How Green Becomes Wood

"Fascinating," Ciara said with a nod, her attention fully on Ivy. "How did you reach that conclusion?"

"Oh! Nice!" Alec grinned, scrambling to his feet.

Xander frowned. "I still say it's cheating."

"And I say it's using my recourses," Alec retorted, walking to the door. "Plus, it's an excuse to see Aunt Ciara."

Xander couldn't argue with that, so he stood, as well, to at least say hello to one of the two blood relatives he actually liked.
 
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Ivy grinned up at her, again going up to rest her cheek against Ciara's knee. It was really nice getting all the attention in the world.

"What is your history project?" Daizi asked, "I'm surprised you didn't bring it up to your father at all."
 
"That is an efficient way to conclude that thought," Ciara told Ivy before gingerly patting her back.

"Well," Alec fidgeted, lowering his voice, "I know and respect how passionate he is, and I know he'd probably love to talk about it, but it's also a sore subject, and I really didn't want to bring up bad memories. I might still ask him later, once I'm almost done, for a more... personal opinion piece, a few quotes, but I didn't want to bother him with-"

"You still haven't told her what the subject is," Xander remarked dryly.

"Oh. The failure to appropriately plan for the aftermath of the Gulf War," Alec finally said clearly.
 
Ivy giggled happily, rubbing her cheek against Ciara's leg and then toddled off to go get a toy to show her. The one she selected was her newest one, which meant it was the fake wig. After rubbing her cheek against it, she handed it to her aunt like it was very special.

Daizi paused for a moment, rubbing her fingers against the doorframe. The fact the documents they received were from a government agent wouldn't help settle her husband, she knew that much. "Did I ever tell you my uncle died in that war?" She asked.
 
Ciara stared, her expression absolutely blank as she tried to understand what she was seeing. A variety of options flashed through her mind, none of them equalling "wig." "That is very interesting. What is it?" she asked cautiously.

"I think maybe, and I can't say I am surprised," Alec admitted, hoping that did not sound too callous. "It sounds like an utter mess, to say it very nicely."
 
"Baba," Ivy answered.

"It was before my time, but the aftermath..." She shrugged, rubbing the back of her neck, "It's part of why Saladin is like he is, it was his brother." She sighed, pushing her hair back, "Anyway, Ivy is keeping your aunt company, so we should provide relieve her."
 
"Baba?" Ciara repeated blankly, not understanding what this clump of hair had to do with Dark.

"It was a lot," Alec said. He forced a smile. "Yes, we should go talk to Aunt Ciara and help out Ivy with keeping her company." He headed down the stairs, slowing when he saw what Ivy was showing Ciara. "Ah. Ivy's showing her the fake beard. It looks a bit like a furry rat."
 
"Owie," Ivy said, reaching out to pet the fake beard.

"Let me know if you want anything from the Egyptian perspective," Daizi added, and then once they returned to the living room and Alec told her what Ivy was doing, she laughed and said, "Habibti, what are you doing?"
 
"The beard is Baba, and it is owie," Ciara repeated with prompt exactness.

Alec grinned. "Well, kind of, almost." At Ciara's raised brow, he said, "Baba received a bit of an owie... under his beard... Anyway! You brought the documents? None of them will get me in trouble, right?"

"No, none of them are relevant," Ciara said a bit suspiciously. "They are all open to the public now, and anything truly important has been redacted. I chose documents with the least amount of redaction possible." She handed him the box. "I will not say they will not get you into trouble with some people."

Alec shrugged as he took them. "Some things are worth it."
 
"I always seek to make Good Trouble," Daizi said, coming into the room, "Ivy has had a confusing day... What sort of documents are they?" She wasn't trying to misdirect Ciara, but when a government agent brings in partially redacted, if publicly available, documents regarding a war which killed her uncle and gave her long-dead father-in-law chronic pain, it seemed a much, much bigger deal than her husband shaving his beard. Ivy, meanwhile, continued to babble.
 
Ciara glanced at Alec. "Did you not tell them anything about it?" Daizi had said he hadn't mentioned the project, but he didn't thing it was to this degree.

Alec shrugged a little guiltily. "I wanted to wait until later since I knew they'd be... a sore spot."

Ciara looked at Daizi. "They concern the plans for what was to come after the war ended. The Gulf War, I should say. These are available to the public, even online, but they are often times either buried or presented with a severe bias. Alec contacted me and asked if it was possible if I were to collect a few to give him to use for his history project as they would be directly from the source with minimal bias."
 
"Oh," Daizi replied, trying to decide how she felt about that. Dark would have immediately found a good deal to say, but ultimately she landed on, "Well, thank you for agreeing to help him. It's an important project." Then she shook her head and realized, "Can I get you anything? I hadn't asked, I'm so sorry."
 
"Do you have somewhere else you need to be?" Daizi asked curiously, not to try to shame her. Ivy, meanwhile, took the fake beard back and went to find something else to play with, now going over to her brothers for their attention.
 
Ciara considered her answer. "No... But I am aware I dropped by with little forewarning, and I did not wish to inconvenience you and any plans you might have." Then, watching Ivy with her toys, she remembered. "Oh, yes, and I did have something else. I had forgotten." She reached into her purse and pulled out the toy Ivy had lost at her apartment. "I have been carrying this for some time and meaning to return it to you." She placed it delicately in Daizi's hand.

Alec put the box of documents off to the side out of Ivy's reach and sat down on the floor to play with her.
 
"Oh, thank you," Daizi said, feeling the toy over in her hand, "I had been wondering where this got to. Ivy-Qadira, look what your Auntie Ciara brought back to you!" Ivy squealed, and came over to get the toy. After Daizi handed it to her, she told her, "Can you tell Aunty Ciara thank you? Tell her shukran!"

"Shukran!" Ivy chirped, hugging the toy to her chest and stamping her feet with a big grin before, in her joy, hugging Ciara's legs.

"And really, it's no intrusion. My work day is finished up, and we all like having you over," Daizi promised.
 
"Afwan," Ciara said formally and gingerly patted Ivy's back again. Unlike some people, being around children in no way, shape, or form made Ciara wonder how it would have been to have children of her own or desire children in the future. Instead, she was fully affirmed in her decision that, no, children were not for her. Looking up at Daizi, she asked, "And how is Mr. Dark? Is he fairing well?"
 
Daizi inhaled softly, "He had a difficult day. He sort of... Well..." She tucked a strand of hair back, "Ivy had a little accident with one of her toys, nothing too major, but one of those things. Xander, do you want to see if he's coming down?" She turned to Ciara, "If you're staying, I'm sure he will."
 
Xander nodded and went up the stairs. "Ba, where are you hiding?"

"I suppose I could stay, if you are certain I am not interfering," Ciara said.

"Really, Aunt Ciara, it's great to have you here," Alec assured her.

"Very well," Ciara agreed.
 
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