How Green Becomes Wood

"No, I am alright, thank you," he said, watching Xander, "is it hard to focus here? I can get your headphones. Your school is very important, we forget being in America how education is not guaranteed everywhere, we are very fortunate to have such opportunities."
 
"Yep, opportunities, gotta love them opportunities," Xander grumbled, settling back down. Of course, Dark was not going to be his escape route. Darn it. "Nah, it's fine. Just, you know, geography. Why couldn't they follow the natural boundaries for everything instead of drawing random lines? No, nevermind, you probably know the answer to that, and I don't actually care beyond the fact that it would make my life easier."
 
Upon hearing Xander's question, both Dark and Daizi opened their mouths to answer it, but both also shut it after being told he didn't care-- although Daizi laughed about it.

"It probably wouldn't make your life as easy as you think," She said instead, "there'd be more interesting shapes, but imagine how many more countries and states we would end up with. We'd have a lot more to memorize."
 
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"Maybe, but at least then the outlines would make sense," Xander grumbled, waving his pencil at the map where he was supposed to be marking the boundaries of the states, labeling the capitals, and more stuff that he'd already forgotten with trying to get the outlines right.
 
"Looking at outlines isn't an issue for me," Daizi said laconically, and then closed her eyes while she draped her legs over Dark's lap, since she was sitting on an angle that prevented him from sitting immediately next to her.

He took a long glance at her, and saw she was absolutely on the verge of falling asleep, but he didn't move to reclaim Ivy since she was still in the sling, and therefore was not at risk of being dropped. And, because he knew that if he tried to lift her in that moment, she would assuredly immediately begin to cry and wake everyone.

"Why are you working down here?"
 
"Haha, blind joke, never gets old," Xander said dryly, not bothering to look up. "Why? Because I can. Why not? Am I cramping your style? Because I can totally move if you two haven't had enough time alone together here. All day. Alone. All day."
 
Daizi hummed, keeping her eyes shut, "Habibi, you get so few advantages as a blind person. I deserve to make my jokes."

"No, it is no problem, just unusual," Dark replied, leaning over inelegantly to grab the throw blanket so he could lay it over his wife's lap, "Where is Alec?"

"He had a tough day in Driver's Ed, we are giving him a bit of space."
 
Xander snorted a little. "Languishing," he mumbled, amused by the word. He did hope Dark or Daizi would do something. He knew Alec wasn't interested in talking with him. He'd aced the trial and was likely ready to go out on the road with the others to practice. Normally, Alec did not hold other's successes against them, but this time was different.
 
Dark hummed, looking upstairs for a few moments longer before moving Daizi's legs off of him, "I will go check on him. If he does not want to talk, I will leave, but I will at least go ask."

Saying so, he walked upstairs and knocked lightly on the twins' door, "Alec? How are you?"
 
Xander glanced at Dark's back as it retreated then turned to Daizi. "Think he'll be successful?"

"Fine. I'm fine," Alec sniffled, feeling a bit like a sulking child as he huddled on his bed. "Doing great. School was great. All was great."
 
"I don't know," She yawned, "I hope so. If not, I'll try after dinner."

Dark didn't move to more thoroughly enter the room until he was invited to do so, and instead lingered in the doorway, "Do you have a lot of homework?"
 
"You should go take a nap. You look ready to pass out," Xander remarked.

"Yeah. Some," Alec admitted, tugging on his sleeve lightly, not looking at the doorway or Dark. "The teachers missed us. Mr. Major misses you."
 
"I feel ready to pass out. But my bedroom is really far away." Daizi replied softly.

"It is good to know they have messed you, right?" Dark suggested gently, "It means they like you... I am not surprised Art misses me. I never know what to do with those feelings. He is very attached to me, for some reason."
 
"Want me to walk you up there or get you more comfortable down here?" Xander asked.

Alec sighed. "I guess because every air-headed nonsensical person needs the grounded person to pull them down sometimes. Or do stuff they can't."
 
"Thank you, but no, I'm alright. I'm alright..." She sighed, "I should lay Ivy down, I don't want anything to happen to her... but she's sleeping so well, I'm anxious about disturbing her."

"Maybe," he nodded, taking a few cautious steps further into the room, "but there are things individuals more prone to daydreaming can do that my sort of person cannot manage also."
 
Xander shrugged. "Seems like getting her used to being gently moved and laid down would be a good thing, but if you think she's fine, then just stay put. Lemme know if you want anything." He turned back to his homework, poking at it with his pencil like that would solve things magically.

Alec hummed to show he was listening but gave no real indication of agreement or disagreement. He stared at the colorful patch of wall intently, not sure how to feel or react in that moment.
 
"I know it is, but if she wakes up and won't be soothed, then I won't be able to sleep. And that's the Catch 22. She used to not have much of a problem being set down, but she's decided it's a war crime." Daizi chuckled, stretching out a bit more, knowing ultimately she should risk it. "Would you roll her crib over this way? Maybe if I don't have to walk so far, it'll somehow help."

"Are you you are okay?" He asked gently, coming and sitting on the bed opposite of him, "It is okay if you are not."
 
Xander got up and fetched the crib. Babies were new and little and needed to be treated with care, but when did people stop having to walk on eggshells around them? He said nothing, though, knowing that it was mostly his own annoyance talking. He scooted the crib closer and sat back down.

Alec tugged on his sleeve so hard that it ripped slightly. He looked down at the tear. He swore then looked shocked at himself and glanced at Dark guiltily. "I'm sorry."
 
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