Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

[sharp_as_knives]

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.]

Comments

[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."

[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.

[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."

[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.//

[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.

[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.//

[sharp_as_knives]

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

[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?//

[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?"

[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.

[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?"

[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!

[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."

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[sharp_as_knives]

Well, it wasn't the full price of both, only nearly. And Hannibal preferred his luxury. "If what they've already given us isn't enough, I doubt a few more blankets would help much." He nodded toward the side, where they could actually walk up and to the roof of the hotel lobby. It promised a good view.

[furnaceface]

//You'd be surprised what you can accomplish with some shared body heat and a few extra layers,// Jono pointed out, though his attention was already shifting to the walk that Hannibal had indicated. He changed directions, curious, and always a sucker for a good view. //Lord, it's lovely here. I could get used to a place like this. At least until it melts.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"We'll have to find out later," Hannibal said, smiling.

He looked out over the scenery, squinting into the distance. "I imagine it's quite beautiful then, too. And in the summer."

[furnaceface]

//True enough. But then we wouldn't be waking up to ice wolves, would we?//

Very important, those ice wolves.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Not ice wolves, no." Hannibal smirked. "I imagine the other sort depends upon the local wildlife."

[furnaceface]

//You know, I think I rather prefer them made out of ice?//

Waking up to regular, flesh-and-blood wolves seemed as though it had a lot of potential to end very poorly, very fast.

[sharp_as_knives]

"They're definitely easier to sleep near," Hannibal said. He turned in a slow circle, taking in the ice, snow, trees, frozen river, and scattering of buildings but not much else nearby.

"Very peaceful."