[video;]

[fulminants]

[ Someone's chilling in boxers in a steaming hot spring he'd obviously made for himself. Problem is, everything around him is covered in an ungodly amount of snow. ]

You never actually miss the sight of hot babes in short skirts and plunging necklines until your spire gets dumped in a place so cold Satan would probably freeze his butthairs off. On the bright side, I think I might've spotted a yeti. Or that might've been someone's mother-in-law, who knows?

[ Still, Johnny looks largely unaffected by the mildly unfriendly climate. He's fishing an egg out of the hot spring, cracking it on the ice. It's hard-boiled. ]

So, anyway, Gailleann's basically stuck in Everwinter. When life gives you snowballs, make an awesome sport out of it, right? [ He bites into the egg, chews carefully, then swallows and adds: ] If you're sick of the tropical, muggy weather and want to come by, the Spire's open to you. The fires are always burning in Gaillean. Just don't try to kill anyone, and we're good.

More importantly: there's a new skating rink that my guys just worked overtime to make, and a bunch of awesome slopes I spent days creating; go nuts on it and tell me what you think! I'm always a fan of continuous improvement.

Comments

[benumbing]

What other way?

[Jack's voice is too innocent though, something he can't hope to pull off.]

It's going to be more than just keeping the cold out, you know. Even thawed, this ground might not be suitable for anything.

[fulminants]

[ Johnny's cupping his hands over the eggs, boiling them with care. He's got the timing down, more or less, and he buys zero of what his Jack is selling, the deviant. ] Oh, you know.

[ He thinks about it a moment. ] What about a greenhouse, like you said? We can ship soil. Maybe use some poop?

[benumbing]

[He was a prince once. His sunglasses cost nearly a month's salary for most people. He didn't have to do for himself unless he wanted to. The parties were neverending...

And now he's talking about poop.]

Second on the list of words you're never to say again. [Behind "sexiversary".] There is earth if we can melt down to it. But it might need a little fertilizer.

[fulminants]

What word?

[ Johnny asks innocently. Because Johnny maybe wants to hear him say it; because it'd be hilarious. Because he's very sure his prince, born with a pristine diamond spoon in his pretty mouth, has never uttered that word in his whole life. ]

[benumbing]

I refuse.

[He's so not saying it.]

[fulminants]

You realise I'm going to keep saying it if you don't tell me what I shouldn't say, right?

[ Johnny's smirking at him, but then the regs need his attention and he sets it on the edge, cracking one on the ice ledge. He peels the shell off, then holds the egg to his lips. ]

Anyway! Try this. It's got a very nice, semi-gooey center.

[benumbing]

Gooey?

[It's dubious, and he debates making that the third forbidden word. But the idea isn't so unappealing. Jack likes his eggs underdone. He cups Johnny's hand with his before taking a bite.]

Mm, needs butter.

[fulminants]

Really? Butter? [ A quick kiss to the lips takes care of the little smears of yolk, and he licks his own. Mmmhmm. ] Babe, this is a hotspring egg. You know, like those Japanese hotsprings?

[benumbing]

Yes, and I'm sure it's full of culture and tradition, but I like butter on my eggs.

[But he does take the rest of it to eat.]

[fulminants]

All right, wait for me.

[ Johnny rises from the makeshift hotspring -- turns out his boxers got lost somewhere, and he scampers into the spire with a mischievous grin. Do you hear yelps and the occasional exclamation? All a part of your imagination.

But minutes later, he comes out with a small plate of butter and a butter knife, beaming at him. ] Butter for that second egg.

[benumbing]

[Jack soaks and relaxes as Johnny goes, watching him until he's out of sight. The sound of screams makes him laugh.]

Oh, the loss of innocent eyes.

[He opens his own not so innocent eyes, smiling up at him as he takes the plate.]

You didn't have to.

[fulminants]

Babe, I'm a stud. They should all be honored.

[ Johnny preens, peeling the second egg for him, and heating up the knife tip so it warmed the butter nicely. See? Now he's buttering your eggs for you like a good boyfriend. ]

You do lots of things for me. Let me pay that back once in awhile, huh?

[benumbing]

Some of them aren't interested in studs.

[Which he's not sure Johnny Storm believes, with his ego burning as hot as the rest of him. He's amused at it though, his preening and his buttering. He's not wrong...Jack does everything that he can, and would do more if called upon. He opens his mouth, letting Johnny feed a bite to him.

Mm. Better.

[fulminants]

All that's important is that you are.

[ In a Johnny Storm-shaped stud, that is. It's sweetly intimate, the way he takes a bite that way, and he steals another little kiss and a small bite just to find out what's so awesome about it. ]

Mm. Finish up the rest, you degenerate. My fingers are gonna need a little cleaning, too.

[benumbing]

[And he is. If that's not already obvious then Jack will make it obvious, grinning wickedly before finishing off the egg. He reaches up to grip Johnny's wrist, and then slides his tongue along his fingers with darkened eyes, deliberately suggestive.]

[fulminants]

[ Oh.

Oh. Well, that was unexpected. Johnny looks mildly surprised before he laughs softly, tingling with pleasure at that warm tongue. ] Babe, here?

[benumbing]

Why not? This is Baron Storm's land, to do with it as he sees fit.

[Even if it's Jack's idea, Jack who's growling the words against Johnny's mouth.]

[fulminants]

[ It doesn't take long for Johnny to notice that Jack's in one of his predatory moods -- it's hot, and sometimes maybe the Baron likes it when his lover chases him down, too. He smiles and pulls away just a little, enough to set up the hunt. ]

What about Baron Storm's right hand man? Is he going to do as he sees fit in this land, too?

[benumbing]

[Jack tilts his head at him, eyes narrowing when Johnny pulls away. Oh, he will hunt. He will chase and bring him down before making a meal of him.]

The right hand goes where it wants.

[His right hand certainly is as it slips beneath the water.]

[fulminants]

Oh - !

[ Johnny jerks, startled but pleased. He notes the nice firm grip you have on Junior, baby. But he leans in, enjoying the predatory look in his lover's eyes. Lightly bumping noses and denying him a kiss, he hums. ]

So where does the right hand think it wants to go right now?

[benumbing]

Everywhere.

[He mouths the word dramatically.]

This land might be the baron's, but the baron is mine.

[Jack grins again, giving him a little squeeze, enough to make Johnny part his lips before he goes for the kiss.]

[fulminants]

God, the baron loves when you get aggressive. No territory marking?

[ Johnny laughs and lets himself be kissed, happily teasing him right back. Talking about himself in the third person is Cool. As cool as that naughty little squeeze. ]

Mmm. This is like the Pool of Souls all over again. [ A year. It's almost been a year. Johnny runs his fingers through Jack's hair, drawing him closer. ]