Sanctity: Late evening.

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

The snow was piling high outside the shop, but Zhaan wasn't too worried. After all, thanks to being a little paranoid, the backup generator she'd purchased second-hand was churning away, sending heat here and there. She didn't bother with electric lights, just left it warming things. Not that she needed the warmth, but her guest and his dog did.

Candles littered every available surface, providing a soft light.

Zhaan was sitting curled in a chair, making notations on a pad. It was possible it was a novel, or a treatise upon the proper care of one's plants.

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[http://users.livejournal.com/_bigguy_/]

He'd spent a good part of the day shoveling snow. Not that it really mattered--with most of the town buried, not many people had been braving the out of doors. Still, it had given him something to do.

He'd given up on keeping the sidewalk clean when the lights had flickered out and gone inside to help Zhaan get the place illuminated while the back-up generator took care of the heat. Gabriel was currently curled up on the blanket he'd arranged in the corner for her, snoozing contentedly. Zhaan was busying herself with writing, so he decided to kick back, switch off his visual field, and relax for awhile. He'd certainly spent far more stressful evenings.

It was fitting, then, that the generator picked that moment to shut down with a somewhat ominous clunking noise.

He sat up, frowning. "Think we have a problem."

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

The sound dragged Zhaan from her thoughts, and she frowned. "Perhaps it's out of fuel?" Not that it would be that easy.

Oh, no. Zhaan figured that the Goddess was having a field day with her.

Either that, or she'd picked up Crichton's bad luck.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bigguy_/]

He frowned. "It hasn't been running that long. But maybe. I'll go take a look."

He grabbed one of the candles and headed down into the basement. His eyes could compensate for the lack of light, but after a certain point, it just became more practical to use a little illumination.

The generator was sitting in one corner, more or less mocking him with its lack of function. And a quick inspection told him that while it wasn't out of fuel, it certainly was out of order. He wasn't 100% familiar with the design, and a quick cross-reference with on line databases turned up nothing. Whatever it was, he sure as hell wasn't going to be able to get it running.

He tromped his way back up the stairs. "Well, it's not out of fuel. Don't suppose you have a manual."

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

While he was gone, Zhaan absently bent down to scritch behind Gabriel's ears. The furry creature made a hrmphing noise and sighed deeply. Figuring that was a good sign, she continued, delighted to discover that some creatures were all the same: stroke them right, and they were friends for life.

Looking up as he asked about the manual, she frowned, trying to recall. "No. I believe it was 'sold as advertised'." Straightening, she took up one of the larger candles.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bigguy_/]

"Well, I guess you pay for." He sighed, and knelt down to scratch Gabu behind the ears. She cracked one eye open at him before she began snoring again. "It's going to get cold in here. It won't really be a problem for me, but..." He glanced at the dog again. "We should probably work out a plan here."

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

"Indeed." Tilting her head to the side, Zhaan considered. "I believe we should make our way to shelter at the school, as suggested by the totally god-modded trooper that appeared at the door earlier." She eyed the dog, "We should wrap her, a thick blanket should keep her warm."

A smile touched her lips, "I would offer to carry her, but I suspect you'd rather do so, yourself."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bigguy_/]

"I doubt she'd let you. Besides, she's heavy."

He retrieved his coat, hat, and gloves, and pulled them on, waiting until Zhaan had blown out the candles in she shop before he wrapped Gabriel in the blanket and picked her up. She whined softly before nuzzling her head into his shoulder as he waited for Zhaan to lead the way.