come hither, together we will slither

[temptationaccomplished]

[Video]

[A small (less than 2 feet long), caramel brownish snake with an upturned snout and round pupil eyes appears entirely too close to the screen. It scents the air with its tongue, tips its head slightly as if curious. Must be terribly hard for a snake to use a mobile. Even a smart snake such as this one.* No thumbs.]

[Mr. Fell's voice chirps happily, proudly to himself from across the room, vaguely winded:]

There we go! I think that's a marvelous spot, don't you? Your own little nook all to yourself, a nice bit of heat to keep you snug, and I think you'll like the view--prime real estate really, and that painting has such lovely colors, ...

Do snakes see colors? [Fell ponders that a minute.] What are you doing? No, no. That's not yours. First you scare me half to death, and now you act like you own the place--

[As he comes into view and picks up the phone, the little snake refuses to release it, twisting and turning and then abruptly, dramatically playing dead, tongue lolling out of its mouth and all. He pokes and the snake throws itself into another over-dramatic theatrical showing of 'Leave me, I'm dead!' without relinquishing the phone. Fell shakes his head.]

You're an absolute terror. I shan't reward your bad behavior just because you throw a fit.

[The lolled tongue goes 'pffft'. Aziraphale leaves the snake to the phone.] Fine. You keep your ill-gotten gains, you fiend. See if I care.

[The video terminates as the snake finally manages to open the contacts...maybe places a few calls.]





[[* the snake in question is a wizard's familiar.]]

Comments

[bearshermark]

That's really an animated snake. I didn't know they were so expressive. It's cute, though.

[temptationaccomplished]

I never realized they were either, but then again it feels appropriate, this tantruming, so perhaps I've been wrong about snakes all this time.

Or maybe it's exclusive to him, I'm not sure.

And I won't be passing along your compliment. I fear he has enough of an ego as it is.

[bearshermark]

When did you get him?

[temptationaccomplished]

This morning. He just sort of showed up.
In my apartment. On the 4th floor.

[bearshermark]

Oh.

OH.

Oh, man. Was he a pet or something from one of your memories??

[temptationaccomplished]

I think he'd object to being called a "pet."
Silly as it sounds, Creme Brulee was what is referred to in some circles as a "familiar."

[bearshermark]

Oh. Like how witches were said to have cat familiars?

[temptationaccomplished]

I doubt they're limited to just cats.
But yes. Exactly like that.

[bearshermark]

Okay. So.. what does that mean for you and him?

[temptationaccomplished]

In this case, it means he's a brat, knows it, and regularly abuses that privilege, and has already cost me a few hundred dollars and considerable space in my apartment that might have otherwise housed books or artwork.

In short, I have no idea.

[bearshermark]

So maybe more than an ordinary snake, then.

He is from one of your memories, though?

[temptationaccomplished]

I hesitate to call them memories. And I can't be sure he's the exact same snake.

But he does look a lot like one that I chose in one of the things, yes.

[ooc: He's been recently converted by Alec's normal non-believer logic, hence the "not memories" thing.]

[bearshermark]

..Do you think it might just be a coincidence?

[temptationaccomplished]

Stranger things have happened, but no. I think it's a little far-fetched that a snake who would be more at home in the woods somehow found its way into a not-ground-floor Manhattan apartment.

It's entirely possible he was invited by someone other than myself.

[bearshermark]

..Do you have a roommate?

[temptationaccomplished]

No. But the landlord has access, as does maintenance.

[bearshermark]

So you think they pranked you with a possibly extraordinary snake that happens to look like the one from your memory?

[temptationaccomplished]

Elliott, you are exaggerating what I am saying. I'm not suggesting my landlord placed the snake. That is equally farfetched. I am merely saying other people have access to this apartment and could be pressured to grant access if a particular agency with a vested interest in my belief in these memories had requested it.

[bearshermark]

You too, huh?

[temptationaccomplished]

What does that mean?

[bearshermark]

The conspiracy angle.

[temptationaccomplished]

Oh, you make it sound so crude when you say it like that! What is happening to us is without a doubt a thing that is happening to us in some form or another. Whether it is magic or elaborate gaslighting or something else has yet to be determined. But is conspiracy any more or less outlandish than the other option presented to us?

I am not committed to that as an answer. But I think we ought not commit ourselves to an answer just because an unvetted source says it's so. It is human nature to question.

[bearshermark]

Okay, that's fair. We don't know anything for sure yet.

There's just something about these memories that call to me.. And I'd rather not assume that the Bureau are set against us.

[temptationaccomplished]

The call of these 'memories' and the emotions and relationships attached are incredibly distracting, I will certainly give you that. [The magic is distracting. So is Anthony's...everything. Not something to discuss with you, however, young man.]

Perhaps they aren't. [But he's fairly certain They're not WITH the Different either.]