unknownballad | ❝ Winter Wonderland ❞

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❝ Winter Wonderland ❞

{ i wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? }

That's it, that's the post. It's here for all your cozy, hygge, wintry RP dreams. Here are some ideas:

snow: first snow of the season/ever, making snowpeople, forts, or snow angels, snowball fights, snowed in
warm: hot drinks, warm blankets, crackling fires, busting out the winter coats and socks, baking in a cozy kitchen
holidays: decorating, picking out a tree, preparing the big holiday meal, exchanging gifts
activities: shopping, cooking, sledding, ice skating, cuddling with someone special
new year: par-tay!, toast, countdown, midnight kiss

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(( this is nicky's first holiday season. he didn't have anything to give étienne for christmas — the whole no money thng. and while nicky could steal if he wants to, he doesn't want to risk unwanted attention. they still had a nice christmas. it even snowed, which, nicky never saw before in person.

for new year, he did some research. he doesn't have a lot of time to prepare, but this holiday doesn't require a lot of preparation. much like christmas, they ended up on the couch talking while something neither of them were watching plays on tv. something something times square and some ball. nicky read it was the tradition and he wants to see it. its when the people on tv start chanting the countdown that his focus hones in on the tv. that giant ball drops and nicky's wide-eyed and gasping quietly. but as soon as it does... ))

Étienne?

( holidays are — basically a nonevent for étienne. he's always spent it at the agency, writing a lovely card and sending a small package to his maman back in france a few days in advance so it arrives on time, then returning to his work. even being back in the same country as her now, he doesn't care to explain why he's returned, despite her lack of knowledge as to étienne's true career.

even new year's eve is a little strange with his wildly messed up sleep schedule, missing the clock striking midnight here in paris and only remembering what day it was when his neighbors all started laughing and cheering at the same time. whoops. ah, well.

his solution is kind of funny, he thinks: he puts the extravagant new york city celebration on tv as six a.m. approaches, barely paying attention to the americans' banter and musical performances in favor of chatting with nicky and taking the occasional sip of wine. as the ball starts to descend, he turns his attention towards the tv, wine abandoned, even smiling a little because it's so very silly. and then, nicky calls his name, like he has a question.

étienne turns, gearing up to explain this silly custom to him, head tipped, humming: ) Mm?

(( one thing that nicky read over and over again is about the midnight kiss. oh sure, they missed midnight by a lot, but it's still midnight in new york, which they're watching on tv.

when étienne turns, nicky leans in to close the space between them and press his lips against the man's. it's chaste, for sure, and definitely a little awkward since 1) nicky's never kissed anyone before and 2) he's just sitting there, unmoving. ))

( it's absolutely not what étienne was expecting, eyes widening a little, stock still as nicky's warm lips press against his mouth. it's honestly — not great, actually, and he's suddenly reminded of all of those cheesy k-dramas his maman likes to watch. frozen in place, eyes wide, lips unmoving, some cheesy ballad playing as the camera pans to several different angles of the same shot.

— and while étienne has probably been visually compared to a k-drama ingenue at least once in his life, he has no interest in being as downright passive as one. so, after a moment of pause, étienne cups nicky's cheek and kisses him in return, a slow, soft thing before he pulls back, cheeks tinged pink and laughing a little incredulously. )

What was that for, mon étoile?

( and why, oh why, did étienne kiss him back? )

(( oh! there's more to it than nicky thought. ooops! at least now he knows better for next time. will there be a next time? will there be a next time with étienne? he wonders. but rather than thinking too hard on that, nicky's focus shifts when the man touches his cheek, when those plush lips move against his.

that's... nice.

blinking at the question, nicky cants his head, curious. ))

Is that not part of the tradition?

Well, yes, I suppose it is. ( and étienne's thumb brushes fondly over nicky's cheek for a moment as he just — looks at him for a moment, admiring his sheer, unadulterated earnestness. it's almost enviable, he thinks, to have so much pure curiosity, still untarnished.

he draws his hand back tentatively, holding onto his stemless wine glass with both now and taking a sheepish sip of his rosé. ah, that must be why his face feels so warm all of a sudden. )

Typically, though, it's done between two people who are, ah — romantically involved.

Oh.

(( a simple utterance, acknowledging the new information without any self-consciousness or shame. ))

I didn't know that part.

(( but he smiles, nonetheless, happy for the new information. then, his eyes move over étienne's face. he's able to read the micro expressions as well as he can see anything around him. and well, étienne's cheeks are a little pink, too. ))

Did I make you uncomfortable?

No, ( comes his answer without hesitation, even if his face isn't exactly the definition of cool and collected. it's true, though — nicky didn't make him uncomfortable, which is probably the only reason he feels a little less than comfortable.

softly, he smiles. )

You just surprised me, that's all.

(( no hesitance. that's good. the smile's reassuring, as well. so nicky smiles in turn, pleased that he hasn't made things awkward for étienne. that certainly isn't what his intent was. ))

Was it a good surprise?

( oh, he is so unbearably cute — it makes étienne's chest ache as he slumps a little lower, cheek pressing to the back cushion of the couch as he admires the genuine smile that spreads across nicky's face, wide and bright. )

I think so, yes. ( because it certainly wasn't a bad surprise. it's good, he thinks, for nicky to explore his own curiosities — because surely he wouldn't be allowed to go around kissing the scientists and security guards back at the lab. )

Did you like it?

(( a thoughtful look paints itself over his face as he seriously considers the question. did he like it? he didn't dislike it. he could do better at it, for sure, but that was a first for him and no one is good at anything on the first try. ))

Mm, I did. But I could do better, I think.

That's good.

( it's innocent, étienne tells himself. it's him who's in the wrong, even vaguely letting himself assign some deeper meaning to the thought of nicky improving his kissing abilities.

his smile briefly turns down towards his wine again as he considers, carefully, his next words. )

Well, practice makes perfect, they say. If you wanted to try again, I wouldn't mind.

( but étienne won't let himself make the first move — it has to be nicky's decision. )

(( it is, indeed, innocent. at this point. nicky's still too new to the world of interpersonal relationships to properly navigate it. surely the affection he feels toward étienne is, at least, partly based in him being the first and only person he's had a personal relationship with. scientists in the lab treated him like a thing, not a person. maybe they had to. well, it doesn't matter now because he's not there.

he's here. with étienne. and their cat, star. ))

Do you have any advice before I try again?

( what a question! it makes étienne's brows lift with surprise, which he tries to disguise with one more little sip of his wine. )

Ah — well. You can move your lips against mine — the other person's. ( well, yes, his, at least tonight. this morning, actually.

étienne reaches over to set his glass on the coffee table so he can be free of other distraction, sitting up and folding his hands in his lap as though presenting himself to this boy, ignoring the fact that his heart is beating a little faster in his chest. )

Follow your instincts — you'll know what feels right and good.

(( follow his instincts? does he have those? he must. they're what prompted him to reach out to étienne when he felt the danger of being locked out of their flat. that must be it...

it isn't as if there's no data on kissing programmed into his brain. he was made beautiful for a reason, after all. a quick search of that data gave him a better idea what to do this time.

This time, whee closes the distance between them one more, nicky tilts his head slightly to one side. the wine lingering on étienne's lips is something he notices more this time. perhaps because the man's had a few sips recently. he also notices that étienne's pulse is quicker now, too. nervous? eager? ))

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❝ Winter Wonderland ❞

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