Snakes on a Train [Open]

[agathokakological]

Who: Crowley [agathokakological], Aziraphale [salutosinedelectat], & YOU
Where: The Quiet Carriage
When: Fiddlesticks Week of Day 23
What: There's a giant snake in the quiet car.
Warnings: Snake


I. 

It had only been a few days since Aziraphale and Crowley had become a little more honest with one another, but new things were often quite exciting and the train itself didn't really allow for proper exploration of those things. That is, at least, if you were two supernatural entities who weren't really fond of human-typical PDA (Crowley would argue, of course, that it could tarnish his very cool and mysterious image if he was caught publicly whispering sweet nothings to one very sweet angel.)

Being seen together wasn't the problem. Crowley wasn't ashamed to be seen with Aziraphale and was certainly not ashamed to be known as his significant other (Quite proud, actually... have you seen Aziraphale?), but there were just things better suited for privacy, the problem was securing a private spot whenever they'd wanted one. Fortunately, Crowley hatched a plan.

The demon was well aware of the social prejudices that came along with snakes (If you ask Crowley, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the top comedies of its time.), and would happily use it to his advantage. Luckily, people on the train loved to talk, and so with very little effort of his own he'd spread rumor that there was a rather large one trapped inside of one of the private rooms, and it was best to keep away. When feeling up to it, he'd play the role himself, taking the proper form of a serpent and coiling up into the center of the room, right within view of the window. Being a serpent wasn't exactly Crowley's favorite form, far from it, but when he was one he was rather large, easily the size of a giant anaconda; jet black with orange-red markings down his belly, and of course, golden eyes that he usually kept tucked behind sunglasses.

If someone looked into the room, they'd likely see those eyes staring right back at them. Otherwise, the room is empty except for a book and a teacup set aside that the snake is definitely not interested in.



[Illustration by Skree]


II.

Other occasions required a little more enginuity. Aziraphale and Crowley would frequently occupy the space together, and unless the angel felt inclined to recline across a pile of Crowley himself, Crowley would reassume his human form for them to chat or otherwise enjoy each other's company. 
The window, in this situation, was the problem. Clever as always, a large paper was taped over the window that read: GIANT SNAKE: DO NOT ENTER.

[OOC: Aziraphale has open threadjacking permissions for this post!] 

Comments

Tagging into I.

[sendiintheclown]

Having heard the rumor of a large snake in the quiet carriage, Trowa felt it was important to investigate. So far, none of the animals on the train had posed a threat to each other or the passengers, but one could never be too sure. He had left Amira in Quatre's care for the time being, wanting to make sure they were both safe just in case. He peeked into the windows until he saw the large golden eye staring at him. So he stared back. Not blinking, not flinching, just...staring.

[agathokakological]

Crowley had actually begun to doze off then he got the itching feeling that there was someone watching him. Noticing the shadow covering the door, his head poked up curiously from the rest of his body, gold eyes looking forward and staring right through his guest. A tongue flicked out, smelling the air, and then Crowley's head settled back down into a pile of himself, eyes still staring forward.

[sendiintheclown]

Seeing that the snake didn't seem overly threatening, Trowa slowly opened the door of the cabin. "Hello." Was it weird to talk to a snake? Absolutely. But on this train he'd learned the bizarre was standard fare.

[agathokakological]

The angel must have left the door unlocked when he went on his errand. Crowley hadn't noticed, and the door being opened startled him just a bit. His head shot up from where it had been laying, and his hissing filled the room. With his head held high, it was easy to see just how big he really was.

'What do you want?'

The serpent's mouth didn't move as it talked, but it's voice filled the air, a choir of echoes and whispers that burrow into the listener's skull.

[sendiintheclown]

The reverberation of the voice made Trowa blink a little in surprise, but not much else. He had a green roommate, for crying out loud. "Mostly to make sure you're not about to snack on any pets or passengers on the train. I have friends I care about, and a very sweet little cat that I don't want eaten."

I

[deductiongeek]

Conan was a detective. More than that, he was a very bored and curious detective with no sense of self preservation and very work to occupy himself with here.

With all that in mind, it isn't much of a surprise that he sets off the investigate the rumor of a giant snake the moment he hears about it.

Standing in the quiet carriage, Conan quickly realizes a problem with the investigation. He was three feet tall. The window was noticeably higher than that. This was going to take some creativity.

He takes a quick look around to make sure no one was watching, and then he uses to his powered shoes to give a quick boost to his jumps. This gives him just enough height to grab onto the window and peer in.

[agathokakological]

Conan would find that the snake was there, just as he expected it to be. It was coiled in the center of the room, just beneath the window where the light from the void beat down on it's dark scales. It had been sleeping, but it was hard to tell, as snakes didn't have eyelids, and two large golden eyes were open, dead-center in the room.

[deductiongeek]

There wasn't enough ledge on the window to get a good grasp, and Conan has to drop back to the ground after just a glimpse. He frowns, turns the dial on his powered shoes a little higher, and jumps again for another look.

[agathokakological]

The snake indeed was still there, a dark pile of spaghetti with eyes. This time, it lifts it's head to watch, as whatever keeps popping up over the window to look at him is certainly grabbing his attention.

Crowley doesn't bother speaking in a sound-proof room, but he does wonder what this kid is trying to accomplish.

I

[wizard_redfive]

Dairine had just been passing through the quiet car to get from the dining area to the library. She normally wouldn't bother to stop, since a certain someone she's been avoiding set up their workspace in one of the rooms. But a hint of gold catches her eye, so Dairine turns to see what it is.

And stops dead in her tracks.

Great Powers that Be, She's seen those eyes before.

It was only a rare glimpse of course, but they were still unmistakable. Right? Or was she right, maybe she's just making assumptions and now she's staring for no good reason? Her mind was tumbling over possibilities, when Dairine realizes that this wasn't gonna give her any answers.

So instead she opens the door.

[agathokakological]

Crowley had been sleeping, but the slow crack of the door opening woke him instantly. He nearly shifted back, assuming the only person with the guts to open the door to a room filled to it's brim with a large black snake was Aziraphale, and was actually started to see a girl there instead.

His head shot up from the pile of himself he'd been asleep on, hissing already filling the room. The strong muscle of the length of him held his head rather high, and he easily stood taller than her, despite there being more of his length coiled about.

[wizard_redfive]

For her part, the girl does not look that impressed by the great giant snake looming over her. Alert, sure. Dairine knows a potentially dangerous situation when she sees one, and she is at least mentally prepared to defend herself. But she stands her ground, looking more puzzled than alarmed.

OK, this snake was definitely bigger than the one she remembers, but that didn't prove anything. The forms that the Powers that Be took could vary wildly, and she assumes that would be the case with Crowley too. Not that she saw him as a snake often either...

Ah, whatever. The room's occupant knew Dairine was there, so she better say something.

"Is this your idea of a prank?"

[agathokakological]

Crowley was hardly a dangerous situation, he had too much heart to be. But he had been woken by a stranger, and that was enough to have him standing tall. If not, a child calling him on his bluff might be. 

The serpent stood still for a moment, tongue flicking near constantly,  trying to pick up a familiar scent. Could she sense him, or was it a coincidence?

His hissing filled the air once more, a whirlwind of sound that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once. "What do you mean?"

It was brought to my attention that she needs to meet Crowley (Aziraphale is also very welcome!)

[knifewithnoname]

II

She had heard rumours of a giant snake. She's not too surprised. There was a giant spider after all. This train brought lots of strange people.

But she had no idea why the snake would be in a quiet carriage. Also she hadn't seen a giant snake on the last platform. So she is suspicious.

So of course she goes to investigate. She wrinkles her nose at the warning sign. Well. Clearly the snake had not written that.

Dagger in hand she creeps closer to the carriage and then, ready for anything, flings open the door!

[salutosinedelectat]

Aziraphale suddenly looks up from his book, over his entirely useless spectacles.

There was a sign. He was certain people would avoid entering a room with a giant snake, which was something he had agreed with the demon on fairly quickly. Perhaps a bit of unnecessary sneakery to try and get some peace and privacy, but at least he had thought it'd be effective.

Apparently not.

So, as she opens the door, the sight that greets her is indeed, at first, a giant black and red snake taking up most of the space in the tiny room. Said snake is also partially loosely wrapped around a different figure, human-shaped, who was apparently well engrossed in one of the library books despite the apparent risk of constriction or biting, with the serpent's head resting on top of his. Aziraphale stares for a few seconds in stunned silence.

"Hum." He starts. "Hello."

[agathokakological]

The snake doesn't move, it is quite still, coiled and napping atop his angel's fluffy white hair, the light from the window reflecting off of his scales.

[knifewithnoname]

Her dagger is held high, very much expecting to be attacked by a snake the moment the door flung open but instead...

There was indeed a snake, but it was curled around a man who did not look at all worried about the fact, indeed he was reading a book and looked more surprised to see her than the monster coiled around him.

"It do be being a friendly snake then?"

She tried to not sound disappointed. She's not even that surprise, after all there is a friendly giant spider monster who makes clothes for people and likes sweets so there is not so much that surprises her anymore.

I

[irrationally]

Honestly, talk of a giant snake doesn't scare Alice off in the slightest. She's seen much worse. And sure, it's not as if she's going to seek it out either, but you inevitably pass through certain carriages while making your way around the train.

Like the carriage that contains the quiet cars. And as she casually glances off to the side while passing them, she suddenly notices that.. ah, yes. That sure is a big snake.

She definitely looks way too underwhelmed for anyone who'd witness something like that. Sure, it makes Alice stop walking for the moment, but her facial expression is just blank. As if she's seeing something ordinary. A giant snake! Of course.

"Who let you in there?"

She just asks, apparently forgetting for a moment that this is the quiet car and those rooms are designed to not let sound in.

[agathokakological]

The serpent lay coiled in it's room, eyes open and clearly basking in the light from the window. He may not have been paying much attention to what was happening outside of the room, but Crowley knows the feeling of being watched.

Carefully, the snake lifts its head, noting the girl on the other side of the glass. He does see her speak, but can't hear it, and slithers forward just enough to lick his tongue at the glass.

[irrationally]

Alice stares at the snake for another moment, but.. then something surprising happens.

Her facial expression is at best neutral, but often annoyed or judgemental. She was probably frowning the time she spoke to Crowley on the platform, really, because Alice is pretty much always frowning. But now as she's watching this big snake lick the glass, her expression suddenly changes into a smile.

An actual, genuine smile. Animals really are Alice's one weakness.

"Oh, aren't you just adorable?" Her head slightly tilts to the side as she thinks. "I wonder who put you in there?"

S O F T.

[agathokakological]

This is not a reaction the demon is used to. Far from it. Pair this with a natural affinity for the younger humans (and well experienced in care-taking) and Crowley can't bring himself to be outright mean to Alice and shoo her off (even if she does seem too old to need adult supervision; but Crowley doesn't really have a good grasp on human age to begin with).

He still can't hear what she's saying, his head tilting to try to read her lips. After another moment he gives up entirely, and by way of small miracle the door pops open, just a hair. Crowley stays in place, but not only should he be able to hear her now, she could enter if she pleases.

rules are for SUCKERS

[salutosinedelectat]

It was a plan. Some sort of plan, something that would make it seem a little less rude to claim the quiet room for an extended period of time. Aziraphale made his own personal excuses about how there wasn't really anything wrong with it, mostly due to the fact that he really much rather have a space where they can have actual peace and quiet, and not be walked in on by any of the other passengers. That's the goal, anyway.

He's walking down the dining coah, into the quiet one and into the room, humming (sneakily) a song song he quite misses listening too. He carries a bottle of that sweet wine and a couple of glasses with him. He closes the door behind him and locks it (also sneakily).

Carefully stepping over a few coils of snake, he sets all of his items down on the small table there. "There was still some left."

[agathokakological]

The serpent quickly coils its way up, over the table and over Aziraphale's stomach, his big head resting right on the angel's sternum. A tongue flicks out, sniffing at the angel's cologne in a friendly way.

'You mussst think me a lush, angel.' he hisses, 'And you're right.'

[salutosinedelectat]

"I do think you're quite lush." Ah, the wonders of the english language. The angel smiles, petting the shiny black scales on the serpent's head, before, in an act of boldness, gently coaxing him up to press a quick peck on his smooth nose.

"I'm afraid these glasses aren't big enough for you to drink from, dearest." A pause. "Can you even drink like that?"

[agathokakological]

Crowley's head nudges at Aziraphale's chin playfully after that little peck, which would make any warm-blooded creature blush pink, but the serpent only crawls back down and over to a bench after, hissing in reply. 

'I'll have to change.' he sighs, and then does so, his body crackling like fire as he morphs back into a humanoid shape. Crowley's stretched out across the bench in his usual fashion, and stretches out his arms, glad to have them back.