How Green Becomes Wood

"There's always the cat suit," Milo replied flatly. But then he turned, bending his knees as he thought about it, "You could try dressing punk. As funny as it would be, you shouldn't look stupid on your birthday, but punk is weird and cool. I think I saw a pair of plaid pants earlier."
 
"Punk is plaid?" Xander asked, confused. "I thought it was... spiky hair and..." He trailed off and frowned. "I have no idea, but I've been called a punk a lot. I forgot it was an actual fashion style."
 
"Well yeah--" Milo began, confidently, but then took a step back, "I mean, I think so. It began in Liverpool, so it would make sense. I just know it's a lot of chains and safety pins and studs. And, I think..." He went to the rack he had seen and pulled out the plaid pants he saw, revealing one leg was red plaid and the other was solid black, with a lot of zippered pockets, "Plaid."
 
"Uh..." Xander stared at it doubtfully. "That's... loud." He hesitated a moment and then held out his hand. It actually wasn't as bad as some of the stuff he'd worn in a previous life before landing with Dark and Daizi, not that Milo would know that, but after wearing almost exclusively black for over six months, it felt strange to even try something that wasn't solid or black. "I'm pretty sure that doesn't go with green, though, so you still have some work ahead of you."
 
"It's a dark green, so it's not that bad. We just have to break it up with... Um... A belt, probably. And we can get a long sleeved shirt to wear underneath the t-shirt. And if we can find a tie, we can add that. It'd be pretty punk." He scratched behind his ear and rocked up onto his toes for a moment then dropped back down. He felt like he was making it up, but it didn't feel totally wrong.
 
"Yeah, alright," Xander said reluctantly. He wasn't sure he knew what Milo was doing, but why not? Might as well indulge him, and while it might be Xander's birthday, it was also Alec's and if Alec saw him in this outfit, he'd flip in the good way. So, Xander wandered back to the shirts and hunted around until he found a black long-sleeved shirt and a red one, both solid colors. He held them up for Milo to pick one before heading to the belts. He found a shiny metal one that looked a bit like a chain, a black one, a red one, and, surprisingly, a black plaid one. He held these up for Milo to choose as well.
 
On the way, Milo grabbed the red shirt, like Xander had selected. Then he chose the black shirt, and both the chain belt and plaid belt. He had noticed the look of apprehension on Xander's face and so chose the more muted option to not push him too far outside of his comfort zone, "You layer them, you know?"
 
"Two belts? Okay," Xander said, holding them up skeptically. "Gess we should see if they fit."

Meanwhile, Becky had managed to cobble together a blue plaid outfit of blue plaid pants and blazer and a white shirt to go under. The pants and the blazer didn't quite go together, but she cheerily stated that it was close enough with how hard it was to find plaid like this anymore. She even found a wide headband, though it was black. She had just put everything on and was examining herself in the mirror outside the changing room.
 
Sloan had the chance for yellow, but knew it didn't work with her skintone, and instead managed to luck out and find a red suitdress that actually looked like it was actually from the 80s. She wasn't totally sure if it would fit, but it was worth a shot. "You look good, Becky," Sloan said, working up the courage to actually put on the shoulder-padded garment she was holding.

"So that's everything, then," Milo said, heading back towards the changing room, "I guess we should actually see if any of it fits."

Dark, meanwhile, was sitting by the changing rooms, watching as all the teens returned with their discoveries, and Daizi was beside him, playing with Ivy, who she had taken from her carrier.
 
"I look like my gran, but thank you," Becky grinned, finding the whole situation hilarious. "The suit dress is a good color for you. Go try it on!" She gave a little shooing motion of encouragement.

Xander sighed but followed Milo to the changing rooms. He'd gotten this far, he might as well see it through to the end. Alec had already disappeared into one of the rooms, and from the muttered complaints, something didn't fit him properly. Peter exited his room just as Xander approached, and Xander slowed, staring. "Are those...?"

"Polka dots, yes," Peter said calmly, strutting out as if he were completely fashionable. The pants were dark green with white polka dots and not too offensive to the eyes, but he'd paired them with a blue paisley button-up shirt. He'd also found a jean jacket that was the only sane part of his outfit. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and grinned. "Stylish, right?"
 
Sloan hesitated a little bit but then gathered her courage and went in to try on the dress. She only halted on her way at the sight of Peter, and then she knew, gratefully, that even if she looked ridiculous in this, she wouldn't be the most ridiculous.

Upon seeing Peter, Dark slowly looked him up and down before saying, "Peter, with no offense meant to my wife, but I think she would have picked an outfit that matched better."

Daizi nudged him, and without being at all offended said, "Only I'm able to make that joke."

"Yes, but darling," he leaned in and described what Peter had put together, and then she nodded slowly.

"No, he's right. I rescind my complaint. Honestly, that's what we should've done," she suggested with a grin, "I'll go to shelves and pick out clothes based entirely on how they feel and you have to wear whatever I pick. Next time."
 
Peter tossed the jacket over his shoulder and grinned. "I'm glad you like it!" he told Dark, the sparkle in his eye saying he knew exactly how bad it looked, and he was getting a kick out of it. "I'm thinking of wearing something like this to prom."

"I think my eyes are screaming for the pain to cease," Xander said dryly. He ducked into the nearest open changing room just to get away while Peter posed.

Becky said nothing, her fingers resting lightly on her lips as she struggled not to laugh.

Tom came out of the changing room and started to say something but stopped when he saw Peter's outfit. After that, he gave up on language altogether. He'd chosen a more simple if still humorous outfit that was Western-inspired. Jeans, a black button-down shirt, a pair of boots - not cowboy boots, the only pair he could find didn't fit him - a bolo tie, and a cowboy hat. He'd found a jacket similar to Peter's but his fit the outfit much closer.
 
"Finally," Daizi laughed, "a time when I am the strongest. Xander, I don't have your weakness."

Milo was quiet and awkward again, now that they were back in a group, and almost instinctively he took a few steps back. But then, looking at them from the outside, where he was more comfortable, he raised his camera and took a quick photograph of the group standing shocked and laughing over their silly outfits.

Sloan stepped out, then, in her new outfit, and she tugged on the hem of the skirt, feeling very... exposed, but actually it fit her really nicely. The length was good, and it was neither too snug nor too boxy--but it was very outside of her comfort zone, which she knew was kind of the point.
 
"Wow, Sloan! You look awesome in that outfit!" Peter remarked first, looking her up and down. "The shoulders are a little odd, but not terrible."

"Girl, you slay," Becky giggled. "If this was the 80's, you'd be the popular girl in no time flat. Right?" She glanced at Tom first, who quickly agreed, although he was looking a little bashful suddenly. She turned to Milo next, trying to include him despite the fact that he'd separated himself. "Right?"

Alec finally stepped out, having gotten his clothes under control. He was in all black with a simple, short-sleeved shirt, black pants, and a black belt with a silver buckle. He'd even found a long trench coat that wasn't too heavy and a pair of sunglasses. The sunglasses didn't fit well, but they stayed on long enough to complete the look as he stepped in front of Dark and worked hard to not smile.
 
"Oh, thank you." Sloan said, embarrassed, "I have a red scrunchie in my car I should replace this one with. You know. To match." She scuffed her shoe, not used to so much attention when all she had done was put on a new outfit.

"Oh, uh, yeah," Milo said quickly, tapping on his camera, not made embarrassed and quiet by the sight of Sloan, but by being spoken to. "You look nice."

Dark looked at Alec, and after a moment asked, "Are you trying to dress like you are from the Matrix or are you trying to dress like me?"
 
"I don't think I've ever seen you in a trench coat," Alec pointed out, smirking. He took off the sunglasses and grinned. "You like? Oh, Peter, flashy!"

"Thank you," Peter grinned. "You are quite... modern-day knight."

"What about you, Milo? Are you going to change?" Becky asked him.
 
"Oh, yeah. I just, I didn't know how many..." He gestured to the fitting rooms and then awkwardly scurried into one without finishing his sentence.

"Good, because I do not wear tight black t-shirts out, either. I am not Simon Cowell." Dark replied, amused, but strangely disappointed.

"He wore one here, didn't he?" Daizi asked, not understanding the difference of material because she wasn't touching the coat Alec was in, "Ivy, what do you think? Does Alec look silly? Does Alec look like Baba?" Ivy only squeaked and grinned, really just because she saw a familiar face and it excited her.

Not long after, Milo came out dressed in the new clothes, but he still had his camera. He looked around at all of them and wondered if he had made a mistake, but quickly said, "xander said to say i am death."
 
"Who's Simon Cowell?" Alec asked with a frown. Then he shook off the question and held up a hand. "Wait!" He took off the coat and laid it aside. Then he composed his face into the best imitation of Dark's that he could manage and turned sideways. Up and down his arm, he'd used clear tape to attach tiny pictures and temporary tattoos. It had been a struggle to get the coat on over the images without pulling them off or wrinkling them. He hadn't wanted to put on the temp tats at home and ruin the surprise.

Peter gave Milo a thumbs up. "You look fantastic! I think you might win best dressed. That's a good suit. Looks great with the shirt."
 
"He's--" Dark began, but then Alec pulled off the trench coat and caused him to fall silent. He truly, truly did not know what to say. On some level, for reasons he didn't understand, he wanted to stand up and lift Alec above his head to pretend like he was about to toss him into the trash. And that was a strange reaction.

"Wait, what's happening?" Daizi asked, picking up on her husband's reaction, "What did you do? Ivy, what did your silly brother do?"

Milo looked at Peter and then looked away, "Thank you. I was hoping I'd find something weird in the pockets. There wasn't anything."
 
Alec expected some sort of laughter and amusement, so Dark's sudden silence and odd expression took him completely off guard. He tried not to show it on his expression, but he did pick up his coat again and slung it over his shoulders. "Oh, nothing much, just fooling around," he assured Daizi. "Where did Xander get off to?"

"I think this is a more upscale type place. Disappointingly, they do clean out all the pockets and drawers. It's a bit of a letdown," Peter sighed morosely.
 
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