(no subject)

[bellabelgium]

[ It has been an obnoxiously long day. Actually, it's been a very long week. The planning, the comparing, the struggle to find the best quality but cheapest package, the preparations, the packing, weighing the luggage over and over so they don't have to check bags, the airport, the flight, the constant reassurance that little Lodewijk will be ALRIGHT with Luxembourg... by the end of it all she was starting to wonder if her idea was a good one. But they've finally arrived and whether it be out of frustration or relief, the place seems a lot nicer than she initially imagined.

There's a chill in the air but the sun does peek through the overcast snow clouds. The snow is fresh and beautiful and white, not like the gray slush back home. The lodge itself is heavy with the scent of hot smoked meat, old cedar and pine and there's something sweet and warm in the air, pastries perhaps? Fresh bread? The crackle of wood can be heard from the massive fireplace in lodge's common space and on the board with the specials for the day clearly says that they have mulled mead. MULLED MEAD.

She blinks at the sign for a moment, tired but her face lighting up with delight as she gives Ned a gentle tug of his sleeve, trying to pull his attention away from the man grabbing their room keys. ]

Ned, look... they have mulled mead. I haven't had mead in so so long.

Comments

/finally stays awake for long enough to tag omg

[handelaar]

[Unfortunately for everyone involved, the extreme nitpicking over every single detail of the trip doesn't stop the moment they walk in to what appear to be perfectly pleasant accommodations. It's not like he can turn it off without some sort of outside influence, and after this long he's not a complete moron about how she's feeling - he knows that she wants him to, well, have a real goddamn vacation with her. Which means chilling out. Having fun. All that shit.

It does not mean checking his phone for any important e-mails from work or judging that one spot on the carpet that needs to be cleaned or glaring down the poor sod who thinks that they can't just take their own damn luggage to their room - probably just wants a tip. Glaring, glaring -

Hm? The tug gets his attention and he turns to her with a look between surprised and constipated.]

They do, huh.

[He flicks his eyes up to the board, twists his mouth, flicks them back to her.]

Okay.

[...Netherlands she hadn't even asked yet. You haven't even gone to your room yet.]

lol Girl, you're okay. I hope you're feeling better.

[bellabelgium]

[ Well, so much for the hope of just getting here making him relax a little. It was a stretch but she keeps giving him the benefit of the doubt. How silly of her. She knows it'll take much more than that and-- is he looking at his phone? And why is this boy suddenly so hesitant to even offer to take her bags?

It takes her a moment to realize that he's glaring at the poor boy and she gives his arm a little shove before turning and smiling at him, her friendly warmth a complete contrast from his icy glare as she asks him if he could please take HER things to their room and hands him a bill. Geez, Ned-- kid is just trying to do his job. ]

Why are you still so strung out? We're finally here.

-ish!

[handelaar]

[All that gets her is a huff as he crosses his arms and sulks, watching as that bill leaves them along with her luggage. At least until she asks, and then he feels kind of like a dick. Ends up shuffling in place and scrubbing at the back of his head before quietly muttering his response.]

Just want it t'be good.

[He heaves a sigh and jams his hands into his pockets, goes ahead and admits the other reason while he's at it, glancing at the sign advertising mead again.]

And flying sucks.

That's good-ish.

[bellabelgium]

[ She gives him a curious look as the boy shuffles off with her bags, trying to get away from him quickly. ]

You don't like flying?

hahahahahaaa I still can't think of a good thing for him to ask for so GENERIC TAG it is

[handelaar]

[HUFF. Fine. His terms, though?]

I'll hafta think about it.

lmao C'mon, Ned.

[bellabelgium]

Fine. But you only have until we hit the slopes.

[ Puts in the card key once they get to the door, opening up to their room. ]

Which really won't matter since I'm gonna kick you--

[ Then she gets a look at the room and loses her train of thought. ]

too many options + omg dat room

[handelaar]

Mm.

[That's an agreement sort of grunt. He's making a scrunchy face that isn't quite a pout when she speaks, which is quickly replaced by a blink of confusion until he walks in behind her and sees the room.]

Huh.

[Blink. Tentative approval on his end... he glances at her to see what she thinks, chewing on his lip.]

Rustic AND chic, complete is stuffed St. Bernard.

[bellabelgium]

[ She blinks, glancing around, taking it all in slowly as she steps in. She's quiet for several long moments before she looks back at him and lets out a squeak of delight. ]

It's PERFECT!!

[ She kicks off her boots and rushes over to the fireplace, already lit and welcoming and warming the room. ]

Look at this FIREPLACE! It's see through!

[ And on the other side it's their little living room space. ]

Oh there's a nice TV here too!

[ There's a kitchenette to the right and then she spots the stuffed St. Bernard on the large bed and she rushes over, catching it in her arms as she hops on the bed. ]

Please tell me I get to keep this... I'm gonna keep it anyway.

[ SO EXCITED!! ]

[handelaar]

[Pouts back!!! She let him snatch it, Jesus!]

What kinda competition is this.

[Because she'll know more than you do when you have the pamphlet in your hands, yeah, okay Netherlands.]

[bellabelgium]

It says it right there. You have to make a sculpture of something out of snow.

[handelaar]

What kinda -

[jerks the pamphlet to reading level with a good snap]

Somethin'. Too vague.

[Always a critic.]

[bellabelgium]

[ Ugh, always taking things WAY too seriously! ]

It's just a silly contest. Whoever does the best wins. We don't have to do it--

[ Because that's what she thinks HE'S thinking. She shakes her head and heads back in, leaving him with the pamphlet as she heads to the bed to read a few more. ]

[handelaar]

[Well, that's what he was poking his head out of the door to do! No use talking to someone who isn't around to hear it, right.]

He-

[whiiiich ends in a totally embarrassing sort of gurgle.]

[bellabelgium]

[ Jumps and drops the lingerie, going pink as she glances back at him. ]

Y-Yes?

[handelaar]

Ah.




[Uhhhhhh. Nederland stop looking at the lingerie, stop. Looking. At - there. Eyes on some random spot on the wall.]

The bathroom's. Nice.

[bellabelgium]

[ Kinda half-heartedly stuffs it back into her suitcase, gah it's gonna get wrinkled but it's supposed to be a surprise! ]

Is it? That's good.

[handelaar]

[He huffs, and glares at her for half a second, and VERY POINTEDLY folds up her pants and sets them onto the counter in a nice neat pile - partway because he's pretending he's not as into this situation as he is, partway to be an ass, and mostly because. Well. Yeah, he's that much of a neat freak.]

I'm comin'.

[Said as he starts neatly shucking off his own clothing.]

[bellabelgium]

You can fold your clothes later.

[ Welp, while she's in here and the tub is filling up she's reaching over for the small bottle of complimentary bubble bath, pouring it in just under the faucet to froth up. ]

[handelaar]

Ah -

[He's not above sending a pleading look her way, not in the privacy of their own resort bathroom.]

[handelaar]

I'm not hungry for, uh, that.

[yes he is actually this lame]

[bellabelgium]

Yeah? Then what're you hungry for?

[handelaar]

Ah -

[does he drop it or does he keep being lame, does he drop it or...]

[nope gonna go for it. He licks his lips and nods to himself before fixing her with an overly-serious stare.]

You.

[#NAILED IT]

sneaks back here shhh

[handelaar]

[Despite his pouting, the next day (not morning, Christ) sees them bundled up and sliding toward the ski lift.

Netherlands, however...



he doesn't like heights, okay. He can ski across flat ground easily enough, but the closer they get, the slower he is.]

/CLINGS TO

[bellabelgium]

[ They're on vacation, fuck the morning! She's had a good nights sleep and she is up and awake and eager to hit these slopes.

She's talking his ear off as they make their way to the lift. She's so excited she hardly realizes that he's slowed down behind her until she looks over and sees he isn't there. ]

Ned?

ffff I am going to be bouncing all over the place the next two weeks bear with me

[handelaar]

[Her talking his ear off? Cute. He actually, physically leans his head closer to her as she chatters along, attempts to fill his ears with it. It's only when they get close that he ... doesn't.

But it's not like he hasn't been on a lift, or an airplane, or something way-high-up before. So he sucks in a breath and comes closer, eyes on the ground the entire time.]