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The egg was sold to Nethis as something other than what it actually turned out to be; false shield-nosed cobras, now hatched, the matched pair of snakes contained within were neither what she had planned for nor creatures she was entirely sure what to do with. Inherently less useful in that they contained neither venom desired for its irritative properties nor possessing the capacity to be particularly frightful via a familiarly benign appearance, there seemed little recourse but to either keep them or free them and forget the whole thing.
In theory, she leaned toward the latter. There seemed little cause to expend the effort of raising babies, or baby snakes anyway; baby humans was a different concept she was not altogether too keen on wasting a lingering consideration upon. It would happen, or it wouldn’t; no, that was self-protective dishonesty in the form of playing blasé and refusing to acknowledge a quiet desire that belonged to a heart and lived well beneath layers of ambition.
Yet, there was one reason, a small reason, to consider doing otherwise: she had caught Mihail eyeing the snake she already kept more than once, with an expression that spoke to want. Her little brother was not exactly discreet; she wasn’t entirely sure if that came solely from his inability to truly mask himself or if it was more she knew him so well she could not see the mask, but either way, she knew he wanted. That alone might be enough, but added to it there was a cold, callous, manipulative truth that had gradually begun to color their interactions: the older Mihail grew the more Nethis had to work to keep him under her thumb.
It had been easy when he was a child and she was barely more than that. It was far more difficult now that he had senseless whims, the expectation of being obliged in all things instantly (and yes, she could acknowledge that this was her fault just as much as it was that of Thea and perhaps Evras), and awareness enough to know that he was a man and that gave him power he could assert.
She had not acquired snakes with the intent to give Mihail a pet, but to gift him half a pair entirely harmless might be the appropriate choice. After all what could go wrong? If she kept the other half to the pair, he could not lord his possession over her and to satisfy a want unexpressed—at least in her earshot—seemed a manipulative kindness. The only concern might be in whether Mihail could actually care for the creature. She was heartless by design, she made herself like so, but holding the little snakes in cupped palms, she found what she disliked the outcome of such a loss, mostly in terms of what Mihail might do.
Still, she sent a servant to find him anyway and contemplated how she might make it clear that this was a gift, but also a responsibility to be minded rather than only entertained until he was bored.
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The egg was sold to Nethis as something other than what it actually turned out to be; false shield-nosed cobras, now hatched, the matched pair of snakes contained within were neither what she had planned for nor creatures she was entirely sure what to do with. Inherently less useful in that they contained neither venom desired for its irritative properties nor possessing the capacity to be particularly frightful via a familiarly benign appearance, there seemed little recourse but to either keep them or free them and forget the whole thing.
In theory, she leaned toward the latter. There seemed little cause to expend the effort of raising babies, or baby snakes anyway; baby humans was a different concept she was not altogether too keen on wasting a lingering consideration upon. It would happen, or it wouldn’t; no, that was self-protective dishonesty in the form of playing blasé and refusing to acknowledge a quiet desire that belonged to a heart and lived well beneath layers of ambition.
Yet, there was one reason, a small reason, to consider doing otherwise: she had caught Mihail eyeing the snake she already kept more than once, with an expression that spoke to want. Her little brother was not exactly discreet; she wasn’t entirely sure if that came solely from his inability to truly mask himself or if it was more she knew him so well she could not see the mask, but either way, she knew he wanted. That alone might be enough, but added to it there was a cold, callous, manipulative truth that had gradually begun to color their interactions: the older Mihail grew the more Nethis had to work to keep him under her thumb.
It had been easy when he was a child and she was barely more than that. It was far more difficult now that he had senseless whims, the expectation of being obliged in all things instantly (and yes, she could acknowledge that this was her fault just as much as it was that of Thea and perhaps Evras), and awareness enough to know that he was a man and that gave him power he could assert.
She had not acquired snakes with the intent to give Mihail a pet, but to gift him half a pair entirely harmless might be the appropriate choice. After all what could go wrong? If she kept the other half to the pair, he could not lord his possession over her and to satisfy a want unexpressed—at least in her earshot—seemed a manipulative kindness. The only concern might be in whether Mihail could actually care for the creature. She was heartless by design, she made herself like so, but holding the little snakes in cupped palms, she found what she disliked the outcome of such a loss, mostly in terms of what Mihail might do.
Still, she sent a servant to find him anyway and contemplated how she might make it clear that this was a gift, but also a responsibility to be minded rather than only entertained until he was bored.
The egg was sold to Nethis as something other than what it actually turned out to be; false shield-nosed cobras, now hatched, the matched pair of snakes contained within were neither what she had planned for nor creatures she was entirely sure what to do with. Inherently less useful in that they contained neither venom desired for its irritative properties nor possessing the capacity to be particularly frightful via a familiarly benign appearance, there seemed little recourse but to either keep them or free them and forget the whole thing.
In theory, she leaned toward the latter. There seemed little cause to expend the effort of raising babies, or baby snakes anyway; baby humans was a different concept she was not altogether too keen on wasting a lingering consideration upon. It would happen, or it wouldn’t; no, that was self-protective dishonesty in the form of playing blasé and refusing to acknowledge a quiet desire that belonged to a heart and lived well beneath layers of ambition.
Yet, there was one reason, a small reason, to consider doing otherwise: she had caught Mihail eyeing the snake she already kept more than once, with an expression that spoke to want. Her little brother was not exactly discreet; she wasn’t entirely sure if that came solely from his inability to truly mask himself or if it was more she knew him so well she could not see the mask, but either way, she knew he wanted. That alone might be enough, but added to it there was a cold, callous, manipulative truth that had gradually begun to color their interactions: the older Mihail grew the more Nethis had to work to keep him under her thumb.
It had been easy when he was a child and she was barely more than that. It was far more difficult now that he had senseless whims, the expectation of being obliged in all things instantly (and yes, she could acknowledge that this was her fault just as much as it was that of Thea and perhaps Evras), and awareness enough to know that he was a man and that gave him power he could assert.
She had not acquired snakes with the intent to give Mihail a pet, but to gift him half a pair entirely harmless might be the appropriate choice. After all what could go wrong? If she kept the other half to the pair, he could not lord his possession over her and to satisfy a want unexpressed—at least in her earshot—seemed a manipulative kindness. The only concern might be in whether Mihail could actually care for the creature. She was heartless by design, she made herself like so, but holding the little snakes in cupped palms, she found what she disliked the outcome of such a loss, mostly in terms of what Mihail might do.
Still, she sent a servant to find him anyway and contemplated how she might make it clear that this was a gift, but also a responsibility to be minded rather than only entertained until he was bored.
For the most part, the fifteen-year-old Mihail spent his spare time holed away in his chambers coming up with his own schemes which, more often than not, failed to see the light of day. He was at a difficult point in his life, so he thought, having only recently realised that his heart stirred not just for the girl he currently visited with flirtatious intent, but for her elder brother as well, and that fact combined with his present insecurities as to both his adolescent appearance and gender-uncertainties had been wracking his mind for weeks. There was no greater solace than solitude when he felt so vulnerable in every regard, and he had recently come to discover that this self-imposed isolation could be improved tenfold with the addition of his new favourite vices of excessive wine and opium (though he liked to believe Nethis was not privy to either indulgent habit).
When a servant was sent to find him, knocking tentatively upon the door before they entered because he had recently been prone to childish fits of temper as a result of his new hobbies, he had faced them with an irritable expression, and waved them away with the promise that he would go and find Nethis in a mere moment. Then he had finished his last goblet of wine - wondering for a moment whether the stench of the liquid lingered on his breath and if not she would chastise him for such a thing - and slid languidly from the kline where he had been half-seated for a long while now. It was not often that his sister would call him to her chambers unless there was some significant matter to discuss, and then it was either some severe discussion or (much more rarely) the limited fulfilment of some desire, always marred with excessive and tedious consequences.
He hoped it would be the latter.
Mihail liked to think himself subtle. He liked to believe that, often, when he desired things, he could maintain a façade that he did not, and that all his most profound and darkest wishes were kept as perpetually hidden as he intended them to be. That said, this was not entirely the case. There were certain urges he possessed which he could not hide from others, and he had never been able to hide a thing from Nethis. He didn't think it fair that even at fifteen he should struggle, but even when he tried to pull on a mask of disinterest, he knew she could tell. He knew that she knew he liked that snake, and she must have known he wanted one too, and she wasn't doing a thing about it.
He had not made any comment on the matter just yet, preferring to brood and sulk over the whole situation rather than make any effort to resolve it himself. Likely, it would not have been all that difficult for the Thanasi to find a snake breeder who could get him the beast he desired, and particularly not with his preexisting family connections, but he preferred to wait until Nethis had the idea herself. Mihail had never once been the proactive sort, and, besides, even if he feigned adulthood by virtue of age, he still liked her to baby him a little. His teenage years had not changed his relationship with his sisters much more than instilling in him a combined assertive and sullen nature, and this was accentuated as he made his way along the hallway to his eldest sister's rooms. He had an odd gait, as if he had yet to come into himself, and his hips canted forwards when he walked in an almost lopsided manner, though it still held a confusingly-feminine grace to it.
"Nethis," he greeted his sister, elongating that final consonant of her name, arms outstretched as he entered as if to offer her an embrace, making out that he had not seen the woman in a long while. Mihail enjoyed unnecessarily dramatising a moment. He smiled, head tilted to one side, charming as ever, trying to play the child. "I heard you have want of me, and I feel honoured. You are my favourite sister, did you know?"
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For the most part, the fifteen-year-old Mihail spent his spare time holed away in his chambers coming up with his own schemes which, more often than not, failed to see the light of day. He was at a difficult point in his life, so he thought, having only recently realised that his heart stirred not just for the girl he currently visited with flirtatious intent, but for her elder brother as well, and that fact combined with his present insecurities as to both his adolescent appearance and gender-uncertainties had been wracking his mind for weeks. There was no greater solace than solitude when he felt so vulnerable in every regard, and he had recently come to discover that this self-imposed isolation could be improved tenfold with the addition of his new favourite vices of excessive wine and opium (though he liked to believe Nethis was not privy to either indulgent habit).
When a servant was sent to find him, knocking tentatively upon the door before they entered because he had recently been prone to childish fits of temper as a result of his new hobbies, he had faced them with an irritable expression, and waved them away with the promise that he would go and find Nethis in a mere moment. Then he had finished his last goblet of wine - wondering for a moment whether the stench of the liquid lingered on his breath and if not she would chastise him for such a thing - and slid languidly from the kline where he had been half-seated for a long while now. It was not often that his sister would call him to her chambers unless there was some significant matter to discuss, and then it was either some severe discussion or (much more rarely) the limited fulfilment of some desire, always marred with excessive and tedious consequences.
He hoped it would be the latter.
Mihail liked to think himself subtle. He liked to believe that, often, when he desired things, he could maintain a façade that he did not, and that all his most profound and darkest wishes were kept as perpetually hidden as he intended them to be. That said, this was not entirely the case. There were certain urges he possessed which he could not hide from others, and he had never been able to hide a thing from Nethis. He didn't think it fair that even at fifteen he should struggle, but even when he tried to pull on a mask of disinterest, he knew she could tell. He knew that she knew he liked that snake, and she must have known he wanted one too, and she wasn't doing a thing about it.
He had not made any comment on the matter just yet, preferring to brood and sulk over the whole situation rather than make any effort to resolve it himself. Likely, it would not have been all that difficult for the Thanasi to find a snake breeder who could get him the beast he desired, and particularly not with his preexisting family connections, but he preferred to wait until Nethis had the idea herself. Mihail had never once been the proactive sort, and, besides, even if he feigned adulthood by virtue of age, he still liked her to baby him a little. His teenage years had not changed his relationship with his sisters much more than instilling in him a combined assertive and sullen nature, and this was accentuated as he made his way along the hallway to his eldest sister's rooms. He had an odd gait, as if he had yet to come into himself, and his hips canted forwards when he walked in an almost lopsided manner, though it still held a confusingly-feminine grace to it.
"Nethis," he greeted his sister, elongating that final consonant of her name, arms outstretched as he entered as if to offer her an embrace, making out that he had not seen the woman in a long while. Mihail enjoyed unnecessarily dramatising a moment. He smiled, head tilted to one side, charming as ever, trying to play the child. "I heard you have want of me, and I feel honoured. You are my favourite sister, did you know?"
For the most part, the fifteen-year-old Mihail spent his spare time holed away in his chambers coming up with his own schemes which, more often than not, failed to see the light of day. He was at a difficult point in his life, so he thought, having only recently realised that his heart stirred not just for the girl he currently visited with flirtatious intent, but for her elder brother as well, and that fact combined with his present insecurities as to both his adolescent appearance and gender-uncertainties had been wracking his mind for weeks. There was no greater solace than solitude when he felt so vulnerable in every regard, and he had recently come to discover that this self-imposed isolation could be improved tenfold with the addition of his new favourite vices of excessive wine and opium (though he liked to believe Nethis was not privy to either indulgent habit).
When a servant was sent to find him, knocking tentatively upon the door before they entered because he had recently been prone to childish fits of temper as a result of his new hobbies, he had faced them with an irritable expression, and waved them away with the promise that he would go and find Nethis in a mere moment. Then he had finished his last goblet of wine - wondering for a moment whether the stench of the liquid lingered on his breath and if not she would chastise him for such a thing - and slid languidly from the kline where he had been half-seated for a long while now. It was not often that his sister would call him to her chambers unless there was some significant matter to discuss, and then it was either some severe discussion or (much more rarely) the limited fulfilment of some desire, always marred with excessive and tedious consequences.
He hoped it would be the latter.
Mihail liked to think himself subtle. He liked to believe that, often, when he desired things, he could maintain a façade that he did not, and that all his most profound and darkest wishes were kept as perpetually hidden as he intended them to be. That said, this was not entirely the case. There were certain urges he possessed which he could not hide from others, and he had never been able to hide a thing from Nethis. He didn't think it fair that even at fifteen he should struggle, but even when he tried to pull on a mask of disinterest, he knew she could tell. He knew that she knew he liked that snake, and she must have known he wanted one too, and she wasn't doing a thing about it.
He had not made any comment on the matter just yet, preferring to brood and sulk over the whole situation rather than make any effort to resolve it himself. Likely, it would not have been all that difficult for the Thanasi to find a snake breeder who could get him the beast he desired, and particularly not with his preexisting family connections, but he preferred to wait until Nethis had the idea herself. Mihail had never once been the proactive sort, and, besides, even if he feigned adulthood by virtue of age, he still liked her to baby him a little. His teenage years had not changed his relationship with his sisters much more than instilling in him a combined assertive and sullen nature, and this was accentuated as he made his way along the hallway to his eldest sister's rooms. He had an odd gait, as if he had yet to come into himself, and his hips canted forwards when he walked in an almost lopsided manner, though it still held a confusingly-feminine grace to it.
"Nethis," he greeted his sister, elongating that final consonant of her name, arms outstretched as he entered as if to offer her an embrace, making out that he had not seen the woman in a long while. Mihail enjoyed unnecessarily dramatising a moment. He smiled, head tilted to one side, charming as ever, trying to play the child. "I heard you have want of me, and I feel honoured. You are my favourite sister, did you know?"
The household was hers to manage, it had been for years already, and though Nethis foisted some of what she simply did not desire to do off to Thea, little escaped her notice. As such, Mihail’s new fondness for wine hadn’t gone unnoticed, most of all in that buying had to be changed to accommodate it, but it had gone unremarked upon thus far, at least regarding any comments directed toward him.
What was there to say? That he should drink less? There was hardly a compelling argument to make for it; it was not as if her younger brother was of much use when he was sober and at least drunk, he kept more to his rooms, meaning he was less underfoot.
She suspected, too, that it wasn’t just wine that he had taken up, but it was neither here nor there. If the spectrum ran from incompetent to capable, she thought him well on the side of the former; until proved otherwise, further indulgences made simply continued to maintain his place there, leaving her to perpetually wait for the moment he might prove himself a Thanasi in the ways that matter most and prove her wrong.
It might have been wasted prayers, but she did pray for that in a limited fashion. There was so much unconventionality in her little brother, so many reasons he did not fit the world and it was almost cruel to add another in making him like her, like them, by displaying some lesser talent for manipulation, but she thought it would be a benefit so long as it grew into nothing overly impressive. Nethis still wanted to be able to manipulate Mihail, she just wanted him to be able to manipulate others outside the family without worrying that it would go the other way instead.
She doubted today would be the day for such a display and that was all the more a pity as, depending on the light, it made the day—or rather this interaction within it—a waste. Only, she might salvage use of it yet, if only in handling an unexpected situation.
Upon Mihail’s entrance, rather than rise to greet him or move significantly at all, she glanced up and over at him, eyes rolling instinctively even as she found lips twitched into a half-smile despite herself at his dramatics. This was the very nature of things, was it not?
Mihail was most often an endearing nuisance. She loved him in the quiet of a heart she tended to ignore in the hope that it would finally actually die. After all, she had intended for it to do so in the aftermath of foolishness, heartbreak, and a then-new but delightful, vindictive focus that had morphed and changed but never abandoned her since.
"Is that what you say to Thea and Evras too?" she asked in a form of pointed teasing, rather than give the sentiment the credence and worth it was—perhaps—due.
See the thing was, there was a part of her that genuinely both wanted to believe and maybe actually did believe it was true, but there was another that believed her own cynical teasing and wouldn’t have been entirely surprised if she hit upon the truth there instead. If so, that was fine; she made no particular outward claim to Mihail over either of their sisters. He was not hers by any conceivable measure unless wasted time and years of preferential treatment were a mark of possession.
"Or is that the wine speaking, Mihail?" The mild chastisement followed teasing as a deliberate choice; there was something to be said for keeping him off balance, for making sure that he knew that even her kindness—manipulative as it was—did not necessarily come free of an edge, that she could—and would—be dangerous if she needed to be. Better Mihail never underestimate her. "If so, do keep such foolishness to yourself."
Better that than insincerity, which struck her as intolerable. She got enough of it elsewhere, so she hardly needed or wanted it from him too, least of all on the topic of fondness and heart’s emotions.
Still, Nethis had no desire to linger on it. Yes, she knew he had been drinking (if not more than that) both because she’d been told as much when the servant she sent returned to her and relayed his response as a method by which to tie up some loose ends and because she could simply see the effect of it in him, but it changed very little. The snakes were still a consideration and situation to be handled, Mihail still wanted and she still thought it to her advantage to see him satisfied.
As such, her head shook then, brushing the topic and anything that might develop into a lingering thought aside. "False honor or otherwise, though, I did want you. Come here." She shifted her gaze downward once more and nodded toward cupped palms. "Look."
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The household was hers to manage, it had been for years already, and though Nethis foisted some of what she simply did not desire to do off to Thea, little escaped her notice. As such, Mihail’s new fondness for wine hadn’t gone unnoticed, most of all in that buying had to be changed to accommodate it, but it had gone unremarked upon thus far, at least regarding any comments directed toward him.
What was there to say? That he should drink less? There was hardly a compelling argument to make for it; it was not as if her younger brother was of much use when he was sober and at least drunk, he kept more to his rooms, meaning he was less underfoot.
She suspected, too, that it wasn’t just wine that he had taken up, but it was neither here nor there. If the spectrum ran from incompetent to capable, she thought him well on the side of the former; until proved otherwise, further indulgences made simply continued to maintain his place there, leaving her to perpetually wait for the moment he might prove himself a Thanasi in the ways that matter most and prove her wrong.
It might have been wasted prayers, but she did pray for that in a limited fashion. There was so much unconventionality in her little brother, so many reasons he did not fit the world and it was almost cruel to add another in making him like her, like them, by displaying some lesser talent for manipulation, but she thought it would be a benefit so long as it grew into nothing overly impressive. Nethis still wanted to be able to manipulate Mihail, she just wanted him to be able to manipulate others outside the family without worrying that it would go the other way instead.
She doubted today would be the day for such a display and that was all the more a pity as, depending on the light, it made the day—or rather this interaction within it—a waste. Only, she might salvage use of it yet, if only in handling an unexpected situation.
Upon Mihail’s entrance, rather than rise to greet him or move significantly at all, she glanced up and over at him, eyes rolling instinctively even as she found lips twitched into a half-smile despite herself at his dramatics. This was the very nature of things, was it not?
Mihail was most often an endearing nuisance. She loved him in the quiet of a heart she tended to ignore in the hope that it would finally actually die. After all, she had intended for it to do so in the aftermath of foolishness, heartbreak, and a then-new but delightful, vindictive focus that had morphed and changed but never abandoned her since.
"Is that what you say to Thea and Evras too?" she asked in a form of pointed teasing, rather than give the sentiment the credence and worth it was—perhaps—due.
See the thing was, there was a part of her that genuinely both wanted to believe and maybe actually did believe it was true, but there was another that believed her own cynical teasing and wouldn’t have been entirely surprised if she hit upon the truth there instead. If so, that was fine; she made no particular outward claim to Mihail over either of their sisters. He was not hers by any conceivable measure unless wasted time and years of preferential treatment were a mark of possession.
"Or is that the wine speaking, Mihail?" The mild chastisement followed teasing as a deliberate choice; there was something to be said for keeping him off balance, for making sure that he knew that even her kindness—manipulative as it was—did not necessarily come free of an edge, that she could—and would—be dangerous if she needed to be. Better Mihail never underestimate her. "If so, do keep such foolishness to yourself."
Better that than insincerity, which struck her as intolerable. She got enough of it elsewhere, so she hardly needed or wanted it from him too, least of all on the topic of fondness and heart’s emotions.
Still, Nethis had no desire to linger on it. Yes, she knew he had been drinking (if not more than that) both because she’d been told as much when the servant she sent returned to her and relayed his response as a method by which to tie up some loose ends and because she could simply see the effect of it in him, but it changed very little. The snakes were still a consideration and situation to be handled, Mihail still wanted and she still thought it to her advantage to see him satisfied.
As such, her head shook then, brushing the topic and anything that might develop into a lingering thought aside. "False honor or otherwise, though, I did want you. Come here." She shifted her gaze downward once more and nodded toward cupped palms. "Look."
The household was hers to manage, it had been for years already, and though Nethis foisted some of what she simply did not desire to do off to Thea, little escaped her notice. As such, Mihail’s new fondness for wine hadn’t gone unnoticed, most of all in that buying had to be changed to accommodate it, but it had gone unremarked upon thus far, at least regarding any comments directed toward him.
What was there to say? That he should drink less? There was hardly a compelling argument to make for it; it was not as if her younger brother was of much use when he was sober and at least drunk, he kept more to his rooms, meaning he was less underfoot.
She suspected, too, that it wasn’t just wine that he had taken up, but it was neither here nor there. If the spectrum ran from incompetent to capable, she thought him well on the side of the former; until proved otherwise, further indulgences made simply continued to maintain his place there, leaving her to perpetually wait for the moment he might prove himself a Thanasi in the ways that matter most and prove her wrong.
It might have been wasted prayers, but she did pray for that in a limited fashion. There was so much unconventionality in her little brother, so many reasons he did not fit the world and it was almost cruel to add another in making him like her, like them, by displaying some lesser talent for manipulation, but she thought it would be a benefit so long as it grew into nothing overly impressive. Nethis still wanted to be able to manipulate Mihail, she just wanted him to be able to manipulate others outside the family without worrying that it would go the other way instead.
She doubted today would be the day for such a display and that was all the more a pity as, depending on the light, it made the day—or rather this interaction within it—a waste. Only, she might salvage use of it yet, if only in handling an unexpected situation.
Upon Mihail’s entrance, rather than rise to greet him or move significantly at all, she glanced up and over at him, eyes rolling instinctively even as she found lips twitched into a half-smile despite herself at his dramatics. This was the very nature of things, was it not?
Mihail was most often an endearing nuisance. She loved him in the quiet of a heart she tended to ignore in the hope that it would finally actually die. After all, she had intended for it to do so in the aftermath of foolishness, heartbreak, and a then-new but delightful, vindictive focus that had morphed and changed but never abandoned her since.
"Is that what you say to Thea and Evras too?" she asked in a form of pointed teasing, rather than give the sentiment the credence and worth it was—perhaps—due.
See the thing was, there was a part of her that genuinely both wanted to believe and maybe actually did believe it was true, but there was another that believed her own cynical teasing and wouldn’t have been entirely surprised if she hit upon the truth there instead. If so, that was fine; she made no particular outward claim to Mihail over either of their sisters. He was not hers by any conceivable measure unless wasted time and years of preferential treatment were a mark of possession.
"Or is that the wine speaking, Mihail?" The mild chastisement followed teasing as a deliberate choice; there was something to be said for keeping him off balance, for making sure that he knew that even her kindness—manipulative as it was—did not necessarily come free of an edge, that she could—and would—be dangerous if she needed to be. Better Mihail never underestimate her. "If so, do keep such foolishness to yourself."
Better that than insincerity, which struck her as intolerable. She got enough of it elsewhere, so she hardly needed or wanted it from him too, least of all on the topic of fondness and heart’s emotions.
Still, Nethis had no desire to linger on it. Yes, she knew he had been drinking (if not more than that) both because she’d been told as much when the servant she sent returned to her and relayed his response as a method by which to tie up some loose ends and because she could simply see the effect of it in him, but it changed very little. The snakes were still a consideration and situation to be handled, Mihail still wanted and she still thought it to her advantage to see him satisfied.
As such, her head shook then, brushing the topic and anything that might develop into a lingering thought aside. "False honor or otherwise, though, I did want you. Come here." She shifted her gaze downward once more and nodded toward cupped palms. "Look."
There were no indications just yet as to precisely why Mihail had been summoned so suddenly to his sister's chambers, but her lack of an immediate scolding, and the teasing which instead left her lips implied that this was not to be a wholly unpleasant visit. She was smiling, which was a positive note, and he instinctively raised a hand to his chest in a show of over-the-top offence, expression twisting into one of surprise.
"Nethis, I would never!" he objected, although that was not strictly the truth. There were many occasions when he thought it more beneficial to tell another of his sisters that they were his favoured of the three. Thea had been told such a thing plenty of times in his childhood - it had felt as if it helped when Dysius was cruel and Mihail had not the might to stand up to him alone - and Evras had received the same sentiment whenever it suited, although its frequency had dulled since she had moved away from them. In truth, he thought he might have said the words to Nethis more often than any other, if solely because they had slipped out whenever she had done something to protect him. He was softer than he liked to think, and it was made manifest in his unavoidable love for his sisters. "I love you dearly, and I would be thoroughly insulted if you thought otherwise."
She knew about the wine, although whether that was due to his current behaviour or otherwise, Mihail could not tell (though he hoped she had not been going through his belongings, for he had plenty of things he did not want anybody in the family discovering). He frowned, unsure if Nethis was genuinely annoyed, but deciding that, as she had not outright told him to stop drinking, there was little need to do so. Hopefully, she would not find out about the opium, else he was absolutely sure he would be receiving far harsher words than this moderate teasing.
Luckily, they were not lingering on the subject long, which felt a blessing to Mihail, as Nethis had always felt extraordinarily perceptive, and there was little he could hide from her, try as he might. Mihail was not exceptionally malicious (yet), but he was skilled at uncovering truths and fond of twisting them into lies, and he was not quite in need of his eldest sister discovering just how often he did so.
He approached tentatively, as if uncertain of the safety of the action, peeking at her cupped hands with a face he wished could have stayed indifferent but which immediately betrayed his excitement. Whether it was deemed clichéd by his family name or not, Mihail liked snakes, and had never understood the danger or fear they posed to most because he had been raised knowing how to handle them. He wanted one more than anything - almost anything - in the world, and these tiny serpents daintily curled in Nethis's hands were perfect for him in every way. She already had one of her own which she seemed to flaunt in front of him, so it was unfair to deny him this, and it would only have been unduly cruel to show off the miniature serpents if she could not promise them to Mihail as well.
Besides, the youngest Thanasi had been exceptionally well-behaved as of late - in his own mind - and he deserved the reward. Neither Father nor Dysius had had any (realistic) cause for complaint in the past few days, and just the other week, Mihail had chastised a servant for bringing out the wrong wine in a manner he thought was particularly Nethis-like (although threatening the servants was likely not something of which his sister would have approved). He had been as good as he could be, and it deserved due acknowledgement.
"Are they for me?" he questioned, attempting to maintain a tone of detachment that did not quite work. There was a whining undertone to his voice which had often presented itself when speaking with his sisters, and which betrayed his desires more often than he would have liked. "Or do you only wish to tease me further?"
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There were no indications just yet as to precisely why Mihail had been summoned so suddenly to his sister's chambers, but her lack of an immediate scolding, and the teasing which instead left her lips implied that this was not to be a wholly unpleasant visit. She was smiling, which was a positive note, and he instinctively raised a hand to his chest in a show of over-the-top offence, expression twisting into one of surprise.
"Nethis, I would never!" he objected, although that was not strictly the truth. There were many occasions when he thought it more beneficial to tell another of his sisters that they were his favoured of the three. Thea had been told such a thing plenty of times in his childhood - it had felt as if it helped when Dysius was cruel and Mihail had not the might to stand up to him alone - and Evras had received the same sentiment whenever it suited, although its frequency had dulled since she had moved away from them. In truth, he thought he might have said the words to Nethis more often than any other, if solely because they had slipped out whenever she had done something to protect him. He was softer than he liked to think, and it was made manifest in his unavoidable love for his sisters. "I love you dearly, and I would be thoroughly insulted if you thought otherwise."
She knew about the wine, although whether that was due to his current behaviour or otherwise, Mihail could not tell (though he hoped she had not been going through his belongings, for he had plenty of things he did not want anybody in the family discovering). He frowned, unsure if Nethis was genuinely annoyed, but deciding that, as she had not outright told him to stop drinking, there was little need to do so. Hopefully, she would not find out about the opium, else he was absolutely sure he would be receiving far harsher words than this moderate teasing.
Luckily, they were not lingering on the subject long, which felt a blessing to Mihail, as Nethis had always felt extraordinarily perceptive, and there was little he could hide from her, try as he might. Mihail was not exceptionally malicious (yet), but he was skilled at uncovering truths and fond of twisting them into lies, and he was not quite in need of his eldest sister discovering just how often he did so.
He approached tentatively, as if uncertain of the safety of the action, peeking at her cupped hands with a face he wished could have stayed indifferent but which immediately betrayed his excitement. Whether it was deemed clichéd by his family name or not, Mihail liked snakes, and had never understood the danger or fear they posed to most because he had been raised knowing how to handle them. He wanted one more than anything - almost anything - in the world, and these tiny serpents daintily curled in Nethis's hands were perfect for him in every way. She already had one of her own which she seemed to flaunt in front of him, so it was unfair to deny him this, and it would only have been unduly cruel to show off the miniature serpents if she could not promise them to Mihail as well.
Besides, the youngest Thanasi had been exceptionally well-behaved as of late - in his own mind - and he deserved the reward. Neither Father nor Dysius had had any (realistic) cause for complaint in the past few days, and just the other week, Mihail had chastised a servant for bringing out the wrong wine in a manner he thought was particularly Nethis-like (although threatening the servants was likely not something of which his sister would have approved). He had been as good as he could be, and it deserved due acknowledgement.
"Are they for me?" he questioned, attempting to maintain a tone of detachment that did not quite work. There was a whining undertone to his voice which had often presented itself when speaking with his sisters, and which betrayed his desires more often than he would have liked. "Or do you only wish to tease me further?"
There were no indications just yet as to precisely why Mihail had been summoned so suddenly to his sister's chambers, but her lack of an immediate scolding, and the teasing which instead left her lips implied that this was not to be a wholly unpleasant visit. She was smiling, which was a positive note, and he instinctively raised a hand to his chest in a show of over-the-top offence, expression twisting into one of surprise.
"Nethis, I would never!" he objected, although that was not strictly the truth. There were many occasions when he thought it more beneficial to tell another of his sisters that they were his favoured of the three. Thea had been told such a thing plenty of times in his childhood - it had felt as if it helped when Dysius was cruel and Mihail had not the might to stand up to him alone - and Evras had received the same sentiment whenever it suited, although its frequency had dulled since she had moved away from them. In truth, he thought he might have said the words to Nethis more often than any other, if solely because they had slipped out whenever she had done something to protect him. He was softer than he liked to think, and it was made manifest in his unavoidable love for his sisters. "I love you dearly, and I would be thoroughly insulted if you thought otherwise."
She knew about the wine, although whether that was due to his current behaviour or otherwise, Mihail could not tell (though he hoped she had not been going through his belongings, for he had plenty of things he did not want anybody in the family discovering). He frowned, unsure if Nethis was genuinely annoyed, but deciding that, as she had not outright told him to stop drinking, there was little need to do so. Hopefully, she would not find out about the opium, else he was absolutely sure he would be receiving far harsher words than this moderate teasing.
Luckily, they were not lingering on the subject long, which felt a blessing to Mihail, as Nethis had always felt extraordinarily perceptive, and there was little he could hide from her, try as he might. Mihail was not exceptionally malicious (yet), but he was skilled at uncovering truths and fond of twisting them into lies, and he was not quite in need of his eldest sister discovering just how often he did so.
He approached tentatively, as if uncertain of the safety of the action, peeking at her cupped hands with a face he wished could have stayed indifferent but which immediately betrayed his excitement. Whether it was deemed clichéd by his family name or not, Mihail liked snakes, and had never understood the danger or fear they posed to most because he had been raised knowing how to handle them. He wanted one more than anything - almost anything - in the world, and these tiny serpents daintily curled in Nethis's hands were perfect for him in every way. She already had one of her own which she seemed to flaunt in front of him, so it was unfair to deny him this, and it would only have been unduly cruel to show off the miniature serpents if she could not promise them to Mihail as well.
Besides, the youngest Thanasi had been exceptionally well-behaved as of late - in his own mind - and he deserved the reward. Neither Father nor Dysius had had any (realistic) cause for complaint in the past few days, and just the other week, Mihail had chastised a servant for bringing out the wrong wine in a manner he thought was particularly Nethis-like (although threatening the servants was likely not something of which his sister would have approved). He had been as good as he could be, and it deserved due acknowledgement.
"Are they for me?" he questioned, attempting to maintain a tone of detachment that did not quite work. There was a whining undertone to his voice which had often presented itself when speaking with his sisters, and which betrayed his desires more often than he would have liked. "Or do you only wish to tease me further?"
The protest to her own accusation regarding his possible manipulative affection was left unaddressed. Technically, that meant it stood as truth on the situation, which implied Nethis accepted the objection for what it was, though it wasn’t quite like that. Without question, she accepted the assertion that he loved her dearly, for what little or great amount that was worth in the grand scheme of things. However, she was also well aware that wasn’t an actual answer to her initial accusation, that his protest and inclusion of the word ‘never’ surely meant it was something less than that, which she could have pointed out, but it seemed like more effort than it was worth.
Whatever ire his insult would manifest as would only be more trouble than it was worth in a moment that was more made for softness than she was wholly comfortable acknowledging.
Instead, she noted the distinct lack of protest on her accusation about the wine, contented herself with both the satisfaction that could be found in knowing as well as in his overall continued easy obedience, and ultimately found herself hiding a quick, shockingly sincere grin at his reaction to what she held cupped into palms.
Cliché perhaps, but there was comfort in someone else having a similar affection for the creatures.
Of course, there was comfort too in the soft whisper of power that came of knowing she had something he wanted. It didn’t matter overmuch considering she intended to gift him—some version of—this freely rather than overtly use it against him, but there was no denying the reaction. Still, there was probably something—not particularly positive—to be said that she could find it even with family, even with the little brother she’d played a part in taking care of for far too long. She, however, certainly wasn’t going to figure out what that might be.
Instead, brows lifted at his question, at the audacity for seeking to possess both. It wasn’t quite out of line given Mihail’s propensity to want what he wanted, as he wanted, when he wanted, or the way he had been indulged in that over the years, but that very propensity made her wonder how he would fare in fostering a living thing’s growth.
The venture wasn’t automatically doomed to failure, nor would she let it be even if that meant she had to repossess the snake, but there was some question to it. On the one hand, she could see him deciding to value the snake for what it was or value its continued life as a testament to himself and his own efforts. On the other, she could see it being a novelty that wore off very quickly. It was impossible to be sure.
Still, Nethis paused to chide him again, "While I am so cruel as to tease, calling you here exclusively for it would be a waste of my time"—and given the situation in their household, by her view, her time was actually reasonably valuable especially given that picking up their father’s slowly growing slack was something of a complicated task to navigate—"and yours."
His was absolutely a lesser consideration, but it was one, and she figured he’d probably appreciate knowing that; he did so like to be valued, didn’t he? "I had thought to give you one and keep the other." It was a neutral statement, one that implied there might be a certain mutability regarding her own intention. There wasn’t really, or at least she wanted to think there wasn’t, but it was hard to know when it came to moments with Mihail. Occasionally she found herself doing things she ought not with him. She knew better and saw the pitfalls, and yet, it happened anyway. At least this was such a low-stakes circumstance. If she was to do something foolish, perhaps she ought to get it out of her system here.
"They are perfectly harmless, which was not what I intended"—she shrugged a shoulder here as the smile she’d hidden earlier quirked lips into a half-smile—"but I do like the idea of keeping one anyway."
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The protest to her own accusation regarding his possible manipulative affection was left unaddressed. Technically, that meant it stood as truth on the situation, which implied Nethis accepted the objection for what it was, though it wasn’t quite like that. Without question, she accepted the assertion that he loved her dearly, for what little or great amount that was worth in the grand scheme of things. However, she was also well aware that wasn’t an actual answer to her initial accusation, that his protest and inclusion of the word ‘never’ surely meant it was something less than that, which she could have pointed out, but it seemed like more effort than it was worth.
Whatever ire his insult would manifest as would only be more trouble than it was worth in a moment that was more made for softness than she was wholly comfortable acknowledging.
Instead, she noted the distinct lack of protest on her accusation about the wine, contented herself with both the satisfaction that could be found in knowing as well as in his overall continued easy obedience, and ultimately found herself hiding a quick, shockingly sincere grin at his reaction to what she held cupped into palms.
Cliché perhaps, but there was comfort in someone else having a similar affection for the creatures.
Of course, there was comfort too in the soft whisper of power that came of knowing she had something he wanted. It didn’t matter overmuch considering she intended to gift him—some version of—this freely rather than overtly use it against him, but there was no denying the reaction. Still, there was probably something—not particularly positive—to be said that she could find it even with family, even with the little brother she’d played a part in taking care of for far too long. She, however, certainly wasn’t going to figure out what that might be.
Instead, brows lifted at his question, at the audacity for seeking to possess both. It wasn’t quite out of line given Mihail’s propensity to want what he wanted, as he wanted, when he wanted, or the way he had been indulged in that over the years, but that very propensity made her wonder how he would fare in fostering a living thing’s growth.
The venture wasn’t automatically doomed to failure, nor would she let it be even if that meant she had to repossess the snake, but there was some question to it. On the one hand, she could see him deciding to value the snake for what it was or value its continued life as a testament to himself and his own efforts. On the other, she could see it being a novelty that wore off very quickly. It was impossible to be sure.
Still, Nethis paused to chide him again, "While I am so cruel as to tease, calling you here exclusively for it would be a waste of my time"—and given the situation in their household, by her view, her time was actually reasonably valuable especially given that picking up their father’s slowly growing slack was something of a complicated task to navigate—"and yours."
His was absolutely a lesser consideration, but it was one, and she figured he’d probably appreciate knowing that; he did so like to be valued, didn’t he? "I had thought to give you one and keep the other." It was a neutral statement, one that implied there might be a certain mutability regarding her own intention. There wasn’t really, or at least she wanted to think there wasn’t, but it was hard to know when it came to moments with Mihail. Occasionally she found herself doing things she ought not with him. She knew better and saw the pitfalls, and yet, it happened anyway. At least this was such a low-stakes circumstance. If she was to do something foolish, perhaps she ought to get it out of her system here.
"They are perfectly harmless, which was not what I intended"—she shrugged a shoulder here as the smile she’d hidden earlier quirked lips into a half-smile—"but I do like the idea of keeping one anyway."
The protest to her own accusation regarding his possible manipulative affection was left unaddressed. Technically, that meant it stood as truth on the situation, which implied Nethis accepted the objection for what it was, though it wasn’t quite like that. Without question, she accepted the assertion that he loved her dearly, for what little or great amount that was worth in the grand scheme of things. However, she was also well aware that wasn’t an actual answer to her initial accusation, that his protest and inclusion of the word ‘never’ surely meant it was something less than that, which she could have pointed out, but it seemed like more effort than it was worth.
Whatever ire his insult would manifest as would only be more trouble than it was worth in a moment that was more made for softness than she was wholly comfortable acknowledging.
Instead, she noted the distinct lack of protest on her accusation about the wine, contented herself with both the satisfaction that could be found in knowing as well as in his overall continued easy obedience, and ultimately found herself hiding a quick, shockingly sincere grin at his reaction to what she held cupped into palms.
Cliché perhaps, but there was comfort in someone else having a similar affection for the creatures.
Of course, there was comfort too in the soft whisper of power that came of knowing she had something he wanted. It didn’t matter overmuch considering she intended to gift him—some version of—this freely rather than overtly use it against him, but there was no denying the reaction. Still, there was probably something—not particularly positive—to be said that she could find it even with family, even with the little brother she’d played a part in taking care of for far too long. She, however, certainly wasn’t going to figure out what that might be.
Instead, brows lifted at his question, at the audacity for seeking to possess both. It wasn’t quite out of line given Mihail’s propensity to want what he wanted, as he wanted, when he wanted, or the way he had been indulged in that over the years, but that very propensity made her wonder how he would fare in fostering a living thing’s growth.
The venture wasn’t automatically doomed to failure, nor would she let it be even if that meant she had to repossess the snake, but there was some question to it. On the one hand, she could see him deciding to value the snake for what it was or value its continued life as a testament to himself and his own efforts. On the other, she could see it being a novelty that wore off very quickly. It was impossible to be sure.
Still, Nethis paused to chide him again, "While I am so cruel as to tease, calling you here exclusively for it would be a waste of my time"—and given the situation in their household, by her view, her time was actually reasonably valuable especially given that picking up their father’s slowly growing slack was something of a complicated task to navigate—"and yours."
His was absolutely a lesser consideration, but it was one, and she figured he’d probably appreciate knowing that; he did so like to be valued, didn’t he? "I had thought to give you one and keep the other." It was a neutral statement, one that implied there might be a certain mutability regarding her own intention. There wasn’t really, or at least she wanted to think there wasn’t, but it was hard to know when it came to moments with Mihail. Occasionally she found herself doing things she ought not with him. She knew better and saw the pitfalls, and yet, it happened anyway. At least this was such a low-stakes circumstance. If she was to do something foolish, perhaps she ought to get it out of her system here.
"They are perfectly harmless, which was not what I intended"—she shrugged a shoulder here as the smile she’d hidden earlier quirked lips into a half-smile—"but I do like the idea of keeping one anyway."
Mihail supposed that was the truth. Nethis could be cruel to others, but she was usually kind enough to him - even if he could sometimes note an ulterior motive in her actions - and she did not do things that would prove a waste of her time. He knew that, usually, his siblings did not think his time precious, but he liked that she had considered him in her response, though he somewhat suspected the words were being spoken only to seduce him into a more placated state, not that he had any intention of objecting. This was a situation where he was likely to get something that he wanted, and would absolutely not do to argue with Nethis before he could obtain that.
His attention was fixed firmly on the pair of vipers in her hands, lower lip jutting out only slightly at the suggestion that she was only planning to give him the one. "I can take care of both," he objected, the pitch of his voice naturally rising and hands dropping to rest petulantly on his waist as he complained, ready to make clear just how much he had learned about snakes in his spare time, and how he could manage more than one pet if she would just give him the opportunity. But he was cut off as his sister elaborated, making clear once more that she intended to keep one for herself anyhow, and no amount of complaining was likely to change that fact, however unfair it might have felt. Nethis was far more adult than he, and she could have whatever she wanted whenever she did, and he most certainly could not (though he usually did), and she was insisting now on keeping something that she did not want.
The fifteen-year-old reached into her hands tentatively, removing one of the hatchlings with the care he had always been told to practice, doing his best not to snatch from excitement because he was no longer a small child and could control himself. Mihail raised it closer to his eye-line, his movements slow and careful as he examined it more closely, admiring the sleek black scales on the beast and the way its tiny tongue slithered out in almost a perfect match to his own usual show of satisfaction. He could not imagine a better gift.
He had only one note.
"Harmless now, perhaps," he notified Nethis after a long moment of examination, turning to her with a slight smile, his lip quirking upwards on the one side where it had long since started to leave an indentation in his cheek. Harmless in plenty of untrained eyes, much like himself, so he liked to think. Still, Mihail did not plan to be arrogant when he was being offered something he had wanted for so long, and he cupped the snake gently in his hands as he leaned in to plant a soft kiss on his sister's cheek in thanks. "I do mean it when I call you my favourite, Net."
He pulled away, a joy returning to his step as he moved back towards the door, head tilted towards his sister once more before he departed for his chambers. "I promise I will take care of him - Draco." See? A name implied he already cared for the snake somewhat, and that was a step in the right direction. "You will not regret this."
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Mihail supposed that was the truth. Nethis could be cruel to others, but she was usually kind enough to him - even if he could sometimes note an ulterior motive in her actions - and she did not do things that would prove a waste of her time. He knew that, usually, his siblings did not think his time precious, but he liked that she had considered him in her response, though he somewhat suspected the words were being spoken only to seduce him into a more placated state, not that he had any intention of objecting. This was a situation where he was likely to get something that he wanted, and would absolutely not do to argue with Nethis before he could obtain that.
His attention was fixed firmly on the pair of vipers in her hands, lower lip jutting out only slightly at the suggestion that she was only planning to give him the one. "I can take care of both," he objected, the pitch of his voice naturally rising and hands dropping to rest petulantly on his waist as he complained, ready to make clear just how much he had learned about snakes in his spare time, and how he could manage more than one pet if she would just give him the opportunity. But he was cut off as his sister elaborated, making clear once more that she intended to keep one for herself anyhow, and no amount of complaining was likely to change that fact, however unfair it might have felt. Nethis was far more adult than he, and she could have whatever she wanted whenever she did, and he most certainly could not (though he usually did), and she was insisting now on keeping something that she did not want.
The fifteen-year-old reached into her hands tentatively, removing one of the hatchlings with the care he had always been told to practice, doing his best not to snatch from excitement because he was no longer a small child and could control himself. Mihail raised it closer to his eye-line, his movements slow and careful as he examined it more closely, admiring the sleek black scales on the beast and the way its tiny tongue slithered out in almost a perfect match to his own usual show of satisfaction. He could not imagine a better gift.
He had only one note.
"Harmless now, perhaps," he notified Nethis after a long moment of examination, turning to her with a slight smile, his lip quirking upwards on the one side where it had long since started to leave an indentation in his cheek. Harmless in plenty of untrained eyes, much like himself, so he liked to think. Still, Mihail did not plan to be arrogant when he was being offered something he had wanted for so long, and he cupped the snake gently in his hands as he leaned in to plant a soft kiss on his sister's cheek in thanks. "I do mean it when I call you my favourite, Net."
He pulled away, a joy returning to his step as he moved back towards the door, head tilted towards his sister once more before he departed for his chambers. "I promise I will take care of him - Draco." See? A name implied he already cared for the snake somewhat, and that was a step in the right direction. "You will not regret this."
Mihail supposed that was the truth. Nethis could be cruel to others, but she was usually kind enough to him - even if he could sometimes note an ulterior motive in her actions - and she did not do things that would prove a waste of her time. He knew that, usually, his siblings did not think his time precious, but he liked that she had considered him in her response, though he somewhat suspected the words were being spoken only to seduce him into a more placated state, not that he had any intention of objecting. This was a situation where he was likely to get something that he wanted, and would absolutely not do to argue with Nethis before he could obtain that.
His attention was fixed firmly on the pair of vipers in her hands, lower lip jutting out only slightly at the suggestion that she was only planning to give him the one. "I can take care of both," he objected, the pitch of his voice naturally rising and hands dropping to rest petulantly on his waist as he complained, ready to make clear just how much he had learned about snakes in his spare time, and how he could manage more than one pet if she would just give him the opportunity. But he was cut off as his sister elaborated, making clear once more that she intended to keep one for herself anyhow, and no amount of complaining was likely to change that fact, however unfair it might have felt. Nethis was far more adult than he, and she could have whatever she wanted whenever she did, and he most certainly could not (though he usually did), and she was insisting now on keeping something that she did not want.
The fifteen-year-old reached into her hands tentatively, removing one of the hatchlings with the care he had always been told to practice, doing his best not to snatch from excitement because he was no longer a small child and could control himself. Mihail raised it closer to his eye-line, his movements slow and careful as he examined it more closely, admiring the sleek black scales on the beast and the way its tiny tongue slithered out in almost a perfect match to his own usual show of satisfaction. He could not imagine a better gift.
He had only one note.
"Harmless now, perhaps," he notified Nethis after a long moment of examination, turning to her with a slight smile, his lip quirking upwards on the one side where it had long since started to leave an indentation in his cheek. Harmless in plenty of untrained eyes, much like himself, so he liked to think. Still, Mihail did not plan to be arrogant when he was being offered something he had wanted for so long, and he cupped the snake gently in his hands as he leaned in to plant a soft kiss on his sister's cheek in thanks. "I do mean it when I call you my favourite, Net."
He pulled away, a joy returning to his step as he moved back towards the door, head tilted towards his sister once more before he departed for his chambers. "I promise I will take care of him - Draco." See? A name implied he already cared for the snake somewhat, and that was a step in the right direction. "You will not regret this."