How Green Becomes Wood

Dark took Daizi's elbow to gently lead her inside the backroom, and helped her to where Tristan had requested for them to wait. "It is more peaceful back here, also," he added, in response to Alec's comment.

"I would've been okay if we hadn't seen them," Daizi mentioned, leaning against her husband, "I can go to a botanical garden anytime I want. I'm just curious about flowers. You are too, Ivy, right?" After a few moments, she sighed lightly, and carefully undid the wrap Ivy was in, adjusting it so her baby could face inwards, which seemed to soothe her greatly. "Is that better, habiti? It's a little more comfy, huh?" She tickled Ivy's cheek with one finger, but was ready to focus back on the rest of them when Tristan returned with the flowers.
 
Tristan came back with a flat cardboard box on his lap and several flowers resting on top of that. Alec watched, fascinated, waiting for a flower to fall, but none did. He pulled up to the short counter and put them up where the others could see and reach them.

"This one is a chocolate cosmos," he said, setting out a flower that looked more red than brown or black, but there was definitely a rich darkness to its petals. "It is a lot of fun to decorate with, but difficult to work into a bouquet. This is a Juliet rose, which is one of the most expensive roses to get, but it is beautiful. Here is a ghost orchid and a Rothschild slipper orchid, and this one is one of my personal favorite, the flame lilly."

"Wow! The flame lily is cool!" Alec grinned, looking over the flowers.

Xander lightly tapped the petals of the chocolate cosmos, and a look of pleasure crossed his face as it sprang back upright no matter how many times he did it.
 
Dark remarked that he liked the chocolate cosmos, "Flowers are difficult when you prefer dark colours. We have some nearly black plants growing in our garden, but I always appreciate a deep toned flowers like that one."

Daizi took each flower individually, touching the petals with the same care and adoration she showed when touching Ivy's face, and taking time to smell their scent, asking Tristan specifically questions about their colouring, trusting someone who loved flowers enough to open a shop for them would also show deep respect for exactly what colours they were. When she did not understand his explanation of a colour, she would subtly nudge Dark, who would murmur a reminder of the physical things she associated with each individual colour.
 
Tristan answered her questions as thoroughly and carefully as he could, enjoying the conversation. It wasn't often he got to talk about flower colors. Once they'd finished with the flowers he'd brought out, he took them back and returned with a couple of other rare flowers like the painter's palette, the lily of the valley, and a single Gibraltar companion. He asked them not to touch the light purple Gibraltar companion due to its rarity, but he did try to describe it to Daizi as carefully as he could and told them how it grew on nearly inaccessible cliffs.

Lastly, he brought out a group of his most fragrant flowers he had. Sweet peas, lavender, and hyacinth among a couple of specialized roses.
 
Daizi loved encountering all of the rare and unusual plants, and when they were talking about the lily of the valley, she told him about the lily of the Nile, and how wonderful she thought those purple flowers were. Though, despite hiding it perfectly, there was part of her which was saddened by his choice to bring out a flower she couldn't really interact with at all. It was nice for Alec, and she was pleased he would bring out something so precious to show him only because he liked it, but it was nonetheless a bit disappointing.

When it came to the especially fragant flowers, though, she called the roses he brought out by name. She knew those scents perfectly well, they bloomed in her garden. There was nothing which would lead her to forget those scents.
 
Tristan was surprised at her knowledge of roses but thrilled, and he made certain she could touch the ones that he'd already removed the thorns on. Some hadn't been snipped, and he didn't want her to get hurt, though it sounded as though she was quite used to roses and would likely handle them just fine. Eventually, though, he ran out of flowers that he could show them.
 
When they had seen all the flowers, Dark peeked over his wife's shoulder into the baby sling, "It seems she had fallen asleep."

"I thought she must have," Daizi replied, supporting the sling with one arm and feeling rather like a mother kangaroo, "all of the scents must remind her being home in bed. Thank you for allowing us a chance to see the rarer flowers, Tristan. I enjoyed it."
 
"You are very welcome," Tristan smiled. "I was happy to share them. Come back any time!"

"Do you have an application I can fill out for the job?" Alec asked. "I'd like to look it over."

"Of course, they are up front," Tristan said, leading the way.

"This was a lot of fun, and this place is beautiful," Alec told him, following right behind.

"It's a pretty nice place," Xander agreed cautiously.
 
Dark and Daizi went out with Alec, "Would it be easier for him to fill out the application here or bring it back later?" Dark asked, although he realized he wasn't exactly sure if he was asking Tristan or Alec while he picked up the terrarium. Daizi was going to have to hold it on the drive home, but he'd support it until then, she was busy swaying from side to side to rock their sleeping baby. He was fairly certain she didn't even realize she was doing it.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we come back," She mused, rubbing Ivy's back through the sling's fabric, "although I can't say went, you were correct when you said we typically stick with live plants rather than bouquets. Although, who knows, when this little one turns a year old, we may lose our minds decorating for her party."
 
"You can bring it back, if you prefer," Tristan said. He paused to shuffle places with Katherine and picked out an application from the bunch behind the counter. He held it out to Alec. "We can talk details later, but I think you are an excellent candidate."

"Thanks," Alec said, taking the application. "I look forward to talking to you later!"

"I do not blame you for not wanting cut flowers," Tristan assured Daizi. "If you do want decorations for her birthday, let me know and I'll get you a deal for the flowers and other greenery. Thank you for stopping in."

"It was cool," Xander told him, already heading for the door.

Tristan hesitated a moment before saying, "Mr. Dark, would it be possible to have a word in private before you go? You and I?"
 
"We'll have to see what we pick for the theme," Daizi laughed lightly, having a sense that they were going to be over the top. It was a very, very big birthday.

"Just the two of us?" Dark asked, turning back around to face Tristan, unsure of why he would want to speak to him absent of his wife or two sons. "I... suppose so. Xander, can you hold this?" He asked, handing the terrarium to him, his face deeply serious.
 
"Sure," Xander agreed, suspicious, but he took the terrarium, and he and Alec stepped outside.

"Katherine, do you mind terribly?" Tristan requested.

"Oh, sure," she agreed. "I'll just be in the back." She disappeared through the curtain to give them space.

"Thank you, Mr. Dark, I do appreciate this," Tristan said. He wheeled to the counter and came back with a folding chair held awkwardly in one hand. "Here. I know it's not the most comfortable, but I imagine your neck is getting a bit of a kink in it."
 
As hard as she tried to resist it, Daizi lingered for a few moments inside the flower shop. This was strange, and she wasn't sure if she liked it. What could he possibly have to say to Dark that she couldn't hear? Wanting to say something he didn't want the twins to hear yet she understood, but what couldn't involve her? Stepping outside, her confusion and unease was clear on her face, but she said, "I don't imagine they'll be talking long. Maybe we should start the car and get settled."

"Thank you..." Dark said, taking the chair from him and setting it up in an easy gesture before sitting in it. Then, crossing one long leg over the other, he asked, "So. What did you want to talk about?"
 
"That's a good idea," Alec agreed. "I'll get the door for you so you can put Ivy in her seat."

Xander glanced back, frowning, not liking this, but he followed his mother and brother without complaint.

"First, thank you. I appreciate you agreeing to speak with me," Tristan said quietly. "I wanted to ask you a question, and I may be overstepping my bounds with this, so I apologize if I am, but I cannot resist asking." He took a breath and looked away for a moment. Absently, he pushed up the sleeve of his white dress shirt, exposing the two long scars on his forearm. The bottom one was shorter than the top at perhaps an inch and a half long and went down to his wrist. The top one was closer to two inches, maybe two and a half inches long. At the bottom, there was a tattoo of a small Pooh Bear wearing a red, Asian inspired jacket with one paw up as if he was holding the bottom of the scar. At the top of the scar was a red balloon, making the scar the string between the balloon and Pooh. Tristan rubbed his arm absently before turning his attention back to Dark.

"How much did he hurt them?" he asked, his voice a little tense as if he was fighting the urge to blurt the words as quickly as possible. "Eariler, before we went in the back, it seemed as if Alec was enjoying himself, and then there was a look of... I am not sure. Fear, maybe? And he turned back, and I just wanted to know, is it because of my connection to him? Then again, perhaps I am seeing this completely out of proportion and it has nothing to do with me or him, but the thought that someone might be afraid of me because of him..." He shook his head. "I am sorry. Perhaps I am being selfish, but I needed to know. If possible."
 
Daizi nodded, and began cautiously undoing the sling to prevent Ivy from being jostled too much. If she was slick enough, Ivy would stay asleep, although it was not something with a high success rate.

Dark noted the scars, but did not mention them. He had too many scars of his own to not know better. Tristan's question, anyway, pulled enough attention to mean even if he was uncouth enough to ask, he wouldn't. With a heavy exhale, Dark tipped the folding chair back, folding his arms over his chest, and he was silent for a long while before answering it, thinking heavily about what he was comfortable sharing, what he thought the twins would be comfortable sharing, and what he knew. During all of his pauses, his gaze shifted from Tristan to the flowers, his expression hard.

Finally, he spoke. "I find it difficult to quantify. They only knew him for a few short months, and I hope you do not find me at fault for admitting we all found him rather disappointing. He showed a clear preference for one twin over the other, and I wonder if it would have been better had they never known him." His unyielding eyes flicked to Tristan, "I find that difficult to quantify as well. I suppose it comes down to each individual person and how much they value knowledge over mystery. I do believe he harmed them, in how he treated them, and it is undeniable he harmed them worse when he left again. I also believe he harmed them by not being there for so long. We are all mosaics made up of pieces others broke or took or never added. Certainly your brother is a cause of what you saw. Certainly the fact he is your brother is a source of apprehension. But I would not flatter your brother to say he is the sole and indisputable cause, and if I liked him enough to desire to flatter him, it would be an oversimplification."
 
Alec opened the door as quietly as he could, and Xander prepped the car seat for baby landing. Then they stood back and held their breath in hope.

"Thank you," Tristan said, quiet and sincere. "I won't be so naive as to promise to never hurt them, but I want you to know it is not and never will be an intention." He looked down at the arm of his chair and picked at the tip lightly. "I feel as though I need to fix my brother's mistake and clean up after him, but this is not something I can fix. It is not something I can make up for. All I can do is try to be better than him. I would like to be in their lives, if they will allow it, but if not, then I will respect their decision. I just... feel a bit as though I am already at quite the disadvantage."
 
Daizi lay Ivy down in her car seat, saying a silent prayer. Unfortunately, it was not the right day, and almost as soon as she was set down, Ivy squirmed and began to cry as loudly as she could, so Daizi quickly scooped her back up, "Oh habibti," she murmured, rocking her and squatting with her, because that scoop motion, of all things, was still after eight months what soothed her the best, "why are you crying? Shush, my darling girl! I know, it is a bit stuffy inside of the car, isn't it? Oh, we should have waited. I know, my dear, I know."

Inside the door, Dark heard that sound, and as focused as he was on the conversation, he looked over his shoulder before recognizing he had done so. Then he looked back at Tristan, serious as ever, but honest, "I think it is admirable you want to try. I will not lie to you to say their past experiences with your family is not a hinderance, but they both came here today. Alec wants to apply to work here. I cannot and will not speak for them regarding how far they want to go and how deeply they want to get to know you, but they have come to see you twice. We cannot hold ourselves responsible for the actions of others, and we will drive ourselves crazy if we try." He inhaled again, letting the front two legs of his chair drop back down onto the floor, "I believe you have done better on your first two meetings than he did."
 
Xander heaved a tired sigh as it felt like the cry was going to split his head in half, but he was used to it by now. Mostly. Alec fussed and tried to help, but there wasn't much he could do.

Tristan gave a small smile, feeling as though it wasn't hard to do better than Declan, but he appreciated the compliment. "Thank you, sir, for all you have done for them, and thank you for being a good and kind father to them." He held out a hand to Dark. "I hope to see you again. "
 
All Daizi could do was rock and bounce her baby who, gratefully, allowed herself to be soothed relatively quickly, although when she stopped crying, her face was still red and grumpy, and Daizi stood swaying beside the car, murmuring about what a fuss Miss Ivy-Qadira had caused.

"Being their father is an honour." Dark replied, shaking Tristan's hand before rising once more to his feet. He picked up the folding chair and replaced it where Tristan had taken it from. "I suspect we will meet again. In the future, however, this conversation was one we might have had with Daizi present."
 
"I am sorry. I made the assumption that she would not wish to have this sort of conversation with little ivy present," Tristan apologized. "I will remember that, though I hope that knowledge will not need to be used."
 
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