How Green Becomes Wood

"Oh?" Daizi remarked, hearing that tone and deciding to test the limits, "Are you sure? It could be fun, we could have the Hollis', my city and work friends, your friends, Dark's... Cooger--"

"I do have other friends," Dark interjected at his wife's hesitation.

"Yeah, but they're your work friends, and I'm not sure either you or our sons would find it restful to see other teachers over break," Daizi pointed out, but then grinned, "Unless... It could be very... subversive. Like performance art."
 
Alec snickered softly. "Dark's Cooger," he mumbled gleefully.

"Sounds horrible," Xander stated. "The worst."

"I'd love to see our teachers over and off-duty!" Alec countered. "We could invite the new neighbor lady and her son - what's his name? Tommy? That could be a blast!

"Yeah, and why don't we invite Crystal and the Applebaums over, too," Xander said dryly.
 
"Toby," Dark corrected mildly.

"We have space for exactly one Appelbaum," Daizi teased, "and we can string up fairy lights in the yard--" she lightly smacked Dark's chest, even though he said nothing, "I hear they're very enjoyable and lovely to see. Dark can serve masgouf and we can make kebabs. Or we can go for a nice bike ride. If we rent a tandem bike and I'm in the back it wouldn't be an issue, and I can wear Ivy. Or we could visit a cave, perhaps, but not one you need to squeeze through at all. Obviously. I'm trying to think of any unique outdoor experience."

"Over the summer I think we should visit the Ocean."
 
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"Fairy lights would be really pretty in the backyard no matter what," Alec sighed wistfully. "And a cave visit would be nice, but maybe not the bike ride. Or how about a hike? Or visiting places with different gardens?"
 
"We could do either. I'm just trying to think of new experiences for us... But we do need to go back on that trail we walked last year, because I didn't get to walk over the bridge then." Daizi commented, then playfully nudged Dark, "Somebody wouldn't let me."

"Yes, because you were very recently pregnant and I wanted to be cautious," He replied, frowning and trying his best to not be endeared by her. Unsuccessfully.

"Xander, what do you want to do?"
 
Xander hesitated as he tried to think of an actual reply. "To go... car shopping?" he finally suggested.

Alec groaned. "I suppose that's a legitimate response, but it sounds so boring!"

"Fine, how about learn how to skateboard?" Xander said. The only reason he'd suggested it was because of the earlier mention of Toby, who skateboarded.
 
"I can take you car shopping when Daizi takes Alec and Ivy to some botanical gardens. We would just need to see if Cooger could drive them... I suppose we could drop them off, but the times may be difficult to work out, depending on where they want to go, how long they plan to be there, and the rest."
 
"It is about time for you to take your driver's test, so it is no issue. We do not have to go to look at cars on the same day they go to the gardens, either, we have the full week." Dark assured him, getting up and lying Ivy down gently so they could go eat.

Daizi sighed, following the rest upstairs, "I wish I could drive. It's really frustrating to have to rely on others for something like that... not that I need to explain that to you two, but I think it's different in adulthood."
 
"I wish there was a better bus system around here," Alec remarked, heading for the kitchen. "Then you'd have a lot more freedom. Maybe not to the extent of driving yourself, but at least you could go places alone."

"We could write to the congressman," Xander muttered.

Alec gave him a puzzled glance. "What would that help?"

"I dunno, but you see it a lot on old shows. Someone complains, the other person says, 'write to your congressman,' like it's an answer or a solution or something," Xander shrugged.
 
"It wasn't so bad when it was just me, because it's not difficult to call a car with taxis and ride shares, but now there's a carseat to contend with. I guess in New York they added an option where you can request a car with a carseat, but it hasn't spread, yet. Which is frustrating, because I don't understand why it just isn't available everywhere." Daizi complained, waiting until both Alec and Xander got their food before getting food for herself.

"It would not do damage to write to our elected officials and beg them to support public transportation," Dark commented, although he very much doubted anything would change, because it would hurt how much their politicians could profit from the automotive industry. "Have you thought about what type of car you want, Xander?"
 
"If you're rich enough to have a kid, you're rich enough to not need the bus, I guess, even if it is more environmentally conscious," Xander grumbled.

"I just wish they could make safe care seats that weren't so ridiculously heavy!" Alec moaned.

Xander glanced at Dark as he got out the plates. "Just one that runs. Not too big, but not tiny. Used. I'll ask Cooger to teach me how to keep the thing running for as long as I can. Then, someday, I'll buy a new car, the exact car I want, and try to keep it going."

"Like the Hollis' cars?" Alec asked, waving his cup. "They are really nice cars, but they aren't new. I thought rich people always bought the latest and greatest new things?"
 
"I think plenty of parents cannot afford cars," Daizi pointed out, "but I don't think many politicians like to acknowledge that. And the newness of goods sort of... depends on when people are classified as 'old' or 'new' money, which basically means people who recently acquired wealth like to show off the fact they're rich, and those who grew up in it try to be more subdued about it."

Dark nodded along to Xander's plan, "I think that is a healthy outlook to have. I suppose if we shop for cars we should bring Cooger with, because he knows more about what to look and listen for than I do. And I know how to haggle... And if you do not have the money to pay in full, I can cosign on a loan, but if I did that, I think I would expect you to have a job with consistent paychecks so you could afford the payments." It had been something he and Daizi had been discussing how to deal with, because they had known for long enough Xander would want a car as soon as possible, and he wasn't going to play games and pretend like he hadn't been thinking about it.
 
Xander glanced at Dark, only a little surprised by his thoroughness. "Is my leather business consistent enough paychecks?"

"I wish we could get paid to sing at the pizzeria, but at least we get some pocket change with the tips," Alec remarked. "Not that I need the money to buy a car, but a new outfit might be nice."

"Dude, you can't fit the clothes you do have in your side of the closet. You've taken up like three-quarters of it," Xander complained. "Last time I pulled out my good shirt, it had sequins on it!"

Alec frowned at him. "Why'd you let your shirt steal my shirt's sequins? You should know better than to press the two materials together."

Xander gave him a flat look.
 
"If you save up the tips, eventually you will be able to afford a new outfit with them," Daizi pointed out.

"From what I understand, and I do not closely monitor your income, you have a decent number of sales, but the money received from the sales is not always consistent. That said," he said slowly, considering this aspect for the first time, "I suppose it would be up to you to determine for yourself what your average monthly income from your leather business is, and see what you think you could afford."
 
"Oh, I have! I just haven't had the time to go shopping. Or," he gave a pointed glance at Xander, "the approval of my roommate."

"That's fair," Xander agreed. "I'll get back to you on that. I've been keeping records, but I haven't really been looking around at cars much, so I don't know what to expect for prices."
 
"Have you considered getting rid of clothes you like less or do not wear very often?" Dark asked, entering the other conversation, "If you donate or sell those clothes, you can get new ones without losing space. Or you could get rid of the desk and replace with with a wardrobe for Xander's clothing and take over the closet. I could build a wardrobe."

"With what time, Goose?" Daizi laughed good naturedly, "and when did you decide you liked building furniture? You used to only like to build in the small scale."

"I built our daughter two cribs, I can build my sons a wardrobe if they want a wardrobe."
 
"A wardrobe would be amazing!" Alec cooed. "It would look so fantastic! And I'd have more room. I like all the pieces I have so far. I don't want to get rid of any."

"I wouldn't mind getting rid of the desk, but you don't have to make us a wardrobe," Xander said with a shrug. Daizi was right, he had no time to spare for something like that.
 
"Yeah, alright," Xander said slowly, almost suspiciously.

Alec grinned and polished off his plate of food. "Excellent! Now I can pretend I'm in a fantasy novel and hide behind Xander's clothes."

"Hide in your own closet and keep your sequins away from my tank tops," Xander growled at him.

Alec smiled, making no promises.
 
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