How Green Becomes Wood

"I agree with all of that," Spencer replied truthfully. "I think women who choose to stay at home with their children and women who choose to focus on their career are often pitted against one another. The one who works is meant to find the one who doesn't ambitionless and the one with children is meant to find the life of the one without them incomplete, but I think that's all nonsense. My sister is a stay-at-home mom to three children, and she has two dogs and a lizard ontop of it. It's all she ever wanted, and she works hard to give those kids the best life possible. That's ambition, it just doesn't look like mine. As for life not working out the way we plan," She gestured out the window at Dark and his fish, "He became a stay-at-home father after going through the hell of applying to graduate school to earn a second master's. He had his eye set on being on the board of education someday and changing the system." There were, of course, bigger curveballs she could discuss, ones which hit people with less means than the rulers of the gothic palace they stood in, but that didn't quite feel right to discuss at a toddler's birthday party, so she hope her point landed without it, "Anyway, I know you and I both work in the truth and in facts, but I'm really not going to be offended by most opinions."

~~

"I think they don't want to be away from the appetizers," Cooger suggested, resting his arms on the balcony, "Y'all did a great job. Bet if we moved some of it out here, folks'd migrate."

"You are probably right." Dark admitted, shading his eyes from the sun, "and with Ivy asleep, Daizi will help shepherd them."
 
Ciara dipped her head in agreement. "Opinions qnd facts are both important to have, but they each have their place. I do have one question: why ever would someone want a lizard?"

~~

"I can go get some stuff and bring it out," Xander said, heading for the door. "Coog, you want to help?"

Alec tapped Dark on the shoulder. "I need to ask a favor."
 
Spencer laughed, hanging her head, "My sister didn't. She despises that critter. But her son begged every day for a bearded dragon and she relented for his tenth birthday."

~~

"Sure, may as well," Cooger replied, heading that way.

"What sort of favour?" Dark asked, not wanting to agree prematurely.
 
"I do not even know what a... 'bearded dragon' is or looks like, but I cannot imagine keeping anything lizard-like as a pet," Ciara said with a slight shudder.

~~

Xander went in with Cooger.and started moving some of the trays outside to the deck.

"Could you help me try to seat Milo and Noor next to each other?" Alec requested.
 
"They're sort of orange and spiky," Spencer explained, "And he grew much larger than my sister expected, they needed to replace his cage twice. Don't let my nephew know I called it a cage, I know it's not the right word, but I don't remember what the right one is."

~~

The simple act of bringing the food outside convinced others to go out too. If the food was out there, surely they were meant to be too.

Hearing this request, Dark turned towards Alec and raised an eyebrow, "I potentially could. Why?"
 
"That is quite interesting. It sounds like a fantastical creature," Ciara remarked. She still could not fathom owning such a creature.

~~

"I think would go very well together," Alec said. "I thought I saw some positivity toward each other earlier."
 
"His name is Jeph. Spelled with a -ph for reasons I don't understand. My sister is crushed, she agreed thinking they'd live maybe three years." Spencer looked at Ciara in amusement, "They live for up to ten. Jeph will be around until her boy is in college."

~~

"Did you now?" Dark asked, picking up his stick and tamping down the embers some more, "It will not be too overwhelming for Milo, you think? I am rather fond of Noor, but she is not particularly warm."
 
"Perhaps Jeph can go to college, as well," Ciara said in amusement. "Many places are more tolerant of non-furred pets, I understand."

~~

"Just about everything and everyone is overwhelming to Milo. Maybe someone stiff will come as a relief compared to someone who tries to be nice. Maybe if Xander is on his other side it will be tolerable," Alec reasoned.
 
"We can only hope," Spencer laughed, "At least my nephew actually cares for him. We were worried my sister would need to do all of the work."

~~

"That is a fair point," Dark replied. "I suppose I can see if I can manage it, but there are so many of us. Although it'd be easier if we establish a kid's table."
 
"I never had a pet of my own for exactly that reason," Ciara mused. "We had a few family pets of the cat and dog variety when we children were young and all at home, but the moment it seemed likely only one parent would be taking care of it, the family pets ended."

~~

"That could work!" Alec agreed eagerly. "The others would probably approve, too. Thanks!"

As Alec hurried away to check on his mother, Jack glanced at Dark in amusement. "He's starting his matchmaking career young."
 
"We kept rabbits growing up. I'm not sure how we ended up with them and not more conventional animals, but I loved having them." Spencer said, "Now I only keep a saltwater fishtank. Well, Mittz does, primarily. It's a lot of work, but we don't need to worry about them getting lonely."

~~

"So it would seem. I have my doubts of his success, but we had to rent plastic tables to have enough space, so he may as well have his attempt." Dark replied.

Meanwhile, Daizi was just coming downstairs and making polite conversation as people shuffled outside to the garden.
 
"Fish are lovely to watch," Ciara agreed. "That would likely be the one pet I would choose if I were to get any now."

~~

"I hope it works for his friends' sakes," Jack said, amused as he turned back to his camera and Dark's fish.

~~

"Mama!" Alec called to get her attention and went to touch her arm. "The party seems to be going very well."
 
"I do miss owning rabbits, to be honest, but we just work too much. But we'll be able to afford a down-payment on a home soon, so," She shrugged, "There are some benefits to our hours."

~~

"I hope it does not overwhelm Milo," Dark said, waving out of a sense of obligation to the friends and relatives as they came out.

"There you are," Rashid said, walking up to Dark with a friendly smile which failed to reach his eyes, "I was beginning to think you had decided to skip the party."

"No, I have only been out here cooking. I am glad to have you here. Jack, this is Daizi's uncle Rashid, Rashid this is Jack Hollis." He wasn't sure if he should introduce Jack as Daizi's friend, Daizi's friend's husband, or the father of the twin's friend Peter. Somehow, all of them seemed rude so he chose none of them. While Rashid introduced himself to Jack, Dark explained, "We had expected more people to come outside. I am glad you finally have."

~~

"I think so too," She smiled, taking hold of Alec's arm for her own sake, "Are you enjoying yourself?"
 
"That is admirable," Ciara agreed, inclining her head. "Home ownership is an affluential position, but never one I particularly aspired to. I do not require much space, do not need much personalization, have no interest in maintaining a yard, and enjoy the benefits of having a reliable landlord to come and fix various things that break." She gestured slightly to indicate the home they stood in. "Other lifestyles chaffe under renter limitations."

~~

Jack stood and offered a hand to Rashid. "Pleasure to meet you!" he grinned. "Nice to see some others joining us out here. This is one of the last times the weather can qualify as 'nice' before everyone agrees it's 'cold.' I think those of us from warmer climates can already say it's a bit nippy out, can't we?"

~~

"I am!" Alec said happily. "It's fun to wander around and listen to all the conversations. Xander and Uncle Cooger abducted the food, though, in hopes of forcing more people outside."
 
"I'd be content, I think, if I never went down that route, but Mittz?" She mimicked Ciara's gesture about the dwelling, "This is the opposite of her. She has been telling me for years about her dream of pastel blue kitchen cabinets with a soft, pale, orange tile backsplash. Specifically, a pinkish orange, not like tangerine. She's very specific, her dream is to feel like she lives in a doll house. I balance it with replicas of marble sculptures and heavy tomes, and we've agreed to only one multi-coloured wall, painted in pastels not vibrant colours, and we need to have some simple wood tones. Dark and Daizi do not know how lucky they are to have reached an aesthetic agreement."

~~

"It is rather cold here," Rashid agreed, shaking Jack's hand, "I was surprised the party would go outside at all. To me, it feels a bit too cold for a baby out here."

~~

"It did sound like it was getting quiet in here," Daizi said, sighing softly, "I suppose we should go out too, since most of the party is there. And I can make sure nobody is harassing your father. And that nothing is going wrong with his fish, he's dedicated to them."
 
"I am neither of those. I prefer white and light," Ciara said. "I prefer clean lines and simplicity."

~~

"You kind of get used to it, and if you're born here, like she was, it's not so bad. Not to mention layers," Jack said with a grin, tugging at his sweater sleeve as an example.

~~

"Peter's dad, Mr. Hollis, he seems to be looking after Ba while Ba looks after the fish," Alec reported.
 
"Have you ever seen, either in person or in pictures, old libraries? The sort with heavy, dark wood bookshelves, exposed beams, and large, iron-wrought windows? That is my preference. I want white walls, dark bookshelves, and a comfortable chair. My wife wants to live with the Care Bears. That's another reason why we want to purchase a house--our apartment is rather... eclectic, purely due to space, as we navigate each other's tastes."

~~

"And we never allow her outside unless she is properly dressed for the weather," Dark assured his uncle-in-law, "I do not believe she has ever been given a chance to feel cold."

~~

Daizi sighed softly, leaning against Alec for a moment, changing her mind a few times about what she wanted to say before finally just saying, "He's a good man. And it horrifies him when he's made to confront that simple fact."
 
"I suppose those two are very different tastes," Ciara agreed. "I would not even know where to begin to match those styles. My nephew, Alec, he would appreciate the... Care Bear style."

~~

"Or the heat," Jack said cheerfully. "Babies are resilient. I would never do this, but over in European countries, it is pretty common for babies to nap outside. In winter. Imagine that!"

~~

Alec smiled and willingly supported her. "He's a bit silly that way, but I think he's allowed."
 
"I can't tell you how many evenings we spend on the couch together with a bottle of wine scrolling through pintrest together," Spencer smiled softly, looking over at where Alec and Daizi were standing together, "I think he would too, from what I've heard of him. Daizi isn't shy about praising them to us, and I've gone to see his band at that pizza place once or twice with her. And I think Xander appreciates her Care Bear style, not because he likes it, but because she's why a certain man had to wear a lavender suit to our wedding."

~~

"Europeans also hired troops to invade my country when we nationalized our own canal, causing an international crisis," Rashid pointed out with a charming smile, "They are not always particularly wise. But, my grand-niece is napping inside so there is no harm done." He scoffed at himself, "Doesn't that make me sound so old? My grand-niece. I thought only people like my Aunt who were born before the Pyramids had great-nieces."

"Careful who hears you say that, Rashid, or you will find such a woman's slipper against your head." Dark said dryly, poking his embers.

~~

"May we all reach heights we never dreamed possible for us," Daizi murmured, rubbing her thumb against Alec's arm. "Come on, let's go bother him."
 
"Ah, yes, I did hear about that story," Ciara remarked. She glanced around as the others left. "Should we... perhaps go outside?" She really disliked outdoor parties, but she understood the appeal and the reasoning. Better an outdoor party than a large, echoing room filled with loud people. Not that this room did echo, but if she had to chose, she would prefer outdoors.

~~

Jack chuckled at that. "We had a great-great-grandmother in my family. She sadly passed a couple of years ago, but she was also the tye to throw a slipper at sassy young folk."

~~

"If you're ready," Alec agreed. "You seem a little tired. Have you had any water yet? I can get you some while you go out to bother Ba."
 
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