How Green Becomes Wood

"I'm good. Just watching," Xander assured him. "I like their coloring. All shades of grey."

"Of course you'd like that," Alec said. He nervously reached out and tried to touch one. He managed to brush a fin, earning a little cheer, but it was so quick he couldn't actually feel it. It could have been made of plastic for all he could tell.
 
"You are getting closer," Dark said, holding Ivy's hand flat as a ray brushed against her palm. She immediately pulled her hand away in wide-eyed shock at what she had just felt, "I know, Hummingbird, it is very strange!"
 
Alec heaved a sigh and straightened, shaking off his hand. "I give up touching, I think. I guess water creatures really hate my vibe for some reason. Where's the hand washy spot?"

Xander pointed him in the right direction and then followed since he had had crabs crawling over his hand. It'd likely be a good idea to wash it. They were back in no time and watching the mantarays swim peacefully.
 
Dark stayed for a little while longer, helping Ivy to touch the rays. Eventually, he spotted some of the small sharks in the water. They were too low for Ivy to reach without submerging her, but his long arms had no issue. "The sharks feel like sandpaper," He reported to the twins when he rejoined them to wash his and Ivy's hands, too, now that their adventures in the touch tank concluded.
 
"I do not know if texture helps with camouflage, but maybe it helps prevent them from being bitten?" Dark theorized, although he truly had no idea. "What do you think, Ivy?"

She babbled back at him and he nodded solemnly, "That is a good guess, but I do not know if it would help them to hunt."
 
"I think that's everyth- Wait!" Alec pointed to an open tank that looked like an ordinary fish tank marked "Dr. Fish." "What are those?"

Xander walked over to read the sign over the small silver fish. "Red Garra or Garra Rufa fish, otherwise known as doctor fish. They are used in treatments to remove dead skin because they love to eat it and won't touch live skin. Some people submerge their whole bodies. You can put your hand in this tank and see if they are hungry. If they aren't hungry, they leave you alone."
 
"Good point," Xander agreed. He knew Dark was joking, but that was still an unnerving prospect.

"Okay!" Alec said grimly. "If I lose a hand, though, you have to explain to Mama." He rolled up his sleeve and put his hand in. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the tiny fish started swarming his hand, and Alec dissolved into uncontrollable squeals and giggles, dancing on the spot. "IT TICKLES!!!"
 
Alec couldn't answer he was laughing so hard. He finally extricated his hand and shook it off. He took a moment to wash his hands and then displayed them to his father. "One hand really is a lot smoother than the other!"

"Are you going to balance it out?" Xander asked, amused.

Alec hesitated, glancing from his hand to the tank. "Hhm. Balanced hands, no tickles."
 
"The tickles are temporary, you will continue to notice the difference in your hands for awhile." Dark pointed out. He made no move to put Ivy's hand in the tank, suspecting if the sensation was that intense, it would only overstimulate her.
 
"Okay." Alec took a deep breath the steal himself, stepped forward, and plunged his other hand into the tank.

"This is a form of entertainment I hadn't expected to get from this trip," Xander said in amusement as the squealing and laughter returned.
 
"I am not sure," Xander admitted.

Alec pulled out his hand after what he felt was an equal amount of time, washed it, and then held them out to Dark. "Feel them! Not even lotion gets this smooth!"
 
Dark briefly touched Alec's hands and then couldn't help but admit, "That is much smoother than I anticipated them to be. We should take Cooger here, it might save him from his callouses."
 
Xander snickered. "The only way to save him from those callouses would be to take sandpaper to them. Actually, I think I saw him do that once, and it didn't really affect him."

"This is true," Alec nodded. "I think he can use his callouses as sandpaper."
 
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