10335/See You On The Slopes

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See You On The Slopes
Date of Scene: 06 December 2019
Location: Angel Grove, Starling, and a Canadian ski resort
Synopsis: Separate trips converge on on the ski slopes of Whistler. It doesn't matter how they got there, only that they did.
Cast of Characters: Red Hood, Spoiler
Cast of NPCs: Pink Ranger


Red Hood has posed:
After the business with the Yakuza, Jason had seen Rip and his guys got paid, telling him he'd be in touch about the 'teaching job' in the New Year.

That done, Jason had posted a note to the Bats that he was out of town for a few days and then he hopped the zeta port to Starling where he and Roy hit the town, both in costume and out.

Just the thing he needed to blow off a little steam away from the complications of Gotham and the family.

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie has had a lot on her mind of late. Bruce's recovery and the happenings within what truly was becoming a family to her. The news about Superman's body being missing was like someone had found a knife buried in her that she'd started to get used to, and started twisting it.

And other things. Things Stephanie had done her best to keep out of her mind. Walling some things off to avoid risking losing what she already had. And it was working. The fears seemed to be put at ease. Even with everything else Stephanie was dealing with, the last few days had continued to be some of the best of her life, same as the previous weeks.

The call from Kimberly in Angel Grove had still been very welcome. The young woman she'd met at the site of Superman's death had helped Steph that day, without ever knowing the how or the why. An invitation to come up to Angel Grove via the zetaport would be a nice chance for Stephanie to clear her head a little. Though she'd miss what she was leaving behind in Gotham, she packed a few things and soon found herself lounging in Kimberly's house in Angel Grove, laughing and catching up on the University of Starling student's happenings.

Red Hood has posed:
Jason wasn't sure who's idea it was, all he knew was it came up at the Grove after... he wasn't sure how many shots of tequila, but the plan was skiiing.

He hadn't been planning on it, except in the vaguest of senses with Steph but at the time it had sounded like a good idea, so arrangements were made for a chalet in Whistler, and a hungover Jason had gone shopping for ski gear in the city, before making the trek up the mountain, with Roy telling him he had to 'check on a thing' and he'd meet him up there later.

Jason had made sure to make sure his ride up the mountain was charged to Roy's card.

Spoiler has posed:
The club was fun. The music was good, and the crowd was out looking to have a good time, plus Kimberly's friends were an interesting group to hang out with. Stephanie found she was fitting in with them a little better than she normally did in group situations. Maybe it was that she knew she probably wouldn't see them again. Or it was more Kimberly's doing, and that they were impressed Kim had a college junior coming to visit and hanging out with them.

Stephanie took out her phone as Kimberly came back, snapping a selfie of the two of them, both with big goofy grins, and posting it to her account with the title>> Angel Grove for the win!

Stephanie set down her soda and let Kimberly pull her out onto the dance floor. This trip had been a lot of fun, and while she still had time off from school, Kimberly had some obligations she wouldn't go into details on, so Stephanie was planning to take the zetaport back the next day. The thought of returning and catching up with certain people put a small smile on her face as she joined her friend on the dance floor.

Red Hood has posed:
Up on the mountain as night was falling, Jason found himself in a nice little two bedroom chalet, rustic, with hardwood floors and walls, but with all the comforts of home, big screen TV over the fire place, leather couches, a game room downstairs, not to mention a kitchen and a hot tub outside for those willing to brave the cold.

Jason off loaded some beer he bought in town into the fridge in the kitchen, what he promised to supply if Roy brought the food up with him when he came, then flopped down on the couch to watch what Canadians got for television.

"Why are their four channels showing the same hockey game?" he asks as he lays there flipping through channels until he hits HBO. "Nice," he says as an old episode of Strike Back plays, pausing to check a new notification on his phone, seeing Steph's post.

"Angel Grove?" he murmurs, that was somewhere outside Starling. He chuckles to himself as he comments on the post:

Jaybird33: Stalker.

No context. Just that. But then he hadn't said where he was going in his AAR.

There was a knock on the door.

"Get your key at the front desk dumbass!" he calls from the couch expecting Roy.

There's another knock.

"Fiiiine," Jason says rolling onto his feet off the couch and coming to the door, it's not Roy there but one of the people working for the lodge, with a gift basket? (image: 00031-Champagne-Bubble-Bath.png). "Hello, is Miss Todd here? I have a package from Roy Harper for her?"

Jason rolls his eyes... "Yeah, I am she," he says in deadpan. "Where is the bastard?"

The employee says, "He called and sent his regrets but paid for this basket for you."

Jason eyes it, champagine, candy, bubble bath... yep, he found the girliest one possible, Jason plucks the note off the wrapping, having a look.

It was predictable, the thing Roy had checked on turned into a big thing and he was going to have to go deal with it, blah, blah, don't ruin your vacation, enjoy the basket and a smiley face.

Jason shook his head and takes the basket giving the employee a twenty dollar tip... the money was all weird and plastic with a clear part and hologram... yay Canada...

Looking at the basket, Jason shrugged and headed for the bathroom.

Spoiler has posed:
Kimberly's home was a comfortable one, her mother and step-father nice enough. Kim had said they were wondering about this strange girl from Gotham they'd never heard of, but after getting to know Steph they'd seemed fine.

Stephanie lounges on the foot of Kimberly's bed, stretched across a corner with her head hanging over the edge. "Yeah, I see why you like him. Really cute smile. Good luck with him at the hockey game," Stephanie says, referencing a date that Kimberly has coming up with a boy of interest to her.

Stephanie pulls out her phone, looking at it upside down as Kimberly asks Stephanie a question on the same sort of subject. "Nah. I mean... ah... nah. You know. Things don't work sometimes. Most of the time. And... and I'm just happy with what I've got. It's a lot," Stephanie says, and there's a lot of honest to the words.

Her phone chimes and the name of the person replying gets a big grin from Stephanie. She laughs at the stalker comment and just sends back a great big pair of eyes.

Stephanie's phone is set aside, and she sees Kimberly's raised eyebrow at Stephanie's huge grin she'd gotten. "What!?" Stephanie complains to laughter, and the swing of a pillow at her head.

Red Hood has posed:
Jason gets the big eyes reply while he's changing for the bath, he laughs setting his phone down on top of the toilet before climbing in and dropping the pink ball of the bathbalm into the water, filling the tub with pink bubbles. After that he pours himself some champagne and glances up at his phone.

No point in rolling with Roy's little gift if he just told him about it, he needed to make sure there was photographic evidence, so, Jason snapped a pic, making sure it was suitablely SFW, I mean it was one thing to troll your bro back, another to send him an accidental dick pick.

What happened after that was all an innocent mistake. There was condensation on the screen of Jason's WayneTech Prometheus and Jason's fingers were soapy, so it wasn't hard for his finger to slip from Roy to Steph, after all they were right next to each other in his favourite contacts.

The slip goes unnoticed and Jason, grinning to himself types the message and send the photo...

...and out of the blue Steph's phone pings with an image of Jason sunk half-way down to his abs into a tub of pink bubble bath, a champagne flute in one hand, smiling into the camera. The message that comes with it reads:

Jason >> Didn't think I use that girly gift basket you left me? Think again, ARSEnel.

Spoiler has posed:
Moments that pass between text messages could be filled with so many different things. In this case, a lot of grinning, laughter and comments. The volume and wit of which had it been recorded would have made for its own excellent read.

As it is, a short time passes before Jason's picture is replied to. Only it doesn't come from ARSEnal as he might have expected. And they come one after another in machine gun fashion.

Stephanie>> That moment you just used the big eyes emoji but now it's even more appropriate.

Stephanie>> Kimberly says you have amazing abs.

Stephanie>> You do have amazing abs. Kimberly wants you to sit up a little higher in the water.

Stephanie>> I bet you smell WONDERFUL right now too.

Stephanie>> I'll go easy on you and grant you: 1-6-1170x640.jpg

Red Hood has posed:
Jason is just taking a sip of champagne when the first bing, then the next, then the next comes from his phone. "What is Roy getting texting lessons from Steph or something..." he mutters, usually she was the only one who blew up his phone like that.

He takes a look, his eyes doing a pretty good impression of the big eyes emoji as he sees the name attatched to the texts...

"Oh shit," he laughs pulling up the pic again to make sure there wasn't anything but abs showing. Finding that was it, he breathes a sigh of relief and then wiping off his hand and phone with a towel types a reply:

Jason >> Tell Kimbery I'm not a piece of meat. :) And I do smell wonderful thank you very much.

Jason >> Roses I think?

He ponders... Steph was still in Angel Grove if she was showing his pic to Kim, and he was on a skii hill maybe three hours away.

Jason >> Your mercy is appreciated. But I don't like handouts, can I pay you back in skiing? Up at Whistler (Kimberly will know where that is), Roy bailed, could come up if you want. I'll pay for rentals and stuff.

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie sensed from her first time meeting Kimberly that they got along well, and the laughter and excitement that ensued during the texting just goes to prove it. Stephanie shares the replies from Jason, the blonde's smile so radiant that Kimberly takes notice of it but doesn't mention it other than getting a private grin as Stephanie's thumbs pound some responses back.

Stephanie>> Not a piece of meat? Kimberly says you're beefcake.

Stephanie>> Ok, Kimberly is making me admit that it was me that said you were beefcake. <embarrassed emoji>

There's a bit of a delay from the last to the next response.

Stephanie>> Wait, you're here? Near Vancouver? asdflkllllllll

Another longer pause.

Stephanie>> This is Kimberly. Stephanie will be there. She can bring my ski gear. Ouch! Shefightsdirty!!11!

Stephanie>> Looks like I'm going to Whistler. See you in the morning? Expecting you to smell good.

Red Hood has posed:
For his part Jason gets himself out of the bath as he listens to the replies ping back on his phone, pulling on some sweats and a hoodie, in case he needs to go drive the girls up the mountain. Though like as not it would tomorrow... he check his phone... yep tomorrow.

Jason >> Morning works. Need a lift or are you good?

He opens the bathroom door, then turns back and grabs the champagne before heading out to flop down on the couch in the living room while he waits on a reply.

Oh wait...

Jason >> And I always smell good... just not like roses.

More like cigarettes and cordite... which mostly smelt good to him.

Spoiler has posed:
There's a bit of a delay as a discussion ensues about whether Stephanie should make the trip to Whistler tonight or wait until morning. Stephanie is the reluctant one, not wanting to bail on her friend on the last night. But Kimberly is unrelenting, perhaps after having glimpsed Stephanie's smile. After a bit a text comes back.

Stephanie>> Kim says morning traffic will be a bear, lose a lot of ski time. Says I should go tonight. I think really she just hates me and wants me gone! I don't smell like roses like SOMEONE does. I can probably get an Uber.

Stephanie lowers the phone and looks over at Kimberly. "Thank you," she tells the other young woman, who comes over to give her a big hug. Yep. Definitely fast friends there.

Red Hood has posed:
Jason checks his phone and considers things. First, he forgot he took his own Uber to get here and he didn't have a car, second he didn't have food either.

Jason >> Works. Means I can get more food than Champagne gummies and Ferero Roche. Cabin 4, Alpine Lodges, just as the guy at the desk, he'll point you the right way.

Then Jason sets down the champagne and heads up to the bedroom to get changed into some warmer clothing for the trip for provisions before Steph arrived.

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie>> Great, see you soon. By which I mean, I have no idea how long this will take, I just hope it's 'soon'. <ski emoji>

Jason would probably have a good laugh if he saw the flurry of activity that resulted at the Hart household after. Clothes are pulled out and thrown at Stephanie as Kimberly tells her about the resort. Gorgeous mountainside views. Fireplaces. Some of the cabins even have hot tubs or saunas. Clubs and restaurants at the lodge. Stephanie could have spent all night trying on clothes to take if Kimberly had her way, but the blonde was looking forward to arriving so hurried it along.

The drive up to Whistler was gorgeous, driving through the snow-covered mountains and then cresting a rise to see the town, lit by warm yellow lights that gave it a cheery, homey feel. And the ski lodge further up the slopes with the rows of private cabins, each stashed away in it's own seclusion within the trees.

winter-2015.jpg

Stephanie>> Almost there. Passing the lodge, on the drive to the cabin now.

Soon the car pulls up, the driver running around to help her unload the extra bag of clothing that Kimberly forced on her, plus skis, poles, and ski clothing. Stephanie glances towards the cabin. "Oh, that is... just gorgeous," she says.

Red Hood has posed:
In the three hour and change interval between Steph's last text and her arrival Jason hurried down to the village to get food before all the shops closed. As it was Jason had to beg last cacher to stay open so he could rush around throw a bunch of things into a cart and get out before it was too late.

What he got? Even he wasn't that sure until he put things in the fridge and cupboards, soups, pancake mix, bacon, one of those taco kits, some hot chocolate mix, pop, and a couple of other things.

By the time he hauled it all to the cabin and put it away, he flopped back onto the couch and was dozing by the time the sounds of car doors slamming wake him, having him head for the door.

The cabin was indeed beautiful, an A-frame design, surrounded by woods on all sides on the lower level, while the upper one crests out of the foliage to give them gorgeous view of the mountainside and the lights of Starling city glimmering in the distance.

(https://cdn.liverez.com/5/11273/1/53536/550/4.jpg?v=12/20/201802:17:300PM)

"Hey," Jason calls as he comes up the walkway from the front door. "Was wondering if you'd make it," he nods to the Uber driver as he steps onto the drive to help with the bags. "Bring enough stuff?" he teaes. "You know I've only got this place for the weekend right?"

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie is taking the bags from the driver, telling him she has them, when she hears the door to the cabin open and the snow and ice crunching beneath his feet as Jason steps out and calls to her. Stephanie glances at the dark-haired young man, flashing him a crooked grin. "I'm under orders to smell you," she warns. Steph glances at the driver. "It's an... inside joke, thing," she explains. "It was forced on me!" she says, hefting the bags as a radiant smile is shined towards Jason. "I told her I didn't think it would be long, but Kim wanted me to be prepared for anything. Including a zombie apocalypse. The flame thrower's in the trunk still."

The driver glances at his drunk with trepidation. "Just kidding," Stephanie tells him. She juggles bags to pull some money out of her jeans pocket. "Thank you," she tells him as she passes over the tip. He smiles to both Stephanie and Jason and then climbs back in the car to begin the drive back.

Stephanie's got a sweater on beneath a winter jacket. Jeans with black boots peeking out the legs of the jeans. She waddles over towards Jason, the bags and ski gear not so much heavy as cumbersome to carry. "I had no idea you were up here," she tells him as she walks over.

Red Hood has posed:
He smiles and curnches through the snow and ice to reach out for one of her bags, "Uh-huh," he says of the bags being forced on her. "Though... knowing us, none of those options are impossible."

Jason gives an upnod to the driver and then when Steph is ready to waddle, he takes his share of the bags and leads her back to the cabin saying, "Whatever you say, stalker," before chuckling, frosty breath drifting backwards from his laugh.

Reaching the door, Jason pushes it open and slips through the tight entry to set the bags down in the much, much, larger living space. Here the roof soars upwards over top of the sofa, fireplace, and TV, with a little nook near the back for the kitchen and the hallway to the bathroom and second bedroom. By the entry stairs lead up to the half-level where the master bedroom can be found.

There's a low fire in the fireplace, and the mostly pilfered giftbasket sits by the couch.

"Sorry about the mess," Jason says of his little makeshift buffet. "And you're upstairs," he says about the sleeping accomodations, nodding up the wooden staircase.

"If you don't think you can haul up your gear, I can call down to the front desk and see if Whister has any Sherpas."

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie Brown readily passes a bag and the bulky skis over and follows Jason into the cabin. "Wow, this is bigger than every home I've ever lived in," she says as she enters, doing one of those slow, 360 degree twirling walks to take it all in. The place has a few festive lights strung up around some of the windows for Christmas, and there is frost on the windows in a way that a Hollywood set designer would spend hours trying to duplicate for a perfect shot.

Stephanie smiles and moves over to glance at the gift basket. "This was from Roy to you? Or did he have plans with someone else and you just co-opted the place?" she asks. She glances up the stairs and laughs, saying, "Yeah, and then you report me to Bruce and earn me extra time in the training room."

Stephanie looks back to Jason and nods with her head towards the stairs. "Let me go drop this off and you can give me the grand tour?" she suggests. She carries the bags upstairs that need to go up with her. Steph is gone for just a minute or two, maybe hanging up some things so they don't wrinkle, then comes back down the stairs, moving with a light-hearted step.

Red Hood has posed:
Once inside the door Jason ducks out of the way to put the skiis next to his in the living room, leaning up against the entry way wall.

"Outside of Wayne manor, me too." Jason says of the size of this place. All his childhood homes before that had been appartments meant for fewer people than who lived there, never something this spacious and picturesque.

"That was Roy," Jason says stepping over to the remains of the gift basket sifting through the remains until he comes up with the last little packet of Ferero Roche which he tosses to Steph. "He decided to send that with his apologies..." he holds up the little tag on it, "Addressed to Miss Todd," he says both rolling his eyes and grinning.

The thing about reporting her to Bruce gets a smile. "Wouldn't dream of it," he says wryly. "And sure, I'll be down here," he says letting Steph head on up to the master bedroom in the peak of the A, with it's bed dominating the space between the slanted walls with a wardrobe, TV and a window facing back towards the drive.

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie pauses upstairs long enough to take in the view. Her voice calls from upstairs, "Ok... I didn't ever think I'd say I'd love to move to Canada. Especially in winter!" A few moments later is when she descends those stairs, catching the packet that is thrown her way. "Oh, these are good," she says, opening it up to take a bite of the treat.

Stephanie looks around the cabin again, then goes to slip her boots off at the door, not having done so while she was carrying bags. She has thick stripe socks, with the kind of colors that are only bought by someone wanting them to stand out.

She pads over nearer to Jason then, reaching a hand up rest on his shoulder to steady herself as she leans just close enough to inhale deeply and gets his scent. "Oh you do smell purty," she tells him with a grin, pulling her hand back and using it to retrieve her phone from the back pocket of her jeans. She taps off a message to Kimberly. "So, my friend I was visiting. Met her in Metropolis," Stephanie says, her voice turning just somber enough that Jason, who saw her visiting the site of Superman's death, can probably guess where Steph is referring to. "But we've kept in touch. Seemed like a good time to get away," she says. "She's a lot of fun."

Red Hood has posed:
"Yeah, from what Roy tells me this is the best part of Canada, the rest is all like we think a back home, snow and igloos," Jason calls up from where he was leaning agains the back of the sofa.

"Right, too good, so that's less a gift and more me wanting you to save me from the rest of them," Jason jokes about the candies, taking note of Steph's socks as she comes down the stairs.

He'd kicked off his boots revealing he was wearing some of the ones Steph had given him heavy woolen Star Wars socks, with Han or Luke riding a tauntaun on the side of them. They seemed fitting to their snow covered surroundings.

Jason sees what's coming as Steph leans against him and he grins, allowing her to take a sniff. "Roses right? Wasn't joking."

The mention of Metropolis gets a solemn nod out of Jason, "Glad something good came out of your visit, so scale of 1-10 how pissed was she that you jammed on her to go skiing with some random beefcake?" Jason asks with a grin threatening to return to his lips.

Spoiler has posed:
After confirming the rose scent and sending off her after action report to Kimberly, Stephanie smiles and moves over to the fireplace. "God I've always wanted to have a fireplace," she says of it, holding out her hands to feel the warmth, not that she's all that cold after being in a heated car for the trip up.

She turns back towards Jason and nods her head. "Yeah. I'm glad I ran into her," Stephanie says, the friendship she found returning a smile to her face as Jason helps her reframe her visit to the battle site in a slightly better way than she usually thinks of it. "I-"

Her phone chimes and Stephanie pulls it out to check it. She laughs and covers her face for a moment. "Supposed to make sure you scrubbed thoroughly," she says with a little shake of her head as she taps something back to Kim. "Oh, she wasn't pissed at all. The opposite. I was telling her I didn't want to bail on her and she was urging me to come," Stephanie says as she composes her reply. It is sent off through the air and Stephanie powers her phone down completely and sets it on the table.

"So what were your plans with Roy, Miss Todd?" she asks as Stephanie walks back over to stand before Jason, her arms crossed as she grins at him.

Red Hood has posed:
"Me too, loved having them at the manor when I was with Bruce," Jason says watching Steph warm her hands by the remains of his fire. "I was way past believing in Santa, but it was fun to have one to hang a stocking on, you know?"

Jason cocks a brow at Kim's request, "Let me guess she wants you to conduct a full visual inspection to confirm it right?" he asks shaking his head. "She sounds fun," he says smirking at the idea of her pushing Steph to come. He leans in and sniffs her, "Hmm you've obviously showered, so why'd she want you gone?" he teases.

"Well... if it didn't come with the gift basket I would have gotten some massage oil and..." he lets that trail off with a grin before snorting. "Seriously, just guy stuff, skiiing, checking out clubs in the village, trying to get Roy laid... you know the usual. What did you and Kim have planned?"

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie's eyes dart about a bit as Jason leans in and inhales. Stephanie is wearing perfume, which probably isn't a usual thing for the young woman at least in the experiences Jason would have with her. "Kim spritzed me while I was trying on clothes," she comments in an idle tone. And then follows it up with a little poke to the ribs as Jason implies she might have smelled funny!

"She didn't want me gone, just figured a ski trip shouldn't be passed up," Stephanie says. She turns to go through the rest of the basket. Her back is to Jason as Stephanie says, "She liked the picture of you, probably wanted me to keep you around Vancouver long enough for you to meet."

She picks up a medium-sized vial of something. "Massage oil," she says, putting it back and shaking her head with a laugh. "Oh, it was just getting together for a few days. We went out dancing with her friends, and she showed me around the town. I've never really traveled before. This is the furthest I've been away from home," Stephanie says as she turns back to face Jason, leaning back against the table that the basket is on, both hands resting on it to either side of herself. "I'm glad you invited me though," she says, eyes drifting over to the fire rather than looking at Jason. "I've been wanting to go skiing for awhile, you know," she says.

Red Hood has posed:
There's a small measure of surprise on Jason's face as he smells perfume on Steph. It wasn't like he went around sniffing her, but it was the first time he noticed it on her. "You smell good, it can't be that. Do you snore? Is that it? Am I going to need ear plugs?" he teases her to break the tension of them sniffing each other even in fun.

He takes the poke in the ribs with a smile and at the suggestion Kim might want to meet him he grins,"It can happen, I mean she's got okay taste in friends," he gives Steph a grin. "So might be cool to hang with her and you."

"Really huh?" Jason says about this being as far as she'd been from home. "I guess it was the same for me before, you know," he died. "Then I got in a lot of travel. So if you do more and need a guide, I'm pretty good."

There's a nod for desire to go skiing, "No problem, seemed like it all fit, you here, me here, the mountain here, should be some fun."

Jason drops down onto the couch opposite Steph, illuminated mostly by the flickering light of the fire.

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie's eyes widen in mock outrage, before she laughs and tells him, "Great big ear plugs. Pillows, that I'll stuck in your ears personally," she says, reaching up to give one of Jason's earlobe a little yank. "I sound like Clayface getting flushed down a toilet when I really get going," she teases, her grin showing before she turns her back to check out the basket.

Jason's answer about hanging with Kim and Stephanie both makes a smile want to come to Stephanie's lips, but the expression is taken away to somewhere inside. "You liked the perfume though? I'll have to tell her it was a good choice," Stephanie says.

As Jason takes a seat on the couch, Stephanie goes over to open up the door onto the balcony. She leaves it ajar enough she can hear Jason if he calls, but otherwise steps outside, her footsteps leaving prints in the dusting of snow as Stephanie looks at the hot tub briefly. She had tried to tell Kim no about needing a bathing suit, but now she was glad it had been forced on her to bring it.

Though the view quickly takes Stephanie's attention. Looking down the mountain at the lights of the small village below. She doesn't stay out there very long, just enough to look at it, and glance up at the light falling of snow coming down from the clouds above.

Stephanie goes back inside, closing the door and putting a stop to the chill breeze that was slipping in through the opening. She moves over to take a seat on the couch as well. Stephanie looks over at Jason, seeming to be making up her mind about something. "I could probably do worse for a travel guide," she finally decides with a light, playful grin. "Where are your favorite places that you've been?"

Red Hood has posed:
Laughing Jason says, "Well, going to take me a while to get my brain to stop thinking about what /that/ would sound like," he says. "Clayface being sucked down a toilet."

He grins, before nodding absently about the perfume, "Yeah, let her know it's nice," he says absolutely beleiving Steph's story about Kim spraying it on her.

As Steph heads outside, Jason watches from the comfort of inside as he gets up to go throw a new log on the fire and poke things around a bit while she checked out the quietude of their surroundings. Glancing up and seeing Steph looking off the balcony, Jason calls out, "Yep, really is a hot tub, outside... on a mountain, if I needed proof the Canadians were crazy..." he says shaking his head. "Did bring my suit though."

Hey he didn't say he wasn't crazy.

Jason doesn't catch that considering look, the log fell over and he was trying to get it back up so it didn't smother the flames.

"Off the top of my head, Tokyo, Vietnam and the Greek Islands are pretty much my top spots."

Spoiler has posed:
In this particular case, Jason's believing the perfume story is warranted. Stephanie hadn't explained why she didn't want to show up wearing perfume to Kimberly, but it was too late by then anyway. If part of her was sort of glad now that Kim had done that, it is pushed somewhere inside before it really has a chance to take hold.

Stephanie takes one of the large throw pillows, settling it over in the lap of her blue jeans. "Wow. I don't even think I'd have tried to pick those as destinations. I mean, crazy Canadian cabin with a big tub of water on a mountainside was kind of here," Stephanie says, using her hand to notch a spot in the air relatively high up, "on the travel aspirations."

She lets out a contented sigh as the fireplace puts out more heat. She picks up a remote, looking at it and hitting a few buttons. A Pandora playlist starts up, one of probably many that the lodge has equipped all of the cabins for, aiming for the mood that visitors might wish. It's not Christmas carols but some sort of Celtic music that has that season feel to it. Stephanie turns it down very soft and glasses to Jason. "I'm thinking there's about equal chances whether you like this, or it'll cause to melt down like the Wicked Witch of the West," she says with a warm but sardonic grin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-0phxRhoik

Stephanie gives a soft sigh. "Greek Islands sound beautiful. The water, so blue. I always love the movies and commercials that are filmed there," she says the Gotham girl, who knows more concrete and gothic architecture than she even knows countryside wilderness. Let alone Mediterranean waters.

Red Hood has posed:
Jason nods, "Well if we're being honest, I didn't so much pick all of those spots as got taken there, it was part of my training after I died," he says. "Well except for the Greek Islands, those I went to on purpose."

He pauses to consider the playlist, before giving it a nod of approval. "Well it fits all this," he waves a hand at their surroundings, "Better than Smashing Pumpkins or Rage Against the Machine," he allows.

There's a nod about the Islands. "One of the few places that live up to the hype, really spectacular, even just sitting out on the deck drinking morning coffee is amazing," Indeed that was one of his mental 'happy places'. "Who knows, maybe Roy will stand me up out there one time and you can check it out," he teases.

Spoiler has posed:
That gets a soft chuckle from Stephanie. "I'll start sending him some tourism pamphlets from there. See if I can't seed the idea for him," the young woman tells him. Her eyes go back to the fireplace and she gets a soft smile. "I like it down here so much maybe I'll just sleep here on the couch," she comments. "And watch the fire until I doze off.

Stephanie takes that big throw pillow in her lap and sets it on the couch. It's next to Jason's leg but not really on it, only the top edges of it. Stephanie turns sideways on the touch and lies down, drawing her legs with those colorful socks up. Not necessarily proving good on her word, though she does curl up there.

"Saw you're wearing the socks. I liked those ones," she says of the Star Wars pair that Jason has on today. "They looked good and..." Stephanie says before her words are interrupted by a yawn that she covers with her fist. "Good and thick. Nice and warm for this time of year. And, hey, nobody's cooler than Han," she says.

Stephanie's eyes drift shut. Maybe she is going to sleep there, whether she intended it or not. She keeps talking, her voice taking on that quality of someone who sounds like they are near to drifting off. "You're probably our Han. Tim would be Luke. And Damian-" she yawns again. "Damian's Chewbacca." Stephanie adjusts, snuggling into the pillow, and her breathing begins to grow slower and more regular.

Red Hood has posed:
Sleep soon followed for both of them. Jason covering Steph with a blanket before he made his way to the second bedroom to sleep fitfully through the night.

The next morning they woke early, Jason making omletes for breakfast, then it was all a matter of grabbing ski gear and hitting the slopes... in some cases literally, until it began to get dark and they retreated to the chalet to clean up, and too tired to cook, hit up the lodge for dinner.

"Ready?" Jason calls up to the master bedroom from over by the entry way. Gone are the black and red ski clothes, and instead Jason's wearing a thick woolen sweater under a his ski jacket, his little battle scar, a scratch under his eye where he ran through some trees still healing.

"Checked the brocher thing they gave us, said there's a little holiday party thing going on tonight, music, that sort of thing." He doesn't sound /entirely/ opposed to the idea of some festivity.

Spoiler has posed:
The day spent on the slopes was the kind of memory that Stephanie wouldn't soon forget. Shooshing down the slopes, sometimes braving runs that were a little above her skill level if not Jason's. But each wipe out just added new layers of laughter as Stephanie brushes snow from her face and hair.

Back at the ski chalet, Stephanie enjoyed a hot shower, limbering up any muscles that were tightened up from the skiing. There aren't many muscles that Bruce's training don't work, so even the rigorous activity of skiing wasn't a difficult one to recover from.

Stephanie pulls on the sweater she'd brought with her to Angel Grove. Kimberly had tried to push several different dresses on Steph, each more slinky than the rest, and didn't understand why Steph was adamant on turning them all down in favor of the simpler sweater of her own. "I'm almost ready. Just another minute or two. Come on up and keep me company," she says. "You have to check out the view out the window up here if you haven't."

vBNcMDs.png

She adds just a little makeup around her eyes, the young woman rarely wearing any. Some of her things are set out on the small vanity near her. Given even the zetaport follows airport rules about taking liquids into the facility, the small perfume bottle visible t here is probably the one that Kimberly spritzed her with earlier, though it hasn't been used again today. Stephanie runs a brush through her hair, trying to hurry up to not keep Jason waiting.

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At the request to come up, Jason looks up the stairs and hesitates a moment, before he produces his phone and takes a look at himself through the selfie lense, adjusting his hair a little before putting it away. "Sure, sure, make me walk alll the way upstairs..." he grumps good naturedly before his steps lead him to the door of the master bedroom leaning against the door frame while Steph brushed her hair.

"It's a good view," Jason says his eyes not pointed at the window at first, before he seems to change his mind mid stream and turn to look outside. It /was/ beautiful, snow covered pines and cedars rimmed by the christmas lights set around the window frame.

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Stephanie's soft laugh is there to greet Jason's arrival at the door alongside the view of Stephanie getting ready. "I'm becoming a taskmaster. Comes from who I hang out with, I'm sure," she tells him, glancing up in the mirror and watching Jason as he passes behind her over towards the window and looks out it.

"Just let me know if it's getting to me in other ways," she comments while his back is to her. When Jason turns back around, Stephanie is turned towards him and making this... face. It's meant to be Bruce's glower, but there's a laugh that's trying to bubble up through it and turn it into a grin which is completely ruining any level of Bruce-ness that it might have otherwise achieved.

"Ok, my acting needs work," she says, already having an idea how far off the expression was." She turns back, one last little brush, eyes going over her image. The sweater is a mix of mostly black, grey and white stripes of varying thickness. Though the small amounts of blue that bring out here eyes were what drew her to it when she saw it in the store she was bargain hunting in.

"All ready," Stephanie says. She picks up the perfume bottle as if unsure whether to use it. After a moment she applies just a subtle amount, setting it aside and turning back to Jason. She claps her hands together softly. "Holiday party thing? Music? Sounds like fun," she says, face lighting up. "And the best part, none of those... what did you call them? Moguls? Mobiles?" she asks of the bumps on one of the ski runs that caused one her most spectacular crashes of the day. "Should just call them icy speedbumps. Anyway, I'm looking for to a surface that doesn't have those," she says with a grin, all ready to go.

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Jason blinks turning back from the window to catch Stephanie's expression and sucking air through his teeth as he shaked his head, "It was a nice effort but you don't really have the face for that. Too used to smiling I guess," he offers with a smile.

Noting the perfume, Jason makes no comment as he moves back to the door and nodding about the party. "I think they're doing it every weekend until Christmas or New Years and yeah, music, I think they've got a live band and everything," he says before grinning about the 'icy speedbumps', "Moguls," he says. "No idea why they call them that."

When she declares herself ready, Jason nods and leads the way down the stairs and once they've got their coats on he leads the way down to the lodge as well, crunching along the tree lined roadway in the relative quiet of a snowy night, drawn to the lights and sound of the lodge just ahead of them.

Jason doesn't say anything, just walks with his hands in his pockets, seemingly lost in thought. Though when they reach the lodge he perks up as the door opens and they walk into the warmth and cheer of the place, decked to the nines for Christmas with trees, wreathes, holly and mistletoe, Michael Buble's "Christmas" playing over the sound system while the band takes a break.

(song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBycW6iu8GM)

It actually brings a smile, willingly, to Jason's lips. He glances around and finds the dining room and without thinking he extends his arm, "Shall we?" he says as he prepares to lead the way.

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The walk to the lodge is its own experience judging from Stephanie's smiles. The moon is rising and there's fresh powder on the ground, it having snowed about the time the sun was going down. There are more clouds coming in, and there is supposed to be another inch or two at least tonight.

The blond girl walks along at Jason's side, looking around at the views of the mountainside and town below afforded by the path. "This is my first ski lodge," she comments to Jason, giving him a little shoulder bump as they draw near to it and she gets her first view, having gone straight to the cabin.

"Like something out of a movie," she says brightly. Childhood memories rush back to her of bright places full of holiday cheer and music being shown on the TV. To the young girl it was like looking through a magic window to places a little brighter and more wholesome than the Gotham life she was accustomed to.

Only this? This was real.

If the lodge can make even Jason Todd smile, there's no doubt it'll draw one out of Stephanie as well. "Thank you, Jason," she tells him quietly as she looks around the place. The holiday decorations and the music just have a way of getting into Stephanie's mood and lifting it even higher. She smiles and slides her hands around Jason's offered arm, turning finally from her view of the lodge to flash him a quick smile before moving the rest of the way inside with him and letting Jason lead her about the beautiful building.

Red Hood has posed:
There is a definite cinematic feel to the place, like a squadron of Hollywood set dressers had been set loose in the place to get it just so... and who knows maybe they did, Vancouver was Hollywood North after all.

For Jason the place reminded him less of TV and movies but his first Christmas with Bruce and Alfred, he was as awed then as Stephanie was awed now, he smiles a little brighter to see her smile and says, "You're welcome." Then they're off to find their place in the dining hall.

Dinner being included in the cost of the chalet, seating at the lodge was cruise ship style, with a couple of chalets each assigned to shared table, with a couple of two person tables by the window available by reservation. The latter being full when Stephanie and Jason enter the dining room they're shown to a table an older couple was already sitting down to eat.

They smile and introduce themselves as Martin and Helen, and happily tell them that they were in town to visit family but were giving themselves a little treat with a weekend away.

"My friend cancelled, so, Stephanie and I are making the most of it, it was her first time skiing today," he says trying to head off the 'and how long have you been together' question he could feel brewing from Martin and Helen.

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie's head stayed on a swivel as they moved through the building that seemed to possess a magic quality. That everywhere Stephanie looked, there was some new joy to be found. Even in places she'd already looked, details that had gone unnoticed and appreciated would present themselves as if to keep fueling the young woman's smile.

Sharing a table with the older couple doesn't seem to bother Stephanie at all. "Hello Martin, Helen," she says as they shake hands and then get settled in. Stephanie gives a little side to side head bob and a grin. "Managed to not break anything at least. But who would have thought snow could be that hard to fall on?" she asks in a bright tone that gets laughter from the couple they are seated with.

Martin rests his hand on Helen's. They are both probably a little past sixty, he with greyed hair, and she white white. Bodies starting to show their age, but they both have a warm and friendly demeanor that age seems to have been unable to touch.

Helen says, "Oh, your first time? Wonderful isn't it? We first came here for our honeymoon, and that was my first time skiing as well." Martin takes a sip from a rock glass that looks like it might hold scotch. "You were pretty good that first time, but so much better over the years," he says. Helen smiles at her husband's compliment. She says to Jason and Stephanie, "We come back every three or four years. I'm afraid my knees can't handle skiing anymore, but it's still worth it," she says.

Martin nods his agreement as Stephanie's smile has turned to the one showing bright white teeth. Martin asks, "So if it's your first time, I guess the two of you aren't local then?"

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Sitting back Jason watches the interplay between the old couple and Steph, brow raising slightly at Martin's first time remarks, wondering if the man had slipped a little inuendo in there, though most of his attention is on that glass, so when the waitress brings he and Steph waters he orders a scotch for himself after Steph orders what she wants.

"No, we're from Gotham, but I've been up here a couple of times with a friend of mine," he says offering scant details in return to the wealth of them provided by the couple.

A short time later the waitress is back with their drinks and inquring after what they want for dinner.

"Try the steak," Martin opines. "Great stuff."

It doesn't take more than that to get Jason to order, "Yeah, the steak for me please, mashed potatoes, not garlic though."

He looks to Step to see what she wants, the menu here is short, just about a dozen items and changes nightly.

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Stephanie considers for a moment, looking at a wine list. "I'm worthless when it comes to knowing wines," she comments aloud. Helen asks if Stephanie likes white or red, and then makes a recommendation. "Thank you, I'll go with that. A glass please," Stephanie tells the waiter, before turning to flash a big smile over to Helen in gratitude.

"First time out of the country, furthest I've been from Gotham," Stephanie confides to the couple. She looks over to Jason and grins as he orders the steak. "That sounds good to me as well. Steak with the steamed broccoli," she orders.

Stephanie's attention turns back to the room. "The decorations are like something out of a dream," she comments. Before looking back to Jason and the couple. "Well, someone with a better set of dreams than me anyway," she says with a self-deprecating laugh. She glances towards the stage where a drum set and seats for musicians can be seen. "Do they have live music as well?" she inquires of the couple with so much experience here.

About that time, a few musicians come out on the stage and appear to be preparing for a performance. "Oh, I guess they do," Stephanie says brightly. The sound of a little train giving a toot of a small train horn draws her attention over to where a miniature track runs along a wall, the ends going into the wall like they were tunnels in a mountainside. "Ok, I so need to do this with my room back home," she says with a laugh. The table they are at would fill up a third of her bedroom by itself.

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"Don't look at me, I just have what they serve at Bruce's parties if there isn't any scotch," Jason says that's about all there was to his knowledge of wines fine or otherwise.

Taking a moment to check out the decor, Jason nods, "Yeah, it's pretty great, like they're filming one of those Hallmark Christmas movies after we all clear out."

Martin grins, "They might be, knowing this area," he says going on a little bit about the city's booming TV and movie business, Martin had been an electritian in the business before retiring, and his wife Helen flashes Jason and Stephanie an apologetic smile.

Breaking from his dissertation on the movie biz, Martin does ask, "And what do you two do?"

"Security," Jason answers. "People pay me to test their security for them, it's a fun gig, but weird hours."

Martin turns to Steph, "And you don't mind crawling out of bed to go work all hours of the night?" he asks her, "Helen always gave me hell when there was an early call time..."

Helen swats Martin's arm, "They're not together," she says, reading the signs, with a slight twinkle to her eyes.

"Oh," Martin says. "Sorry."

Jason glances away, towards the train that had caught Steph's attention, "Might need to take over your neighbour's place, but it could work," he offers happy to change the subject.

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie gives a warm laugh about crawling out of bed at all hours. "Well, I'm a student at Gotham U. Which does mean I have to get up ungodly early, but a college student's schedule isn't quite that bad," she tells them with a soft smile. Not technically a lie, any of it, though leaving out that yes, she does end up on call much like Jason.

Stephanie glances at the train again and gives a laugh. "Two guys, they spend so much time partying I bet the train could be there for a week before they finally noticed it. Unless we stuck a beer in one of the cars, in which case they'd probably just sit watching it all day, waiting for the next beer to be delivered."

The food arrives at the table, and up on stage the bad starts playing. There's a microphone out front, but right now it's unmanned as the band is playing some Christmas songs, just instrumental while people eat and the soft murmurs of conversation vie with the music.

Stephanie glances over to Jason, giving the man a gentle smile. "Jason's extremely good at what he does," she says to Helen and Martin. "He's kind of excelled at most things he's put his mind to, from what I've seen while I've known him."

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"Well there you go then, after we're done eating, you distract the staff and I'll grab the train," Jason grins about her neighbours and the train.

When the food comes, Jason takes a bite, chewing and swallowing before setting down his fork eyes shooting over to Steph, his usual avenues of snark denied him because all he could think of was sarcastic examples from their night job, you know digging himself out of the grave.

"Uh, thanks," he says finally. "I try. Steph is pretty awesome too, I have to admit."

They tuck into dinner then, talking and eating, most of Jason's steak sits uneaten but he makes a token effort, before settling back and throwing in the towel.

That's when the singer takes the stage, asking, "How's everyone doing tonight?" there is applause from the crowd. "Great to hear, we'll be starting in on your musical entertainment, if any of you feel like dancing, the floor is open."

Martin smiles, extending his hand to Helen, who shakes her head. "Oh no, my knee." He nods then turns his extended hand to Stephanie. "Any chance you'd like to dance?"

Spoiler has posed:
A warm laugh results at Jason becoming her potential partner in crime. "I can hear the headlines already. Whistler Great Train Robbery. Bandits dubbed Blondie and Snide," Stephanie says, looking over to Jason and leaning to bump his shoulder just lightly so he knows the 'Snide' part was meant in a teasing way.

The dinner patter with the couple is enjoyable, and Stephanie is really enjoying her steak. The girl who subsists on fast food and ramen no doubt finds this a real treat. She does glance over at Jason's steak going uneaten, with gets a brief glance when he's not paying attention, a mix of concern and curiosity as to why he's not eating much after their big day on the slopes.

Stephanie turns a little to watch the stage as the woman moves to the microphone. She looks to be in her mid-thirties, with brown hair and blond highlights, and wearing a dress that sparkles when the stage lights illuminate her.

Martin's offer causes Stephanie's blue eyes to light up. "If it's alright with you, Helen?" Stephanie asks, glancing over to the sweet older woman. When Helen gives her a shooing gesture, Stephanie gives Martin a nod, setting her napkin aside and rising as she takes his hand. "Don't rob the train without me?" she asks Jason with a grin, before Martin leads her out onto the dance floor.

Red Hood has posed:
There's a snort for the 'snide' comment, he had to admit it fit.

Jason offers no answers on his lack of appetite, he just does his best to pretend like Bruce did with booze, make it look like he was enjoying the meal with the rest of them without actually partaking.

"No promises," he smiles, watching her and Martin go off as he sips his drink.

As he drinks, Helen shifts over a chair to speak to him, her voice lost to anyone else as the band begins to play.

Spoiler has posed:
The rich sounds of piano and bass meld together and are joined by the overtures of a softly played electric guitar as a jazzy version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas begins on stage. Out on the dance floor Stephanie puts herself in Martin's capable hands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_TdWsWPD6E

There is something about the older generations and their ability to dance. The pairing of the beautiful younger blond and the greying man in his sixties is an odd one, but Martin moves Stephanie about the dance floor in a gliding flow.

The singer joins in, her voice delicate and soft, caressing the lyrics into their place alongside the instrumental. Martin and Stephanie turn about, the young woman laughing and smiling at something that he's telling her. There are others on the floor dancing as well now, though the floor still feels uncrowded.

Martin turns Stephanie about at one point before bringing her back. It results in a laugh from Stephanie, the sounds lost in the song, but Jason might be able to hear it in his head. Knowing just from seeing her face exactly how it sounds.

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Even though he's leaning over to listen to Helen, Jason can hear that laugh in his head, imagine the glint of mirth in Stephanie's eyes he's too far away to see. The imaginings bring a smile to his lips and as the song winds down, he downs his scotch and pats Helen on the arm.

"Thanks," he says, heading out onto the dance floor.

Martin for his part, smiles down at Stephanie, "Thank you for indulging me, you're a wonderful dancer," he says with earnest appreciation, before he glances up and spots Jason coming towards them. "I'd ask if you want to go again, but it seems like your dance card is full," he says kindly nodding in Jason's direction.

If she turns to look that way she'll find Jason just arriving, asking her, "So, want to dance?" his hand extended.

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Stephanie gives Martin a pleased grin but waves her hand as if dismissing part of what he said. "Indulging you? It was my pleasure," she tells him. "And you're far too kind. I'm pretty sure I got your toes at least once there," she says through a bashful grin.

Jason is approaching from behind and to the side, so Stephanie doesn't spot him until Martin draws her attention that way. She turns, perhaps the slightest bit of surprise to see Jason walking over. But if there was surprise it is forgotten as a smile, small and soft, is given to greet him.

The question gets a small, pleased nod from Stephanie. "Yes, I'd like that," she tells him. "Martin," she says to the older man. "Thank you again." Martin beams back to the young woman, then his eyes going to meet Jason's for a moment, smile gaining notes of approval as he leaves the younger couple together on the dance floor.

Stephanie offers herself to Jason for the dance, one hand offered to him, the other moving to rest upon his arm up near his shoulder. The musculature of his arms and shoulder can be felt through the sweater, the thoughts pushed down as Stephanie instead says, "This is such a wonderful evening. I thought you'd be more hungry after a day on the slopes. Steak wasn't done how you like it?" she asks, glancing over towards his plate from where they are on the floor.

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Jason gives Martin a nod of thanks as the older man leaves Stephanie to him.

The singer takes to the mic, "We're going to take a little break from the Christmas music for a favourite of mine," she says before turning to her band to give them instructions.

Jason's brows raise in confusion, "Huh? No, it was good," he answers distractedly as he takes Stephanie into his arms as the piano and drum strike up and the singer begins 'Turn Me On' by Norah Jones.

(song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED1B39W9b0E)

Jason as it turns out is a decent dancer, the work of Alfred no doubt, his steps are smooth and graceful even if he holds Stephanie a little closer than was strictly necessary. He smiles faintly, but there's a distracted quality to him, as if his mind was miles away.

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Stephanie smiles and gives a soft, "Ooo," at the gentle notes of the piano opening, but then the singer comes in, the young woman's voice just taking the song to a new level. Stephanie had moved to start the dance no closer to Jason than she'd been dancing with Martin. Though she's drawn in readily, until he can feel brushes of her body now and then as they dance.

The lights are dimmed, bringing out the sparkle of lights that adorn the ceilings and the circle the windows. Garlands of holly and long runs of pine-like branches give the dining room and dance floor that wholesome, Christmas feeling. Other traditional decorations adorn the walls or hang from the ceiling in places.

"Martin was so sweet. They've been together a long time," Stephanie tells Jason. Her cheek rests against his shoulder for a just a moment before Stephanie straightens herself, leaning back as if to look at the decorations better. "I'm really glad you invited me up. Kim is going to be so jealous," she says in her normal, warm tones of conversation, eyes lifting to Jason's for a moment, the first she's met his gaze since they started dancing.

The singer's voice embraces the lyrics, filling the space with her singing that manages at once to be smooth, but slightly raspy.

  Like a flower waiting to bloom
  Like a light bulb in a dark room
  I'm just sittin' here waiting for you
  To come on home and turn me on

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Jason nods, "Yeah, Helen was telling me," he says of the older couple and their time together. "Apparently he was terrified to ask her out so she had to do it."

There's a small smile at that and a shake of his head. Steph's glance upward has Jason looking way too, though his attention comes back to Stephanie when she stops short of resting her head against his shoulder. "It's okay," he tells her, his hand rising on her back a little, meeting her gaze before she settles back or decides against it. His blue eyes have a warmer quality to them now, one mirrored by the slight upwards curl of his lips.

Though whatever she decides, Jason is more present in this dance, no longer miles away, but here, with her, in this moment.

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The blue eyes gazing up at Jason light up a bit with warm amusement. "You'd never know it now. It is sweet hearing stories like that though. Even if we maybe never had people with those kind of lives around us growing up. Nice reminder of why it's worth spending our nights getting bruises, not sleep," she says quietly, talking as easily and readily as they might if they were plopped in chairs in the Red Cave, eating Big Belly Burger.

But they aren't. The offer of Jason's shoulder is enough of a surprise that Stephanie's eyes flit up to his for a moment. Thoughts or inclination that could risk the close friendship that had developed had all been getting pushed down.

Her eyes search Jason's for a moment, and then Stephanie leans her head forward, lightly resting her cheek on his shoulder, and her body a little closer against him. The perfume, applied so very sparingly, might just now start to be a little noticeable. Stephanie's hand upon Jason's arm slides a little higher as well as she's moved in closer against him.

"I like this song," she says softly, finding a topic to fill the space as Jason dances her slowly around the room. His smooth, well-schooled movements make Stephanie feel graceful with him to lead her, the blond lifting her eyes back to him even as her head is held gently nestled against him.

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Steph's words pull him out of his thoughts and he nods, looking over to where Helen and Martin are swaying back and forth to the music, clasping hands on the table. "Yeah, definitely something to think about," he admits. For him the mission had always been about him rather the people of Gotham. It had been about hurting badguys not protecting people like Helen and Martin, but all the same there was denying what he did carved out the space for people like them to live happy lives. It gave him an unfamiliar sense of satisfaction.

Jason's thoughts are brought back tot he moment when Steph leans against him the faintest hint of her purfume reaching him, he breathes it in deep, eyes glancing up afterwards, a smile spreading across his lips.

He looks down as Steph turns his eyes to him, the song coming close to it's close, "Look up," he tells her, a nod to the white and green plant above their heads.

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Stephanie's hand slides just a little higher without her thinking about it, the feeling natural with her head against Jason's shoulder. Her own eye level had lowered again, Stephanie finding herself focused more on the feeling of the man dancing with her, and on the beautiful sultriness of the song rather than on what she's seeing.

Her eyes go right across Martin and Helen, not even seeing the couple as the dance just takes her eyes past where the couple sit. Missing their smile to each other and Martin taking Helen's hand to hold.

Jason's voice draws Stephanie's attention back to him. Looking first up to Jason, eyes meeting his own. Gazing into the different shade of blue. Look up? Stephanie glances higher and sees the sprig of mistletoe above their heads. One made large so it wouldn't go unnoticed amidst the other decorations. The instinct Steph has developed since the talk in her apartment, pushes her thoughts again to filling the space that could risk her friendship with him.

"Mistletoe. What a name, right?" Stephanie quips softly, it taking her a moment to find her normal, casual joke tone, but continuing as she does. "Sounds like a Gotham B-rate villain. Missile Toe. 'Batman surrender the city to me or I will launch my toe rockets to destroy the city.' Probably would make sure he teamed up with Laser Fingers and... and Cannon Nose-"

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Jason almost laughs out loud as Steph riffs on the mistletoe above their heads, it sounded, warm, pleased and maybe a little bemused.

"You're not wrong," Jason says, meeting her eyes. "But I was more thinking what it usually means when you're standing under it, like we are, now."

He makes no move to kiss her, not yet but the intent there in his eyes as he brushes a hand against her cheek. "Steph, I want you and if you want me just kiss me."

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Jason's words about the normal meaning of the mistletoe draw Stephanie's thoughts back towards where she'd avoided letting them go. Somewhere inside she's already pushing them down. Towards the thick wall she's built up inside to contain them. Trap them away so Stephanie won't have to relive what she'd felt in her apartment when Jason had made to leave.

His softly spoken words cause Stephanie's breath to catch. And then his fingers touch her face. Palm and fingertips, gently cradling. That wall inside doesn't crumble. It disintegrates like so much dust.

Stephanie looks up into Jason's eyes, searching for confirmation of his words and fearing she won't find it. But she does. The fear drains from her look and she gets a trembling smile. She leans up towards him slowly.

Their lips touch. The softest brush of her mouth to his, but with no intention of pulling back unless he does. He can feel her tremble even as her body presses softly in against his more fully, releasing his hand she was holding to dance so she can slide it up about his shoulders as well.

Red Hood has posed:
Jason's own wall had shattered when he'd gotten up and asked her to dance. Helen had seen the signs of the struggle in him, fear and desire locked in a struggle, she urged him forward. but it wasn't just her words that did it, it was Lucifer's about his vacation from Hell. Bruce's words about finding time for more than the mission, and finally his own far less poetic ones, 'just do it, idiot, you know she wants you too'.

In the end it didn't matter who's words that got him here it only mattered that he was here.

He accepts the tender start to the kiss but doesn't pull away, his arms draw her close as she brings her hand up to her shoulders, pouring all everything he kept behind that wall into the kiss, expressing himself more eloquently with that simple gesture than he could ever do with words.

Spoiler has posed:
The dancers and the dance floor and the band and the music faded from Stephanie's world. Replaced with the arms that hold her close to Jason's body. The way her emotions surge at the merest touch of his lips to hers.

There's the sense of Stephanie relaxing against Jason fully. Trusting in his arms about her and the truth of what she senses in his kiss. Her own arms tighten, the curves of her body nestled in against his muscular chest.

Sweet, beautiful emotions fill Stephanie, like Jason's kiss could make the sun rise within her and shine warm light into every place she'd ever hidden her worries and fears away. Her lips press back to his, the kiss she gives him carrying all those feelings for him that Stephanie had kept trapped away until this moment.

Red Hood has posed:
For Jason the kiss was the end to a battle with himself, a surrender to the fact might need more than the mission, that a life, like the one he had with Kitty was possible again. With the end of that battle came a lightness, like he might float off the ground, even has he holds tight to Stephanie.

Jason allows the kiss to linger the feelings Steph put into it sending a frission of excitment all the way down his spine. Slowly though, he breaks away, and the world comes back into focus. The song had stopped and all around them the other dancers were looking at them, with Martin and Helen beaming from the sidelines.

Unfazed, Jason just smirks, "You're all just jealous," he informs them to a round of chuckles, then he looks back to Steph as the band begins to play again, "Up for another? Got to say dancing with you's not bad," he teases lightly looking down into her eyes.

Spoiler has posed:
Jason's lips slowly part from the blonde's, and Stephanie's eyes take a few more heartbeats before they flutter back open to gaze up at Jason's face. It takes more passing seconds for her to remember where they are, and other people are around. She turns her head finally to glance at the dancers who are watching, most smiling. Even if they don't know as much as Helen and Martin, even, they can appreciate what they saw.

Stephanie ducks her face against Jason's shoulder bashfully, hiding it for just a moment before she comes back up with one of her smiles on. "I'm up for another. Though... might need a second to wait for my toes to uncurl," she tells him, cheeks pushed up by the size of her smile. She reaches a hand up to touch Jason's face softly. "If my alarm clock goes off now and wakes me from this dream, I'm totally destroying that sucker," she warns him through a bit of laughter.

The band starts backup. Please Come Home For Christmas, with the singer and musicians filling the room with the upbeat, heart-warming song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbrHQHUaI7k

Jason and Stephanie? They continue the dance. The girl nestled in her man's arms, and he in hers. Her cheek snuggled to his chest. His hands upon her back, or toying within her hair.

And the band played on.