How Green Becomes Wood

Gwen winked at Xander as he was pulled away, and then settled back down with her friends as the conversation turned to other things and Ivy was passed around between them. It was a nice change for Daizi to be out with so many of her friends, because since having Ivy she didn't get to visit with them nearly as much as she used to, and although they made a great effort to drive out to their home when they could, it was rare to have all of them gathered like this. And she loved having them at the Pizza Parlor specifically so she could brag on her sons the entire time---something all her friends found really amusing, but sweet, considering what they had known her through and how different she behaved with them compared to how she was with the twins.

At the proper moments, they sang or clapped along, and applauded after every song, even though considering the venue it wasn't strictly required. At the end of their show, the whole group of five stood for them.
 
The three took their bows and then started cleaning up. It took them a few minutes to get everything put away and their instruments stored for the trip home. Then Alec hurried down to give Daizi a quick hug. Xander and Peter kept their distance, caught up in a discussion of their own.
 
Daizi hugged him quickly and fiercely, "You did wonderful, habibi. I'm glad I taught you how to play piano. Ivy loved it too, didn't you, Hummingbird?" She turned and took Ivy from one of her friends and held her so she could see Alec. Judging by the way her little face broke out into a huge grin, it seemed like it was probably the first time she realized her brother was there, because the last time Alec stopped by, she was focused on the fascinating grab ring.
 
"Hi, Ivy! Do you want to come eat pizza with me and the guys?" Alec grinned, reaching out for her. "Or are you having fun here with the girls? GIrls' night out?"

Xander had already joined Peter at their table with sodas and pizza to celebrate a successful gig, as they always did. No matter how many times they did this, it was still a thrill when it was successful.
 
Daizi let Alec hold her, and Ivy squealed happily, stretching her arms out wide, squealing and cooing.

"It is a girl's night out," Daizi said, taking the ear protection off of Ivy now that it wasn't needed anymore, "But you can take her for a little bit if you like. She had her dinner during your set, so she should be content for a little while."
 
Alec held Ivy close and cooed to her for a moment before showing her that Xander and Peter were there, too. Xander made a face at Ivy, and Alec helped her give Xander a fist bump. Then he gave Ivy back to her mother. "We have business to attend to, so I better not keep her. Unless you want me to? So you can have a break?"
 
"No, you go do what you need," Daizi assured him, bringing Ivy close to her, "She's has a great time being passed around between so many of her khalaties, right habibti? I've hardly held her all night. Just let me know if you three want to do anything after this, okay? Because otherwise your father will pick all of us up."
 
"Actually, we agreed that this evening, we were going to decide for certain what it was we were going to perform at the talent show," Alec told her. "Be it here or home or in a random park, it is time to decide! So, if you want to leave before we're done, just let us know. We'll be... listing songs. Lots of songs."
 
"Don't do it in a park," Daizi cautioned them, "I don't mind if you come home with us and talk there, but I'd rather you three not be alone, outside, at night, I don't want something to happen to you. I'm not in a huge rush to get home, but I have to be mindful to what she needs. None of my friends have children or work tomorrow, and we came separately. D'Arcy drove Ivy and me here, but we never planned on her taking me back home."
 
"I'll bet your brother would've been more than happy to go to the park," Daizi pointed out, bending for him when she realized what he was aiming for, "Half an hour sounds perfect. I'll just be a table away... Peter, do you know who is picking you up?"
 
Alec couldn't argue with Daizi's point.

Peter had to hurriedly swallow down a piece of pizza before he could answer. "Since we weren't sure when we'd be done, he told me to call him when it was time to pick me up."

Xander tapped the table. "Meaning, will the frontman of our band please spare us some time?"

"I'd better go before they decide the song without me," Alec told Daizi, pulling away to join his brother and friend.
 
Daizi didn't try to stay him because it was rare for her to spend time with so many of her friends all at once, and although she adored her sons and their interests, they were by no means the only thing in her life, and taking time to talk with adults was a blessing she wasn't going to pass up.

At the end of the thirty minutes, she probably would've wanted to stay longer, if it wasn't for Ivy, who was at a point where it was the best to take her hone.
 
"Alright, is everyone ready?" Alec asked.

"We've been waiting on you," Peter pointed out with a smirk.

Xander pulled out his phone and put it on the table in front of him. "Shall I start?"

Peter added his phone. "I'll go first!"

"Alright, you go first, Peter, then Xander, then me. How does that sound?" Alec suggested.

"Alright, I have three songs on offer," Peter said. "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen by the Hot Sardines - and others, it's a popular song in certain circles. Der Letzte Musketier by Blackmore's Night, and 21st-Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson."

"Never heard any of those," Xander said with a frown.

Peter seemed to expect that answer and first used his phone played Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen, which was an energetic jazz song. Xander and Alec nodded along, but neither were convinced. Then came Der Letzte Musketier. "This one's kind of new, but it's good."

"I like it, but there's no way I can keep up with that guitar work," Xander admitted.

"It's a little intense for me," Alec admitted, "and I think I might, but I don't know. It's awful exact."

"Well, it is performed by one of the best guitarists alive," Peter admitted with a grin. At their blank looks, he supplied, "Ritchie Blackmore? Former guitarist of Deep Purple? English band formed in the 60's and the pioneers of the modern heavy metal and hard rock?" As the blank stares continued, he heaved a sigh. "What do they teach kids in schools these days? Anyway, here's the last one, 21st-Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson, whom I figure you have not heard of them, either. English progressive rock band, also from the late 60's."

As the song played, Xander's eyes widened, and Alec's jaw dropped. When the seven-minute-long song finally finished, Alec quietly asked, "Can we hear the Night song again? By Richard?"

"That song is epic," Xander said soberly. "Love to be able to do it."

Alec nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! But there's no way."

"Not a chance," Xander agreed.

"Sorry."

Peter heaved a sigh and sat back. "Worth a try."

"My turn," Xander said and played a song for them.

Alec winced and shook his head. "I think we'll get into trouble if we do a song with that kind of language at a school function. I mean, we could try to adjust the words, but then when it gets around what the real words are..."

"I think I've heard worse language in the school cafeteria, but it is an official function, and some of us are on thin ice as it is," Peter agreed. "I liked the lyrics, though, and that's a cool beat. What's the band?"

"A Perfect Circle," Xander told them. "They got some deep lyrics. Alright, how about 'Mister Business Man?' No? Alright, no swearing, uh... Monster. By Skillet. Or The Monster by Rhianna and Eminem."

Alec cleared his voice. "I like The Monster, but, uh, last I checked, none of us are rappers."

"It's not rapping in that song, more like beat poetry. I think I could do a decent Eminem," Xander protested. Then he hesitated. "Not sure how to cut out that one word."

"What's Monster by Skillet?" Peter asked.

Xander was actually surprised they asked about it, but he played the song for them. Alec looked a little uncomfortable, but Peter listened closely.

"I like it a lot, but I feel like it doesn't go hard enough on that one line," he remarked. "I feel like there should be a growl, you know?"

"There's a cover I like better," Xander admitted and played it.

"Yeah, much better!" Peter enthused. "If we can't have my songs, that one has my vote, but with some growl."

"I don't know," Alec said reluctantly, "but it's not bad. We could easily do it."

"Alright, what's your choices?" Peter asked him.

"Free by Florence and the Machine, Popular song by Mika, but the clean version, just in case, Best Fake Friend by James Bay, and Brave by Sara Bareilles!" he said cheerfully.

"Mika and Bareilles? What did you do, drag those out of a time machine?" Xander demanded.
 
"I really wish we could see you more often, Tarot," Gwen told Daizi, resting her chin on her fist, "It's different when we all hang out and you can't be there."

"I know, I'm sorry... It's just harder now."

D'Arcy leaned forward, putting their hand on Daizi's, "You don't have to apologize. Ivy is adorable, but babies suck and take up all of your time. When you're working in the city instead of from home we'll spend more time together. Plus with Spense getting married in September, I'm sure in a few years she'll have a baby, too."

"How heteronormative of you," Spencer said dryly, rolling her eyes.

"In D'Arcy's defense, you're always the most excited out of all of us to meet a baby," Ellias pointed out, "You are planning to go back to work, right, Tarot?"

"Of course I am. I'm pretty excited to go back to the office, I just want to wait until she doesn't nurse so much, and with her so little, I don't want to put her into daycare, since Dark and I both work."

"Well, I mean... Has he considered staying home? I've seen how he is about all of your kids..." Gwen chimed in, but Daizi shifted somewhat uncomfortably, and when Gwen noticed and apologized for overstepping, Daizi responded in a low tone.

"No, it's not that: It's just not the right conversation to have with the twins one table over, I don't want them to accidentally overhear something and misinterpret or misunderstand it."
 
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The twins and Peter were still wrapped up in their own world of music, and while the occasional phrase or word made it over to them, they weren't paying enough attention to put together what the conversation was about.

"Mika and Bareilles? I don't know those names," Peter admitted.

Alec played the first song - Popular - for Peter, and it had two versions. One was a poppier, happier melody, feturing Ariana Grande, and the other was a bit more edgy.

Peter listened, quietly nodding along. "That more cynical than I would have expected of you," he admitted.

"I thought it might be something that highschoolers could relate to," Alec admitted almost sheepishly. "I almost picked 'I'd Rather be Me.'"

"Oh, Mean Girls! Now that's an interesting movie," Peter admitted.

Alec played Brave by Sara Bareilles next, and then Best Fake Friend, and they discussed. Peter sadly let go of his jazz-inspired dreams since the song he really wanted to play by King Crimson, neither of his band mates could even come close to keeping up with. Xander dropped Mister Business Man but held out for his two monster songs. Alec voted for Free or Best Fake Friend. After more discussion, they agreed to drop The Monster since it had the hardest swearing and was the least like their combined interests. Alec reluctantly agreed to drop "Free" because it would be the most challenging for him to live up to vocally - though he did get them to agree to try it during their next performance. Then they were down to two: Best Fake Friend or Monster. They voted and came to a consensus just before time was up.

Alec walked over to Daizi's table and touched her arm lightly. "We have come to an agreement!" he announced tiredly. "Peter's calling his dad to come pick him up, and we are out of pizza."
 
"Best Fake Friend by James Bay," Alec told her. "We did consider the Popular Song by Mika, but Peter wanted something a little more positive and less boring for the drummer. Have you been having fun?"
 
"I've never heard that song before, I'm excited to hear it when you perform it," Daizi said, standing, "I have been. Dark should be here soon, but I have to go change Ivy before we go home."
 
"Okay," Alec agreed. "I can't wait! It's going to be so much fun! Maybe not as much fun as the first time we ever did it, but so much fun!" He turned to Daizi's friends. "Thank you so much for coming to hear our band! I know it was mostly for Daizi's sake, but we appreciate your patronage and suffering through our caterwauling. We especially appreciate the lack of things thrown or boos." He grinned at them, totally joking.

"Remember that fellow who threw his soda at us that one time?" Peter mused to Xander.

Xander nodded. "Never have seen him again. Guess he took the warning to get out and stay out seriously."
 
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