i love the winter weather, 'cause the two us can get together

[discretion]

Who: Franz (discretion) & Daedalus (gaveherwings)
When: 1/23, afternoon
Where: On SPU Campus (by a big hill!)
Summary: Sledding date of cute and adorable.
Warnings: Sap. Probably snogging. Will warn appropriately if it goes too sexy.

[Franz's bright red peacoat stands out against the snow. One must be fashionable even in the cold, and while Franz's high boots and woolen derby might make him look more suited for riding in a carriage, he's actually quite warm, especially with the scarf Kurt knitted him wrapped tightly around his neck. He seems almost luminescent amidst all that white, his cheeks bright in the cold. He's laughing, admiring the view from the top of the hill.]

Daedalus... it's beautiful up here! I think I can see our apartment!

Comments

[gaveherwings]

3:30 Campus Hill. Surprise for you. - D

[He may have been intentionally cryptic in the text on purpose, but it seemed appropriate to make up for four days separation by snowstorm with something special to lighten all the wintery ordeal.

Daedalus was self-professedly terrible at planning dates. Usually he left that sort of thing to Franz, who was infinitely better at taking helm on the social outing scene.

But then, at some point cooped up and on lockdown from rampaging Autore Cyborgs, he'd remembered the toboggan sled he'd bought as an indulgent present for Shiroe, last winter. Lucky it was still in his room at the Phantomhive mansion, leaning up against the back of his door amid boxes of heaped and left-behind mechanical parts and technical manuals. Gilbert had helped him fetch it.

Now he drags it along behind him, maneuvering the deep snowdrifts still proving overwhelmingly cumbersome, even as it's begun to melt away, and even though the frozen patches can hold his weight atop them.

He's dressed a bit more muted in longer grey wools, less sharp than his partner, and he dearly wishes his gloves were a little thicker. But the snowy trees and buildings and blinding white of it all is mesmerizing, and as Franz is laughing with joy, he's blinking wide in all directions at the burning raw cold in sheer wonder.]

It's... really something, isn't it?

[discretion]

It really is. [Franz wraps an enthusiastic arm around Daedalus's shoulder, squeezing him briefly.] Sledding... I never would have thought of it! I haven't been since I was a little kid!

[gaveherwings]

Well... [And that makes him feel fairly sheepishly inexperienced, in the same way he felt when Franziska Von Karma looked at him the first time he'd touched a horse. Franz had done this as a kid, huh?] ...last year was my first time with snow, so-

[The laugh is slightly self-depricating, as his breath frosts.]

So more late bloomer again, huh? You don't mind it, do you? I thought we could have a little fun.

[discretion]

Why would I mind it? [Franz takes Daedalus's hand, squeezing it.] I remember talking to you about the winter, that first year... about skiing in the Alps!

Put the sled down and I'll steer. You'll have to hold tight and trust me. [Never mind that they'll probably still take a tumble.]

[gaveherwings]

Oh yes- you did tell me, about...skiing in the Alps.

[Still a relatively foreign concept, no matter how much video he watches or pictures he sees. Curious- the things Franz has done, but he'll never have the opportunities to try, on this island. He'd be jealous, but it's really more like a lingering, slightly perplexed feeling of distance.]

It sounded fun.

[He lays the toboggan flat on the snow, somewhat cautiously. The icy top layer holds firm.] So...you're in front, then?

[discretion]

Unless you'd prefer to steer. It's pretty basic, just tug the rope in the opposite direction of where you want to go and hope not to crash into a tree. [As he shows how the 'steering' works, Franz can't help but grin at Daedalus's uncertain look.] Maybe you should try the next round.

[gaveherwings]

[He nods in agreement, stifling a laugh against his scarf and bending to sit on the back end, realizing quickly that there's no way to do this that isn't a bit clumsy and likely to get clumps of unwanted snow clinging to the ends of his coat. Shiroe had also rode this thing taking turns-]

Sorry the sled's a bit smaller than I remembered.... [ he grins up st Franz, patting the free space between his legs] but we'll manage, budged-up.

[discretion]

Maybe you should put your legs over my shoulders! [Franz teases, hearkening back to a bit of dirty talk from a few nights ago. He gives Daedalus's shoulders a quick squeeze before settling in. He climbs onto the sled.]

Okay, we need to push it down!

[gaveherwings]

[If his cheeks and the tips of his ears were not already red with cold-]

Oh no no, Franz, we couldn't, not here! [Daedalus protests with snicker, a mockingly overbaked propriety that hints at so much less protesting when warmed and somewhere private, inside.

He digs the heels of his boots into the snow, shifting his weight to walk the sled forward while finding sturdy purchase of his gloved hands around the peacoat, deciding that Franz's shoulder's aren't such a good grip, and that his safest bet is to hug firmly 'round his middle.

There's an awkward bit of grunting to scoot them to the teetering edge of the hill, and somewhere in the midst of it he's dipping his chin forward to whisper closer to his ear.]

You can show me how an evening in the alps goes, later.

[discretion]

[Franz wishes he had time to steal a kiss there, but their weight shifts and they start coasting down the hill! Instead, he throws one arm out, yelling.]

Wahoo!

[It's a bumpy ride, and they're going fast.]

[gaveherwings]

[It's a giddy sort of whooping- something he didn't expect out of Franz so suddenly, and Daedalus isn't nearly so vocal about the rushing thrill that swells up in his chest when the sled tilts, slides, and quickly gains speed.

He wants to look and the bluring world of white, but the cold is burning at his eyes and the ride is jostling, so instead he clings at Franz and ducks his head against his shoulder, practically shaking with excitement but virtually noiseless about it.

Franz's voice is clear as bells and like a child's though- and that's the nicest sound he's heard in awhile.]

[discretion]

[It really does remind him of being a kid. It's been a long time since he's done something so fun that he got demonstrably excited about it, and he even manages to steer the sled to a sharp turn, stopping them effectively before they crashed or vaulted over something. Of course, the sudden stop is enough for them to get jerked around a bit anyway, and Franz loses his balance and topples into the snow, laughing the whole time.]

[gaveherwings]

[The of that turn momentum brings the sled careening around, with an impressive spray of powdery snow that arcs over head- and suddenly the world is pitching upside down, with half of Franz's weight on him, and his shoulder in a snowdrift, and there's pure cold sliding up the ankle of his trousers and down his neck, a mouthful of blonde windswept hair, and who knows where Franz's hat has flown off to, somewhere in the mix-

But Daedalus is delighted, and breathless, slowly turning over spread-legged onto his back and batting a gloveful of snow towards his boyfriend.

The chill burns, but it doesn't really matter.]

[discretion]

[Franz is still laughing, groping about for his hat. It's difficult to distinguish his glow in the brightness of snow, yet he does seem luminescent, bright, an apple-cheeked, fair-haired snow angel with twinkling eyes as he replaces his hate with a snicker.

And promptly chucks a powdery snowball at Daedalus.]

[gaveherwings]

[Daedalus sputters, the snow bursting over his coat, flakes clinging to the wool. He laughs, warm-eyed, and contents to sprawl in the snow, gazing over at him.

His teeth shiver with every intake of breath, but he's a little bit taken by the way Franz looks here, picture-perfection, red on white with splashes of pale-lit cream and gold. The moment seems to hang...

And then he's pulling himself back upright onto his knees and dusting off the snow, trying a climb to his feet and promptly stumbling over himself when the white ground gives about five inches in.

He puffs a laugh at himself like a snort, and reaches for the overturned sled.] Another go like that, and we're lucky we don't break our necks!

[discretion]

[Franz just grins. He finds Daedalus adorably awkward in the snow, snuffly and confused and clumsy and beautiful as ever, his usually-so-neat dark hair falling in his face.]

Oh, it'll be worse next time. You're driving!

[That clap on the back is probably not very reassuring.]

[gaveherwings]

Oh-Hoh! [Snow fluffs off his shoulders with one of Franz's signature hearty claps to the back. He grabs up the sled robe, not so conscious of how ruffled he looks, only that it's difficult to trudge through snow, maybe more difficult, even, than the awkward heaviness and give of beach sand.]

Are you certain you want to subject yourself to that?

[discretion]

Yes! It's going to be hilarious. [Franz gives Daedalus a brief squeeze around the shoulders, tromping through the snow up the hill only slight ahead of him. He's cold, yes, but the laughter and warmth of exertion is warming him.]

[gaveherwings]

[ hilarious, hm? Daedalus makes a softly miffed sound, tugging at the sled, and trudging with a strong suspicion that they'll only manage a few rounds of this before ducking off to the campus care, bruised and shivering.

It makes him feel old and young, revived, and very aware that despite the twice-a-week yoga, he's sorely out of shape for outdoor activity.

He's feeling breathless, halfway up the hill, and so his lungs try to overcompensate by straining above his normal conversational volume]

Tell me more about skiing in the Alps! Was that another vacation you took with Albert and Eugenie?

[discretion]

Yes! I went along with Albert and his parents on more than one occasion. When we turned fourteen, we went on our own and coincided our trip with Eugenie - her parents didn't always want us hanging out in spite of the engagement, because, well, boys and girls... [Franz shakes his head.] Skiing is really fun! It's nice to breathe in all that cold air, and it's faster and you need better balance than for sledding.

[gaveherwings]

Boys and girls...Huh? ...Oh. [The blank look flatters into a faint, wry smirk- he trudges harder to catch up side by side, and loops his free arm through Franz's, leaning in with a roll of his eyes, the sled still heavy on his other arm- maybe it would have been easier to carry it, instead of dragging?] Well I suppose it is quite different, when it runs the risk of procreation, and you don't have entourage at your heels to chaperone.

I imagine mountains are wonderful- I saw them with Shiroe, when we were watching Planet Earth.

[discretion]

They are. I always preferred the beach, personally, but I guess I do miss those mountains. And a big lodge with a roaring fire after a long day, there's nothing like it. [Franz claps Daedalus on the back again, grinning. It's nice to talk about the past, sometimes, without it being too bittersweet.]

I bet you'd be good at skiing. If we ever go to the mountains, I'll teach you.

[gaveherwings]

I bet I'd have terrible balance! [He laughs, shaking his head. The hill seems so much longer, on the way up.] But I'd give it a try anyway.

We won't need a roaring fire tonight, though. All of this cold weather is going to knock me right out once I get back in a proper bed, just watch.

[discretion]

And here I thought you wanted me to show you how we pass the long, dark nights in the Alps. [Franz teases in a singsong voice. Curling up with his lover isn't really a bad idea either, and after a day out in the cold like this they might both be a bit sore and exhausted.]

[gaveherwings]

Mmm...well...you can always show me how to pass the brisk, cold mornings? [Daedalus counters just as breezily, rubbing his gloves together to generate a bit of heat]