How Green Becomes Wood

Daizi gladly began to explain what she was doing at work to Ciara before pivoting to try to ask her more questions about herself. Many of the questions were fairly basic---favourite foods, if she was excited for or dreading when the weather turned cold, if she preferred appetizers or desserts, but although she did her best to not make Ciara feel like she was being interviewed or interrogated, she didn't hide how interested she was in learning more about the woman sitting across from her.
 
Ciara asked follow-up questions about Daizi's work, listening intently and taking mental notes she could refer to in later conversations. When asked about herself, she was a little vague but truthful. It was clear that even if she was not uncomfortable, she was unused to talking about herself like this. She did not have any foods she found to be her favorite, but she did lean toward simple, repetitive fare. She liked winter except for the ice. She did not mind cleaning off her car, only slipping was a negative for her. Many times, she did not have a direct answer because they were things she had not thought much about.
 
When Ciara described cleaning the snow off the car, Daizi said one of the few positives of her disability was that it was never her responsibility to do it. She also was never expected to shovel, which made winters more bearable, "Obviously I knew what snow was before I moved here," She said, "but without being able to see pictures I didn't really understand it. So the first time I walked outside to find it snowing I genuinely yelled out in surprise, it was such a bewildering experience for me."
 
"I can only imagine the shock," Ciara said gravely. "I remember the first time I was outside alone after a heavy snow. The cold and the sights I was accustomed to, but I was not prepared for how quiet everything was. It was an intense experience for someone with the ability to see around them. I did not realize how much I took my hearing for granted."
 
"You know, I never put together those really quiet days are tied to heavy snow," Daizi mused, furrowing her eyebrows as she thought about it, "The snow makes it more difficult for me to navigate, though. Ice is an absolute nightmare for anyone, but if the sidewalks aren't well shoveled, it's really hard for me to hear or feel a difference with my cane. I do my best not to go somewhere alone when it's been snowing."
 
"It is definitely both of those," She sighed, "and it's extra hard because people in my life love to tell me how flawlessly I function. But it's hard, a lot of the time. I have my routine, now, but there are days where I can't even manage to assemble my food processor. I've done really well for myself, but sometimes I just really, really want to throw a tantrum about how unfair it all is without caring how childish it would be. I don't, but I think it'd be the most freeing thing in the world if I did. Do you know what I think?" She chuckled, sitting back in her chair, "I think every adult deserves one judgment free tantrum a year. Obviously, they can't hurt others or destroy public property, but I think we all deserve to be able to say, 'right, I'm using my one.' It'd do us a lot of good."
 
"I suppose that might be a good idea for some," Ciara agreed with care. "It might be difficult for some to choose when that one might be. It would be difficult to choose the right time."
 
"That's true, it'd be awful to not use your tantrum because you're worried you might need it more later," Daizi nodded, "Or to use it and then realize later you really wish you still had it. Then again, we've all been coping without tantrums, so maybe it wouldn't be too difficult. Or maybe they can be transferable," Daizi grinned just a bit, "I can't imagine Dark having a tantrum even as a toddler, he'd probably give me his."
 
"That would be highly likely," Ciara agreed. If she was better at playing along with thought processes like this, she would have said she would give her tantrum away, as well. Or save it for a very special occasion.
 
"Unfortunately, in order for society to function, we all have to pretend to have things under control," Daizi sighed with a chuckle, "If we all confess the truth, the whole world order will collapse."
 
"This is quite true," Ciara agreed, latching onto something she understood and could agree with. "While we all might have our issues, and it is only right we give each other a certain amount of leeway for unhappy circumstances, constantly acting upon those unregulated desires and feelings will only lead to chaos."
 
"You'd be out of a job if it all turned to chaos," Daizi lightly teased, "Government work doesn't last long without a government. Although I don't think museum work would last long either."
 
"This is true. It is sad how few people respect museums and what it is they do for us as a whole as well as individually," Ciara remarked. "I suppose it might survive if there were enough passionate individuals willing to protect as much as they could."
 
"That's true, and I guess if the government collapses, I wouldn't have the need for money. My garden has fruit, Cooger's has vegetables, and he has a lake, woodlands, and chicken, so we'd do alright, I think, without money. Things could be worse. You've seen how Dark can cook over an open fire, all he needs is a stick." Unlike Ciara, she was more than willing to entertain completely unrealistic scenarios, "Oh, but I should ask, have you received the invitation we mailed you yet?"
 
"Yes, I have," Ciara said, shaking off the concern that she was talking with some sort of doomsday prepper. "It was a beautiful invitation. I will be there, of course." She paused and pulled her RSVP out of her purse. "Which reminds me, I brought this to give you. I saw no reason to mail it when I would be seeing you soon."
 
"Oh, thank you," Daizi replied, taking it from her and putting it directly into her purse, "I'll give it to Dark when I get home. I think it's going to be a really lovely party, we've put a lot of work into planning it."
 
"Thank you, I appreciate hearing that. Although," She waved one hand, "Most of the planning is Dark's doing. He's the artist between us. It's a wonder he stands up so straight with how long he spent hunched over the invitations sealing them all. I did pick the envelopes, though, if there's a textural difference I have the final say. I also get to decide the scents..." Fiddling slightly with one of her many earrings for a few moments on the side with her newest one, she considered where they stood at the moment, "I think we're good at coming up with the broad strokes together and then he does most of the detail work."
 
"It sounds as though you two work as a fine team," Ciara said. "That is also admirable. Do you have everything you need for the renewal? Is there anything I can offer to aid you?"
 
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