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The door to the small bungalow opened, and a shivering figure walked in, brushing snow from his elegant faux fur hood. Vil Schoenheit may have been born in the Shaftlands and grown up with ice and snow, but it didn’t mean he enjoyed being cold. He would definitely need to use extra moisturizer on his face after the raw wind. For a moment, the woody scent of the cabin brought him back to his childhood, coming here with his father to skate, drink cider, and be a family. Something they rarely got.
“Close the door, Malleus. You’re letting the heat out.” He frowned as he turned, watching Mallues slip in, ducking to clear the door. The fae was curled around himself, cloak bundled close against his chest to cover his precious cargo. Dragons produced a lot of heat as a byproduct of their powerful magic systems, but they could still get cold as children.
“She is asleep. I’m trying not to jostle her.”
Vil rubbed his arms as Malleus flicked his hand, closing the door with magic. The room they were in was still a little chilly, but it was far warmer than the outdoors. It was essentially a mudroom, a barrier between the front door and the main portion of the cabin to keep the snow out of the living quarters. He stepped closer to his fae lover and pulled back the cloak to expose a wrapped blanket, nothing but a tiny, scaled nose peeking out from a fold. He shook his head, a smile on his lips.
“The cold always makes her sleepy. Lilia says I was like that as a child as well.” As Vil took their daughter, Malleus took off his cloak and jacket, hanging them next to Vil's outerwear before holding open the door to the main living quarters for the blonde beauty to step in.
It was simple, yet elegant. Vil had chosen this place for both its dedication to the privacy of its guests and the simple elegance of the VIP cabin.
The living room boasted a fireplace with a grate to keep children out, but they also had the option of using the more modern heating system. There was a couch and a television, a small modern kitchen, and two bedrooms. Their luggage had already been transported to their room, the only exception being Vil’s personal bag, which was being placed carefully onto the couch, along with the softly snoring bundle.
Vil pulled back the blanket slowly so as not to wake their child, running a finger softly over her snout. Her black-violet scales were soft for now; they would grow thicker once she aged.
Vil ran his fingers through his hair, fixing the strands mussed by his hat as he moved to the kitchen.
“I’m going to make us some hot chocolate. Once I’m done, we should wake her. I know she’ll enjoy playing in the snow, and I want to take you ice skating.” Vil paused as he set out three mugs. “Will she be able to? I’m not sure they’ll have skates for a dragon…”
Malleus moved to wrap his arms around his love, chin resting against his head. “She will be fine. Even without skates, I remember enjoying sliding on ice as a child, and claws work well enough to stop. It will be fun.”
Malleus tilted his head, turning Vil in his arms to kiss his forehead. “You worry too much over what people will think, or what she may have trouble with because she has not yet learned to shift. She will be fine, Vil. Human winter activities will be something we will enjoy together as a family, even if it is not the way it is traditionally done.”
Vil nodded, smacking his hand on Malleus's chest. “I don’t worry what others will think of her! She is MY child, and they should be lucky to look at her…But I do worry about how she may feel being unable to do things that require two legs, or that humans don’t cater to.” He wondered again if they should have taken their Yule vacation in the Sunset Savannah. With the high amount of beastmen, they had more accommodations for children with claws and paws than Vil’s homeland.
As Vil finished pouring and garnishing their cups; Malleus and their daughters with extra marshmallows, his own with a dash of peppermint, Malleus went to wake the sleeping dragonet.
“Mallea… wake, child. It is time to drink chocolate and play. You can sleep more tonight.” He carefully booped her small nose with his finger and smiled as bleary violet eyes opened.
::Papa, No…sleep.::
Malleus shook his head and stroked her nose again, finger tracing over her stubby horns. He leaned closer, kissing her forehead.
“It is time to wake. Don’t you want marshmallows?”
He watched her slowly raise her head, eyes sparkling. Their daughter loved marshmallows, and she rarely got them because Vil was insistent on not spoiling their little princess. That didn’t stop Malleus from sneaking them to her and getting himself into trouble with his paramour, but even with that, she would always get excited as she was now, the couch bouncing as her tail wagged behind her.
“Yes, little one. Marshmallows. In warm chocolate…” He found himself taking to an empty couch as the small dragonling scampered across the floor towards her other father.
“Mallea, please… sit down. I will bring your cup to you, but you have to sit down.” Malleus grinned as Vil tried to wrangle the excited dragonet, nearly tripping over her. “Mallea, if your little tail is not on that couch by the time I count to five, you will not be getting to go play with us late…that’s better.”
Vil set their cups down on the coffee table and held the smaller marshmallow-covered one out to the tiny dragon, blowing on it to cool it. She sat on the couch, delicately holding it between her stubby claws as she lapped up a marshmallow with her tongue. Vil’s lips curled in a small smile as he sipped his own drink.
Malleus shifted in his chair, long legs curled to the side as he drank, bright green eyes on his family. “ So we will be skating later?”
Vil nodded and reached into his bag. “I’ve been here more times than I can count growing up, but I grabbed you a brochure. There’s ice skating on the lake, a small winter market where we can shop a little and eat…There is skiing, but…I think we should pass on that until she’s older. She might enjoy sledding, though.” Vil leaned against Malleus, enjoying the warmth of the cabin after their trek from the lodge.
“I think it is a wonderful idea.”
Once they were ready to leave, they bundled up again, though Mallea insisted on bunding through the snow this time, instead of being carried. Occasionally, she would reach a deeper area and sink before pouncing out of it like a cat. It had given Vil heart failure the first time she had vanished beneath the snow until she bounced back out, little wings flapping to help her scramble out of the snow. He couldn’t help chuckling as she shook like an offended cat, still frozen, snow and water droplets spraying everywhere.
As they walked back towards the lodge, where the market and frozen pond for skating were, Vil watched Malleus. He’d never brought his husband here during the winter; they’d always been busy, and Vil had been worried about taking their daughter long distances…and he’d admitted he was always worried about how people would react. The last thing he wanted was for people to look at his little girl in fear. Even Eric had to come to Briar Valley, no exceptions.
Malleus was seeing truly deep snow for likely the first time.
While Briar Valley got snow, it didn’t pile up as much as the snow he had had here growing up. Due to the effect of the mountains and forest, the snow they got was shallow, though beautiful. A decoration rather than the truly devastating element it could be here.
Watching Malleus look around, deep green eyes wide in wonder, made everything worth it. Everything was covered in a crystalline layer of snow, and the trees glittered with icicles like glass ornaments. Vil knew later in the night, when the moon was full, they would twinkle in the dark, and he hoped to bring them out here to see that marvel as well.
Once they reached the lodge area, Vil checked his face to make sure his makeup hadn’t budged. The last thing he needed was a fan to catch him looking red-faced from the cold. He swept up to the desk, looking every inch the ice prince the media made him out to be.
“I would like to rent skates for myself and my paramour.” He tilted his head and gave their sizes as he peered behind the man. “You wouldn’t happen to have skates for…beastman children would you?”
The man behind the desk frowned and dug beneath the desk. “We’ve got paw slides. You put 'em on their hands and feet so they can slide around on the ice without blades, or we’ve got shaped skates for the ones that walk two-footed. “ Vil sighed in relief. “Paw slides then. She’s still…in that stage.” He paid and was handed their skates, pursed lips turning into a smile as he saw what his loves had been up to while he’d been dealing with the skates.
A small snowman was being built, Malleus' long fingers working the snow to build it higher. Vil shook his head. “We can build later. Who’s ready to skate?”
Twin pairs of bright eyes regarded him as father and child ran up equally excited.
“Mallea, let me put these on you…” Vil's lips pressed together in concentration as he buckled the paw pads on her, seeing how they covered her little clawed feet. He had to catch her from bounding off as soon as they were on.
“Not yet, I need to lace up Papa,” Vil said sharply. He immediately regretted the harsh tone when she looked up at him sadly, wings drooping. “Mallea…Daddy’s sorry. I didn’t mean to yell, it’s just…” He pulled Malleus's laces tight. “There are mean people out there who might want to take you away from Papa and me.” He reached out to pull her into a one-armed hug.” Checking that everything was where it should be, he stood and took his daughter's hand, leading her to the pond. “Now this may be hard. It’s going to be slippery.” He guided her onto the ice and watched her slide, violet eyes so wide they looked like they’d take over her whole head. Vil glided out on the ice as easily and gracefully as a swan. He casually spun to watch Malleus step onto the ice…. and promptly fall on his rear.
“Do not laugh, Vil.” Vil’s snickers turned into a smirk.
“Of course not, Malleus. I would never.”
The look he got made his grin widen as he moved to pull Mallea along the ice. She had realized if she pushed off with one foot, she moved forward and was happily chugging along, using her tail to stop and turn, happy little dragon chirps music to his ears.
“Well…that’s not the proper way to do it, but at least she’s having fun.” Vill skated backwards around the rink, now that Malleus was wobbling near their child. He drifted towards the middle and leapt, hair flying around his face as he executed a beautiful triple toe loupe. He landed and spun again before lifting his back leg and drifting across the ice, back arched.
“Vil…” He looked over to see Malleus and Mallea both entranced as they slowly drifted across the ice.
Vil leaned into his turn and returned to them. “I played a professional figure skater competing against a newcomer several years ago in a movie. I had taken it as a child for fun, but I trained hard to do the role justice.” His hand caught Malleus around the waist to steady him as he wobbled again. “I wonder if you’re having trouble because you’re so tall…” He looked up into his lover's eyes. Malleus frowned. “I do not think shrinking is wise, as my feet would get smaller as well.
Vil shook his head, “No…you’re right. Maybe tomorrow. “ He turned and skated backwards, pulling him along. “Then I’ll teach you. Find your balance…and push off with the opposite foot. It’s fun.”
Vil taught Malleus the basics of skating, as their daughter slid along the ice propelled by wings and her little stubby legs. For the first time in a while, Vil wasn’t self-conscious of their little family, as the only acknowledgement of his daughter on the ice was fascinated children exclaiming how adorable she was.
And that was fine, because Vil Schoenheits' daughter was the cutest thing on earth.
When Mallea tired, they got lunch and opted to walk through the winter market, looking at all of the locally made goods on display.
Malleus fell in love with the softest dyed wool blanket woven from local sheep. Mallea had been overjoyed by a small carving of a dragon with green gemstone eyes that “looked just like Papa.”
And Vil…Vil had tried to avoid the booth. He knew himself, one of his vices. But Malleus had followed his nose to a booth selling small, hot pies, and while he was indulging his sweet tooth.
Vil had found the candle shop. There were scented candles everywhere; hand-dipped tapers, poured candles in shaped glass jars, tealights… and every single one smelled amazing. By the time Malleus and Mallea had returned laden with sweets and hot tea, Vil had blacked out and found himself with a bag of fifteen to twenty assorted candles, being handed his card back. Scented tealights that he had fallen in love with, and larger jar candles in thyme, apple, winter, cinnamon…pear.
“What did you get?” Vil stiffened as Malleus spoke and sheepishly opened the bag.
He knew Malleus, with his sensitive fae nose, would hate the riot of scents, but his lover just sighed.
“It seems Rook was correct. I cannot take you anywhere near a candle shop without you walking away with half of the store. Come, Vil. I doubt you want to walk those back to the cabin. Pick two. We will go to the lodge and mail the rest back home.”
Vil hugged the bag to his chest. “I’ll lock it in the closet. It…will discourage me from buying more.”
Malleus’s eyebrow raised, as did his daughters.
“Oh, don’t give me that look…I like candles.” Vil watched his daughter as she scrambled forward and made uppy hands. Vil lifted her and kissed her snout.
“What is it dearest?” He froze as his child leaned up and patted him on the head slowly, the soft little snorts of dragon laughter ringing in the air.
“...Malleus. This is somehow Lilia’s fault. I’m being patronized by my own offspring.”
Malleus chuckled and slid an arm around Vil’s waist.
“Come, Love. We shall carry them back to the cabin, and you will lock them in the closet so we do not get a headache. Then we will warm up and have supper.”
Vil looked around, realizing they’d been here longer than expected, as he watched the lights decorating the stalls turn on. The shadows had been getting long for some time, and the chill in the air was deepening.
“That sounds good…” Vil shifted the dragonling to his hip and took Malleus's hand with his freed one.
They were headed out of town when suddenly Malleus changed direction mid-stride.
“Malleus, the cabin is that way. These are still stalls…”
Malleus paused under the overhang of one of the last stalls in the market and pulled Vil to him. “There is a human tradition I have always wanted to try…” he pointed up to the decorations, and Vil found himself looking at little white berries. Mistletoe.
He smiled, cheeks warm under his foundation as Malleus leaned in and pressed their lips together. They had time to make it to the cabin. The snow was still falling, but it was lighter than when they’d arrived, even lighter than when they’d gone skating, though Vil could still feel the hint of cool as one landed on his eyelashes.
He felt small, cold hands on his face suddenly, and a little tongue on his cheek. Vil opened his eyes and smiled at Malleus, getting the same treatment.
“I think she felt left out. Let’s go get her bathed and have some more cocoa. I think we earned it.”
Malleus took his hand as they headed out of the market towards their cabin, the dazzling lights reflected back by the icicles making his eyes seem to glow.
“We have…and then maybe we can look at that schedule. I heard there would be a gingerbread house-making workshop tomorrow. I would like to try that. Lilia attempted one year, but it was so hard that I could not eat it.”
Vil nodded as he zipped his daughter into his coat to keep her warmer, feeling her tuck her little snout under his chin.
“We can do that.Malleus…I want you both to experience as much as we can...and we can aleays come back.”
They had the cabin booked for two weeks after all!