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[oneirophiliac]

Sometimes Annie has to abandon battling pests to take care of her best workers. And that, Spade Castle, is why your exterminator has commandeered one of the communal bathing areas and all its bathtubs. It's okay. The door's open so she can bring snakes in and out. And she even put a sign outside the door if the tanks didn't clue you in. Maybe you

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[headfollowheart]

Zoe had curiously followed a pair of Twos with a tank, and is now leaning against the door, arms crossed. "How often do they make a run for it?" This is more interesting than accounting.

And she likes accounting.

[oneirophiliac]

"Around a quarter, last time," Annie says vaguely, rubbing down a snake the length of her arm. "Mostly they like the water, though. And it's really only a big worry if they're big enough to jump out or get onto the taps and escape from there." She smiles fondly. "Silly things."

[headfollowheart]

"They seem to like it." And for a second, Zoe looks like she might come forward, but then she stays where she is. "But it must be an interesting sight if any of them make it down the hall." She grins a little, imagining reactions.

[oneirophiliac]

"They're like lightning," Annie says, far too brightly for anyone else to be comfortable. "But don't worry, none of them make it that far. Right, Gene?" The poor Two standing just inside the door nods his head, waving the snake catcher stick a little. Annie stands, dropping the towel on the sink. "Come on, let's get you back home." She'll have to go past you to put this one back, Zoë.

[headfollowheart]

Excuse Zoe while she imagines a dozen snakes loose in the halls of Spade Castle. That's probably the reason for the arrested expression on her face as she moves out of the way. "What's his name?" Or her name, she supposes. It's hard to tell.

[oneirophiliac]

Annie's used to that expression in the presence of so many snakes. She sees it all the time. "Iakchos. There's Zagreus and Bromios too. Here, come see." She opens one of the tanks, gently placing Iakchos inside before scratching under the chin of another.

[headfollowheart]

"Greek names, then?" As Greek as, well, Apollonideses, from what she's heard. Zoe will reach out gingerly to stroke Zagreus' head. "I don't think I've seen quite so many all in the same spot."

[oneirophiliac]

"And a few Roman and other myths. It suits them, I think." Zagreus leans into the touch, nosing at Zoe's palm, while Annie cocks an eyebrow at Zoe. "You've never been to a zoo before?"

[headfollowheart]

"Well, we don't exactly have the San Diego Zoo on the Deck." And Zoe's trips off-Deck haven't involved menageries, really. There haven't been that many trips off-Deck, period.

[oneirophiliac]

"Still, you should visit one sometime. It's sort of a mundane bucket list, y'know?" Annie moves to a different tank, taking out a much larger snake. "Or maybe not, if animals aren't your thing."

[headfollowheart]

"Yeah, I suppose so." Zoe crosses her arms over her chest, leaning against the wall and watching sort of warily. "I haven't really gone Outside very much, really."

[oneirophiliac]

"I only stuck to one small part of it when I was out," Annie admits, looping it twice around her neck before going over to close the Dionysus snakes' tank. "Be going back soon, I guess. Spend some time with my dad."

[headfollowheart]

Zoe nods. "Charlotte sees no reason to leave the Deck." Though she certainly orders in plenty of things. "My father took me Outside a few times when I was younger but mostly, you know, day trips." She tips her head to one side. "Didn't your dad used to live here too?"

[oneirophiliac]

"Came from Outside, went back to Outside," Annie confirms. "I- my brother and I went back with him. For a bit." Her shoulders slump a little, although that could just be the weight of the snake. Her voice rises a bit, forcedly chipper. "C'mon, Aglaea, let's get you washed up."

[headfollowheart]

"Did your brother stay, then?" Because he's not in the Deck - well, her younger one is, and he's about Zoe's age, but as far as she knows he never left. And then there's the tone; Zoe's gotten good at reading them, because that's all there is to go on most of the time with the Arcana.

And most of the people in the Deck, really.

[oneirophiliac]

"Jimmy died," Annie says, more subdued. "Few years after we left. It's... why I'm going back, actually. Death anniversary." She shakes her head and lifts her chin, calling inside. "Tony, is that the right temperature yet?" There's an affirmative answer from inside, and she starts moving.