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 Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2026 8:59 pm
Cut Cold (16) : The latest snowfall looks normal from a distance, but the moment it touches your skin you realize something is off--each flake feels sharp, abrasive, and strangely gritty. Brushing against it leaves your skin itching, stinging, or marked with tiny scratches that sparkle faintly as though dusted with crushed glass. Even bundled up, the snow manages to sneak into sleeves and collars, leaving patches of irritation wherever it melts. It’s not enough to cause serious harm, but it's annoying, uncomfortable, and unpredictable. Sometimes a long, warm shower is enough to dispel the agitation, or sometimes it goes away on its own after a day or two. It's not a common feature this winter, but no one can quite explain why the snow has taken on such a biting edge this season.
They should hire someone to do the snowblowing, and maybe they should, but at least it wasn't a shovel which he had to use. The blower was top of the line, at least when it was purchased, nice and big so it could handle the driveway in a decent amount of time. If he said they needed bigger, maybe even a tractor with a plow at the front of it, he wouldn't lying either. The drive was long and wide and as Liam finished getting his snow boots on he he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed as he looked out the front door, out to the snow he'd need to clear. The blower was by the frontdoor, for ease or reaching it, but that was the only good thing about this all.
"So much snow." He wanted to whine, he really did, because there was so much snow. But now was not the time for such, it would achieve nothing, so he settled for opening the door and stepping out slowly. The good thing was the lack of snow falling presently, he wouldn't be able to do anything if snow was still falling, he wasn't going to clear the driveway only to have to go over it again when more snow accumulated so he'd waited till it was done coming down. "I'm heading out!" They knew he'd be clearing the drive way but he wanted them to knwo he was heading out now, so they could get him at some point for a hot drink to warm up with.
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2026 5:39 pm
Aloysius laid in bed a bit longer, wrapped up in the blankets and enjoying the warmth left behind by his husband. He still had some time before the next semester started at DCU, so he finally decided to take some of Liam's advice to rest. This season, for once, had left him mostly alone. That didn't mean the tension and worry weren't there; something could still happen to him or Liam out of nowhere. Hearing them call out, letting him know they were going to clear the path down from the house to the gate, he groaned softly and moved to get out of bed. Reaching for his glasses, he stretched and let out a low yawn as he felt his sore back protest at the cold. It never stayed exactly warm in the manor, aside from the spaces closest to the fireplaces. His husband, the furnace, was usually more than enough to help keep his chills away, though. Combing his fingers through his hair to get it at least semi-smooth, he braided it only loosely for now as he slid into a robe and slippers before making it downstairs to the kitchen. Casting a glance out one of the windows, he noticed how much snow had come down, just the sight of it making him shiver. It was quiet again, now that Liam's father had gone back to the side home on the property. While the man was kind and just as pleasant as Liam, he still stressed slightly about them finding something out about what went on outside of the normal day-to-day civilian life they had. At least Agatha seemed to understand the need to keep things quiet, one worry he was glad to not have. Pulling out the tea kettle and a few of the loose-leaf tins, he went about getting water ready for tea as well as preparing breakfast. Something simple, eggs, bacon, and pancakes. At least that was what would be cooked first, then he could cut fresh fruit for Liam and have that set out as well. It was easy to slide into the rhythm of it, swaying slightly side to side as he mixed ingredients and watched the pans as each dish cooked. For once, a holiday that didn't haunt him and bring harm to him or his spouse. The thought of it had him feeling relaxed in a way he hadn't truly felt in as long as he could remember, aside from the moments when Liam had been there to keep things at bay. Flipping the pancake in the pan, he took a moment to set up cups and add the appropriate amount of sugar and cream to his cup before adding in Liam's preferred sweetener to their cup. It would be nice and warm for when they came back inside, he knew it was something that would help with the normal kind of cold that came with the season.
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 12:58 pm
It was cold, really cold, and thw snow was high but Liam wasn't detered because of that. He was bundled up nice and warm, he was layered up, he couldn't walk as easily as normal due to the layers but that was something he'd accept if it meant he was warm - which he was. With just his eyes showing, as well as a bit of blond hair, the male went to start up the snow blower that was near to the front door. Hearing it turn over and start up, it was louder than he liked, the blond started at the front door.
The snow went flying into the air, as expected, what he didn't expect was for it to touch what little of his face was visible and to...cut. It was rough against his skin and felt like sand, or sandpaper, that wasn't normal but he also didn't say anything as it wasn't that bad. He wasn't going to complain about it, he'd deal with it, the job needed to get done and it looked like nature and seasonal magic had decided to try and annoy him. It was annoying, it wasn't painful yet, and so it was tolerable when he compared it to what it could be. This wasn't too bad.
As Liam continued, snow going up into the air and being directed into the yard, the snow somehow got down his coat around his neck and left more irritation in its wake. It bothered him, had him rubbing at the areas as he worked, and snuck up a sleeve right around his glove, and he still continued to work. This job wasn't going to be pleasent either way but it was less so with this added bonus - he wasn't pleased with it.
When the cold had gotten to be too much for Liam he turned off thw snow blower and made his way inside, removing some of the clothing once in the front door. He wasn't intending to overheat, and needed some food and tea, so the layers were left by the door along with the snow boots. The trek to the kitchen, where he could smell delicious food, took almost too long but finally he was stepping into the kitchen. "You're up. You didn't need to get up." He would have prefered the other slept more, he needed to rest more, but he knew his husband would be up and making food....he was too good. Liam was lucky, very lucky, and he knew it.
"I'll go and get more done once I've had something to fill myself with. I think I'll break it up a bit so I don't freeze." And he had no clue he was red in the face, and not just from the cold, though it was hard to tell that it was more than just the cold...at least he could hope.
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 1:29 pm
Aloysius had heard Liam come back inside, even though he was in the middle of getting things set up on plates and down on the kitchen table. Fresh oranges and sliced apples were out next to some berries that he'd washed to eat with his pancakes. Looking up at his husband, he was surprised by how red their face was, even if their tan had lightened due to the wintertime lack of sun. Taking a few steps closer, once he grabbed both of their cups to set on the table as well, he reached up to gently thumb at some of the redness on their cheek. Instead of the usual feeling of their skin, something akin to sand or glass scratched against his thumb. "Oh... that... well that is quite odd." His brow furrowing as he looked at his thumb and saw it all scratched up like their face was. Turning back to wet a cloth, he nudged them to sit while he looked them over more under the light at the table. "This seems different from regular snow... Nothing was out there, though, right?" It didn't seem like something specific had done this, but it was odd.
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 1:56 pm
Oh, well he hadn't thought he'd look different. He knew he'd be red, he'd felt the abrasive snow against his skin, but to know it felt different that was unexpected. "The snow feels off but nothing more than annoying, it's not painful. I'll take a hot soak and wash up really well once I'm done." To handle whatever was going on with his skin, he might even be daring enough to dry a scrub on his skin and see if it didn't make things worse but maybe just remove some of the roughness, which would be nice.
"Nothing is outside though, you don't need to worry love." Running his fingers through the others bangs before kissing his cheek. "Let's eat and then I'll head back out and get this done as soon as I can." So he could clean up and handle the rough skin he had going on. "If anbything else happens, which I doubt anything will, I'll let you know and we'll handle it. But we've been good this year. I think we're finally getting a break." Maybe good luck for them after saving the Earth? Maybe it was just luck. Either way it didn't matter...it was just nice.
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 2:43 pm
Thinking quietly for a moment as he at least dabbed around their eyes and mouth to try and clear some of the sparkling crystalline snow, he let out a sigh and nodded. "Okay, if you say so. I might join you then; it is honestly far too cold today." Even if he didn't get as cold as often, he still hated the weather when it got like this. Sliding their cup closer to them, he went and grabbed utensils from the drawer before pulling his chair closer to them and sitting down to eat. "I made a bit of everything; there are some extras for Agatha and Desiree, but I do think both of them are either asleep or busy at the moment." "Aside from whatever had chased me in the fall and that spectre in my grandfather's room at least. I will agree that... perhaps this year has been easier on us. Maybe a belated wedding gift from that unaligned unpleasantness..." Shrugging slightly, he snatched a strawberry and popped it into his mouth. "Let me know if you want anything else? I have some other fruit in the fridge and juice that came in with the groceries."
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2026 4:56 pm
"That's fine, join me later for a hot soak. It'll be nice. We really should look into a better, quicker, way to clear the drive." They also should look into more ways to keep the house warm, more fireplaces or something, because winters here were bad...worse than when he was a child. He suspected they were worse due to the magic in this city, but couldn't be sure, but he knew it was worse than when he'd been growing up.
"If it's a belated wedding gift I'll accept that. It is better than it has been and I'm greatful. You scared me both those times, and I know you were even more shaken than I was." If this was all they had to suffer this winter he was fine with it, he knew he'd said he would mention the snow wolves...but he'd yet to do so and was convsidering not, he wanted to keep his partner safe and happy. Watching his husband eat a strawberry drew his own attention to the fresh fruits, something he was always happy to see and eat, and reaching for a slice of fruit Liam was happy to chase it with a sip of tea. "Fruit juice would be good as well." To go with the tea, and the fruit, he didn't mind piling on the food since he'd burn it all anyway.
Slowly eating, a peck to the cheek here and there, as his husband sat near enough for him to easily reach. "We should look into warming this place more for you. I'm sure no one else will complain either."
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