[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: Ned & Curnen

[st_oneswidow]

Curnen laughed. "You callin' me old there, baby?" She didn't look even slightly offended. She was old. Compared to any human, anyway.

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_guyinthechair]

"Uh." Ned looked like a deer in headlights - sort of like how he looked when Aunt May had teasingly asked if he had called her fat. "No? I mean.. my mom's not old. She says she is, but I tell her she's not. And, you know, you look younger than my mom?"

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_oneswidow]

Curnen tapped a finger on the end of his nose. "You're fine. If I was mad at you, you'd know."

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_guyinthechair]

Ned definitely did not want to know what that meant. It was definitely intimidating.

"You sing at the bar sometimes, right?" When she wasn't crouching and looking feral, not that Ned thought much beyond that. "It's nice." He paused. "Actually, the guy that sings sometimes is nice too. There's a lot of talented people here."

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_oneswidow]

Grinning around her funnel cake, Curnen nodded. When her mouth was empty, she answered, "I do. Something to pass the time, and it's fun besides. Coby and I duet sometimes, too."

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_guyinthechair]

"That'a pretty cool. I can't sing at all, but my uncle can. He's also really good with a ukulele." He smiled fondly.

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_oneswidow]

It was a tragedy, how few people here were musical, but Curnen took connections where she could find them. "Never played one of those, but I did start out on a tiple. Ain't too different."

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_guyinthechair]

"Maybe if one shows up here, we could both learn... then I could go home and impress my family." He seemed excited at the thought of that.

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_oneswidow]

Knowing it wasn't impossible, Curnen only nodded. "We get let out from time to time. I got a bunch of woodwinds last time that happened. Ain't good at any of 'em, but I mostly play guitar. Some fiddle."

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_guyinthechair]

Ned had gone through a short-lived phase where he tried to learn to play guitar because he thought girls would like him more. Turns out - nope.

"That's still way more than anyone I know! Peter can play the horn. He used to be in band. He was pretty good, actually."

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_oneswidow]

"I heard," Curnen said with a nod. It crossed her mind that they really should find a way to get that boy a new instrument. Music would only do him some good.

"Most everybody plays or sings where I'm from. Course, when you're living in a little bitty town in the mountains with not much to do... we make our own entertainment."

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_guyinthechair]

"Does that mean you guys play the spoons?" Ned's experience of small towns came mostly fr the and movies and a few of them had farm people playing the spoons.

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_oneswidow]

Curnen laughed. "Lots of people do, yeah. Instruments ain't cheap. I can teach you sometime, if you like."

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_guyinthechair]

"Sure!" Ned could maybe pull that out in the middle of the cafeteria if he ever got good at it. Maybe Betty would even like it. "That'd be great. Thanks."

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_oneswidow]

"All right," Curnen agreed. "Find me one of these days at breakfast or dinner time, I'd be glad to." She popped the last bite of her funnel cake into her mouth.

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_guyinthechair]

His grin widened and he nodded excitedly. "Okay, I will." And he would, too.

"I should get back to Peter. I promised once his cookies were finished baking I'd help him decorate."

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_oneswidow]

Curnen nodded. "Sounds fine, sounds fine. Good to talk to you." She held up her empty plate. "Can I give you this back to take in?"

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_guyinthechair]

Ned took it almost immediately. "I'll let Emma know you really liked it too." Because it was important to tell those who cooked how great their food was.

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_oneswidow]

He was a dizzy kid, but he was a good kid. Curnen smiled. "Thank you kindly. I'll see you later."

Re: Ned & Curnen

[st_guyinthechair]

He nodded and held his hand up for a small wave. "See you later." Then he headed off.