How Green Becomes Wood

When he came downstairs, Daizi had already gone up to her office to get some work done, but Dark was downstairs having a very serious conversation with Ivy, answering everything she said as though he could make sense of it.

When Xander came downstairs, he pointed him out to Ivy, who, after seekng Enkidu walk up to the teen, started to crawl over to him.
 
Xander stopped when he saw Ivy crawling toward him, in part because he was afraid he would step on her fingers or something. He was wearing long, slightly loose-fitting pants, so he wasn't bothered if she tried to grab onto his leg again. After the first time, he'd made a special effort to start wearing those for protection against baby fingers. Enkidu got a good ear scratching.
 
She stopped at his feet and babbled up at him, trying to bounce up slightly, not quite lifting her arms up, but definitely trying to get his attention while Enkidu plopped down and enjoyed the skritches.
 
"What? I don't speak in squeaks," Xander told her seriously. "I dunno what you want, qnd you can't come on a walk." He looked at the dog. "Enkidu, do you want to take a walk with me?"
 
At the word 'walk' Ivy squeaked, bouncing more with a big grin on her little face, at which point Dark came by and picked her up, "How about you stay here with Baba?" because although he knew, yes, she could go on a walk, Xander wouldn't even need to touch her, he wasn't going to bring that up when Xander was like this. The kid wanted to run through the neighborhood with their dog, Dark wasn't going to try to convince him to bring his sister.
 
Since Enkidu didn't seem opposed to the walk, Xander got the leash and his shoes and took the dog out. They started as a walk, but it wasn't long before he was running. He ran and ran and ran until his legs felt like jelly and he couldn't push himself any longer. He stumbled home exhaustedly and took care of Enkidu first before half falling into the shower. The sounds and the voice and the itchy feeling had quieted while he was moving, but the moment he stayed still, they were back. He scrubbed harder than necessary, and though he didn't stay in the shower for too long, his skin was red and raw in many placed when he got out. It would be fine. Provided he left it alone.

Alec returned home in time for lunch, and he excitedly told Daizi and Dark all about the community theater Tom had joined. He was questioning his choice not to chase his theater dreams, but he simply didn't have enough time or enough days to try for them all! He could tell Xander was no better and probably worse now than he had been before, so he tried to keep things toned down a little and avoided him a bit until it was time to head out for Tristan's store.

"Wish me luck?" Alec asked Daizi while Xander waited for him out in the van.
 
When Xander left the house without her, Ivy promptly burst into tears and needed her father to soothe and console her, promising he would take her on a walk soon. So, so soon, he promised, and thankfully, just bringing her out into the backyard was more than enough to get her settled back down. He'd have to encourage Xander to spell out walk, because Enkidu had learned to recognize that, but Ivy certainly hadn't yet.

Of course, at the sounds of her daughter's clear distress, Daizi hurried downstairs, but after the situation was explained to her, she couldn't help but laugh sadly at it. They were too kind to her, she wasn't used to not getting to go along.

While Alec talked about theatre, Dark pointed out that, in his perspective, Alec's favorite part of musical theatre was singing, which didn't seem like enough of a reason to pursue theatre, which relied a lot more on acting, although he lost track of his point when he saw the red marks over his other son. Again, he thought about how if Xander wanted to be perceived as normal and healthy, he was doing a horrible job at it, and a growing pit of anxiety filled him. This needed to be addressed before it got too serious. For godsakes, he had been suggesting Xander to seek mental health therapy for over a year. This had to turn around before...

He swallowed hard and excused himself from the table, needing to calm down before he started projecting his own past onto the teen.

Daizi cupped Alec's face in her hands, "You do not need luck, habibi. You've got this."
 
"Thanks, Mama," Alec said, giving her a quick hug before running out the door to get in the van.

They headed downtown with Alec anxiously picking at his nails and thinking about what he wanted to say. Xander told him, just like Daizi had, to try not to worry about it. Just be himself. He looked good and professional in a dark tan suit and a vibrant blue and red shirt, he was tidy, and he was passionate. No one would expect him to know everything about every flower in the shop when he first started.

Tristan was alone in his shop, and he greeted them both warmly. He offered them water, but both declined. Xander said he was going to stay up front before Tristan could even ask. Tristan accepted his abruptness and guided Alec into the back for a calm, casual interview. Tristan had already interviewed two people before Alec, and while they were both better qualified, one was clearly seeing this job as nothing more than something to do while passing time, and the other just didn't quite connect right with Tristan. Of the two, he would take the first because he wanted to like who he worked with, but he really wanted someone who, even if it was a temporary job, would take it seriously. Alec likely would not be able to continue working while doing school, but he would definitely put his passion into whatever job he got. Tristan was a little considered about Alec's more... scattered tendencies, but felt they could work with it. Alec was eager, passionate, open about his weaknesses, and wanted to learn. Tristan would be starting from the bottom with him, but he liked Alec's energy.

At the end of the interview, Tristan, rather than taking time to think about it, made a snap decision and said he'd hire Alec. Alec practically squeaked in joy and shook Tristan's hand. It was a deal!

"Shall we celebrate? We could get ice cream and go to a little park near here. It's a walk away," Tristan suggested.

"Yes!" Alec crowed. "I want to call my parents and tell them."

"If you give me your orders, I can go order for you and meet you on the way," Tristan suggested. "The ice cream shop is on the way."

"I'm good without," Xander grumbled.

"I'm so down for that!" Alec assured him and quickly gave him his order. He tried to pay for his, but Tristan waved it away. So, once they'd all stepped outside and Tristan had started off, Alec called Dark and Daizi to tell them the news.
 
Daizi expressed nothing but excitement for Alec, while Dark attempted to show nothing but excitement, but having learned to be wary of anyone who offers a job on the spot, it took a bit more effort. It also took him not a small amount of restraint to avoid making a nepotism joke. He was sure that had nothing to do with it, and he was sure Tristan had a very good reason for offering a job on the spot, but he made a mental note to remind Alec, a few months down the line, after the excitement wore off and the position was working out, that in most circumstances, a job hiring you on the spot was a red-flag. He also made a point to ask about on-boarding steps, if they had talked about when his first day would be, what his hours would be, his pay, and all of the logical questions Daizi was too excited to ask.

At the mention of ice cream, though, Daizi asked if he wanted them to meet him so they could celebrate too.
 
"Absolutely! Please come!" Alec told her where the park was in relation to the shop, and Xander filled in directions of how to reach it. They said that they'd wait for them outside the ice cream shop so they could get their ice creams together.

They walked from the shop down the street in the direction Tristan had indicated, and it wasn't long before they reached the ice cream shop. Tristan was still waiting in line, so Alec went to stand with him while Xander waited outside, hands shoved deep into his pockets. He watched as Alec and Tristan chatted, feeling a hole in his stomach. Alec looked like he was really connecting with Tristan at least on some level. He wanted to e happy for his brother. He really did, yet... for some reason, he couldn't. For some reason, it frustrated him. Angered him. And the fact that he wasn't happy for his brother was making him even madder.

Tristan happily agreed to wait for Dark and Daizi, and led the way to a small piece of shade a few feet away from the front door so they'd be out of the way. At least the line was not long. Alec stood with Xander and told him all about what he'd be doing initially and what he was hoping to work toward. He could tell Xander wasn't as happy for him as hoped, but he clung to his hope and resilience. This was a great opportunity! The fact that Tristan was family was just an extra factor. Nothing else. This felt like a great first job!
 
Daizi promised they'd be there was soon as they could and after they hung up, began getting Ivy ready for a nice day out. "See," Dark told her, changing her into a pretty sunflower printed oneside, "What did Baba tell you?" Then, with one last kiss on her forehead, he brought her to the car.

They arrived at the ice cream shop relatively quickly, and after getting Ivy settled in her stroller, Dark spotted the rest of them and helped guide Daizi over to them, who as soon as she was close enough to hear their voices, exclaimed, "Alec! Congratulations!" while Ivy grinned and excitedly kicked her feet at the unexpected appearance of her brothers.
 
Alec grinned and waved as he walked over to them. "Isn't it awesome? It's perfect! Are you guys going to get ice cream? There's no line right now. Hi, Ivy!"

Xander glanced sideways at Tristan who was adjusting slightly in his chair while waiting. Then he turned his gaze back to his parents.
 
"We both were planning to," Daizi answered, "Ivy can't have any yet, but she'll survive it."

Dark congratulated Alec, greeted Xander, and then went to Tristan, feeling it was only right he also greet the man who just employed his son. It'd be rather awkward if he didn't.
 
Tristan had to reach up quite a ways to shake Dark's hand in greeting, but he was clearly used to it. "We intended to go to the park just down the street. It is small, but it has a covered seating area and lots of greenery."

"I can look after Ivy so you don't have to worry about her stroller inside the ice cream shop," Alec volunteered.
 
Dark bent as far as he felt would be respectful to help close the distance between them, "I am sure it will be grand."

Daizi leaned lightly on the push bar of the stroller, "Is it that small inside the store? I really don't mind leaving her with you, but I think she'll start to cry if she can't see us."
 
"She needs to learn to deal with it," Daizi admitted, "but I'm not sure if today is the day to work on learning that lesson."

There wasn't a big line in the ice cream shop, so they were all able to order fairly quickly before heading over to the park. Naturally, Dark offered to pay for everyone, but if Tristan really insisted to either cover it or pay for part of it, he allowed it, considering he had just hired Alec.
 
Tristan did insist on paying, stating that since it was his idea, it was only fair that he pay, and he was quite relieved that Dark let him, considering how hard some people would fight against that. It was a short walk to the small park, which was made up of a lot of smaller walking paths, dense grass, and trees, but not much by way of flowers. The small pavilion faced the road, and Tristan led the way up the walkway to the rickety picnic table. It needed a good cleaning, but it would work as a place to pause for a chat. Tristan even had some wipes to help clean up the worst of the grime right where they were sitting.

Alec eagerly told Dark about what his new responsibilities would be as well as his wages and working hours. As the store was only open part-time, he wouldn't have many hours, especially at first when he would be training, but the pay was decent at just a little over minimum wage. Alec would be able to use the public transit to get to the shop or from it, meaning he wouldn't have to completely rely on rides. Though he wouldn't say no to an offer if it didn't inconvenience anyone.

Xander, meanwhile, sat in his corner, quietly fuming.
 
In truth, Daizi had urged Dark on the drive over to let Tristan pay if he desired to pay. Next time, Dark could argue as much as he wanted and pull any trick in his repertoire, but she managed to convince him it would probably mean a lot to him to let him cover it. After all, Tristan had missed out on so much.

Dark pushed the stroller when they followed Tristan, and Ivy babbled the whole time, and was thrilled to be taken out after her mother had finished her ice cream. While standing on her mother's lap, she had one fistful of her hair, and alternated between eating her other hand and 'joining' the conversation, although primarily only to her parents and brothers--she was shy towards Tristan. In the past, she had been asleep for most of their meetings, but that wasn't the case this time, and it showed.

Both Dark and Daizi asked questions about the job both to Alec and Tristan, although the scope of their questions were different, because Daizi had questions about the flowers, and Dark was still trying to subtly make sure all of this was safe. They both occasionally tried to talk to Xander, but when he didn't seem to be particularly responsive, they dropped it.
 
Tristan was having a blast watching Ivy. He didn't interact with her, seeing that she was shy and that he was still a stranger to all of them, but he would occasionally pause in what he was saying, distracted by what Ivy was doing, and then quickly pick up where he left off. Ivy was a cute baby. It was hard not to be distracted by her. When he wasn't being distracted, he answered each of their questions with care, and when Daizi asked him a question he didn't know the answer to, he willingly admitted he did not know and put in a note on his phone to look it up later.

"Do you get ice cream a lot since your shop is so close to yours?" Alec asked Tristan as he finished off the last of his ice cream.

"Actually, no, I do my best to keep it only for special occasions, though I do know when all the best sales are happening," Tristan told him with a chuckle. "While ice cream is not the most unhealthy treat, not by a long shot, I still try to be restrained."

"Wouldn't want to ruin your figure, that's for sure," Xander grumbled, his voice barely audible.

Alec frowned at him. Then to Tristan he asked, "What is your favorite treat?"

"Fudge," Tristan admitted. "Especially the fancy fudge sold around Thanksgiving to Christmas time. There is a yearly pop-up shop in the mall that I dearly love and spend far too much money at!"
 
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