[SE] hark the heralds

RONIN

"Am I?" Ronin raises his eyebrows at that, and he makes sure to draw Remi right up against him once he's gotten him on his feet. "Remind me of that when we get home," he suggests with a cold kiss to the space just beneath the Lullaby's ear. "I'll do my best to change your mind." Ahem, for now though, a sled. And wood (Ronin's already got some, but that's no surprise).

"I would love to pull the sled," Ronin informs Remi with a grin, reaching to take his husbands hand and tug them back to the path he's made, so they can creep under the cover of the trees and head down river towards the Sea of Branches. "Mm... Do you think we'll be able to store some meat using the snow?" he asks. "This is our first Deepfrost in a long time, having to prepare for LongNight like this."

Maybe he sounds a little wary. Or maybe it's excitement. Even Ronin doesn't know at this point, honestly.

"I feel much better," he says suddenly, as they stroll under the frosty branches. "Since the season changed, I mean. Not just the luxere in me, but the dragon too."

soft spoken with a broken jaw
we step outside, but not to brawl

the lullaby

i don't want the world to see me,
because I don't think they'd understand

Reaching for Ronin and drawing him close with a sharp tug, Remi presses his lips just beneath his husband's ear. "Voglio scoparti proprio qui e ora. Voglio inchiodarti le braccia sopra la testa e alzare gli occhi al cielo. Voglio che tu scuota la neve dai rami con i tuoi gemiti." The former-Star won't understand the words, but Remi's slow and intentional annunciation of them should give the other man some idea just what it is the alchemist is sketching out.

Thinking of both boring things and very very cold things to shake himself out of the wintery porno he's designed in his mind, Remi raises a brow as he considers. "We could have Sugar help make us a cold box outside. We could also make something out of stone or metal and place it beneath the water. That would keep it cool." He suggests with a shrug. There would be less predators that might try and steal their food if it was in the Stonesong, but then again, most of the animals in the Greatwood knew better than to cross paths with Remi and Ronin.

Tilting his head as if to say as opposed to last night, or in general? Ronin clarifies and Remi finds himself beaming warmly at the Huntsman. "I never had any doubt." He says sweetly. "What about the phoenix? I cannot imagine that it likes these temperatures much."

when everything's meant to be broken,
i just want you to know who I am

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

RONIN

Remi's dark music against the shell of Ronin's ear has precisely the effect the alchemist likely wants it to, and it's with very flushed cheeks and trying to hurriedly adjust his pants that the Huntsman leads them through the woods. "Yeah, well... fette di pancetta," he grumbles in response, taking an exaggerated step over a log to help readjust his sudden erection.

Talk of cold boxes and stone underwater chests definitely helps, and Ronin nods absently. "Why not both?" he suggests. "We can test which one works best then." It doesn't take long to get to the Sea of Branches - that's pretty much why they live where they do - and Ronin crunches out onto snow that's been walked on by dozens of feet, giving Remi's hand a gentle squeeze for no other reason than because he can.

"Oh, it's very upset," he says of the phoenix, smirking across to the alchemist. "I don't think I'll be fully shifting again in the middle of the snow. All it wants to do is curl up and sleep - the dragon as well. We'll have to make the houseboat extra cozy."

soft spoken with a broken jaw
we step outside, but not to brawl

the lullaby

i don't want the world to see me,
because I don't think they'd understand

"Affetterò la tua pancetta." Remi snarls back, seeming both pleased and frustrated.

'I think we still have some fruit leftover. We can put one in the water and one in an icebox and see which lasts longer.' Remi suggests, that way they might be able to discern which will work better for long-term storage. Pulsing his fingers back, not quite spelling something out with morse code but communicates his affection just the same, Remi hums under his breath as the snow crunches beneath their feet.

'I can certainly accommodate that.' Remi says with a wide smile. None of Remi's shifts were inclined to hibernate, but certainly he was happy to lean in to being sluggish and comfortable if for not other reason than that it sounded like a fantastic way to spend their time.

"I'm going to go see Ludo soon." The alchemist notes casually. "Juniper and I were thinking of having trees that reach out and hold ascended in place should they try and enter into the Greatwood. A bit like how the handmines work, if such a thing is possible."

when everything's meant to be broken,
i just want you to know who I am

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

RONIN

"Yes." Ronin heartily agrees, smiling to himself and burying his nose beneath his scarf as they walk to keep his face warm. They crunch their way onto the tangle of bridges that makes up the Sea of Branches, and already the Fae are up and about, as well as the few travellers coming and going at this hour. "I love it when you find excuses to do an experiment," he murmurs with a grin, slipping an arm around Remi in lieu of holding his hand and pausing next to a stall so they can get their flask of cocoa.

"Good," he mumbles, leaning in to sneak a kiss to the mess of Remi's hair, seeming uncharacteristically pleased to be sleeping away the season. "Though it does go at odds with my luxere's need to frolic in the snow," he admits with a chuckle, accepting the flask and moving on so they can pick up a sled to use.

He raises his eyebrows, both surprised and pleased to hear that Remi will be going to see Ludo. "I think that will be right up its street," he admits. "Sneaky and shadowy and grabbing Ascended? What isn't for Ludo to love?" And then, because they're talking about it. "I'll probably be going to see Safrin soon as well. If finding these relics is going to be this dangerous all the time, it can't hurt to make sure I'm in top shape right?"

soft spoken with a broken jaw
we step outside, but not to brawl

the lullaby

i don't want the world to see me,
because I don't think they'd understand

Remi's smile is crooked and dimpled as he peers cheerfully at his husband through lashes that have picked up a few small hitchhikers of snow. "It isn't an excuse. It's necessary." He argues happily, and though Remi is the GaUrdiAn of The GreAtWooD Ronin is certainly still the more charismatic out of the two of them, and so Remi lets him do the ordering.

"Not all frolicking involves being outside, you know." Remi says suggestively with a wink, before shrugging. "But you just let me know when you need a good run, and I'll be happy to give you a reason to flee."

Humming agreement under his breath, Remi bobs his head. "That was my thinking. I'm sure Ludo would be happy to have their souls sucked out, or do have Cath Siths descend upon them, but if it doesn't want a war to start, just imprisoning them temporarily is probably our best bet." The mention of Safrin sucks some of the cheer from Remi's face, but no more than usual. "Top shape, mm?" Gods, he can only guess at how Safrin might take that. "Maybe she will give you a third eye to help your aim." He suggest with a nudge, grinning.

when everything's meant to be broken,
i just want you to know who I am

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

RONIN

"Oh, I see," Ronin says, more than comfortable to indulge his husband in whatever he likes, and apparently that includes frolicking inside. "Now, now," he whispers, kissing Remi's cheek, "we just got back on track. If it was up to you I know we'd end up stripping each other off against a tree." And if this keeps up, Ronin might just let him. "I do enjoy being chased by you, though," he admits. Even moreso now that there's a predator in his bones; he can understand things from both perspectives, and gods if that doesn't make it better.

"I think if you put it like that to Ludo it will understand," he reasons with a chuckle, giving Remi a good natured nudge as if to conjure back his cheer. "Maybe she'll give me extra arms so I can hold enemies still," he fires back, before growing suddenly very distracted as they receive their sled. Handing the flask to Remi, Ronin grins and presses another quick kiss to his cheek. "Hold that thought - I'll be right back," he tells him, before weaving away into the stalls.

soft spoken with a broken jaw
we step outside, but not to brawl

the lullaby

i don't want the world to see me,
because I don't think they'd understand

'Yes.' Remi agrees without hesitation or shame, his head tilting slightly to the side as if to imply that there was something wrong with Ronin for not wanting the same. Grinning, his teeth ever so slightly narrowed at the ends, the alchemist nods. "And if it comes to it, you can always chase me. Or," Now his teeth definitely are pointed. "Try to."

With a laugh that lit up his eyes even if it didn't quite warm his bones, Remi rolls his eyes. "You already have an extra pair of hands." He reminds his husband. Shoving his tongue against the inside of his cheek to ruin Ronin's kiss, the alchemist accepts the flask and happily helps himself to a quick swig. "What if I'm holding something else...?" Remi calls, not worried about who might hear and what they might think he was talking about.

when everything's meant to be broken,
i just want you to know who I am

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

RONIN

"Don't do that without me!" Ronin calls back, beaming over his shoulder at his husband before he's swallowed by the stalls and the meandering Fae. He's only gone for a few minutes, and when he gets back his return is heralded by a very cheerful jingle of sleigh bells - bells that have been carefully wound around glowing luxere antlers. "I will pull the sled," he announces - he had promised to, after all.

Collecting up said sled, he slips his free arm through Remi's and walks them back across the bridges towards the woods. "Would you like a sleigh ride?" he asks once they're back on the snow, waggling his eyebrows and gesturing to the sled, as if to tell him that his chariot awaits.

soft spoken with a broken jaw
we step outside, but not to brawl

the lullaby

i don't want the world to see me,
because I don't think they'd understand

'Don't do it now, don't do it without me. Gods, Ronin.' Remi complains loudly, though the Huntsman will no doubt hear the smile in his voice as Remi takes another drink from the flask. Nearly choking, the alchemist hastily screws on the lid as his eyes drink in the bells and sparkly cheer that now cover his husband's antlers. "Gods." He hisses, stepping forward to tap a conspicuously placed bell and causing it to chime.

Now that the crunch of snow beneath their feet is punctuated by small chimes and jingles, Remi is grinning from ear to ear and finding that he both can't stop and doesn't want to. "I really, really do." Sitting himself down and conjuring a blanket out of thin air that would keep him warm for a time, Remi bounces his eyebrows at his husband as he gets himself sorted. "The view!" He hums under his breath. 'Now if only I had a whip in case you get lazy..' He adds with a laugh.

when everything's meant to be broken,
i just want you to know who I am

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

RONIN

Ronin's grin probably matches Remi's, just without the dimples he loves so much, and he tries his best to glance up at the bell that chimes with the touch of the Lullaby's fingers. "Well I wouldn't want you to lose me out here in the snow, would I?" he reasons, jingling his way along the riverbank until he can settle the sled on a flat enough bit of ground for Remi to take a seat. And seat himself he does, Ronin left rosy cheeked and shin deep in the snowdrifts, more than happy to trudge along with Remi in tow.

"The view, mm?" Grinning over his shoulder and shaking his ass a bit for good measure. "We ought to have gotten a whip when we were at the Sea of Branches. I suppose you could just shout mush! if I go too slowly. Now, would you like me as is, or shall I complete the experience as a true luxere?" he asks, taking a few experimental steps with his husband on the sled, as if to check that it will move smoothly across the snow. "You look very cozy on there."

soft spoken with a broken jaw
we step outside, but not to brawl

the lullaby

i don't want the world to see me,
because I don't think they'd understand

'Well there's obviously no fun in just shouting at you.' Remi argues, tucking his chin into his scarf and seeming to curl comfortably in on himself. 'As a luxere, I think. If only because I think your balance might be better.' That wasn't a jab at Ronin's coordination either. The snow was deep already, and four legs were going to be able to handle things far more easily than just two were. Especially given who those two belonged to (okay, that was a dig).

Stilling for a moment, Remi's smile grows, falters, and then returns steadily. "Aoife would have loved this." He mentions, his voice tinged with only a shimmer of sadness.

when everything's meant to be broken,
i just want you to know who I am

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

RONIN

"As you wish," Ronin croons to his husband, adjusting the straps and ropes on the sled to make a makeshift harness, before he shifts properly into a luxere. Remi is right in that his balance will definitely improve, dig or no dig, and the bells around his antlers cheerfully jingle as he starts making his way along the riverbank to where the woods grow thicker and there will be better wood for collecting.

She would have, wouldn't she? he agrees, his mental voice soft, and the love that beams down their Attuned bond for once isn't so sharp with grief. She'd have wanted to climb on my back and pull at my antlers though. And no, I'm not letting you do that unless you really do intend for us to frolic in the trees...

the lullaby

i don't want the world to see me,
because I don't think they'd understand

I imagine by now she'd be large enough that we wouldn't even have to strap her onto you. She'd be able to hold herself there all on her own. Remi adds, speaking silently that Ronin wouldn't have to strain to hear him over the crunch of snow beneath his hooves. She'd have demanded to have her own bells, too.

For a moment Remi falls silent, having to push away the thoughts that riding his husband immediately inspired. I think your shoulders would be too slim. He decides eventually. A normal luxere might not be able to happily support his weight, but Ronin could. Even so, he was comfortable right where he was, and even shifted now, Remi was still enjoying the view.

Did Mateo say when he was going to come back next?

when everything's meant to be broken,
i just want you to know who I am

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!