aterat | Winter log

Entry tags:

Winter log

Who: Everyone!
What: Open Log
When: December
Where: The Hunter's Lodge
Warnings: N/A
Notes: This is a mingle log, so people are free to set up their own TLs under it. So tag in and tag around!

Snow has fallen outside and while it's not heavy it's set just enough down to gently cover the wooden benches and ground outside. The chairs have been removed but the lanterns are still out and lit (as well as the little lights that have been replaced with more festive ones) if people want to walk around outside and have private chats among the snow, the trees and the lighting.

Potluck - Food is all around. Got a story about how the food you brought is part of a long standing family tradition? So much the better! But Ignis for his part has been researching and working on bringing the foods he's heard about. So here you'll find an appetizer platter along with a cream cheese tree, turkey, ham, his version of the Crown City roast, stuffing balls, roasted potatoes and roasted vegetables, and of course a few different desserts.

So you can find him making sure the table is decked out in christmas colours and full of food. But as he sets the last appetizer tree down on the table, he nods. "Quite glad to see that you could make it."

Trim a tree A small group of freshly cut green trees are sitting in a corner with room to go around the back. Simple lights are already in place, but there are ornaments with hooks sitting in silent invitation to decorate the tree and gather around as well as different coloured garland too.

But there's plenty of supplies and being able to decorate a tree with Nida last year was all sorts of fun as it will be again this year. So the advisor is definitely happy that nature can come inside at least temporarily.

Ignis stands back and takes a look at the trees with a satisfied sort of nod. "I suppose after the holiday, I will see about replanting it outside." Turning to his guest, there's an easy smile. "It won't do to simply throw it away do you think?"

Gift exchange - Gifts aren't required, but people are free to do so. This can be as private or as public as wished! The royal strategist is busy arranging gifts under the tree, trying to make some sense as to how they should be grouped, so he's on his knees trying to keep the order straight. As soon as someone approaches, he acknowledges their presence with a smile. "Would you mind handing me that blue wrapped gift sitting on the chair right next to you?"

Wild card- Dancing? Snowball fights outside? Feel free to make up a thing here!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Winter Wonderland.

Fluffy puffs of white snow drifted lazily in the air as the wind brushed across the tops of lanterns and trees. Jacob was wandering aimlessly around the outside of the lodge in hopes to get familiar with the area but he kept getting turned around. He was wearing a warm black jacket over top of a button-down he'd purchased a few days before. It wasn't anything fancy but it was the amount of effort Jake was willing to put into dressing up for the holidays.

Light hazel eyes glanced back at the lodge before he dipped a hand into his pocket. The package of cigarettes he'd arrived with was crumbled with time and contained only one remaining stick. He'd have to find a replacement and while he didn't think it was difficult, it was troublesome.

Jake placed the filter between his lips and pulled out a worn black lighter. The flame flickered to life, warm against his palm as he shielded the delicate light. With a practiced touch, he inhaled and the sweet curl of smoke filled his lungs. A sense of calm curled within his chest and his nerves settled as if finally at peace. He was always tense, always plagued with nightmares but the sweet sensual warmth of the smoke filled him easing his tired and tattered soul.

There was no rule saying he couldn't smoke inside but he didn't want to force people to deal with the smell. It wasn't polite. So until he was finished, he'd content himself to wander around outside, making intents in the snow.

He remembered playing in the snow as a child but that felt like a lifetime ago. It didn't feel like he could do that anymore. Even so, it was nice to see others enjoying the cold soft ice.

Cookie Memories.

After talking to a handful of people, Jake had decided to attempt to make Christmas cookies. He didn't care much about the shape but he hoped that the taste wasn't too horrible. At the very least there was the icing on them. That would undoubtedly make them better and cover up his mistakes.

They were also strangely hard when you bit into them.

The cookies were placed on a small plate before Jacob took three that he had turned into circles with strings laced through them. It was a silly tradition but cookies were often decorations on the tree in his home growing up and even if this backfired horribly, he wanted to at least put a few on the trees that Ignis had brought inside.

It was his own little touch to the holidays.

Random.

(Come at me with anything you want.)

Yuki had seen Jacob go outside and figured the man wanted to be alone for a little bit so he helped some of the kids hang some of the ornaments in a more organized manner. He'd seen some people up and dancing to the instrumental music that was playing but didn't have the guts to ask Jacob for a dance. Even still, his gaze seemed to keep returning to the dance floor.

It of course reminded him of the last time he was here which was for the wedding and it made him smile softly as he patiently untangled some of the hooks that had gotten bent out of shape and had the kids take turns hanging their ornaments. So he would occasionally look up at the doors and wonder where Jacob was until another adult stepped in to help the kids out.

Relieved, Yuki thanked them politely and wrapped his long coat around him and grabbed his scarf and gloves. Opening the door as little as he could manage, he slipped out and his gray eyes scanned around. No sign of Jacob anywhere. So he sighed with a quiet determination and wandered around with the wind blowing the snow around only slightly.

It didn't seem to take too long, but he found Jacob as he was lighting up. At first he was confused, but that didn't stop him from approaching. His breath came out in white puffs as he spoke and there was a slight smile on his face. "I wasn't sure if I'd find you out here."

Jacob had made a point to greet Yuki as well as a handful of others before disappearing outside. He hadn't planned to stay outside for very long but time had a way of getting away from him and soon enough, the familiar gray hair appeared at his side.

He was unable to control the smile that greeted Yuki. "Hey. Was I gone for long?"

He inhaled, not thinking of the oddity of him smoking. He hadn't smoked when he had lived in the city before but he had gained the habit recently. It was easier to get cigarettes than it was to get prescription medications. "I didn't mean to be away for long but I haven't explored around the lodge yet. It's a pretty nice place." He hadn't been here for the wedding but had heard bits and pieces about it and had been curious.

"The snow's beautiful."

He just smiled at Jacob. That smile that greeted him was warm and it was almost like coming home in a sense. Someone was happy to see him and that was something he yearned for, and he knew how very precious it was to find someone like that. So he basked in that warmth for just a moment before replying.

"It's fine. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Kind of like Machi used to do for him and it was a gesture that he always appreciated. She'd gone out of her way to look for him and so here he was returning that gesture but it was for Jacob alone.

He wasn't sure about the smoking thing, but he couldn't recall the other having done it before. But of course he noticed the night Jacob returned that he'd grown physically and seemed a bit older. However he didn't comment on it.

"The snow is pretty here. But I can go back inside." All he could do was give Jacob options and that's what he was trying to do. He didn't want to crowd the guy.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

Knowing that Yuki had been looking for him filled an empty place within his chest. It was the sort of loss that you wouldn't realize until it was replaced with something new. Every day, he found places within his heart that only Yuki could make whole again. It was an unexpected feeling but a pleasant one.

The truth was that he'd lost track of the time. It was something that happened when he let himself slip into his thoughts or delve into the memories of the past. He hadn't realized he'd been so lost to his thoughts. "No. I'm happy for the interruption." Jake reached forward and grabbed Yuki's fingers with his free hand, careful to hold the cigarette downwind of Yuki.

"Are you having fun at the party?" After a pause he lifted Yuki's hand to his lips and pressed a small kiss against the back of his hand.

He was trying to be suave.

He smiled tentatively at hearing Jacob's reply that he was fine. Yuki really did wonder what could keep someone out in the cold for so long but hopefully that could be shared at some future point.

Still, he was startled by his hand being taken and nodded as he was asked if he was having fun. "I am. It's really nice to get out sometimes." Yuki really wanted to say he'd be having more fun with Jacob by his side, but alone time was important too. Even here he was sure to have time alone to reflect and consider what was going on.

But he couldn't contain the smile that appeared on his face as Jacob did the hand kiss thing. It was a gesture he saw so many times while he was here and the old fashioned part of it never seemed to get old. The ladies on the receiving end always seemed as if they loved it and would laugh and giggle.

jacob - ota

Winter

Winter

no subject

no subject

no subject

Cookies

Cookies

no subject

no subject

no subject

Cookies

Cookies

no subject

no subject

no subject

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland

no subject

no subject

no subject

Cookies

Cookies

no subject

no subject