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! |
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cuddlecity2017-12-01 12:00 pm
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"Huh? Oh! Yeah, hold on, one sec," she says, moving closer and taking the woman's outstretched hand, trying to help her to her feet. "Sorry."
Her eyes move to the form in the snow once the woman is back on her feet and Jo has her lightbulb moment. "Ooooohhhh..." she murmurs, a grin creeping onto her lips. "That's really neat! How'd you know to do that? Oh! I'm Jo, by the way," she offers the latter part belatedly and with a sheepish grin.
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It's one of her favorite things to do in the winter, when she has the opportunity. But she hasn't really done it in years. She looks at Jo for a moment, before she tips her head to the side.
"Do you live in Gamma? I think we might be on the same floor."
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Jo's eyebrows lift and she realizes at about the same time that Laurel asks that the other woman does look familiar, actually. "I do yeah, on the sixth floor?" she asks more than says, not because she's not sure where she lives, but because she's kind of transitioning to asking Laurel where she is, mid-sentence.
"I thought you looked kind of familiar just now, but I couldn't place you. That makes sense," she says with a smile.
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Clearly she is failing on that front.
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"I only just got here, too, so I haven't really met my neighbors yet, either, if it makes you feel any better. I'm just thinking we've probably passed by one another at some point," she replies. Maybe that'll make Laurel feel a little better. Jo's social when she's working, but she's not working while she's in Cadelle, so she's going to have to actually put forth a little effort. It won't just come to her because it's what she does for a living, talking to people.
"Anyway, it's really nice to meet you. Can you show me how to do that? The thing? Snow angel?" she asks, having missed how exactly Laurel managed it without making a mess of footprints around it. There must be some kind of trick to it. If she's going to try it, she might as well do it right and who better to ask than the person who explained to her what they actually are?
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Laurel pulls away from the one she made and makes her way over to a clear, empty bank of snow. She checks to make sure that it's deep enough that flopping back into it won't be too big a deal before she gestures for Jo to come join her.
"Okay, so you're going to start by basically trust-falling back into the snow. It might smart a little bit, but the snow should cushion you too."
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"Okay, just know that if the snow breaks my trust, I'm depending on you to carry me to the hospital," she says, only half-joking. Then she moves to stand beside Laurel, turning to face out and away from the snowbank. Taking a deep breath, she looks over at the other woman. "Then what? Or should I wait and you can show me?" she asks, lifting her eyebrows in question.
If they're doing this, she's going to let Laurel call the shots since the other woman actually knows what she's doing. If it's something easy enough to explain while they're doing it, then she can just do it at the same time, but maybe it's more complex; Jo doesn't know.
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"After you've made a good impression - a literal one - you can just give me your hand and I'll pull you back up."
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"How long is good, you think? I can't really tell if I'm making an impression or not," she asks. It's cold doing this, so she's not sure she'd recommend doing it again without a snowsuit or something — she can already feel her jeans soaking through and that's going to be uncomfortable later — but she's going to finish what she started because she's soaking up the culture and that's one of the biggest benefits of being somewhere new: learning new things.
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"That is so cool," she says and then turns back to Laurel. "Fun! Okay, it's cold as all get out, but I'll give it credit where it's due: snow is fun. Thanks for showing me!"
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/scene?
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