How Green Becomes Wood

"He's still got them in hand," Xander confirmed. "I don't know if they were made or bought, but someone put a lot of effort into it. And Sloan looked ready to explode into pink glitter. It was fantastic."
 
"I saw a bit from the window. I never expected to see her dressed as a princess, even when she was a kid I did not typically see her in princess dresses." Dark returned the trinket to Xander, "I respect their restraint in not actually sprinkling glitter."
 
"That would have been too much," Xander agreed. He picked out the nicest looking mushroom and ghost and handed them to Dark. "You can have those and hide them somewhere in the house or whatever."
 
"Thank you, I will find a good place to put them, but out of reach of Ivy. She would immediately choke." He turned the face of the ghost towards Xander and then put them both into his pocket before going to open the door for more trick-or-treaters.

Meanwhile, Daizi came downstairs with Ivy and went into the living room where Alec was sitting. When Ivy shrieked in delight, Daizi asked, "Who's there?"
 
Ivy squealed happily and since she was squirming, Daizi set her down and let her crawl to her brother.

"She told me someone was here but she hasn't quite figured out who it is," Daizi said, "What are you doing sitting here all alone?"
 
Alec laughed and leaned over to face Ivy. "You have to be careful this time of year, don't you, Ivy? You never know who might be under that paint or wearing a sign in his shoulder! Don't worry. It's just cardboard, so it won't hurt you." To his mother, he said, "Oh, I was just thinking about some things. You missed a wonderful visit by Sloan and her Gymnastics team! Apparently, Claire talked them all into theming their group as some sort of... fantasy, cottagecore, medieval thing, and Sloan was a princess!"
 
"I would've thought they'd feel too old to go trick-or-treating, but it sounds like a lot of fun!" Daizi replied, "I wished I could've been there. Sloan didn't strike me as the type to want to be a princess."
 
"She definitely didn't want to be, but somehow, one of them talked her into it," Alec giggled. "They were giving out little treats of their own! Or maybe they are tricks... I wasn't clear on that. Anyway, here. One of each shape! You can't have these, Ivy. They are much too small." He handed Daizi the different shapes, trying to hide it from Ivy so she wouldn't get upset.
 
"Maybe Ivy is a jester," Daizi grinned, listening to the bells sewn onto Ivy's clothes jingled as she cruised around the furniture, exploring as she went.

"Hey Tarot," Cooger said, coming back into the room, "You gonna read our cards tonight?"

"On Halloween I read anyone's card if they'd like me to, the veil is thinnest and it makes my readings stronger."
 
"Card readings? Interesting! I haven't ever had my cards read," Lex said, following Cooger. "When I was young, my mother always said it cons and nonsense at best and playing with the Devil at worst. When I got older, I had too many other things that needed money to give it a try."

"How many of us are going to get the death card, do you think?" Xander asked, munching on a cracker stacked with cheeses and meats. "That just means change, right?"
 
"It does just mean change," Daizi confirmed, "Major changes, but changes. The one that always scares me is the tower. Knowing us, we're all at risk of a card fortelling change, but I'm hoping for things less dramatic, personally." She turned towards Lex, "And I would be glad to read your cards for you. I just need to get ready. The veil being thinner also means I need to be more cautious."

"She's the best at it," Cooger told Lex, "Although, she's also the only one who's ever read mine." Actually, he had an ex who was into it, but felt like his relationship with Lex was too new to mention it. Anyway, hers never felt as real as Tarot's did.
 
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