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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He's seen Christmases for a few years now. Given his free time while Mijoo's at work, he's had a chance to do some in-depth research (and to his surprise, it's not just about exchanging pretty boxes! No, there's actually supposed to be something nice inside!). Well, that's not going to deter him from getting Mijoo the prettiest box!

The only problem is, Felix has never wrapped a present before. Somehow he manages to keep his efforts secret. But there's a few days when he's really glum over his abysmal attempts to make her box pretty. The shiny paper crumbles and tears, the bow is uneven and off-center. It's terrible! So terrible he's pouty for days. Days! Until he learns that there are places that will make the box pretty for you!

So when the time comes, the cat proudly gets the box out of its hiding place and holds it out to her.

(( inviting moonshik to spend christmas together was an accident. it isn't that he didn't want to spend time with the other boy — god knows they've been spending more time together than he thought they would after the disastrous misfired text. seung certainly didn't expect it would rekindle... so much.

so much that they stubbornly didn't discuss because he couldn't hurt moonshik again if it was just about sex. sex while trying to salvage something — friendship, maybe? — out of their former catastrophic relationship. at least things weren't awkward when moonshik's writhing on egyptian cotton sheets and clinging to seung like his very life depends on it. how can things get awkward if they don't have time to think on them and their mouths are employed in far more pleasurable pursuits than talking?

well, at least seung wasn't expecting this to be like some cheesy hallmark movie. there's no delusion that moonshik's going to suddenly realize he's still in love with seung after everything that's happened... it would be nice though... they could've picked out a tree and decorated it together. instead they had microwave dinners and decided to curl up on the couch to watch movies.

seung's trying so hard to prove he can be a normal, decent person around moonshik; that every time they meet doesn't have to end up with them screwing again (not that he's complaining! sex with moonshik is on another level — probably because of all of seung's unspoken feelings welling up again). but it's important to him that moonshik know he's more than that to seung.

ah, but moonshik's so close, seung can smell all the paints and whatever other weird chemicals he uses for his art on him. he can never quite shake that scent, not for long anyway. and the natural musk of him buried beneath it. that's what's driving seung mad. well, that and moonshik's head in his lap. nevermind that seung invited it and absently combed and twirled his fingers through that split-dyed hair. ))

Oh, um, I wasn't sure if it's okay, but I got you a present.

( this is ... turning into a lot more than moonshik expected after that day at the coffee shop. not that he's really able to define what this is. not that he really wants to.

it was supposed to just be two people meeting up in the tiny pockets of time between classes and exams and jobs to work off the stress of their lives, to lose themselves in a little bit of pleasure. they both deserve it, really, a paint-stained left hand no substitute for a warm body pressing him down, or a hand fisted in his hair while he parts his lips a little wider to take more, or —

moonshik's getting distracted.

with the semester over and winter break settling in, moonshik can't help but let himself spend more time with seung. sure, he still has his part-time coffee-slinging gig, and sure, he should probably use this newfound free time to work on his senior project, but it's really kind of nice to ignore those responsibilities for a little bit because he's tired, frankly, and time spent away from the confines of his dorm room to cuddle up with seung on a couch that probably costs as much as a year's tuition is ... needed.

it's oddly domestic, laying here, head in his lap while a movie plays, seung's fingers carding soothingly through his hair. it reminds him of what things used to be like, before — everything. it's that little nagging reminder of his past hurt that had prompted moonshik to backspace an entire message inviting him to his dad's apartment this morning for a little christmas morning breakfast. this is a nicer substitute anyway, he figures. he thinks seung's bathroom is the size of both of the bedrooms in his childhood home combined. he's waiting for the moment that the other boy's hand slips beneath the buttons of his plaid shirt he'd left more unbuttoned than he would on a normal day, waiting for them to slip back into their usual physical routine.

when seung speaks, though, he's surprised. moonshik tips his chin up to look at him, frowning a little — which is probably not the nicest response to someone telling you they got you a present, but: ) I didn't get you anything, Seungie.

(( ah, he could melt! doesn't moonshik know just being here with him is better than any gift? but if he says that, won't it sound too heavy? like it's too much? as much as he'd love for things to change, he knows that this needs to move at moonshik's pace and not a beat faster. so he simply flashes a soft, warm smile — that kind that makes his eyes narrow and crinkle a the corners. ))

It's okay. We didn't really talk about an exchange.

(( he stretches across the couch to an envelope that's been minding its business on the side table. seung tries his best not to dislodge moonshik from where he lays in the process — it's so comfortable having him close again. some of the warmth seeps out of his expression, replaced by nervous anticipation. for someone like him, a gift like this is... well, it's not nothing, but it's also not some huge burden either. and, well, he thought jewelry might give the wrong impression.

holding the envelope for moonshik, he waits, practically vibrating at a frequency that could shatter class, until moonshik opens it. inside is... a deed and a single photo of the studio space seung bought for him. ))

She's been quite occupied between her many gigs and having Felix stay with her. It's ... a little strange, having someone who is essentially a pet and a roommate, but he's very sweet and affectionate and she has no complaints when she's exhausted from work and she has an automatic cuddle buddy on hand.

After staying up too late last night while scheduling her private uploads for the week, she had spent the day first making afternoon deliveries and then working at the club until late at night. With her street clothes back on, her long black hair pulled into a ponytail, she trudges back into her apartment, dropping her bag on the floor and hanging her keys on a hook by the door.

Blinking, Mijoo turns to see Felix beaming at her and she can't help but smile at him. "And what's this?"

It isn't unusual for Dal to find himself locked out of the building he lives in. The family that owns it (and the restaurant on the main floor) often pack up and leave without warning Dal ahead of time. They pull the door grate shut and that's that. Dal has no other way to get in except through the restaurant. As if they'd give him a key to the building! Usually, finding himself barred from home would send him to the shelter a few blocks down the road, but this time of year when it's cold and snowing? It'll be packed.

That's what prompted him to text Lark. If he could just crash on his friend's couch for a couple nights... He promised he'd be quiet and helpful and Lark wouldn't even know he was there! He didn't expect to get invited to spend the holidays with Lark's family.

It's awkward, for sure. Being in a stranger's home, being unsure how much he can cling to Lark's hand in front of them... Thankfully, he actually had his duffel bag with him when he was out last, so Dal could at least make himself pretty. It's probably obvious he's poor with is worn and ill-fitting clothes, but at least he's somewhere they can keep him warm. There's also the issue of his bad English. All this makes him quieter and more thoughtful than usual.

"Are you sure they'll be okay with me visiting, too?" he asked quietly in Korean as they approached. Though, Dal does find himself wondering if this is where Lark grew up. IT seems really nice.

His heart absolutely broke into a million pieces when he got Dal's text message in the middle of packing up to visit family. He'd invited him without checking with his parents first, but they had quickly agreed without question when Lark explained the situation to them. His mom instantly promised extra food to bring home as well, meant for them to share after the festivities.

After swinging by and calling a cab for them both, he opens the taxi door to a relatively normal cottage-style house with a subdued design ( especially compared to lark's love of cute ornamentation and florals ). There are a few cars parked on the street and in the driveway, indicating that a handful of relatives have already arrived to help set up for Christmas.

"Of course," Lark reassures him in their shared tongue, running his free hand through his cotton candy pink hair. "Eomma's happy you have me speaking Korean regularly too!"

He unlocks the door and instantly takes his shoes off as he calls into the home to announce their arrival. In a flurry of food smells and hugs, his mother and two of his aunts come by to take their bags and any coats and to toss them house slippers. I

Oh! It's so warm and it the scent of food makes Dal's stomach clench. He barely has a second to savor it when the ladies ambush them. It takes him a moment to pull his boots off and set them aside since they lace up. He slides into the slippers and shrugs his duffel bag off his shoulder to shed his coat and hand it off. Already, Lark's family give an impression of warmth and general happiness. It's so nice (even if Dal feels a little out of place).

Unsure of how Western this family is, Dal makes a few bows and some quiet 'annyeonghaseyo's. It's more comfortable than shaking hands with people, he thinks. Or maybe he just feels a way about being touched unnecessarily. When they manage to shuffle away from the door, more family awaits. More introductions, more of Dal flexing his fingers under the over-long sleeve of his shirt as they resist the urge to grab Lark's hand.

Though he's quieter than usual, he does make a point to tell Lark's mother that she has a pretty house and how wonderful everything smells. Other than that, Dal really doesn't initiate any conversation with anyone else. But they all seem so happy to see Lark, it makes him smile. After those first hectic 10-15 minutes of activity, Dal finds a chance to grab Lark's sleeve.

"If I can help with anything..."

"Let's get a second to decompress," Lark chuckles, reaching over to pat Dal's arm. He knows being thrust into family gatherings can be a lot for anyone. "We can bring our bags to my bedroom upstairs," he offers, peeking behind a couch to grab his satchel bag and Dal's duffel. "You can freshen up if you want. Or even take a shower!"

Lark has some awareness regarding Dal's situation and he tries to be respectful about it, not wanting to come across as if he is treating a friend like a charity case. He genuinely enjoys spending time with him and offers his help only when he can. Sometimes, he'll come home from a good quest and even treat them both to dinner.

Once the door to the bedroom is open, they can see how his mother has set up a guest cot next to Lark's twin bed, already made up with two pillows and a fluffy comforter. The room is otherwise preserved as teenage Lark had left it, with various posters and shelves stuffed to the brim with books.

Dal's not particularly ashamed of his lot in life. He's also not particularly proud of it. But, it's his life and that's really all he ever wanted. Even if it's a struggle. Even if it often leaves him cold and hungry. The choices are his and his alone. That's something he can be proud of. Even if it looks completely different to others.

The fact that Lark's never treated him like he needs to be saved is something that Dal enjoys about their friendship. He's met a few people in the past who felt like they had to lift him up and play savior. Needless to say, those friendships didn't last long since they were predicated on the other person's need to rescue Dal. Lark's friendship and affection never felt like that. It never felt like Lark was waiting for some payout.

Ah, but Dal's so relieved when they slip away. He takes his bag from Lark and follows the other boy to his room. He's not sure what he expected (a sleeping bag on the floor maybe?), but what's actually there earns a delighted little gasp. A cot! A big, cozy blanket! And a veritable time capsule of a teenage Lark!

So cute!

Dal moves toward the cot and sets his bag beside it, pushing it so it's as inconspicuous as possible, then turns in a slow circle as he drinks in the room. It's so full of Lark's personality. Very unlike the room Dal grew up in. That room was plain, devoid of anything personal at all for fear of his parents scorn.

Mention of a shower pulls Dal's attention and he turns back around to face Lark, something hopeful written on his face. "I'd like a shower," he answered. He texted Lark after work and since the other boy was already packing for this visit, there wasn't time for any of that before leaving. A nap will do him wonders, too. But that's probably not going to happen. At least he can, hopefully, go to sleep early.

"I'll be quick," he added.

Nearly everything Dal owns is in his duffel bag and he's mastered the art of being fast in the bathroom. Shower, hair, makeup, thirty minutes tops. But really, he just didn't want Lark's relations to realize he wreaks of sweat... most of it not his.

It's adorable, watching Dal take in his room, though a part of him wants to shrink away in embarrassment because he so rarely brings friends back home with him. Mostly, he's just happy to provide a warm and safe environment for him where there are people who are very comfortable speaking Korean and are more than willing to help out one of Lark's friends in need, especially during the holidays.

He notes how small Dal seems to make himself, how inconspicuous he tries to be, and Lark cannot help but reach out to touch his arm reassuringly.

"You can take all the time you want," he urges. "No one needs this bathroom right now. If you wanted to borrow something of mine, I think I have a holiday sweater to wear to dinner." He wrinkles his nose, chuckling.

"Or I can throw clothes in the wash for you. Whatever you want! We have two hours until dinnertime."

Borrowing something is probably a good idea. Dal's only 'nice' clothes are buried in the duffel and probably wrinkled from it. But he does own a pair of khaki pants and a white button-up. Sometimes, he needs to look presentable. Maybe a sweater over that would be okay.

"You don't mind?" Even as he asks, he hefts his bag onto the cot to start digging through it for clean clothes, the small bag with his toiletries, and another still with all his makeup. "I think my shirt might be wrinkled..."

( moonshik has half a mind to argue about it, honestly, because — he feels bad now, unable to return the favor. and even if they had discussed exchanging gifts, well — what could a mostly broke college student get a boy who has everything, or if he doesn't, can get it in the blink of an eye?

it's christmas, though — he doesn't remotely have the heart to fight about it.

if seung looks nervous, then it's mirrored on moonshik's face, too, biting his lip as he takes the envelope and holds it up like he's trying to guess what's inside before he even opens it. a gift card, maybe? nah — it's too skinny. finally, he sneaks a painted fingernail into the corner of the envelope and pries it open, pulling out the contents.

first, there's a picture. it's nice, a cute little print of what looks like a studio overlooking the city, and moonshik's already smiling a little as he thinks about tucking it into the inside of his clear phone case adorned with stickers and paint. it's sweet, really, shockingly subtle for someone like seung —

until he unfolds the paper behind the photo, scrambling to sit up as he reads over the deed. the deed that has his name on it. his eyes are wide behind his glasses, gaping a little as he turns to face him. ) Seung-ah, don't tell me that you ...

( he can't finish that thought. it's too much to even say. )

(( he knew moonshik would be shocked. but knowing it and seeing it were two vastly different things. it's too much, isn't it? especially considering the weird sort of relationship they have now. barely more than fuck buddies at present and what kind of person buys their fuck buddy an apartment in new york city to use as a studio space?

oh god, this is such and over-reach!

seung forced an obviously nerve-wracked smile to his face and, in a very small voice declared: ))

Merry Christmas...?

"Box!" As if she can't ascertain that on her own. "There's a kigurumi inside for you," he adds in complete afterthought. Of course it would be the box that's important to a cat.

"I noticed you like this color, so I wanted to get it for you!"

Bae had been with Yohan for a time now. Enough for him to have adjusted to life with him but not enough for all the spoiling to not surprise him. Right when he thought he'd done everything, Bae found himself in a trip to the mountains. To the snow.

It was beautiful. He couldn't stop looking out the window at the soft flakes as they fell. Only the feel of strong arms around him pulled him away from the view.

He gasped softly and looked back at him.

"We really get to stay here for a few days?" Even the room they were in was so beautiful. Warm, inviting. A fireplace and a kitchen with everything to make hot drinks. It was amazing.

"A whole week," Yohan corrected as he pressed in close and rested his chin on Bae's shoulder to join him in admiring the view. A secluded place in the mountains, just the two of them. No bustling city, no entourage. Business was likely to crop up, but it's nothing he couldn't manage from his phone. There was a hierarchy for a reason, after all. If the people he left in charge couldn't handle day-to-day affairs without him holding their hands... Well, they'll end up demoted. Or worse.

"Just you and me, Bae," he purred, letting that softness he usually kept under wraps surface. It's seldom seen by anyone but Bae — with good reason. A man in his position cannot be perceived as having weakness. Anyone could call Bae his weakness, but it would take a truly foolish person to strike there. That and, well, Yohan kept his lover well protected.

"There's a surprise," he added, the smile audible in his voice. "Look." He reached out and pressed a finger against the snow-chilled pane of glass. On the patio was a patch of ground that seemed untouched by the snow. The hot tub was closed to keep it, well, hot, but the snow around it melted.

Laurent is and always has been disinterested in human holidays. For the most part. It's been, perhaps in the last century or so that that began to change — since the advent of those stringed electric lights. The decoration caught his gumiho's attention year after year, to the point that Laurent began to pay attention, too; if only to find the loveliest display to show Elyas (as if Elyas didn't usually find them first by nature of him being up and active well before the vampire).

It isn't the holiday season that brings Laurent joy. No, it's the happiness it brings his beloved that makes him feel more fondly toward this time of year.

"Show me your favorites," Laurent said this evening. It isn't yet so bitterly cold that they can't enjoy a night stroll to take in the light. And, well, based on what the fox has said, there's one house in particular that he likes to visit. Laurent is eager to see why.

A whole week. Just them. It made him smile and he leaned back into Yohan. For a moment anyway. Then he leaned forward to look at what was being pointed out to him. "Oh!"

A soft gasp and he looked back at him. "That's on our property too? We can go in the water in the cold?"

That sounded...really wonderful actually!

Much like his beloved, human holidays never really piqued Elyas' interest. He'd often been rather interested in the smells wafting from the grand meals they prepared, but he never really cared for the occasion. That is until they started to put up twinkling lights and pretty decorations. Each and every one of them demanded the fox's attention and he happily gave in. Lights that flash and ones that cascade, twinkling and glittering, all sorts of wonderful colours. Though they'll never be flowers in the sunlight, the humans' bright Christmas displays feel as close as he can get to showing his vampire the vibrant daytime world.

(Elyas does get to see the displays first, but during the day they're dull and uninteresting. Not at all beautiful and alive like they are at night)

While the full winter coat of his natural form offers some resistance to the cold even when he appears human, it's his near boundless energy that keeps him warm tonight as he pulls Laurent from house to house, showing off all of their lights as though he'd put them up himself. Whether it's a single string of lights along the edge of a rooftop or a full display of thousands of lights and a yard full of decorations, Elyas proudly shows them to Laurent. Each is lovely in their own way and all deserve his adoration.

"Oh! I'll take you to my most favourite now!" Elyas was never a believer in saving the best for last. He gets far too excited for that. So he takes his vampire's hand and gently tugs him further up the street, though he does stop to give each decorated house along the way its share of his attention. Then, in front of one house in particular, the gumiho stops dead in his tracks and bounces excitedly on the balls of his feet while squeezing his beloved's hand.

"Isn't it the most beautiful Christmas display you've ever seen?"

Compared to some of the other houses, it isn't. It's decorated quite nicely, but there is a place not more than two houses away that has a truly wondrous Christmas display. By comparison, this one is perfectly average. Lights along the trim and lining the front step and their side deck, light-up snowmen and Santa Claus and some reindeer. It has strings of lights haphazardly throw up and around some trees. What Elyas doesn't point out, though, and instead waits for Laurent to notice is the one thing that drew him to this house in particular: a cute Christmasy fox decoration sitting on the side deck, all brightly lit up like it wanted to be sure it would be seen by the clearly enamoured gumiho.

Insu's position as both the face and leader of the rebellion make it necessary for him to be off-world a majority of the time. Thankfully, there are people among the leadership who've managed to keep their involvement secret. For the obvious reasons, Isnu's family were moved off-world early on in their endeavors to change the world. Even without being directly involved with the rebellion, they would be targets and no one wanted that for them. Because of that, Esen knows that Insu hasn't seen his parents in a few years.

Christmas certainly isn't a thing where they come from (celebrating joy and love? let alone any religious holidays?? no way!). But most of them have traveled enough to learn about these various winter holidays that seem to be about togetherness and good will toward one's fellows. Esen's the least well-traveled of all of them. His duties keep him mostly tied to Geden. Someone has to get supplies to their various contingents off-world and on.

But this is an errand Esen has to see to personally. It's with some urgency that he gets a message to Isnu (which, honestly, sometimes takes weeks to happen since even he isn't privy to Insu's whereabouts). "Meet me at," and a set of coordinates on some distant world, a date, and time (plus a warning about very cold and icy weather). It's snowing heavily when they arrive, Esen bundled up against the wind. His hood is pulled up and hands tucked deep in his pockets, but his scarf is down so Insu can see it really is his friend waiting there in the snow.

"Hey, I wasn't sure you'd make it," he quips when he sees his friend approach.

It was meant to be a surprise, so Yohan didn't tell him to pack swimwear. Not like they needed it when it was just the two of them. However, Yohan was sure to pack an extra fluffy robe for Bae to wrap up in on the way to and from the hot tub.

A subtle smile played across his lips and Yohan took a step back, holding out a hand to beckon Bae to follow. "The water will keep us warm. C'mon, let's get changed."

He took the hand and smiled at him. It would be cold going there but he didn't mind. Yohan would keep him safe and warm. He always did.

"I didn't bring my swimsuit..."

Yohan gave him such a look, eyes darting over Bae from head to toe then back again.

"Is there something you need to hide from me?" As if he hasn't seen and memorized every inch of Bae's body already. It's a tease despite the serious look on his face. It's barely a beat before his expression softens again and he tugs Bae back to the bedroom where their suitcases are.

"I brought something for you to wear so you won't be too cold."

All this time later and the man could still make him blush. Bae smiled and followed after him to the bedroom. Then he gave a soft laugh.

"You didn't tell me because this was a surprise." Oh he loved this man.

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❝ Winter Wonderland ❞

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