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Everything seemed nice and comfy when they arrived.
A warm breeze, the vibrant hues of autumn still atop the trees…
The fuck did THAT all go overnight?!
Tav wakes up to the blindingly white bullshit of snow carpeting the ground just beyond the guest room screens. Completely out of nowhere and cold cold cold. The moment he realizes just what was going on, he crawls back into the covers with a devastated whine, burrowing close to his toasty warm husband.
Unfortunately, that wakes the man up.
“...Mmm? Wha’s wron’ darlin’?” Craig mumbles sleepily.
“It snowed.”
“Ah.”
Craig glances to the screens, and then down at the Octoling, “...Yer gonna have to get up sometime today, y’know.”
“But I don’t want to,” Tav complains, burying his face in the Inkling’s chest, “Can’t we just sleep in?”
“Maybe you can, but I can’t. Now c’mon, let go so I can get up,” the Inkling huffs, jostling the clingy man.
Tav whines unhappily, but he does let go, huddling fully beneath the sheets once the man leaves. Craig chuckles fondly at him and sets about getting dressed. They hadn’t exactly brought cold weather attire with them, but the Octoling wouldn’t miss one haori, especially not when he’s bunkering down all stubborn and grumpy like this. Once he was as warm as could be, he steps outside.
The familiar scraping of snow getting shoved off hardwood echoes from across the way, where Creighton was, already wide awake and hard at work clearing the walkways. His bony hands were grasped onto the long handle of what looked like a makeshift shop brush - it was a Spreader bolted onto the edge of a wooden dowel, with what appears to be hot water in a tank attached to it. Looks kind of ramshackle, but it melts the snow enough to where it can then be shoved off the side of the balcony, into the forest treetops below. He looks rather annoyed at the drifts, though.
“Need a hand there?” Craig chirps, walking over.
"Ehmmm… Dunno," Creighton groaned as he kept pushing along, "Think I'm almost done anyhow, so don' worry 'bout it…" He gives a rather harsh shove, and a large drift goes tumbling to the pines below. The branches below crackle under the weight. The soldier huffs in satisfaction, wringing his wrists to warm up his hands a little bit. "...Didn' realize we was gon' git this much powder… Came rather late, too."
“Yer tellin’ me,” the sailor huffs, “Tav is outright refusin’ to get outta bed ‘cause of it. He really ain’t a fan of the cold, much less snow.”
"Ahhhhh~... Right, right, some'in 'bout… therma-whatchamacallit's. Via was mentionin' somethin' 'bout that in 'er ramblin's earlier." He leans on the makeshift device, detaching the hot water jug and corking it before then hoisting it over his shoulder. "....Neither me or Vio are rather fond of the stuff either… so I git 'is gripe."
“Speakin’ of Vio… Is he up yet?”
Creighton looks at his phone, checking the time – 9:30. "....Now that y' menti'n it, he ain't." He sighs as he shoves the device back in his pocket. A servant gently takes the makeshift mop and jug off his hands, hauling it away to another level for use… "I tried gittin' him up earlier, but he's a rather heavy sleeper. I'm always up b'fore 'im."
“Between me an’ Tav, I’m actually the one who’s the late riser. But there are exceptions from time to time,” Craig shrugs, glancing back to the guest room.
"....T' be fair, sailor, yer husband barely sleeps at all," Creighton droned with the most blunt look on his face, "He an' Octavia both rank high on that 'ne, mostly 'cause 'uv her insomnia an' his overactive noggin. Even wit' th' sleepin' pills, it don' do much."
“They do work, it’s just that he hardly ever uses ‘em,” the Inkling sighs, “It’s always a fight to get him to take one…”
Before the conversation could get too dire, the sound of an excited gasp rings out from down the hall, “It snowed!!”
Little feet rush up to them, almost sliding on hardwood as Sumire bounds out of her room all smiles. Creighton catches the tiny Octoling by the collar of her pajamas, pulling her back before she slips. "Easy there, little rocket…! Y're gon' slip an' break some'in like that! I'd hate fer y' to git hurt…. or worse, go careenin' off th' balcony."
“Sorry!” she yelps, trying to tone it down, “But it snowed!”
"Indeed it did… We were actually s'posed t' get this big ol' sheet of powder three weeks ago… but I g'ess Father Winter needed a lil' time t' git out 'uv bed," he'd chuckle. The tips of his silver tentacles were paler than normal, slightly quivering.
“Dad’s all grumpy, isn’t he?” Sumire comments, looking up to Craig.
“Yep. Either he went back to sleep or he’s just mopin’ under the covers at the moment,” the Inkling shrugs, “Pretty sure he’s gonna bunker down in there all day.”
“Can I play in the courtyard?” she pleads hopefully.
He ruffles her tentacles, “Maybe after breakfast, flowerbud.”
"...Well, it's a good thing I've got this here then," a cheery warble rings from down the hall. Out would come Via, pushing what looks like an insulated container on wheels towards the three. She parks it near the exterior doors.
"Ah, starfish," the soldier chirps. "There y' are."
"Morning, Papa. Sumire, Cap…"
She looks around a little, then to Craig.
"Is Doc still out for the count?"
“Eh, kind of. Soon as he saw the snow he huddled down under the blankets an’ refused to get out.”
"...Maybe something warm to start off the morning might help a little," she'd chirp as she opened the container. Inside is a basket filled with what appears to be fresh rice balls and two thermoses, plus mugs. "I've got cocoa and tea. Take your pick…!"
“Cocoa please,” Sumire hums, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“I know Tav’ll want tea,” Craig adds.
"Oh, by the way, Pops… I've already asked the kitchen staff to order more coffee," Via would note to the soldier, "Apparently the rest is gonna go into making tiramisu tonight." Creighton seems to enjoy the thought of that, his eyes wistfully looking off into the distance with a smile.
She pours a cup of cocoa for Sumire, handing it to her.
“Thank you~” the little Octoling sing-songs, taking a happy sip.
She then brings out a tray from the side and sets it next to the Guest Room screens. A cup of tea is poured, and set with two rice balls on top of its glossy black surface.
A knock gently rings through the screen frame, to where Tav is inside.
"Ansumaaaaan~ <Pardon my intrusion~>"
An unhappy grumble rings out from inside, muffled by blankets and the screens.
Via gently slides them open, setting the tray inside the room as she enters, closing them behind her so the cold air doesn't follow her in. Her tentacles flick frost behind her. "Up an' at 'em, Doc… chow's on."
A hand sticks out of the grumpy lump of blankets, making a grabby motion.
"You gotta sit up for this, Doc," she sighs, "If it helps, I'll turn up the heating for ya. It does feel a bit cold in here… " The tiny princess stands up and adjusts the thermostat.
He groans again, clearly displeased with the arrangment. But after the room warms up a little bit more, he slowly, slowly sits up, keeping the blankets tight around himself. He looked… kind of miserable, to be honest, shivering even beneath the layers.
She pulls the tray closer to him, then leaves out the hallway door, closing it gently so as not to blow cold air in his direction. The cup of tea steams gently with the rice balls beside it, ebbing with warmth. They were no tiny affair, these were quite substantial, and appeared to have fillings that were rather suited for the weather.
After a moment to curse the ache in his fingers, he takes a famished bite of one, surprised to recognize the taste as something Craig came back with one night. After Sumire’s sleepover, if he remembers correctly. While it definitely woke him up and helped warm him… he still wasn’t inclined to leave the bedroll. At least, not for very long. The tea was also a codsend, fragrant and relaxing.
As the Octoling nipped away at the warm liquid, the disgruntled sound of a familiar voice came ebbing from down the hall. The soldier's rustic hum kindled, "Alright, suckerfish - up an' at 'em. You can't snooze away the mornin' like this all th' time…!" A sleepy, low warble follows.
Oh he felt that. Deeply.
The sound of struggle to lift up a large weight, then a thump on the hardwood with a squeak. "Gah…! Keep f'rgettin' how heavy y' are … honey…!" More low, sleepy warbling as the soldier wiggles his way out from under the Octarian.
Out in the hall, Creighton sits in the doorway of their bedroom, rather annoyed and sore.
"....Big ol' beach ball… Agh - can't even git you outta bed like this on my own…"
Vio is still snoozing away, laying in his blankets at the Inkling's feet, unaware of a word the soldier is saying to him as he dreams on… All he's wearing is his hakama.
Craig pads up quietly behind him as Sumire munches on her breakfast a little ways away, “...Wow. You weren’t kiddin’.”
"...Gotta figure a way t' wake him… else he'll be snoozin' til damn near noon."
Creighton would think, but is unable to come up with a solution. "....Y' think Tav might be able t' git 'im to snap out'uv it? I'm out of ideas…."
“Maybe. But convincin’ him to leave that room’ll be difficult,” Craig grumbles, crossing his arms.
The soldier looks at his fiance… and gives an annoyed sigh. "Aight. Guess we're gon' hafta do this then. If this don' wake 'im, I dunno what will." Creighton would grab the blanket, wrapping the Octarian in it like a burritopus, and drag the man down the hall as is to the Guest Room with a huff. "Off we go…."
Craig tries his best not to laugh as he follows behind, opening the door for them.
Tav can see the sleeping Octarian's head laid face first in the back of Creighton's shoulder. The Inkling looks rather irritated. "....Could ya help us wake ol' Sleepin' Beauty here? It's reachin' damn near ten… an' I've tried damn near ev'ry trick in my pocketbook to rouse this big ol' beach ball, but he's still sawin' logs."
The Octoling shrugs, polishing off his last bite of rice ball, “...I can try.”
Creighton hoists him over, flopping him gently next to the Octoling. He stands up, rubbing his shoulder with a groan as he exits the room with Craig.
Tav looks down at the sleeping man curiously, studying him for a moment. He really had no clue how to wake him up, but…
“Hey. Vio. Come on. Wake up,” he states bluntly, poking the Octarian on the cheek.
His tentacles wiggle, a sleepy warble ebbing from the tatami below.
That's… a start…? He seemed to respond, but he's still not awake.
“If I don’t get to sleep in then you don’t either,” Tav grumbles, poking him a bit more insistently, “Suffer in the cold with me, you big lout.”
The man warbles, shuffling a little more. His tentacles spread out, reaching towards the Octoling's arm to grab it. The dark blue comforter around him comes loose, flopping to the side, revealing his flushed sepia-tone skin. Though still, he snoozes on, unphased.
Tav sighs and runs his fingers along the tendril circling his wrist, “...Wish I could sleep as well as you do, starlight.”
The tendril tugs him closer, arms sleepily wrapping around the Octoling. Vio mumbles with a warble, dozing off again. Tav now finds himself… rather stuck.
“...You know what? Fuck it. You have the right idea.”
Tav tosses his blanket on top of Vio’s, flopping to the bedroll and pulling both blankets around them. If he was going to be tormented by this awful weather, then he should at least get to enjoy the comforting warmth of a personal space heater. And if his usual one insists on getting on up? Well. Too bad for him then. Missing out on some prime cuddle time here.
He huffs and snuggles up close to the Octarian, slowly drifting back to sleep.
Vio lightly smiles, nuzzling the other's forehead a little. His eyes finally crack open a smidge… but flutter closed again, drowsily relaxing in the warmth.
After a few more minutes, there’s a knock at the door, and then a light voice, “...Dad? Are you done with breakfast yet?”
The handle turns, and the door cracks open, “Pa says I can’t play in the snow until everyone’s eaten…”
Sumire pauses in the doorway, blinking at the pile of sleepy octopus.
Via peeks in behind her. "Doc? Did you manage to wake Dad up… yet… oh."
She chuckles, amused, "...Welp, that answers that question."
“Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to put the two sleepyheads together,” Sumire muses as she goes to retrieve the empty cup and tray.
".....At least it looks like your father ate something before he dozed off again…"
The princess leans into the tiny Octoling's ear with a snort of humour, pointing to the two, "But look at them, Sumire… don't they look like little penguins huddled up in a blanket to keep warm in the cold?"
The girl giggles, “Two emperor penguins, specifically.”
“Welp. If they’re not gonna get up then I’m not gonna sit around and wait for them. I want to get started before the snow gets all slushy!” she huffs.
The tiny princess chuckles, snapping a photo before running off with Sumire. "Let's find you some warmer clothes though - you can't play out there in just pajamas…!"
All was peaceful once again, the two older Octopus dreaming away with one another.
========
The two frolic in the snow, taking full advantage of the decent drifts of white powder that blanketed the courtyard.
There was a lot of it, and with it came plenty of potential for fun and games.
Via rolls up two snowballs and stack them, Sumire adding little seaweed flourishes to give the snowsquid his tentacles. To top it all off, they would add leaves for his coat. "There we are! Mighty fine work we've done, if I think so myself. We miss anything?"
“Just oooooone thing,” Sumire mumbles, rifling around near the roots of the Octarian Red Maple. She returns with a good sized stick, shoving it in the ground near the right side of the snowsquid, “There we go!”
"Mm? What's that supposed to represent, Su'?"
“Pa’s cane! He always has it with him.”
"Ohhhhhh, now I see the resemblance…!"
She looks it over, her ears drooping as she awkwardly chuckles.
"It seems like a rather hilarious coincidence that I made him just as short… damn."
An indignant squawk comes from the walkway behind them, “I ain’t short!”
"With all due respect, Cap, you're as tall as I am in heels. I'm five foot even without. Most people around here tower over both of us, except for maybe Houzuki and Su."
The man splutters, trying to shoot back a rebuttal but coming up empty. His ears flick in annoyance as he huffs.
"Buuuuuuut as my girlfriend says, it's not the size that matters. It's how you use it," she beams, "....So I think I'm perfectly fine just the way I am, even if I am a midget. My big ol' sunfish loves me all the same."
A light blue dusts the tips of his ears as he crosses his arms, pulling the ‘borrowed’ haori tighter around him. The cold must be getting to him a bit.
“So– Um,” he coughs, clearing his throat, “Did Tav manage to wake up yer Dad at all?”
"...They were both out like a light," Via chirped plainly, "...But I did get a picture of them. They looked like fuckin' emperor penguins huddled for warmth in there…."
She comes over with a chuckle, flipping out her cell phone and showing him. "See?"
He glances at it, and then snorts with laughter, breaking out into a rather smitten smile, “Awww… That’s adorable… Think ya can send that to me?”
A few taps and a small "woomy!" sound comes from her phone.
"Done. Should be in your inbox shortly, Cap."
His phone pings with a default chime, and he quickly pulls it out to save the image to his gallery, “...Might make that a new contact icon…”
She chuckles, tucking her phone away and hopping back to the snow, dipping behind a tree as Creighton comes out once more. "...Alrighty then…. Everythin's all cleared." He approaches the sailor, taking a seat on the stoop next to him. "...Although it seems our little idea fell through. Now we got two logs sawin' away in that room—"
Suddenly, a snowball comes flying out of nowhere and smacks Creighton straight in the face, at the bridge of his glasses, sending him flying onto his back with an alarmed squawk.
“Cripes!” Craig yelps, jolting from sudden attack, “You good there?”
The soldier wobbles back upright, taking off his glasses and rubbing the snow out of the lenses. "Yeah, I-I'm fine. What in the seven depths was that…"
A mischievous cackling comes from behind the tree, the little princess donning a big ol' evil smile as she pokes her head out in glee. "GYAH HA HAH! Gooooooot one~!"
“Via,” Craig huffs, “You oughtta be careful with yer elder–”
A second snowball comes flying, beaning him straight in the face. He doesn’t fall over, but he certainly splutters in surprise.
“Got the other one!” Sumire giggles, peeking out from behind her snowpa.
The soldier adjusts himself, chuckling with a low ebb as he puts his glasses back into his pocket. "Ohhhh, I see what's goin' on here now, sailor. We've got ourselves a pair of cheeky lil' snow gremlins lookin' fer a little tousle…"
“Well then… Think we oughtta oblige?” the sailor hums, tightening the tie to his haori.
"Thought y'd never ask, darlin'," Creighton ricketed, that starry glint shining through at the prospect of a good challenge. A large smirk breaks on his sandy face. "....It's on."
Craig steps down into the courtyard, brimming with mischief, “Let’s show these lil’ scamps a thin’ or two.”
=====
There was the courtyard now - two forts and a pile of snowballs behind each. The Elder Cuttlefishes vs. The Tiny Takowasas… it wasn't a battle of ink, but a white flurry of powder set to go flying.
Via looks to Sumire with that smirk. "Ready for this, Su?"
“Let’s get ‘em,” the little Octoling nods.
Creighton dons a pair of fingered snow gloves and takes a snowball in his mitt, kneeling down behind the barrier. He glances up to his companion, smugly.
"....Now or Never, honeybee."
“On three, goldenrod,” Craig hums, holding his own snowball.
“One…”
“Two…”
“...Three!”
And Creighton sends one flyin', jetting past the tentacles of the unsuspecting Octarian. She yelps, dodging… then looks over with that wry smile, shooting back a fast one. It strikes his topknot, but he doesn't flinch.
Craig tosses one in kind, narrowly missing Sumire by an inch. She dips below the fort with a small yelp, then pops back up to fling one of her own in retaliation, hitting him square on the shoulder.
The soldier bounces up, swinging a slug right at the Octoling, dinging her on the throwing elbow. "Gotcha…!" That victory is short-lived, however, as a fast one comes slugging straight into his face once more, knocking him flat.
That low, warbling cackle bubbles up again from the enemy fort.
"GYAH HA HA- getting COCKY now, are we, Cuttlefish?"
Sumire ducks down to prep up more ammunition, sharing a glance with Via.
The tiny princess slowly slinks up, three of her four tendrils prepped with snowballs to throw. She forms another and puts it into her fourth, beginning to shape another in her hands. "You're gonna have to do better than gloat to win this one, buddy!"
And she would volley two straight at the sailor, one missing and one striking him in the good leg like a curveball, making him wobble to the side slightly.
“Oh! You asked fer it, ya little devil,” Craig huffs with a smirk, “No more goin’ easy on ya.”
A fiery glint hits her eye as she prepares to volley the other two.
"HAH! I'd like to see you grab a stepladder and try it, Shortsta—"
And she gets dinged with a straight bullseye to the face, her tentacles splayed out.
“What was that, Princess?” he snarks.
She hits the ground with a thud, warbling in defeat. The tiny Octarian was down for the count, too disoriented from the impact to stand back up on her feet.
Creighton laughs, taking humour in the situation.
"Ahhhhh… Just like 'er old man. Vindictive 'til plowed int' the floor by some'in."
Craig snorts with laughter, nearly doubled over and blue in the face.
…Leaving him totally open.
A snowball smacks him right in the chest, and then another, knocking him flat and breathless. The warbling ring of a salmonid war cry ebbs out from behind Ft. Takowasa, a little purple head grinning with victory.
Creighton's preps up another orb, aiming carefully…
He breathes gently…
Scrolling his eyes until -
"...Target locked."
…A golden twinkle hits his amber-orange irises as he sends one straight back with his tentacle, slamming it right at her with a harsh volley.
Sumire flops back into the snow with a little yelp, taking cover behind the fort. There was no way she would be able to take him out with pure firepower…
A set of four come flying in an arc, dropping right above her.
…Right then. If she can’t win, then at least they could all lose.
She tightens her boots, sneaking to the edge of the fort with a snowball in her hand. She tosses it in an arc to the side opposite of her, hoping for a brief distraction, and then she runs.
He sees the incoming orb, and swings himself out of the way… ending up right in Sumire's warpath along the way, unaware of what would happen next… Which ends up being a direct vault over their fort walls, tackling him to the ground in a flump of snow with unerring precision. He yelps in surprise, careening backwards into the drift with her, submerging the Inkling in the white mass behind Fort Cuttle.
“Gotcha!” she giggles, shivering slightly from the abrupt chill.
There was only silence… and a slight shuffling from behind Fort Takowasa, where the Princess had finally recuperated… at least a little bit. "...Owww… my heaaaaad…"
“Might’ve… gone… a lil’ overboard…” Craig wheezes, still flat on the ground.
Via stumbles to her feet, a small bit of blue running down her face as she chuckles. "Perhaps so… haha…."
The sailor slowly pushes himself into a sitting position, and then catches sight of the princess, ears drooping, “Oh cod… Via. Are ya alright sweetheart?”
"Y-Yeah. I'm fine… My face hurts, but that'll ebb off."
She stops and looks around.
"...Wait. Where's Papa."
Sumire shakes the snow from her hair and pulls, dragging her victim out of the fluffy mass, albeit partially. The soldier was covered from tip to tail in snow.
"...Whoo….. That….. was a bit 'uv a…. doozy…."
“I think we oughtta call it quits here an’ go warm up,” Craig groans, clambering to his feet.
"....Let's….. call that a draw….. Eh, kids?"
Sumire shivers and nods, tentacles curling uncomfortably from all of the snow she just plunged into.
Via swims to the main building, going Octopus as she climbs in the screens.
She would return a few minutes later accompanied by one of her retainers, rolling in a tray of mugs, all filled with an Octarian spiced hot cocoa - a welcome sight for the frozen group. The little Octopus thanks the servant, then pulls one closer to herself with her tiny tendrils, taking a sip.
Never one to give up a chance for hot chocolate, Sumire kicks the snow from her boots before she climbs onto the walkway, taking a mug with gratitude. Left alone in the snow, Craig holds out a hand to the dazed Inkling. He would take it, propping himself upright and slowly climbing back to his feet. Sitting himself on the walkway, he'd take a mug and nip at it with a nod.
The sweet, aromatic scent of the spiced beverage ends up wafting its way down to the screens of the Guest Room… where the large Octarian is finally coming to, groggily. Vio cracks his eyes open, bubbling chirps leaving his beak as everything fades back in…
… Only to be followed by a warble of shock when his eyes land on the sleeping Octoling's face, the Shogun quickly realizing that he wasn't in his bedroom.
Tav grumbles from the sound, brows furrowing as he burrows closer. His tentacles writhe slowly, drawn back to the waking world bit by bit, despite his obvious protests. The heat of his breath tickles the Octarian’s neck.
His face flared a bright fuchsia, a soft shiver running down his lack of a spine. Not only was he not in his room, but next to his counterpart, he was nearly buck-bare in comparison to the bundled mass of tendrils that clung to him for warmth.
What a situation to wake up and find himself in… not that he minded that it was Tav of all people next to him. Not to mention he is kinda cute when asleep… Unfortunately, that wouldn't last forever. The Octoling shifts a bit, unhappy with his slumber being disturbed. His eyes gradually crack open, and that soft violet gaze lazily drifts up to the Octarian’s wide awake face.
He awkwardly looks down at Tav, the heat in his face gradually dying down.
"...Morning…."
“Mmm… Morning,” Tav yawns, not moving an inch.
In the background, the soft sound of the group's chatter buzzes like glowflies from beyond the screens.
“Finally awake are you?” the octoling mumbles, drowsily rubbing his eyes, “Creighton was struggling to get you up earlier.”
Vio glances up at the clock – it was nearly noon.
"...Ah, shit…"
He groans, sitting up and doing the same. That's when the aroma of that spiced hot cocoa drifts in from the crack in the screens, hitting his senses. He stops, turning his head towards them, tentacles curling in further confusion.
“...It snowed this morning,” Tav grumbles, trying not to whine at the loss of his living heater, “The others are out… doing something. I think.”
But Vio seems to pay him no mind, sniffing the air and mumbling to himself, "....Is that… cardamom?"
“Mmm?”
"....Someone's got kara-kojuu <spiced cocoa> out there, I think."
He'd scurry to the screen, peeking out curiously, his ears bobbing a little.
There, he’d see the four sitting on the stoop, enjoying their drinks as they chat away unawares. Tav shuffles up behind him with the blankets still draped over him like a shawl, peeking over the Octarian’s shoulder.
Via has a bandage over her nose by this point, chuckling away without a care in the world. Creighton sips at his, listening to some sort of story that the sailor was cooking up, with Sumire and the tiny princess both snuggling at his sides.
“...And y’know what she did? Threw her snowball right at the branch, dumpin’ a whole boatload o’ snow on poor Callie. Always had good aim, that girl, but fifteen feet at the age of five? Her cousin never stood a chance.”
The soldier rickets, "Hoo hoo…. That's definitely Marie fer y's. Quick to th' draw."
Via laughs, humoured by the anecdote. "Yeahhhhhhh…. Sounds like her, doesn't it."
Vio pulls back from the screens, closing them slightly. "....Hmm…"
“If you’re going to go out there, warn me before you open the screens,” Tav gravels with a shiver, “...Hate this cold.”
The Octarian's tentacles writhe in thought… but then suddenly freeze, a light bulb going off in the Shogun's mind. "...Hold that thought, Tav." And he'd exit the room through the rear door, slinking down the hall rather swiftly.
The Octoling watches him go with slight disappointment, leaning against the wall like an octosicle. Even with all of the layers, the cold still bit at him. It flared harshest in his scars, icy little pricks of pain jabbing deep within his flesh. He all but buries himself in that navy comforter, only a tiny sliver of his eyes still visible beneath the blanket.
That's when something slightly heavy is gently wrapped around his shoulders. It's super warm, and rather thick. "...Thought this might help… It's one of my insulated haori coats. Might be a bit long on you, but it'll keep ya shielded from the wind chill."
Tav shrugs it on immediately, swapping the blanket out for it. He almost purrs from the warmth, keeping his hands tucked into the sleeves to maximize the coziness, “...You’re never getting this back.”
"...I'll go grab the matching hakama, then."
===
Outside, the two Cuttlefish continued on with their casual conversation - Via had stepped away to go grab lunch for the whole party, and Sumire went to go help her.
Creighton sits alongside the sailor, nursing the still scalding hot beverage from the mug as he went on his own tirade –
"....And that's I told 'im - Shell naw, you ain' goin in that hole, soldier, y're fixin to end up halfway t' Merlin! …But he climbed in anyway, settin' off the fireworks… like I warned 'im not t'. His foot got caught on a bigin' an' he wen' rocketin' off wit' it plumb halfway t' Arowana, flyin' through our Corporal's tent along th' way… an' I jus' know that moron got reassigned t' a different unit. Nev'r caught 'is name or rank, but I know he saw Cod that day an' resolved nev'r t' mess with my shit ag'in."
“Sometimes I wonder why the army just let in any old idiot, an’ then I remember they let me in, an’ I stop complainin’,” Craig chuckles, nursing his own drink, “Can’t tell ya the amount o’ times I got into trouble with my Commander.”
"Y' can be a clever lil' squirt when y' wanna be, though, sailor…" Creighton retorts, "That's the important part to this. You at least know bett'r than to rely on pure hubris."
“Doesn’t save him from falling off of cliffs though,” comes an unexpected voice from behind them, “Seventeen times in two years.”
Tav had finally emerged from the guest room, much to their surprise.
“Ay! Those were accidents an’ you know it!” Craig huffs, turning to his husband, “I don’t do it intentionally.”
“And yet you still gravitate towards heights,” the Octoling shoots back, settling down beside them. He was dressed in a rather thick set of clothes, one that the Inkling oddly didn’t recognize.
But Creighton would.
"Ahaaa… Decided to borrow a bit of yer starlight's wardrobe, eh??" the Inkling would smirk, amused by the sight. "If I didn' know any better, honeybee, I'd say those are Vio's thermals."
Tav’s face flares up a bright green, shying away behind his tentacles, “...They’re warm…”
The soldier cackles lightly at the flustered Octoling… unaware of the shadow looming over him. Vio would pop up behind the laughing Inkling and yank his ear.
"Heyyy… Don't be rude to him, you little inkspurt…!"
Creighton would squirm, squawking in discomfort.
"Ow! Aight, aight! I git it! L-Let off!"
And the Octarian would, huffing as he crosses his arms indignantly.
"....Don' feel so funny now, huh, Creighton…?"
The Inkling goes rather orange, glaring at his fiance with a pout as he rubs his ear.
"....C-Can it, darlin'...."
Craig snickers at their banter, leaning into his husband, “Glad to see ya up an’ about, love. Was kinda worried you’d end up bunkered down in that room ‘til the snow cleared.”
The Octoling huffs, but doesnt pull away. Instead, he leans his head onto the Inkling’s, purring softly.
The sound of sliding doors clicks nearby, Via and Sumire returning with the rolling container again, smirking away. "We're baaaaaaack~ And- Well, well… What've we got here?" The princess slinks to Vio, a smirk on her face. "Good morning, sleeping beauty… Rest well?" The Octarian looks at his daughter, the slightest bit annoyed, warbling with a bit of flush along his cheeks. She smiles innocently.
“Dad, you’re up!” Sumire chirps happily, rushing over to give him a hug from behind, “For good this time?”
“For good this time,” he chuckles, lightly bonking their heads together.
"You're both just in time for lunch too… The royal chefs prepared most of this while we've been out here. And thank cod for it, my hand's freezing up from the cold." Via opens the container, pulling out a couple of two-tiered lacquered boxes. The lid of one is removed to reveal an assortment of seafood and vegetables.
Vio takes one for himself, opening it with intrigue.
"Huh. Didn't expect setsu-ben quite yet… but I suppose they consider it fashionable since you two are over. Not that I'm complaining…"
Sumire hands two boxes to her fathers, and then sits down beside them with one of her own. Her stomach audibly growls as she settles in, drawing a laugh out of Tav, “...Busy day?”
“Yeah!” she nods, gesturing out into the courtyard, “Me and Via played in the snow for a while, and then we dragged Pa and Mr. Cuttlefish into a snowball fight.”
His eyebrows raise with intrigue, “...And who won that war?”
Creighton smirks. "We did… although yer kid tried to pull a fast one on me."
Tav ruffles her hair, making her giggle, “Attagirl.”
Via sneezes, turning herself away from the group. When she turns back around, she awkwardly chuckles, blue trickling from her nose again as she pulls out some tissues.
"Sailor throws quite a powerful fastball, too…"
The Octoling blinks, and then turns to his husband with a huff, “...Craig.”
“I didn’t mean to hit her that hard,” the Inkling grumbles remorsefully, “Just got a bit carried away there…”
Creighton turns to the Princess, his expression quite blunt. "...To be fair, Via, y' were tauntin' 'im about 'is size. Y' can't exactly say that y' didn' earn that…"
Vio squints at his daughter, ears flattened. Her tentacles stiffen.
"...Octavia Julianne…"
She awkwardly chuckles, but it fades off as she sinks into her fuzzy coat. He glares at her sternly, waiting. She peeks out at Craig, fearful remorse in her eyes.
"...'M s-sorry… s-sailor."
He sighs, resigned, “...It might be like a thorn in my side, but that don’t mean it ain’t true.”
"Still, she should know better than to act in such a manner, being a child of mine. It's quite inconsiderate, and rather hypocritical too, considering her own stature… I expect this to not happen again. And it won't… right, Octavia?" He glares at his daughter with those bright green irises.
She yelps and rapidly nods, "N-Never again! I swear on my tentacles!"
“Well, I think you’re the perfect size,” Tav hums, pulling the Inkling onto his lap. His arms wrap around the man’s waist, holding him close as he rests his chin on his husband’s head.
Craig huffs, but he couldn’t resist cracking a smile, glancing up at the Octoling, “This just an excuse fer ya to leech off my warmth again?”
“...Maybe. A little. It’s cold out, give me a break,” Tav whines, burying his face in the Inkling’s tentacles.
The man laughs, frustrations bleeding away as he basks in the not so subtle affection.
Creighton gives a tiny shiver.
Vio notices, taking off the heavy coat of his own haori and draping it over the soldier. A small, awkward smile breaks onto his frost-twinged face. "....Thanks, darlin'...."
The Octarian smiles, giving a soft peck to his head, resting his own on top of it.
~~~~~
Creighton tucks Via and Sumire into their bedrolls, the two tiny Octopuses having conked out from all of the day's excitement. He ruffles each of their heads, before closing the mahogany door quietly.
He turns to the other three with a relieved sigh.
"...Alright. Kids're settled in… poor girls tuckered themselves out. What now?"
Tav shrugs, glancing to the other two, “No clue. Just… not something to do with the cold.”
Vio thinks for a moment.
"....Mm… Creighton, do you remember if that little… whatchamacallit thing in the Common Room is still hooked up?"
Creighton tilts his head, trying to remember "...Y' mean tha' little video player thingy Hibiscus attached t' the squawk box? Yeah, it should be. I ain' touched it 'r nothin'."
"... Didn't Via just bring home a fuck ton of movies for that thing?"
He perks up. "Come t' think 'uv it, she did."
“A movie, ey? That sounds perfect,” Craig hums, glancing up to his husband cheekily, “Think ya can stay awake through a whole one?”
“Wh– Yes, I can stay awake,” the Octoling huffs, crossing his arms, “I don’t fall asleep every time.”
The Inkling snickers, but leaves it at that.
"That settles it then. Let's git to it… I think there was a good sci-fi one somewhere in there y' might like, darlin'..." Creighton heads to the Private Common Room, Vio hot on his tail with interest, tentacles wiggling behind him.
The fireplace crackled quietly in the background as the speakers ebbed with the swells of the orchestral soundtrack. The Inktoling and his crew are trying to dock as the ship spins, trying to compensate for the rotational force to push the whole thing out of orbit. The crescendo of the music is enough to keep the tension raised.
Vio's head bobs, eagerly trying desperately to stay awake to see what happens next. Creighton stepped out to go take a leak, leaving his cup of hot cocoa on the table. Tav, meanwhile, was fully engrossed in the film, Craig sitting on his lap once more, completely dead to the world. He’d conked out about halfway through, something the Octoling found smug satisfaction in. The Inkling’s gentle snores rumbled through his chest as he held the man close.
…He hasn’t been this relaxed in weeks.
The Octoling then feels a gentle bump against his shoulder. There was Vio, out like a light, resting against him peacefully. His attempts to stay awake had failed, the Shogun conking out right before the ship was pushed out of orbit. His breaths were soft, gentle… not as tumultuous as they had been when they've slept together before. It was… rather endearing of a sight.
The surprise only lasts for a moment before a soft smile slips onto Tav's face. A tentacle wraps gently around one of the Octarian’s as he turns his attention back to the screen, a bright, warm feeling bubbling away in his chest.
The ship successfully docks and pushes away from orbit. Those doubtful among the crew were left speechless at what they had achieved, their Inktoling captain giving a nonchalant smirk.
The fuchsia tendril squeezes gently, three times, a soft smile flooding on Vio's in kind.
The music swells off into the ambience, leaving the room silent once more.
A fuzzy feeling envelops the Octoling. Surrounded by the warmth and comforting presence of those he loves, his eyes start to flutter closed, drawn towards slumber once more. He tries to fight it, but gradually, bit by bit, he follows in their wake, leaving Creighton to come back to a tangled pile of content, sleeping inkfish.