amar não é pecado.

serenity watches as the other’s face demenor changes within split seconds of one another while shaking her head. “nope, you’re the only person i know who owns one.” she admits while laughing, “wait – jake long as in the american dragon jake long?” serenity teases bringing up her childhood tv show that she would watch all the time. she continues to press the button for a while. “i’m sure you could find decent ones in all the photos i snapped. let me know if you want a redo.” she states while walking over towards him to show him the photos. 

the mention of him being the only person she knows who owns a bearded dragon causes him to bring his hand to his chest in an over dramatic manner, a touched expression reaching his face. “me? the only one?” he wipes an imaginary tear with his free hand. “i’m touched.” he informs the female, letting out a light hearted chuckle and nodding his head with far too much enthusiasm, the alcohol definitely taking its toll on him. “yes, exactly like that show! i thought i was being clever when i came up with it.” he used to watch that show at three in the morning when he was younger and couldn’t sleep. that show meant something to him. standing beside her, he looks closer at the pictures she had taken, squealing excitedly when he see’s one where it looks like jake long is smiling. “that one is so so cute! oh my god, you should be a professional photographer. you got the little fucker to smile!”

beth took a few clicks in as she saw him moving and posing in the most absurd way, but it made her laugh for sure. she gave him the phone and opened the camera roll for him, showing him what she took. “cute?” she asked looking at him and pressing her lips together to not laugh. “i’d say silly for sure.” 

he knows he’s being dumb, but he’s always on some level of stupidity, so this is unsurprising for the brazilian male. “that’s offensive.” he informs the blonde, but he’s unable to stop the laugh that leaves his lips as he looks at some of the pictures. “these pictures are five star material. in fact, they’re grindr worthy.” he’s joking, of course. “i can see it now  –  mael couto, twenty three, brasileiro, bearded dragon lover. i would definitely match with me if i stumbled across my profile.”

“I’m good..” Dion answered. “I was partying last night and must have stopped for a pit stop, but apparently I fell asleep instead.” Dion assumed that the other thought he was homeless because he was waking up on a park bench. He pulled his sweater closer to his body, shivering a little. “Nah. My folk’s don’t live around here…my friends would kill me to find out I fell asleep with all my possession on me. Let’s keep it between the two of us,”. Dion noticed the dog and put his hand out. “Is he friendly?”

when he began to explain himself, it all started making sense to mael. he’s woken up in random houses before, ass naked, but he doesn’t think he’s ever woken up in the middle of a park bench in the past. surely this guy had a great night. “no one will hear it from me.” he replied, noticing the other was cold. considering the fact he had on two jackets, he took one off and handed it to him. “i think you need this more than i do.” he wouldn’t take no for an answer either. “he is friendly, yeah. he has an attitude, but he doesn’t bite.” it was true. pawarotti was all bark and no bite. in fact, he was a real scaredy cat when it came down to it. “are you far from here? you need a ride or something or you’re good?”

“do you know many other bearded dragons?” cieran finds himself needing to ask, a curious but amused furrow forming along his brow. the bearded dragon (jake long) had seemed so chill with everything so far, cieran has to wonder if he knows much of what’s going on at all. “let me know if you’re happy with those photos. i could take a few more if you’re not.” cieran’s interested but bemused by the other’s words, grabbing the drink he came here for and offering one to the other (a generous pour of tequila in a red cup). was jake long loyal or did he just sleep through most things? cieran didn’t know much about this particular reptile species. “so he’s a lot better with you than he is with others? it could be a bit much, maybe,” cieran shrugs, “but then again, two of my close friends just celebrated their birthday months. so it’s kind of like… who cares what anyone else thinks if you’re having fun, right?” although it could be that he just handed over further inspiration. sorry, jake long: more potential outfits coming? “pawarotti, as in… pavarotti? is he loud?” he asks with a chuckle, bringing his cup to his lips.

he shakes his head. “not really, but i can imagine they all suck compared to jake long.” mael responds, very clearly enamored with his pet, who evidently had no idea what was happening around him. he takes a look at the pictures the other took, chuckling at one in particular. “this one is cute.” he tells him, showing him one where he comes out with his eyes closed, looking drunk off his ass. obviously, he was being sarcastic. aside from that picture, there are a few that are instagram worthy. “these are perfect, thanks.” he says, more seriously this time as he offers the other a friendly smile. “i don’t think he really cares. he’s never been aggressive with anyone, he acts like he’s stoned twenty four seven.” the mention of a birthday month makes him laugh. “that sounds like something my dad would do. the most i’d take it is a week. i think a birthday month would bore the shit out of me.” he can’t imagine celebrating his birthday, or anyone’s birthday for an entire month. he’d probably get sick of it after a week and two days. mael bursts out laughing at the other’s question, nodding his head. “yeah, that italian dude. he’s loud as shit. he isn’t aggressive in the slightest bit, but he barks a lot. see’s a bird? bark. hears a plane? bark. someone talking? more barking. when i first got jake long, he barked at him for like a week straight, but they’re cool now.” mael never thought it would happen, but here they are. 

daniyal had no idea he is that funny.. though, he can probably write it off as the other male being absolutely wrecked. “thank you,” he responds with a grin, taking the compliment regardless of the other’s reasons for giving it. he finds himself wanting to come up with another way to make the stranger in front of him laugh, but he comes up short, his brain too tired to actually be all that funny. “you can charge per picture,” he suggests, smiling as he notices the other’s dimples. “make an absolute fortune.” he moves to lean back against the counter, immediately regretting it & moving away as he feels something sticky on his skin. gross. “is that what they call you?” he questions, smirking. “lizard guy? do you go everywhere with jake?” at the mention of more fruit, dani almost begins to feel hungry. maybe he should’ve gone home for food instead, but then he’d have missed this exchange. he’ll have to get an alcoholic smoothing; that’ll definitely make up for a small dinner during break. “stop; you’re making me hungry,” he laughs. “are you from brazil? ‘cause i’ve always wanted to go. i hear it’s beautiful.” he can’t help but continue the laughter, trying to imagine either the lizard hanging on to the man’s shirt or said man doing a limbo-style maneuver to keep the bearded dragon stable on his chest. “i’d like to see that,” he remarks, staring down intently at jake long in his hands. the lizard seems to just sit and blink, but there’s something calming about that… little dude is definitely a bit of a stoner. “daniyal, but most people call me dani,” he calls back over the loud music, offering a genuine smile towards mael. arching a brow, & still holding jake, he steps closer, following mael’s line of sight. “depends on what you mean by fun,” he responds, eyes moving back to rest on his new friend.

maybe the other wasn’t as funny as mael was making him out to be, but at this point, the most minimal thing was hilarious for the brazilian male. “i should, shouldn’t i? it’s the least jake long deserves.” he jokes right back, his laughter continuing, not even noticing the other’s face when he leans against the counter. “yeah, it’s my nickname. mael couto who? nah, it’s lizard guy!” he’s obviously joking, which makes him laugh even harder, up to the point where his face is red over his own stupidity. “i do. i take him hiking, to doctor’s appointments, shopping, to the bathroom,” a brief pause is taken, followed by him shaking his head, “i’m also totally joking, i hope you know that.” he felt the need to clarify that. “nah, i’m just taking him out because his birthday was yesterday and this outfit just came in today. he needs to be under a certain temperature and uv light, so i don’t make it a habit to take him everywhere.” which was true. taking care of a bearded dragon wasn’t difficult, but it was a lot different than caring for the average dog or cat. “sorry! maybe you can order some fries or something. or have a drink to get over the hunger.” he replies, chuckling softly, before he starts nodding his head. “yeah, born and raised for a good amount of my life. i’m from joão pessoa, but i moved here when i was around eleven.” he grabs jake long from the other’s hand, pretty sure he didn’t want to carry his bearded dragon for the entire night. “nice to meet you, dani.” he tells the other, petting jake long’s little coat. he moves closer to him, “so we cause a distraction with jake long, right?” he looks around, as if people would actually be listening to what he has to say. “then, i swoop in and jack one of those bottles, grab an order of those curly fries with cheese, and we dodge on out of here and book it! it’ll be like a movie. it’s fate, it’s meant to be... look, that guy is holding a burrito!” he drunkenly points towards a man eating a burrito and spilling a bunch of beans all over his shirt, unable to help but giggle at the sight. “so, what do you say? wanna cause some chaos?”

“It looks weird. I don’t want him on me.” Jaden didn’t really like any pets that weren’t dogs or cats. He was a little fussy have rabbits and hamsters running around him. A bearded dragon was something he had never come into contact before. It was cool to look at, but he wanted some distance from it, at least for the time being. “how long have you had him?” Jaden asked, watching as the pet rested against Mael. “Is he a new pet, or have you had him a couple of years?”

his words make the other further laugh. he can’t tell if jaden is disgusted, scared, or a mixture of both, but he isn’t exactly offended. mael mostly finds it comical. “are you sure? he looks in love with you.” more teasing from his end, but it wouldn’t be mael if he doesn’t poke fun endlessly. “he just turned two yesterday. i’ve had him since he was barely even two months old. i’m hoping he lives his fifteen years, or longer.” considering the oldest living bearded dragon lived for eighteen years, he’s hoping jake long lives the full life he deserves.

she took his phone quickly just so she won’t touch the wizard, it’s not like she was scared but when she isn’t familiar with something she could be nervous cause she doesn’t know how it will react. “okay– say cheese.” she said with a smile pointing the camera at the other. 

he giggles at her words, but does it anyways. “cheeeeese!” he draws out the word and smiles, striking a bunch of different poses like the extra fuck he is. “did you get a couple?” a brief pause is taken, before he asks, “did i look cute in them?” he’s mostly just taking the piss, but also he’s kind of serious.

dani can’t help but laugh; the other male seems to be having an amazing time & the vibe is almost infectious. “he definitely could. the tyra banks of lizards,” he quips, thoroughly amused. the laughter continues as the would-be-model lizard’s owner starts posing, each photo looking more dramatic than the next. daniyal hasn’t even gotten a drink but he’s already having a blast with the stranger in front of him. he’s an absolute riot & someone dani can tell he’ll get on well with. he’s always been a fan of people who aren’t afraid to be themselves & it’s obvious that the other is one of those types of people. “of course i’ll send them your way; i’ll get your number or instagram or whatever. and that’s pretty adorable,” he admits, smiling at jake long’s chill demeanor. “i can’t say i blame him for being so into them; blueberries are one of my favorite fruits.” at the prospect of holding the lizard, dani quickly holds out his hand, letting the other man take it & place jake onto his palm. the lizard seems pretty content to sit still & dani can’t help but feel excited by the little dude. “hey, a stoned state is one of the best kinds of states,” he laughs, eyes crinkling at the corners. “he’s really cute. i didn’t know reptiles could be so chill…”

the younger male finds himself laughing at the other’s words, as if he was some type of comedic genius. “you’re funny! he definitely should be though. he’ll be like... the brad pitt of all bearded dragons. no, no, reptiles even! and i’ll be all like yeah, you want a picture? well get in line, puta!” at this point, he’s giggling so much, his dimples are showing, which really only happens when he’s laughing a lot. “i’ll give you both, and then when you’re bored you’ll be like hey, let me hit up lizard guy.” he’s really only teasing, but he wouldn’t exactly complain if he received a late night text from him. “i like blueberries too, but i think my favorite fruit is mangos. i really like mangos with salt and lemon. we eat that a lot in brazil. well, at least in my family we do.” the mixture of sweet with salty and sour was truly everything for mael. he watches as the other carries his pet with one hand, smiling from ear to ear because he thinks it’s cute. he likes meeting someone who is into animals like he is. “he’s awesome. he just lets you do whatever. i like putting him on my chest the most.” he tells the other, the smile never leaving his lips. “i’m mael, by the way.” he feels the need to introduce himself. looking at the bartender, he turns back to him with a mischievous smirk tainted on his rosy pink lips. “wanna do something fun?” he asks the other, evidently up to absolutely no good.

It wasn’t unusual for Dion to wake up under the stars after experiencing a late night of DJing and drinking. It was the reason he didn’t take gigs every weekend, because sometimes he woke up on a park bench with his sweater giving him the smallest amount of warmth. He stretched, instantly feeling the cold which woke him up fully. “Not again,” he grumbled at himself, sitting himself up right on the bench, rubbing his eyes furiously trying to wake himself up. “Long night,” he admitted to the person nearest to him.

mael had been walking his dog at the park, coming to a halt when he saw someone sit up from the park bench and rub his eyes. did he fall asleep here? he can’t help but think, wondering if this guy was homeless and needed some help or something. “are you okay?” he asks, his dog beginning to sniff at the other’s shoes, to which mael attempts to pull him back in case he wasn’t a fan of dogs. “do you like... need me to call someone for you?” he was always one to help someone else, even if they were a stranger.

Chris has seen a lot of stuff touring the world, camera in hand- god was it beautiful, raw, even a little weird. But this was something he’d never seen- just when he thought he’s seen it all. He wondered if the smell of the alcohol alone had already intoxicated him and changed his vision to see what he was seeing. “Is that a bearded dragon dressed up as a Wizard or am I seeing shit?”he asked. Taking a deep breath he of course agreed to get behind the camera, never seeming to escape his profession. “Uh- say cheese?” he joked and snapped the picture. “Fuck I think he blinked..” he said again joking and handing the phone back. “So is it bring your bearded dragon night to the pub or did I miss the memo?”

the brazilian male knew he did odd shit sometimes. in fact, it was something he was well aware of, but he didn’t have any regrets. jake long was chilling on his chest, the most unproblematic bearded dragon ever. “it is! i also ordered him a christmas outfit, but it hasn’t arrived yet.” he said this with a drunken giggle, placing the bearded dragon on his shoulder and smiling brightly for the picture, pearly whites in view, before he put jake long back on his chest, holding his back securely. “did he blink? you’re a bad photographer then.” he teases, sticking his tongue out at him playfully before he starts to laugh. “nah, i’m just weird.” he informs the other, petting jake long’s back with his two fingers. “it would be real cool if it was bring your pet to the bar day, huh? i wanted to bring my dog too, but he’s with my dad, so it’s all good. plus, jake long is much less problematic. pawarotti would be barking at everyone and growling like he owns the place.” now he was just rambling, always talking shit when he was drunk. “i’m mael, by the way.”

it was dani’s night off & he was looking forward to having a drink or two on his own before going on a night walk home. it had been a rough week with so many families in town doing wine tastings together, but he was relieved he’d made it through. upon making it closer to the bar, he was interrupted as another male with a lizard of some sort. “erm, he’s got a nice outfit on?” he responses, tone coming off more as a question. truth be told, the lizard was cute, but also a bit funny, in the outfit. he took out his phone, snapping a few photos for the other & grinning. he couldn’t get over the lizard-jake long-in that outfit. “he’s really something. does he know any magic tricks?” he joked, leaning against the bar. “also, does he bite? or could i try holding him?”

mael chuckles at his words, for longer than he shoulder considering he’s already a little above tipsy. “doesn’t he? he should be a model for pet stores.” he jokes back, smiling his usual bright smile, prepared to order another drink. he poses for each picture, overdramatic as ever. “send me those!” he tells the other, earning him a few looks at the bar because he’s extra, but then again, he’s been receiving looks from a lot of people considering the fact he bought his damn bearded dragon with him. “no, but he knows his name. i’ll set him on the ground, hold a blue berry and tell him ‘come here jake long’ and he runs with his little legs towards me. he loves blueberries.” rambling? unsurprising for mael. “nah, he’s cool. here,” he carefully grabs the bearded dragon, grabs a hold of the male’s hand, and slowly places him on there. the little guy just chills on there, not really doing much. “i like to think he’s in a constant stoned state. he just vibes all day.”

ivy was just heading back through the park when she noticed someone with what looked like a dressed up animal. she couldn’t help but smile. ana would have loved to see this. ivy looked at the other as they noticed her and starting talking while taking pictures of the animal. “he is a very very cute bearded dragon. my daughter would have loved this” she said smiling at the other, she could tell he wasn’t sober but he was having such a great time and wasn’t doing any harm so she didn’t mind at all. “oh yes of course. let me take that” she said before taking his phone and snapping a few pictures of the boy and his dragon. “is it his birthday or something?” she asked looking at the other before handing his phone back. 

he eagerly hands her his phone and poses for a few pictures, already excited to see how they came out. “his birthday was yesterday, but this outfit arrived today, so we’re out celebrating. he turned two. it might as well be his birth week.” he informed her, offering her his usual sweet smile. part of mael wished jake long would stop growing. he didn’t even want to think of the day he wasn’t around. grabbing his phone back, he looks at the pictures she took, resisting the urge to squeal excitedly at how cute one in particular came out. “this one is adorable!” he tells her, turning his phone to show her the picture. he swears, it looked like jake long was smiling. mael pets his back softly, using two fingers because he was small. “you took great pictures. this one is definitely going on instagram.” he’s more excited about a bearded dragon than any normal person would be, but jake might as well be his emotional support animal at this point.

lennon saw the reptile in the man’s hand and was drawn to it. she heard the name and couldn’t help but chuckle thinking of the character she assumed was his namesake. “he’s so cute! i’ve never seen a reptile in a costume before.” she grinned. “of course i can take a picture for you! you need a picture with your little wizard friend!” she held her hand out for his phone to take a photo with.

mael smiles brightly at her words. “thank you! yeah, i don’t think too many people dress their reptiles, but i got him a little outfit for christmas too. it’s gonna be so cute.” he was too excited over this, telling her as if she even cared. mael places jake long on his shoulder and hands her his phone, already set to the camera. “you’re the best!” he tells the blonde, smiling for the picture as if he just won the lottery or something.

anthony really thought he needed to not take another shot he really thought the last one was really his last but here he was and then he heard the voice beside him and his brows furrowed before he raised his brows, “he’s the only bearded dragon i know so yes the cutest?” he said though he knew it sounded like more a question. then the chuckle came from him, “a wizard dragon i don’t think i’ve ever seen something like it.” he shakes his head before letting out a sigh, “yeah sure give me your phone your resident photographer got you for a couple snaps.”

mael couldn’t help the light gasp that left his lips when the other informed him he didn’t know of any other bearded dragons, dramatic as ever, really. “are you serious right now?” a brief pause is taken, followed by the shaking of his head. “you’re missing out. they’re the chillest little creatures ever! all he does is vibe all day.” still, he gave him a friendly smile as he placed jake long on his shoulder and unlocked his phone, putting his camera on so he wouldn’t have to. then, he posed for a few pictures. “did jake have his eyes open? he like, had his eyes open, right?”

was cieran’s last shot a good idea? the hamptons could be an odd place, but he hadn’t been expecting this. he raises a brow in amusement and then laughs a little. “i’d never try to say he wasn’t the cutest bearded dragon ever,” cieran responds, knowing he could at least be honest in the fact he’d never seen one up close before. and he’s not one to deny something so simple as taking a photo for the other either. snapping a few of the lizard and proud dad, he taps his thumb on the airdrop icon on his phone. “so… is the wizard hat for a special occasion, or?” he’s not sure how he’d go with any sudden movements so he still keeps his distance.

he finds himself smiling brightly at his words. “good. because no other bearded dragon compares.” he told the other, like it was a cold, hard fact that everyone in the hamptons should be aware of. he poses for the pictures, putting him on his shoulder, even on top of his head for a second, then placing him back on his chest and laughing softly. “he turned two yesterday. i wanted to do this whole show the actual day of his birthday, but this stupid outfit didn’t arrive until today, so i just had to settle.” he pets his back softly, to which jake long just shuts his eyes  –  lazy fucker. “i’m probably just gonna give him a birth week instead. i think he deserves it. i mean, i’m sure i really annoy him with how extra i am but he just takes it like a champ. he’s so loyal, you know? not even pawarotti is this loyal.” a pause is taken, before his drunk brain realizes he doesn’t know who pawarotti even is. “pawarotti is my dog, by the way.”

beth didn’t know how she ended up in the place where she found that animal dresses up as a wizard, she kind of pinched herself to see that she was awake or hoped she wasn’t too drunk.  “–uh sure.” she said. “you want me to do it on my phone or yours?” she asked, still confused from that moment.

mael, despite his slightly intoxicated state, could tell she was thrown off guard by him in general, but it wouldn’t be the first time, nor would it be the last. “here, you can use my phone.” he opens up the camera and hands it to her, placing the bearded dragon on his shoulder so he’s looking right at the camera.

when she walked into the room, this was the last thing she expected. glancing over towards the other, her eyebrows knotted in confusion as her eyes scanned between the male and the bearded dragon. “the cutest,” she commented with a nod of her head, purely amused by the other’s antics. “also he’s the only breaded dragon i know…” she trails off in a teasing tone before playfully rolling her eyes. “yeah, sure.” serenity nods, phone already in hand as she held it up, thumb hovering over the circle on the screen. “i’m just going to take a bunch, pose.” 

mael smiled so wide, the dimples on his cheeks became prominent at her words, but his smile soon turns into a slightly sad expression. “you don’t know any other bearded dragons?” he questions, not too happy with the newfound information. “that sucks. they’re really loyal pets, not at all average and they do jack shit all day. don’t worry though, jake long can be your best friend now.” he jokes, chuckling softly before he poses with his beloved pet, striking a bunch of different poses so he can have options to choose from. “you’re the best! i hope his eyes are open for at least two pictures. he likes to close them a lot. he’s a lazy little shit.”