How Green Becomes Wood

Dark frowned at Alec, smoothing his hair again, "My hair is not that messy." He directed his eyes back to the road, "Theoretically he could have both? But I know Daizi is extremely particular about which kind of cane she likes."
 
"For a regular person, it's fine. For you, it's really messy," Alec stated. "I guess he could have two. How do you store an unused chair? What kind of appointment did you go to?"
 
"Sometimes, yes," Alec said cheerfully. "And he'd check to make certain you were not joking and then put you to work dusting all the high things he can't reach. I spend a lot of time doing that for him."
 
"During my tenure there, he moved the hanging baskets of of the way because I kept hitting my head on them." Dark said, exhaling out his nose in amusement while pulling into their driveway. "If he ever invites us to his home, I will have to be sure not to mention any dust I notice."
 
"That's nice of you and probably safer or else he might just hand you a dusting rag," Alec teased, getting out of the car. He let Dark go first and called out, "Mama, we're home!"
 
"I long for the day I would not gladly accept it," Dark replied, reaching behind him for the flower. When he exited the car, he seemed fine, but he used his right arm to open the car door. When he stood, he pressed one hand to his head before shaking his head and going inside.

Daizi came up to greet them, her damp hair clipped back, "Hi baby, how was work?" She hugged Alec and then went to her husband. Both of them leaned in to kiss each other before remembering their bet. They both froze where they stood, regretted their decisions, and then Daizi dropped back down off of her heels. Dark couldn't help but find the irritated look on her face endearing, but that didn't help. The frustration on her face only made him want to cup her by the chin and kiss her more, "How are you feeling, Goose?"

"Oh, I am fine," He answered, wanting to brush a loose strand of her hair back but not knowing if he was allowed.
 
"Nice catch," Alec said, watching them in amusement. "Work was good, Mama. I met a new customer - well, not new to the store, but new to me - who is a friend of Uncle Tristan's, there was a teen girl who brought in an 'emotional support chicken.' I asked Uncle Tristan about it after, and he said that as long as it behaved, he did not mind since there's no food in the store or anything that needed to be kept sterile. I think she was just trolling people, but it behaved well enough in the shop." He pulled a tiny bouquet of just a few small flowers out of his shirt pocket and handed it to Daizi. Lavender and Eucalyptus.
 
"An emotional support chicken?" Daizi couldn't help but laugh at the thought, "Thank you for the flowers, I'll go put them in a vase."

"I am going to go change," Dark said, heading upstairs, although he returned not long after still in comfortable clothes, including a zippered hoody, which he seldomly wore unless actively exercising.
 
"Sunflowers and gerber daisies with a few Forget-me-nots," Alec told her. "I thought maybe the sunflowers might make him feel... happier. Brighter. Forget-me-nots are the official flower of Grandparents's day. Did you know that?"
 
"No, I didn't, that's very kind of you. I'm sure he will love them." Daizi replied, setting the flowers Alec had given her in the vase.

"I did not even know grandparents' day was a thing," Dark said, following them into the kitchen and putting his single flower in with his wife's, "Why the daisies?"
 
Alec found a vase for Saladin's flowers so they could have water and stay fresh. "I didn't either until Tristan told me. It's September 7th, apparently. The daisies are because... Well, they look pretty with the sunflowers, I think." He unwrapped them enough to gently fluff the flowers. He'd chosen orange, red, and fuchsia Gerbera daisies to go with the bright yellow of the sunflowers, leaving the few bright blue Forget-me-nots to stand out brilliantly and break up the round of petals.
 
"That's the correct answer," Daizi chuckled, ruffling his hair, "My name means light, it has nothing to do with the flower."

"You should go show Amty Zeinab the ones you brought for her," Dark said, nodding that way.
 
Alec tucked Saladin's bouquet in a corner where it'd be out of the way and then took the paper-wrapped bouquet to Amty Zeinab. "Amty? I have something for you," he called as he entered to room, looking for his little sister and his new aunt.
 
Zeinab turned her head and smiled as she saw Alec come into the room with what was clearly flowers, moving to the side of the couch so he could sit with her, "For me? Oh, habibi, you didn't need to, you're such a sweet boy."

At the sight of her brother, Ivy tried to wiggle off the couch, but was stopped by her aunt who instead gently set her down onto the floor, where she pulled herself up on the coffee table and began to do her best to shuffle towards Alec.
 
"Yes, Amty. I picked these out just for you. I hope you like them," Alec said, handing them over. It was a mix of pale white, yellow, and pink Jasmine flowers. Jasmine was normally not used as a focal flower since they were so small and delicate, so it had been a difficult to find a good flower that wouldn't overshadow the little jasmine flowers. He'd decided to go with jasmine, lavender, and sweet peas. Once he handed over the flowers, he bent down and held out his hands to Ivy. "Hi, Ivy! Hello! Did you miss me? I was gone so long!"
 
Back
Top