EVERYWHERE YOU GO | WRAPPING

[ORPHEUS]

[align=center][div style="max-width: 500px; text-align: justify; font-family: arial; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 1.4;letter-spacing:.1px"]Christmas was always far away right until it was in his face, and although he's been indulging in all of the sweet things that came with the holiday season, it's finally hitting him that the big day is only a little over a week away. He hasn't been here long enough to go all-out with the celebrations, but he can do better than nothing.

So that is the very short story as to how the lion got where he is now, in a quieter spot of the observatory's main floor. Boxes and rolls of wrapping paper surround him, a few presents already wrapped with impressive skill for someone with paws. The one he's working on now is something small, which is both a blessing and a curse. Even if Orpheus's paws are smaller than an average lion's, they're still large — he's still large, compared to the average creature that calls this place home. (It leaves him feeling disoriented, though that's a topic better left for another day.) His body is held closer to the ground without touching it fully, one curved claw pinning the corner of wrapping paper in place as the other paw gently smooths it over the edges. Fold and smooth, move where the claw's settled. Fold and smooth. Fold and smooth.

It's not the neatest thing ever, but it's done, so he keeps his paw flat on top of it to fumble with the tape instead. Sticking to his paw, to his muzzle, to the paper in all the wrong places — with a frustrated hiss, he finally gets it to stay where he wants it. He supposes it doesn't matter if there are a few stray white hairs trapped underneath. People wouldn't inspect that when there were presents to be had. Except for Ambroise, maybe, but he's something else. Something that's been getting on his nerves lately, however silly that is. Because he should be understanding, right? And he is. But calling him darlin' the same breath he snapped at him had twisted him into all sorts of frustrated knots. And he's had enough frustration with the package even without thoughts like that, so after he sorts out the tape a few more times, Orpheus pushes it to the side and takes a deep breath.

"Would've been easier to go with stockings," he murmurs instead of thinks, shifting to a more comfortable position and swiping a paw over the side of his face. Maybe he'll actually learn this time. Probably not, right? Yeah, probably not.

[clarence a.]

While Clarence wasn't familiar with Santa, he was familiar with the idea of giving presents on Christmas. It was something that'd been done since he was a child and, therefore, he was familiar with the idea of wrapping gifts. Unfortunately, even when he had opposable thumbs, he hadn't been very good at it. While he was skilled with various instruments and could sing to his heart's content, he was never much of a visual or physical artist. He did his best, but the image that came out on the paper was never what he envisioned in his own mind. Maybe the real problem was that his standards were just too high. That was certainly a possibility, given his history of false expectations. Without any close family or friends here, Clarence hadn't been too worried about wrapping presents, though. After all, his sister had only arrived yesterday and that barely gave him enough time to find something for her. He still wasn't sure what he would get or make for her, but he was sure he'd figure it out eventually. He'd seen all sorts of candy recently so perhaps he would try to get some of that for her. If there was anything they agreed on, it was their love for food. However, he wasn't known to be the best cook... Surely she would appreciate his effort? No, he didn't think that was likely. He'd just have to figure something out.

In his contemplation, he came across Orpheus, who seemed to have just finished wrapping his own presents and the man smiled lightly, making his way closer to the other being. "Perhaps, but these look lovely as they are. I think you did very well, given the lack of, um-" It was then he realized that he wasn't sure if what he was about to say would be taken as odd. Then again, he assumed that most of the things he said were considered odd by the creatures who'd been here before him. They understood this world far better than he did and they didn't have any strange questions about what all of it was or how certain things operated. They just knew whereas Clarence felt as though he were having to learn everything all over again. "Given your lack of thumbs, I mean," he concluded, feeling his face heat up a bit as he admitted his own thoughts. He cleared his throat a bit before adding, "I've never been any good at wrapping. I wish I was but I can never get the edges quite right."

LISTEN UP; HEAR THE PATRIOTS SHOUT

BLOOD LUST IN A HOLY WAR

© LEXASPERATED