[ota, spades] what does and doesn't help

[oneirophiliac]

You know what isn't good for snakes? It's cold. It's cold and no power. And no power means unheated cages, at a time when Annie's just barely getting ready to ease them into hibernation. Meaning that at the moment, they do not have adequate hibernation material. Meaning that the moment, there is a stack of snake cages surrounding the fireplaces of

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[pureaudacity]

So, last night was probably not the best night to look at Luis' etchings, so to speak, considering that when Kat Berthier woke the next morning it was one, ridiculously, horrifically cold, and two, there was no way in hell she was making it to Town in the heels and dress she'd been wearing when she and Luis had met up the night before.

So instead, she's in one of the first floor rooms in the same dress and heels and a borrowed pashmina, trying to plan a lovely and elegant memorial for their recently departed butler. With snakes.

All she wants to know is why, but asking the stalking Five doesn't strike her as a wise plan, so she clears her throat instead.

"One of the Threes brought hot chocolate?"

[oneirophiliac]

Annie would answer if asked why, but that answer would likely come with biting Kat's head off. It's for the best that she doesn't ask, really.

Hot chocolate, at least, has her perking up a little out of her misery and pacing. "Yeah? With the little marshmallows in?"

[pureaudacity]

It would avoid her chucking the fountain pen she's scribbling plans with at Annie's head. And then she'd have to get up, and she's not sure her feet are thawed enough to navigate the heels she'd been wearing last night yet. All in all, hot chocolate is the best topic of conversation.

She peers down in the cup, taking the opportunity to wrap her half-frozen hands around it again. "Skulls and bones, it looks like." The tone is only slightly doubtful; once, Isaac had produced spider marshmallows. She has to assume that the Spade butler is at least as odd as Isaac was.

[oneirophiliac]

"Must be from the Halloween stash," she shrugs, taking a cup for herself and squinting inside, smiling a little as the warmth seeps into her hands. "And knives too. I expect the vampire fangs and such haven't been made yet."

She assumes the other woman's outfit is out of choice. If she can brave the cold, why not let her?

[suitedtofolly]

That night Dybbuk had been unable to sleep so he was working on a sculpture on his front porch. The autumn chill in the air was fast becoming bitter. Something was wrong. He locked up, packed some supplies in a shoulder bag and left for one of the castles. The Jester's house was virtually equidistant from all of the Suits, being in the Green. A former Heart himself, Dybbuk knew his old Suit was not especially adept at handling a crisis. Spade castle it was.

This is how he came to find shelter in exchange for his body heat. He is huddled in a corner with a couple of constrictors draped over his shoulders. He had kept snakes as a boy so they did not bother him too much, even though he was used to much smaller reptiles. Still, this was better than being snowed in back home-- alone.

"Do they look any warmer to you?" he asked Annie, loosening the coils around his neck.

[oneirophiliac]

She hadn't really wanted to take chances with them- being draped around unfamiliar people's necks was such a risk for snakes that killed by tightening the life out of their prey. But Dybbuk seemed to have a way with them and they did need the heat most.

Leaning close, she comes nose to nose with one, then the other, tickling a little under their chins. "Maybe a couple of minutes more, then they can switch out. They're out of danger, at least."

[suitedtofolly]

Either Dybbuk had a way with constrictors, or the cold was speeding up their metabolisms and making them hungry; hopefully the former instance was correct. He could still breathe with relative ease so that was a good sign, wasn't it?

"A miracle, considering I feel no less cold-blooded than your serpents."

His fingers were so cold, they had gone numb. He thought his circulation was better than this. Then again, the snakes played no small part in cutting off blood flow to his arms.

[oneirophiliac]

She shakes her head- it's no good saving the snakes if the humans end up freezing too. "You need hot chocolate? Cider? When you're done, you better go warm up before taking on any more of 'em. Makes it easier on everyone."

[awearytraveler]

Despite not being a Two or Three, Andrea can be found with the snake cages and monitoring the fireplace to keep the room toast as possible. With Diego and Lily and Howard scrambling in other places of the Suit to make up for the lack of power and lack of heat, she had once again volunteered to do some of their jobs to ease up the slack. There wasn't much for her to do in the (poor) gardens anyway.

Seeing the younger woman enter the room, bundled up more than the Four was since the cold didn't seem to have much effect on the Cruz, Andrea looked up and raised her hand in greeting. Then she returned to the task at hand, making sure the poor snakes stayed warm under her watch, as she began to talk.

"Hello Annie." Her tone was careful since Annie was probably tense as tightrope wire due to the sudden blackout. "How are the other rooms doing? Do they need more kindle or anything like that? There's a lot here to go around. The others are scrapping as much wood as they can find so I can spare some."

[oneirophiliac]

"Fourth and sixth rooms along. But we can manage if we spread things out evenly." Her voice is tight, only barely calm. "They're doing okay? Still moving?" Does she need to investigate more closely those that aren't?

[awearytraveler]

"They are, don't worry. If they're anything like you then they won't let a little cold bring them down." Poking the fireplace, keeping the fire going as long as she can. "Take the kindle you need. No one has any clue how long this weather will last."

... She adds, a heartbeat later, "I think you should rest a little bit, Annie. When was the last time you took a break?"

[oneirophiliac]

"Doesn't matter," comes the snap. "Not when they're still in danger, okay?" Then she rears back, wincing. "Sorry- sorry. It's just- this isn't the time to rest. I'll be fine, I'll tip caffeine in my hot chocolate'r something."

[piquedbutler]

There are a million reasons everyone ought be in charge of their own B.O.B., of course. The Particularity of Snakes is one of them. It's not something for others to be Sympathetic about.

Which is why it's not Sympathy that has Chives stopping by the basements on his way back from tending to the Apollonides-Zajaczkowski apartments and the Very Pregnant Six who actually Does have his Sympathies. It's... well. There's not a good word for what he finds Necessary about Annie.

Maybe the space blankets and window caulk he's got bundled to shove unceremoniously into her hands is out of Obligation or Appreciation that he's been allowed her floor at the odd hour. Maybe he's just got nothing better to do with them.

[oneirophiliac]

Depending on the regularity of weather and the seasons in the Deck is clearly a crutch that would have crippled her eventually. Maybe someday when it's not snowing she'll be grateful.

Space blankets will have to be saved for the point when the cages are warm enough that the snakes can function. The Twos and Threes could use them for the moment, actually. And the caulk will be handed away for good use. First, though, Annie will look down at the bundle in her hands, look back up at him rather sourly and say, "Why, thank you ever so much, Chivesy."

[piquedbutler]

And people Wondered why he didn't do Nice Things more often. Honestly.

Still, it's probably Good to be able to jut his jaw slightly, snap back like life hadn't Just Recently fallen apart. "If you'd rather I find a better use for them, Miss Five, do say the word."

Yes. This felt Right. Maybe they could even Maintain it for a moment. Let their Friendship keep them warm or what have you.

[oneirophiliac]

"That was a genuine, heartfelt thank you, and if you could please distribute these to people who need it more than snakes who are unable to generate their own body heat to be conserved, it would be even more appreciated," she bites out. "Better?" But she'll hold it back anyway, disallow him from taking any of it back.

Concern is out the window right now. She'll regret it later. Right now is not a good time.

[spysinspades]

Annie seems rather busy. Rather busy in a rather important and stressful way.

Not much David can do about that when he notices it, except turn around and get some more fire wood from the kitchen. Which is exactly what he does, bringing it back to refill the baskets beside the fireplaces.

Annie's snakes should feel special, to be served by a King.

[oneirophiliac]

They definitely feel the love. And Annie's panic spikes just a little more when she spots him. "Oh-! Thanks, your Majesty. That- it's really kind of you."

[spysinspades]

"I was coming to find you anyway, Annie." And he'd noticed the panic. "Are the snakes all right?"

[oneirophiliac]

"Some died already before I realised the power was out. But the rest are nearly out of danger. I should be able to ease them into brumation- er, hibernation soon. Even if it's early, they ought to be okay." Things are still touch and go for some of them, but she can concentrate on the healthier ones now.