(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.

[im_chuckbass]

"All I can say is that Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place did not live up to expectations," he said, watching her work the shelf over. "Really, I think you must just have the magic touch." A touch he was, coincidentally, familiar with himself. He arched an eyebrow and took the canister from her, threading the reel through the machine with an expertise born of many bored-stiff afternoons spent stoned in front of one reel or another.

[learnwhatsreal]

"You would be hanging around the hot tub," Jenny teased, grinning as she approached, arms folded over her chest. That she was planning on checking it out herself later was something she wasn't entirely sure Chuck needed to know, at least not yet. Their time with snow was limited, though, from what she'd heard, and she intended to take advantage of everything that came with the cold weather while she still could. "Trying to figure out who you could talk into joining you?"

[im_chuckbass]

"What makes you think I don't have a waiting list?" he asked, turning to greet her with a smile. "It's filling up quickly, but I could probably open up a spot for you, if you'd like." Nothing wrong with a little hot tubbing between friends, after all.

"So what brings you out to brave the elements, Jennifer, if not to join me here?" He understood that some climate-appropriate gear had appeared along with the snow, but not even winter weather would be enough to coerce Chuck into physical exertion. The hot tub had been incentive enough, but unless he was actually going in, he was sure he'd be heading back to the warmth of the compound soon enough.

[learnwhatsreal]

Had it been months earlier, an offer like that would probably have been something of a warning sign, if one given in typical Chuck Bass fashion. As it was, though, she had no reason to refuse, and her smirk was probably telling of that before she even responded. "I could go for some hot tubbing," she said wryly, reaching out to run one hand lightly through the water. The idea was undoubtedly appealing, with as cold as it was outside. "I was gonna head over to the waterfall to skate -" She gestured down to where she'd dropped her pair of ice skates, a practically fluorescent shade of purple but in her size. "- But this sounds even better."

[im_chuckbass]

Chuck raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Jenny to take him up on it, not at all, and the fact that she had threw him for something of a loop. The fact she was playing at some game seemed evident, although he had no reason to think it was with him. He'd have thought she might be constructing some elaborate revenge for the Kiss on the Lips party, but for the fact that a, she'd already gotten him back for that, and b, if she was still dwelling on that she likely wouldn't have been sleeping in his room for going on two months. Blair was more likely, but he didn't even want to guess at the dynamics currently going on there.

Anyway, whether it was a good idea or not, he couldn't get into too much trouble if he kept his hands to himself. And the hot tub was free, though it wasn't likely to remain that way for much longer. "I'll get my suit," he said finally.

[learnwhatsreal]

"Meet back out here in a couple minutes?" Jenny proposed, raising an eyebrow in return. It wasn't too difficult to guess that he'd been surprised by her taking him up on the offer, but she didn't really have any reason to refuse now. She trusted him, unwise a move as that might have been. He was still Chuck Bass, of course, but she'd come to think of him as something resembling a friend. If he was going to try anything with her again, he'd have had plenty of opportunity already.

[im_chuckbass]

He nodded, and headed back to the compound. He had a suit in his room, of course, but instead he decided to go for the clothing box; since its offerings had changed with the weather, it might have something new to offer. Luck, as it turned out, was with him; winter seemed to have decreased the box's propensity for Hawaiian patterns and neon colors, and while it took some coaxing, it eventually coughed up a pair of longer, board short style trunks. He changed into those, and even managed to pull out a robe (albeit one patterned with god-awful red and green reindeer that would never again see the light of day once he was finished with it). He was back to the tub and in the water before Jenny arrived; it really was nice, and strangely reminiscent of home. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed such little luxuries. "The water's fine," he called to Jenny as he spotted her approaching.

[learnwhatsreal]

Jenny, on the other hand, had gone back to their room, selecting and changing into the most modest bathing suit she had. Of course, that was still a bikini, but it was better than nothing. Over that, she'd gotten redressed in the jeans and coat she'd had on earlier, and was back outside in a matter of minutes. It was, admittedly, nice to be going out without needing sunscreen.

She grinned at the sight of Chuck in the hot tub already, and at what was clearly his prompting, she wriggled out of her jeans and dropped her coat as quickly as she could, shivering in the few seconds it took her to climb into the tub. "God, it really is," she sighed contentedly, sinking to her shoulders in the warm water. "This was a great idea."

[im_chuckbass]

"We'll have to remember to thank the man behind the curtain," he murmured, his head tilted back and his eyes shut as he enjoyed the water. Chuck didn't waste too much time thinking about why they were here, who'd brought them, why such strange things happened. It was mostly self-preservation, since he knew he'd never know the truth, and worrying about it too much was hazardous to one's sanity. Or what was left of it, anyway.

"Enjoying the winter wonderland?" he asked, opening one eye just enough to see little J through the steam rising off the surface of the water.

[l0nely_boy]

"Planning a party? Seems like your sort of thing. All you need is the champagne and the models," he said the last with no small amount of amusement in his voice. "Of course, I don't think you can just call room service for those, can you?"

[im_chuckbass]

"They have a way of finding me," Chuck said, eyebrow arched. The ironic thing was that, if Chuck really wanted, he could have a party like that going in under an hour - Serena still had a bottle or two of Bollinger stashed away, and if he spun it in the right way, the girls wouldn't say no to a hot tub and champagne party in the snow. It was a good idea, in fact; he'd have to keep it in mind. "Are you here looking for an invite, Humphrey? Because I have to warn you, bathing suits probably won't be involved."

[l0nely_boy]

"If they had a way of finding anyone, I'm sure it would be you," he mused, trying to choke back a laugh when Chuck mentioned an invitation, of sorts. "No thanks. I think that I'm happy not knowing about the more intimate details of your life, Chuck."

[im_chuckbass]

"I'm not offering to share my intimate details, Humphrey - although I do find it fascinating where your mind happens to go first - I'm talking about someone else's. But fair enough." He smirked and shrugged, as if the conversation had been anything but theoretical in the first place. "So what brings you out here, then, if not the prospect of warmer climes?"

[l0nely_boy]

"But you were the one that brought up- Never mind," he rubbed at his eyes, knowing that somehow Chuck always managed to twist Dan's words to his own meaning. "I was walking, actually. Getting some exercise after being cooped up inside all day?"