[GP] SNOW DAY

[st_ratagem]

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.

Comments

Re: Jag and Snow

[st_artandstoke]

Jag nodded; he wasn't that surprised that running away was something they had in common. "So did I, once. It... sucked, but it was the best thing I could've done." There was a bit of a question in his eyes, because he wondered if she felt the same way about it.

Re: Jag and Snow

[st_arkcrowblack]

It was hearing that question for a second time that made Snow look up and really look at him. For a long moment she didn't say anything, largely because she wasn't really much in the habit of reassuring people. She ignored many folk in this place, would bite more than a few without blinking, and she'd never done either with him. Still, he looked like he was trying to figure out how not to step wrong.

"We're okay. You and me. If you didn't know."

Re: Jag and Snow

[st_artandstoke]

Jag frowned in confusion, not sure what she meant by okay, or where this was coming from. "Er. Okay?"

Re: Jag and Snow

[st_arkcrowblack]

Snow faltered, casting her eyes down. "You keep... flinching? Am I that scary?"

Re: Jag and Snow

[st_artandstoke]

Jag's frown did not clear. Did he? Flinching? Fuck, that must look terrible to her. He reached out to her, slowly, a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not frightened of you."

Re: Jag and Snow

[st_arkcrowblack]

Which usually was the last thing she wanted to hear from anybody. And right now it should have been exactly what she wanted to hear. Instead, Snow felt a strange, knotted sensation in her stomach.

Something wasn't right, but she didn't know what it was, so she nodded anyway.

Re: Jag and Snow

[st_artandstoke]

Ah, shite, Jag hated it when people went quiet on him. He was terrible when people talked to him, but take that away and he was even worse.

He pulled his hand back, slowly, uncertainly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to - I didn't even know I flinched. I didn't mean to, honest."

Re: Jag and Snow

[st_arkcrowblack]

"I know," she mumbled. And she did.

Snow didn't believe in not calling things what they were, but she didn't know how to do that when she didn't know what it was.

So she did the animal thing and primed to flee.

"I'm gonna go in, I'm cold," tumbled out, which was not a lie, but it tasted wrong and she didn't like it. She got to her feet and made for the main building.

Re: Jag and Snow

[st_artandstoke]

Jag scrambled to his feet, calling after her instinctively. "Hey, Snow, no..." He really ought to have thought of what to say next, but when did he ever think things through before acting? He'd just said he was sorry, and now she was running away. But it wasn't right that she'd be the one who had to leave. It might seem silly, but... it was her castle. "Please stay. I'll leave you be," he offered, raising his hands peacefully and backing away from the castle.

Re: Jag and Snow

[st_arkcrowblack]

Snow turned and looked at him, considered, but ultimately she shook her head. She'd gotten overwhelmed, and she needed to retreat indoors, where for once, the people weren't. "I'm going in," she repeated, but slower and more clearly. "I'm cold."

Re: Jag and Snow

[st_artandstoke]

"Okay," Jag said, not sure what else to say. It was her decision, really, and at least it felt more like her decision and less like he was making her run, now. Still was his fault, but anything else would make it worse, wouldn't it? So, okay. He pushed his hands back into his pockets, and watched her go.

Re: Jag and Snow

[st_arkcrowblack]

It might not have looked like fleeing anymore, but it was. Snow wanted to say something, anything, to tell him it wasn't his fault, but she couldn't find the words. She couldn't find any words.

So she went in and got herself some coffee.