How Green Becomes Wood

The next day, Ivy was not doing any better. Her cheeks were pink and warm, and she pitifully clung to whichever parent was currently holding her. Meanwhile, her father was telling himself the scratch in his throat was just due to the weather. There must have been an atmospheric shift, definitely.

When Ciara called, Daizi was curled up in her favourite armchair with her toddler lying pitifully on her chest, "You are very welcome, he always needs enrichment time."
 
Ciara was not quite certain if Daizi was joking, so she decided not to react to that comment. "I have promised that I would make it up to you. Therefore, I have two options that I hope will be something you will be interested in. The first, a new Beat Poetry place has opened, and I am told it is..." paper rustled as she checked a note, "'lit A-F,', which Xander has assured me means 'very good.' We may go just you and I, or we three adults could go. The second option, in a couple of weeks, there will be a masquerade ball for a charity event. I would be able to get you and Mr. Dark tickets to that so that you may have your chance to dance with him while he is in his finery."
 
Daizi tried hard not to laugh at Ciara saying 'lit a-f,' and was preparing to let her know there was no need to repay her... but then the options were really good. Sighing a sound both amused and forlorn, Daizi admitted, "Ciara, that is a really, really hard choice."
 
"Good. That was the intention," Ciara said, sounding highly satisfied. "You may take your time to decide. As I said, the ball is not for a couple of weeks." A pause as she checked. "Seventeen days, to be exact. Tickets are available for the next fifteen days unless they sell out, which is an unusual circumstance. The Beat Poet Club is a normal business and will be availible for whenever you should choose."
 
"The problem I have," There was some slight rustling as the phone was moved from her face and Daizi gently murmured something as she brought it back, "Is I always adore getting to spend time with you... but masquerades are not particularly common... And I am shocked you would intentionally torture me with having to choose!"
 
"Ah, I see, that would be very difficult. Very well, I shall agree that you deserve both options," Ciara agreed. "I will purchase your tickets, and they will arrive by mail in due time."
 
"I went to one when I was in college, but I have not been to one since. It was... fine," Ciara said, trying to remember exactly what it had been like. She could remember a fair amount, but how much of what she remembered had been corroded over time? Not to mention tainted by the fact that she'd gone there on a first date - the first time she had even attempted dating in college - and that had not gone... well. Therefore, there were many negative emotions tied to that situation, but she'd thought it seemed like Daizi's cup of tea. Or at least something Daizi would enjoy trying.
 
"I hope this one is nice," Daizi said, "I go to a few with some of my friends once in awhile... The Speakeasy we go to sometimes hosts an open mic. Once or twice I've gotten Dark to read some of his."
 
"Oh, that sounds lovely," Ciara said. "I am assured it is nice. If it is not, we shall find somewhere else to go." She did not mention it, but she had three backup spots planned out.
 
"I'm looking forward to it," Daizi said, stretching out her legs. Just audible off the phone was a quiet, pitiful little voice saying, Mama, and again Daizi paused to speak soothingly to her, "I haven't had the chance to ask, did you enjoy the event you brought Dark to? The way he described your dress made it sound lovely."
 
"It was... interesting. More interesting than some. Your husband brought quite a bit of liveliness to the event. He is an excellent dancer, and he behaves himself very well," Ciara remarked.
 
"For someone who hates to socialize, I think he handles those events better than I do." Daizi said, "But honestly, I think he just has an innate sense of grace and dignity that I lack, or he just is more interested in playing the game."
 
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"In the singular event I have witnessed, I think he enjoys the game," Ciara mused. "It is not a game I am particularly good at. I am much better at behind the scenes. He would likely take this as an insult, but he would have made a good cover agent."
 
"The best field agents are people you would never expect. Forgettable people, people who blend in, or whose features are easily modified to appear like someone unrecognizable with minimal effort. However, from time to time, a presence is required. We need someone who can look, sound, and act like an agent, but are more like what the media has taught the general populace that FBI agents look like. They still need to be able to do the job of a field agent, but they are not as easily disguised. Those are cover agents."
 
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