EVENT: SLEIGH BELLS RING

[cuddlemods]

EVENT: SLEIGH BELLS RING.

Can you hear the bells? Throughout the city of Cadelle, the sweet chimes of bells can be heard, cheerful and bright as they sway in the cool breeze. It seems winter has finally come to the city, replacing the dreary drizzling fall rain with crisp, cool weather and — of course — the first of what is sure to be many snowfalls. In keeping with local traditions, citizens have begun hanging up their seasonal decorations, and no traditional home would be complete without a few (or a few dozen) small brass bells, hung just above doorways to merrily chime out with each coming and going. Early in the winter season, the soft blanket of snow spread out across the ground and newly found chill in the air provides a perfect opportunity for festive frolicking. Whether you're an Olympic hopeful or content to just linger on the sidelines, there's something for everyone in the city to enjoy. ▸ By mid-week, the pond in Golden Park begins to freeze. It doesn't take long to solidify into something sturdy enough to hold weight, and as soon as it does, the city is all too happy to request the assistance of the Zamboni in making it smooth as glass. Those that have been practicing their skills over at the Ice Castle might want to show off, but those a little less familiar should have no fear — the public skating sessions are open to everyone, and skating teachers will be on hand an hour before each session to give lessons for anyone who might be interested! Skating is free, and should you get too cold after a spin or two on the ice, there's always the concession stands nearby... maybe pick up a hot chocolate or two and warm up? ▸ If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on solid ground, the gentle flurries that accompany the first few weeks of December prove the perfect atmosphere for a few wintertime classics. Snow forts, snowball fights, and even snow angels can be spotted all along the grassy shores next to Blue Springs Pool and within the tree-lined meadows of the city's many public parks. Feel free to join in to the fun! Who knows, you might even spot the Mayor building a tiny snow replica of City Hall. (Just please don't knock it over, whatever you do. We hear she's quite particular about her replicas.) ▸ While it's certainly beautiful to look at, cold weather isn't for everyone. Some prefer it hot, and for those that do, the city is all too glad to accommodate. Within the friendly and vaguely Nordic halls of the Elsket House, visitors will find a plethora of piping hot offerings to keep the winter chill far, far away. Those looking to rest and recharge may enjoy the saunas and steam rooms — the rock salt sauna claims to reduce stress, while the sun room's heated loungers provide a more relaxing opportunity to enjoy all that heat has to offer... and there's always the traditional wood saunas or steam rooms to consider too. Why not try them all? ▸ Last but certainly not least, those that linger out in the city center may notice the surprising absence of locals in their more common haunts on those days when temperatures dip below freezing. Ask around, and you may discover one of Cadelle's better kept secrets: the cave pools, open each winter season, are a collection of natural hot springs just beyond the city border. Tucked away inside caves within the lower slopes of the western mountains, the pools are local favorites for beating the chill, and are often quite popular throughout the season. While many are family-friendly, there are a few on the far end that are rumored to be adults-only both in attendance and... well, in everything else, too. (It's a bit of a don't ask, don't tell sort of arrangement. We're neither asking nor telling, so be discreet!) Beyond the cuddle-worthy temperatures and picturesque backdrops, there's always something to do in the new month. Whatever you do, we hope you have a happy, merry, holly, jolly time during this time of year! Can you believe it's already December, cuddlers? We can't either — even if it doesn't really feel like winter for some of us, we're delighted to share in the seasons greetings with you and some light-hearted winter fun! (Don't count on it all staying fun... but our lips are sealed!) With all the wintertime activities available, we know there's one on the list that might spark a little extra curiosity. Yeah, that's right, we're talking about those magical hot springs, tucked in the hollows of caves, just waiting for the brave to find them and enjoy all that they have to offer. Should you choose to explore them, you'll have the choice between the standard and more adult-oriented of options. Both pools are imbued with the Energem's magic, and will leave bathers feeling warmed up and in good health. Small injuries, like a pulled muscle or shallow scrape, will heal with just a few minutes' time in the baths. However, the pools at the far ends — the adult-only pools, of course — have a higher concentration of magic, the potent mixture having not yet met with the freshwater near the middle. These pools will not only warm a man and wash away his pain, they'll also leave bathers feeling particularly friendly after a while. Maybe you'd like to get to know someone better? Or more intimately? (We see you. We know what you're about.) If you have any further questions specific to this event, we encourage you to ask away on our QUESTIONS COMMENT here in this post. If you have general questions, or prefer a more private venue, our GENERAL INBOX (and SCREENED INBOX) is always available for you. In addition, if you've got an idea for a future event, feel free to drop us a line at our EVENTS SUGGESTION POST. We hope you have tons of fun out there this month, cuddlers, and we'll see ya around!

Comments

▸ QUESTIONS.

[cuddlemods]

RAISE YOUR HAND.

Any questions? We've (probably) got answers! If there's anything we can answer about this event, whether it's specific to your unique plotting dreams or more of a general gameplay inquiry, please don't hesitate to let us know! We know there's a lot to see and do, and we're here for you to make this event one from your wildest dreams... or not. Let us know, cuddlers! — xoxo The Cuddle City Mods

robbie reyes ▸ ota

[acuerdo]

[one might suppose that a man possessed by the spirit of the devil a vengeance demon would be plenty hot all the time. one might even suppose that the cold weather wouldn't even phase someone whose skull can light on fire. if that were actually the case, robbie might be enjoying this seasonal shift, but the chill in the air and the soft clusters of snowflakes that drift from the heavens are not what this southern california boy has ordered.

he'd much rather be suffering from triple digit summers where the sun bakes the asphalt to the point that everything looks like it's shimmering. instead, he's bundled up tight — gone is the motorcycle jacket, replaced by a heavy wool peacoat with a hooded sweatshirt underneath, along with a soft handknit scarf. he doesn't really know what to do with the white stuff, but he's happy to try and build a snow angel and fort or to partake in the snowball fights.

later on in the week he can be found enjoying elsket house. the heated loungers quickly become his favorite place to unwind after a long (and cold) day at the garage. don't be surprised if the sound of soft snoring can be heard coming from that man shaped lump hiding beneath a fluffy towel.

and if you're lucky enough to visit golden park during this wonderful winter weather, you might just catch robbie doing his best brian boitano impression. or maybe you'll actually just catch him, period. after all, ice skating isn't something he's done before.]

▸ surprise, it's cold af.

[recoined]

( the snow comes as a surprise, blanketing the world in soft white overnight, any hint of dreary fall rain swept away and forgotten in the seasonal shift. while it may be beautiful to look at, the chill seeps into her room as they sleep, window left open to allow the white noise of the nearby streets, and kimberly wakes up in the early morning hours with the sudden and irresistible urge to cling to the warmth under the blankets rather than evacuate for caffeine just yet. warmth being the operative word here — as in heat, as in the man tangled up in her sheets, skin warm to the touch in all seasons thanks to the fire within.

except, surprisingly, in this season. when she curls up closer, it's only to feel cooler, tanned expanses cold as ice pressed up against her own bare skin. getting out of bed seems like a torturous idea, but she can't think of any other way to stop the slow flurry of snowflakes from piling up atop the sill, spilling over onto the bare hardwood floor beneath. )

God damnit, ( hissed out between chattering teeth, too annoyed to bother being quiet. ) What the — this is garbage.

( let her back into bed, and don't bother arguing with her about cold feet. )

I'm freezing, babe, come on.

[acuerdo]

[it's not his idea to crack the windows open and to let the heat out. no, that honor distinctly belongs to kim herself as he's capable of sleeping pretty much anywhere. that's not to say that he hates it though. she usually curls up against the expanse that is his chest as his dreamscapes — this time spent flying through the air — give way to reality.

but this particularly chilly morning, he wakes to chilly toes instead of an expected tangle of limbs. robbie blinks sleepily at her and shifts, exposing his skin to still chilly air.]

Jesus Christ, Kim. Why is is to damn cold?

[he shifts, grabbing hold of the covers to burrow deeper.] And don't you even think about putting your cold hands and feet on me.

golden park } lemme know if this doesn't work

[prosecutorial]

[Laurel may also be from the west coast, but she's from the Northwest, so snow isn't such a hardship. She's been there, done that, and while cold isn't necessarily her favorite time of year, she does enjoy some of the snowy activities - one of them being ice skating.

She's not an Olympic class skater? But she does well enough.

Which is why she's going to attempt to save Robbie from himself when she sees him about to wipe out. Attempt being the operative word as he has half a foot and a good deal of muscle mass on her but she at least manages to get him to the wall so he can steady himself.

Laurel Lance: Always trying to save the world.]

You good?

[acuerdo]

[this is so embarrassing, he thinks as he narrowly misses colliding with a pre-teen girl. of course, in his efforts to steer clear, he looses his footing. robbie's bracing himself for the inevitable impact with ice... that doesn't come as a capable arm reaches out for him and with a good tug or two gets him to the relative safety of the wall.

if he looks vaguely red in the face, he's going to blame it on the chill. his wobbly shuffling suggests otherwise.

robbie reyes: trying to maintain an air of dignity when he's looks like a tipsy giraffe.]

Uh. Yeah. I was just trying not smash into that girl [he says as he points to the young woman who is now doing figure eights in the ice.] she wasn't looking at where she was going.

elsket

[quinientos]

[Vasquez hates the cold. He's hated it since he was a young boy when they had to go north for food or jobs or something else. Even trudging through the weather makes him miserable and cranky, which is why when he gets into the little house, he finds himself the strongest glass of alcohol he can muster, trying to search for a heated chair to lie in where he can enjoy his drink.

Of course, that plan goes south quickly when he sees that his favourite one has been taken and by a familiar face, no less. Poking at Reyes with a few fingers, he waits until he's alert and awake to give him an unimpressed look.]

That's supposed to be my chair to hide away from the cold in, you know.

[myownwoman]

[ if you think snow changes the way gaby dresses, you're fucking wrong because only gabriella teller can rock her short dresses in winter. she's wearing tights, that's her only concession as she skates around the ice with more grace and ease than she had when she'd first arrived.

she's not good enough to really stop someone from falling down, but she's clever enough to gently body check robbie into the boards so he can support himself that way. look! there is the side to hold on to, you're welcome. ]

You don't strike me as a figure skater, liebling.

jo schumacher • ota

[righthandgirl]

snowy weather

The idea of snow is not exactly foreign. She's seen it in the movies a million times; she's seen them make snow on film on the show before. But seeing the real thing? That's new. It doesn't exactly snow on the Moon.

It gets cold once in a while back in Eagan Hills, but not like this. It's cold and when Jo steps out of the warmth of the Gamma building, it isn't without a cup of coffee suspended in the air with a lock of brown hair curled around it to hold it up. She actually almost went without letting her biogenetic extensions do the work for her but decided that she'd be better off in mittens and it's hard, as it turns out, to hold a cup of coffee with thick mittens on.

Seeing her breath in the air when she walks out is a surprise and it shows on her face. Jo takes a deep breath and lets it out in a huff, laughing when she can see the puff in the air when she exhales. Shivering, she walks down the streets, looking at up at the sky at the falling white snow, catching it in her mouth — or, more accurately, just getting hit in the eye occasionally with it but whatever — and marveling at the snow forts and snowmen.

"What the heck...? What is that?" she asks no one in particular, seeing the snow angels. The coffee cup moves to her lips a final time, her hair tipping up the bottom of it so that she can drain it before the hair extension shifts to drop the cup into a nearby garbage can before settling lifelessly against her back again as she rubs her gloved hands together to warm them.

magical hot springs

After getting acquainted with the cold and snow quite well, Jo decides to see if she's heard right when she thought she heard someone mention in passing that there were natural hot springs. She might not be the most put together person when she's trying to talk to someone for the first time in person, but she's willing to try to fake it til she makes it because it would be awfully lonely — and totally lame — to just hang out all by herself in these things.

She intentionally tries to find a pool that doesn't have anyone else in it, though, because maybe she'll loosen up a little if she kind of has a few minutes to let the warmth envelop her and help her relax before she tries to socialize. Online is one thing. When she's on the clock and in business mode, also easy. Trying to do it just for the sake of doing it is when she gets a little awkward at first. Hopefully if someone joins her, they'll be patient and give her a chance to be normal. It only takes a few minutes. ...usually.

Then again, she isn't usually talking to someone for the first time while in a tiny black two-piece bathing suit, either, in her defense. So it might be an extra...bit before she reins the awkwardness in enough to be considered appropriately chill.

wildcard.

(( or hit her up with your own starter! feel free to shout at me on mistojen or discord: mistojen #8486 for plots. ))

((ooc: Even though this is in prose, I'll match brackets if you have a strong preference for them.))

Snowy Weather~

[coyandcryptic]

He's no stranger to strange things, of course, but this has to be a first even for him. A woman walking along, enjoying the winter day with her hair holding her cup of coffee for her? If that's a warlock mark, it's the most intricate one he's ever seen, and Magnus can't help it, he's too curious, he has to say hello.

While he could use a little magic to keep himself warm, Magnus doesn't mind the cold. There's nothing like walking through the streets of Manhattan during the holiday season, wrapped up against the cold. But that doesn't mean he needs to sacrifice color. His coat is wine-dark, with a sparkling black scarf around his ears, and he tugs it away from his face as he cuts right across the middle of the street and arrives just in time to hear her question.

"That delightful pastime is snow angels," he answers, watching in fascination as the hair (the hair, how is this possible?) lets her finish her coffee and tosses the cup aside. "I have to ask. How are you doing that? Magic? And if it is magic, can I get your secret? I'd grow mine out again for that," he adds, running his fingers over the side-shave thoughtfully.

[prosecutorial]

Okay, so one of those snow angels in progress may be Laurel Lance.

Most other snow-themed activities are too frustrating due to her perfectionist nature because she always wants to get the round shapes exactly right, but snow doesn't always cooperate that way, and then she winds up with snowballs too small for her purposes. That being said, snow angels are easy enough, and as long as she has a little help, she can even manage not to get the footprints and handprints left in her wake. So when she hears Jo's voice, she holds up a hand and waves to get her attention.

"Snow angels," she says with a smirk. "A little help?"

derek hale • ota

[duelo]

snowy weather

In spite of the fact that he grew up and lived in California for most of his life, Derek did spend a couple of years in Brooklyn with Laura, after the fire. Even in Beacon Hills it sometimes got very cold, but he did sort of miss the volume of snow that came with New York, so when it starts to snow here, he can't help being enamored with it. Being a werewolf means he tends to be warmer blooded and it doesn't bother him much to be out in the chill. Actually, he kind of likes it, especially when he goes for his morning run in wolf form out in the woods where no one will hopefully come across him. ...or his stashed clothes, for that matter.

The snow chills the air in a way that feels incredible as it moves through his fur, but even more...it feels amazing when he rolls around in it. His human form wouldn't appreciate this the way his wolf one does and now, now he understands, all these years later, why his sister loved it so much.

When he's not running through the woods in his wolf form, Derek is contemplating attempting to ice skate for the first time. He's walked on ice plenty of times — slowly and carefully, but still — but he's never bothered to try actually skating. The likelihood that he'll just end up looking like an ass while falling on his own is pretty high, though, so it might take some talking him into it.

Once in a while, one may catch him watching snowball fights and wondering whether he could actually join in on something like that without hurting anyone. He doesn't typically throw things unless he means to break them, so the idea that he might throw a snowball too hard and hurt someone is a real possibility. He's not really sure he wants to find out one way or the other, but maybe he could be persuaded.

Or he can be found just generally wandering the streets and enjoying the fact that the snow here is actually really pretty, because it's not nasty brown slush all over the place the way it typically was in Brooklyn.

magical hot springs

Typically, this wouldn't really be his thing: sharing a warm pool with strangers. Truthfully, though, the allure of it begins and ends with the fact that it's cold outside and it seems like a better way to warm up than to drink a hot chocolate that'll just go cold before he can get it all down or a coffee that won't give him the appropriate caffeine burst because he's not human.

It's worth a shot. Derek doesn't bother with swim trunks because, quite frankly, his kind are a lot more comfortable with nudity than he realizes is normal. When his mother or sister would transition out of their full wolf forms, just as he does, it would be into their own skin and nothing else. No one thought anything of the fact that Talia Hale stood before her pack naked as the day she was born until her eldest daughter would cover her with a robe. Derek hadn't ever thought it strange when Laura would do the same in front of him and he thought exactly nothing of fighting a Berserker in the nude after his evolution into the full wolf the first time it happened.

So if he makes anyone uncomfortable by stripping down like it's no big deal before getting in, he'll certainly apologize, but it'll surprise him a little. It's not lost on him that other people might not feel comfortable with their own nudity, but it never really occurs to him that they might not be comfortable with his, especially in a place like Cadelle.

wildcard.

(( or hit him up with your own starter! feel free to shout at me on mistojen or discord: mistojen #8486 for plots. ))

((ooc: Even though this is in prose, I'll match brackets if you have a strong preference for them.))

[advena]

( kara's exploring. it seems like the thing to do on an afternoon off, given the sudden blanketing of the city in soft white snow. she hadn't had opportunity to do much exploring in the forests over the fall when the ghosts had been present, too busy focusing on rescuing those who had wandered too far or who had tripped over exposed roots in the dark. now, in the bright sun of the afternoon, kara has time to wander, enjoying the beauty and quiet among the trees and all the surprises that await.

one surprise happens to be a pile of black fur, rolling back and forth in an expanse of open ground in the midst of the trees and fallen leaves, picking up patches of white with each full turn. she can't help but feel curious, stepping forward with carefully quiet steps, heels barely touching down before another step onto her toes.

before long, she's just arm's length away from the wolf, close enough to see the shine of the sun reflecting off the blues of his eyes, and it's so tempting to just reach out and run her fingers through the softness of the wolf's coat. but she hesitates, hand held back at the last second. )

It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you.

( she's not sure if she says it for the wolf's benefit or for her own, but it seems like the thing to say. )

[wildkingdom]

Malia is not used to snow. She's very confused by it really, at least in coyote form. Sudden drifts of cold and wet are disorienting and slow her down, and she's just not here for it at all. This must be why bears hibernate.

That being said, that doesn't mean that it doesn't have it's purposes. Which is why, when she's supposed to be meeting Derek for a run, she doesn't stay at their usual meeting spot and hides in one of the drifts on the side of the road, hunkering down so that she won't be seen.

Is she going to jump out and likely scare the shit out of him when he shows in wolf form? Yes, yes she is. Has she considered this is probably a bad idea? No, no she has not.

This is happening.

jyn erso ; ota

[made_of_stars]

a; hot chocolate, keepin' me warm

The change in weather had brought a lot of people out and about in order to enjoy it, including Jyn. How could she resist getting out and doing the sorts of activities she'd never had a chance to experience before?

So, when she'd heard rumors about the pond freezing over, she had to go see it for herself. And as she watched brave souls skate on by she couldn't resist the urge to try it out for herself - even though more often than not, she ended up flat on her back with limbs akimbo, embarrassed at first, but soon finding the humor in the ridiculousness of it all.

Maybe she'd never make much of a figure skater, but there was one thing she could do as she watched others fly by, or twirl gracefully, and that was enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, the way it tasted and the steam as it rose from the cup, and the way it warmed her hands just so.

Not bad, all things considered.

b; walkin' in a winter wonderland

Jyn had begun walking around the city at random - just for something to do, just to keep her mind off of other things entirely. She did her best to bundle up as the weather changed and the air turned frigid, her hands shoved deep in her pockets, sometimes burying her mouth and nose against the scarf wound around her neck.

Still, nothing stopped her wonder and, alright, a little bit of excitement once the snow began to fall. Often, she could be found with her face turned up to the sky, her cheeks flushed pink and her tongue extended to catch a flake or two on the tip of it.

And sometimes, when she was feeling particularly young, she indulged a bit in enjoying the snow to the fullest ... even though her first attempt at a snowman was awful, to say the least. If she looked foolish flailing on the ground making snow angels, she hardly found reason to care.

It was fun and that was a phenomenon she hadn't often experienced, so why not take the opportunity and have a little bit now?

c; things are heating up

Old habits died hard. Jyn didn't mean to eavesdrop, but her ears had perked up considerably when she'd heard a conversation extolling the virtues of the cave pools and hot springs right outside the borders of the city. It hardly took more than a moment's worth of thought on her part to decide that yes, those sounded worth a little exploration.

So, early one morning, she made the trek out to where they were located, tickled beyond belief to realize that the story had been true. The larger pools looked nice, but Jyn wasn't yet interested in sharing one with a group of people who'd had the same idea as she had, no matter how friendly they seemed.

Thankfully, the deeper she explored, the more pools she'd found, set away from the rest, inviting her to partake. And so, she took a dip, clearly enjoying herself as the heat of the water lulled her into relaxation, her toes breaching the surface as she moved her feet playfully, creating waves.

Now, this was exactly the way to enjoy a cold day outside.

[withasouvenir]

After spending so much time racing around the rink and acting like a damn fool in the snow with Laurel and Kara because girls will be girls, Thea snuck away to the hot springs because there is only so much cold a person can handle before they need a hot shower and this is way better than a hot shower.

She carefully tiptoes over the slick rocks past the groups of families and ventures further into the back of the caves, before...

Well, she trips into the one Jyn is occupying, falling into the water with a yelp and surfacing with a sputter, hair plastered to her cheeks and forehead before she shoves it back. "Well, hi."

Thea Queen knows how to make an entrance.

kimberly hart • open.

[recoined]

↪ i said, brr, it's cold in here.

( growing up in a small fishing town in northern california means learning the way ice forms along the coastline, but the salty sprays stay slush for much longer than the pools of fresh water that form ponds in the woods. hard ice, like the kind that forms the skating rink within golden park. her running path takes her through the park; initially, she only watches from the sidelines, using the concession stand's offer of hot chocolate as an excuse to linger on the nearby benches, watching the skaters on the pond as they make circles and figure-eights.

it's only when a friendly gaze catches her eye, laughing and smiling, that kimberly trades in her pink running shoes for thin blades on boots. she's not an ice princess by any stretch of the imagination, but athleticism helps to keep her upright, ranger reactions stepping in whenever instinct alone can't quite manage it.

or maybe she falls on her ass anyway, because she's a teenage girl who gets distracted pretty easily. )

Goddamnit!

( feel like offering her a hand? )

↪ the cards, they are wild.

( want something different? feel free to throw something at me, or hit me up at semicolons or supergirl#2740 for a custom starter if you prefer. )

[wildkingdom]

[Lydia is the one who taught Malia to ice skate. Being also from California, it's not like they did it out in the real world, but there was a local ice skating rink where kids played hockey and had open skates on the weekends. Malia also sucked at it at first, but Lydia got her to keep going so she can manage to stay on her feet for the most part.

Which is why she slides over to Kimberly, slides right past her, and catches the wall to start. She can stay upright, that doesn't mean she can stop.]

You okay?

[myownwoman]

[ when kimberly is done with skating, gaby is waiting by the side with two cups of hot cocoa (one of which is spiked with bourbon because she's an adult). ]

I wish it were winter all the time.

[ weirdo. but it's so pretty! everything covered in snow, little flurries staying in people's hair and dusting everything like powdered sugar, ice crystals twinkling in the street light when night starts to fall. she doesn't mind the chill, all the food is delicious. so no downsides. ]

marcus keane ✞ ota

[missio]

public skating sessions

[ marcus is officially at a point in his life where he can kind of do whatever the hell he wants, which is disconcerting. he's only been ice skating possibly once in his life, before he gave up on fun.

but he's giving it a try now, at last. he's also going exceedingly slowly, the look of someone who didn't feel like copping to an instructor but is fully cognizant of the fact that he's basically never done this before and could knock out a tooth if it goes badly.

he won't turn down help, though. or a friendly conversation as he finds his feet. ]

public park

[ he's always on some level prepared for sudden drops in temperature, or at least he's resilient in the face of strong weather, and anyway being in public spaces during the holidays could put anyone in a better mood—even someone who's seen half the world like he has.

outside the streetlights are wrapped in garlands and smaller lights. either he can be caught strolling the walkways with a cup of coffee or he's sitting down on a bench whose wrought iron frame has icicles from last night's snowfall. if you catch him doing the latter, there's a sketchpad open in his lap, where he's drawing the landscape of the park, down to a crooked row of snowmen among the trees.

he's a very good artist. ]

cave pools

[ a sauna is a little too self-indulgent for a dude who's lived an extremely austere life, but naturally occurring phenomena are just barely within the threshold of acceptability. and he does like to follow a rumor. he tells himself it's to get the lay of the land.

so he ventures out towards the springs, booted and gloved, and when he arrives he figures he might as well take advantage of it, which is why any passers-by will find him sprawled slackly in a pool he's occupying all by himself. he doesn't look like he particularly expects company, but he probably won't be rude. probably. ]

fun @ the park

[buenpastor]

[ despite having spent the last few winters in chicago, the cold still gets to tomas very easily. he'd be at his government issued flat, covered in every blanket he owns if that wasn't counterproductive to like, meeting people, making friends, becoming part of the community.

so he's out at the park, trying and mostly failing to enjoy the view. there are people packing snow, building snowmen, having fun and he's still asking himself if any of it is real.

the chocolate looks real though, and smells real, and if he spots the familiar figure sitting by the table, he's quick to dismiss it. he's tired and stressed and homesick, no point in thinking about it. once he has his chocolate, he walks past marcus without glancing at him and stops a few feet ahead, torn on whether to turn back. ]

you're welcome!!!

[recoined]

( she's not entirely thrilled about the concept of a white christmas — it's not like her small fishing town is really the poster child for leave it to beaver style holiday fun — but at the end of the day, kimberly supposes that making a snowman with her roommate isn't the worst thing to do during the holidays. or, at least, she was supposed to be doing this with her roommate. leave it to clary fray to get distracted by something during snowman building.

which leaves kimberly alone, feeling a little ridiculous as she continues to pack snow into a ball, and wondering why the hell she agreed to this activity in the first place. she could be lounging in a heated pool or in a sauna right now, enjoying temperatures that invited skimpy bathing suits or even nothing at all. or, more simply, she could just be still in bed. but no, she's here, in the park... getting stared at by a dude she doesn't recognize, who's probably old enough to be her dad — and if not, at least old enough to be her creepy uncle. )

Jesus! Take a picture, dude, it'll last longer.

( what is tact? she's very sorry, trebek, she doesn't know the answer to your question. or the question to your answer. either way, she's losing that jeopardy round. )

[withasouvenir]

[ thea grew up with rain more than snow, but she grew up rich so it didn't matter, she'd had lessons when she was tiny and here she is making good work of a lifetime of passes to the star city skating rink as she gracefully loops around the rink. she slows when she notices the guy probably her dad's age stiffly plodding across the rink and swoops over, coming to a stop near him with a spray of ice. ]

Need a hand?

Magnus Bane❄️ OTA

[coyandcryptic]

Skating

Out of all the activities listed, the one that gets Magnus down to the winter festival the most quickly is the ice skating. He'd still been a young man when he'd first seen someone gliding across the ice as if they were sailing or flying, and he can still remember the way he'd stared in open delight. It had seemed like a magic all its own, entirely unlike his own magic or anything he'd seen before.

Now every winter finds him at Rockefeller Center or Bryant Park, and this year he'd been very happy to find Cadelle had the same tradition. The metal blades of his conjured skates are decorated with glittering swirls of contrasting ice blue and cobalt to match the blue streaks in his hair, and he moves on the ice like a professional skater, even adding a few spins to the routine. But he's the first to grate to a halt at the fence and talk to someone considering trying it out, and he'll race across the ice to catch anyone losing their balance.

Once he's had his fill of skating (which takes quite a while, admittedly) it's time to sample the various concession stands, taste-testing hot chocolates and deciding who has the best recipe.

Cave pools

Eventually a day comes when skating isn't the first thing on Magnus's mind, and that's when he finds the cave pools. It's just the thing for easing the ache of several days of skating, although he's sticking to the pools near the entrance to the caves (for now). Rumors about the nature of the pools farther in have already reached him, and in another time he would have explored those first, but right now things are...complicated. From the look on his face as he floats and stares at the ceiling, he's thinking about the complications more than the relaxation this soak is supposed to provide.

But of course if someone else comes along hoping for a soak, he'd be delighted at the company, please join him!

[Brackets or prose, feel free to start something else or hit me up at voxmyriad with ideas!]

cave pools aka shirtless thor says you're welcome

[mothersdrapes]

The last time Thor had been in a place like this, he had needed to revisit a vision that Wanda had given him. It was when they'd first crossed paths, and of course she had been trying to knock him off balance and render him helpless. Instead she had given him the information they all needed regarding the infinity stones. A search that was so far fruitless, and one that was now pointless while he was in this city.

He entered the cave pools wearing his usual garish board shorts, winter now making it uncomfortable to swim in the ocean despite his inability to always feel cold. He grinned as he saw Magnus, dropping a towel and pulling off a sweater that he had worn to travel through the city. "Magnus!" His joyful, booming greeting echoed off the cave walls.

He was ignorant to the nature of the pools towards the back so perhaps it was lucky that the warlock was there to save Thor from getting into trouble.