Creative wrapping ((open thread))

[slayers_desire]

December is an exciting time for the Kentlings. The three children are basically into everything these days. Especially now that the two older ones can play with William a lot more.

So April has decided not to worry too much about wrapping gifts early. Really... it is better to wait, especially with curious minds and energetic hands, an active puppy, and a big family.

Right now, a lot of their energy is put into Christmas baking. Making gingerbread houses is the task for today. Jonathan is trying to build a miniature Kent farm. Laura is making a princess house. And William is just smashing gingerbread squares happily.

It is an ideal family time.

Comments

[clark_luthor]

There's a soft pop, and then there is a small golden fire-lizard crashing into one of the gingerbread houses.

[slayers_desire]

"Mommy!" Jonathan gasp softly. He doesn't try to chase the fire-lizard, learning from last time.

"Zara?" April turns her attention to the sudden appearance.

[clark_luthor]

Zara trills at the sound of her name, and swats at the gingerbread, as if blaming it for being in her way. She doesn't seem concerned or distressed, at least, so there's nothing apparently wrong.

[slayers_desire]

"Pretty..." Laura smiles softly. She takes her cue from Jonathan, and just keeps her hands to herself.

William crushes more gingerbread under his hands. It is a game now!

April is relieved to know that the crash didn't cause any injuries. And there is no distress either.

"Have you come to visit again?"

[clark_luthor]

Zara spreads her wings and ruffles them, shaking out the kinks and settling back down. She looks up at April, more curious than anything about what exactly's going on here.

She takes an experimental bite of the gingerbread, then spits it out, clearly not enamored of the taste.

[slayers_desire]

"Oh! I remember!" Jonathan jumps down from the table. He goes to where April keeps some of the dog treats (and other assorted goodies for animals).

He returns with a piece of jerky. "You like these..."

[clark_luthor]

Zara trills excitedly when she sees the food, and hops from the table to Jonathan, reaching out her paws to land on his shoulder. It isn't fish, but it's meat, and that's good enough for her.

[slayers_desire]

"Wow Jon! She likes you!" Laura claps appreciatively.

Jonathan gently hands the jerky to Zara. "Is it another playdate, momma?"

"I don't know Jonathan. But remember to be patient with her."

[clark_luthor]

Zara snaps it out of his fingers, though she's careful not to catch his fingers in her teeth. She devours the scrap of jerky, then daintily licks her foreclaws.

Her desire for treats sated for the moment, she looks around the room and lets out a questioning chirp. These two-leggeds are always doing something weird.

[slayers_desire]

"We are making cookie houses!" Laura puts a little roof on four walls to demonstrate. Using icing to secure the roof in place.

[clark_luthor]

She flaps over to the table, sniffing around the gingerbread houses, and sneezes. She gives a skeptical look towards Wil's mushed up cookie pieces, and mentally projects an image of a rough nest.

[slayers_desire]

William glances up at Zara when she looks at his direction. He tilts his head in curiosity.

"Wil can't build too good right now." Jonathan explains.

((my Flight Rising account is active now))

[clark_luthor]

Zara understands, this time projecting the image of a tiny hatchling, unable to do much for itself yet. She nudges a piece of gingerbread in his direction with her nose.

((I saw that. :) You should have a friend request from me now.))

[slayers_desire]

Wil tilts his head again. He reaches out for the gingerbread. And his developing mind tries to reach out to Zara in a different way.

[Yah! We are friends!]

[clark_luthor]

Zara doesn't have a clue what to make of that, her eyes swirling light green and yellow in puzzlement. But then, he is a hatchling, so he's not going to make sense.

[slayers_desire]

Wil baby babbles for a bit. He returns to crushing his gingerbread pieces.

"Zara, does Luthor know that you are here?"

[clark_luthor]

Zara's thoughts are evasive, which is not very subtle by itself. She pretends not to know what April is asking, though it's very clear she does, and that the answer is no.

[slayers_desire]

"Oh dear." April sighs to herself, sensing that Zara is trying to be evasive.

Wil holds out a mush of gingerbread to Zara.

[clark_luthor]

The queen recoils from the mush, ruffling her wings. She turns to Jonathan again, hoping that he has more meat hidden away somewhere.

[slayers_desire]

"Mommy, can I feed her more?"

"You better not Jonathan. Not until we find out why she is here." April takes out her PINpoint to send Luthor a quick message.

[clark_luthor]

He doesn't take long to reply. You seem to be a favorite destination, ever since she learned to travel cross-universe.

[slayers_desire]

Zara was reluctant to have you know she was here. So I just wanted to ensure that you were aware of her presence

"Wil, the pretty lady doesn't want your mush..." Laura moves to help clean of William's hands.

[clark_luthor]

She likes to think she's independent.

[slayers_desire]

She definitely gets spoiled here.

[clark_luthor]

She's spoiled here too.

Is she causing trouble?

[slayers_desire]

She is behaving very good. The kids are very entertained

"Pretty! You want to play?" Laura asks Zara.

[clark_luthor]

Zara tilts her head to side and makes a questioning noise.

Let me know if that changes, Clark texts back.

[slayers_desire]

"I am sure there is a game that you guys could play with Zara, where she practices her abilities."

"Goodie!" Laura is more interested in playing with Zara right now, than building gingerbread houses anymore.

"How about tag? Does she know tag, momma?" Jonathan asks, as April helps clean up the kids for some play time.

"Let's find out."

[clark_luthor]

Zara isn't paying much attention to what they're saying, though she's watching their movements very closely. Her gaze follows the gingerbread, seeing how the nicely built houses get set aside and the crumbled mush get thrown away. She definitely doesn't understand why the weird, stinky thing isn't all being thrown away, but two-leggeds do weird things sometimes.

[slayers_desire]

Jonathan goes into the living room. He remembers that Zara can disappear from one place and reappear to another. So he holds out a piece of jerky.

"Want to play tag, Zara?"

[clark_luthor]

Zara hops off the table and glides out to the living room. She knows the word 'play,' but she isn't sure what he wants her to do. She does a slow loop around him, chirping.

[slayers_desire]

"We will show you!" Jonathan decides. He pats Laura on the shoulder. "Tag! You are it!"

Then he runs away, with Laura chasing afterwards with a giggle. They chase each other around the couch, before Jonathan lets his sister catch up.

"Tag. You are it!" Laura giggles, tagging Jonathan.

[clark_luthor]

Zara squawks in confusion, watching the children run around. It's clearly a chasing game, but instead of pouncing, they just... hit each other.

[slayers_desire]

Jonathan and Laura continue to play tag with each other. Circling around the couch for a few minutes.

Then Jonathan tags with a tickling attack, making Laura giggle.

[clark_luthor]

Zara has vague ancestral memories of her species playing games like this, but she's never experienced it herself. She cocks her head to the side, watching them play.

She looks over at April, as if to ask are you seeing this too?

[slayers_desire]

"It is just as fun to join in the game."

When Jonathan is circling the couch to tag Laura, April gets into the game by tickling him. "Momma! You are not it!"