How Green Becomes Wood

"It made me stop being an athiest." Daizi said bluntly with a sly grin as she reminisced, then sighed forlornly as she went into her bathroom, "But now I need to wait weeks. And I should probably go before I lose my nerve and fail to stay strong. But Sally? I'm serious. Close your eyes, or use a blindfold, arms and hands. Most gorgeous part of a human."
 
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"I'm not teasing you, Sally. I'm venting my anguish." Daizi joked, "I do so dearly love that gorgeous, gorgeous man of mine. I thank every star for him, but I'd be thanking them regardless of how he looks because his soul weakens me enough. Warn Jack if he tells Dark he has scandalous thoughts about me, Dark will be less delighted! We'll talk more at brunch---about other topics, surely."
 
"I certainly hope so as we will be in a public place," Sally said dryly. She signed off and leaned back on the pillows.

Jack came out of the bathroom still towel-drying his hair dry. He padded over in his white and blue striped pajamas and smiled at Sally. "You look like you have something on your mind. Please tell me it's not Egypt again."

"No, but close," Sally admitted. "Do you remember that blindfold you got me for Valentine's day a couple of years ago? That Valentine when you led me all over heaven's half-acre in the name of a surprise that turned out to be in our own backyard?"

Jack stared at her, caught off guard. "I have no idea what that would have to do with something close to Egypt, but, yes, I remember."

"Did it survive the move?"

"I think it's in one of those boxes we never got around to unpacking last move," Jack mused.

Sally glanced at him. "Care to go on an adventure looking for it?"

Jack grinned. "I have no idea where this is going, but I'm liking the journey!"
 
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After it sounded like Daizi had hung up, Dark opened the door and walked up behind her, placing one hand on the countertop so his scent enveloped her. Speaking in a careful, gentle tone, he repeated, "That gorgeous, gorgeous man of mine."

Turning around and finding him very near and completely in her way, she rested her hands behind her on the countertop, a playful smirk on her face, "Are you eavesdropping on my conversations now?"

"I made you stop being an atheist?" Dark asked, lowering his head closer to hers.

"You are gorgeous," She breathed. "But that does not absolve you for listening in on my conversations."

"Mmm... I was not eavesdropping, I was avoiding interrupting you. I was being polite." He told her easily, keeping his eyes trained on her face and avoiding stealing glances at the way her bra strap had slipped from her shoulder.

"Oh, polite?" She laughed at him.

"What else would I be?" Dark asked, nearly choking on that sliver of space separating them they were forbidden from crossing.

"There are words for what you are," Daizi replied, "I don't want to sully my tongue uttering them."

"I heard you utter them earlier," He teased, daring to touch her sleeve not her skin, smirking at the way her breath hitched.

"You know," Daizi purred, rocking up onto her toes, "It's not yet midnight. We've only kissed once, we're allowed two."

Raising one eyebrow, Dark dared to touch her waist, pulling her against him, "That is a very good point."

Reaching up, Daizi ran her fingers up his neck and through his hair. She rocked up onto her toes and leaned in until their lips were almost touching. Mustering strength she didn't realize she had, she smirked and said, "It is... too bad."

With a shrug, she broke away from him, walking easily to change into her pajamas while Dark stood staring at the space she had occupied wondering how he fell for his own trick. "You are cruel."

"That's why you married me, isn't it?"
 
The next morning, Xander was up at his usual time and preparing for the day with a workout and a run. His routine was not quite as gruelling as his father's, but his was also more focused on stamina than strength building. Alec wasn't even stirring until Xander got back. Alec slid out of bed (or rather, off the couch) and fuzzily got ready for the day with a little less enthusiasm than usual. By the time he reach the breakfast table, he had reached his usual bright and spritely levels, but he didn't eat as much as usual. He was going out for an early lunch and didn't want to spoil things by not being hungry. Making one person eat alone was awkward.
 
Dark's exercise routine was as grueling as ever, maybe moreso. After his conversation with Daizi, he was trying to figure out how to get back at her. Maybe if he went on a cut it'd do it... then again, it's not like she'd be able to see the extra definition. But if it was obvious, surely people would talk about it, and her curiousity would get the better of her. He hadn't fully decided, but he worked out just a bit harder.

Of course, one major detriment to his deviant plan was his great-aunt-in-law who would have a mental breakdown if he lost even the smallest amount of weight. Of course Zeinab made breakfast, and when Dark dared try to take even a little bit more than usual, she put more on his plate and scowled at him until he ate it.

"What is with you boys," Zeinab huffed with her hands on her hips, "Eat your breakfast, you all need it."
 
"I'll take more," Xander offered.

"You'll always take more, and yet you're somehow exactly the same still," Alec told him. "How are you not the size of the hungry, hungry hippo you emulate?"

"I work it all off chasing after you," Xander replied and cleaned off Alec's plate for him.

Alec rolled his eyes. "I'm fine, Amty, really and truly! I don't want any more. Actually, I should probably go make sure all my homework for tomorrow is ready." He also needed to find the time to remind Dark he needed a ride. If Dark couldn't take him, he'd have to find another way, which was fine, as long as he knew in advance.
 
"Good, somebody has to," Zeinab huffed, gladly serving Xander a larger helping.

"Amty, I appreciate all you do," Dark said cautiously, "I was just considering the merits of potentially... dieting... just a little bit."

"No."

"Amty---"

"Eat! Ya hamar."
 
Alec slipped away while Xander finished his helping and went to pick out his outfit for going to see Emma. Dark brown pants, a nice dark green shirt - button-up, of course - and very basic makeup so he didn't look like he'd woken up sleeping on the couch. As he held up his choices, he frowned. He was going to look like a tree. He swapped out brown pants for black and set everything aside to change into later, though he did the makeup now. Then, as he said, he checked to make sure all of his school stuff was in order. That done, he went to find Dark to plee for a ride.
 
Dark easily agreed to give Alec a ride, not at all minding the brief trip out of the house. He was fond of Amty Zeinab and grateful for the chance to relax a little bit, but the break was nice.
 
Satisfied he had transportation, Alec wandered off to do other things, starting with hanging out with Amty Zeinab and talking to her about everything under the sun. Everything that wasn't truly important or sensitive, of course. He wanted to know about her, about her home, about how she lived with her family, and about the weather in Egypt and what it was like living there. He talked about his own ambitions with the Cyr wheel and showed her videos of what he hoped to one day accomplish as well as a couple to show where he currently was. He complained a little bit about how he didn't like exercising but knew it was necessary to be able to do what he wanted to do. He liked talking to Amty and enjoyed stealing the time to do a bit of one on one time with her. He did eventually leave her alone to do his own chores, but it had been a fun conversation on his end.

Xander, meanwhile, did his chores and then went out to his shed, leaving the door propped open while he worked. It was chilly, but not so cold he felt the need to close it just yet, and leaving the door open to him felt like an invitation to those outside. He was not locking himself away. He had work to do for his business, but he wasn't shut away.

When it came time for Alec to leave, he quickly got ready and checked with Dark before telling Xander he was leaving.

Xander had just come inside in search of a pair of scissors, and he stood with a strap of leather destined to be a custom belt hanging around his neck like a limp snake. "Another get-together with friends? Which ones this time?"

"School friends," Alec told him brightly. "I'll be back in about an hour and a half or so." He gave his brother a hug and ran to the door to fetch his shoes. "Be good while I'm gone!"

Xander scratched his head in puzzlement and glanced at Amty Zeinab. "All his friends are school friends," he told her, confused.
 
Zeinab was delighted to talk with Alec and she made tea for the pair of them while they chatted. She answered every question he asked and questioned him with a similar curiosity, still not really quite understanding the point of Cyr Wheel, but appreciating his passion for it. She admitted she, too, hates working out, but that is why she simply does not do it. She danced when she was younger, but just for fun, without any professional lessons, but now she is just too old.

When Alec left to do his chores, she wandered about, eventually finding Xander in his shed and engaging with a similar conversation with him about his interests, if he was prepared. Since it was only chilly, Daizi and Dark brought Ivy outside to play and she, too, tried to crawl into Xander's shed, curious about what was happening inside.

When Dark left with Alec, Zeinab shrugged back at him, "Maybe he made friends with his wheel... people. His wheelers. The--the wheelers. What do you call people who do his wheel thing?"
 
Xander was not the conversationalist Alec was, but he did not mind Amty Zainab or her questions. He did his best to answer them and showed her some of the techniques he used. When Ivy crawled inside, he moved things that she might be able to reach but otherwise did not hinder her. As long as she didn't put dirt in her mouth, he figured she was safe enough here.

When Amty Zeinab asked what Cyr wheel people were called, he frowned in thought. "I don't know," he admitted. "Never thought about it before. Guess that could be an answer. Still weird." He shook it off and glanced at Zeinab. "Want to see a leather flower? I've been working on different types."
 
When Ivy crawled into the leather shed, Dark quickly crossed the yard in a few quick strides. Although he didn't immediately pick her up, he did stand to watch and keep a close eye, just in case. Ivy found it all rather interesting, pulling herself up by Xander's desk and fussing when she was too little to actually see anything happening.

"I would love to see a leather flower. What kinds have you attempted so far?" Zeinab asked.
 
Zeinab gladly followed him back out, praising his work regardless of how it worked. "Saladin is coming over later, he will be here for most of the day," She told him, picking up one of the leather scraps.
 
"Oh," Xander said, trying to muster some positive sounding words. "That will be... nice for him... I guess. More Mini time."

~~

"You look really nice today," Emma greeted Alec when he arrived.

"Thank you! Your dress is really pretty." Alec smiled shyly and hesitated, not sure if he was supposed to hug her or what.

Emma giggled and drew him in for a brief hug. "Hugs are good."

"Yes, sorry, I'm just not sure about relationship rules," Alec apologized as they found a small table to sit at. They had both already ordered and were waiting for their sandwiches.

"Me neither, but I guess we can start considering kissing," she stated.

Alec blushed. "I'm not sure if I'm ready for that."

"We could do cheeks," she coaxed. "France does cheeks casually, you know? The two-cheek kiss thing? We could do just one quick one on the cheek."

"I suppose that would be alright," Alec agreed. "Sorry. I just don't want to rush things too fast. I have a tendency to do that with normal stuff, and I don't want to do that here."

"It's okay," Emma assured him. "It was my idea, and since I'm the girl, that makes it okay."

Alec wasn't certain he understood what that meant, but their sandwiches arrived, and that put a hold on the conversation for a bit. Then Emma asked again about the band and if he had a plan in mind. He said the band hadn't really changed status since their last conversation, and he had thought about plans but hadn't come up with a good one yet.

"You are a fantastic showman, and I love your music, but you can't get by just on look and charm. Only scammers can pull that off. That's what my mother says," Emma said, picking the lettuce off her sandwich delicately before taking a bite.

"Well, I certainly don't want to grow up to be a scammer!" Alec said lightly.

Emma shook her head. "Nope. Not a good idea. Don't worry, I have faith in you, but you really do need to figure that out. And maybe do something with your hair."

"My hair?" Alec asked in surprise.

"I think it's glorious, and, like your makeup, it is magnificent on stage, but if you aren't going to be on stage, then maybe you should consider shortening it. People take guys with shorter hair more seriously. It's a stupid thing, but it is a thing," she said. "Can I have your tomato? Unless, of course, you decide to start a different band or go into theater or something like that. Maybe a hairdresser. Hairdressers always have strange hair. But if you want to do serious stuff, you should have serious hair."

"But I like my hair," Alec said, fluffing it. "And if you like my hair, then maybe it's okay even if it does make things a little harder. I guess if I did lab work or went into a super strict job where I had to have short hair or constantly cover it, then I might change my mind."

"You have a good point," Emma conceded, "and I do like it, mostly. It's just getting a little long lately. I keep thinking you're going to eat it or something. Sorry."

Alec picked up a strand and looked at it. "I guess I could shorten it a little, or at least find a way to pull it back more," he conceded. "You also have a good point."

"Nevermind that, tell me about your sister's party and all your relatives? You really never met them before? And they're all from Egypt? Do they still ride camels when they are outside the city?" she asked eagerly.
 
Xander turned and opened one of the two small windows in the shed. "He's the kind of man that thinks of respect in two different definitions. 'If you don't give me respect, I won't give you respect.' Except the respect he's demanding is slavish, unquestioning devotion, and what he's offering is basic, human courtesy. It don't line up. I was willing to give him actual respect, but he tossed it in the trash, so, no. Don't like him. He's a disappointment."
 
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