The Depth of Green

Chapter 9

Recap chapter 8: Otabek and Yuri discuss the latter's grandfather, for a bit, Yuri gushes for a long time about ballet (Giselle, specifically), and Yuri reaffirms that he's only sharing pieces of himself to ensure that Mila is getting a good mate-- and for NO OTHER REASON. And I'm an asshole, so we end the chapter with Otabek practically glowing with pride that Yuri is opening up to him and that he's learning to trust him because he might like him back? Yay??? I'm not sorry. xD

~~~

They only exhausted the Giselle conversation topic five minutes before the end of the showing. Yuri, despite himself and his interest in learning more about Otabek, mourned its loss.

He hadn't had a chance to converse about ballet in ages, and Otabek's willingness to have the plot of the show explained to him was a different kind of pleasure. He had asked, too, so Yuri's humble demeanor was preserved, but he got to dissect (within the reasonable confines of conversation; somehow, he doubted Otabek would care to hear the exacting intricacies of the mad scene explained in loving detail) the production in a way he'd barely even realized he'd missed.

Still, though, they remained on the subject of dance, and Yuri got to find out a bit more about the life Mila would live in the near future, if when Yuri's plan was successful. Which was why, maybe, Yuri became so fascinated by Otabek's life in Philadelphia.

"Well, on the outskirts of Philadelphia," Otabek clarified, "technically in New Jersey, but the city is only a bridge and a twenty minute car ride away."

Ah, okay. Yuri guessed Otabek's business was based in Philly, so it made sense that, even if he technically lived in a different state, his commute would be good. Mila would like that, he thought: she had always seemed like a night-life type of person to him.

"That must be helpful, since there's so much centered in Philadelphia." Yuri replied, diplomatically. Really, he wanted to ask about the Pennsylvania Ballet, if they had branched into international touring, yet, or if they remained excellent, but only regionally ranked, but that seemed too single-minded, at the moment; he'd have to remember not to bring up dance, for a while, after their extended discussion about Giselle. Yuri could tip one or two unimportant cards here and there, but the whole hand would be madness.

"It is," Otabek nodded, "the best of both worlds, kind of? It's nice to live in a small town, but suburbia could be kind of depressing without a family, if there wasn't a city around."

Yuri, honestly, couldn't say he understood that, but agreed silently, anyway. He'd grown up in the slums of Moscow-- he couldn't see why someone wouldn't want a white picket fence and a life free of the compacted dirt and grime of the city, but he had never been to Philadelphia-- maybe it was nicer there. And he'd always had his grandpa, growing up; perhaps it would be depressing to be surrounded by happy, nuclear families if you yourself were totally alone.

Well, said the little voice in Yuri's head that he wasn't entirely sure he liked, he won't be alone for long: Mila will be joining him, soon enough.

"It's a good location, though," Otabek continued, "I get both the farmers markets and the spontaneous street performing."

Yuri blinked. What? "Farmers markets?" He asked. He was relatively familiar with street performances-- they happened in every major city, and he'd danced in a few of them during his time in Petersburg, but the farmers markets were new. In Moscow and Petersburg, where he'd lived, at least, they hadn't been common; he couldn't remember ever having been to one. Thinking about it now, that made him rather sad, though he couldn't say why.

Otabek nodded, "They happen every week-- on Saturdays, I think. There's fresh produce and local artisans have booths-- there's even live music, in the evenings."