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Colin had been busy since then, but he'd made a point to take some time out of each day to at least check on Aleksy - usually under the pretense of advice or some such thing. He wasn't going to discuss what had happened in the van down by the river, but it was definitely on his mind. To say that it was a relief to have something other than his break-up to worry over would have been an understatement...but also one that he was sure his friend would not be pleased with.

He was still settling in, having toed off his shoes and tucked his sock-clad feet up under him on the couch. "We are? Okay." Maybe he would cheer a little for Norway and Sweden...because reasons, but he would accept that Aleksy found this very important and was willing to go along with it. "Easier to watch the BBC version, I'd imagine." Since they were located within the United States. Colin snagged a few pieces of popcorn after Aleksy, tossing them one at a time into the air and catching them in his mouth.

"Yeah, my mom and sister love it, so we'd always watch." They were probably watching as they spoke - Colin had rejected the idea of going home to watch, but when his friend had offered...well, that was a bit different. "I like when they bring on dancers to accompany the vocalists." Of course he did.

Of course.

Graham was always such an amusing part of watching Eurovision; his mother quite fancied him and while Colin might have thought him a handsome sort of person he was more appreciative of his sense of humor than his physicality. So it was kind of nice to not have to hear about how 'hot' he looked this year.

"Nope, sorry. I only speak English, Spanish, Klingon and some Vulcan." And a smattering of other languages, mostly in the line of swears or love-words. Aleksy sounded somewhat put upon that he wasn't able to understand Russian - and therefor watch the program on the other channel - so Colin popped another piece of popcorn into his mouth and shrugged at him. "You can change it, if you like. I wouldn't mind. Music is music." He could miss out on some of the commentary if it would make his friend happier, he honestly didn't mind.

Had the blond known Aleksy's thoughts he probably would have tossed popcorn at him for such silly phrasing. He'd had friends that were non-binary genders before and didn't get all caught up in the political side of things. Aleksy was a guy, end of story.

Green eyes slid from friend to television, whereupon he nearly choked on his food. "Oh my god that's horrible." Colin meant the headphones only, until he saw the dancer...pretending to be a violinist. Or something. He shook his head and whisted, "At least the pianist looks like he's having a good time?" Slovenia's voice was nice too, it was just...there were some elements in the execution that made it laughable...and that was kind of sad, really.

Welcome to Eurovision. I don't know how I forget how crazy it is every year...

"My mom goes nuts for him. It's kind of nice not having to hear about how hot he is..." Admitting such things was part of being friends, right? Learning about each other and the familial interactions. Spending time trying to get the program to work was something he could understand, so it was more trouble than it was worth to change over. Aleksy's smile prompted a wider one of his own and he nodded, picked up some popcorn and tossed a piece at his friend. "Next year then, maybe."

France's song went in one ear and out the other, as would the next. He wasn't against music in other languages...but in any language it really needed to have something to draw him in if he was going to pay attention and take note. "Oh yeah, it's been good, actually. Much easier than moving into the last place." Especially since he'd wanted so badly to get out of that space and all it's memories.

"Oh, I'd definitely do it. It'd be amazing to be on a world-wide stage." He cocked his head and smiled self deprecatingly, "If I were invited, I mean. It's not much different than doing a commercial...just live." Clearly he was not troubled by the thought of performing in front of large swathes of people.

Oh yeah. That was how it was going to be. Colin was smiling as Aleksy narrowed his eyes, mischievous and looking for all the world like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. He watched his friend set up the shot and although he tried to catch it like he had before he was stuck half crushing the popcorn kernel against his shirt before grabbing it and eating it. No point in wasting it, right? Besides, he was used to this sort of thing, what with his younger sister.

"Sure, I'd learn Russian. I like languages." Colin caught this piece and crunched it between his teeth while grinning and holding his arms up like a footballer that just made a goal.

The music...was odd and Colin wasn't really into it, but the dancing was something else. Nothing horribly difficult until the guys did those flips, but still enough to keep his attention. "Whatever's fine." Wait, no. That had been three liquors and city juice, hadn't it? "Mmm...actually, water'd be best for now." It was too early in the show to be drinking and he wasn't sure getting plastered was a good idea anyway. Aleksy didn't like being touched and Colin was a cuddle monster even sober, god only knew how bad he'd be with alcohol in the mix.

Well, there are probably people waiting in the wings to come out and remove them, if that happened. During a show if I get hurt badly and can't make it off stage on my own, that's how the Theater does it." He peered at the screen a bit, "But they wouldn't do a flip like that if they weren't able to stick the landing pretty much every time. You just don't."

Colin agreed to start the lessons the next time they got together. "Yeah, but with a good company it really depends on how bad the injury is. If it's possible to do so without doing permanent damage, you should continue." He gave his friend a rueful grin, "There's a saying that if a ballerina's feet don't hurt, it means they're dead. It's actually pretty apt."

He sipped at the water, talking and paying only partial attention to the show - talking with Aleksy was far more interesting than some of the entries. It wasn't until Norway took the stage that there was any sort of problem and it absolutely had nothing to do with anything that Alesky had said or done...and everything to do with the song lyrics and the way it resonated.

Which was why he didn't have anything to say about the stiff tablecloth looking bottom of the female vocalist's outfit. Instead he was sitting there, clutching his water with one hand, biting his fist with the other while his eyes filled with tears he couldn't help. Not here, not now... But he was <********>, emotionally compromised, and he kicked himself for it but couldn't quite stuff the pain back down where he usually kept it.

Aleksy was perhaps smarter than Colin in that regard, because no matter how much it hurt, he'd never give up dancing. And it hurt quite a lot sometimes, especially back when he decided to learn how to lift en pointe and to make all his motions seem as though gravity didn't play any part of it. Besides, the blonde knew very well that what he chose to do wasn't for everyone and that only a small amount of people had everything required to be a professional dancer/danseur. But oh, the feeling of being on stage under those lights, with thousands of eyes on you! The adulation and adoration of a character played well, a dance done beautifully! Those little moments that all dancers lived for.

This is bad this is bad thisisbad-- Even with the volume down, even with new programming, and with his friend turned and full of concern for him, Colin could only force his hands down to his lap, fingers clenching and twisting the fabric of his jeans. "M's'rry." This was so unlike him, he knew - he couldn't help it though. Colin did his best to not inflict his inner hurts on any of his friends...Quenton had offered a sympathetic ear and he'd not taken advantage, mostly because he just...couldn't. Not without crying like he was now and he hadn't wanted that. And with Aleksy, for all that he was a good friend, wasn't emotionally available - generally speaking. Which was fine - no one was all things to all people, all of the time.

He understood these things about his friend, which was why he was trying so hard to push it back down where he usually kept it until alone in his apartment. So when the petite man reached out to him, he was kind of dumbfounded and definitely surprised - but also touched, which only made him want to cry harder. He's a good guy, jesus...having to deal with me like this in his home. Missing part of Eurovision-- With the hand he had not been biting he reached out and placed his hand over Aleksy's, long fingers curling only lightly at first, but then tighter.

"Thank you." The blonde wiped at his eyes and tried to calm down; it was easier with his friend's hand in his. Colin had always drawn heavily on physical contact as a means of soothing heart and mind. It helped; from [gross] almost sobbing to sniffles within the space of another song. He was by no means okay but maybe he'd be okay enough to finish their viewing party without being a huge downer. Finally he gave something of an explanation in a small voice that just wasn't like his usual self at all, "Sorry. I just...it reminded me of my ex..."