pandakatiefominz
Wraith
"We are running short on the time gourds are easy to come by," Dark said, going to turn on the lights, "Next year I can help you more if you like. I did not want to presume you needed or wanted it."
How Green Becomes Wood
- Thread starter pandakatiefominz
- Start date
BookKnight
Well-Known Member
"What about watermelon and summer squash? They're gourds, aren't they?" Alec asked. "Summer squash are, surely. But... are watermelon gourds?"
"Nah, no way are they gourds," Xander said confidently.
"But they have a hard rind and soft inside," Alec pointed out. "And they are rounded and have seeds inside. It's just like a pumpkin."
Xander hesitated, confidence shaken. "But... No way. Watermelon rind is way softer, and the inside doesn't have a cavity like pumpkins. And pumpkins and squash have similar texture and color."
"A banana is a berry, and it sure doesn't look like a blueberry," Alec pointed out.
"Nah, no way are they gourds," Xander said confidently.
"But they have a hard rind and soft inside," Alec pointed out. "And they are rounded and have seeds inside. It's just like a pumpkin."
Xander hesitated, confidence shaken. "But... No way. Watermelon rind is way softer, and the inside doesn't have a cavity like pumpkins. And pumpkins and squash have similar texture and color."
"A banana is a berry, and it sure doesn't look like a blueberry," Alec pointed out.
pandakatiefominz
Wraith
"Watermelons are a gourd, technically," Cooger answered for them, "But both they and pumpkins are also a berry. I try not to think about it."
BookKnight
Well-Known Member
"Berries? What? That's... How?" Xander demanded, thinking about it despite Cooger's warning.
"I guess that means there are gourds available for cutting even in summer, then!" Alec said cheerfully.
"I guess that means there are gourds available for cutting even in summer, then!" Alec said cheerfully.
pandakatiefominz
Wraith
"I don't know botany," Cooger shrugged, "Look it up if you're curious."
"I suppose so," Dark replied, going to taste Cooger's stew without permission while Daizi came downstairs with Ivy who was now nice and clean.
"It sounds like you're finished with your pumpkin, Goose," Daizi said.
"I suppose so," Dark replied, going to taste Cooger's stew without permission while Daizi came downstairs with Ivy who was now nice and clean.
"It sounds like you're finished with your pumpkin, Goose," Daizi said.
BookKnight
Well-Known Member
"It looks really cool, Mama. Do you want to come see it? I can show you!" Alec offered, holding out his hand to her.
Xander looked at Daizi. "Watermelon and Pumpkins are related. They shouldn't be," he said flatly.
Xander looked at Daizi. "Watermelon and Pumpkins are related. They shouldn't be," he said flatly.
pandakatiefominz
Wraith
"Of course I would love to see it," Daizi said, taking his hand when he realized it was there. "Cucumbers are also related to watermelons, you can cross the two of them and make a cucumelon."
BookKnight
Well-Known Member
Xander shook his head. "That's a little easier to believe, but... No. Nope. I don't like this." He shook his head and walked away.
Alec giggled and led Daizi to Dark's pumpkin. "Careful. There's a candle inside, so don't go too deep."
Alec giggled and led Daizi to Dark's pumpkin. "Careful. There's a candle inside, so don't go too deep."
pandakatiefominz
Wraith
Dark snuck a few extra seasonings into the pot and gave it a stir before taking a second taste and walking back to his pumpkin, "I can lift it off the candle so it is safer."
BookKnight
Well-Known Member
"Or that works, too," Alec agreed. He waited for Dark to move the pumpkin and then guided Daizi to it. "There you go!"
pandakatiefominz
Wraith
Daizi ran her fingers over it, "Oh wow, Goose, this is phenomenal." She ran her fingers over the back, "Is that Medusa?"
"Yes, and Perseus is in the front," Dark replied, taking Ivy so she didn't accidentally grab the pumpkin and ruin his delicate work, "It is nice to see you so clean again, tifla."
"Yes, and Perseus is in the front," Dark replied, taking Ivy so she didn't accidentally grab the pumpkin and ruin his delicate work, "It is nice to see you so clean again, tifla."
BookKnight
Well-Known Member
"I like the sheild part, best," Alec told her.
Xander wandered over to the stew and gave it a taste. "This is good," he praised his uncle. He hadn't seen Dark adding in the extra spices.
Xander wandered over to the stew and gave it a taste. "This is good," he praised his uncle. He hadn't seen Dark adding in the extra spices.
pandakatiefominz
Wraith
"The shield is really well done," Daizi praised.
"I put Perseus on the front so it looked like he was avoiding Medusa's glance," Dark explained.
Cooger also hadn't seen Dark meddle with his stew, "Thanks kid. It should be ready soon."
"I put Perseus on the front so it looked like he was avoiding Medusa's glance," Dark explained.
Cooger also hadn't seen Dark meddle with his stew, "Thanks kid. It should be ready soon."
BookKnight
Well-Known Member
"I think it works," Alec told Dark. "Medusa is so snakey!"
"Guess I'll get the table ready," Xander said, figuring it was that or stand staring longingly at the food.
"Guess I'll get the table ready," Xander said, figuring it was that or stand staring longingly at the food.
pandakatiefominz
Wraith
Soon after Xander had set the table, the stew was ready. Because Cooger never measured, even after tasting it, he had no idea the stew had been altered without his knowledge. As he said, "Mm, it came out really nice this time," while they ate, Dark stayed perfectly silent and let him believe. If he hadn't altered it, it would've been fine... it was just better now.
BookKnight
Well-Known Member
Alec made conversation with Cooger over dinner, asking about his work and how it was going. He liked chatting with his uncle and hearing the stories about strange customers or jobs, and he ate heartily while listening.
Xander didn't talk much, content to focus on eating and listening. The stew was pleasingly good! He wondered what it would be like to do some kind of more "homestead-style" meals for a while. Would it be fun to live on a homestead? His thoughts wandered off as he let himself imagine a scenario where he lived like Cooger, but with the ability to cook.
Xander didn't talk much, content to focus on eating and listening. The stew was pleasingly good! He wondered what it would be like to do some kind of more "homestead-style" meals for a while. Would it be fun to live on a homestead? His thoughts wandered off as he let himself imagine a scenario where he lived like Cooger, but with the ability to cook.