sharp_as_knives | Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

After the party was over on Monday, Hannibal went home, did a bit of research, threw a lot of money around, and booked them a portal for the morning. Then he slept.

The next day, he smiled at Jono as they stepped through the portal. It was bright and cold and very, very far from Fandom. "I hope this will do."

[OOC: For the partner! NFB for distance unless the squirrels followed them.]

Current Mood: tired
Current Location: Sweden

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

furnaceface

//Somewhat,// Jono replied, reaching forward to give the balaclava a poke. //Once I'm dressed for the weather, people aren't even going to look twice, are they?//

He glanced up from the winter gear at Hannibal, giving him a scrutinizing look.

//Sneaky one, you are. I'm running out of things to complain about, beyond some mildly cold toes. What'll I do with myself then?//

From:

sharp_as_knives

"Visit the gift shop, I expect," Hannibal answered, smirking. "I imagine they have those chemical warming pads for your boots."

From:

furnaceface

Jono just did what needed to be done in response to that. He wrinkled his nose at Hannibal, and then started to pull on his winter gear.

//I suppose that would... I mean, yes, true, I wouldn't have anything to... that is...// He blinked as he shrugged into his coat. //Huh.//

Effectively, there was nothing to complain about.

Even for Jono.

This was weird.

From:

sharp_as_knives

"Don't worry," Hannibal said, grinning as he swapped to the warmer boots provided. "I'll still have to eat, and there is a bar we can visit." He kissed Jono's temple. "I imagine there will be some drinking among all the mingling."

From:

furnaceface

//Ooh! I can complain about that!//

Thank you, Hannibal. You'd just given Jonothon a reason to go on living now that everything had gotten all perfect all of a sudden.

//And sleeping in the cold... probably won't even be all that bad. It isn't as though I don't have experience, after all. This time it comes complete with a bonus person to curl up next to under the covers.//

From:

sharp_as_knives

Hannibal was giving like that.

"It will probably end up quite warm in the sleeping bag," Hannibal agreed. "Though if you're amenable, I should love to see the walls and ice reflecting your flames for a minute or two." He could paint it later, once he'd committed it to memory.

From:

furnaceface

Jono tilted his head a little, considering that.

//So long as the walls are closed off enough from everything else that people won't come running at the sight of fire flickering from inside the room with all the ice animals in it, I don't see why not,// he decided. //I'd hate to have to explain that one while trying to warm up again.//

From:

sharp_as_knives

"They're thick enough," Hannibal confirmed. "And candlelight isn't uncommon, should anyone wander by the door."

Fully dressed and beginning to warm back up, Hannibal took Jono's hands. "Or we can blame the northern lights."

From:

furnaceface

//Ah, asking for a light show in blue, are we?// There was a wry note to Jono's words, as there often was when discussing his psiflame. But he really didn't seem to mind, nor was he really getting down on himself about it the way he was sometimes prone to. He gave Hannibal's hands a squeeze. //Mood lighting.//

Since the colours of his flames really did seem to reflect his mood from time to time, that comparison was apt enough.

From:

sharp_as_knives

"Any colors you like," Hannibal said. "The borealis isn't only blue and green, you know. But I'm not looking for any sort of show - only yourself in a setting that will reflect beautifully."

From:

furnaceface

//Well... this will definitely reflect,// Jono allowed, nodding. //If I'm of a mind to at some point, then I don't see why not.//

It still bewildered him, sometimes, that Hannibal liked watching his flames so much. He supposed it shouldn't, that there was something calming about fire, especially when you knew it wasn't going to burn you, but the whole idea of it was still fraught. Complicated.

//Thank you,// he murmured, //for this. The quiet. The peace of mind. It's just what I needed after all of that.//

From:

sharp_as_knives

Hannibal smiled. "You're quite welcome. I never mind spending time in luxury or new experiences, particularly with the proper company."

It was less about the calm of fire, and more about the beauty of Jono's life and potential for destruction in one lovely form.

From:

furnaceface

//And I never mind being that company,// Jono murmured, leaning forward to rest his forehead against Hannibal's. //Even if it means waking up to wolves.//

From:

sharp_as_knives

"Wolves, a lynx, and that seems to be an owl," Hannibal noted, grinning. "But I'll protect you from them."

From:

furnaceface

//My hero,// purred the man who was on fire to the man who was going to protect him from the ice creatures. Jono was so lucky to have a big, strong Hannibal to keep those easily meltable inanimate objects at bay. //What would I do without you, anyway?//

From:

sharp_as_knives

"You would be far more bored, and far worse at relaxing," Hannibal answered. "Speaking of which, shall we explore a bit while we still have sunlight?"

From:

furnaceface

//Let's,// Jono replied. //I'm curious to see what's out there, besides ice. Or made out of ice. Or what-have-you.//

Not that finding their way back to the ice hotel would be difficult after dark, but if nothing else, it was liable to get colder, then.

From:

sharp_as_knives

"After you." Hannibal gestured for Jono to lead the way. "Shall we investigate the other buildings and the space between them, or rent skis or snowmobiles and head further out?"

From:

furnaceface

//Probably better to know what's directly around us first,// Jono decided, making his way out of the room as he pulled his balaclava on. Yes, over the wrappings. //Just so we're not slipping around in the dark and lost if we need anything in the dark of night.//

See? Jono could be practical, too!

From:

sharp_as_knives

"True." Hannibal pulled on his own as they headed out. "Though the borealis will keep it from being too dark, I would still rather not be finding my way."

From:

furnaceface

//Come to that, I can keep it from getting too dark,// Jono replied. //But it's never a bad idea to know the layout, just in case.//

In case of what, Jono wasn't completely certain. Not fire, at any rate. But definitely in case of something.

From:

sharp_as_knives

Mostly in case of Hannibal wanting dinner. Or breakfast. "Should we decide to switch to the warmer building, I doubt we want to spend longer than needed in the snow looking for it." Not that it was easy to miss, being just across the barely-a-road. But where precisely the door was might be harder to find in the dark.

From:

furnaceface

//It can't be all that bad in there,// Jono noted. //Not if they're charging people to sleep in it. But if you start to get uncomfortable at any point, let me know, alright?//

Jono did have plenty of experience sleeping in the cold. That much hadn't been hyperbole, after all. He was fairly certain that they'd be fine in the ice room, just so long as they bundled up and cuddled in together.

Such hardship.

From:

sharp_as_knives

"Are you under the impression I would be anything less than vocal about discomfort?" Hannibal asked, amused. "I imagine we'll be fine, but it seemed wise to have a fall-back plan."

Hannibal was always prepared.

From:

furnaceface

//Your fall-back plans are always so much more elaborate than mine,// Jono chuckled. //I probably would've just brought extra blankets.//

Because Jono liked to power through his discomfort in the most straightforward fashion possible. Instead of paying for rental of two rooms instead of one.