How Green Becomes Wood

"I've never found sight all that necessary to enjoying the botanical garden." Daizi replied, teasing, but then more earnestly said, "I think you should. You played really well together, and think how good your talent show performance will be this year if you start rehearsing now."
 
Alec frowned thoughtfully and forced himself to stop playing with the end of his scarf before he started to fray it. "I guess, but... the thing is, as much fun as it was, I'm not sure we can blend out personal tastes in music. Xander's more rock and roll and metal, I like more... pop sounds, soft rock, I guess, with elements of rock, and Peter is progressive and experimental. I guess we could take turns trying out different musical sounds."

"What are we talking about?" Xander asked, walking into the kitchen.
 
"Your band," Dark said, leaning against the counter.

"Nothing is stopping you from finding your own sound," Daizi said, "Genres aren't impenetrable, you can mess around and find what you like."
 
Xander made a face. "I dunno. Where would we play? Where would we practice? Besides, it's not like being in a band is going to get us anywhere in life."

"Maybe not, but it's fun," Alec pointed out. "And Peter is a good drummer. I think he's bored. Apparently, there are a lot of bands looking for a drummer, but he says they are all either old or kids goofing around and either not taking it seriously or taking it way too seriously. He says we at least have fun while actually doing stuff."
 
"You practiced here last year," Daizi pointed out, and then, after a tiny sound from Ivy, she sighed and said, "although that may be less possible, now. But Cooger would probably lend you space."

Dark made a face at Xander's comment, "Hobbies do not have to get you far. I have spent most of my life building an immense, functioning, wooden carnival, and no one besides my friends and family will ever know about it. Do not seek exclusively to be productive."
 
"Maybe Peter's family could find space for us. We wouldn't want to disrupt Ivy," Alec mused.

Xander shrugged at Dark. "Yeah, but it's a lot of time to dedicate to a thing that might be relevant once a year for a school talent show."

"We could maybe try to find other times and places to perform. Fundraisers, maybe," Alec pointed out.
 
"When she has consistently nap times it'll be fine," Daizi assured them, "because then you'll just have to schedule them around those times. While she still sleeps so much though..."

Dark squinted slightly at Xander before saying, "Daizi practices music all the time, and she does not even have a yearly performance. There is nothing wrong with not wanting to be in a band, but having a hobby for yourself is enough. If it is fun for the three of you, then it does not matter if you play for the stadiums, coffee houses, or mice."
 
"Mice?" Xander repeated. He glanced toward Ivy. "Looks like you're going to be our number one fan."

Alec just sighed at his brother. "How about we talk about this later? When you aren't trying to saddle a baby with a potentially offensive nickname."
 
"Lizards! Roaches!" Dark replied, running his hands over his face, "I was just trying to think of creatures lurk in a garage."

"Ghosts!" Daizi added, "But regardless of if Ivy is a mouse or not, she will still be your biggest fan, I bet. If big siblings stay nice, little siblings always adore them."
 
"Awe, do you hear that?" Xander asked, turning to Alec. "You adore me!"

"I still think I was born first because I have the first half of the name," Alec protested. "Alec and Xander!"

"I still think she didn't realize they went together like that," Xander said.

Alec shook his head. "No, it's because she wasn't expecting two and had one name picked out."

"Says you."

"Says you!"
 
Alec and Xander both looked at him blankly.

"What would be the fun in that?" Alec asked.

"Then we'd have nothing to argue about," Xander agreed. He leaned closer to Dark and stage whispered, "And what if he actually is older than me?"
 
"Well then you will just have to learn to cope with the fact your entire life has been a lie," Dark shrugged.

"Oh my god, babe," Daizi laughed at the same moment Ivy began to cry out for her next meal, "That's brutal."

"What, it is true. It would be like if I learned I was actually born in '93 and not '90. Or '88."

"It would actually be pretty cool if you were born in '88," Daizi replied, "Then we'd be from different decades."

"I would also be 40,"

"That doesn't really matter, though," She hummed as she drifted from the room, bringing their baby with her.
 
"You'd be ancient if you were forty," Xander teased with a mild smirk.

Alec rolled his eyes. "You are both impudent, you really are. Especially you," he pointed at Xander.

Xander grinned at his brother. "At least I'm memorable!"
 
"I will be forty in two years," he replied blandly, and then, remembering it was December, decided not to correct himself by pointing out it was really more like just the one year, since he was a mere few weeks away from 39.

Then he sat back and watched the twins tease each other before interjecting with, "It makes me happy to see you have both settled down again. And I hope you understand when Daizi and I say that we love you, it is not performative."
 
The twins paused and looked at Dark for a moment. Xander's expression was mostly neutral but with a hint of surprise at his words. Alec just smiled.

"We know," he assured Dark. "We just... forgot. But we've been very thoroughly reminded. I promise."

Xander gave a short nod, still not comfortable verbalizing those sorts of venerable thoughts.
 
"Good." He said, keeping his eyes on them. "It is not the presents. You understand? We are not trying to buy you, just... celebrate you. And I am very glad to see you both smile again. Your happiness is very important to me."
 
He nodded, putting his hand over Alec's and gently squeezing it, "I meant what I said in your session. So does Daizi. We were talking about it before Ivy was even born, it was not a spur of the moment desire." That was one thing they hadn't addressed in or after the session, and he still didn't know where they stood on it.
 
Alec glanced at Xander. Xander stood back, hands in pockets, less engaged now, but he was listening intently. Alec took a deep breath and turned his gaze back to Dark. One hand held the end of his scarf tightly. "We aren't sure about it," he said quietly. "It's not you or Daizi or Ivy. It's just... a really big decision. We haven't really... talked about it yet."
 
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