How Green Becomes Wood

"Of course, you go do what you need to do." Daizi replied, bouncing Ivy on her hip, "Alec is right, you know. Fights aren't worth it. Come on, sweet girl, let's go play."

~~

At the way everyone stared at him, Dark gave a casual nod and then walked over towards Tristan in only a few long strides. "It is only respectful to be punctual." He said, fixing his cufflinks, "What would you like me to begin with?"
 
"I have three new plants and two terrariums to put in the window," Tristan said, backing away from the check out counter. "Would you be willing to find places in the window display for them?"

The three older women and the two teens clustered in one corner making idle chatter about the flowers as they continually snuck peeks at Dark.
 
"Of course." Dark replied, bringing the plants and terrariums over individually to make sure nothing became damaged and then began to carefully set them up so the display outside would look nice, being sure to set them on stands when necessary so nothing looked overly crowded or messy. When he was finished, he stretched deeply from having to be bent over to arrange them, flexing his back as he did so. Then, he walked over to Tristan, stopping along his way to clean something he thought needed a bit of polishing, coincidentally standing somewhat between one of the older women and one of the teenagers.
 
The teenager swallowed hard and looked as though she was trying to say something or come up the words to speak. The older woman beat her to it as she confidently sidled just a little closer to Dark.

"You look like a man who's quite sure of himself," she purred. "It's nice to see. Especially since I could use some help with the flowers. Tell me, do you know much about flowers, or are you just the errand boy here?"

Tristan was distracted by one of the other women, but he was attempting to keep an eye on Dark.
 
Dark turned to look down at the woman, "Are we not all errand boys when it comes down to it?" He looked back at what he was polishing, "I know some about flowers, although less than the owner, surely. My wife keeps a wonderful garden, I learned what I know from her. I may be able to assist you, if you need it."
 
"Oh, you're married? How lovely!" The woman said with a smile. "And your wife keeps a garden while you work here? What a lovely floral arrangement!" She gave him a saucy wink. "What would you say are the best flowers to indicate passionate love?"
 
"It will be ten years in November," Dark replied, no small level of pride creeping in at the edge of his voice. As he ignored the wink, he cast his gaze around the flower shop. "The easiest answer is a red rose, but some people imply they are a bit... pedestrian, but I do not agree. Red holds many meanings, and thorns are a warning. But if you truly want something for passion," He stepped to the side and lifted a stalk of simple white, six-petaled flowers, "People overlook the tuberose, because they are not particularly exciting. They do not catch the eye. But their scent is lovely, and the Victorians thought they represented dangerous pleasures and would not allow their young women to smell them. When my bring my wife a bouquet, I always include them, along with the roses, and I would add belladonna, but those are not sold often, because they are deadly."
 
"Oh, you certainly know your stuff! I'll take a bouquet of those tuberose, then, and maybe mix in some red roses," the woman said.

"I'll take a bouquet of red roses, myself," chuckled one of the other two. "What about you two girls? Pink for young passion?"

"Ugh, Mom!" groaned the one while the other rolled her eyes.
 
"That seems like an excellent choice," Dark replied, taking a quick glance at Tristan to confirm what his tempory boss wanted him to do, before helping to gather what was needed for the bouquet. He did, certainly, notice how all of the women in the store listened to him and were suddenly interested in romantic flowers, but he also ignored it. He was here to do a job, and that what he was going to do.
 
The women and the two teens made their purchases - one of the teens picked out a potted cactus - Tristan wrapped up their flowers expertly, and they left. No sooner had the door closed behind them than it opened to admit a gaggle of six giggling girls of the early collage variety. They seemed to fill the small store and took their sweet time picking out flowers and constantly asking for Dark's help or opinion. They seemed incapable of reaching for anything under or over waist height. A young man came in nervously and ended up talking to Tristan while the girls congregated around Dark. Tristan made up a beautiful professional bouquet for the young man, who left quickly. More females entered the store, forcing those already in the store to make their choices, pay, and leave.
 
As this trend of women continued, Dark was reminded of the years he spent in the high school, except with less of a pretense of proprietary. He may have been left unaware the day before, but it was pretty clear now, although he didn't acknowledge or play into it, at least not intentionally.

When there was a brief lull in buisness, Dark walked to Tristan, intending to ask about it, but in doing so, banged his head on one of the hanging displays. With a sigh, he steadied it and moved on, very familiar with that inglorious experience.

"Your shop is busy today, Tristan," he said dryly, "Is it always like this?"
 
Tristan finished recording the last flowers purchased and looked up and up at Dark. "Not typically, no. It is usually far calmer than this. I do believe this just might be a record sales day outside of the romantic seasons."
 
"That is excellent news for you, then, although I hope your supply holds up against the unexpected demand." He glanced towards the flowers for a moment, "I suppose I will cut more paper for the bouquets while it is quiet."
 
"I think that's a good idea," Tristan agreed as the door opened. This time, it was a pair of sane looking women who barely spared them a glance before focusing on the terrariums at the front. "Take a bit of a breather."
 
As Dark prepared the materials for bouquets, he thought of Daizi at home, he thought of her preparing for her night out, and of how she'd react if she witnessed this. Hopefully, she would have a wonderful time tonight. Really, he should send her a text, if he had a spare moment.
 
A couple of young men, very flamboyant verging on stereotyped, came into the shop next, and they were, sadly far more foul mouthed and suggestive in their speech. Tristan tolerated it until a mother with her four year old came in. Then he came over and politely asked them to clean up or clear out. They did among much huffing and muttering about phobias, but they were quickly replaced by a small group of girls and guys, all of whom showed interest in the giant Arab with impeccable fashion taste and beautiful muscles under even more beautiful tattoos. They were much more civil though still flirtatious in that late teen, baby twenties way.
 
When the men came to try and flirt with him, since they were much more graphic and explicit, he did institute much more concrete boundaries rather than simply ignoring it. When they were asked to leave, and they started complaining about homophobia, in an irritating, disapproving way, he made a comment to them which essentially boiled down to, "Nobody wants a boy who is messy, there are clubs you can go to if they want to ogle and cat call, but this is not one of them" using certain words which subtly suggested he was in that community and was frankly, too dominant to be treated like meat by a twink.

With everyone who came in, everyone who was flirty anyway, he gesticulated primarily with his left hand, and regularly brought up his wife.

~~

At home, Daizi came downstairs after doing her hair and applying the best makeup she could do on her own, which was really just lipstick and mascara. She could handle lipstick and mascara easily. In accordance to the theme D'arcy, the maid of honour, had set, Daizi put on the dress she had hid beneath the sweater at the rehearsal dinner, and knowing Gwen would be there to pick her up at any minute, came downstairs in it, sans sweater, while carrying the coat she only intended to wear while running a quick errand, to say her goodbyes.
 
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Tristan raised his brows, a little surprised by Dark's language, but made no further comment. It worked, and that was all that mattered to him.

The group currently hitting on Dark were clearly disappointed, UT they did respect the ring. That didn't stop them from flirting, but it was - for them, at least - lighthearted fun with no expectations. They did buy some flowers and a couple of potted plants while a couple of older women sidled their way in to get a good look while picking out a couple of vases.

Poor Dark got no respite because as soon as one group left, a new one came, and he had to start the whole thing over again. At least everyone respected certain boundaries, so while they might not stop flirting - the older women got rather aggressive a couple of times - but they maintained their distance and were pretty clear they expected nothing to come of it. Tristan kept an eye on things, ready to step in if Dark ever gave him a nod, but he was busy ringing up purchases and bringing out new plants.

~~

Alec's eyes widened when Daizi came down. "Wow, Mama! You look ready to slay!"
 
On occasion, Dark did slip away to the back of the store, just to get away from all the attention for a bit. For a highly introverted man, dealing with veritable crowds of people seeking his attention got a bit overwhelming, although admittedly some part of him liked it. There was something satisfying about knowing even at 39, he was still desirable to this extent, although he knew if this were happening to a family member, he would not let it go as easily.

But even though he shut down or ignored almost every flirt, and never flirted back, occasionally he'd allow himself to over emphasize his accent.

When speaking to one older woman, although he generally avoided speaking of his home life---even while regularly mentioning his wife, he never said her name nor provided any more information about her besides the fact she kept a garden, which is the only reason he knows so much about flowers-- he did allow himself to say, "When my daughter is older, I am going to bring her home flowers during mundane moments."

~~

"Oh, thank you," Daizi laughed, having not expected him to say she was slaying, "I love this dress, but I don't have many reasons to wear it anymore. Gwen will be here in just a few minutes, do you need anything before I leave?"
 
"You have a daughter? Oh, that is so sweet! How old is she?" demanded the woman.

"He has a daughter?" asked another one, drawing in three more to surround Dark, their eyes lit up.

~~

"It is gorgeous on you," Alec said admiringly. "And, no, I don't think so. Maybe a twirl and a hug, and you are free to party! Remember, don't drink strange drinks, don't do anything that you don't want to explain to the paramedics or see in the newspaper, and come home before the sun comes up."
 
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