You Can Leave The Snakes At Home

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji honestly never thought anyone would feel for him in a romantic way, it just didn’t seem possible. While he was a scientist and knew that the probability for it was possible, it was still hard for him to fully understand it. He still had a hard time really thinking that someone even liked and wanted to be around him as friends. It might have been the fact that he was abandoned as a child twice, the bullying, and the fact that it took a while for him to gain friends due his snakes. However, that didn’t stop him from trying and hoping that there was someone out there for him that would accept all of him.

Tamara was right in her thinking that Seiji was never the one to make the first move, it was just something that could be considered impossible for him. He didn’t want to make someone uncomfortable or feel that they had to do anything for him so he was never going to be the one to make the first move that was needed in order to become more then friends with someone. He looked up at her when she assured him that he didn’t need to feel bad and that he needed to basically build his self-esteem. He really did and he was well of that.

It was why he took another large sip of his drink so he could take on more of the effects of alcohol into his system. However, he didn’t have one of his snakes there to help him be bold and do things. As for not having his snakes on him, Tamara was aware and pointing out that they were a crutch. It was the truth but it still hurt to hear since they were all he had and likely to ever have to the end of his days. At least that was how he felt on the matter. “T-thanks.” Seiji spoke up when she assured him that she basically was going to look out for him.

Then they were dancing, which helped him forget about the other people around and the fact that he was without his snakes. It was all very casual and friendly, which was what Seiji would have taken it as no matter what unless she kissed him out of the blue, but he highly doubted that. He at the very least stayed dancing with her through two songs before moving to take a break. “You are a pretty good dancer.” Seiji would say when they were mostly off the dancefloor, having to speak up over the next song that started to play.

[Tamara Sulik]

Tamara thought she could like Seiji. Being romantically involved with him though? But she was not doing romantic too well. The problem was that Seiji was much too nice and it would eventually get on her nerve to be pampered like this all the time. She didn't want to have to yell at him. They were better off as friends, really. But that didn’t mean someone else, someone less fiercely independent, would not like that. She thought he was mostly just afraid. He was so afraid that he might hurt someone that he preferred to hurt himself. If he could get over that, maybe he’d be with someone already.

Judging by the glance he gave her, she could tell he knew all that she was telling. “You should start now, with me. And stop worrying I might not like what you say. I won’t break down just because you speak your mind.” Besides, that would not change her opinion of him. Or, to be specific, it would but in a good way. He’d finally say what he wanted to say deep down inside. If he couldn’t even do it with a friend, he had little to no chance in front of someone he liked more. It was not like she thought he had a crush on her or anything.

She felt bad though when her comment about his snakes clearly affected him. She took a sip of her drink and brought a hand to touch his as she put the glass down. “Hey, they’re still here for you. But you’re not a snake. You’re human. You need to socialise with humans too.” She said that on a softer tone, to show she didn’t mean to hurt him. She removed her hand and had a light shrug of her shoulders. “It’s not my fault if people are so afraid of snakes.” She wouldn’t say she was afraid, but she definitely did not see the appeal as much as Seiji did. Of course, with his power, it made a bit more sense.

He calmed down when they danced and Tamara smiled brightly at this. She might be able to make something out of him after all. She danced with him for as long as he could take it, two songs, and moved along with him, not interested in getting a new partner even if she could keep on dancing. “Thanks. You too. Who would have thought the shy scientist had such a hidden face to himself?” she teased him.

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji would have fully understood why Tamara would not be interested in him in a romantic manner, but then again he assumed that everyone had their reasons. It was not like he was looking or asking for it but he knew it would have been nice. He just didn't know how to go about such a thing as being something more than a friend with a person. It already seemed hard enough to keep a hold of the friends he had now since they either died or left him behind. Seiji could not help but to swallow hard when Tamara basically challenged him to start to be honest and open with her.

He understood why and knew that if he didn't at least try, he would likely make her upset and he didn't want to do that. The problem was he was not sure what to speak his mind about and if it would still be okay to. He didn’t want to be rude or come off as that 'asshole guy'. "Well...I think you are a very beautiful women who should be spending time with an amazing guy instead of me but I thank you for it." Seiji spoke up. That was the honest truth, at least in his mind so he was speaking his mind. Was that enough? He wanted to say more, but he was already blushing and also wanted to wait and see what she would say so he knew if he had to say more that was on his mind or if that was enough.

Tamara's comment on his snakes did upset him, and if he did have it in him he would have spoken up about it but he was still trying to get a handle on the whole actually speaking his mind. That and the fact she was completely right, which was why he was nodding his head in agreement. She was completely right and he had no way to argue against it other than snakes being his source of comfort because it was all he had for most of his life. "I understand. I will keep working on it and do better. I'll be sure to not bring them around when we hang out unless you give me the okay." Seiji spoke up, looking to her for approve on that matter.

That would make her happy right? That would show that he was honestly working on being better at talking to humans without the aid of his reptiles, right? Of course she had to talk about this 'hidden face' to Seiji, which of course had him blushing. He never understood why anyone would be surprised with certain aspects about him but then again it was not like he did a lot of talking about himself. "I...I have a few things about me that might surprise you, while others not so much." Seiji admitted as he ruffled his hair. "I expected you to be a good dancer too...but also that you would have started dancing with someone else. I bet you could dance with anyone on the dance floor." Seiji spoke up as he looked back to the dance floor for a moment.

((Tag: Tamara Sulik))

[Tamara Sulik]

Tamara never would have thought that her attitude towards Seiji would convince him that no one could love him. She was a woman who exudes confidence, even when she might not be as confident as she pretended to. If she could get that not everyone was like that, understanding what they might be going through was a tad harder. Since she wouldn’t let someone’s opinion of her change what she thought of herself, she couldn’t imagine that Seiji might think himself unworthy of love just because he didn’t get it from women like herself.

Tamara doubted Seiji could ever appear as an asshole. He was too concerned about others for that. It was a quality she wouldn’t want him to lose but there was a distinction between being a speaking his mind and being a jerk. The guy needed to understand it was okay for him to say what he thought. Her eyes widened, not because he called her beautiful, but because he judged himself unworthy of being around her. “Do you really think you’re not worth my time?” This was one of those things she found hard to understand. “Seij...” She looked at him, feeling both sorry to realise how little self-esteem he had and looking as serious as possible in these circumstances. “If I choose to spend time with you, it’s because I want to. People don’t come to you only to get things from you, they can also do because they like your company. You shouldn’t think I could find something better to do with my time.”

Seiji might try not to upset her with his words but she got that she might have upset him. It was true that the whole topic of snakes was sensitive. They were important for him. And also part of his power. “I’m not saying you should give up on snakes. Or reptiles. Just don’t give up on humans to be only with them. You might have a connection with snakes but you’re not one yourself,” she reminded him.

A smile had returned to her face as they danced and she was amused to see him blush. Seiji was quite the private man and she knew little about him come to think of it. The same could probably be said about her but she was not the one blushing right now. Her smile grew wider. She was not sure if he was really bantering right now but it sure sounded like it. And she liked it. “Well, now, I’m curious,” she replied. She rolled her eyes at him stating once again that she would have ditched him. But she kept the smile on so he wouldn’t feel too bad. “I’m sure that I can but I said that I was spending the night with you so I’ll be spending the night with you. You’re my dance partner for the evening. Unless you find some pretty lady who wants too, then I’ll be more than happy to step out.”

(TAG: Seiji Lockard)

[Seiji Lockard]

When he saw her eyes widen, he already started to feel bad, since normally when someone’s eyes went wide they were in shock or something along those lines. She had told him to speak his mind but had he overstepped his bounds and made her uncomfortable. He thought he had chosen his words carefully to still speak his mind but do it in a respectful way. If that was not the case, he felt awful and wish that he was better at trying to communicate to people outside of just explaining things related to his work.

"I-it's not that I don't think I'm worth your time I just...I feel that you could be doing things that would be more beneficial with your time. Of course I do feel incredibly honored that you would want to spend it with me." Seiji tried to insure her, wanting to try and make up if he had hurt her feelings at all. Was it because he called her beautiful? Did that make her uncomfortable? Her face was communicating something different and he paid attention all the same as she pointed out that people could want to be around him for things other than just trying to use him. She was here for him because she wanted to be and he had to understand that. It just served to make him blush further and look down towards the ground as if it was a way for him to hide.

"Thank you...I'm sorry that my self-esteem is so low and that I doubted your purpose for being here. I will try to not make the mistake again." Seiji assured her. She was his friend and he had to think more along those lines to accept the fact that there was yet another person who did want to be around him for reasons outside of 'using him'. She clarified that she did not want him to give up on his snakes but that she didn't want him to give up on humans, because he was not a snake himself. That made him chuckle a little as those words made the thought of when he was younger how he wished to just turn into a snake. His mouth opened but he held back his comment on how maybe life would have been better if he had just been a snake.

Life was not that bad...he could not really complain. "I understand." Seiji spoke up, showing that he was still paying attention and taking in all that she had to say. It didn't make things any easier but he was going to keep trying. She was curious. "If you want to know something, go ahead and ask. I don't mind telling you anything you want to know...I trust you." Seiji responded. He really didn't mind telling her anything, even if it was painful to tell. Tamara once again assured him that she was here for him and no one else; more blushing on Seiji's face now. "When a slow song comes on, may I dance with you again? So I can show you the different styles of dance I know?" Seiji asked, not really being what he wanted to say but he panicked.

((Tag: Tamara Sulik Post 600!!))

[Tamara Sulik]

Nothing Seiji could say could really upset Tamara. At least, not his words per se. He was always so polite. She bet that even when he had to insult someone, he would do it politely. But what he said, not about her but himself, surprised her greatly. A man like him, so nice, so helpful and so handsome, to think that people would always have something better to do than spend some time with him... “Is spending time with a friend a waste? You’re not the only one who’s ready to take the time if a friend says they want to talk or just go out,” she pointed out. She knew she could not get rid of that habit of his but she did wish he would start to understand that he would never take time away from her when she could do something better.

She nodded as he agreed to at least try to correct this attitude. “Good, because, you know, I really like you but that won’t stop me from smacking your head if you say things like that again,” she told him. She had a smile on, because she was not really serious in the fact that she would hit him. At the same time though, if he did this too often, she may as well do it.

Seiji told her she could ask him anything. She could argue that not everything should be told but she figured she understood what he meant. She trusted him too, although she might not tell him everything. Or she would tone down certain things. She had no idea how he’d take the fact she was a mail-order bride. Oh, he was too kind to show any disapproval in this, but she didn’t want to give him this kind of impression. “You always had snakes with you? I mean, even before your power showed up. I’ve gotta say, I’m wondering how you found out you could talk to them,” she admitted. Being able to read thoughts, it was easy to guess, but connect with snakes... unless there were quite a few where he lived. Or he visited a zoo.

He asked if they could dance a slow. She might have been a little surprised for a second but she quickly smiled to him. “Sure,” she agreed. She didn’t think there was anything wrong with that. They both knew what they were to each other, or thought they knew. It was not like one dance would change everything.

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji’s mouth opened to response to her question, but he quickly realized that it was a rhetorical one or at least one that he didn’t need to answer. He knew the answer to that and while Tamara was right about everything she said, it still took time for him to accept it. Yes, he did think that he was decent looking for a man and that he was a nice guy but it didn’t mean that he ever thought that people would actually care about him. Perhaps they cared about his money, his good looks, or the fact that he pretty much could be used for a number of things and would still be there for a person. He didn’t think people wanted to be around for who he was deep down, that was just how he thought.

“I’m sorry.” Seiji apologized again at her words about how while she liked him she would have no problem hitting him. While he was still apologizing, at least he had a small smile on his face and even let out a little chuckle. He didn’t want to be hit, but the way she said it made it seem like she did in fact care about him. Like older siblings would…but even that he didn’t fully know what that was like since his adoptive brother didn’t want him around. He was quick to push such thoughts out of his head and refocus on this moment. He just wanted to have a good time with his friend who seemed to actually want to just have a good time with him. Seiji just needed to come to terms with it and accept it and he was certain it would make a whole lot easier.

He really was an open book when it came to questions; at least there were very few things that he would have a problem talking about. A person just needed to ask him because he felt bad when he would just walk about himself or anything for too long. “Not at all. The only pet I had at the time was a dog, but she was a show dog so it was not like I ever really got to play with her. I found out when I was walking home from the…prep school I attended. I never liked walking home alone from school since I was so young and little and my brother was supposed to walk with me back but he never really wanted to. That day in particular he ended up running, leaving me behind, and I just felt so alone. While I was walking the next thing I knew was I just heard whispers in my head and when I looked behind me there were several snakes following me all the way back home.” Seiji started to say, telling her the story of his manifestation.

“I was kind of scared of them at first but none of them hurt me and they all kept me company while I went back home. Of course my parents freaked out and it caused quite a stir for a little boy to be walking with snakes slithering behind him so BA scooped me up pretty quick. Then while in school I didn’t even really use my powers at first but still had a hard time making friends. So the guy that brought me to the school gave me Ghost, who was just a little guy back then. Carried a snake on me since that day…Ghost was my only and best friend.” Seiji finished up, feeling bad that yet again he felt like he talked a lot. “T-thanks.” Seiji quickly thanked her when she agreed to dance to a slow song with him, now they just had to wait until one came on. “What about you…in terms of you power?” Seiji asked, figuring it didn’t hurt to ask about her manifestation.

((Tag: Tamara Sulik))

[Tamara Sulik]

Tamara laughed, shaking her head. Seiji was a lost cause. He was able to apologize or apologizing too much. She may as well accept it, as this made him who he was. She was ready to try and do that but she could not promise not telling him to stop acting like this. Just like he couldn’t help thinking people couldn’t like him only for who he was, she couldn’t help telling him that is was possible and he should stop thinking otherwise. They were both stubborn in their own way. Only one was really known to be however.

Tamara had no problem listening to Seiji. She was likely to vent out on him, just because she knew he was the kind read to listen to you, even when he may have preferred not to. She considered she owed him as much. Plus she asked him questions and she really wanted him to answer. Seiji didn’t seem secretive per se but she was pretty not a whole bunch of people knew his story. He always put others before himself, so that would make sense people came to him yet didn’t really know much about the man. Tamara didn’t want to be like that with him too. It didn’t sound very friend-like.

He told her his story with the dog. It was sort of sad, to imagine little Seiji all alone at such a young age. At the same time, she could imagine Seiji being a lot like he was now. If there was a person you could trust was responsible to be on his own at a young age, it would be him. Walking alone however... He was perhaps a little too naive and wanted to help too much for her, as a parent, to have trusted it. “You have a brother? Is he... ?” She didn't finish her sentence but she was implying ‘like us’, meaning if he was a mutant. She did feel sorry for the young Seiji he used to be, left alone when his big brother was supposed to walk him home like a big brother should. And then to see snakes following him.

She understood he was scared. She also got why his parents had been freaked out at this. She too would have been. As for not making friends... Seiji was too sensitive sometimes. She didn't mean that as an insult but his kindness could easily be what had people cast him out or go to him only when they wanted something out of him. Tamara knew that, had she been at school at that time, she would have kicked the ass out of anyone who would have treated him that way. But Seiji apparently didn’t have a Tamara substitute back then. He got Ghost instead. “I get why they mean so much to you,” she said once he was done. When you have no one, when the only ‘person’ you talk to and treat you right is a snake, it must be hard to face other human beings.

He then asked about her power. She smiled. “Oh, it wasn’t that impressive. Your parents ever gave you the talk? You know, when puberty hits you and they feel it’s time to discuss flowers and bees?” She had an amused smile at the words she used. Why people felt the need t use such a comparison always amused her. She didn’t see how that would help a kid understand anything. “Let’s say I just hit puberty and leave it at that. My mother figured it was time to have this talk. Not with flowers and bees though. Where I come from... let’s say there are a lot of farms, so even if I didn't live on one, I’ve seen animals giving birth. And, well, I supposed being told I could end up doing that too myself left more of an impression on me than we would have imagined. I ended up projecting the image her words were giving me.” She gave it some time for the information to sink in, and also to laugh a little at the shock it gave her and her mother at the time. “That was... weird. Of course, when I realised I did this, I kept trying to do it again. Had terrible migraines and eye problems thanks to that. Luckily, my parents were smart enough to tell me to try not to show this to others while they tried figuring what happened. And, for once, I listened.” Again, a smile showed on her face. She shrugged after the amusement was gone though. “I was recruited a little while after that, went to St. Cadou. Moving out was weird too. I always knew only my little town and even if I always wanted to leave, I never thought it would be like that. But I also liked the change. I got used to it pretty easily. But I adapt pretty easily, so..” And she gave him another shrug.

[Seiji Lockard]

He didn't like to be alone back then...even now deep down he hated to be alone but it was something that he had to deal with often. He had his snakes, they allowed him to not feel alone but he knew he did have to deal with that feeling that he hated in order to get better at interacting with others. At least that was what he was told and what he assumed to be true based upon observation and attempts of putting it into practice. "He is normal, the whole family was. You can imagine how happy they were to get rid of the mutant they adopted when the recruiters showed up." Seiji informed her.

There was sadness in his eyes as he said it but it was because that made the second time in his life that people gave him up and didn’t want him. The first time was when he was born and the second time was when he came into his powers, it resulted in Seiji being the person he was today on some levels. He nodded in response when Tamara spoke of why getting why they meant so much to him. Perhaps now she would not get upset with him the next time he tried to sneak one of them with him when he would come to visit. He would still try not to, but his snakes again still felt like the only safe friendship he hand that would not result in them leaving him on purpose.

Seiji was then all ears and gave her his full attention when she started to talk about how she came into her powers. He shook his head no when she asked about the birds and the bees talk, since he did not get that talk from anyone until it was taught in school. A smile started to take over his face the more she talked about how it all happened. She sounded like she had a good family; understating, caring, and they most currently loved her. There was no huge freak out over her power, her parents accepted her, and protected her by telling her to not tell anyone else. "They sound like very loving and caring parents. I can understand why you are so kind despite you might not think so." Seiji pointed out.

Tamara might not have thought she was cut out for her job or that she was a very nice person, but Seiji could tell she was. She had a son, one that was clear she loved very much, and she was being so kind to him in her own way. Tough love, but it was love all the same that made it clear her parents did a good job brining her up and Tamara grew into a fine women on her own as well. "So...if you don't mind me asking. What brought you here instead of working at your old school or going back home?" Seiji hesitantly asked.

((Tag: Tamara Sulik))

[Tamara Sulik]

Tam did hear about the whole adoption story before but she didn't quite know whether there were mutants in their family or not. Apparently, it was not the case. Yet, the way Seiji said it... Tamara wouldn’t say he was really bitter. Hurt, for sure, but she couldn’t quite say bitter, something he should be entitled to feel given the circumstances. “Then maybe they weren’t as good parents as they thought they were,” she replied. She shrugged before explaining her point. “Being a parent has nothing to do with blood, if you choose to be that to someone, you don’t just give up on them. You stay with them, even when it’s hard, especially when it’s hard. If they reacted like this, they more wanted to look good in front of people and have some kid forced to play with theirs.” Tam was a mother after all. Maybe it explained why she was so upset whenever she heard stories like that. Mind you, she would not call a mother incompetent because she let her kid cry and make a scene because she didn’t buy him the toy he wanted, but abandoning your child, adopted or not, because he was different? This deserved no pity from her.

She could understand better now where his attitude came from. It made sense that he would think so lowly of himself if he was constantly pushed away by those who were meant to care for him and love him. While she did feel sorry for Seiji, she was mostly angry at those who put such a kind man in this state. She believed she knew Seiji enough now to tell he would never go against his adoptive parents if they showed up before him but Tamara felt like she could yell at them in his stead. Something, no doubt, he wouldn’t want her to.

Did she not think she was kind? Well, she was, but perhaps not in the same way as Seiji. She was more into tough love, it seemed. As for her parents, she smiled as he talked of them. “Oh, they are. They didn’t understand and freaked out a little at first, of course. But they were more afraid of what others may do to me than what I could do to them. When the recruiter showed up, they asked so many questions, I must have asked them a dozen times to stop,” she said with a little laugh. She might have felt a little bad, since Seiji just told her how his parents just gave up on him when the recruiter knocked at the door. “Yeah, they’re pretty caring. I mean, you have to expect it, to agree to take care of Mika the way they did,” she added, her smile less apparent as she didn’t want to rub her happy family in Seiji’s face the way she felt like she did.

She smiled again however at his question. A legitimate one, since she had no tie to Bellefonte. “Actually, I’d say it’s out of luck. I stayed in Vegas for a year but I started moving around a lot after that. I wanted my American citizenship though, and being away from my husband when he was supposed to be my reference for it doesn’t really help to get it. I didn’t want to come back though. So I looked for a more steady job and heard about Bellefonte. They could help me out with my citizenship and I’d get a job and a place to live. Win-win.” She got lost in her thoughts for a moment. Not thinking of the school, but her ex-husband. “It was a mistake for us to marry but at least he was nice enough to wait until I got my citizenship before divorcing. He wanted to help me out, despite everything.” Yeah, she never truly loved him but she could say now that she had some respect for the man. Of course, the fact she was more done repaying him all the money she owed him for everything helped at that too.