How Green Becomes Wood

"Oh, okay," Milo said, following after him to that section, looking at the walls and baskets of what didn't really seem to be all that special. It kind of seemed like it was mostly cheap prank items and weird t-shirts, but he didn't say anything because for all he knew, Xander was very into cheap pranks and weird shirts.
 
Xander stared at the cheap stuff, wishing he'd picked a better spot, but this would work. "So. Camera," he said in his usual, elegant way. "Cool hobby. Not cool to take pics of people without asking." He picked up a shirt and frowned at the rainbow farting unicorn that looked like it was enjoying itself a little too much.
 
Even though Milo never really stood tall to begin with, now he seemed to shrink down even more, and he stopped looking at the prizes to instead look at his shoes. He reached up to hold onto the camera drummed on it with all of his fingers. He knew, of course he knew, but technically it was legal, but he wouldn't say so. And how was he supposed to ask? How could he go and address a full group and ask? They'd all look at him, and probably think he was some freak, and whisper about him, and they'd send him home. And they still might. They probably would. And it wouldn't matter, not really, he'd be moving again, and they wouldn't remember him or keep in touch anyway. But he was here now. And he had thought--

"I don't post them anywhere," he mumbled, not looking up, "they don't go online, and I don't show them to anyone. I just keep them in a shoebox. For when..."
 
Xander put back the shirt and picked up another random object to keep from having to make eye contact and making it even weirder than it already was. Then he realized it was a bag of fake vomit and wondered if eye contact wouldn't be better. "Look, I don't care what you do with them or how you get permission or maybe just wave the camera around more visibly so people can notice it at least once. Alec and I... we don't do pictures. Only our parents have that permission. They're probably even good pictures but don't do us." He put the fake vomit back with a disgusted look. "Doesn't even look that real."
 
Milo nodded, still fiddling with his camera, "I can give you the film. Light destroys them." He shifted his weight from foot to foot, adjusting the strap of his camera, and wanted to look up to break the mood but couldn't. He didn't want to see anyone looking at him.
 
Xander finally turned and stared at him. "Dude. I'm not interested in wrecking your property. I just want you to be, you know, aware. Manners and shit. Because I am the perfect teacher for manners and shit. It's not a big deal to a lot of people, but it is to us. Friends tell friends when something's a big deal, right?"
 
He nodded, "Okay. I'm sorry." Finally, he gathered the courage to look up and when he saw Xander looking at him he immediately looked back down. There were things he wanted to mention, to explain, but the thought of saying any of them terrified him, so he kept quiet.
 
"Cool," Xander said simply, and for him, that was that. "Have you picked out anything for your tickets yet? I haven't even started." He turned and started investigating the more interesting aspects of the prize selection.
 
"No, not really." He said slowly, stuffing his hands in his pocket, "I was probably just going to get candy or something. I try not to own too many things. It makes packing harder."
 
"Yeah, but it's free. You can donate it or throw it away without much guilt," Xander pointed out. He grinned and pointed to a giant stuffed dog hanging from the ceiling. "This year is the first time I could consider getting something stupid like that because we have the room for it. I don't want it, but I could."

"Xander! I'm going to get the dog!" Alec called, scurrying over toward them.

Xander glanced at Milo. "But seeing as I share a room with him, looks like I'm getting the dog after all."
 
"I might donate," he agreed, "but I don't like throwing things away. I've done it too much, and sometimes I've only been given a few hours to pack." Milo shrugged and then smiled at Alec picking the dog, "That's one thing I've never had to deal with, sharing with siblings."
 
"That's a lot of packing and moving," Alec said cheerfully. "We moved a lot when we were younger, so it's been nice to stay in one place. I hope you find your stationary home soon."

"Do you really want the dog?" Xander asked. "It's big enough to feel like a third person."

Alec frowned thoughtfully. "Hmm, you're right. That would get a bit crowded. I know! I'll get the skateboard instead." He hurried off to make his selection.

"A skateboard? Okay," Xander said, mystified.
 
Xander glanced at him. "So, if you could get whatever the hell you wanted, what would you get?"

"It's not," Alec admitted, "but I don't know what I actually want, either, and I'm feeling pressured to spend all of my tickets. Maybe I'll get a bunch of toys and donate them to the homeless shelter."
 
"Me?" Milo asked, "Are you asking anything in the world or anything in the arcade? I think, anything in the world... A caravan. Here..." He looked around, "Still just the candy, I think."

"I'd get my brother a new baseball bat if I could afford it," Sloan chirped, "but I think I've got to settle for a baseball. He's absolutely terrible at it, but he tries."
 
Last edited:
"A caravan?" Xander asked. "Isn't that like a group of people who wander around?" He drifted toward the candy and looked it over, also listening in on Sloan's conversation. He glanced toward the bat.

"Do you play with him?" Alec asked. After a moment, he brightened and pointed, "There we go! I can afford two of those inflatable swords. I'm going to get those."
 
"No, like a camper van. I'd like one I could live in. And one that could also be a dark room." Milo said, doing math in his head to figure out how to maximize the amount of candy he could get, although he knew his grandmother wouldn't be too happy about it.

"Sometimes. But I go to his games." Sloan said, "Those swords are really fun, you and Xander can sword fight. If you had someone else Mr. Dark's height you could both ride on their shoulders and joust with them."
 
Last edited:
"Oh, one of those," Xander nodded. "I've thought about doing something like that, but it doesn't really suit him." He nodded toward Alec. Xander picked out a couple of the smaller toys and games as well as some of the candy. When Sloan wasn't looking, he added a bat to his pile. Thanks to Ivy's lucky smack, he had enough to get it and a few small things for himself.

Alec paused and his eyes widened. "Oh," he purred, "now that's an idea, isn't it?"
 
"That's not really something I have to worry about." Milo said quietly, looking at Alec. "This is the first time I've ever lived with more than one person since I was a really little kid, and it's only temporary. When my mom's out, I'll be back with her."

"It does sound like a lot of fun," Sloan agreed with a bright grin, looking over her shoulder at Dark.
 
"Sounds messy," Xander said bluntly. "Anyway, you sure you don't want something you can't eat? Five minutes of fun is worth it, yeah?"

"If you find any other tall people, let me know," Alec told her with a grin.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top