aterat | Winter is not a season

Entry tags:

Winter is not a season

Who; Everyone (don't forget to tag in & tag around!)
What; The Winter Festival
Where; The circus complex and the park
When; Today & lasting for 1 week
Warnings; None, but if something needs a warning, please label as such!

Back in November, Ignis petitioned Halcyn for a Winter Festival. He requested snow, lots of lights, and an in ground hot tub or two or more.

Train/moogles/horses - There's also a small train to go ride around the city, and horses will again appear for sleigh rides. Moogles will be appearing/on hand to give directions to where things are if people get lost. They are also serving as sources of information in case someone doesn't know anything about a festival or activity. Just ask the moogle kupo!

Food/shopping - Ignis also learned of and requested that European style christmas markets (including Japanese ones) so all of the foods for those countries and all of the things/traditions that they are associated with will be available. Whatever country has what, feel free to learn about it, or whatever different world. Recipe books will be available for whatever place too so pick one up while you can because you might want to learn to cook it for yourself! (Sorry folks, Remy not included) Enjoy all the shopping and fooding even if you've never heard of that place, world or food before. So eat, drink and be merry!

Activities/things to do - Skiing, sledding, skating and tobogganing will be available and if you're really tough, maybe archery hunting in skis may appeal. Riding on a ski lift can be a relaxing thing to do as well. Snowboarding is available as well, but a few words of caution on that. There may be sledding moogles as you go, lots of trees to run into, balloons, and if you hit an igloo, there may be an angry moogle that throws a table at you. There are also snow chocobos and snow moogles along that path.

For those not so daring to go snowboarding, the snow moogles and snow chocobos will be around town in different spots so that they're not missed. And while they won't throw snowballs at you, your friends just might! And you can ride a horse to go see a model of a royal library. A word of caution however, as there may be monsters even if they're mostly slimecicles. There may be some Luminous Lamplings or Bongo Fandangos lurking about too.

Other activities/happenings - There will also be events and things for the Chinese New Year, such as lion dances, all sorts of traditional foods, decorations, fire works, firecrackers and kids might get red envelopes. Since it is now the Year of the Rabbit, adorable rabbit decorations of all sorts are everywhere. On the last day of this Winter event will be the Lantern Festival.

Something else to note - If you're feeling adventurous there's a place or two to get married! The Hunting Lodge is always open so you could married there too! Take a walk through some Christmas illuminations for romance, or just because they're pretty.

Other notes - People from home will appear this week too as it's a fourth wall event, so be on the lookout for them! And if all of this stuff doesn't work, feel free to choose your own wintry adventure!

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I. Hot Tub Hangout

Winter was the absolute worst, and Tommy was never going to get used to it. Cold and speedsters did not go together, and it was often even worse for Tommy because his powers were so heavily caught up in acceleration and thus heat. Cold left his joints aching in ways he hated, left his fingers tingly, and definitely made using speed more dangerous. So when he'd heard about the hot tub, well, of course he was there.

Tommy hissed happily as he stepped into the heat of the water, closing his eyes before he sank down into it. Damn but he missed this.

"Who knew you could get proper fucking hot tubs in such a backwards place. I'd so just fun a fucking place that had things like this if I could," he mumbled as he settled down and opened his eyes. "Bless it."

II. Armful Of Rabbit Plushes

Well, it was some sort of new year, right? And it was the year of the rabbit. There were awesome little plush toys everywhere, and Tommy had been considering them for a good while now. With a sigh he crossed his arms over his chest. He needed to make a decision here.

"Hey," he said aloud, hoping the person nearby might assume he was talking to them. "Need some opinions here. Trying to figure out if I should buy these for my employees. But do kids even LIKE stuffed animals these days?"

Leon was trying to enjoy this hot apple cider thing, and he'd bought a hot chocolate too because he couldn't decide which to try. Carefully he made his way over to the table and set both down, fortunately he'd been given a tray.

Hearing Tommy's voice, at first all he saw was a bunch of stuffed rabbits. Laughing slightly, Leon shook his head. "If I give you an answer, do I get one too?"

Get him one too? Interesting.

"What," Tommy says with a smirk, "you asking for a gift from me?"

He's got so many to buy for the kids, he doesn't know if he's got the motivation for another.

Leon had to half laugh when Tommy gave him that smirk.

"I'm seriously joking. But to answer your question, the Rabbit is festive and it might bring a smile to a face or two so you should get them."

Alright then, Tommy steps forward to gesture for how many he wants wrapped up.

"What about you? Looks like you don't smile much. What would bring a smile to your face."

Leon had to shake his head. "I'm alright." He wanted to add a thank you somewhere in there but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

At least not yet.

So he then shrugged. "Who gets the gift giver a gift?"

"No one," Tommy answered easily and smoothly. "Unless you consider Ignis teaching me to cook or giving me extra snacks when I'm working there."

He plucks up one of his purchases from the mound being packaged into a large bag, and holds the rabbit out to Leon.

"There, now you're alright. You don't have to convince yourself that it's worth it to invest in the bunny you Clearly want."

Somehow he wasn't sure that was fair. Sure other taking care of him and offering him food and stuff. But someone who gave gifts should get them in return, it was just his way of thinking.

His blue eyes blinked at the unexpected offer of a Rabbit and he wasn't sure whether or not to take it although he did after a few seconds.

And even if he believed in giving back, he still was so confused as to why he was given a gift.

Leon didn't need gifts. But he was going to keep it no matter what.

"Thanks..I think."

Seriously, what was this guy's deal?

"Good," Tommy says with a smile before taking the large bundle he had bought. "Now you've got something to watch your back. Aren't you happy?"

Because Leon should clearly be happy. This is a party.

Leon looked from the toy to Tommy. "Something to watch my back?"

He didn't need anybody to do that for him.

Why was this guy concerned about that or why would he even mention it?

"Exactly," Tommy says with a smile. "If my brother were here, I'd have him enchant it to do that. To let you know when there's danger. But guess you'll have to trust it to have sharp eyes on its own."

Leon half smirked. "I'm pretty good at knowing when there's trouble." He almost winced next, knowing what he had to say and held up the rabbit plushie. "But I appreciate the extra look out."

Yeah, that was kinda rude, and Tommy tried not to wince. While he failed the expression was there and gone in impossible speed.

"Yeah, well, it doesn't hurt, so there. If you're going to toss it, wait until I'm not around. It's more polite."

That had Leon do a double take. What did he say to cause such a reaction? So he paused and shook his head. "When did I say I was throwing it out? I'm taking it home and putting it on top of the fireplace mantle."

His hand then engulfed the little thing as if to protect it. He couldn't even recall last time anyone got him anything? Well he couldn't remember other than Yuffie and Aerith because they didn't buy into his scowling. Heck even got a grudging gift from Cloud. Cid just didn't dare nor did anyone else.

So he looked back down at the thing. "I don't..usually get gifts."

Edited 2023-02-24 06:33 (UTC)

Hey, he jumped to conclusions at the speed of sound too. At least the guy was taking it. And so Tommy tried to pretend he hadn't assumed the wrong thing, shouldering the large bag of gifts for his workers instead.

"Maybe you should. Maybe more people should get gifts more often."

Because he can't say 'I don't get gifts often either' without sounding pathetic.

He watched the other hoist the bag and wasn't sure what to say. But he found himself looking down at the rabbit in his hand as if it somehow held his answers. And with Leon being who he was, he couldn't help but comment.

"So says the guy carrying gifts. But you realize that this means you should get presents too. It isn't going to be one sided."

Since Tommy was acting like Santa Claus here.

See, he's shocked to have something like that said to him. Why would someone give him gifts? He's as lost as Leon.

"Dude, it's fine that it's one sided. I've got plenty of funds."

Leon was almost satisfied to see that make the other pause. Gone was the attitude and it was replaced by something gentler.

He made a mental note of that.

"That's not the point and you know it."

Stubborn lion was stubborn even if he made his point in a gentle tone.

Wow he doesn't have an attitude. You have an attitude. Don't come for him like this bro.

"Yeah it sorta is. And if someone gives a gift with the intention of getting something back, that's not a gift. It's a bribe. I don't bribe."

He sighed and then shrugged. "I guess it could be taken that way. But if that's the way you see it, that's up to you."

There was something in the other, but Leon wasn't going to try and analyze it at the moment. He had plenty of time to do that later. "But thanks for the gift all the same, I appreciate it."

"You appreciate it now. Will you appreciate it after I call you Bunbun?"

There's a totally teasing grin there. Tommy's not going to do that, but he wants to see the reaction.

Leon just sighed and shook his head.

But then he remembered the other's words at the Ball so he smirked before turning away.

"If that's what works for you handsome."

And he walked out the door.

What? Tommy looks after Leon as the guy leaves, and for a millisecond he's thinking about running after him and demanding more. But he's got to pay. And while he's paying there's time to think.

Was that flirting? Was that flirting back? Was that just mocking? Tommy sort of just doesn't know what to do with that. And it's hard to think of an answer to. Because it might be fun to think of something like this, to flirt and play. But at the same time... Fuck, his heart hurt to even consider it.

If he got attached, the guy would disappear, and that would hurt. It always hurt. So he doesn't chase, even after he's paid. Better not to chase.

Tidus is already in the hot tub when Tommy arrived. He'd been trying to focus like he did before a game so his eyes had originally been closed. But hearing a voice had him open them and look to the person who had come in.

Back home no one soaked pre game with him but this was okay, it was a different place, right?

So he sighed and closed his eyes again. "This place does seem to be backwards."

"It's not backwards most of the time. It's just weird," he answered as he tried to let his body settle more into the heated water. It was not easy to relax.

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Winter is not a season

Tommy Shepherd | OTA

Rabbits

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Hot tub

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