Winter's Crest Snow Day [GP]

[st_ockandbarrel]

The Inn was decorated in, if possible, an even more outlandish style than usual. Garlands of evergreens and bright berries competed with gold angels and cheerful small grinning creatures with pointed ears and shoes. A large fir tree had appeared seemingly from nowhere and was now draped with lights and hung with colored glass balls. At the top perched a figure in white robes with wings.

It was, Percy mused, probably for whatever the local holiday was, but it was also close enough to Winter's Crest decorations for him to feel a bit homesick for Whitestone. After all, it was only a year ago that he'd been able to celebrate Winter's Crest in his home city for the first time in years.

Something was still missing - or rather, many things were missing but one thing that he could solve for. Winter's Crest called for snow, and better snow in abundance. To solve for that last problem, he turned to a gnome of exceptional talent. While he didn't know how Sarenrae's power worked, he did have complete faith in her cleric. And thus, together, they concocted a plan: to turn the weather to a more appropriate clime.

The morning of December 20th dawned as it often did in this place - heavy with clouds that would burn off before noon. The clouds were important. They would make the spell casting easier, and Pike knew that she needed all the help she could get. Weather magic was not her forte. Like all clerics with powers as advanced as hers, she knew the right spell but when you had a druid around, there hadn't been much need for her to use it.

Dressed in a warm coat and a big floppy, knit cap, she sat on the ground with her legs crossed. Holding her holy symbol in both hands, she concentrated on the sky. As the Celestial incantation took root, golden rays of light encircled her and rose into the air. With each heartbeat, she could feel Sarenrae's power drawing warmth from the clouds above and into her body.

It took ten minutes to cast the spell and another twenty minutes for it to take effect. The spell would fade if she didn't maintain concentration all day, but it was a small price to pay.

And that's how, before the sun had completely finished rising, it was snowing on the Madonna Inn.

Comments

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

Now that laugh always felt like a balm on his soul, and Jackson's smirk became a little less smirky for it. Still, he had to offer, because he wanted to, "We could put it to the test, and it would serve to warm you up some?"

He was still hoping to get away scotch free, or really, snow-free. He would take cold hands on his skin over snowballs in his face any day.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

When Corbie saw him soften like that, she knew she had at least a tiny bit of leverage. Probably not enough to get her way, but she did have to try. Her already wide blue eyes went very big. "Play with me?"

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

"You know I'm always up for that," he told her, after taking one last drag on his cigarette. He smirked at her all over again. "Preferably in your room. Testin' your soundproofin'."

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

"You know what I meant," she said, her pout so exaggerated that it could only be in play.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

Jackson dropped his cigarette butt in the snow, then gently thumbed her pouting bottom lip. "And you know I ain't one for snowball fights."

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

At first, Corbie parted her lips and took the tip of that thumb between her teeth. She liked his hands; he had beautiful hands. But she wasn't giving in that easily. And just like that she switched back from tease to excited girl.

"No I don't know that," she answered cheerfully. She slipped out from under his arm to hug him around the waist, grinning up into his face. "Pleeeease?" She wasn't arguing in earnest, nor did she actually think she'd win. In fact she was probably deliberately sabotaging her own efforts with the way she was pressing her body up against his. She just enjoyed being cheeky.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

The promise of that mouth on his thumb hardly did the thought of playing in the snow any favors by Jackson's mind, let alone the feeling of her against him. "You ain't doin' a great job makin' me wanna do anything that don't involve a hell of a lot less clothing, darlin'," he pointed out, amused, hands on her back. "Besides, you need to get some warmth back into you now and again, you wanna avoid catchin' your death out here." He managed to keep a straight face as he added, "Doctor's orders."

Well, he managed to keep a straight face for exactly as long as he wanted, and then broke into a warm smile. "How about it?"

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

Corbie had been about to toss in 'I'll blow you' as incentive, but honestly that smile won him the non-argument. "Well... if it's doctor's orders that I gotta warm myself up, I dunno how I can say no," she said, trying to keep a straight face of her own, but it was so ridiculous that the giggle started before the sentence was all the way out.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

"Smart thing to do," Jackson confirmed with a chuckle, and gave her lips a quick kiss (well, she was right there, looking up at him with a smile and sparkling eyes, how was he supposed to resist?) before drawing her in the direction of her building.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

He should have known her better than that.

At first, Corbie was entirely compliant. She kissed him back, she followed when led. But yes, while she wanted him, the truth of the matter was that there was a lot of time for sex and not a lot of time for snow. If it took the tiny woman Pike working so hard to make it happen, this wasn't going to happen again any time soon.

So after a bit when she was sure she'd made the impression that she'd be good, she darted ahead, scooped up some snow and very quickly had it rolled and thrown.

Her face was all sweetness.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

"Don't tell me you're that eager," Jackson called out when she darted ahead. He half suspected what was coming, but was hoping he was wrong. It was that hope that led to him eating a faceful of snow when he was too slow to bring his hand up to protect himself.

He shook his head to clear most of the snow off, then wiped his hand over his face to do away with the rest of it. "That's it," he warned her, opening his jacket to unbuckle his holster and set it aside. (Never bring a gun to a snow fight was a basic principle., even in his day). Then he adjusted his hat and rushed her.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

Corbie of course hadn't been idle in the time it had taken him to get his gun off, and there was more snow at the ready. All the same, she shrieked when he came at her and started throwing, taking advantage of her smaller size to scramble to one side and out of the way.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

This time, Jackson put his hands up in time to stop most of the snow from reaching him, and he laughed as she scampered, then took cover behind a tree, gathering snow to pack a tight ball. "Did I ever tell you I have an older brother?" he called out to her, his back to the tree, listening out for her answer, or any sign of her approach.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

"Nooooo..." she called in answer, preparing more ammunition. "I'm an only child, myself. Why?"

She knew that question was a kind of trap, but she went in for the attack anyway. Stealth was not a possibility with how deep the snow was compared to the length of her legs, so she didn't try.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

The crunch of the snow under her feet gave away her movements after her answer had given him her location, and he moved out of the tree to throw the snowball at her without needing a second to aim. And then he was ducking as he went for cover again, behind another tree. "I've had some practice at this!" he called back, good humor threaded in his voice.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

The ball caught Corbie square in the chest and she squealed again, but she didn't drop her own snow, throwing it hard as she could at his back. "Thought you didn't wanna play!"

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

The snow hit him before he found cover again, but he didn't bother wiping it off, since it was just his jacket. "You didn't give me much choice!" he pointed out, packing a couple of balls as quickly as possible.

What he wouldn't give for some gloves right then.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

"Still had a choice," Corbie singsonged after him. "Could've walked away, but you didn't."

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

"I really strike you as the type to walk away from a fight?" he asked, something close to laughter in his voice from the singsong in hers. His fingers were going to be going numb before he knew it, but he was counting on her to warm them up after this, he told himself, waiting for her answer to make sure he had her location right, before he stepped out from behind that tree to fire.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

"Mm... nah," Corbie agreed, grinning as she squatted down for more snow. "You're too much of a stimulation junkie. Ain't nothing you need like something new to do." All this with the air of 'I didn't know you'd give in, but I thought you would.'

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

"To be fair, I like that thing with your tongue better'n this things with the snow." He'd moved as he talked, and when the snowballs came, it was from the side, hoping to get her in the neck. Nothing quite like freezing snow sliding into your clothes to make you wanna hurry back inside.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

It wasn't quite her neck that he hit, closer to her ear. This time when she shrieked it wasn't laughter, and she covered the side of her head, the heel of her hand shielding her eye.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

The second snowball fell on the ground as Jackson rushed forward. "Shit, darlin', are you okay?" He crouched beside her, reaching to cradle her head. "I'm sorry, let me have a look."

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

"I think so?" In truth, Corbie didn't think she was actually hurt at all after she had a second to process, only surprised by the sudden shock of cold, still, she lowered her hand so he could look at her... and her other hand quietly held onto her last snowball.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

"There," Jackson encouraged her warmly as she moved her hand away. His thumb gently smoothed her eyebrow as he took a look at her eye, and something in his lungs unlocked. "No, you're good. Nothing there, just a damn friiii-ight."