Something Fishy This Way Comes - Tumblr Posts

Coming back to Ozzie's at all wasn't really on Blitz's To Do list these days, but Demetri--the sweet succubus who had tried to hook up with Stolas after Verosika's party--had invited him out. Things had been going fine-ish, but the succubus had been in the bathroom for a while now and the conversation was so fucking awkward anyway that Blitz wouldn't blame the guy if he'd taken off out the window. Needing a break himself, Blitz went to the bar...

Only to be offered a probably-drugged drink by the one shark in all of Hell that he actually wanted to kill.

Blitz recognized him in an instant, eyes sharpening, but he didn't otherwise let on. He accepted the glass with a nod and a feral little grin--remembering way too many unpleasant details about their night together, and how Millie had been absolutely destroyed just by seeing him. Blitz really couldn't fault him for trying to fuck with Crimson--more power to Chaz, really, Moxxie's dad was a dick who deserved to be conned--but this guy... He was an idiot.

Whatever was in the drink though, it had to be better than how the rest of his night was going. So, fuck it. Blitz toasted him, then took a drink--just a sip, really, hoping to get some feel for whatever it might be laced with... When he didn't taste anything off, or feel any immediate effects, it only made him that much more suspicious.

"Thanks, man. You're right. I really could use it. And you know, you've got a beautiful accent... I almost feel like we've met before," he leaned over the bar a little, as if gazing into the shark's eyes rather than his shades. Tail making tiny little twitches, Blitz was all smiles when he reached out and traced a claw down Chaz's forearm. "But I never forget an accent. So clearly, you're just a handsome stranger. Why don't you tell me about yourself, hm? Daddy's all ears." He was laying it on thick and he knew it, taking a malicious glee out of this, but fuck's sake, why not? Chaz's disguise was terrible--

But maybe, maybe, he deserved a second chance.

Fuck knew Blitz was learning a lot more about those these days. If he wanted them for himself, he damn well ought to start offering more chances to others--

But he could still fuck with Chaz a little bit first, right?

Closed Starter for @doublejango

Chaz was just coming back from the bathroom when he pratcally froze upon looking at his part of the bar at Ozzie's he was manning tonight. Blitzo, the guy he fucked and drugged, fuck what was he doing here?! Was he with someone? Did they know what happened between them, Chaz scrambled hiding behind a wall, breathing out to calm himself and push away the urge to go whining to Ozzie, he wasn't sure how the sin would help even if he wanted. After a bit of calming himself Chaz came up with a 'plan' to handle this while still doing his job.

He pulled out some dark sunglasses from his pocket, putting them on slipping them on to cover his ringed eyes before pulling off the purple scarf over his shoulders, wrapping it around his mouth to conceal his face even more, he could still breathe, even talk if muffled, but least it covered up his recognizable tooth gap. He knew he couldn't just avoid Blitzo, it would be suspiscious and even he knew that, so after he walked back behind the bar, making an effort to look calm and collected, hands behind his back professionally for once, he mixed up a nice fruity drink for the Imp and slid it over to him, topped with a blood orange slice on a neon colored toothpick. "~You looked like you needed one, on the house~" The shark said with slight bow, in an awful french accent but he was trying, getting back to his other stuff before he could give Blitz any reason to be suspiscious of him and hopefully the drink would help if he still was, the shark was sweating a bit from his nerves despite the mild club air

This was so much more fun than the first time they'd met. That night in Greed had been awful, probably for both of them. Being touched by Chaz made Blitz's skin crawl as he remembered how things had gone. Him screaming at Chaz to chill out, the shark not seeming to understand that he meant it. The moments afterwards, when Blitz felt so fucking ugly inside and out. Ashamed of himself. Not just for sleeping with Moxxie and Millie's ex, but for sleeping with someone who wasn't Stolas. For sleeping with someone for information. It had been a long time since he'd actually fucked for information or survival, and Blitz had sworn to himself that he would never do it again, never sell himself like that again... but for Moxxie? It had felt worth it. At least, it had felt worth it until afterwards. Until Blitz curled in on himself, naked in a stranger's bed, nauseated and sore and angry. He'd followed through, done what he could, gotten his part of the job done, but fuck. That whole thing had fucked him up a lot more than he'd let on.

And now? Being touched? Part of him wanted to recoil--but then again, Chaz wasn't hurting him. He wasn't even trying to. He was being sweet and he was obviously nervous, and maybe, maybe that meant that night had been as shitty for Chaz as it had for Blitz. Maybe Chaz hadn't actually just been thirsty as fuck. Maybe he'd been desperately scrabbling for any and every advantage, to try and survive the losing game he'd gotten himself into with Crimson. He needed that night to go well with one of them, because if it didn't? His scheme might have been found out sooner. Broke, probably mostly alone in life at that point, Chaz had been trying... And had his victims been anyone other than Moxxie and Millie, Blitz would probably have cackled and cheered him on.

He felt both his resistance towards Chaz, along with his malice, easing away. Blitz's feral expression softened, and his eyes took on a much more genuine look.

"Hey." Reaching out, he caught Chaz's hand and squeezed it gently, very gently, like it was a hand worth holding, worth choosing not to hurt. "Chaz? I'm not out to get you. If you're nervous, I can go. But listen." Letting go, Blitz patted himself down, then found a business card. He jotted his cell number on the back, then slid it over to the shark, meeting his gaze if Chaz would allow it. "Maybe we both deserve better memories. Call me sometime, huh? I'm not gonna hurt you. I promise."

Chaz was never all the perceptive of small hints, especially with the shades darkening his vision he didn't notice the sharpness in Blitz's eyes or the feral grin as he handed him the drink, pretty confident this might work as he leaned on the counter with one arm, his other hand on his hip since he was bending down since he was so tall smiling at the toast and him drinking it, Blitz seemed to enjoy it, that was good. Nodding slightly as Blitz spoke

"Ah I know how you feel Monsieur. That's why Im here, to help ease any woes of ones like yourself~- And thank you, it's- W- Sorry what did y-you say?" Chaz said, his fake accent faltering at the end, his tail jolting slightly before falling back down and his muscles tensing noticeably at feeling Blitz's claw trace along his exposed forearm, stammering for a bit, nervously gulping as he tugged on his collar, he felt like he was over a stove burner with how hot his face was right now. And Blitz calling himself Daddy was NOT helping.

"O-Oh alright then. Well n-names Escroc Chanteur. I-Im from Envy, I'm a smooth talker who likes to see smiles, and I bartend here, and perform occasionally, I like to sing. Though tonight Im just here. Im flattered you'd ask Beau, And what should I call you?" Chaz said, trying to keep it cool, and it wasn't all a lie, he was half Envy after all and his job description was just plain true. Trailing his claw over Blitz's forearm teasingly in return before grabbing a glass and cleaning it to distract from his nerves as his tail wagged behind him, but still kept his gaze on Blitz mostly, just in case. Least Blitz seemed in a good mood.

"If I tackle you, it'll be because there's a mattress behind us and you asked me to," Blitz said, unable to help making dirty jokes when opportunity presented. His dumb grin softened again though, and he nodded, picking the drink back up. "Look, that night, that whole con, it was all really shitty. We were both shitty and using each other." The amber liquid held the lights of the club beautifully. Blitz sighed, looking down into it, and swirled it around for a moment.

"There's an annual party devoted to people who hate me," he said, voice cracking ever so slightly. Fuck, he wasn't going to fucking cry. That shitty place had fucked him up, but he wasn't going to goddamn cry. Blitz took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, and met Chaz's eyes again. "But you? Weren't there. You coulda gone. But you didn't. And that means a lot to me. I think... the way you're acting... it's uh. Look, I'm no good at... but this whole thing, your vibes, feels like... maybe people haven't given you enough second chances. Or something. Christ, um..."

Blitz took another swallow of the drink. It really did go down smooth, even if it burned. He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at the pretty shark again. "Maybe we both fucked our first impressions of each other. But maybe we can like, do better, you know?"

That was when Blitz's date drifted up. Demetri was a beautiful succubus, his expression perpetually sweet, who often liked to flirt with Chaz even if he never really tried to pick him up. He seemed to take in the situation between the two of them with a glance, and he leaned against Blitz. "Hey, Chaz." Demetri's smile was warm.

"You guys know each other?"

"I'm here a lot," Demetri admitted, blushing.

"Of course you are." Demetri had danced with Stolas at that damn party. Of course he knew this shark too. He... fuck. He was nice. Really nice. Blitz offered him the glass, and Demetri took a sip while Blitz looked back at Chaz. "Let's try again sometime, huh? Besides, I uh.. I might... have kind of... fuckin... stolen something from you. That you probably want back? You remember a long leather jacket? I mean if you don't want it, fuck, that thing's snuggly as shit. But if you do...?"

Even if Chaz was in a space he'd grown comfortable in, seeing Blitz again and seeing the smirk on his face slowly but surely made the shame from that night well up back to the surface, not just for selling and pushing himself out to any one who'd allow him into their bed, but for what he ended up doing, rushing out of the manor upon seeing his keys were missing and drugging Blitz to try to keep him quiet, locking him in his trunk and allowing Crimson to try to kill not only him but Millie too. Mobster or not Chaz tried his best to treat his bedmates well, he never forced it on them or tried to genuinely hurt them, at the time he had reasoned it was nessecary for his hail mary plan to work, but in the time since, part of him wished he'd push his utter desperation for someone's warmth in the same bed aside to try to make a compromise with them all, Where'd it even get him? He still ended up sleeping in cold bed more often then not, on the run and crying himself to sleep at how fucked up he made everything and some part of him thinking... maybe he deserved to end up on Crimson's wall of trophies. His mother would certainly be ashamed to see what her son had become, and he didn't even have the jacket she gave him to clutch to hold off that thought...

You could tell he was lost in his head, the glass was already clean but he still cleaned it vigoursly with his claw, more him trying to work out his nerves then him trying to do his job. Maybe, Just maybe if he did this JUST right he could at least give Blitz a decent conversation, a decent night that wasn't him using the Imp who'd done fucking nothing him and he still drugged him. If this went right he wouldn't be forgiven, but he hardly believed he deserved that, but at least he'd actually help someone instead of dragging them down like he'd done all his li-

The way his entire body froze when Blitz caught his hand was the most noticable thing in the world, head just thinking "This is it, He's just gonna pull me over the counter and gut me before I can even do anything" However he felt weak in the knees when he felt Blitz squeeze his hand, the shark doing it back, even clinging a bit when Blitz pulled away but he stopped himself, hoping Blitz didn't notice, standing there like a deer in headlights when Blitz said his name, just hoping the scarf around his head muffled his slight whimper of fear.

Of course he saw through his disguise, it was rushed together and he wasn't the most 'blend into the crowd' kinda demon to begin with, eyes widening at what Blitz said, letting him slide the card over to him before sighing, grabbing the hanging end of his scarf, untying it from around his face and pulling off his shades, setting them both on the counter as he leaned it on it, breating out to calm down, his heart was pounding right now.

"Fuck you just saw right through this huh" He swings the scarf around for reference before he sighed again "Your too smart for me that's for sure, though Im surprised your... giving me this, after everything I did." The shark says dropping the scarf and picking up the card, reading the number over before looking back at him, surprised how soft a gaze he found from Blitz "Um but I... appreciate it, it's really sweet and a lot for a guy like me. I..."

"Im sorry, for all the shit I pulled, that's doesn't change it I know, that's why I gave you that drink on the house, it's actually really expensive usually so I wanted to treat you. It's... the least I could do right?" The shark relented, voice cracking at the end and him wiping out his eyes and breathing in. Looking at the card

"Sorry I'm allergic to a scent Big O uses in here but... are you sure you want to give me this? I sure as hell fucked first impressions with you, that's why I thought you'd maim my ass if you saw me, not... be nice to me. I still won't be surprised if you tackle me right now actually" The shark admitted, he didn't really believe that Blitz wouldn't hurt him right now, he deserved it right? Everyone else who was around that day wanted to kill him after all.

Blitz's eyes had gotten huge at Chaz's outburst and he was already reaching into his jacket for a gun well before the shark calmed down. Blinking, the imp nodded slowly; at a little nudge from Demetri, he made himself relax again.

"I mean, I kind of left, you know. My clothes there, it was sort of an escape in boxers and a jacket type situation. Then the last I heard, you were dead or something. There was a rumor that fuckface calling himself Moxxie's father put in an order for another pair of jaws to be cleaned and mounted. I'm like. Uh. Fuck. Glad? You're not dead? And that you still have your teeth."

Demetri whispered something into Blitz's ear that made the imp roll his eyes and blush at the same time. He batted at his vampiric date.

"Behave."

"Make me," Demetri cooed. But then, his smile still warm as ever, eyes so much softer than either Chaz or Blitz ever tended to look, he turned back to the shark. "You get off soon, don't you? Why don't you come back to my place with Blitz and I? I won't bite. Unless either of you tell me to, of course."

Blitz had to suppress a shiver. That was actually kind of a nice thought, but--fuck. He swallowed hard. "Sexy as that visual is, I'm uh, let's, maybe, how about a um, a fucking raincheck on that, on... that particular threesome. Text me when you can, Chaz, we'll get together. If you're free tomorrow, I actually need to go to the shooting range for a bit. You wanna come with? Come get your jacket afterwards?"

The way Chaz's face heats up at the joke was very noticeable, sure people flirted with him dirtily but never so... dominant towards him so it caught him off guard even more then any flirting from Blitz would be, awkwardly chuckling, scratching his neck with a goofy grin on his face before it fell slightly "Yeah I know, I'm sorry it sucked I kno- Wait, you were using me? How? I'm the one who came on to you" Chaz questioned, he had been so preoccupied with how he felt about it during and after, he never considered Blitz used him, especially when he in hindsight did a piss poor job of giving him a pleasant lay.

He raises a brow at the mention of the party, realizing he remembered it half way through "O-Oh... Yeah I got an invitation somehow, Verosika Mayday used to be a celebrity crush of mine, but reading that invitation it just turned me off real quick. Maybe it's just cause I fucked up plenty but I don't want to rake someone over the coals ten times over for that shit, especially when I fully deserved what you did..." Chaz said pouring himself a drink and staring into the swirling liquid somberly

His eyes perk up however when Blitz speaks about second chances, a bit stunned how right that felt to hear. Blushing again at the proposition and stammering in response "U-Uh I guess your right, i-If you want that I'd sure be down for it, honestly!... And, thanks Blitz. I mean that believe it or not" Chaz said awkwardly, but with a warm and soft smile on his face at the end, shrugging a bit before his face twisted in confusion at seeing Demetri walk up, leaning up against Blitz all cozy as he greeted the shark. Taking a bit before gasping in realization.

"Oh he's your date. I forget that's a requirement for getting in here sometimes." Chaz said shrugging with a chuckle, a slight pang of disappointment in his voice before his eyes widened ever so slightly at Blitz looking back at him, stammering again "O-Oh yeah, sure thing, I'd... like to try again with you if Im being.. entirely honest Blitz" The shark said blushing, bashfully pulling on his collar, both nervous and excited to have a chance to redeem himself with Blitz, before his ringed eyes went very wide in realization

"YOU HAVE MY JACKET!? THE ONE WITH THE BONES ON THE SLEEVES?! Holy shit so that's where it ended up, you took it!" The shark exclaimed, suddenly leaning over the counter and accidentally getting very close to Blitz's face in the process before backing off and standing up, awkwardly chuckling, a bit embarrassed at his reaction

"B-But yeah um I'd like it back, I really like it, and it was a gift from my mom actually, so yeah if you don't mind giving it back, I'd really appreciate it Blitz..."

"I'll pick you up," Blitz agreed, unable to help but be so deeply charmed by Chaz that it almost hurt. "Give me your address?" And once he had it saved in his phone, Blitz leaned over the counter and kissed the shark on the cheek before whispering into his ear, "Don't worry so much, Chaz. I got you. Nothing's going to happen to you."

And nothing would. As long as they were together, Blitz would have his friend's back--even if it meant he had to defend him against Moxxie and Millie. But Blitz was an optimist, and he believed in his friends. Even if M&M showed up, even if they crashed the hangout, Blitz had faith that they would hear Chaz out, that they would give him the chance to atone. Everyone deserved that much, and those two were some of the best people the assassin knew. Those would would hear Chaz out.

Probably.

Demetri tugged on Blitz's sleeve and smiled apologetically to Chaz. Blitz gave the shark a sheepish 'what can you do?' smile and let the incubus lead him away.

-

Once they were alone in his place, Blitz shoved Demetri up against the wall, kissed him with all the passion he knew this man had wanted from him once upon a time, and almost wept when he felt the way Demetri melted. Demetrl whimpered in relief, in need, and wrapped his arms around Blitz, and Blitz did everything he could, everything he could, to make it up to him, to try and heal that old wound...

But when it was over, when they were curled up in bed together and Blitz was tracing his claws feather-lightly over a much more recent wound (Demetri kept it wrapped in bandages, but Blitz knew what was under there), it was Chaz that they both immediately spoke of.

"He's a good man," Demetri said, his lips brushing against Blitz's shoulder.

"Chaz?"

"Mmhmm. Give him a chance. A fair chance. I see him all the time at Ozzie's, and I promise, Blitz. He's a good man. I can tell sometimes, feel it, when people--have scars, wounds they carry in their hearts or souls. When maybe they haven't had the chances others have had, to be happy. He has that now, with Ozzie. But when you knew him before? Just... be good to him. Promise me?"

Blitz closed his eyes and pressed his face under Demetri's chin. "I promise," he whispered.

-

And so the next day, when Blitz showed up to pick their beloved shark up, he was on time. He was dressed nicely. He came bearing gifts--a bottle of non-acidic water Blitz had gone out and smuggled in from Earth that morning since he knew what a rarity it was in Hell, and a bag of tasty takeout.

He grinned when he saw Chaz, opened the door for him--

And there, on the passenger seat, next to the water and the food, was the jacket. Cleaned. Pristine.

"All yours, man. Are you--you sure you still wanna come? Cause if you just wanna take the jacket and lunch and go about your day, you can. I just, you know. I'd like to spend more time with you. But only if you're actually, if you're-- you know. Comfortable with it."

Chaz awkwardly scratched his neck, feeling very embarrassed and shameful about it all "Yeah guess I didn't leave you much choice, aaaannd about that... I kinda fucked one mob guy well enough so he made a fake jaw cause he has a friend who knows how to smith, bought me enough time to get out of there thank Leviathan. He's probably noticed it's a fake by now but now Im with Ozz, who's aware of that whole shtick so I'm... mostly safe now." Chaz shrugs awkwardly before honestly blushing at hearing Blitz say he's glad he's not dead or maimed, like that's something so strange. "G-Geez Blitz your gonna make me blush, thanks..." He said, watching the exchange between the two with just a hint of sadness on his face, before blushing even deeper at the proposition from Demetri, blinking in surprise, chuckling before leaning in closer to Incubus.

"Heheh so now you wanna pick all this up when I seem like a package deal with Dickzy Blitzy, should I be offended or impressed you have such high wants for what you want to bring back to your bed~ CauseI can least say Blitz is a stud under all that~" Chaz teased with a grin, winking at Blitz as he wiggled his hips and swayed his tail, even now he enjoyed bantering with Demetri, even if the proposition did sound nice.

He looked over at Blitz as he spoke, not even seeming dissappointed as Blitz asked for a raincheck, smiling a bit when he asked him to text when the shark could manage, and even wider at the question "U-Uh Yeah I can be free! Not a great shot myself but sounds fun, which... uh ring is it in? Unless you want to pick me up, which I can tell you my adress, just... Don't tell Moxxie or Millie, I'm afraid they'd break down our door..." Chaz admitted awkwardly at the end, honestly fearful of his ex girlfriend in particular still. but shrugging it off, looking to Blitz with a smile still, clearly happy to be asked out for an outing with the Imp.

Seeing the way Chaz reacted to the jacket did something to Blitz's heart, melting it in a way he hadn't expected. Chaz loved that coat the way Blitz loved his necklace, the imp saw, and he was glad, so fucking glad, that he had taken care of the jacket. He'd loved wearing it at the time, although it was far too big for him, but it clearly meant more to Chaz than just a garment. Being able to give it back to him, to help put a missing piece back into place, left the imp feeling warm inside.

And then, of course, there was Chaz. So damn sweet, such a nerd. He was a different man than the one Blitz had met in Greed. Things had been awkward there, to say the damn least, with Chaz desperately trying to con them all. But now? Chaz seemed happy, and that changed everything about him, for the better. Blitz had no idea how things were going to go, if they were going to become friends, if there was more in the cards for them, but this time? He realized it didn't matter. He didn't feel any anxiety, didn't feel anything but a relaxed contentment just to be here with him.

"Don't worry about your dirty mouth. I've heard it all and probably said worse, you're not going to offend me. Hop in, get comfortable. It's a bit of a drive."

Once they were both situated, Blitz drove off, heading towards the ferry; they were going to need to travel down to Wrath for this particular destination. "The water and take-out's for you, by the way. I wasn't sure what you like? So there's a few things in there. It might be kind of a long time in the car, and I didn't want to, uh. Fuck. Just seem like I'm kidnapping you." Which was kind of what he was doing, wasn't it..? Shit. Whatever. Blitz flicked the radio on, but kept the volume low.

"So! You know, lucky us, now we're at the Awkward Small-Talk stage. How you doin? How was your day? And what's the story behind the jacket?"

Chaz perked up at the quick agreement, a bit stunned, stammering "U-Uh yeah sure, just give me your phone real quick" Chaz said with an awkward grin, taking Blitz's phone and saving his address to it as quick as he could handing it back just in time for him to freeze as Blitz leaned over the counter and kissed him on the cheek, body heating up as he grinned with a shudder as Blitz whispered to him, tail wagging behind him.

He had a pretty noticeable blush as he chuckled, not sure what to say to such sweet words from the Imp, scratching his neck before giving a bashful grin "Thanks Blitz... You too Demetri" The shark said before waving them goodbye and sighing, desperately hoping that this went well

-

The shark went through the rest of his shift, pretty uneventfully, till the club was closing for the night, gathering his things and beginning to walk out before a voice snapped him out of his thoughts

"Was that Blitz you were talking to earlier?"

Chaz perked his head up, turning around to face the sin, Asmodeus comfortable sitting on the edge of the stage, casually instructing some other employees as they closed up "Y-Yes..?"

"I don't have a problem with it, just surprised, you and the others were pretty adamant on me and Fizz not mentioning you to him at all."

"Well yeah, we all got a past with him I guess but he just showed up at the bar, he was actually really forgiving and... nice. Asked me out for tomorrow even."

"Oh, well Im happy for you, You especially could use something like that I think. Good."

"M-Me? Why?" Chaz asked, raising a brow

"Cause In the time I've known you, I've sensed your lust for... redemption I suppose, for forgiveness and a second chance. I would have helped if you asked but Im glad it worked out on it's own. Though I still think those other two deserved it just slightly..." Ozzie rolled his eyes then grew a slight smirk, Chaz chuckling to hide his embarrassment.

"Gee Big O, okay then, know all my kinks and dirty thoughts too?" Chaz questioned jokingly, earning a giggle from the sin "Only what you think about in my presence, but a fair bit I guess, your a nice boost to the moods I thrive off of when your on shift~" Asmodeus teased, Chaz blushing as he waved him off "Your welcome Jizz Lord~ Goodnight~" Chaz almost sang as he walked out, waving farewell to his boss so he could get home.

-

Chaz made sure to get up earlier then usual, and did his whole routine, shower, brush and gel his hair as well as somewhat nice colone he was trying, that smelled like a NICE ocean, breeze. Not greed's for sure. He was just dressed in his shoes, tight pants and sweater.

He kept an eye on the time, and walked out, grinning back when he saw Blitz parked outside as he walked up "Heya Blitz! You look great! Hope this is a okay look, wasn't sure what to go with and besides it's got the comfort that Im used to it." Chaz said with a shrug as he put his hands in his pockets, thanking when Blitz opened the door for him, not often on the receiving end of gentlemanly gestures, ducking to get in only for his eyes to go wide.

Not even at the nice looking takeout and water, which he did need, his nervousness had left his throat a bit dry and parched, but at seeing his jacket again, clearly cleaned and taken care of, his heart skipped a beat, mouth agape for a second as he pulled it out, just enjoying holding it in his hands again for a second.

"Geez, I can't describe how much it means you giving this back to me Blitz. Just..." Chaz began, slipping it on, and taking a deep sigh of relief as he pulled it closed for a second, enjoying the comfort it brought in him again before smiling at Blitz "Thanks, and of course I do, don't get asked out much like this these days, besides-

He got real bold, putting a hand on Blitz's shoulder "I-I'd like to spend some more time with you too, get to know eachother. Hell Im the one who can't keep his dirty mouth shut, I'd be more concerned if your comfortable hanging out with me!" Chaz joked, leaning down to be on eye level mostly with Blitz, a dorky grin on his face as his tail wagged.