He sighed wistfully as he looked out the window, watching the ever-present snowfall outside. He missed the Spring Realm, the colors and gentle sunlight, the smell of flowers in the air. He was forever grateful to the Winter Archon for taking him in after his parents' deaths, and glad to have a home here, but even now, after all these centuries, he felt like a fish out of water.

He relished any and all opportunity to leave the realm. The yearly court meetings had been his favorite. As a representative of Winter, he got to travel to all other realms, see the sights, bask in the sun. Granted, he was technically an ambassador, and his trips were usually accompanied by meetings and formal events, but he loved the soirees, the chance to talk to all sorts of fae folk, loved the yearly masquerade held in the Royal Realm.

But this year, with the Night Realm's rebellion, what traditionally were a series of festive events had become a military strategy gathering, and the Winter Archon had attended. So he'd stayed behind, longing for the little bit of warmth and connection he wouldn't get this year. Everyone in his large family was so distant. So preoccupied with something or another. He felt lonely. Useless.

The Winter Realm was the biggest and the strongest, and the other Archons looked to them as leaders, the ones with the best chance of defeating the rebels. He was capable in his own right, having been trained by the best. He'd make a fine leader, his father had said, but he had his doubts. The fae around him seldom accepted his bids for connection.

"Hey," he called out softly as he drew a frowny face on the fogged-up glass. "Do you want a hug?"

Offering hugs was his way of reaching out. He couldn't force the other fae to open up to him, or let him in, but he figured if he kept trying, maybe someday it would happen. He could be patient.

"Come on," he coaxed, turning around and opening his arms. "Hugs are warm. I don't bite. Unless you're into that." Winter fae weren't fond of warmth, but he could still try...right?