[au] an early snow

[the_seafarer]

It's only mid-autumn, as the Bar-year reckons, but one morning Caspian wakes early to find that the light coming through his window has that particular muted quality to it that only comes from sifting through clouds and a veil of snow.

And snow it is indeed, when he comes outside: it crunches pleasantly beneath his boots as his breath freezes in the air and his cheeks turn pink with the cold. Snow; and still it falls, silent and light.

He heads to the stables with the intention of finishing his chores quickly so he can let the horses out to frolic in it, whistling as he goes.

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[the_seafarer]

Caspian kisses that smile once more, then reaches up to tuck a wayward wisp of golden hair back behind her ear.

"Thee mischief," he says, smiling back.

[sai_delgado]

She widens fog-gray eyes in mock affront. “Say not so,” she teases.

[the_seafarer]

"Say true," he teases right back, and kisses her again, a little more deeply.

[sai_delgado]

She shivers a little and leans up into his kiss, kissing him back as she puts her arms around his waist.

[the_seafarer]

Caspian lifts one hand to gently cradle the back of her head as he kisses her, utterly entranced by the softness of her lips, her warmth, her scent, her taste.

When it breaks, he rests his forehead against her and smiles. "We seem to keep getting distracted during our visits here," he says, amused.

[sai_delgado]

“Mayhap a little,” she laughs. “Should we go back to the winter, as a distraction?”

[the_seafarer]

He shivers exaggeratedly at the thought of going back into the snow and puts his arms around her.

"Not yet," he laughs. "We've only just got back to spring."

[sai_delgado]

She smiles up at him, bright and warm and laughing.

“So we have,” she teases. “We could wander the whole year through.”

[the_seafarer]

"A very fine idea," he says, though he has yet to let go of her.

"Let's do."

[sai_delgado]

She stretches up to kiss him again, smiling against his mouth, then pulls back and reaches to take his hand.

“Come on then, an’ye will.”

[the_seafarer]

"Gladly, Su."

He laces his fingers with hers and lets her lead him through the springtime flowers, but not before bending to pluck one of the blue silkflowers that grows and reaching to tuck it behind her ear.

[sai_delgado]

She touches it lightly with her fingertips and lets it stay.

“What’s yer favorite time of year?” she asks, as they walk paths that wind through green grass and just-budding trees and flowers.

[the_seafarer]

"I was just going to ask you the same question," he chuckles.

"I like most times, I suppose. There was always something good about each season. But summer was the best for sailing, so that's always had a special place in my heart."

[sai_delgado]

Susan laughs. “For riding on the Drop, too,” she tells him. “Which is why it were always my favorite.”

[the_seafarer]

"We'll make sure you find plenty to love about winter, too," he promises.

"Ice skating and sleighing and snowball fights and all the rest."

[sai_delgado]

“I’m sure it’ll be wonderful,” she tells him, and oh, her certainty is clear. “Since thee love it so.”

[the_seafarer]

"You will, too," he promises, and squeezes her hand with a smile. "But for now – "

Confused bees drone around a bush thick with raspberries; he plucks a few and offers them to Susan.

[sai_delgado]

Remembering their first visit, she chooses one from his hand and holds it to his lips, mischief in her gaze.

[the_seafarer]

He laughs and bites up the berry, then kisses her fingertips.

"Just as sweet this time around," he observes.

[sai_delgado]

She colors a little, but her gaze is fond. “Thee has a way with words,” she observes. “And teasing, too.”

[the_seafarer]

"I only speak simple truth," he laughs, and lifts one of the berries to her own lips.

"See for yourself."

[sai_delgado]

She opens her lips to accept the berry, kissing his fingers as he’d kissed hers, filled with a fizzing, bubbly feeling at the playfulness between them.

[the_seafarer]

He chuckles, fond, and tips the remaining berries into her hand.

"I think the stream hasn't frozen over," he says. "Can you hear it?"

[sai_delgado]

“Aye,” she says, after a moment to listen. Susan eats another berry and offers him one.

“It’d have to be so cold to freeze, wouldn’t it hurt the plants?”

[the_seafarer]

He takes it with another smile and pops it into his mouth.

"Not for good, I should think," he says, looking around the garden. "I expect most of them will just... go to sleep. Drop their leaves and wait for spring."