How Green Becomes Wood

"Oh that's wonderful!" Daizi said excitedly, bouncing slightly in her chair, "When are you moving? I know a couple of people who would be glad to help moving furniture."

"Hey," Cooger held up one finger, "Not for free, I charge for my labour. But since we're friends I'll give ya a discount."
 
"Thank you, darling, you are so kind," Sally thanked her, beaming. "We have the moving sorted out, but I would love some tips on how to decorate a permanent home where I am allowed to do whatever it is I please." She smiled at Dark. "Actually, while I do admire your eye for design, it was just a way to lead into telling you about our new place."

"I wouldn't mind a skull or two, though," Jack mused, a twinkle in his eye.
 
"I feel almost used," Dark commented, "but I cannot deny I am not displeased at knowing I will not need to be called in to help move furniture."

"But you're so good at it, darling." She teased, but wasn't sure which of her loved ones she was teasing in that moment, "Jack, if you want skulls, I know where you can get some, but you can't let anyone know I told you."
 
Jack started to say something, likely to agree, but Sally said firmly, "No skulls. We are not bringing anything even remotely related to work home with us. Not even decoratively. We get enough of that around Christmas time from family members who do not seem to know anything about us other than what we do for work."

"I suppose you have a point," Jack sighed in disappointment. "If that is so, then can I choose how to paint my office?"

"The office is all yours to do whatever it is you wish. Outside of skulls." Sally paused and mused, "Although if you promise to keep them in your office, perhaps one or two tasteful ones would be alright."

Jack grinned and looked at Cooger. "What do you charge for your services doing light remodeling of one room?"
 
"I didn't realize you worked with creatures with an endoskeleton," Daizi mused, grinning crookedly.

"I am glad I am not working a job which would prohibit my enjoyment of remains," Dark said seriously, "Luckily having taught history, I think I was left with only a greater appreciation for the use of bones as decor."

"That depends on the size of the room and what your definition of 'light remodeling' is," Cooger replied, gesturing with his glass, "I never give an estimate until I'm in the space and can see what exactly you want done. But I hope you're actually looking for my help and not just teasing me."
 
"Not in a while, but, yes, from time to time remains do fall into our realm of work," Sally sighed. "I always hate it because it is always small animals that stink. Have you ever tried to work in room with a horribly decaying rat and fifteen people trying to cram together to study some part of it at the same time? It is dreadful."

"I have your number. I'll text you the address and set up a time to come by," Jack promised.
 
"Sally, given the line of work some of my coworkers are in and the friends I keep, I am not sure if you want the answer to that question." Daizi replied with a chuckle, "When I was working on my PhD, I had peers who were studying decomposition, and my friend Gwen does taxidermy and skeleton articulation. I've accidentally encountered her death bucket."

"I'll hold ya to that, Jack." Cooger replied, always pleased for more business.
 
"They are going well."

"I think we're just about ready. I'm picking up my dress tomorrow, and Dark is going to get his suit, and the boys' suits, on Tuesday. He still needs to take Xander to get dress shoes." Daizi explained, her excitement clear on her face, "The only thing we can't decide on is how we want to actually enter the ceremony, and we're more than a little bit running out of time to decide that."
 
"Are there that many ways to enter an indoor venue?" Sally asked cautiously, her mind running rapidly through all the different, bizarre ways they could possibly enter, including some sort of dance number. That did not seem to suit their style, but perhaps if it was an elegant dance.

"If it was an outdoor venue, you could always ride in on a horse or paraglide," Jack said cheerfully.
 
"Well I think it'd be nice if we just greeted all of our guests as they came in and then as they are all milling around finding their seats, we walk up to the altar, so it's casual and easy and relaxed. And he thinks we've put so much work into the design of everything, we should wait to enter until all our guests are actually seated." Daizi explained, waving her hand.

"I think our ability to stick to the schedule will be hindered if we are talking to everyone as they come in," Dark added.
 
"The schedule problem is a valid issue," Jack remarked. "It's easy to get hung up longer than you meant to, and even the most relaxed wedding only has so much wiggle room in their time. There will be plenty of time to talk afterward."

"He is not wrong," Sally admitted, "but it does lend an air of friendliness if you do greet people when they come in. I suppose you could set a limit on the number of people you choose to greet to try to not loose track of time."
 
"Oh, well there's your problem," Cooger teased, "He doesn't do friendly very well. He's kind, but he ain't all that nice."

"I am perfectly nice to our friends," Dark replied dryly.

With a little chuckle, Daizi said, "And this is why we are having the problem."
 
"You'll know what you want to do, but if you want an opinion, I think it would be better to save the visitation until afterward. There is always a lot to do last minute, and you may be suffering nerves. Adding on talking to a bunch of milling people would likely add to the stress. Although, you could make exception for a few people, or perhaps in stead of milling, yourself, you could stand in one place," Sally remarked.

Jack nodded. "You've been through this once before. Now's the time to do what you want. Even if it inconveniences others."

"This is true," Sally admitted. "You did the people pleasing the first time around. This time, it truly is your day whatever anyone else says."
 
Dark nodded to them and bit back the urge to say this is much of what he had been saying. "I think when we do our rehearsal in the space the answer will seem very clear."

"And regardless of how we enter, I think we're definitely doing it our own way," Daizi told them.
 
"We've been there when we toured it, but it's really helpful for me in particular," Daizi told them, "And when the party is actually happening, I'll need someone at my side at all times anyway because once there's noise and crowds in an unfamiliar place, I'm lost."
 
"A terrifying experience, for certain," Sally said.

The conversation moved on. Sally talked to Daizi about a variety of things, staying light and cheerful. Jack asked Dark about his tattoos, if there were any changes, and Cooger about how work was going. It was a pleasant evening with the teens at their table enjoying sharing food and stories, sometimes "stealing" off each other's plates. The teens were more high-energy than the adults, but they still kept to acceptable levels and didn't get too rambunctious.

After dinner, the Hollis' paid. Peter asked Milo if he needed a ride, Jack offering to take him if he needed one. Then everyone went their seperate ways toward home.
 
Once they were in the car and driving home in private, Dark glanced up at Xander in the rearview mirror, "I am very proud of you. I hope you enjoyed your celebratory dinner."

Once Cooger made it home, he spent a few moments pacing around his cabin, having very serious conversations with his cats, before taking out his phone and calling Lex, "Hey, it's me. How has your day been?"
 
"I did, thanks," Xander said. He picked up the small medal he'd tucked safely in the car before they'd gone to the restaurant. "I've never won an award before. It's... weird."

Lex smiled when she heard Cooger's voice and stepped out of the living room where she and Toby had been watching a movie together. "It's been good. Finished a sculpture that's supposed to double as a hat stand. It looks like a man, and - at the request of the client! - do you want to guess where one of the hats hang?" She snorted quietly. "People are dirty. How about you? How was the competition?"
 
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