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

[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."

[furnaceface]

//Peaceful,// Jono agreed. //Quiet. Not that 'too quiet' sort of quiet that chews at the mind, either. Just... secluded. There are people, but it isn't a screaming cacophony of them, and the ones that are here aren't... overwhelmed.//

It helped that most of the minds here were either artists, hotel employees, or people on vacation, probably.

[sharp_as_knives]

"A good place to relax." Hannibal stood patiently, enjoying the view and letting Jono take in as much of that quiet as he needed.

[furnaceface]

//Gonna be hard to drag me back to the island if I relax too much,// Jono decided. //Though I suppose that'll get easier once spring rolls around.//

Once their room melted around them.

Of course, it would just get quieter out here in the spring, wouldn't it?

[sharp_as_knives]

"If you're sufficiently relaxed, I'll just have to drape you over my shoulder and walk out," Hannibal teased.

[furnaceface]

Jono blinked his eyes open and cast an amused look Hannibal's way.

//Probably wouldn't even be th'first time that's happened, either. Doubt it'd be th'last.//

[sharp_as_knives]

"I will have to leave to teach my class, though," Hannibal pointed out. "You would be all on your own with the wolves."

[furnaceface]

//And we wouldn't want that, now would we?// Who knew what might happen? Howling at the moon? Hunting deer in packs? Scratching in public? Jono could teach those wolves all kinds of bad habits. //Suppose you'll have to cart me back to the island eventually, after all.//