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The last time the power had gone out in Destiny City Halston O'hea had purchased a generator for his apartment. With it installed and properly running he could keep himself comfortable for a while, but that required either remembering to set out the solar panels to store energy ahead of tome (something he had not done) or not living in an apartment and being able to store other types of fuel.

Alas.

His options for the blackout were to either head home for the holidays (not a chance) or take up Courtland McQueen's offer for temporary arrangements. Imposing on his friend was hardly ideal, but it was a much better option than dealing with his parents... Especially since they'd let him know ahead of time that his brother was going to be in town.

Nope.

Halston had packed a small bag for the weekend, checking to make certain he had everything he might need for a sort stay away before heading out into the winter wonderland. It took longer than he would have liked to make it from Point A to Point B-- fighting with his car to get it to start up in the cold, letting it warm up to the point that he wouldn't freeze his a** of in the drive and driving slowly to avoid patches of ice-- but he finally made it, locking the car behind him as he headed up to Courtland's front door.

"That one works just fine, it just doesn't like the cold any more than I do." Or any more than Courtland did, judging by the looks of the other bundled up in his coat with the fur lining fluffed up around his neck and brushing his cheeks.

Halston shifted his bag on his shoulder, fingers curling around the strap to resist that brief urge to reach out and brush a stray strand of hair away from his friend's face. He seemed as though he might protest handing his coat over before grudgingly sliding his bag to the floor, passing his coat off to Courtland as he unlaced his boots to leave them by the door. No sense trailing droplets of lingering snow and frost through the house-- the cold could stay outside, where it was needed.

"I'm sure you've gathered a mass of blankets on the sofa? You've got the batteries in the radio left over from last time, right?"

"I thought you'd said that we couldn't survive on wine alone." A smirk touched the corners of his mouth as he shifted his bag onto his shoulder, following after his friend. "Wouldn't be a Destiny City winter without at least one black out following a white out, would it?"

The difference in temperature between the front hall and the den was almost immediately noticeable. It was a comforting relief after spending the time in the cold car that had only warmed enough to be driven. "You rearranged things? Was that before or after the power went out?"

"It was comfortable before-- Colder, in a stern sort of way, but comfortable. This seems like a better set up for entertaining. Planning a social gathering or two?" His brow quirked as he turned his head to look to the other man, setting his bag down by the end of the sofa. He brushed his fingers through his hair before flopping back against the cushions.

"How long do you think the power is going to be out this time?"

"Thinking of inviting them over? Bit of socializing over wine and cheese?" His smirk was edged with a tinge of bitterness-- not because he hadn't accepted what had happened to him, that it had happened at all, changing his life and shaping his future, but still because it had happened to Courtland.

They hadn't talked about it much after that first night. They'd both been so busy lately that neither of them had really the time to talk about anything. Trapped together in a frozen blackout was as good enough of way to force the conversation as any...

"Wouldn't want you to get bored with anything. God forbid."

"From my understanding, they can't just drop in unless you've invited them in before." He hoped that Courtland hadn't been that foolish. Then again, they hadn't discussed how Court had met the silver Captain Uvarovite either. Maybe he had...

His nose wrinkled as he shifted forward, taking a glass from his friend when it was offered. He knew the bottle that Courtland would have picked, was familiar enough with the aroma and the flavor that he didn't taste it the way he would have were it something new. Instead he brought it up to his lips to take a deep sip.

"People die? Figuratively speaking... Unless you've actually killed anyone with that apple of yours."

Halston rolled his eyes while taking another deep sip from his glass of wine. He knew they weren't vampires, but Tourmaline had teleported with him in tow before and that had brought up questions. What distance could they travel? How did it work? What were the mechanics?

"They can move through space-- teleport. Anywhere they've been to before. If they haven't been here there's no way they can just drop in on you... So I can't say I would be inviting any of them over for company Christmas parties." He snorted, giving his head a slow shake before looking to his companion.