(Untitled)

[im_chuckbass]

Although Chuck was fairly certain that he wouldn't appreciate the snow half as much if it hadn't been for the week of suffocating heat that preceded it, the fact was that even just the change in scenery was refreshing. The season was well under way, and while it wouldn't be Christmas in New York, or Monaco, or anywhere that Chuck had ever spent the

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[im_chuckbass]

Chuck eyed the hot tub speculatively. Not now, perhaps - the middle of the afternoon hardly seemed the time - but he'd have to take advantage of that before the island decided it was done with winter weather. He knew a gift when he saw one, and considering he was unlikely to get anything else for Christmas this year, he wasn't about to let it go unappreciated. He was so lost in thought, in fact, that he didn't notice he was being approached by someone he knew until they were close enough to startle him out of his reverie.

[filmstarbeauty]

"Thinking awfully hard aren't we?"

It's maybe not the nicest thing to start off greeting someone with, but when Blair's in the mood to talk, she'll talk how she wants to, rules of etiquette be damned. Besides it's Chuck and while she may have approached him, it doesn't mean that she has to be all flowers and sunshine about it. Pulling her wool hat down a bit, she smirked.

"Careful there or you'll start to look like Humphrey."

[im_chuckbass]

"The possibilities seem to demand it," Chuck said, turning towards her after giving the hot tub one last, longing glance. "And please, Daniel Humphrey has never considered anything so interesting in his life." Her greeting didn't bother him at all, in fact; there were some things that would never change, and those you wouldn't want to.

"So, does all this meet with your approval?" She was dressed for it, certainly. Chuck had found the opportunity to wear winter clothing more refreshing than he might have anticipated; just another thing that was keeping New York on his mind. "If not, I'm sure there's someone you can speak to, put a stop to it."

[filmstarbeauty]

"True, but I am slowly learning not to underestimate Cabbage Patch's lack of...interest." She raised her eyebrows slightly and shrugged, not really wanting to linger on the thought of what Dan Humphrey was and wasn't capable of that would socially acceptable.

"Hot tub? I should've guessed," Blair rolled her eyes, not even wanting to put up the effort to pretend to be horrified. Afterall back in New York they'd call that a Tuesday night. "I like the weather, mostly. I mean you can't have Christmas without a passing notice of snow."

[im_chuckbass]

"I admit, the outdoor hot tub does seem a little three-star ski lodge," he said, shrugging. "But when luxuries are few and far between, you take what you can get." Especially when what you can get includes bikinis and relaxation. "Although I've heard rumors of hot springs in the caves, and I like the sound of those even better."

He started slowly back in the direction of the path; he had no particular destination in mind, but it was too cold to just stand. "Been to sit on Santa's lap and give him your wishlist yet? I'd ask if you'd been naughty or nice this year, but I'm fairly sure I already know the answer."

[filmstarbeauty]

"You just like poorly lit places." Which was fitting given his association with the more sinful things, but Blair didn't want to think about her own reputation and habit of getting fiesty in the dark. They all had their vices after all.

Walking after him, she waved a hand dismissively. "I have been a saint. I don't know what you're talking about."

[im_chuckbass]

"Well, if you'd like a reminder, all you have to do is ask," Chuck said, smirking in her general direction. He paused briefly to let her catch up. It was cold, but not so cold that a walk was out of the question. "In any case, you should take it as a compliment. Saints are boring. And chaste." Two of the worst offenses a person could commit, in his opinion. "I'm perfectly prepared to testify that you, princess, are neither."

[filmstarbeauty]

"Thanks for the offer, but I like to do my dirty deeds where there is more than bodyheat." And more on the ground than mud, which was what Blair was certain that the caves were filled with rather than buried treasure or something ridiculous like that.

"Point taken. We're a delightful pair of sinners then aren't we?"

[im_chuckbass]

"Nobody does it better," he murmured. If there was one thing that Chuck was very, very good at, it was being very very bad, and Blair was the only girl he'd ever met - Serena included, even in her wildest days - who could keep up with him. True, she tended to temper the worst in him, as evidenced by the fact that lately his behavior had been saintly enough to satisfy even the most pious critic. Still, the bad behavior that he was able to provoke in her was more than enough to satisfy him in return. "So, are you just out enjoying the holiday spirit? Or did you have a particular purpose in seeking me out?"

[filmstarbeauty]

"Nobody would dare to try." That was a fact that Blair kept on keeping to herself, mostly because if anyone dared to infringe on her territory they would have to answer to her, and a hockey stick to the kneecaps. Waving a hand in a dismissive way, she kept walking, playing it cool like only a Waldorf could. There was probably a lot she ought to tell him, but self-preservation got the better of her these days.

"Holiday spirit, except it's distinct lack of proper New York style cheer here."

[im_chuckbass]

"Well, you're the expert when it comes to the holidays, as I understand; what do you suggest?" Generally Chuck wasn't one to pander to tradition; he and Bart had never been big on the holidays, and usually spent them out of town or, at the very least, doing nothing more interesting than a dinner out and scotch by the fireplace. The years when Bart was home for the holidays, anyway. But it wasn't like he had anything better to do here, and if they could come up with something that might make it feel a little more like home, he was willing to try.

[filmstarbeauty]

"Thanksgiving is my holiday." Given Blair's history that could have have been something of a sign, a warning that she had something to prove or fix or any of the above. However, it was just the fact that it was her's and Harold's holiday and always would be. Christmas and Channukah couldn't compete. "For Christmas though, I think it would be trees, garland, and lots of spiked eggnog."

[im_chuckbass]

Chuck contemplated his options. Spiced eggnog was entirely out; he shuddered to think what the moonshined equivalent might be. There were trees around, but he was not the kind of guy who went out with an axe to chop one down, and that wasn't even considering what they'd do with it once it was down. Garlands had similar issues. No, there was a very good reason that their decorating in Manhattan had been done by other people.

"I can offer none of that," he shrugged, not feeling particularly bad about it. If Blair wanted the kind of guy who would chop down a tree for her, she'd been seriously misguided for a very long time. "The next best thing might be the rec room, I suppose. Fireplaces, now, and I'd think we could talk the bookshelf into giving up some seasonally appropriate film."

[filmstarbeauty]

Blair turned and pointed a gloved finger at him, smile on her face. As much as she loved traditions, traditions had a way of getting messed up when you took away most of the key players and the entire backdrop.

"It would have to be White Christmas, because as much as I love a drunken Jimmy Stewart It's A Wonderful Life gets boring fast."

[im_chuckbass]

"Your whim," he said, offering her the crook of his arm as they walked, "is my command." They were approaching the compound anyway, so it was a simple thing to detour through the doors rather than continuing down the path. Generally a movie wasn't his idea of stimulating entertainment, but it really was cold outside, and even the new architecture didn't make the compound any more interesting. "I think you'd better try the shelf," he said as they entered the rec room. "I think you'll have a softer touch with it."

[filmstarbeauty]

"Are you making a comment because I can get Audrey and all you can get are sitcoms with softcore like names?" Blair joked, smirking as she turned her back to him and focused on the shelf.

Tapping her fingers, she pulled a few things off of it before finally catching the one she wanted. "Perfect. Hardly any funny business."