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_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."

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

Oh, she fucking had him, in more than one way, and she knew it.

And so quietly as Jackson was examining her eye and she let him baby her that little bit, Corbie slipped her hand up and slipped that snow down the back of Jackson's shirt.

She kissed his cheek softly, part in thanks, and part in victory.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

"You are an awful, terrible person," he told her, once he'd stopped making that completely undignified sound at the trickle of cold down his spine. Of course, the warm amusement in his tone completely belied the words, as did the kiss he followed them up with.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

Corbie smiled, angel innocent and sweet. "I know." Her hand slipped up again when he kissed her, but this time she just started lazily playing with his hair as she kissed him back, a long kiss, slow, deep heat.

"We can go warm up now," she murmured against his mouth.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

"I was hopin' you'd say that," he confirmed, right where he was, before kissing her again, that same kind of promise in it. "Gimme a minute," he added, and reluctantly pulled away to go grab his holster. He looped it over his shoulder instead of putting it on properly, then held his hand out to her as he headed back her way. His hand or his arm, if she wanted to walk tucked into his side; he'd hardly complain either way.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

She made a soft sound of frustration when he went to retrieve his gun and got to her feet. Her clothes were all wet or damp now, it really was about time to dry off and warm up anyway.

They were both cold and damp down, so Corbie didn't think twice about tucking herself against his side. "That was completely worth it."

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

"I'll let you know about that," Jackson replied, shooting her a sidelong, amused glance. "In what, forty, fifty minutes?"

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

"You're just sore that I won," Corbie chirped. She lifted his hand from her shoulder just enough so she could kiss his fingers.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

Jackson contemplated answering that she'd cheated, but the truth was, she'd won fair and square. "Not even a little bit," he assured her easily. "But again, I'll let you know how sore I am... in a couple've hours?" After a repeat engagement, if he had his way.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

Corbie laughed and pulled ahead. Only this time she kept hold of his hand and smiled at him over her shoulder. "Well," she made her face very, very serious, even as her eyes were bright with amusement. "Let's start with getting out of these wet things before the both of us catch our death."

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

"Follow it up with makin' sure we don't lose our fingers to the cold," Jackson continued, not trying very hard to keep a straight face as he let himself be led.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

"I'll be real thorough," Corbie promised, keeping hold of his hand until they got to her building and then she raced up the stairs to her room. The kids in the building were playing in the snow, so even if her spells didn't work as well as she hoped, it'd be fine.

Though she barely waited either for Jackson or her door to be safely closed before she started peeling off the layers of her clothing and carelessly tossing them on the floor.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_illfleshandblood]

"I like the enthusiasm," Jackson stated with a half-smile, door clicking shut behind him. The holster got set down safely. Next came the hat, and then his shoes and clothes, although he was in less of a hurry, busy as he was enjoying the sight of her disrobing.

Re: Corbie - OTA

[st_rikingblueeyes]

"Well," the girl admitted with a little smile as she stripped, "I actually am cold." Corbie stepped shamelessly out of the puddle of her clothes. She was a pretty girl, and she knew it. Not a great beauty, no, but she was comfortable with her body in a way many women never got to be, and she knew the effect that could have.

Plus she knew she had him wrapped around her little finger, whether he wanted to admit it or not.