Ooooh, my. The Parselprostate fic was inspired crack but this is... well, inspired tragedy, I guess. The idea of portraits in HP has always creeped me out, for several reasons, but it's entirely reasonable to me that those who grew up with them would accept them in a matter-of-fact way. I'd bet that portrait-living intimate relationships aren't uncommon tho' I imagine that the one between Snape & Malfoy is uncommonly convoluted, even so. This lovely vignette's even more twisty for the emotions & history between them.

However, what's tragic to me is that even death doesn't end Severus's longing for Lucius, or his service. It might take a different form, but Severus is still counting the days & years until death (Lucius's) & trying to grab all the vicarious physicality he can, all the pleasure & comfort he lacked in life. He can only ask for as much as Lucius will give tho'. It's a strangely silent intimacy, despite all Severus's dirty talk; he can't ask for or talk about anything except for what Lucius wants or wants to be pushed to. For all his snapping & bristling I see Snape as a man who needed conversation & social interaction with his few intimates, even more from this man he loved; but his opportunities are shrinking steadily as the uncertain future nears. Who knows what Lucius will allow him after Lucius dies & inhabits a portrait?

Ah, well, I imagine you didn't intend this spicy bit of hotness to inspire philosophical maunderings, & it certainly does a wonderful job of, err, *distracting* one from cogitation. >;-) Thank you for writing & sharing it, & for sharing the draft version too. (Isn't good, knowledgeable criticism a fabulous thing?!? :-)