13808/Some Birds Fly NORTH For the Winter

Some Birds Fly NORTH For the Winter
Date of Scene:	11 January 2023
Location:	E04 - Empty Dorm - Titan's Tower
Synopsis:	Hank and Dawn check-in to their holiday retreat, but an idle comment sends Hank wondering about the future.
Cast of Characters:	Hank Hall, Dawn Granger

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Hank Hall has posed:
    While the surprise had been spoiled, Hank was still eager for Dawn to see the North (Lake) Pole, a small community in Washington State that setup shop every year at the end November for a Christmas wonderland. Complete with artificial snow, candy cane lined walking paths, elves, and even a few reindeer at a pen. It is a bit hokey, but exactly the sort of hokiness that Hank imagines Dawn would appreciate.
    He had scrounged together the money, made up largely from the overtime he had collected during his recent foray undercover, and pretty much used all of it to rent the cabin for the weekend. It was small, quaint, basically one room with a small kitchenette and a closet of a bathroom. But it would be just them, no Titans, no criminals. Just a forest, snow, some other people who want to capture the magic of Christmas, and each other.
    Sitting in the car riding up from the airstrip (he _had_ called in a favor to get a private jet up there), Hank watches as Dawn looks out the window, taking her hand and holding it gently. Hopefully this place is everything that it claimed to be.

Dawn Granger has posed:
    Dawn laces her fingers with Hank's, squeezing gently as she watches to see just how their winter escape would be. She shoots a glance back to Hank, giving him a warm smile. "You know, this is really sweet of you. I can't remember the last time I was anywhere near a cabin, much less something cute like this. I wouldn't mind making something like this a tradition... just going somewhere in the snow in a cabin every year. Being able to get away is a breath of fresh air."

Hank Hall has posed:
Giving Dawn's fingers a squeeze in return, Hank nods to her, happy to see the expression on her face. That makes it all worth it. Even the time he got punched in the face by his girlfriend. "It's just something I thought you'd like," he says quietly, relaxing into the seat. "And yeah, we can do that. I'll start saving now." He grins at her. Fortunately, while being a Titan doesn't pay anything, it does dramatically cut down on living expenses.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"It is something I like, thank you," Dawn says, leaning her head down against his shoulder. "I'll help pay for it too, you know. I do actually make money teaching classes. Not a lot, but enough to put some away." She glances at the window again, smiling a little more brightly. After all, she did imply there would be more Christmases and he seemed more than willing to plan for that.

"I know it's not your favorite season, but I think the reason I enjoy it is because it's cozy and heartfelt and warm if you do it right. If you're with the right people, that's all that matters." Dawn looks back at him with that bright smile, squeezing his hand again.

Hank Hall has posed:
"Please," replies Hank with a laugh. "You are _not_ going to chip in on your Christmas gift." He gives her hand another squeeze as she leans against him, and sighs happily. "You can save that for something that spoil me, instead. How about that?"

He turns to look at her, meeting that smile with his own, and he nods. "You're right. On all counts." He returns the squeeze, and a glimmer of a grin appears. "You can spoil me every Halloween with something _inspired_, since that's my favorite season..."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Oooh, a Halloween gift. I like the sound of that. Spoiling each other with something nice around our favorite holidays. That's... honestly a really sweet thing," Dawn agrees. "I'm all for it. Besides, I'm sure I can come up something very creative for a Halloween present."

She lifts her head so she can look at him a bit. "I did get you a Christmas present, though. Well, I made it actually. When we get settled in, I can give it to you so you can enjoy it for the entire weekend. Next year, I'll just go all in on your Halloween present."

Hank Hall has posed:
"No no, _you_ are the gift," replies Hank quickly, flashing a grin and waggling his eyebrows. He brings her hand up to his lips and kisses the back of it, before giving another squeeze. "I mean, I won't turn down a present, too, but..."

He arches an eyebrow when she mentions the Christmas gift, and nods. "Well, that sounds like a good tradition. I'll plan us a trip every Christmas, you can made a gift as you'd like, and I'll still get you something for Halloween." He leans in for a moment and then pauses, nodding ahead of the car. "Look, there's the village now."

It is something as if out of a Hallmark movie. Log cabins with plumes of smoke wafting up from what are likely wood burning stoves. A few larger buildings that probably include some supplies. A path off into the forest that has a large white pole with red ribbon wrapped around it. Who knows what lies up that path...

The car will take them through and towards a small cabin waiting for them. Chimney already giving off smoke. It seems someone had the forethought to start their fire inside for them.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"It sort of sounds like we're just going to spoil each other year round," Dawn says, her cheeks slightly colored from the kiss on her hand. When he indicates the village is coming up, she shifts her weight so she can look out the window at the place. "Oh, this is incredible. It's almost like we're just somewhere else entirely. It does have a very sweet magical feel."

When they pull up to cabin, she breaks into a grin at the smoke from the chimney and just the cabin itself. "I hope you know I'm going to be thanking you repeatedly for being so nice. I never would have thought to plan a trip like this for a present."

Hank Hall has posed:
"You say that like it's a bad thing," replies Hank with a slight laugh. "I relish having someone to spoil." He watches as she turns to look out the window, and just sighs happily. Whatever he does, whenever he can make her happy it is always what makes him happiest.

Grinning back at her, Hank waggles his eyebrows. "Oh, I certainly do hope that you'll be thanking me repeatedly," he replies adding a bit of a salacious tone to his voice. Then he shifts, speaking naturally after a sigh. "I'm just happy you are happy, though. That's all the thanks I need."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Spoiling's not a bad thing, I just need to make sure not to let it go to my head. Having an ego is a bad thing," Dawn says, looking away from the window only to steal a quick kiss. "I really am happy, and you'll certainly be thanked quite appropriately. We do have an entire weekend in a lovely cabin." She looks back out the window, unable to hide the bright grin she has at the sweet Christmas atmosphere.

Hank Hall has posed:
"Oh, I don't think we need to worry about that. I'm the arrogant one, you're the humble one." The kiss is freely given. Hank reaches out to run his hand up and down Dawn's back, as if to feel the excitement emanating from her as the car passes through the small village and then parks in front of their cabin. "I mean, there _are_ things to do outside of the cabin, too."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn grins at him. "I'll try and keep you humble, Hank Hall," she teases. "But don't worry, I don't plan on ignoring this cute little town and the idea of walking around and hot cocoa and snuggling up close. Trust me, we'll have time for everything. If you remember, I'm pretty good at planning." As they pull up, Dawn looks out the window again to admire it. "It's like a Christmas card in person."

Hank Hall has posed:
"Oh, of that I am sure. Somehow, I suspect that on an ordinary vacation with you, I'd need a vacation _after_ the vacation to recover." Hank laughs softly. "But in this case, I think we'll be fine with all of that." Leaning over to brush his lips against Dawn's cheek, Hank nods in agreement.

"Merry Christmas, Dawn Granger."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"You are absolutely right. This is a cozy vacation, I am certain we will have plenty of time to relax and enjoy a warm fire. If we don't return home happy and rested after all this, I'll be very disappointed," Dawn says, her smile bright once more as she looks at him.

"I love you Hank, Merry Christmas."

Hank Hall has posed:
Then there is that Hank Hall grin. "Unless we don't return home at all..." Very tempting right about now.

"I love you too, Dawn." And he leans in to seal it with a kiss.

Dawn Granger has posed:
When the kiss ends, Dawn rubs her nose against his affectionately before she turns to open the door to get out. "Don't tempt me with not returning home. Living out somewhere quite and cozy with you? It's a very tempting thought."

Hank Hall has posed:
A laugh. "Give me an axe, and we can sustain ourselves." Hank slips out his side of the car, moving around to open up the trunk to retrieve their bags. "Safer workout than what I get back home, too."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I'm imagining you with some flannel and an axe and I have to say you're making it very hard to imagine going *home*." Dawn laughs, moving around the back to help him. "Pretty sure an axe is dangerous but you won't have any girlfriends punching you in the face."

Hank Hall has posed:
For a moment, Hank strikes a pose, despite the bags wrapped around his arms. The sort of pose that might just encourage some extra cabin time. "I can handle the axe, it's the punchy girlfriends that are a challenge to deal with." He laughs, and hangs one of the bags to Dawn. He can certainly manage them, but he knows she wants to help.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn smiles as she takes the bag, waiting for him to collect their belongings before she heads towards the cabin. "I can tell you, said punchy girlfriend is forever going to feel guilty over that, even if it was absolutely necessary considering the circumstances." She glances back at him and beams. "Maybe at some point we should buy a little cabin in the middle of nowhere and just settle there. You with your axe and me with my..." She looks back to the cabin, seeming to ponder what would be her thing in this scenario.

Hank Hall has posed:
"Said punchy girlfriend should NOT feel guilty over that, because it was a damn good punch." Hank follows along with the rest of the bags. "If it was a crappy punch, then maybe feel guilty." He tilts his head as she starts to ponder a quiet life. Away from everything. "You think we can do that at some point? Can Hawk and Dove retire and pass it on to someone else without..." He waves his hand around. "I'm sure you'd find something to match my axe."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Thank you," Dawn replies, beaming at the compliment. "I do try when there are lives at stake, and I wanted to be sure yours didn't get too messed up." She stops before the door to the cabin so she can look at him. "Yeah, I think that's something that could happen someday. I feel like there's always room for new people to take on the mantle and I think that perhaps things will be favorable enough so we could just... do something like this."

She moves to open the door. "You could absolutely rock the flannel, I think. You can have that whole Brawny paper towel guy look."

Hank Hall has posed:
"I mean, I am sure I would have been fine if you had not punched me quite so hard as to leave that nasty bruise, but..." Hank flashes a grin. Probably a mean tease to make, since it definitely did not leave a bruise. "I wonder." He thinks for a moment, at the doorway. "What that would be like. To suddenly not be Hawk."

"Oh, for sure. I'd like to think so." He follows her inside, and kicks the door closed with his foot. "What would you be, though, a snow bunny?"

Dawn Granger has posed:
"To not be Hawk? Well you'd certainly have fewer responsibilities. You'd be able to go vacation abroad without feeling awful because your Dove isn't there." Dawn moves to set down the bag before she looks back at him. "Don't worry, I'll kiss where that bruise wasn't so you feel better." With a grin, she continues. "But a bunny is cute. I'm sure I could come up with something to go with your lumberjack aesthetic."

Hank Hall has posed:
Something about that statement strikes Hank in a funny way, and he tilts his head, looking at Dawn. "Uh. No, I'd be able to vacation without feeling guilty." He reaches out to brush a hand against her cheek. "I wouldn't want to do it without my Dawn." He smiles at her, and then moves away to set down the rest of the bags in the fairly modest cabin. "I have a great deal of confidence in you."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I mean you could do it, not that you want to. I'd rather keep you close anyway," Dawn replies, taking a moment to look around the cabin. "You think you'd want to, someday? Just retire and stay somewhere with just me?" She may, as it turns out, be blushing but she is certainly making sure she's facing away.

Hank Hall has posed:
"See, that works out well." Hank moves over to press down on the bed, as if gauging its coils, when Dawn continues. He stops where he is, and turns to look at her. It probably does not help that she is looking away. Or maybe it does, actually, as the expression on his face is one more of a sort of shock than anything else. "I mean..." A number of thoughts go through his mind in response to the fairly innocuous question. And he cannot summon up a simple enough response before the pause or delay threatens to turn awkward.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Hearing the silence behind her, Dawn quickly realizes the question caught him off guard and changes the topic so as to not leave the situation awkwardly hanging there. "I hope you know I'm going to make you build a snowman with me. Maybe a couple of snow people if we get good at it." She turns, idly examining things in the cabin to take it all in.

Hank Hall has posed:
The situation may be unhung, but Hank's thoughts linger there, even as he responds to Dawn's new topic. "I haven't made any snow people in a long time," he says in a soft voice that sounds half there, half not. He looks over at the bag, contemplating opening it up and unpacking it, or just leaving it there as it is.

Dawn Granger has posed:
"We'll have to see if we can at least make one good one, okay?" Dawn moves towards the fire, holding her hands out to warm them near the heat. "It's certainly going to be cozy with this fire. We'll have to see if they have throw blankets in here somewhere, hot chocolate and blankets by the fire is a perfect thing at the end of a day of being out in the cold." She glances over her shoulder at him, as if to assess if he's okay.

Hank Hall has posed:
"I'm sure we'll be able to make at least two," says Hank as he starts to make his way back over towards Dawn. Whatever pause hehad seems to have dissipated as he slides his arms around her waist and leans over to brush a kiss against her temple. "You say that like I can't warm you up all on my own..."