Winter Fun

[jiangzaid]

WHO: Xue Yang and you!
WHEN: December 15th onward
WHAT: Shenanigans! Winter fun!
WHERE: Gazin!
WARNINGS: N/A but will update as needed.


Riding - Around Gazin, OTA

Xue Yang has a stallion of his own now, and he loves fussing over him and taking him out to ride. He likes cantering along the paths outside of Gazin for a good run, across the fields and trotting through town. He chuckles as he coaxes his horse around certain obstacles, feeling the silly beast prance and toss his head in play and high spirits.

Because of how worried his hip has started to make his husband, he's begun to ride more than walk. And it is easier - not to mention far more fun and a much faster mode to get places! He has saddle packs for food when he grabs what they need while he's out, or delivering purchases to those who need the extra hand for the heavier orders.


Bonfire, Brew, Ice Pond Diving

Xue Yang loves the celebrations going on with the start of the snow. He has warmer clothes, thankfully, and the house he and his husband built is sturdy enough for the cold. Plenty of firewood has been stacked against one side of the house within reach as they come in and need more, and the stables they have mostly built are just as warm and sturdy for their horses.

But in the evenings now, he occasionally drags his Daozhangs out with him to enjoy the bonfires and warmth that comes with those of Gazin. Enjoying the food and drink they offer, and listens avidly to stories as they're told around the fire.

Of course he has to take part of the snowball fights! The very idea delights and amazes him and he's quickly dragged into various games and mock wars with snow and balls of snow. Which leads to the challenge of diving into the icy depths of the pond. Who is he to turn a challenge down?

And he must bring others with him! He'll reach out to fling a snowball at someone he knows and playfully taunt them into racing to see who will dive into the pond first.


Hot Springs

Xue Yang has been around long enough to know about the hot springs here and there. It only makes sense to start dragging certain people off to enjoy them! Especially after daring to dive into the icy pond...forgive him? See? Now you're warm again! All fixed!


Feasts, Gift-Giving - mostly for Zichen and Xingchen, but he can be dragged in for a feast if people want him.

He adores the feasts, too, though he's more likely to snag some food and bring it home to his Daozhangs so they can eat together in peace when not out for some fun. However, he learns of the gift giving - through one being foisted on him and it...stuns him. He's told about what it means, and immediately sets to making a few little gifts. Mostly carved animals. These, he gives to a few people he comes across in town.

But for his Daozhangs...they get something more special. He works away at it in the forge in between orders until he's satisfied with the gifts. He tucks them away in little boxes, each with the name of the recipient tucked in before heading home when done for the day.

Xue Yang steps back, studying where everything has been set a little more out of the way while remaining invitingly cozy. There's space, now, cleared for a very specific thing. The fire is roaring, because it really has become rather chilly, and a good hearty stew is bubbling away. There's no music, but that can't be helped. He doesn't particularly want to drag a third party in for this.

All he has to do now is wait. Wait for his Daozhangs to come home so he can drag them (one more carefully than the other) in and cajole them into dancing with him. He hears footsteps approach and trusts Merlan's wards more than enough to know it can only be those two precious men. He lets the door open before he swoops in with a bright grin and reaches for their hands.

"Welcome home! Come, dance with me!" Yes, Xingchen, you are definitely included in that!

Comments

Ice Pond Diving - Yes you are getting two from me, shush.

[zichen]

His husband is a madman. Xue Yang has no business in an ice pond with that hip and leg of his! So Song Zichen places himself on the edge of said pond, glowering with a pile of blankets and towels in his arms. He is wearing a thick cloak - in his favored black and grey - and it has a fur trim around the hood in silver. With said hood drawn up, he looks quite...imposing.

As he should. Why has he married such a fool?!

Oh noes!

[jiangzaid]

Yes, yes he is. But Xue Yang is laughing even as he shivers and scrambles out of the absolutely freezing water and makes a beeline for his sweet husband. Others might look at Zichen's expression and run the other way, but...

Not Xue Yang. He burrows into the towels, panting and huffing to warm himself up - and yeah that leg is definitely complaining. Oops?

"You look even more handsome than usual in that cloak," he chirps, though he knows it won't get him free of scolding. He doesn't...really want it to.

>8(

[zichen]

All of the towels and blankets are wrapped around Xue Yang. Then he is scooped up into strong arms and settled against Zichen's chest. Deal with it, you idiot.

"Why do you put yourself in such peril?" he grumbles and begins the trek home, keeping his gaze focused on the path ahead and not his gremlin of a husband.

"You could catch a lung infection and then what? People die of illnesses every day. You would leave Xingchen and I behind with nothing but the memory of you throwing our future away foolishly."

This is the scolding. But he's only angry because he cares.

/smooches nose

[jiangzaid]

He loves these arms! Xue Yang doesn't protest at all, just snuggles happily into his husband's arms and tucks his head against Zichen's neck.

But then Zichen points out things he hadn't...really...thought of and he frowns unhappily. He could point out he's survived thus far, but...that's not the point.

He'd worried his beloved husband. And that's just...no. So he stretches up to kiss Zichen's cheek in apology. "I'm sorry. I will be more careful in the future."

;;

[zichen]

The pond is given one last icy glare - as if it can be blamed - before Zichen carries his wayward husband home. Yes, he is worried. He has a hot bath waiting for Xue Yang in order to ensure his body is a safe temperature.

"Your lips are cold." he glances, at last, at the other man and quickens his steps, "Can you feel your fingers and toes?"

<3

[jiangzaid]

He has the best husband.

Xue Yang wiggles his fingers and toes - he thinks he does at least. "Too cold," he answers with a quiet little huff. "But I'll warm up quickly."

A moment or two pass before he amends. "I can feel my fingers now."

[zichen]

"We're almost there." Zichen is walking quickly. He shoulders open the door upon their arrival and hurries Xue Yang upstairs. In the bathroom, he peels off the towels and blankets and helps his beloved undress.

"Get into the tub. It will help." he is too worried to be angry and his voice shakes the slightest bit.

[jiangzaid]

He helps in shucking his clothes and boots before slipping into the warm water with a shuddering sigh. It hurts a little at first, as his body warms back up from the shock of cold he'd treated it to.

And yes, he slips all the way under the surface of the bath so the warmth gets everywhere. Then he resurfaces and reaches for his husband, to cradle his face lovingly.

"You are very good to me, love."

[zichen]

He shrugs off his cloak when Xue Yang is in the tub. He has no intention of leaving his side until he is dressed and tucked into bed. He has already seen to lighting a fire in their room.

When the other man resurfaces, his hands mercifully warm, he visibly relaxes. His A-Yang is so strong! But he isn't going to take that for granted. Never.

"Someone needs to look out for you."

Feasts, Gift-Giving - Open to both Xue Yang & Xiao Xingchen.

[zichen]

The joy and warmth of the season is getting to him, helping him to melt the ice around his heart. He can enjoy this season - and every season. Zichen is allowing himself, for the first time, to have permission to relax. Granted, a little wine never hurts.

And brandy. Brandy is rather tasty, actually.

When he enters their home to find it so bright and warm, he can't deny Xue Yang or Xiao Xingchen anything. He grins shyly as he is pulled into a dance and hopefully he can be forgiven for clinging a bit tighter than usual thanks to his, well, drunkenness.

"I'm dizzy." he finally admits, resting his head against his husband's shoulder.

[cantseeyoursin]

Xingchen can't see the bright but he can feel the warmth as he enters the home. He still is getting used to things but he has started to become slightly more comfortable with everything. It's easier to do so with Zichen at his side. He trusts him more then any other person in any world. But that doesn't mean he is still ready to simply get swept up in everything.

So he stays aside when Zichen gets swept off into a dance, letting his hand feel around the furniture that is in a slightly different location then it was when he was there in the morning. He can smell the food cooking and so he ventures slowly towards the kitchen, unsure exactly what is going on but sensing that for some reason things are a little more festive then usual.

[jiangzaid]

He doesn't force Xingchen to dance along with them, just snuggles his husband as he dances around with a laugh. He loves how Zichen lets the ice melt around him, though he can tell he's been drinking.

Xue Yang wraps his arms around his husband's waist, supporting him until that admission, and then he stops the silly dance to get Zichen settled before the fire, nuzzling his head. "Rest, love. I'll get you some water."

He moves after Xingchen next and peers at the sweet blind man with a smile. "A-Chen? Are you alright?"

[zichen]

He doesn't fight being led to the warm fire. When he sits, he isn't as graceful as usual. For someone who did not drink at all before Gazin, he is a...light-weight. The nuzzling feels good and he closes his eyes, humming contentedly.

"Help Xingchen." he murmurs, turning so he can see the blind man. His brow furrows immediately.

"Make sure he doesn't burn himself...on the plates and pans..."

[cantseeyoursin]

He smiles a little as Xue Yang comes up to check on him. He has figured out the kitchen well enough to know where the stove is so he makes sure to keep his distance.

"I'm fine. I did not want to be in the way so I thought there might be something I could do in here."

Not that he knows exactly what there is to do. But perhaps he could have managed to make them some tea. But that required determining if all the parts of the stove were being used which meant he was going to have to feel around the burners which would probably have been a poor decision. Basically Xingchen hadn't thought his plan through quite well enough.

"I thought I could get us some drinks."

[jiangzaid]

He doesn't drink as much as he had before Yi City, though he drinks more now than during his years in with the coffins. He thinks Zichen is rather cute drunk! And forever sweet. He smiles over his shoulder at his husband before stopping beside Xingchen and immediately realizes the problem.

"Hm...We should speak with Merlan sometime and see if we can come up with a way for you to tell what is on and not get hurt in the process.

"Would you get some ice and water for us?" Something constructive Xingchen can do that will help.

[zichen]

When the room kindly stops trying to send him reeling, he will join them. That...probably won't be for awhile. Zichen rubs the bridge of his nose and laughs quietly to himself as he listens to their conversation. He could not possibly love them more.

"When you're finished, come sit with me." he decides to take a stand - just so he can have those he loves best all around him, "We can dance more later, A-Yang."

He would actually enjoy seeing Xingchen dancing. Xue Yang would be a good partner for him; he would keep him safe and make sure he doesn't stumble.

[cantseeyoursin]

Xingchen can handle getting them water. He moves his hand along where he knows the glasses are kept. Having made sure to figure out this room as best he could. Counting the cabinets until he locates the glasses and takes them to fill them.

Xingchen knew better then to do any drinking while out of the house, still not completely confident in finding his way around. Attempting to do so while intoxicated would not have been a particularly smart move on his part. But he is glad that Zichen was able to enjoy himself while out. And now he can assist in making him feel better.

He sets the three filled glasses down on the counter. "Should we bring anything else?"

Ice pond & snowball, then into the hot spring for forgiveness?

[obliviouspatriarch]

The snow is a nice sight to see, but the temperatures aren't as welcome as Wuxian shivers under his warmer clothing. He's sat around the fire long enough and partakes in the wintery fun. That is until he feels a cold thud on the back of his head and whips around to see Xue Yang. If it's a snowball fight the other wants, it's one he'll get, as Wuxian balls up some snow himself and launches it back aimed at the man's face.

"You're still a delinquent I see, hitting a man from behind." Though his words are more of a laugh through that mild irritation than anything angered.

Perfect~

[jiangzaid]

He smirks, tossing a second snowball from hand to hand, head tilted juuuuuust so for added playful effect. Only to dodge, laughing with unrestrained glee as his Senior returns fire.

"You wouldn't know me if I wasn't~"

And yes. Yes he does toss that second snowball at Wuxian~

...I get to unleash the chibis on this thread >:3c

[obliviouspatriarch]

That gleeful laughing is a little too infectious as Wuxian is also laughing now. It's been too long since he's had such fun, such unrestrained fun at that, and it doesn't matter to him who he's having the fun with right now.

"You're right, I wouldn't." He balls another snowball, smirking wickedly, just barely dodging the one lobbed at him as he flings his own back. "What are you going to do if I win?"

XDD oh noooooooooooo

[jiangzaid]

It's nice to hear his dear Senior laughing, so of course he's going to do his very best to keep it going. So he lobs another snowball at the other as he tries (and fails!) to dodge the second attack. It smacks him in the chest and sends him back a step (he takes it for added effect, clutching his chest with a wide grin).

"What do you want me to do if you win?"

[obliviouspatriarch]

He snorts at the dramatic chest grasping, rolling his eyes at the man with another ball of snow quickly in hand, tossed up and landing back in his hand with terrible glee. Wuxian tilts his head as the question is asked.

"Oh how dramatic. But, if you win, then you have to.. hmmm... survive that cold pond. I've got experience in that living in Cloud Recesses, but you don't." Though he leaves out that he whines every single time about it being too cold and has to cuddle up against Wangji. DETAILS. "What do you get if you win?"

[jiangzaid]

He snickers cheerfully at that eye roll, rolling his next ball of snow. He laughs when he hears the challenge. He'd already been planning on making that leap, but this makes it even better!

"If I win, you have to dive into the cold pond~ I doubt experience with similar ponds helps all that much!"

Yep. He's calling that bluff, Wuxian!

[obliviouspatriarch]

"You're on. I can handle cold water, what are you talking about! Just watch me!" How dare his bluff be called, but now it's on, he's going to make sure he wins this and keep himself warm... to not have that bluff be just a bluff.

He pulls his arm back with the snowball, one eye closed as he aims and then launches the snowball directly at Xue Yang's head. It's fair play as long as he's not including rocks in the snow, which he's too good of a person to not do that!

[jiangzaid]

Xue Yang winks and waits juuuuust long enough to let his Senior throw...then dodges! He's also using only snow, no rocks. He doesn't actually want to hurt anyone these days, especially not in pure play.

So that new snowball he lobs at Wuxian? Only snow! Packed snow, but only tight enough to make for good throwing.

"I'm used to cold washes, Senior~" Well. He had been. Then he came here!