snow on snow on snow [closed to hana]

[fairywren]

Snow may be falling, but that doesn't mean the dog doesn't need to be walked. Wren's a silhouette against it, big flakes that fall thickly and in swirls that quickly camouflage Inari's curious figure except for a black nose and eyes and threaten to cover up the dark of Wren's coat. There's almost - but not quite - enough cloud cover that the glitter of the crystals is smothered.

There's a quietness to it, a silent expectant feeling that only comes with falling snow.

It's getting cold quickly, though, too, and he cups his hands around his phone, pulling it out to text Hana as he waits for the dog to come back. Tell me you're not stuck feeding tigers in this, he texts with a small smile.

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[suisen]

Hana smiles and tucks herself into his side, chewing on her cookie thoughtfully. There are a lot of things she keeps close to the chest, more out of habit by now than any secrecy. Most of what isn't known about her is neither happy nor fondly remembered. So she chews slowly, not bothering to disguise the thought she has to put into it.

I have two little sisters. Both hearing, she says finally. I haven't talked to them in five years. Not since she moved here.

She smiles and breaks another cookie in half and hands a piece to him and balances a tiny fragment on Inari's nose.

[fairywren]

It takes Hana a moment, and when she does decide, Wren can't read it fully. He reserves judgement in favor of settling his arm around her as she talks but the need to point out that they're hearing just begs more questions.

Your choice? It's casually asked as he takes the cookie piece.

Inari licks at her nose and finally tosses her head, gulping at the crumb gleefully: her curious look at Hana is more about if she gets any more.

[suisen]

Our parents, she explains. They haven't forgiven me. Aiko will be graduating high school soon, Hana estimates. They haven't sent an e-mail, a text. Nothing in five years.

I can be honest, but it's not a very happy story.

Grinning, Hana lifts up another crumb and holds it above Inari's head.

[fairywren]

He frowns. Okay, so he's currently in the process of not forgiving his mother, or trying not to. But - even if they have some reason, and even as an only child - he can't imagine estrangement extending to siblings.

For what? He can't help but smile though, as Inari sits up... and then bumps Hana's hand with her nose. Puppy love.

He makes a face. I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want. But, he adds, I'm here for not-happy . That's part of this, isn't it?

[suisen]

She nods and drops the crumb for Inari and then scoots closer to him, like his warmth can ward off the bad memories.

When I graduated from Gallaudet, they figured I'd had my fun in deafie school and now it was time for some magic or a cochlear to "fix" my deafness. Either I did it, or I left and gave up on...all their support. Much of it financial.

I left. And here I am.

[fairywren]

Wren wraps his arms around her, tucking one leg under him to open his body toward her as she scoots closer. He watches seriously and careful to catch everything as she tells the story.

He can feel his stomach twist angrily at the idea of her being 'fixed'. Wren's had plenty of moments of feeling other-than, of being made to feel that way, and he's learned to outdo his own critics - but he doubts it's anything like what Hana's experienced. To have her own parents give her that kind of ultimatum...

He just looks at her for a minute, struck by how much they aren't seeing.

There are angry words he could use, but he takes a breath and signs, "I'm glad you're here."

[suisen]

It's almost a relief to tell, chipping off a little bit of the bitterness of keeping the story to herself. It's needled at her for a long time now and when Wren just holds her closer, it helps her breathe. She's made it, mostly. Maybe she doesn't fly first class and she has to take the bus everywhere, but she lives independent of their money and their ultimatums.

I've done all right, she says. I went from living in a penthouse to a studio with creative folding screens.

But she's also found good people. She's found Wren.

And found out what she's made of.

I'm glad too. You're here.

[fairywren]

They are nice screens, he says with an innocent face. He's gone from living in a small house to a smaller studio to a very large studio and being able to use the word "comfortable" about himself realistically. He can't imagine growing up in a penthouse and from the way it sounds, money held over her head, he doesn't really want to.

There's a connectedness to the two statements that wants to tug at something anxious, afraid of how much faith it implies. But everything about her in his arms feels right and didn't he say he was going to be himself even despite what he thought?

It turns out I make good decisions sometimes, he signs, smiling, and leans in to kiss her, thumb tracing her cheek.

[suisen]

Very nice screens. They do catch the light very nicely, projecting clockface patterns through her home. It's a space the she controls, even if she doesn't own it, and that's more than she can say about her parents' house.

Mostly, she misses the security. In five years, she's learned to forget the luxuries, but the money anxiety never seems to quite sneak away.

Except right now, when she's safely held in Wren's arms. The touch feels good, leaving a trail of warmth over her cheek, and Hana leans forward to kiss him and press him back against the arm of the sofa.

[fairywren]

He lets her push him back easily with a surprised, pleased hum, shifting his hand to tangle into her hair as he deepens the kiss, the arm of the couch firm against his back and her weight on top of him. There are cookies being forgotten, probably: his attention is all on her.

[suisen]

She feels the hum in his throat and leans her head down, ear over his heart. This close, with her hearing aids turned up, Hana likes to think she can get a sense of his heartbeat. Smiling, Hana moves back up and kisses him again, enjoying the warmth of the fire and between them.

[fairywren]

He chews on his lip a little, blinking slowly and watching her listen to - feel - his heart against his chest. It's an intimate gesture, in a different way than he's used to, and he finds himself caught off guard by it, charmed in a way he can't even explain entirely.

He traces along her back lazily with one hand and smiles as she moves back up, kissing her, lazy and thorough.

[suisen]

It's easy to smile against the kiss, the total lack of hurry. They have all night and all day, with plenty of food and company. Hana can't help leaning back for a moment and just looking into his face, propping up to get a better look at him. She doesn't quite realize the way her aura is shifting, a soft and steady glow that reaches out to him with...not quite love, not yet, but the beginnings of it. Safety, happiness, affection, amusement.

It all tangles as she bends and kisses him again.

[fairywren]

He looks up at her, meeting her gaze steadily: self-aware and faintly amused as she just looks at him for a minute. The glow of happiness and ease is contagious from her and he lets himself settle into it, projecting back honestly: affection, attraction, openness. He's nervous, but it's settled into the sort of pleasant nervousness that attraction always brings with it, wanting to be what someone wants. In this case, it's less physical than it is usually for him. But he feels safer, or maybe more honestly himself with her, than he does usually. It's an odd sort of counter balance.

What do you see? he asks, and leans up for a kiss, his other hand spreading out under the edge of her shirt to get more skin on skin.

[suisen]

Someone bewitching, she teases. Then her face softens and Hana smiles, repeating the sign. And I'm a witch, so I'm kind of an expert. She smiles and brushes some of his hair back, gently tucking locks away from his eyes.

Then she tips her head and looks at him again, a little deeper. He's bewitching yes, but she also sees someone earnest, passionate, and generous. She signs out each quality she sees.

[fairywren]

He raises an eyebrow at her. He doesn't know the sign, but he gets it from the next thing she says, and he signs it back at her with a smirk. Bewitching?

I think you must be an expert, he counters, tipping his head to look at her affectionately. She certainly has him under her sway right now.

I'm a siren, he teases, making you like me is what I do. He'd never think of applying his powers to her in any way other than simple projection, unless she wanted him to for whatever playful reason - but his mother's warning about what he is hasn't totally left his mind, and he'd never call himself generous. Passionate, maybe. He's sure she can feel the uncertainty there, but he turns it into amusement.

He catches at her hands and kisses the inside of her palm. Why would anyone try to change you? She is such a problem and he kind of loves it. Nothing to do when you're over your head but swim.

[suisen]

You're generous with your heart, with love. Affection? His ability to love more than one person isn't a defect to be corrected, not when he clearly loves so wholly. His affection makes her aura bubble with warmth.

When he reminds her of his abilities, Hana gets playful and taps his nose. I can't hear siren song, remember? You won me on charm alone. And he really had. He still is.

And she can say why people would try and change her, but this is a flirty, happy moment. They don't know what to do with perfection.

[fairywren]

He tilts his head, considering that; he's lost a lot for his passions whether human or creative, and when he hasn't he's been a little afraid of getting himself hurt if not someone else. So to be told it's a good quality, his helpless attachments, his fondness of people and things, is new, and it's with nothing but affection that he smiles.

Wren grins and makes a face, play-biting at her finger as she taps his nose. I'll remind you of that, he teases.

He laughs. Clearly not he says, then smirks, leaning to kiss her briefly and drop a kiss to her neck. I have some ideas.

[suisen]

Such as? Hana asks. She shifts to his side so that they're crushed together, lying face to face with just enough room to sign or to kiss. She taps a finger against his nose again, but softer, and runs it down over the shape of his lips.

We're probably going to be snowed in for at least a whole day. We'll have plenty of time.

[fairywren]

He does capture her finger in his mouth then, sucking on it lazily with a look of thought or maybe mischief. That's a lot of time, he signs back, and I can be creative. .

He kisses the inside of her wrist, the bend of her elbow, smiling. I want to explore, he says, the last sign drawn out. Find your weaknesses. He's pretty sure she's just as likely to find his.

He's also pretty sure this needs to move off the couch at some point, but they've got time. And a lot of surfaces. Couch. Bed. Bathtub. That's not a half bad one.

[suisen]

She smiles and lets him. For all that it's her hand on Wren's mouth, he may as well have laid a finger on her lips to shush her for the moment. It's sensual without pushing too hard or robbing her of communication.

When he draws out the sign, teases her with kisses, Hana does withdraw her hand just enough to tip his chin up so that he's looking at her. Who says I have weaknesses? Of course she does. He features prominently as one of them.

But we do have plenty of time. You're right.

[fairywren]

Wren tips his head up at her touch, falling instinctively still and meeting her eyes. The chide sends a shiver through him. If her weakness is wanting to coax obedience out of an impulsive siren, that's something he's happy to indulge.

He raises a eyebrow very slightly at her, waiting to see what she's thinking.

[suisen]

She smiles and bends to kiss him, cupping his face. I don't want to rush this time. The time at the lodge, that had been rushed. Still good and Hana remembers it happily, especially now. But this time, they have the time and the space.

You and me, keeping warm.

[fairywren]

He smiles at that and kisses her back, unrushed and lingering, sliding a hand to her neck. Slow is good, he signs back after a long moment, pulling back just enough so she can see and tipping his head up, tucking her hair away from her eyes.

[suisen]

She grins and blows upward, unsettling the locks he's just tucked away. Maybe they're not rushing, but that doesn't mean she plans to be sweet and pliant either. They're both just a little too mischievous for that.