How Green Becomes Wood

Dark considered it for a few moments, turning around to look at the decorations, "I am proud of it. And I am glad." Although he would never tell Sally a word about what he was dealing with personally unless she caught him in a weak moment, because she was not one of the very few people he trusted to that degree, he thought of what he had seen in his wife today. And Sally had become her best friend, so lifting his chin slightly, not fully indicating in the direction of Daizi, "In some ways, it was more difficult than we might have anticipated."

~~

"We should be grateful he at least had the tact to make the birthday party look like it's for a baby," Rashid commented, glancing around at the decorations, "They're pretty cute. I was concerned we would show up and find the party themed to something abhorrent."

"I wouldn't be surprised if Daizi had to talk him out of it. He is absolutely shameful." Saladin sighed, crossing his arms, "It is foul to see how many of our family has been manipulated into believing he is anything other than he is. At least you have the good sense to see when you are being played. Everybody else pretends I am somehow immoral for wanting to protect his daughter."

"I love Daizi, I don't need to tell you how dear she is to me, but she's just... she's idealistic."

Saladin scoffed, "That is one word for it."

"It's not really her fault, I believe seeing the best in people is generally considered a positive trait."

"Not when it comes to the point of delusion," Saladin said, "I mean, what is he going to teach their children? To walk around looking like some..." He waved a hand, "common criminal vandalized him? Like he were no more than a brick wall? Daizi has a tattoo, did you notice? Right there on her finger. She never would've gotten that if not for him, and all of her piercings... And that's after I raised her right. And you know what she got up to when she came back to us after meeting him--what happened to her, because of the crowds she decided to run in because he turned her into... What sorts of things is a man like that going to teach his children? A rocking horse isn't going to do much to protect my granddaughter, and combined with whatever it is he'll try to teach. I have nightmares of her coming to Egypt with metal in her face and big holes in her ears. And I'm not there enough, it's bad enough I can't protect my own daughter. She refuses to believe she even needs protecting, but that's one thing that has always been like her. But he only worsened her love of defiance. And he convinced her I am some sort of cruel man," He gestured around them, "I paid for this. I paid for it knowing how it would be. Because I want my daughter to be happy."

~~

"Well, that depends," Cooger replied, "Is anyone home? Or will it be just the pair of us?"
 
Last edited:
Sally followed his indication. "Ah," she said quietly. "I can only imagine." She glanced at him. "A silver lining is still attached to a raincloud, after all. There is nothing wrong with feeling sorrow even during happy times. We are not so simple we cannot have conflicting emotions, but... I doubt I need to tell you that."

~~

Sorry, Mama, Xander thought. He stepped around Rashid to stand in front of the pair and met their looks with an icy glare. "I may not know a lot about Egyptian culture and manners, but I thought it was pretty widespread that it was considered the height of bad manners to ridicule your host while in in his house. Yet," his smile was sharp as a knife as he raised his arms slightly to gesture to the house, "here you are insulting your host, insulting your daughter, and insulting your granddaughter while at a celebration for as much of a miracle as you could possibly hope for." He dropped his arms, his expression one of deepest disgust and disappointment.

"You know, I was looking forward to having a grandfather. I was looking forward to having an old dude I could respect. One I could look up to. The kind of guy you say G. M. Dark is? Those are the kind I grew up with and worse, so I was looking forward to having a dad and a grandad. I knew your relationship was strained, like polite people like to say, but I thought maybe you wouldn't be so bad. I was wrong. You are nothing more than bitter, muckraking, slandering, nagging old hag. And you," he glared at Rashid, "are way worse because you're nothing but a yes-man toady who's only agreeing because Big Bro said it. You don't have an original bone in your body."

Xander stepped closer to Saladin, fists clenched at his sides, keeping his voice low. "You don't want your daughter happy. You want your possession to slavishly do what you say. You are so narcissistic you refuse to see that what you do, every word you say, you're as good as stripping a slick of skin off her body, and she stands there and takes it because she loves you and wants you to be happy, but you never will be. Not even if she was married to your choice and living a dolled-up life, you'd still be a bitter old dude because perfection doesn't exist. You keep on this way, and you will get kicked out of her life and it will be your fault. Not his, not hers, not Mini's, Yours. No one here likes you. Loads of them love you, and that's why they put up with your sorry ass, but none of them like you, and you have no one to blame but yourself. Maybe someday you'll get your head out of your ass long enough to see that and change it, but I wouldn't be surprised if you died surrounded by money and acclaim and alone."

He took a deep breath. "That man that you are so determined to hate scraped my brother and I off the street. He saw we trusted no one. He took every abuse I could throw at him and let it roll off him. He saved our lives, gave us a home, gave us discipline, and taught us how real men should act. Not like sniveling Karen hags or abusive j**ka**es. That's what we've learned. He treats his wife like a goddess. He idolizes his daughter. He goes out of his way to make a special dish for his visitors and allows them time to hold his daughter when he knows they don't have much time. He does everything he can for everyone else while not compromising himself ever. He's more man than you'll ever be, and patriarch of this family or not, if I hear you dragging him one more time, I will toss your ass out on the sidewalk."

He turned and walked away. It was that or give into violent urges. His whole body shook from pent-up rage.

~~

"Just us," Lex said, raising a brow, surprised by the question. "Is that a problem?"
 
"No it is something I am... quite... familiar with," Dark said, catching sight of Xander talking to Saladin and developing a new sense of dread, "But with what she has been coping with, I fear I can only say so much."

~~

Rashid blinked in shock and amusement at his niece's son, not quite knowing what to say as he looked between him and Saladin. As much as he wanted to stand up for his brother, it was too interesting to hear what the kid would go on to say, and even after Xander stalked off, he sat there with his mouth open, almost delighted despite the insults he himself had suffered.

Unlike his brother, Saladin's face only darkened, more than a little displeased by this sanctimony, but all he said was, "We will have to see what you say when you have children."

~~

"No, not a problem. I just didn't want to be interrupted again." Cooger replied with a sparkle in his eyes.
 
Sally heaved a sigh. "After her reaction to what I last said, and maybe I shouldn't have said it, I am not sure what I could say, either. I think..." She bit her lip, an expression of genuine worry breaking through her happy/polite/in-public expression. "I fear that unless you can find some other way to reach her, all we can do is wait until she drives herself into her own fall and catch her when she does."

~~

Xander barely resisted the urge to flip him off and muttered to himself quietly enough that Saladin probably wouldn't hear him, "I'd say you'd never get a chance to be near them. That's what I'd say."

~~

"Oh," Lex grinned, her eyes lighting up. She opened the door and gestured him in with a playful smile.
 
Dark nodded, turning his face away for a few moments before looking back, carefully and intentionally letting his mask slip just enough for Sally to see how deeply his heart ached out of concern for his wife. In his perfectly controlled way, he said, "We are at a baby's birthday party," but then lightly touched her arm and tipped his head towards the stairs before walking off in that direction. If she followed, he'd talk more, but it seemed just as likely this wasn't the place for such a conversation.

~~

Saladin fumed silently, watching as once more Dark walked away after touching another woman's arm and turning his head to watch Xander fume off. To his eyes, nothing seemed to disprove his concerns here, but all he could do was slink back and cross his arms.

~~

Cooger stole one more glance back at his friend's house, and then followed Lex inside, "So, what have you been up to here?"
 
Sally quietly followed after Dark, trying not to think about how they looked slinking off into corners like this, but it was important. Daizi was important. She hoped Dark had some ideas because this was a first for her, but she would do anything for Daizi.

~~

Xander went outside for some peace. He just needed some air. He'd go back inside in a second. After a minute, he realized they never had done anything with the soccer goals. Should he remind the others? Maybe in a bit.

~

Lex smiled and followed him in. "You saw most of the kitchen yourself, but it's polished up now. I got new furniture for the living room, changed out the lights, and did a cool feature wall." She showed him the way, pointing out other renovations she'd completed on her own after he'd helped her with the big problems like plumbing, electrical, and one rotten wall.
 
Last edited:
Dark paused near the middle of the hallway, "We may enter Daizi's study if you prefer, but I try not to enter her private space, and I could not bring you to my shed. If I unlock that door, we would have many coming to look." And under no circumstances would he risk being caught leading another woman into his room, even if Saladin weren't there, "But we cannot let Daizi collapse in on herself. It just---we cannot. I would walk into hell to save her but it is better she is spared the flames."

~~

Finding his friend missing, Milo looked around quickly and then, spotting him, went outside. At first he opened his mouth to speak but changed his mind and just went and stood beside him.

~~

"The couch looks nice," Cooger said, nodding towards the living room, "Seems comfortable."
 
Last edited:
Sally put a hand on his arm firmly but comfortingly. "I understand," she said quietly. She dropped her hand. "I want this no more than you do, but the fact remains that you cannot help someone who does not wish to be helped. I look into Daizi's face, and I see she is struggling with something, but she refuses to share it. If you, the man she idolizes, cannot get her to open up, I don't know what I can do. I want to do something. I wish to whatever diety you desire to help her, but I do not know how."

~~

Xander glanced at Milo and then away. He didn't say anything, but his shoulders relaxed a little. His hands in his pockets finally released their fisted nature, and he slipped his thumb out.

~~

Lex nodded toward the couch. "I think it's pretty comfy. Want to give it a test?"
 
"But I cannot talk to her, because I do not understand. There are some things, as a man, I cannot understand. I try to, I try to understand her, I always listen, but in this, there is a difference between us. And she tries..." He sighed heavily, "But she winces. I am difficult: I push people away. There are three people I will speak to, and one of them I pay to listen. Daizi is not like that, she is trying, but she flinches from it as though she stuck her own unwashed finger into a bullet hole to staunch the blood."

~~

Milo exhaled softly, not knowing what had happened, but knowing something had. Xander never liked to talk about anything, so he just stood there and waited, just in case.

~~

"Something like that," Cooger replied, sitting on the couch and holding one hand out to her.
 
Sally winced at Dark's comparison. She didn't say anything at first, thinking. "I will try to talk to her," she said at last. "I will find a time to come and spend some time with her and try to get her to talk. As long as you keep yourself available to rescue her if things go terribly wrong. I will do my best to see if I can get her to talk about the pain."

~~

After several minutes, Xander took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I'm glad you gave your Grands a chance," he said at last. "Proud of you for sticking it out, but if it ever gets too much, if they cross lines that shouldn't be crossed, you can come here. Any time. As long as you need. No questions asked. Okay? Some sh** you don't have to put up with."

~~

Lex willingly joined him and sat down next to him, her leg touching his. "Taking the lead now," she teased, her voice light and soft. "I like it."
 
"Please." Dark said softly before looking solidly at her, "Nothing could prevent me from being available to her. Her aunts are worried too, she and Zeinab speak most nights. But Daizi... She is coping with such pain while in other moments being happier than she has ever been. I think..." He began and then paused, his furrowed eyebrows creating deep canyons in his face, but then they smoothed out as he took a glance over his shoulder, hesitantly.

~~

"O-okay," Milo replied awkwardly, not knowing why his grandparents were suddenly brought up, "Thank you. I... I will." He nodded, realizing he actually meant it. "...Are you okay?"

~~

"Well," Cooger said with a boyish smile, leaning in slightly with his arm draped on the back of the couch, "You already said you were interested in playing Twister. Figured just sitting on the couch together, that's a safe bet."
 
"What do you think?" Sally prompted gently. She wanted to hear it. She did know the confusion qnd pain of being utterly happy an miserable at the same time, but she doubted it was anywhere close to the extremes Daizi was feeling.

~~

"Yeah, I'm alright. Just... things aren't going to stay nice, I don't think, with certain members of the family. They're playing nice for now, but I don't know how long that'll last." He glanced briefly toward the house. "Caught the oldest dude blasting my dad with his brother. Told him off. Don't regret it, but I'll probably have to deal with it later."

~~

Lex smiled and slowly eased into his side under his arm. "It's a good deal tamer than twister. Less likely one us would hurt something."
 
"I know that she is scared." Dark replied, every ounce of him wanting to turn away and take his wife into his arms, "But I think... I think she is afraid if she allows herself to address how difficult things have been and how much she's struggling, it will make it so she can't feel what joy she so honestly feels, and then it'll only be the pain left." He pressed one hand to his heart, only coming to this guess as he explained his theory. If he was right, it only made him ache more for her. "How can anyone expect a person to be brave enough to open up with such a steep cost?"

~~

"You shouldn't regret it," Milo quietly affirmed, "I hope you're wrong, but. I don't know what there is to insult about your dad. He's cool."

~~

Doing his best to hide his nerves, Cooger touched his other hand to her waist, taking the time to simply enjoy how she felt beneath his palm. It was all so new, she was uncharted and unconquerable, and he was just a lone frontiersman. Who couldn't quite keep poetic metaphors romantic for long without becoming cheesy. "Lex?"
 
Sally couldn't help pressing his arm again. "No one could expect it, but you and I both know what will happen if she does not face it. What she fears might very well come true," she said, her voice quiet and pained. "I promise to do my best to try to help her see that she cannot lose this happiness, that facing the pain is the way to keep the happiness. I promise I will do what I can for her." Even if it meant Daizi stopped speaking with her if she messed up.

~~

Xander glanced at Milo and smiled briefly. "Thanks," he said softly. He turned his gaze back to the yard. "Not sure if we're going to get around to this football game thing."

~~

"Yes?" Lex asked, leaning into him and looking into his eyes. She waited patiently for his next move.
 
Dark looked up at the ceiling, for once not pulling away from her touch, although he still did not lean into it. "I know. I know." His voice was hoarse. "I have seen her at her worst. I am doing everything I can to get her help before we are there." He kept his hand over his heart, unable to express in words how much she meant to him, "My solace is the knowledge to my eyes she is not there."

~~

"I think it's because Hassan is being fussed over by his mom," Milo said, indicating that way, "I don't think he forgot. He's just trapped."

~~

"I'd really, really like to kiss you."
 
"Then we will all do our best not to let her get there," Sally promised gently. She squeezed his arm. "We should go back down. I will talk to Daizi about when I might be allowed to take her out for some brunch or something very soon."

~~

Xander turned to look. "That'd be why. Eh. If it happens, it happens. He seemed all for it, but I don't really care all that much." After a pause, he said, "Thinking of sports... I have a competition coming up in a couple of weeks. Well, the Judo group does. I thought maybe this time I'd sign up."

~~

Lex leaned even closer so their faces were only inches apart. "I would really, really like you to kiss me," she whispered.
 
"Even if she does not open up, it will be good for her." Dark replied, taking just a moment longer to fade back into himself before going downstairs as if nothing had happened.

~~

"Really?" Milo asked, looking at him, "I'd go, if you were competing."

~~

Cooger had just begun to close the rest of the distance when suddenly he stopped and got off the couch. Before Lex had time to question things, he shut all of the blinds in the room, then sat back down on the couch, took her in his arms and said, "I want it to be just us," and pressed his lips to hers.
 
Sally also took a moment to take a deep breath. Then, with a smile, she swept down to rejoin the party. She worked her way slowly toward Daizi, stopping to chat with a couple of other people along the way.

~~

"Yeah?" Xander asked, raising an eyebrow. "Alright. I'll let you know when and where."

~~

Lex watched him with first confusion and then amusement. Then when his lips met hers, she let it all go with a soft sigh of delight. One hand went around his waist, and the other went up to tangle her fingers in his hair, drawing him in closer and deeper.
 
At that moment, Daizi had manage to reclaim control of her daughter, who was once more looking like she needed a good sleep after a very, very long day.

~~

"Cool. What made you decide to start competing?"

~~

Cooger held her firmly at the waist at first but moved one hand up her back while he pulled her in closer. It had been awhile since he last been with anyone like this, he was going to enjoy it.
 
"Someone looks as though they are ready to sleep standing up, if she could stand up," Sally said, amused, as she joined Daizi. "Poor, tired thing! How is her mother holding up?"

~~

Xander shrugged. "Something Sloan said a while back. And I was considering trying out a different discipline, but first I should probably give competing a try. Everyone says it's the best way to learn and improve."

~~

Cooger's hands sent happy tingles up Lex's spine. She gripped his hair lightly for a moment before letting go and letting her hand slide to his shoulder. She turned, never breaking contact with him, and slid her legs over his so she was more or less sitting sideways on his lap, a much more comfortable position for them both. Then her hand slid behind his neck once more, a gentle plee not to stop.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top