#comforcember day 1

The winter frost immediately spasmed your breath as you exited the building. The luck was on your side, as the heavy snowfall stop just before your evening shift finally ended. The day was especially busy and it seemed like the whole city was buzzing with energy. Soon the festival of Snowdown will come and Piltovans were laying on the local shops in desire to get all the final purchases. Such times never carried out without minor incidents.

You dragged in the cold night air, shoulders easing up a bit. The warm yellowish light from the holiday themed lanterns were pleasantly warming up the street with its light, painting the decorated buildings and store fronts in colourful glints. Most of them already closed for the night, all kinds of holiday-special products in windows waiting for the next morning jostle of customers. The owner of the little shop next door hurried past you with a polite nod and a small smile, most likely rushing to get home to a warm dinner.

You closed your eyes. The frost is slightly biting on your cheeks and nose. Not harsh enough to really hurt, but reminding you that you have to hurry home too. To finally have some rest. And to see him.

A swift motion beside you. A warmth of another body. A familiar sent and a warm hand softly brushing agains your reddened fingers. You squinted to the side. His polished to the perfection uniform looks untouched by the recent snowfall and wind. Green skin looking even more radiant under the warm lights, casting golden reflections with each move of his little cheek fins.

"Thought you were supposed to finish earlier then me?" He just casts you a glance and shrugged. So yes, you are right. Your hand intertwined fingers with his. He stiffens a bit before grasping you more firmly. Of course. He had to wait for you.

"Come in the shop if you decide to wait for me again, Steb. Or you want to get a frost bite on your gills?" A soft huff from him. Stubborn fishman. Yours, though.

              The night was dark. The moon had disappeared plunging the city of water deep into an icy cold darkness. Gale shivered as he tried his best to keep the cold out of his winter robes though the wind was fierce. He would be home shortly, he just had to focus on that. He was not always a fan of these late-night treks, especially in the winter. The world around was eerily silent save for only the wind. It reminded Gale of the cursed lands they had once trekked through. This would be a paradise for any Sharian he mused. For a wizard just trying to get home to his warmth, not so much. Maybe he should consider setting up a teleportation circle, it certainly would save him some time as well as some fingers and toes. But all thoughts were forgotten as he thankfully reached his door. He sighed thankfully as he turned the knob and stepped onto his foray which was already considerably warmer than where he’d been. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him and taking a moment to enjoy the warmth seeping into him before beginning the work of removing his layers. Once everything was in its place, he looked upstairs towards the living area and found the light of the fire beyond.

              “Finley is that you love?” he called up as began to climb.

              “Yea, it’s me darlin’. I’m in the livin’ room.”

              As Gale stepped into the room, he found it even more pleasantly warm than down below, with the mixture of fireplace and candles giving off a gentle glow. What made it even better was his partner Finley, curled up on the sofa with Lute in hand, gently strumming away a note. Finley smiled up at him as he entered. “Welcome home darlin’.”

              “Thank you love,” Gale said holding the back of the sofa as he leaned in for a kiss.

              “Your lips feel cold” Finley mused as they broke apart. They reached up and touched his cheek. “Gods, your cheek too! You’re near freezin’!”

              “Indeed, the cold is bitter this evening,” Gale said, smiling as the warmth of their hand was pleasant. “Nothing, a bit of tea and a sit by the fire won’t fix. Would you like some?”

              “Yes please.”

              Gale walked to the kitchen door, talking as he went. “I thought you would be asleep by now.”

              “Figured I’d wait for you, can’t sleep when the tower feels so empty.”

              “I see and where is Tara?”

              “She went to check on you mother, wanted to make sure that she was getting along alright with the nights getting so cold.”

              Gale lit the stove and opened the cupboard to look for cups. He decided on the set with the roses and set it aside as he then opened the pantry. “I’ve been meaning to ask if you would like to make a trip up there,” Gale mused as he pulled out a box of tea, “We'll have to plan a trip soon. Is apple, okay?”

              “Yes please, and I would love to go. I haven’t seen the outside world in what feels like days because of this blasted cold."

              “Then we’ll have to figure out a day to go then.” Gale placed a bag in each cup and while waiting for the kettle to boil he turned back to stand in the kitchen doorway. He smiled gently as he watched Finley on the couch, strumming away at the lute an unknown tune. Gale leaned against the doorway and mused on how warm it felt here, very much unlike the outside world he had just ventured out of. It was also very different from the world he had been in only a year or so ago. Him alone here in the silence, heart aching for a cure or death. Now his heart ached for nothing as it was all right there in front of him. Finley had brought warmth and music to the tower.

              Finley looked up and smiled. “Do I get somethin’ on my face?”

              Gale shook his head. “No, just lost in thought.”

              Finley chuckled. “Well, you might want to get them unlost because the kettle’s goin’.”

              Gale jumped as his mind came back to him and he could indeed hear the scream of the kettle. With a wave of his hand, his mage hand removed the kettle and then poured two cups before putting it down again. Gale took the cups with him as he settled down on the couch by Finley’s side, handing the cup to Finley after they set aside the lute. The tea smelled of apple and tasted of cinnamon, helping to chase away that last bit of cold inside.

              “So, tell me how things are at Blackstaff?” Finley asked as they finished their tea, setting aside the cup.

              “Ugh, currently it's insane with students rushing to finish their projects before the winter holidays,” Gale sighed, “Then there are the mid-term tests and all the students trying to cram in extra credit so they can squeak out that bit of something before going home for holiday. I’m afraid I’m going to have lots of work ahead of me, a lot of late nights and mountains of papers. By Mystra, I am so looking forward to the winter break, even more than I did as a boy. I can’t wait to be able to spend some time at home.”

              “I agree,” Finley said, reaching up to scratch at his beard. “I like it more when your home myself.”

              Gale felt his body relax at the touch, slipping an arm around Finley’s shoulders. “I like being home especially with you, as well,” he said softly, turning his head to kiss the warm hand. “I don’t think this place would be half as wonderful to come home to without you here.”

              Finley smiled warmly. “I think it’s warmer with both of us,” Finley said shifting closer to Gale’s side, “a home is where the heart is after all.”