# Expansive Imprint - Thursday Writing Prompt

Author: LuMan
Tags: Bovine, Bull, Comedy, Expansive Imprint, Fox, Sculpture, Thursday Writing Prompt, Todd, Vulpine, artist

So, over on FA there's a group called "Thursday Writing Prompt". A group where you write a story every thursday based on a given word, phrase or image. I posted this story over there, and figured "what the heck, why not share the love?" So here it is, my take on this weeks theme: Expansive Imprint.
Critiques are always appreciated.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; There are faux pas, and then there are _faux pas._&nbsp; Certain things one absolutely did not do.&nbsp; For example, if you are touring someone else's "artist loft" as they call it, you are careful.&nbsp; You do not touch things.&nbsp; If you do touch things, you certainly don't go traipsing around with little regard to the owners property.&nbsp; If you do, go traipsing around, you certainly have the dignity and respect to be careful and graceful with your traipsing.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So leave it to Jonesy, A rather large bovine of a particular aloof nature and expanded waistline, to not only arrive at Alex's loft uninvited, but to begin touching everything.&nbsp; Statues the grey fox had built with meticulous care - carving the details out of clay using his very own sharpened claws, Paintings that weren't quite dry yet, and even had the audacity to sit upon what he thought was a "stool" that turned out was Alex's very first art project.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You absolute ingrate," Alex shouted, pointing down at the ruined mess.&nbsp; "How could you!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I...I'm sorry," Jonesy said, bolting upright quickly.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now, before I begin telling of the next events I must clarify that in all due respect, Alex had told him to stop by anytime in the past.&nbsp; And it certainly wasn't Jonesy's fault that Alex had such a small work space.&nbsp; His "Artist Loft" existed in the upper attic room of a cheap and old home, once owned by an eccentric old hound who enjoyed her clutter.&nbsp; No one called her a hoarder, but when she died everyone did question why she needed decades of copies of old locally distributed magazines and newspapers.&nbsp; Or why in the world anyone would keep a couch that was in such poor condition, it regularly "swallowed" any poor victim who sat in the middle of it.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was small and cramped crap is what I'm saying, so it's only understandable what happened next.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jonesy bolted upright, shouting apologies and stepped backwards without looking where he was going.&nbsp; His hoof landed on a broken easel (another victim of Jonesy's visit) and tumbled backwards, arms pinwheeling, his massive posterior crashing down upon something soft, and half formed.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A cry rose in Alex's throat.&nbsp; His ears flattened on his skull.&nbsp; There was a snarl on his muzzle and a twitch to his tail that Jonesy had never seen before.&nbsp; Before you could shout "Don't say it!" It was out of his mouth.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You complete imbicile!&nbsp; You stuttering graceless bafoon!&nbsp; How dare you come trampling around my Artist Loft!&nbsp; You destroy everything you touch, you bull-headed idiot!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jonesy winced at every word.&nbsp; His ears folded back at the slur.&nbsp; "I am a bit of a klutz.&nbsp; I'm sorry for that," he mumbled, his nose pointing downward.&nbsp; "I never mean to break anything.&nbsp; I always pay for everything I break.&nbsp; Does that warrant insulting me with such ugly words?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Alex took a deep breath, and sighed, blowing the air through his muzzle.&nbsp; His lips rippled a bit as he did so.&nbsp; "Look, I'm sorry for saying it."&nbsp; He replied.&nbsp; "But you positively destroyed my shop!&nbsp; And right as I was about to give a prestigious critic a very important glance at my latest..."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **\*BING BONG\*** The doorbell chimed, interrupting the vulpine.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "work!"&nbsp; He shouted.&nbsp; "Oh my God what will I do?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Uh....I'll clean up!"&nbsp; Jonesy stammered.&nbsp; "Go downstairs and stall them!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He flew down the steps, racing towards the front door as the door bell chimed loudly again.&nbsp; Past the living room with its boxes of stuff still piled up, ready to be hauled away at some future date.&nbsp; Past the relatively clean kitchen, through the dining room, over towards the front door.&nbsp; Alex winced as he heard a rush and tumble of things from the attic being thrown together.&nbsp; As he put his paw on the knob to open the door, there was a great _Crash_ that came from upstairs.&nbsp; He half expected to hear Jonesy's deep voice declaring "I'll pay for that," as he opened the door.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Why Olivia," Alex said with a smile.&nbsp; "I didn't expect to see you here so soon!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Oh," she said, "Is it not two thirty?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The vulpine grasped her paw delicately and shook, before bending down to give her a kiss on the knuckle like a gentleman out of his own time.&nbsp; The professionally dressed vixen had a bored look upon her, as she stepped inside the door with her nose held high, and ignored the gesture.&nbsp; "Please, Alex," She grumbled.&nbsp; "Just show me to the piece."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "B-but," Alex began as Oliva pushed past him with the barest of a flick of the tip of her tail.&nbsp; "Don't tell me you're one of THOSE guys, Alex.&nbsp; I know the way up."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "B-but, I was going to make tea and discuss," he began, following closely behind her as his tail quickly began to tuck between his legs.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "And don't patronize me, young Todd," she sneered, dragging out the word 'Todd' to make it sound like the deepest insult.&nbsp; "Just show me the piece.&nbsp; I haven't got all day!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "But, I need to talk about the inspiration!&nbsp; Prepare you for what you're going to witness here."&nbsp; Alex stammered, all the way up the steps.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Please," Olivia groaned, rolling her eyes as her ears folded backwards.&nbsp; "One does not need preparation for good art.&nbsp; If I need to be prepared for it, I need to..." she stopped, at the top the stairs to the art loft.&nbsp; Jonesy sat back in the corner, opposite of the art piece, waving politely, a pile of things shoved behind him.&nbsp; Opposite of him was the sculpture of a vixen.&nbsp; Her hand was raised in the air, as if struggling beneath a weight.&nbsp; Her body had been smashed by pair of massive cheeks and a thick, bovine tail.&nbsp; Her top and legs were still discernable; looking as if she had been in mid-pose at the time of the incident.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I...I..." Olivia stammered.&nbsp; "I'm speechless."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I can change a couple things," Alex said as quick as he could.&nbsp; "I can re-sculpt it if you just give me a little more..."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She rounded on him, her eyes flared with anger, her ears folded into her fur.&nbsp; "You will do no such thing!"&nbsp; She snarled.&nbsp; "You will not!&nbsp; You will fire this piece, and present it as is!&nbsp; It is perfect, you hear!&nbsp; Once you got something perfect, _Todd,_ you DO not touch it."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Alex dropped his mouth open in surprise.&nbsp; Of all the reactions he was expecting, this was certainly not it.&nbsp; Laughing maybe.&nbsp; Snickering perhaps.&nbsp; The knowing nod of someone who has seen the worst an artist can possibly do, the quiet scribbling as the greatest possible insults a critic could muster is written down as fast as their brains could work.&nbsp; All of that he expected.&nbsp; But not praise.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "But what do you call this piece?"&nbsp; She asked, her head tilted quizzically.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Alex glanced over at Jonsey for a moment, taking in his massive waistline, his shy nature, and said the first thing that came to mind: "Expansive Imprint."

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/3egZGWd1