How Green Becomes Wood

"I am rather fond of the scent, yes. I did not grow up around many trees. Can you imagine what it was like the first time you saw a forest? The first time you smelled pine? Stood beneath a canopy so dense all sunlight is obscured? Now I am seldom far from the scent of trees. I do some furniture, I carved Ivy's high chair, her crib, Xander has a wardrobe I made him. And the," He pointed behind him, "The designs we have on the doors and windows I gradually carved in over the years we have lived her. I make anything I can, really. Chess sets, music boxes... Whatever interests me in the moment. I also am forever at work on a miniature carnival. And, yes, I did design my tattoos myself, or at least most of them," He rolled up his sleeve just slightly to show one on his wrist, "I had this done last year, for the twins. I think about adding to it, but I inspiration has yet to strike." He glanced towards the window as he rolled down his sleeve and redid his cufflink, "You should see Daizi's garden. It is more impressive than anything I have done."

"Have you dated much?" Sloan asked curiously, "It's okay if that's too personal a question."

"Oh, that's good." Milo sighed, relieved, glancing shyly at everyone else who was mingling at the party. Daizi was stepping out of the kitchen to ask if Ciara would like to help due to an unending desire to make her feel included, and an assumption the quieter room would be easier on her. Cooger had walked away briefly to sneak a treat to Enkidu. Ivy was still squirming in her father's arms. There were a lot of people. "What sort of questions?"
 
"I would like to see more of your woodwork sometime, if I may," Tristan said, leaning forward to see Dark's wrist. "That is a lovely tattoo! That is so thoughtful to do such a thing for the twins. I've thought about getting more, myself, but I always end up buying a plant instead. It's less stressful than trying to find a wheelchair-friendly tattoo parlor," he chuckled. "Alec has mentioned Daizi's garden. I would love to see it sometime! I am not sure if now is a good time, but it is something I would enjoy seeing."

"Yeah, I've dated a lot," Becky admitted with a shrug. "My mom says I date like teens from the fifties, whatever that means. I don't know. I think I had maybe... two serious relationships, but, yeah, I'm good at dating. Not really relationships. I figure if I keep trying, it'll work out! This is the longest I've ever been single. It's so frustrating."

"Um," Alec thought for a moment, "standard stuff like where we go to school, are we in extracurriculars, are we happy where we are, are we looking forward to being a family, things like that. I think it was just to make certain everything was above board and stuff."

"Hey, Milo," Xander said, wandering over with Peter in tow. "How's it going?"
 
"I have no problems showing it to you, although there is a small," He frowned, his heavy eyebrows furrowed and gestured with one hand to something low and flat, "I apologize, I cannot recall the English word just now. When there is the---it is the single step? But not," He raised his hand up, indicating about the height of each step of their stairs, "It is low, but still not flush to the ground, my shed. It is flat, there is some space, I have a bench. But it is not quite a porch." Finally, he waved whatever he was conjuring with his hand away, letting it go, "When we eat, you can see Ivy-Qadira's high chair, though, and it will give you an idea. Or, as I said, our railings. But I did not know you had tattoos. I believe the parlor I go to is wheel-chair accessible, but I can only vouch for the work of the artist I go to. I believe the other artists there are high quality, but I am less familiar with their work, so I could not advise on their specialities or styles." He slowly set Ivy down because she was beginning to fuss, "You will have to come again another day. Daizi loves to show off her work, although spring is really the best time to see it. I am no fan of vivid colour, typically, but even one as lowly as I am stunned by its magnificence."

"I think sometimes it is better to be single." Sloan said with a shrug, "I've had one major relationship I got too serious with. It didn't end well, and I can't get back those years. There's a lot I can't get back."

"Oh. Cool." Milo replied, nodding, and he turned and looked at Xander, "Hey. It's okay. Sorry I'm late. My grandfather took a wrong turn."
 
"I have two. One I got on a whim, and one I put thought into," Tristan said with a smile. "The whim one is up here," he tapped his shoulder, "and it is a simple Yin and Yang. The other one," he, like Dark, unbuttoned his cufflink and rolled up his sleeve to display two long scars on his forearm, "is easier to display." The bottom one was shorter than the top, 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. The colors were vibrant and the outlines crip and clear yet simple. He gave Dark a moment to look at it before re-buttoning his sleeve. "I would love to see the garden at another time, should that be possible, and I will get a good look at Ivy's chair." He leaned down and smiled as Ivy was distributed on the floor. "Do you get to play in the garden, little one? Do you get to see the beautiful flowers?"

"I dunno. Sometimes I get to stay friends with my exes, and that's cool, but it's so much more fun to have someone to go places with and do things with and have someone there with you," Becky said with a dramatic sigh.

"That's okay. Cool you're here," Xander assured Milo. He glanced around and jerked his head toward a back wall where there were fewer people. "You want to go over there and talk?"
 
Being a man whose entire body was covered in largely self-inflicted scars, Dark had trained himself to more or less overlook them while still being aware of their existence. It was a permanent response from the way he had been stared at. "I must apologize," He said, looking only at the tattoo, I feel as though I have seen it before, but only once, and many months ago. It is well done. Certainly not the art style my artist is best in." He unfurled himself, having had to bend a very long way to see it properly, "I once had a therapist who made me read The Tao of Pooh. I do not believe I was in a place to appreciate it, then.*

Ivy gurgled and crawled off to find one of her toys, jingling as she went and stopping briefly by Alec, Xander, and Milo to babble at them because she hadn't noticed them before while her father was holding her. When she did crawl up, Milo took a small step back, just to give her some space, "Hi there, Ivy, are you enjoying the party?" When Ivy sat up to look at him, he took a quick picture of her and then looked up at his friends, "Yeah, talking back there would be good. It seems quieter. Um. Is she okay? There are a lot of people here, and she is... very small." Off to the side near Tristan, Dark was watching Ivy like a hawk.

"I mean," Sloan shrugged, "You can do that stuff with friends, too. You just generally can't hold hands at the same time. I know I'll date again, someday, I just. Don't trust high schoolers."
 
"Thank you. I have read it multiple times, but the first two, I was not in the correct mindset, either," Tristan admitted. "I pressed through to prove someone wrong, and it ended up becoming highly impactful in my life. Who knew a bear with very little brain and stuffed with fluff created over a hundred years ago could have so much influence on children and adults alike?"

"Hey, Mini," Xander greeted her casually. "Yeah, she's fine. Wanna come with us?" he asked as he started slowly walking.

"Hi, Ivy!" Alec said more enthusiastically. "Come with us!" He held out a hand toward her as he moved, inviting her to follow along. "Don't worry, Milo. Ba is over there watching her every move. She can't hiccup without him knowing about it."

Becky groaned and put a hand to her chest. "Like a dagger to my heart! Come on, Sloan, you're a high schooler, too, and weren't you the one pressuring Peter how he should date, date, date? And how it was practically wrong of him not to? Cheating doesn't have an age limit, so you're going to have to trust somebody someday."
 
"They were not stories I grew up with. I think the book is likely more impactful if it was not your first experience with the character." Dark replied calmly, "But I am glad to know it is meaningful for those who are more familiar. Perhaps it will be significant to my daughter, some day."

Milo glanced over at Dark, who was still watching them out of the corner of his eye, and nodded, "Okay, that's good. I just, you know, didn't want her to get stepped on. Or something." He followed his friends and Ivy happily crawled along after them, only stopping along her way to grab her favourite toy, a small stuffed brown rabbit, whose poor fur was already getting fairly matted on its ears.

"I think you're misrepresenting my argument," Sloan replied blandly, barely remembering that conversation, "I don't think he, or anyone, should rush out and date everyone because they can, I think parents shouldn't forbid their teenagers from dating. Peter's an exception, but most teenagers when they're told, 'you can't date,' are just going to sneak around, and I don't think it's healthy to pretend those urges don't exist until you're 18. Or 20. Or however old it becomes acceptable. Anyway, you weren't even there for that conversation." She also couldn't quite recall telling Becky about being cheated on, either, but she might have accidentally, "And yeah, I'll date again, some day, but not somebody from that school. That doesn't mean I think other people should all call of dating, but I'm over it. I've had my experience, I'm good being single for now. There's nothing with it when it's your choice."
 
As Tristan was murmuring his agreement to Dark, Jack wandered over. "Dark! Congratulations of officially growing your family! Not that any of us needed the paper to tell us those were your boys, but it is a fantastic achievement."

~~

Xander stopped in an out of the way place, moving so Milo could stand the closest to the wall. "She'll be alright, won't you, Mini? We'll all keep an eye on her."

"Of course! We don't want her poor little fingers to get stepped on," Alec agreed. He leaned over and offered to pick Ivy up if she wanted, but understood if she wanted to stay on the floor exploring among the people.

~~

"Yeah, that's what you say, but then when someone's fine with something you disagree with, like Peter, you're all like," Becky was saying, but her tone suddenly shifted and she interrupted herself. "Hey! Peter!"

Peter wandered over and smiled at Sloan and Becky. "Talking about me?"

"No, not at all!" Becky assured him, flushing lightly.

"Uh-huh," Peter said mildly. "I really believe your protests."

Becky blushed harder and pointed off. "Oh, look! Milo came! I should go say hi." She hurried away quickly.

"Lemonade?" Peter asked Sloan, offering her a glass.
 
"Thank you," Dark replied, shaking Jack's hand, "I am sure I need not express how pleased we all are to have it behind us. May it be the final hurdle in this saga." He turned, gesturing, "Have you met Tristan Walsh? This is Jack Hollis, their friend's father."

~~

Milo gladly filled that space against the wall, keeping himself only open enough to be able to snap pictures of the party goers milling about. Ivy had no interest in being set down having only recently. Instead, she kept holding up her rabbit and squeaking at her brothers. "Does it feel different?" He asked, "It being official?"

~~

"I hope you came over to rescue me and not to chide me for talking about you," Sloan replied, feeling less positive about arriving to the party than she had earlier, "I wasn't the one who brought you up, I was only explaining my perspective, I promise."
 
Jack shook Dark's hand firmly but briefly. "I cannot even imagine how you must feel other than elated! I'm very happy for you." He turned to Tristan. "No, I haven't. Hello!"

"Hello, it is nice to meet you," Tristan greeted, accepting the offered handshake. "Hollis. Your son, Peter, he is the drummer of their band, right?"

"That's right!" Jack confirmed proudly. "It's not exactly what I expected to happen when he took up jazz drumming a few years ago, but they are very good. I'm proud of him!"

~~

Alec grinned at Ivy and squeaked back at her before answering. "I don't know yet. Kind of? I think it will really hit tomorrow or something."

"Maybe when we get the last, final, official paperwork. Court stuff generates a mountain of paperwork," Xander grumbled.

~~

Peter chuckled. "Relax, it's fine. You'd be amazed at how much I get gossiped about. I don't really care, but I also know you wouldn't do something like that. Not unless you really, really had good reason to. I like your dress, by the way. Looks cute with your curls."
 
Dark nodded in satisfaction. If they were satisfied in a conversation, he'd be able to stop talking to people unless they pulled him back in. He just needed to linger a little bit longer, then he could probably find some excuse to avoid chatting for a little while without anyone thinking he hadn't really talked to anyone at his own party.

~~

"I'm glad you had a better time figuring out custody and stuff than I did," Milo replied and then mentally berated himself for being a downer again. "It's good, though. Do you, um, have to take their names?"

~~

"Oh, thank you," Sloan replied, looking down at herself, "It takes a lot of work to make my hair look this nice. I broke two hair ties trying to get my right bun to stay."
 
"How about you? Any kids? Partners?" Jack asked.

"No and currently no," Tristan said easily.

"I just have Peter, a bit of a surprise, but the best surprise I ever got," Jack said proudly. "My wife's in the kitchen. So, what do you do out there in the real world?"

They chatted idly, comparing jobs, Tristan told him only about being a mortgage adjuster and not the flowers, and they got along rather well talking about the usual things adults talked about when they weren't sure what they had in common.

~~

"I'm glad it went easy, too. I was ready to have a heart attack at the first sign of trouble," Alec said cheerfully. "No, we didn't have to, but... we ended up choosing to."

"We could have kept out names, and we almost did, but it felt right to take theirs," Xander told him. "Now it matches Ivy's."

~~

"Your efforts paid off," Peter told her. "You look good. So! Everyone's favorite topic, what are you doing over break? I'm guessing gymnastics?"
 
Dark, with a nod, slipped away to a quiet area of the party, staying within eyesight of Ivy, but watching her less closely now that she was safely amongst her brothers who knew to keep an eye out, too.

~~

"That's cool," Milo replied, looking down at the baby and taking another picture of her, "It'll surprise some people on job applications too, I bet. I don't mean that to say it's a bad idea, or anything. It's special. I knew someone, at one of my other schools, I don't even remember which one. Her parents were both Indian immigrants, and when they arrived here, they changed their names to something English, and they named their children very English names, because they didn't want their children to face discrimination when applying for things. Taking their names, or, I guess, your mother's, is the reverse. It's cool."

~~

"How did you guess?" Sloan asked, taking a sip of her lemonade, "I have to really stay on it. College scouts are going to be at my meets. I can't afford to slip a little. Literally or figuratively."

~~

In the kitchen, there wasn't much to do besides make sure all the foods were properly heated and plates, drinks, and silverware were set out. It was normally something Dark took care of, but since it was a rare moment where he was actually chatting with someone without being forced to, Daizi was glad to do that part of the labour. "You know, Ciara," Daizi mused, "Dark is not the sort to admit it, but he is delighted the shepherd's pie you brought has lamb in. There are few food which delight him as much as lamb."
 
"Yeah, it's hyphenated now. We moved our, uh, maiden? Is it a maiden name?" Alec asked, glancing at Xander.

"Maiden," Xander nodded.

"We moved our maiden name to act as a second middle name, which isn't something I thought you could do until Xander found it when looking up info on name changes," Alec told Milo. "Our names are ridiculously long now, and I dig it. The best part? We didn't tell our folks until the moment of. I thought Mama was going to collapse in a puddle. A happy puddle, but a puddle."

"That was possibly the best moment," Xander agreed. He looked down at his sister. "Mini, are you going to smile for the camera, eat the bunny ear, or both?"

~~

"That's some pressure!" Peter said with a nod. "I don't have that kind of pressure. I just have the usual worries of figuring out what I want to do with my life and not getting disinherited from my family. I think I've figured out what I want to do, or at least the general branch of where I want to go. How about you? Are you going to stick with gymnastics? Maybe judge or something? Or do you have a different branch in mind?"

~~

"Oh? Good. That is how the dish is traditionally made, but in some places, it is more difficult to obtain," Ciara said, delicately arranging the silverware just so. "Lamb is something used a lot in Middle Eastern cooking, yes?"
 
"That's no good," Milo said, attempting a joke before he had a chance to think about if it was okay, "What are you going to do in the future? You'll never be able to surprise her with anything after this."

~~

Sloan looked at Peter in surprise and stole a quick glance to his parents before whispering, "Are you at risk of being disinherited?" After a few moments, she cleared her throat and more loudly said, "I don't know how far I'll take it. I love gymnastics so much, I really do. But nobody can be one forever. It's too hard on the body, so. Right now, I am just hoping to make it on a collegiate gymnastics team, hopefully earn a scholarship. But for a career, I want to study social work or guidance counseling, I think. I want to help people, and either advocate for them or help them to advocate for themselves."

~~

"Oh, I know. We have trouble sometimes, and it's expensive. But that only makes it more of a treat for him." Daizi explained, "Yes, it's very common in our foods. Nearly everything is lamb, beef, or fish. Sometimes chicken. Dark is making fish for Ivy's birthday party, he'll be roasting it all day."
 
"That's a good point," Alec laughed. "I have no idea, but I guess we'll have to think of something that's a good surprise!" He noticed Tom standing rather awkwardly alone and said, "I'm going to go keep Tom company for a bit. Ivy, you keep an eye on these two, okay?" He winked at Ivy and made a funny face before making his way over to his other friend.

~~

Peter shrugged noncommittally. It wasn't his parents who would cut him off if he was going to be cut off, but he didn't want to get into the internal politics of his family. Besides, he wasn't at a high of it anyway. He'd meant it more as a joke. So, he moved on to focus on Sloan. "That's a really noble and intense job! The kind that takes a lot of wear and tear on a soul. I think it's really great. Have you ever thought of taking up dance, too? I mean, you could make it a career if you wanted to, your gymnastics work has definitely given you a lot of skills for it, but I just mean as a creative outlet to help with the extra heaviness of being a councilor."

~~

"I shall have to keep that in mind," Ciara said with a slight nod. "The fish for Ivy's birthday sounds as though it will be quite extravagant. When does your family get in for that?"

~~

Jack had moved off and was looking at the art displayed on the walls, nodding appreciatively at what he saw, seeming content in his own company. Becky had somehow ended up sitting in a chair near Tristan and was talking to him animatedly. Tristan nodded as she spoke, seeming amused and not making any attempts to interrupt her rapid flow.
 
Ivy just continued to gurgle as she watched Xander and Milo, doing her best to get their attention. Keeping his back against the wall, Milo continued to take photographs of everyone he could see from his position, occasionally crouching down or leaning to the side to get a better angle, "If we all showed up in period costumes here, I bet we could fake some really convincing ghost pictures."

~~

"I know," She replied, "I've been thinking about it for awhile, though. I sometimes consider taking a dance class, if I found the time, but I don't know. I can't see myself ever becoming a pro dancer, at least not this late in the game, but..." She shrugged, "I don't think I could be a musician either, but sometimes, when I look at what your band does, when you get really showy with it, I think it'd be fun to do a really flamboyant performance. With, like, quick changes and spotlights and stuff. I'm not a good enough singer for it, and the sort of thing I imagine doing when I listen to music in my bedroom is not the sort of thing you could do at a school or a pizzeria, but. It just seems fun, and sort of... lower stakes."

~~

"He is making the national dish of Iraq for her. It's going to be a very traditional meal, which maybe is too fancy for an infant's first birthday, but we have to get it in before she is old enough to begin to ask for pizza instead," Daizi joked, "My family begins to arrive next Tuesday, but they'll be trickling in... or maybe torrenting in... throughout the week. Most are flying back home a week after they arrive, but some are staying a bit longer."
 
"Dude, if you ever wanted to try that for real, just let me know. My folks would bend over backward to make it happen. In case you didn't notice, they love that kind of thing," Xander stated. "They have a couple of those types of picture on display. I think there's one... yeah, over there on that shelf, I think."

~~

Peter considered this. "Well, I'm not too involved with dance stuff, so I can't advise you too much beyond the fact that I'm pretty sure a lot of your gymnastic training would translate really well into dance. That means even if you didn't want to go pro, it would make learning dance a lot easier. I think you should give it a try. Some things are just good for the soul and worth making time for, you know?" He took a step back and studied Sloan for a moment with a thoughtful frown. "Let's see... Punk-pop music, strong female-empowerment themes, lots of glittery bodysuits, maybe platform shoes?"

~~

"It sounds quite busy. I hope you will be able to enjoy it all and find time for all of your family members," Ciara said politely. She would much rather go to other people than have them come to her place, so what Daizi described sounded terrible to her. "Are you sure I shall not be intruding if I come?"
 
"I think about it a lot," Milo said, walking over to the frame, picking it up and examining it closely, trying to figure out how it was faked, "I read about the techniques a lot. I'd never try to make it out as if it weren't a hoax, but... Have you heard of the Cottingley Fairies?"

~~

"That's about what I imagine," Sloan admitted, almost shyly, "It just looks like fun. My mom would kill me."

~~

Daizi turned her face towards Ciara, her eyebrows furrowed, "Why would you be intruding?"
 
"No, I don't think so," Xander said slowly, filing through his mental catalog. Maybe it had shown up in that photography display at the museum? He couldn't remember for sure. "What is it? Or are they?"

Jack had been standing close enough that he could hear ander and Milo, though he was not trying to listen in, and his ears perked up when he caught the words, "Cottingley Fairies." He turned slightly toward them, enough to hear better, but tried not to make it obvious.

~~

"You would be fantastic!" Peter assured her. "You'd probably be a better fit with the band than me or Xander, no offense meant to either of us. You would make a great stage star. I don't know if you'd like it long-term, but it is a lot of fun short-term."

~~

"This is your family, after all," Ciara pointed out with care. "I am related to the boys, yes, and I am delighted to celebrate Ivy, but this is a time for your family to gather."
 
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