THREADS TIED IN KNOTS — GIFTS

[guts]

This was kind of late, but whatever. At least she was doing it now, right? Her motivation fluctuated often, so there was no telling when--or if--she would get things done. Being all mopey did that to you.

"Alright, everybody gather around. I got some gifts for you all." she announced, dropping a sack at her paws. She didn't know many of her clan-mates on a personal level, to be honest, so she just went ahead and got some general gifts. They could do whatever they wanted with them, throw them out if they didn't want them, she didn't care. Gifts that were from a stranger didn't mean much.

So Aineias waited for a few of the other clan members to show up, all while untying the small sack and peering in at the shells she had collected. They ranged in colors, from vibrant blues and reds to beige and white. There was, hopefully, one for everyone.

© LEXASPERATED

[cavalrychoir]

[align=center][div style="border-width:0px; width: 60%; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 140%;word-spacing:-1px;"]Gifts? For them? For him? Surely she didn't consider getting him something as well. Who would want to gift him anything aside from coal? Maybe a bag of shit to go with some dirt in his eyes. He... He didn't think very highly of himself if it wasn't evident by now. After all the crimes he's committed against others and himself, why should he have any pride left? He knew he wasn't a good person and he knew he wasn't deserving of anyone's affection or kindness. But on the few occasions where he is presented with something along the lines of anything remotely positive, he tenses up. What do they want, he would think. What is their motive? They must have one. There was no way anyone could be kind without wanting something in return, right? Absolutely. He was unaware he was projecting the ideas inscribed into his mind from his previous home onto others but it wasn't like he could help it. He was taught to think one way and stopping himself from doing that was much easier said than done. So when he approached Aineias, suspicious dull red optics scanned her form. He couldn't think of any reason not to trust her, but he couldn't think of any reason to trust her either. But he figured he'll withhold judgement for a later day when he has more information. "It is... Kind... Of you to go out of your way to give us presents." He said, the previously mentioned suspicion in his eyes melted away leaving nothing behind but a blank stare. He wasn't sure if there was anything there for him, so he carefully chose his words as to not make her feel she had to give him something.