(Untitled)

[flyboy_shepp]

It was easy for time to kind of slide by without John really noticing the date. Time either dragged on or sped by, and before he knew it, he was waking up alone in bed with his hut gone and some kind of...yurt? It was definitely a yurt, in its place

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[this_is_pam]

Pam was headed in the same direction, having bundled up as best she could with the clothes in her hut, including a long-sleeved thermal shirt she'd woken up in that was absolutely not a pajama top, no matter what anyone tried to say. As much as she liked the idea of having snow in December, even winters in Scranton weren't usually quite this cold. It'd probably be easier to deal with once she'd made a trip to the clothes box to look for a proper coat and scarf and such, but just then, she was absolutely freezing. Living in a tropical climate for three months, including a week-long heat wave, likely didn't do much to help with that, either

[flyboy_shepp]

"I've been in worse," was John's answer before he turned to Pam. His greeting was pre-empted by a surprised look to see her without a coat. "Jesus, you must be freezing."

He was pretty sure she was already headed to the compound - which was within eyesight - but he took off his scarf and tucked it over her head anyway. "Didn't you get a coat or anything when you woke up?"

[this_is_pam]

The concern took Pam a little by surprise, prompting a bemused smile from her, though she wasn't about to try to shrug it off. She wouldn't have even if she'd wanted to. It was really, really cold, after all. "Long sleeved shirt, but no coat," she replied wryly, gesturing to her sweatshirt with a hand tucked up inside of it. "I've got a bunch of layers under this. One walk isn't gonna kill me." One more might, but that was beside the point. Cruel as the clothes box could be, she doubted it would have any shortage of coats with the weather suddenly this freezing.

[flyboy_shepp]

"It's a good thing we aren't in some bad imitation of Antarctica, then. That was cold." But still amazing, all the same. He really had liked it.

John gestured up to the compound as they neared it, and gave Pam a smile. "Welcome to Russia."

[jim_halpert]

Jim had gotten up pretty early, the shift of weather enough to get him going. It was probably good news, in the end - he'd gotten to the clothes box before the crowds, gathering outfits for Sam and him to wear and getting out of there before things got too busy. They were both bundled up now, and headed back to their hut, though Sam had other plans in mind. Eventually he stopped because she was too busy trying to get down to play. He wasn't really one to say no.

That was how her first snowball lesson started. He was off to the side of the boardwalk with her, snowball in hand, and he really couldn't have picked a better target. Sure, John probably would see it a mile away, but that didn't stop him from going for it.

"See, Sam, you just wind it up and throw," he explained in an almost conspiratorial tone of voice, then did as he said, aiming right at John. Sam didn't take long to follow suit, though the tiny snowball only landed a few inches in front of her. It was a good first try, if you asked him.

[flyboy_shepp]

John flinched and spun around when the first snowball hit him square in the back, but any retort or snowballs of his own pretty much fell short when he saw Sam try her best to throw one at him.

"That was pretty good, Sam," he said, and started to walk over. "Why don't you try throwing a snowball at your dad? He's way closer and easier to hit."

[jim_halpert]

Sam was already picking up snow, though she hadn't quite gotten the point of packing it together yet. She'd learn, Jim knew. She'd at least gotten the point that she should throw it forward.

"You don't throw snowballs at your teammate, John," he informed him, grinning from ear to ear. He had to admit, the snow was putting him in a good mood. "You're going to confuse her."

She entertained herself by throwing the snow in front of her again. Watching it fall seemed to be the best part for her.

[flyboy_shepp]

"Aw, come on, Jim." John walked over and crouched down a bit to Sam's side and out of her (very short) throwing range. "At this age, she's just learning to hit targets. Why not make it easy and be one for her?"

[lonewolflives]

As soon as she was sure it was John coming up the boardwalk, Arya stepped into the middle of it, some distance down the way. Then she just stood there. Smiling.

It was a vaguely sinister smile.

"Hello, John," she said, one hand on her sword. Her sling was in the other, spinning in loose, almost idle circles.

[flyboy_shepp]

Oh, crap.

John knew that the heatwave couldn't last forever, but he'd conveniently forgotten that an Arya in the snow was Arya at her best. Or worst, if you were in his position.

He slowed to a stop and eyed her warily. "Hey."

[lonewolflives]

"Enjoying the snow?" Arya said, still standing where she was, still spinning the sling, still smiling. "I am."

[flyboy_shepp]

"I know you are," John replied, narrowing his eyes as he took in the movement of the sling. He didn't even want to know what she had in there. "I can see you're already having fun."

That smile was the smile of pure evil. He wondered, vaguely, where Nymeria was.

[atlantismother]

The sudden change had been disorienting, and not a little uncomfortable. However, despite the chill that drew out shivers long after she made her way into the Compound and extracted a heavy coat from the box--it wasn't the worst it could have been. The island could have decided to mimic Antarctica.

The idea of a hot drink was more than appealing at this point, and after only a short trip back to New Atlantis, she started back down the boardwalk toward the Compound. Along with coffee, she did hope for hot cider.

Just about when the Compound's new form became visible, she came upon a familiar figure in the snow.

"Not about to let a little winter chill discourage your morning runs?"

[flyboy_shepp]

"Are you kidding?" John answered back as he shoved his hands into his pockets of his Atlantis jacket turned winter coat. "I'm pretty sure I'd pass out half a mile out."

He looked over at Elizabeth as they walked, and gave her as much of a smile as he could with his face half frozen thanks to the chill.

[atlantismother]

She gave a slight chuckle at that. "And here I expected you went on morning runs in Antarctica? I think I'm a little disappointed, John."

She glanced between he and the Compound, quirking an amused smile. "Will you be restricting the runs to the Compound, then?"

[flyboy_shepp]

"Treadmills are great things," John said wisely. When they reached the compound, he held the door open for Elizabeth as he kicked his boots against the side of the building to get most of the snow off. "I don't know, I think walking up here from New Atlantis in this weather is enough to make up for it. Everyone needs a break, right?"

[jill_langston]

"This is going to sound corny as hell, but every time it snows, I remember that first year. Pity party on the beach, attended by John Sheppard and Jill Langston," she said as she came up to John's side, her hands shoved into the warm, deep pockets of her green pea coat. This was the third time she was wearing it, the third winter she'd seen on the island.

"How're you feeling this time around?" she asked, offering him a faint grin and a gentle nudge of her elbow. "Do I have to look after you again?"

[flyboy_shepp]

"That was not a pity party," John replied, though it was mostly out of habit than anything else. "That was a moment of reflection on the time that had passed." Even he couldn't keep up the bluster, not in this weather. "Two years in a row was pitiful enough. I'm fine."

[jill_langston]

"Does that mean I still have one year coming to me?" Jill asked as her smile grew brighter and the Compound came into view. She was feeling relatively good, all things considered, but one never knew when the island would throw something in their direction. "To be honest, I think I prefer to skip it, too."

[flyboy_shepp]

"All right," John said, adding as much enthusiasm as the cold weather would allow, "that's one tradition down. Want a cup of coffee to celebrate?"