How Green Becomes Wood

"What do you think, Ivy?" Alec asked, watching his little sister.

Xander couldn't remember the last time he had pumpkin pie. He knew he'd had it, but couldn't remember when. He tried a bite. Hmm. Not bad, but overrated. The cool whip was the best part. "This is really good, thanks," he told Cooger.

"I like it," Aelc agreed, though his opinion was about the same as Xander's.
 
If Daizi was honest--she hated pumpkin pie. But it was the only thing Cooger really felt good about baking. So every year she ate a piece and pretended like she liked it so he would continue to feel good about it. It was his grandmother's recipe, she wouldn't say a single bad thing about it. And thankfully, Dark actually did enjoy it, so it balanced out.


Daizi helped Ivy with the pie, not wanting to give her a second bath that day, and she seemed... uncertain about the pie itself, but she loved the whipped cream.

Cooger took the praise and enjoyed the rest of the evening with his family before gathering his things, making a big goodbye to his loved ones, promising he'd see them again soon, since he'd absolutely stop by on Halloween proper, and he had to be there the day before Halloween for the vow renewal rehearsal, not to mention the Judo competition the very next day and unless he was explicitly told not to come, he was planning on showing up for it. Then, finally, after all his long goodbyes, he stepped out, and took what was left of his pie and knocked on the door of their next door neighbor.
 
Lex answered the door after a bit in blue jeans, a black tank top, and a flannel shirt open over top. She grinned when she saw Cooger and leaned against the door. "Well, if it isn't the Green Man," she remarked. "How are your leaves this year?"
 
"Yeah? It's gotta be good, then, if it's your nana's," Lex grinned. She pulled out a chair for him and went to the fridge. "Lucky for you, I've got some cider of my own. I like it cold, which some people seem to think is as good as a sin." She sat across from him with a plate and two forks. "How's the family?"
 
"There's some concerns, but there's always concerns over yonder," Cooger shrugged, not mentioning anything which transpired between Daizi and her father, her week or so in bed, or any of the rest of what he knew. "Things'll work out. They always do. How've you been doing?"
 
"Been really good," Lex said, helping herself to pie and topping. "I got several easy, nicely priced commissions, so the lights can stay on another month." She took a bite and closed her eyes. "Oh, that's good. Don't tell her I said this, but it beats out my mama's recipe. Damn." She opened her eyes and continued. "Toby's been staying out of trouble. And he got a new skateboard. An anonymous gift that I have no idea who gave it." The emphasis on her words and the twinkle in her eye said she knew, but she'd said nothing to Dark yet.
 
"On my Nana's soul, I won't say a word," Cooger grinned, truly glad to see she liked it so much, "If I ever meet your mama, I'll be sure not to bring it. 'Course, it's just 'bout the only thing I can bake. Glad to hear Toby is keeping his nose clean." He looked at Lex, saw the look on her face, and shook his head, "What a generous stranger. Don't suppose it looks handmade or nothing."
 
"Hmm, I guess maybe the argument could be made that it was handmade, but who's to say?" Lex said with a mischievous smile as she played with her fork briefly. She ate another bite. "My boy loves it to bits, and we're both grateful, but I guess if there's no note, that means the giver doesn't want a fuss made."
 
"I imagine, whoever this gift giver is, if it were brought up to 'em, they'd just shrug, tell you it was not a big deal, and downplay the amount of time it took 'em. Then probably creep back into the shadows." Cooger said, smiling at her as he watched how coy she was being, "Speaking of which, if said anonymous gift-giver were to be throwing a real fancy party this Saturday, is that something you'd be attending?"
 
"Yeah, I imagine that's how it'd go," Lex agreed with a smirk. "If said anonymous gift-giver was throwing a party and I was invited, yeah, I'd go. I need to go rent me a dress. I don't exactly have anything black tie worthy."
 
"I couldn't imagine a better man for the job," Lex said cheerfully. She cleaned up her plate quickly, savoring the last bite. "You make good pie. Anyway, I plan to be there. I remember there was something on the invite about, I can't remember, a Wicca ceremony or something? That's not something that'll get disrupted if I wear the wrong perfume, right?"
 
"I'm shaking in my boots," Cooger replied a bit dryly before shaking off his nerves for the moment, "I don't think Tarot identifies as Wiccan. I know she calls herself a witch and all, but I think it's different. You'd have to ask her for the details, but no, your perfume won't cause a problem. It's really not something to stress too much about. At a Jewish wedding, they stomp on the glass, at a Catholic wedding, they kneel before the altar, and at a Baptist wedding they read bible passages and maybe do a sermon. This one, instead of doing it in the presence of the Lord, they're doing it in the presence of water, earth, fire, and air. There'll be lit candles and they'll tie their hands together and sip from the same cup of wine. Absolutely nothing to worry about."
 
Lex shrulightly. "You don't have to reassure me. I'm not particularly worried. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't sensitive. I didn't think it was or there'd be a lot more instructions, but doesn't hurt to ask an inside man, does it? The last time I was at a wedding, I made such a mess the bride still isn't talking to me." She smirked, truly not worried, but she knew this event was important. She wasn't going to take it lightly.
 
"I can't tell you how glad I am to hear that," Cooger said, his shoulders dropping slightly from relief, "She has been so stressed out about it. It's the most she's ever really included this many people who are outside of her religious practice into it outside of Halloween, and, you know. There's a stigma about it. A lot of people are still really bothered by it. I think she's afraid half her guests think she's gonna have 'em sell their souls 'cause being part of a ceremony for a witch... She never comes right out and says it, but I can tell it bothers her. I was raised Baptist, myself, but I don't imagine it's fun to have to justify your religious beliefs to everyone like she's got to."
 
"I'm agnostic, myself, and my family is..." She trailed off with a frown. "Catholic? Traditionally. You can tell it played a big part of my upbringing. Anyway, yeah, I get it. I don't really care who's what so long as they aren't trying to sell me some kind of heavenly package, if you know what I mean. I had some Wiccan friends growing up, but we never really talked about it."
 
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