bad pronunciation.

[goldkiss]

[He would admit that he misses his name being pronounced with a Japanese accent but that seems a little rude.]

You can call be Victor if you'd like.

[ahappylie]

[Well, he'll hear it now at least.]

Victor-san then. Thank you. I'm still not used to Western names at all.

[goldkiss]

I understand, but my name is a Russian name. Not exactly Western. Still, Victor is one that is used all across Europe and North America too, or at least some version of it.

[ahappylie]

Russian?

[The word doesn't seem to ring a bell with him at first and there's a long pause as he tries to parse it.]

Oh! The country above China, yes? The one across the sea from Ezo?

[goldkiss]

Yes, we are above China. Part of Russia is also above Japan. It's... rather large.

Hm, let's see... In the same time period that you're from, we still had tsars, I think. We were an empire.

[ahappylie]

[He laughs lightly.]

It's that obvious is it? [That he's not from a modern time, that is.] I'm afraid I didn't learn much of the world overseas.

[goldkiss]

Oh that's right, during your time Japan is probably still very isolated, isn't it?

[ahappylie]

Mmhm, we only just opened our country less than a decade ago, I think. It's been...tumultuous since.

[goldkiss]

I'm sorry you have to go through that. Some change is good though.

Imagine if Japan was still closed? I would never have been able to meet and stay with Yuuri. I don't know who I would be now without him.

[ahappylie]

[Hahahaa...yeah, he can imagine if Japan was still closed. His group is supposedly in support of the opening to the West, but like most people of his era, he personally is a little ambiguous on the idea. Still, he smiles and nods.]

How did you meet him? Is he an... ice skater? Like you?

[goldkiss]

That's right. We compete internationally. We first met during a Grand Prix - a, uh, rather important competition. He was skating for Japan.