How Green Becomes Wood

Milo shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe they will. I don't know. Paisley is pretty old, genuinely old, everyone jokes its a wonder she's still around, and once I go with my mom, it'd be kinda... cruel, to leave just the two of them alone, I guess. That's why I was hoping to inherit them, but they don't live long enough for me to."
 
"Well, now you know you like... Parakeets.... so I guess you can look for one or two of your own," Alec said. "It's sad you can't take those two, but you're right that it wouldn't be fair. That's a kind thought."

"I don't get the appeal, but I don't blame you for wanting them," Xander remarked. "I wouldn't mind a dog of my own, but I doubt Enkidu would agree."
 
"They're just very talkative, and they show more personality than you'd guess a bird would. And I think they're very elegant, I like their feathers." Milo explained, with his hands in his pockets, "I thought dogs like other dogs?"
 
Xander shrugged. "I think dogs are like people in that some do and some don't, but he's been an only dog since ever. I don't want him feeling like he's getting his turf stolen."

"I want a cat, but I don't think anyone else is really on board with that," Alec sighed.
 
"A lot of bringing up potential issues while also saying it's a possibility," Alec said. "I guess it's still a possibility, but, you know, busy lives and all that." He started to shrug and then winced as pain from the bruise reminded him of why he wasn't supposed to be straining that shoulder. "Ow."
 
"No, I'll be alright. I slipped yesterday at practice and gave the floor a high five with my shoulder," Alec sighed. "It stiffened up last night, so it hurts worse now."

"Try giving it a few stretches," Xander suggested, reaching out to take Alec's bag. "It'll still hurt, but hopefully less."
 
"Dang, that sucks, I'm sorry." Milo replied, going into his bag, "I've got, um, ibuprofen, if that would help. I get a lot of headaches. I don't know much besides that." He offered the bottle to Alec, "When my mom was still a runner, she'd sometimes use heat when her muscles were stiff, but that's hard to come by in a school."
 
"Thank you," Alec said, taking the bottle. "I actually took some before I came, but I forgot to pack some for later. I'll take these with lunch." He carefully picked out the right amount and handed the bottle back while pocketing the pills. "Thanks."
 
Alec wasn't sure how to respond to that. Such a dark thing to joke about! But Milo never joked.

Xander snorted and replied, "I think I'd say yes for the hospital stay and then refuse to fill the prescription. Hospitals are so boring!"
 
Alec nearly said something but quickly clamped his mouth shut. What he wanted to say would have been snippy and unhelpful. Just because he was hurting didn't mean he needed to bleed on other people and make some sort of remark about Milo's mother or support systems.

"Fair," Xander replied. "Good thing I don't know where to get the stuff without a prescription, but never mind. Let's not talk about opioids at school or else someone might overhear the wrong thing. Gossip mills, right?"
 
"Yeah," Milo agreed, glancing behind him at the students milling about, "Knowing this school, they'll make an assumption about your dad. That's what rumors always seem to turn to, when you both are involved, anyway."
 
"Yeah, it's weird how obsessed they are with him," Xander remarked.

"Becky told me there's a club dedicated to how hot he is," Alec said brightly.

Xander winced. "Nope, stop, I do not need to think about that with my Ba."

"But-" Alec started.

Xander took him by the back of the neck and steered him toward his seat. "Nope, nope, nope!"

"I bet they'd find Mama hot, too! If they knew what she looked like. Right, Milo?" Alec grinned as he let Xander "guide" him.

Xander firmly sat Alec down. "Don't involve him in your weirdness."
 
Milo did a double take and was unable to fight back a surprised laugh, "There's a club like that here? Really? No way. Does... does he know?" He looked over his shoulder again, "That's so weird."

At Alec's next joke, though, he made a face, "Please do not ask me to decide if your mom is a milf or not." It was awkward regardless of whose mom it was, but Daizi... was... more unique... than most moms, and it really was an uncomfortable situation.
 
Alec waited until they were all seated before leaning around Xander and saying, "No, I don't think he knows. Apparently, the club has a ranking system, and he's on top. Becky did confide that he nearly lost his place to that new Science teacher a couple of years ago, but his leaving school so suddenly and the fight before that put him squarely back on top."

Xander closed his eyes and put his hands over his head. "How do I make this stop?"

Austin came up, making his way carefully through the desks and trying not to bump them too much, and nearly said something to them but stopped when he saw Xander. He glanced between Milo and Alec, confused and a little concerned but not sure if he should do or say anything. They weren't exactly friends yet, but if Xander was sick or in trouble, he would try to help.
 
"Do you think he'd be offended if he knew he was dethroned?' Milo asked curiously, "Now that he doesn't work here, he's bound to be displaced as more students don't know him. Unless he turns into an urban legend."
 
Austin decided to take his seat and not get into whatever conversation was happening since Milo and Alec didn't seem bothered.

Alec shrugged. "I would not be at all surprised if he turned into an urban legend, but I do think he'd care if he was dethroned."

"No he wouldn't," Xander muttered into his desk. "He'd be happy they weren't talking about him anymore."

"Yes, but he'd also be just a tiny bit sad," Alec replied.
 
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