13765/The Ice Is Nice

The Ice Is Nice
Date of Scene:	07 January 2023
Location:	Lake House - Wayne Estate
Synopsis:	A frozen afternoon is perfect for a skate on the lake on the Wayne estates.
Cast of Characters:	Stephanie Brown, Dick Grayson

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Stephanie Brown has posed:
Even with the winter storms that have come through, it has taken awhile for today to arrive. Stephanie has been watching the ice over the lake, waiting for it to get thick enough to be safe to skate upon. Each winter freeze came with enough of a thaw that it wasn't safe.

But finally the day is here! Stephanie puts on warm winter tights and a sweater and grabs a knit cap. White with silver and blue trim on it, and a tassel on top. She gets her gloves at her side and then sits down to put on the ice skates, which have skate guards on them to not dull the blades or scratch up the house until she gets out onto the ice.

"Dick, are you about ready?" she calls through the small house.

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Dick comes out of the bedroom wearing jeans and a blue and black sweater, a matching knit cap on his head. He's got his skates in one hand while he pads across the floor in warm wool socks. Hazelduck patters across the floor behind him with a tiny scarf wrapped loosely around his neck. Dick sits down on the bench right by the sliding door out to the deck and starts putting his skates on.

    "I have to admit, this place is much more convenient to the lake. Half the time when I was in the manor I'd forget it was even back here." He laces the boots tightly, as it would just be embarrassing for Nightwing to be taken out by a sprained ankle.

    Sliding the glass door open, he stands up and steps carefully outside, followed by the duck. Apparently it's a daddy day. Once his feet hit the snow outside however, he quacks his disapproval of the outside in general and patters back into the nice warm house. Dick offers Steph his hand, "Shall we go see if we can hurt ourselves?" is said with a boyish grin.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Watching Hazelduck go back into the warmth, Stephanie says slowly, "Think maybe we're spoiling him?"

After a comment's consideration, she answers her own question. "Naaaaah." She takes Dick's hand and walks outside with him, closing the door behind her. The lake is right there, as they walk out onto the ice and then Stephanie removes her skate guards and sets them onto the dock.

"I'm not the best skater, didn't get to much as a kid. Though the balance training helps a lot so I don't fall at least. Just don't expect Tara Lipinski out of me," she says, flashing Dick a grin as she lets him lead them out across the ice.

The cold wind stirs around them, making the afternoon brisk, the sky cloudy overhead. The whole area is so quiet, old snowfalls covering the shores, but the ice is mostly clear of it. "Having always had a neighbor on the other side of a wall, I rather like the isolation," she comments.

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Removing his skate guards as well and setting them aside, he steps onto the ice and shrugs, saying "Well, it's not like I'm exactly ready for the Olympics either. Though I think all the balance training we do for our patrols should serve us fairly well."

    He pushes off with one foot, moving them into a slow glide across the ice. After a moment he rotates so he's facing her while skating backwards. "See? We're almost graceful or something." He leads her slowly through a few turns, then lets go of her hand so she can try a few maneuvers of her own.

    "Ah, I know what I forgot." He pulls a remote out of his pocket and hits a button, channeling the music from their stereo system to the outside speakers.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie skates forward closer to Dick when he's turned around backwards. She leans forward to press a short kiss to his lips. Though leaning forward to do so makes her balance start to waver and the kiss turns into her arms waving about to regain it. Followed by bright laughter from the blue-eyed blond.

She pushes off again, turning a tight circle, and then trying to turn around backwards. Stephanie stumbles but rights herself, skulling backwards for a little bit before doing a better job turning back around forward.

"Oh, good choice," she says of the playlist he has going. The cold is already bring out a bit of rosiness in Stephanie's cheeks, though the warm clothing plus the physical activity is keeping her from feeling cold.

"I wonder if Damian has ever tried hockey. I imagine he'd be enthused by it until he realizes there's no impaling with the sticks."

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Dick grins a little as Steph windmills for balance, them when she gets her balance says "See? The skills translate fairly well." He skates though a fairly decent figure eight on the ice and then glides over to her, holding out his hand to her as he does.

    Once she takes his hand, he pulls her in close and wraps his arms around her so they're gliding across the ice face to face. He gives her a couple quick kisses, then thinks about the hockey thing. "Well, it is still a fairly violent game even if you can't bash people too hard with the stick. He might still find it interesting now that he's not the small one anymore."

    Another moment goes by while he thinks about it, adding, "I still can't get used to him being taller than me. Stupid growth spurts." He grins and kisses her again.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown happily settles into Dick's arms as they glide together across the ice. She snuggles against him, her pretty smile growing from ear to ear when they have moments like this. The kind of moments the socially awkward girl from the other side of the tracks in the rough part of Bristol never would have believed she'd be having one day.

Especially with someone like Dick, who can literally take her breath away with a kiss.

She smiles at him and then gives a quiet laugh. "True, he'd enjoy hitting people. But would probably try to use the skate blades as weapons," she jokes. Well, not really a joke, he probably would consider it.

She laughs softly at the comment about Damian being taller. "I wouldn't want you any taller. I already have to crane my neck to kiss you," she says with a laugh before their lips touch together.

Dick Grayson has posed:
    After another kiss or two, Dick says seriously "Well, since you like it I'll make certain not to get any taller. We can't be hurting your neck, after all." His smile just about matches hers. She's not the only one who never expected something like this. He's been on the track of Bruce's mission since he was eight years old, and almost every woman he has met are interested in Dick Grayson, Wayne heir. Finding someone like her, especially since she shares both halves of his life, was not something he ever thought would happen.

    He angles his skate blades and guides them into a slow spin in place, giving her another kiss before aiming them back towards the lit area around the dock. Best to be able to see when skating on a natural lake that could have thinner ice in places.

    He sighs happily and says "Moments like this make all the hell we go through worthwhile, you know? I wish Bruce could understand that you really can have a life beyond the mission." Skating quietly for a moment, he continues, "Give it some thought, maybe we can come up with a way to convince him. But for now, I think we'll just worry about us." Kissing her again, he guides them into a large circle in front of the dock. Hazelduck sticks his head out the door and quacks his disapproval of all things winter, then vanishes back into the house.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
As they spin in slow circles, kissing and holding each other, this would be when the hit Disney song would come in. Something like, You Make My World Go Round or maybe it would be called Gliding Through Life With You.

Though in reality they get Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones from the speakers outside the lake house. And that's not bad either.

Stephanie reaches up to brush her gloved fingers along Dick's jaw as she smiles up into the blue of his eyes. "Yes, I don't know how to crack that particular nut. But I'm more than happy to-" she says but her words cut off as Dick kisses her again and just makes the thoughts fall out of her head as her arms go around him tighter.

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Once the kiss ends, Dick guides them over to the dock, stepping off the ice and collecting his skate guards. With them covering the blades, he waits for Steph and then heads back into the house. Another button on the remote lights the fire in the fireplace, another returning the music to inside the house. Sitting down, he removes his skates and leaves them by the door.

    He heads into the kitchen area where he had an electric teapot heating, pouring the hot water into two mugs with hot cocoa mix in them. Carrying these into the living room, he sits down on the couch and sets the mugs on the coffeetable. Patting the couch beside him, he says "Now for the getting warm again part of the evening." He takes his mug and settles back into the couch.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown dons her skate guards over her skate's blades and then comes inside with Dick. Hazelduck comes padding over, webbed feet loud on the flooring as he follows them about the house. He seems undecided on whether to go with Stephanie or Dick. But the man moving away seems enough to draw the duck after him.

Stephanie took a moment to remove her stocking cap and run a brush through her hair. She's more than happy to settle in against Dick on the couch when he comes back in with the hot chocolate.

She leans against him as she takes the cup and sips from it. A happy sigh is given as she smiles up at the dark-haired man, her fingers straying over to brush through the locks there. "This has been such a perfect day," she tells him tenderly.