bsumone | ❝ Expectations are dangerous things ❞

Tiras blinked and then looked off into the distance as he thought about that. Had he made other artists frustrated? Usually he just got his works of art and then left. Never looking back at them again because he simply didn't care. Had he actually frustrated them?

"Maybe I have. I don't remember..."

"That's fine." Surely it was impossible to remember every little detail of every person he's ever left feeling wanting for some reason or other. Snake doesn't mind. He's just making conversation, trying to get to know Tiras a little better.

Suddenly, Snake lifted his head, a curious look on his face. "Do you like tattoos?"

He was immediately brought back to the moment, tilting his head and smiling. "I do. I find them so interesting since I can't get them. My body heals before the ink can stay in my skin."

"I've been thinking about getting one -- a snake coiled around my arm." Snake frowned a little. "But there's just so much negative space in some of the designs I've had done. It looks... incomplete."

Rolling off of Snake now, he took his arm so he could lift it up and look at it. To picture what the arm would look like if it had a snake coiled along and around it. Humming in thought, he traced a pattern of it then...

"What if you fill the negative space with flowers?"

Snake looked at his arm just as Tiras did, canting his head slightly. Flowers in the negative space would look really nice. But Snake didn't know a lot about flowers or have any particular favorites.

Turning his head to peer at Tiras, he licked his lips before asking, "Do you have any particular favorites?"

"Mmmm..."

He liked a lot of flowers honestly. Mainly because he'd lived through the Victorian Era where he got to know their meanings. Some he felt were a little silly and yet he was still quite fond of them all the same. Humming a bit, Tiras pondered and then...

"Lilies."

Snake watched the thoughtful look play over Tiras’ face. He couldn’t help thinking about how beautiful the incubus was. Everyone probably thought that, though. All part and parcel of being an incubus, Snake imagined. It must get old, having people throw themselves at him, feel for him, try to impress him all the time.

Snake’s sure he’s not that much different. Except that Tiras made the first move. Tiras came to him this time. Which meant Tiras must genuinely like him, right? Or something about him. Didn’t that make him different?

“Lilies,” he repeated, trying to conjure the mental image of the snake around his arm with lilies in the negative space to fill it out. “Lilies it is.”

He would really tattoo his favorite flower on his arm like that? That was a very permanent mark. Tiras gazed at him in wonder, utterly amazed that he would go that far for him. Licking his lips, he wondered why for a moment before deciding to just move up and press a kiss to Snake's lips instead.

"When you go to get it done may I come too?" He wouldn't be able to get his own skin done but he wanted to watch Snake get tattooed. And then he could be sure the artist wouldn't mess it up too.

Well, it's a pretty flower. And why not? Snake's life is massively shorter than Tiras' so why not just jump on the idea? He doesn't need to hem and haw over it.

"I'll call the gal I've been working with for concepts and see what she comes up with. If we like it, I'll get it done right away. It might be more than one session. That cool for you?"

"Yes!"

He answered with excitement before he even could stop himself. At that moment he'd forgotten about impressing Snake in favor of just being so happy to be involved in his life like this. "I will make the time."

He couldn't help smiling. Both at Tiras' impassive persona slipping for a second and the fact that he wanted to come along when Snake got the work done. He's definitely happy that Tiras was interested in more than just... Well, what he assumed an incubus would be interested in. It wouldn't have bothered him much if Tiras really only wanted to sleep with him, that's his nature. And Snake's not sentimental so NSA things don't trouble him.

But he had this unspoken feeling deep in his gut that maybe Tiras was more than just some fling. The way the incubus lit up at this small thing encouraged that feeling. Snake rather liked it, too. Whatever was happening between them felt comfortable, easy. Uncomplicated.

"Okay. When we get up I'll text her. She's usually pretty quick with her designs. Like no more than 72-hours. I'll send you what she draws." Then Snake blinked and laughed to himself. "If you'll give me your number, that is. That's probably a little faster than waiting for you to mysteriously show up again."

"I'll put my number in your phone when we get to your phone. I'll probably show up often at certain parts of the month though. It gets boring being in the house by myself."

And takeout just wasn't good company. Too annoying. Much better to kick out of the house and lock them out. And actually... "You should come spend time with me at my place during those times too."

"Sure, if you want." He has plenty of cryptid and ridiculous conspiracy shows they can watch together. Snake's not the sort of guy who always has to be doing activities with people to find the time well spent. Just chilling on the couch watching TV or movies was just fine with him. Video games? Sure. And, despite how they met, Snake gets the feeling that Tiras was a bit of a homebody.

"I do want. I don't like being bored." Even if he tended to spend much of his life feeling that way it didn't mean he actually liked it. He just put up with it and accepted that it was an annoying part of his life. "You're more interesting than being alone."

Which was a very high compliment coming from someone like him.

Maybe someone more sensitive would've been offended or even wounded by a comment like that. But all Snake took away from it was that he's interesting. Being interesting was a good thing in his mind.

"Would you mind if I bring my laptop? I may have to do a little work, but I can do it from your couch. Then, at least, you won't be by yourself."

"Like your website?"

He looked so interested in that. After all, he was a big fan. Especially now. He was having deeper feelings than he fully realized at that moment. "May I help at all with it?"

"That and others." Surprise! Snake actually has a "real" job other than running his site and it's basically web design. Thankfully, it's not some sort of gig where he's trapped in an office 9-5. He has a lot of freedom as long as he meets his deadlines.

Snake closed his eyes and nodded. "If you like. I never mind a second opinion on how something I design looks." When he opened his eyes again, he peered curiously at Tiras, contemplating him. "Can I write about you on my site?"

"I should have you and Su-jin talk about my site. You might be able to make it prettier." It wasn't terrible actually because Su-jin had an eye for things like that. But he had a suspicion that Su-jin would greatly enjoy making it even better and save money on it. They didn't even need to save money and yet he still tried to here and there. So odd.

Tiras looked up at him blinking. "Of course you can. I'll even tell you more so you can include it."

A pause. "After I get something made for you. You'll have to wear it in the open at all times when I give it to you though."

"Would he be comfortable talking to me?" Snake doesn't know the specifics of their relationship and Su-jin has yet to sit him down for a talk so... "I'm happy to help out if it's wanted."

Snake cocked his head subtly and blinked. "Something for me?"

"Of course he would. Why wouldn't he be comfortable talking to you?" How ridiculous. He brushed that away quickly because Su-jin wasn't the vampire lacking in confidence the way he used to be. Oh he had his guilt that Tiras would love to see gone but that was another matter entirely really.

"Yes. A necklace that will have my emblem on it. You'll keep it on all the time? Promise?"

“Your emblem?” He paused a moment and then nodded. He understood that this was a way to declare to the supernatural work that Snake was under Tiras’ protection. It was sweet that Tiras wanted to protect him from any dangers he might befall.

“I’ll wear it.”

"Good. The Council knows better than to do anything to anyone that I have claimed." It was really the smartest thing they did as far as he was concerned. Otherwise they were just total idiots. Striving to maintain an entirely unnecessary peace in his opinion. But he did also come from a time before they existed, one of the few in the world who did. It gave him a very different perspective.

"Anyway you should still talk to him about helping out with my site. You might have good insight into making it even more appealing. He loves making me appealing."

He can't imagine any supernaturals having issues with him. But then again... he does write about them. Most people think it's fiction, but some out there know it's not. Snake didn't know it, but there have been a few creatures that have come after him before. He just got lucky.

"Claimed, huh?" There's a slight hint of teasing in his voice. But the subtle grin curving his lips said that he didn't mind that terminology at all.

"Sure, as long as it won't make things weird for him, I'm game for it."

"Yes. Claimed. You're mine." Obviously. He wasn't about to elaborate further because he was very sure it was quite clear and required no further explanation. Snake was his. The end.

"It won't be weird for him."

A pause and a hum. "I wonder if he'll promise to eat you if you hurt me. Oh well. Nothing to worry about because you won't."

❝ Expectations are dangerous things ❞

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