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

/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."

[jiangzaid]

So very good to him! He leans in to steal a soft kiss to prove his lips are now just as warm as his hands. He presses their foreheads together.

"You do. Better than anyone else ever."

He feels warm again, but not just from the heat of the water. He couldn't love this man more.

[zichen]

Much better. Zichen blushes at the compliment, unable to frown when their foreheads touch. His husband means so much to him and the idea of Xue Yang slipping under the ice and never surfacing had made him panic.

"Was I too harsh?"

[jiangzaid]

The question has his features soften and he kisses his beloved again, this time lingering for a moment.

"No. I scared you. I'm sorry for that, I just got caught up in the fun and thrill of it and wasn't thinking."

[zichen]

He feels heat that has nothing to do with the warm air race over his body.

"I don't want you to stop having fun." Zichen grabs a soft robe and more towels, "I just don't want to lose you in the process. People who were...really sick...would come to the temple sometimes. I would hear them coughing and wheezing. It was sad."

[jiangzaid]

"I've never been sick," he comments absently, watching his husband fuss around with a robe for him and fresh towels to dry him off. But that's not the point.

"Wanna know a secret?" Xue Yang tips his head, smile teasing his lips. "I have just as much fun curled up in front of the fire, reading with you."

[zichen]

"There is a first time for everything." Zichen answers sharply, moving back to his husband and gently touching his cheek to test his temperature. Still hot. Good.

"Mm?" he arches a brow and then laughs breathlessly, amazed, "You really are a puzzle, A-Yang."

He reaches into the water to lift his lover out, setting him on dry towels. Zichen spends the time drying him off well; he inspects Xue Yang's feet (his toes especially) and his hands for good circulation. Then he presses a firm kiss to his husband's lips.

[jiangzaid]

He could get angry at that tone. But...he doesn't. He'd scared his poor husband and he can see how Zichen's sharp tone is because of that fear. Because his sweet husband loves him just that much.

So he leans into the hand Zichen presses to his skin, nuzzling it with a quiet hum. And in truth, he loves the fussing and attention his beloved focuses on him. It makes him feel warm and cared for.

The laugh has him grinning helplessly though. "It's true! I love spending time with you." Xue Yang snuggles into his husband's arms as he's picked out of the water and dried off so tenderly that he practically starts purring.

But that kiss has him wrap his arms around Zichen's neck and press in with a hum.

[zichen]

Love and fear have become intertwined for him - and he only knows how to express the latter through anger and discipline. If Xue Yang doesn't understand that he is mortal and frailer than some, he might do something crazier. Zichen just wants him to be safe.

He rubs the towels over his beloved's body, taking stock of everything. He even peeks between those strong thighs to check his A-Yang's member. Frostbite is no joke!

But the color is good everywhere, so he wraps his husband in the soft robe and gives him a firm kiss. Then he lifts him back into his arms and carries him to their delightfully warm bedroom. The fire crackles merrily in the fireplace and the blankets on the bed are warm to the touch.

"I'll make you some hot tea. I don't want anything bad settling in your lungs."

[jiangzaid]

He's done crazy things much of his life. He's just not used to having anyone who cared enough about him before. Now he has his A-Lan, and Xingchen. And he is trying to be less reckless.

Xue Yang wiggles his fingers and toes at his beloved before Zichen checks between his legs, making his cheeks flush. But he can tell when Zichen deems him so far safe from danger, as he's wrapped right up in a warm, fuzzy robe and carried off to their bedroom. He smiles at the bright fire and how the blankets are already warm as he snuggles in under them.

"How can anything bad set in when you're watching over me?"

[zichen]

"Easily enough. I cannot defend you from all ill." or I would is left unsaid, though his glance implies it heavily. He tucks the blankets around Xue Yang and uses a dry towel to squeeze excess moisture from those long, dark strands of hair. Hair he has often gripped and enjoyed in the throes of passion.

"I won't be long." he rises and walks quickly - lest he lose the ability to be away from his husband's side. Seeing Xue Yang so adorably snuggled does something to him and he is a little clumsy as he makes the tea. But he finishes it nonetheless and carries the tray upstairs.

"I'm sorry that took me -" he flushes at the doorway and smiles, "I really want to be in bed with you."

[jiangzaid]

That glance and what it says is better than any warm blanket.

Xue Yang loves how thorough his husband is, in all things he does. Right up to drying his hair off as much as possible - and so gentle! He hums at the promise and burrows a little more under the nice warm blankets as he waits, though his gaze remains on the doorway for as long as Zichen is gone.

He'd noticed that particular look in his beloved's eye, after all~ And there! Zichen is back! Saying such silly-sweet things it makes him laugh and sit up, wiggling back to lean against the headboard.

"Then you should! I'm always warmer when you're in bed with me~"

[zichen]

He sets the tray down beside the bed with a small smirk. His husband is terribly, terribly alluring. Zichen is finding it hard to keep his cold, fearful anger. But maybe he shouldn't? Nestling close to his beloved under warm blankets sounds...much...much better.

Taking off his boots and outer robes, Zichen glances at Xue Yang, amused at all of that...wiggling.

"Drink your tea, A-Yang." he slips under the covers a moment later, sighing when he, at last, comes into contact with his...rather fluffy...husband, "I like you in this robe."

[jiangzaid]

Oooooh he loves when his efforts work~ Especially when it helps his Zichen calm down and relax. Xue Yang obediently takes a cup of tea and cradles it for a moment, soaking up the heat as the liquid cools a bit.

He grins at that sigh and snuggles against his beloved, chuckling. "It feels nice, doesn't it?" But there's pure mischief in his gaze when he continues. "But I think you like me out of it, too."

[zichen]

It would be easy for him to be lulled into a state of pure contentment, however his A-Yang has a point. Yet Zichen is cautious about exposing any part of his husband to the open air lest he be chilled again.

"Your skin is softer." he replies as if he is simply talking about the weather, "You know you're beautiful. But I can control myself...unless..." he smiles to himself, "Do you think I could keep you warm?"

[jiangzaid]

Zichen encourages him to be better, just as Xingchen does. But also to calm...when they aren't otherwise engaged. So he would be perfectly happy to snuggle under the covers with his husband and tea.

And that compliment! His cheeks flush with delight. But he gives it the thought it deserves - rushing even pleasure isn't what he wants to do. Zichen simply means (and deserves) more. And he'd scared his beloved.

So he nuzzles his husband's cheek and presses a kiss to it. "Tea first, because you're right too. Then, you can definitely keep me warm~"

[zichen]

The nuzzling calms him and he leans into it, resting a hand on Xue Yang's chest. He clearly approves of the plan and he settles himself against his husband's side, giving him his warmth too while he drinks the tea.

"If you feel any chill, you are to tell me." Zichen is taking no chances with his sweet delinquent, "You needn't strain yourself either. We can always enjoy each other later."

In other words: the other man owes him nothing. What they do or don't do will not change Zichen's feelings.

[jiangzaid]

Xue Yang immediately leans into his husband's warmth and takes a sip of perfectly prepared tea. The hand against his chest is just as warm as his Zichen, and a comforting weight.

He blinks a bit owlishly at the implication before fondly shaking his head, his smile is soft and sweet. "I don't feel forced or used when I'm with you." But then it turns a little amused. "And I was more thinking of just curling up together, anyway. I'm getting a little sleepy. I just don't like sleeping in clothes all that much, even a fluffy robe like this one!"

[zichen]

"Then you should sleep." Zichen presses his lips to Xue Yang's temple, lingering there for a moment, "I'll stay with you."

He has to chuckle at the admittance, however. In that case...

While his mischievous husband enjoys the tea, Zichen pulls away and strips off his inner robe and undergarments. There. Now his A-Yang won't feel alone.

"I prefer being in that state too... With you." he adds, reaching up to let down his hair. With the hair clasp set aside, he snuggles up to his beloved again.

[jiangzaid]

He hums, leaning into the lingering kiss to just enjoy the sweet touch. He could drift right off like this! But that would be a sad waste of good tea. Xue Yang grins at that chuckle and leans up to steal a quick little kiss.

Then goes back to enjoying his tea as he also enjoys watching his beloved strip the rest of his clothes off. Zichen is a gorgeous man and he has no problem openly admiring him.

He's feeling much better by the time Zichen slips under the covers with him again and snuggles into his side after setting his empty cup down. "Mm...much better." He shamelessly moves to tangle their limbs right up so it's difficult to know where one ends and the other begins!