How Green Becomes Wood

"Oh yeah, you should see it on a normal year. But I'll bet the renewal tomorrow will give you an idea of what it's normally like." Cooger told her.

Dark followed Daizi upstairs to help her ready. When she felt all set, he went back down to tell them she was ready. Inside her study, now, was candlelit and heavy with incense. The coffee table had been moved out of the way and pillows were set on the floor for everyone to sit on, arranged in a semicircle across from Daizi, who was already sitting, shuffling her cards.
 
"I love a good party," Lex grinned and swiped an olive. When Dark said Daizi was ready, Lex volunteered to go first and went up to the study. She didn't put much stock in things like tarot cards, but she didn't see the harm. It was all in good fun! If Daizi believed, which she seemed to thoroughly, then good for her! Everyone needed something.
 
When Lex sat down, Daizi handed her the card and instructed her to to shuffle them for as long as felt necessary and to ask a question of the future aloud as she did. Then she took the deck back and carefully set them in the ten-card spread. Be it true prophecy or the unintentionally learned tricks of a scammer, at times the reading felt weirdly too real. At times, she sat struggling with a card, earnestly trying to make sense of it and breathing deep of the incense like the Oracle of Delphi.
 
Lex left still not believing any more, but impressed by Daizi's skill. It was a fantastic experience!

Xander went up next, and he took it more seriously than Lex. He still had some questions about the truth and realness of all this, but he was invested in trying to learn more and figure out what he believed.
 
If Xander asked any of his questions, Daizi did her best to answer it for him. Despite how ardently she believed in the truth of it all, she was not afraid of questions and respectful disagreements. Her beliefs, in many ways, came down to one simple quote by William Shakespeare: There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Or perhaps more succinctly, in a Florence + the Machine song: And the world is so much wilder than you think.

She read Xander's cards with a gentle austerity. This was not a joke to her, and she believed everything she was saying, even the parts which seemed strange that she would know. Again, perhaps a swindler's trick, but not one she'd recognize in herself.
 
Xander left feeling sober and a little disturbed by some of her accuracy. He didn't talk about what his session, preferring to keep it private. He shook off his feelings quickly enough and went to keep Alec company.

Alec had zero compulsion to change his mind. He was happy to stay with Ivy and play with her, getting her fully tired out for bed.
 
After Xander it was Cooger's turn, and even though he about half believed it, he didn't take it as hard as Xander, although he was much more familiar with it, too. Dark wanted to have his reading done, because although he didn't believe in prophecy, but just like he said with the dumb supper, he found it meditative. However.

He was unsure of what strength he had left in him. Sitting in a dark room with his wife having an intimate conversation seemed at risk of being overwhelming for them both. It would not have been the first time.

Ultimately, he chose to pull Cooger in as a chaperone.

By the time the readings were over, it was alright getting late, and Daizi went up to Lex, "You're welcome to stay for dinner, but we eat in silence on Halloween, so it may not be as enjoyable for you."
 
"The Dumb Supper, right?" Lex asked, recalling what Cooger had told her. "Thanks for the invite, but I should probably get home. It sounds like a really cool experience, so maybe next time. I appreciate you putting up with me on your favorite holiday."
 
"We couldn't not invite you," Daizi replied warmly, "It's not because you're now officially dating Cooger, it's because you're dating Cooger and we like you. But we'll do it next year, too. Thank you for coming to celebrate with us, it'll be lovely to have you back with us again tomorrow."
 
"I'm really happy for you," Lex assured her. "See you tomorrow! Don't stay up too late, ya hear?" She gave Cooger a wave since he was across the room and headed for the door to let herself out, not wanting to trouble anyone to walk her out.
 
Cooger waved back, having stolen a few moments to snuggle Ivy before she was put in bed for the night. She, at least, received a normal dinner, because they didn't want to throw off her schedule for something they didn't even understand.

Then, finally, it was time for the supper. Again, there were candles and incense, and a photograph of Daizi's brother Omar--he looked similar to Marwan but with a deviousness they'd recognize in Daizi-- and her mother set at an empty table.
 
Alec found it difficult to maintain his silence during this dinner, but he worked very hard at reminding himself he couldn't speak. This was a special dinner. Even so, multiple times he caught himself opening his mouth to say something only to clamp down and silence himself. No talking!

Xander had a much easier time maintaining his silence. In fact, he found it very calming. Perhaps there was truth in this, perhaps not. Either way, it was a soothing way to spend a meal. He did catch himself almost speaking a couple of times but managed to catch himself just in time.
 
Of course, Dark and Daizi were both used to this, so they were proficient at keeping silent, both thinking carefully as they did. A few times, Daizi wiped a tear away, but Dark stayed as solemn and unreadable as ever.

When they had finished eating, Daizi took the meal they had set for the dead outside and then went upstairs to get the bodhrán used in ritual and the hand harp so she could play music. Their backdoor faced west, so they opened it and placed a candle in the windowsill besides it, "To guide the spirits out," Daizi explained, "We do a little bit of music inside, and then we'll build a bonfire outside for the professional, and we'll have more music then."
 
"It is a confusing journey, I'd imagine," Daizi said, strumming idly on her hand harp, "Many religions and mythologies have psychopomps, deities who have a role in guiding spirits. Or maybe they don't need help and it just makes us happier to imagine we're aiding them."
 
Alec had this sudden vision of a kindergarten teacher leading along a string of children to recess with a happy, cajoling voice, but instead of children, they were older adults who were humoring the teacher and following along patiently. He shook the thought away. "I have this vague memory of a myth from Asia, I forget if it was Chinese or Japanese or... there's a lot. Anyway, there's a large spirit guide that soothes lost spirits and guides them along to a happier place with a pipe. The instrument, not the smoking type. I don't remember any other details."
 
"He's the trickster god in the Pantheon," Daizi answered, "and I suppose you aren't the most mischievous of us all, but I think there's something about being the trickster god which seems playful. It reminds me of your Cyr Wheel. Spinning around like that. But you also remind me of Apollo."
 
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