Chapter Text
February 7th, 1893. Russia’s beloved skater Viktor Nikiforov takes a sudden break from his career. The newspapers are heavy with rumours. “He needs air,” his coach (Yakov Feltsman) reports. What for and for how long remains undisclosed. One month passes. Viktor is glimpsed in China – the rest of the world receives a grainy picture of an expressionless man sitting on a bridge, alone. Several weeks later, a local journalist walks in on him in Vietnam. There are no pictures, but there is a story of a camera being smashed, and vulgarities that are understood universally by tone alone. This event is quickly followed by the brief reappearance and apologies of coach Feltsman, and the ever handsome and charming Viktor himself. Promises are made for the upcoming skating season. May 18th, Viktor Nikiforov goes missing. All search actions are in vain. He is never seen again.