While perhaps at any other period in time, Jason’s legs slung over Gregory’s shoulders would promise a pleasurable venture, right now they promise nothing but later pain. Gregory huffs and puffs and tries to not groan when Jason squirms around, shifting his - while not considerable, still there - weight so he can reach as high as possible to plop that godforsaken star on top of their unnecessarily massive tree. Jason misses his mark for the third time this evening and growls, beginning to sound more and more like the tiger Gregory knows is inside him.

“Where--” Gregory starts, has to cut himself off when Jason squeezes his head with his thighs, then continues in a strangled voice, “Where’s Lou.”

“Not here,” is Jason’s clipped response. He sets a hand on top of Gregory’s head as if to steady himself, and, distantly, Gregory hopes he doesn’t get a good grip on his hair. Not when they’re in this position, at least. “Who knows what he’s doing. Who cares. He isn’t necessary for this, anyway, and we’ve spent so long on this tree, just you and I. So it falls to us to finish it, Gregory. I am determined.”

Jason’s damn scary when he’s determined. Gregory’s old knees are starting to protest, however, and he’s sure they’re going to buckle and send them both right into the tree at this rate. “I-I think I gotta set you down, boss. Just for a bit.”

Jason does tug his hair this time. “Not yet, Gregory! We’re so close, once more! I need this--”

It’s of course right then that Grady walks into the room and stops dead in his tracks, freezing with a red-and-green-sprinkled donut halfway to his open mouth. He stares at them both and Gregory can feel his face already burning.

“Get over here, Grady!” he barks, then panics, nearly dumping Jason off his shoulders when Grady spins on his heels and beats a hasty retreat. “H-hey, wait-- dammit, Grady!”

“Hush, we don’t need him. Just stand on your tiptoes, Gregory! I demand another try!”

Later, after failing in their endeavors and consoling Jason through his sulk, Gregory finds himself with Louis at his door. Louis, who has the audacity to slink home. Louis, who knows what he did.

“Ah...the tree looks nice,” Louis says, hovering in the doorway and visibly quailing beneath Gregory’s scowl. “Very nice, in fact, you did a marvelous job. I only apologize that I was not here to aid you. But I see it is missing its star.”

Gregory rears back and throws the damn star right at his head.