#for all of you wondering 'where is sebek' hang tight babygirl he's had a busy day

[ruggiesbiologicalfather]

it's cold, it's december, so here it is:

Snow Day At NRC

No classes - a rare sight - but that doesn't stop you from being awake far too early for your taste. A loud pounding on the door sends Grim into a yowling fit and brings you grumbling to the front door of Ramshackle. But it's hard to stay sour at the sight of Ace, Deuce, and Epel standing there bundled up head-to-toe, holding cheap plastic sleds, and grinning from ear to ear. Apparently Ramshackle has the best hills for sledding and you would definitely fit on Epel's sled if you want and it would be awful for the snow to go to waste and what else are you even going to do with your day? You barely have enough time to grab your coat and boots before you and Grim are being dragged out the door.

As much as you grumble as you trudge through the shin-deep snow, you can't deny that the hills surrounding your dorm are the perfect height and slope for sledding. It doesn't take more than five seconds for Epel to go barreling down penguin-style, hollering at the top of his lungs the entire way. You can't help but laugh at Deuce trying to fold his long legs criss-cross-applesauce style within the circular sheet of plastic that serves as his poor excuse for a sled. His middle finger is the last thing you see before Ace kicks the back of his sled and sends him down. You can barely get a word of warning out before Deuce's body slams full-force into Epel as he's dragging his sled back up the hill and immediately folds him like a ragdoll. Epel unleashes a storm of foul language that sends Ace into a fit of hysterical laughter.

This situation is apparently so funny that he can't possibly take a turn on his sled and he hands it to you. It's one of the long, plastic ones with a neon yellow string attached to one end. You decide to sit with your legs facing the string and do your best to coax Grim aboard without resorting to bribery. At first, he refuses, even going to far to demand that you return him home. But then he decides it's much cozier to be settled in your lap than left behind in the snow. And so with one hand on the string and the other arm around Grim, you're off.

The wind whips brutally against your cheeks and blows the hood of your coat clean off your head. Grim's claws cement themselves into your sleeve and your mouth is bombarded with his fur. But as the sled slows to a stop, your chest aches from laughter.

The trek back up the hill feels less daunting than before - even with Grim tucked under your arm - because it comes with the promise of another trip down. The boys have created the perfect rhythm of coming and going with only three sleds so no one has to wait too long for their turn. However, it doesn't take long for polite turn-taking transforms into quiet scheming.

As Ace mounts his sled for another journey down the hill, Deuce seizes him by the hood of his coat and yanks him backwards. He lets out a loud yelp as he begins to scrap with his attacker, trying - and failing - to avoid getting pinned down in the snow. Once Deuce manages to flip Ace onto his back and sit on his stomach, Epel releases the onslaught of snowballs he's been stockpiling directly into Ace's face.

"That's fer sendin' him into me!" Epel shouts. "That shit hurt!"

"This is excessive!" Ace screeches in response between snowballs. Deuce wheezes with laughter before rolling off of Ace's body, allowing him to finally get up. His cheeks glow scarlet as his hair as he wipes the snow from his face. His first action as a newly free man is to hastily make a large snowball and hurl it down at Deuce who is still rolling with laughter on the ground.

"Dick!" Ace shouts.

"Why me!?" Deuce scrambles to his feet as Ace prepares another snowball.

"Because I know it was your idea, asshole!" Ace's second snowball misses but that doesn't stop Deuce from taking off running down the hill. "Get back here, coward!"

"Run, Deuce!" You yell as Ace pursues Deuce downwards. Epel's roaring laugh echoes around you as he quickly joins the fray.

"Idiots." You jump at the sudden grumbling voice behind you but then relax when you turn and see it's only Jack. He's clearly fresh off his morning workout, dressed in track pants and a zip-up hoodie. He shakes his head at the raucous boys chasing each other around in circles.

"Aren't you cold?" You inquire. Jack only shrugs.

"Snows a lot in the Shaftlands."

"Right. So you're used to the cold."

"Yeah. That and while you're exercising, your body-" Jack is promptly cut off by a perhaps rogue though perhaps perfectly targeted snowball that nails him directly between the eyes. You suck in a cold breath in preparation for his reaction. First his tail twitches. Then an ear. Then he's barreling down the hill, stooping as he goes to form a projectile of his own. You have only a moment or two to laugh before Grim launches himself out of your arms and you're hit with a snowball in the center of your chest.

"I was aiming for Grim!" But that excuse doesn't stop Deuce from becoming your prime target in the oncoming war. Tragically, he has the good sense to use his sled as a shield against your attacks. But your charming demeanor and winning smile means you have an ally in this battle. A big, wolfy ally. Deuce can't hide for long.

You can't tell of the fight lasts ten minutes or ten hours. All you know is that by the end of it, all six of you - including Grim - are lying on your backs, panting heavily, watching fresh snowflakes drift down from the gray sky. Your hands and your nose are numb from the cold. Some hot chocolate would be heavenly but you're certain the Mostro Lounge has hiked up their prices today. But Scarabia has a wonderful open-door policy, especially when the weather is so cold. You wonder what Kalim is up to.