How Green Becomes Wood

"I guess so," Daizi said, "but I don't really know what is actually good or not. I've heard people complain about it, but I don't know the difference between twenty and twenty-four point font, except that the latter is larger. I'd be glad to help you, really, I just don't want to accidentally lead you astray."

"I have always enjoyed the Defenestration of Prague," Dark sighed, picking Ivy up out of the high chair and setting her in his lap, "It has been a life goal of mine for many years to defenestrate someone. I do not necessarily want to kill someone, but... Perhaps if I had a fall mat. Anyway, I can help you, but probably do not mention it."
 
"That's okay! It'll still help. Plus, you can help me decide which witchy details to include about the Salem Witch Trials," Alec grinned, knowing his subject would intrigue his mother.

"Defenestrations plural, not singular, since I'm supposed to cover all three incidents," Xander sighed. "Tossing someone out a window does sound pretty fun. I wonder if the window in the history classroom opens? I could have an example."
 
It was true, Daizi couldn't help but grin at that, "I've been to Salem. You can feel it in the air, there, if you can quiet yourself enough to perceive it."

"You do not get to defenestrate someone before I get to," Dark replied with a heavy frown, "That is not how this works. If the history window opened sufficiently, I would have utilized it by now."
 
"I think that's the kind of thing I'd actually prefer to avoid, but I can appreciate its existence. Does that make sense?" Alec asked thoughtfully.

"Alright, that's fair." Xander glanced at Alec to make sure he was distracted before saying just to Dark, "Maybe I'll snag one of Alec's stuffies and toss it out as a demonstration. I don't think that'd count as defenestrating before you."
 
"I suppose I can understand why you wouldn't like it, but I don't agree. The earth and the landscape hold memories, and I don't... I don't like it, but I'm compelled to heed it. I have to. People have been around for a very, very long time." Daizi sighed, reminsicing on the power she had felt in places.

"Take one of Ivy's toys, so long as it is not hee sheep or her rabbit, she will not miss it for a day. And Alec will not have a heart attack. Right, Miss Ivy-Qadira?" Dark looked down at Ivy to get her opinion and caught her looking up at him as though he were the most important man in all the world. The sound of her name made her squeak--her baba was talking about her!

Exhaling softly, Dark lifted her higher towards his face, kissed the top of her head, and murmured to her, "Ana bahibik, baba" and hugged her close while she gurgled in delight.

After a moment, he looked back at Xander, "I can tell you which of her toys she will not notice are gone."
 
"Hmm, I suppose I understand, but, anyway, I figure you'll have a great idea for what I should or shouldn't put on my poster, so can I run the facts past you before committing to putting them on?" Alec asked before he started wiping down the counters.

"Uh-huh, you are definitely not wrapped around her finger," Xander said dryly. "And giving Alec a heart attack would be half the fun."
 
"That sounds just fine," Daizi replied genially, "Really, it's your project, so just tell me what you need help with. Most of the ones I encounter are about research, as in--the person being the one to originate the information, rather than assembling it from elsewhere, but I'm sure it's not too difficult to reorient myself."

Dark frowned at Xander, rubbing Ivy's back, "You expect me to catch her looking at me like that and not tell her I love her? Nobody else looks at me like that." Once more he looked at his daughter, who was snuggling against him like her life depended on it, and then said, "If you are committed to torturing your brother, I will not stop you, it is between you and him."
 
"Excellent!" Alec chirped. "It's not due until Monday, so I'll do a lot of research tonight and start assembling the Poster on Saturday. Sloan's birthday is on Friday, so I doubt I'll have time then."

"I'd roll my eyes, but I don't want to overwork the muscles," Xander replied. "Alright, I'll use one of Ivy's. Maybe I'll take both and chuck one based on my mood. Anyway... where is Prague?"
 
"No, I wouldn't guess so. Just let me know what you need when it comes to it," Daizi replied cheerfully, "Tell Sloan I said happy birthday. How old is she going to be again?"

"You do not understand it, that is okay." Dark replied while Ivy reached up her tiny hands to grab onto his beard and attempt to pull his face back towards her, "Just be careful of which one of Ivy's you take. If you take the wrong one, we will not hear the end of it."
 
"The big number. The adult number. The number to end all numbers!" Alec said dramatically. "Until she reaches 21, that is."

"I figured you could show me which one on Sunday or something so I'm not stealing her favorite," Xander said.
 
"Wow, really?" Daizi replied, raising her eyebrows, "That's... We moved here when she was just a child. It's weird to imagine her as an adult."

Dark nodded, "I will. When she is napping. Otherwise I fear she will see you take a toy she has not desired in months and suddenly it will be all she wants."
 
"She's really excited," Alec nodded. "Like, really excited."

"That figures," Xander agreed. "We can do it then. I don't think she's short of toys to share. When she doesn't know she's sharing them."
 
"I can imagine. I was thrilled too. It's a great thing, if you aren't too terrified of the added responsibility." Daizi replied, remembering how she felt at the edge of eighteen compared to how Dark had felt.

"She has too many toys. I do not know how it happened. We do not buy her many, but yet," He gestured towards the living room, "Here we are."
 
"I'm not looking forward to it," Alec said, making a face. "I like not having to worry about those kinds of responsibilities."

Xander followed his gesture. "It's like she's a magnet. And everyone under the sun wanted to give you stuff. It's kind of impressive, really."
 
Daizi chuckled lightly, "The responsibility comes more slowly than you think if you are not thrust out of your home as soon as you cross the threshold, and you're more prepared for it than most. But enjoy your last few years."

"I am told it happens often when you have a community and a baby is born. I had not realized I was in a community. Much of it is Cooger's doing." Dark replied blandly, despite how much he did appreciate it.
 
Alec walked over to Daizi and hugged her. "I intend to enjoy the heck out of every day!"

"Yep. And your coworkers at the school had absolutely nothing to do with it," Xander said just as blandly, nodding. "Not a thing. Or Mama's coworkers. All Cooger."
 
Daizi hugged him back, swaying slightly with the force of how firmly she squeezed him, "Good, I hope you do."

Dark held up his fingers in a little pinch, "I have a few coworkers I like. But, yes, Daizi's coworkers and her many friends gave a good deal. But Cooger is gregarious and has so many clients who hold him in high esteem, and so we, despite having never met them, are held in high esteem, and he said to them, 'My brother had a baby!' and they dig up the toys from their grown children and grandchildren."
 
Alec held on for a little longer before letting go. "I should go do homework. I have to get back into a school schedule. Blah!"

"You're worth holding in high esteem," Xander shrugged. "Anyway, I should get going on my homework. Gotta keep up my current streak of not failing."
 
She ruffled his hair lightly as he pulled away, "Yes, go do your schoolwork. It'll be good for you."

Dark darted his eyes away, softly thanking Xander for the compliment, and then raised his head and said, "You can do more in school than simply not fail."
 
"So much to do, so little time to do it," Alec sighed dramatically. "Still, if you need anything, like another hand to fetch that little speed demon, just give me a yell!" He trotted off happily to go get things done.

"A plus, B plus, C plus, they all have one thing in common: Not failing," Xander pointed out. "I'm happy with not failing in any of those degrees."
 
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