How Green Becomes Wood

"I have not watched it in years, probably since it came out, I did not remember all of it," He replied, setting down his face oil and picking up his beard oil. Nothing was more disgusting than men who didn't condition their beards and just walked around with a dry, itchy monstrosities on their faces. Even Cooger oiled his.

Once every step in his nighttime skin and hair routine were completed, he briefly poked his head into the nursery to make sure Ivy was still okay, and then went downstairs to pour himself a glass of wine.
 
Alec went to take care of his less extensive but still full-care routine for his skin. At least he did not have a beard to worry about. He didn't particularly want a beard and knew that if the fuzzy thing that attempted to grow when he stopped shaving it was a beard, he'd have to take at least as good of care of it as Dark did. Xander wanted a beard badly. Alec didn't want the hassle. Head hair was enough without adding on face hair.

Xander went downstairs while Alec was doing his face and joined Dark. "Enjoy the show?" he asked.
 
"The movie?" Dark asked to make sure he didn't misunderstand taking a sip of wine, "Yes. I do not think all of the jokes were to my taste, but overall I enjoyed it. I wish you had been there for more of it."
 
"Sure," Dark replied, handing the glass over. Xander was sixteen, there was no reason he couldn't try it. He didn't know if he'd let Xander drink a full glass, he'd need to talk with Daizi, but a sip was okay, "This is quality wine, though, so if it goes missing, you will be in trouble."
 
"Honestly? I do not know. But I know it was more expensive than others, and I like the way this one tastes." He chuckled grimly as he took the glass back, "You need to train your body to recognize it is not poison, then it tastes better. But I only drink reds. Daizi sometimes enjoys a rosé, but we are working on it."
 
Xander rolled his eyes. "That's what you said about coffee. Why are we forcing ourselves to drink stuff that our bodies say is poison?"

"Soda is poison, and we have no trouble with that," Alec said, bouncing in. "Did he get a taste? I've never tasted wine. Can I have a taste?"

"Who even thought of drinking rotten fruit juice?" Xander frowned.
 
"Because once it stops tasting like poison, it begins tasting very nice," Dark replied, handing his glass to Alec so he could try it also, "I believe apes did, there are cases of them eating fermented fruit. Birds, also."
 
"I saw a funny video of elephants drunk on fermented fruit," Alec remarked. He took a sniff and then a sip. He, too, made a face, but then went for a second sip. "I don't know about it, but it's not awful." He handed the glass back.

Xander stretched and turned to leave the room. "I'm going to head to bed."
 
"Goodnight," Dark said, taking his glass back, "You may find yourself liking it, some day, Alec. I do not mind letting you try alcohol, if you are here and with either myself or Daizi. I do not want you to conceptualize it as a mysterious, temptatious elixr. It should not mystify."
 
"Oh, I've already tried beer, but not wine," Alec shrugged. "Wine seems so much more glamorous! I was wondering if it actually was or not. Beer was nasty and made me break out in a very mild case of hives."
 
Alec shrugged. "A few years ago. Our Mum was drinking with her boyfriend at the time and a couple of their friends, and they gave us each a bottle. They laughed, knowing we wouldn't really like it. Mum was already pretty tipsy or she might have said something, but she wasn't even really paying attention until a lot later."
 
"Hm." Dark replied, taking a sip of wine, "In some countries, that is normal, if it helps. But I am still sorry that happened. It is different when people that age are given alcohol to mock them."
 
"Yeah, it wasn't great. Mum was... not happy. Especially when she found out Xander chugged half the bottle just to spite him." Aec made a face. "Not the greatest time, but, eh, it got better. Her boyfriend seemed actually pretty apologetic when they all sobered up, and his friends didn't come over for the next couple of months."
 
"It could be worse, I suppose." He replied thoughtfully, running his thumb along the rim of a wine glass, "I was once at a party, a little one, and we were smoking weed. One of the people there blew smoke into their dog's face, saying the dog had anxiety and it helped. I still worry for that dog, even though I do not believe she would still be alive today even were it not for the marijuana."
 
"I'm sorry, that's really said," Alec said gently. "I think that's kind of why our Mum never allowed us to have any pets ever, and she wouldn't be with a guy who had a dog or anything. It was just... too easy to hurt them. Anyway, maybe I'll like wine, maybe not." He checked his arms. "As long as it doesn't give me hives!"
 
"That was wise of her." Dark nodded, before taking a deep breath and tipping his head back, "Pets are expensive, too. And take a lot of time. I worry for Enkidu, I give him as much attention as I can, but it's not like before, when he was really the only baby. Him and the rats. Neith is different, she's really only Daizi's. Honestly," he smirked a little, "Sometimes I forget about her. Do not tell your mother. But Neith is a spider, she does not mind. Enkidu would mind. But I never forget about him." Saying this, he reached down and scratched his dog behind his ears, giving him a good bit of attention before speaking again, "Let me know if you do develop hives, so I can tell your doctor if there is ever an issue."
 
"So far so good!" Alec said cheerfully. He added quietly, "I forget about Neith, too. Poor spider. I think. I'm not sure spiders like being pet." He stretched and said, "Maybe I should head to bed. Unless you want company while waiting for Mama to get home?"
 
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