What Yuri ought to say, with Yakov right next to him and an awareness of the importance of good etiquette towards the sponsors' representatives at the forefront of his mind: I was able to gain a lot from Viktor's guidance while learning the short program choreography, and I have been working hard to refine my technique and skill for it ever since.
What Yuri does say, with absolutely no effort to disguise the contempt in his voice, as he lifts his chin to look the man dead in the eye: 'I am not here to show off anything. I am here to win. And when I do, Viktor Nikiforov won't be the one with the medal around his neck.'
Yakov's hand comes down on his shoulder in a vise-like grip before he can say another word -- and Yuri immediately shuts his mouth, but he doesn't blink or look away. The Rostelecom representative blinks instead, startled and confused, as if he's just heard a cat bark like a dog and doesn't quite know what to make of it. 'Well, of course he wouldn't....' he says, and then stops, and then tries again. "That is, I didn't mean to -- '
As an act of rare mercy, Yakov puts the man out of his misery. 'Yuri's programs are as strong and challenging as any program that we will see here this weekend,' he declares, 'and his performance will reflect the training and dedication he has put into this season. I suggest you watch it for yourself.'
(Yuri, it must be said, isn't the only one who is rather tired of hearing Viktor Nikiforov's name at the moment.)
After an awkward little dance of strained good wishes (from the Rostelecom manager) and cold but cordial thanks (from Yuri, with Yakov's hand still locked on his shoulder), the conversation ends. Once the other man has wandered off in search of a refill for his glass, Yakov finally turns to look at Yuri, his eyes dark and severe. Yuri's already braced for what he knows will come; even if he hadn't sworn, hadn't dropped into impolite language, he'd still run off his mouth to someone from the tournament's primary sponsor.
But to his astonishment, it doesn't come. 'Go find Lilia and Mila,' is all that Yakov says, and lets his hand fall away from Yuri's arm. 'I need to check in with Georgi.'
This time, it's Yuri's turn to blink. Only when he's positive that Yakov is serious does he nod -- looking more than a little confused himself -- and turn to go and make his way across the crowded room to where he'd last seen either of them.
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What Yuri does say, with absolutely no effort to disguise the contempt in his voice, as he lifts his chin to look the man dead in the eye: 'I am not here to show off anything. I am here to win. And when I do, Viktor Nikiforov won't be the one with the medal around his neck.'
Yakov's hand comes down on his shoulder in a vise-like grip before he can say another word -- and Yuri immediately shuts his mouth, but he doesn't blink or look away. The Rostelecom representative blinks instead, startled and confused, as if he's just heard a cat bark like a dog and doesn't quite know what to make of it. 'Well, of course he wouldn't....' he says, and then stops, and then tries again. "That is, I didn't mean to -- '
As an act of rare mercy, Yakov puts the man out of his misery. 'Yuri's programs are as strong and challenging as any program that we will see here this weekend,' he declares, 'and his performance will reflect the training and dedication he has put into this season. I suggest you watch it for yourself.'
(Yuri, it must be said, isn't the only one who is rather tired of hearing Viktor Nikiforov's name at the moment.)
After an awkward little dance of strained good wishes (from the Rostelecom manager) and cold but cordial thanks (from Yuri, with Yakov's hand still locked on his shoulder), the conversation ends. Once the other man has wandered off in search of a refill for his glass, Yakov finally turns to look at Yuri, his eyes dark and severe. Yuri's already braced for what he knows will come; even if he hadn't sworn, hadn't dropped into impolite language, he'd still run off his mouth to someone from the tournament's primary sponsor.
But to his astonishment, it doesn't come. 'Go find Lilia and Mila,' is all that Yakov says, and lets his hand fall away from Yuri's arm. 'I need to check in with Georgi.'
This time, it's Yuri's turn to blink. Only when he's positive that Yakov is serious does he nod -- looking more than a little confused himself -- and turn to go and make his way across the crowded room to where he'd last seen either of them.