strangetrip | [GP] SNOW DAY

Thor and Loki got an early start, because there was a lot to do. Almost two weeks to the day since their first small-but-successful experiment with snow, Loki was confident that he'd improved enough for a bigger experiment. Still snow, because Thor wanted it and it did seem like a decent way to try something big-ish without causing Loki unnecessary grief with the other residents. (It was an arrival day, so there would perhaps be some grief with any new arrivals, but that was entirely acceptable.)

It was before dawn when they went out into the grounds. Thor called up clouds and loaded them with water so they hung low and heavy, covering the sky so that the sun, when it rose, wouldn't ruin the event. Loki took his frost giant shape and staff (now very familiar to his hand) and concentrated on dropping the temperature. Just around the Inn and grounds, but that was enough to be serious effort.

When the snow first started, the flakes were big and wet, and melted as soon as they hit the ground, which was still on the warm side. As they melted, they cooled the ground. After an hour or so, the flakes were smaller and more powdery - real snow, not glorified slush - and they were starting to stick to the ground.

By mid-morning, the Inn and grounds were covered with a thick layer of snow, and it continued to fall.

***

Meanwhile, indoors and inspired by the snow, Hurley and Xavin decided to try and make cookies. Cooking together was fun, since neither of them exactly knew what they were doing apart from 'follow the recipe', but since the point was 'try to make cookies' they ended up with a lot of cookies. Sugar cookies, gingerbread, all kinds.

There was no way they'd be able to eat all of them.

Instead, they loaded them onto trays and hauled them to the cafe, then brought out various frostings and candies for decorating. This had been completely intentional. Completely.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"A taste for something, certainly." The pastry wasn't bad, and three bites of it was enough to back a somewhat-believable claim of of course I've eaten today.

Valkyrie merely pushed a bite of it through her own lips, meeting Loki’s eyes as she swept her tongue to catch the remnant powdered sugar.

Valkyrie's willingness to push her advantages was one of the many things Loki decidedly appreciated about her, and another was her unwillingness to back down in the face of a challenge. Even when it was as simple as refusing to back away with no other stakes.

Well, no other stakes apart from the fact that they'd both know he'd won if she did.

They were still in public, so rather than actually lean down to lick a little more powdered sugar off her lips, or pretend to, he just brushed a thumb over her lower lip.

Valkyrie's breath was hot against the bitterly cold digit. The cold was beginning to prick into her skin like needles, going for her breath. Her white teeth were exposed with his teasing, though she kept them to herself--for now.

"The help keeping clean is appreciated but unneeded, Your Highness."

“Then it’s a good thing I’m occasionally willing to do things because they’re appreciated rather than waiting for necessity.” He brushed her lower lip with his thumb again, just for pleasure. “I could be freezing your feet to the ground instead. My brother would tell you, it’s unpleasant.”

"Then I would obtain retribution and ruin everyone's good time." Valkyrie replied with a steely sweetness. "Much more of this and I'll be tossing you in a hot bath. Quid quo pro."

“That could be interesting.” It was true, he didn’t have much tolerance for heat in Jotun form. Warm air didn’t stay warm near him, but hot water, how would that really go? Would he be able to freeze it fast enough? “Where would you find one? How would you get me there?” At knifepoint, maybe. Not that that would solve the problem.”

"I'm headed there later." Valkyrie brought her hands up to bring them closer to his center of mass, adjusting his collar. The cold was sticking, traveling along her spine, but her poker face was immaculate. She met his red eyes once more, quirking her head to one side.

“And you think, what? That I’ll just follow you?” He might. She had to be cold enough that a hot bath would be an aim for herself, and the possible implied invitation would be enough. But there was no call to be that obvious, when they both understood the stakes.

"You might." Valkyrie reached down to her side, leisurely producing her flask. "Or you could have a drink."

“Or that,” he agreed easily enough. Alcohol didn’t freeze readily, so it would still be drinkable for him, unlike most other liquids. “Should yu prefer not to share yours, I do still have a significant stash.”

"I insist." She replied, thankful she'd topped the tequila off and neglected to touch a drop in the snow thus far. Valkyrie popped the steel top and held it up--striking a match against the zipper of her vest and lit the rim ablaze. "Cheers."

Loki laughed, a genuine laugh rather than his more usual brief chuckle, and even went as far as a few claps. The fire would go out soon enough, but the style was undeniable. “Well done! I’m not putting fire anywhere near my mouth right now. Claim whatever forfeit you like.”

Valkyrie gave a modest shrug, giving the rim a firm whoosh of breath and taking a long swig off it. "I'm claiming a warm bath in your room."

“Easy enough.” And not much of a forfeit, really, as she could claim that nearly anytime she wanted.

Her lips circled the rim as she took a final drink, passing it off to Loki. "That's as close as you're getting for now."

He took a drink, as the fire was out, then passed the flask back. “Of course.”

[GP] SNOW DAY

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val

Re: Loki & Val