How Green Becomes Wood

"I'll think about it," Alec promised, and he meant it. Just not right now. He was so tired mentally and emotionally and physically. He wandered down to the kitchen to get a drink and sat there for a while, just sitting and zoning. Nothing happening for a few, precious moments. Fortified, he headed upstairs to make his room at least not a death trap.
 
After Daizi left Alec's room, she immediately found her husband and buried herself in his chest. Normally when dinner was in the oven, Dark stayed nearby, but in the instance, he went with her to the living room so he could hold her close and help calm her. Her therapist had advised after stressful moments with her family, she needed to take time to decompress before walking back into family life. Sometimes she was able to find a way to do so without pulling her husband in, because she didn't want to dump the feelings onto him and essentially just kick the problem down the road. She could light incense or hug her dog. But she couldn't deny the most comforting place in the world was wrapped up in her husband's arms with her face turned so she could hear his strong, steady heartbeat. And unlike when she relied on Enkidu instead--- and, to be fair to him, he was very comforting and amazing to hug--- she could talk to Dark.

They couldn't stay. Dinner had to be finished, Ivy needed attention, Enkidu needed to be fed and walked. So with great regret, they pushed themselves apart and headed down to do what they must. When dinner was ready, Dark plated the meals for all of his children and Daizi called them to eat.
 
Alec didn't want to eat, and he stabbed half-heartedly at his dinner, but gradually he managed to clean his entire plate. He helped clean up, and then he headed back upstairs to his room for downtime. He did manage to make the room not a total tripping hazard, but then he gave up and curled up on Xander's bed.

Xander remained blissfully unaware of the new developments with Alec as he'd been busy with his own things. He ate what was given him without question and helped clean up after dinner. After dinner, he showed Dark a new keychain he was making. It was a leather tag with a space to slide in a piece of paper with the name of what the key went to between the leather folds. He'd managed to make a frame around where the name would go, but he wasn't sure if he should do multiple shapes or keep them uniform. After that, he went to the living room to finish his homework.
 
It was a late, sleepless night. It had been nice to see how Xander was, for once, unaffected, and resultingly Dark spent a good bit of time talking to Xander about keychains and helping to make plans for what to do next. Then night came and he lay on his side, holding his wife close, and did his best to force himself to sleep while focusing on the nice date they had planned for tomorrow. As he rubbed his thumb along Daizi's arm he just thought about tomorrow. He wondered what she planned to wear. There was a dress of hers he really loved, maybe she'd choose it. Shutting his eyes, he pressed his face against the crook of her neck and just focused on how lovely she'd look on their date. Regardless of what else was transpiring, that was a pleasant thought.

Morning was another day, and one both Dark and Daizi hoped would be better.
 
Alec really, really did not want to go to work. He wanted to stay in bed where it was safe and quiet and calm, but he needed to fulfill his promises. He'd already missed a lot of work. So, he forced himself up and started getting ready for the day. It took him nearly three times as long as usual to get ready for the day and ended up with a look that was, while colorful, not nearly as bright or surprising as most of his other outfits and fairly normal makeup. So unusual for him! But he was up, dressed, and made himself eat breakfast, ready just in time to leave. He got a ride to the shop and put on his best face.

Tristan could tell Alec was still not 100%, but he was guiltily relieved Alec wasn't being as moody as the day before and let it go.
 
Not long after dropping Alec off at work, Dark and Daizi started getting ready for their date, having to take turns to keep Ivy occupied. Ultimately, since Dark had to pick up Alec from work, he got himself completely ready before leaving to get Alec so when they made it back home he and Daizi could immediately turn and go to the art gallery.

This of course meant when he stepped inside Tristan's flower shop to retrieve his son, he was especially well dressed and groomed, looking his absolute best.
 
Unfortunately for Dark, when he arrived, a bridal party consisting of five bridesmaids, the bride, and a designated driver had stopped in to look over the flowers for the wedding in two days. They were on their way to the bachelorette party, and they were already one drink deep into the party. Except for the tired, long-suffering driver who was keeping herself to the corner. Three of the bridesmaids glanced toward the door as Dark walked in and reached out to grab their fellows' arms. Silence plunged the near-deafening chatter into silence. In seconds, seven pairs of eyes glued themselves to Dark, none of them realizing their eyes were wide and their mouths slightly open. A quiet gasp ran through the room.

Tristan pushed himself out from behind the counter so he could see what the fuss was - guessing what it was, but even he was taken aback for a moment. "Ah, hello!" he called out cheerfully. "I'm sorry it is a little crowded in here."

"We'll make room," mumbled the bridesmaid closest to Dark, though she didn't think he'd hear.
 
Dark glanced vaguely there way and adjusted his cufflinks, which only served to make him look cool and unbothered. Then pushing his hair back he walked over to Tristan, "Hello, I hope today was better for you. And it is no trouble, I am glad to see your buisness thriving."
 
Seven pairs of eyes tracked Dark's every move as he fixed his cuffs and then walked. One of the women brightened noticeably when he stopped hear her, and one of the others standing behind him lightly bit her lower lip.

"Yes, things are going quite well," Tristan said, pretending he did not see what was happening. "Wedding season is wrapping up, but there are always loving hearts who will marry no matter the season. Alec is in the back finding the eggshell ribbons. Ivory was not quite the right shade of white. Let me fetch him for you." He turned and rolled into the back.

After a pause, one of the women pushed forward. She was in a nice outfit, the usual party style but not as revealing as some, and she had a sash that said "Bride." "Hi. Are you a constant customer here?" she asked with a bright smile.
 
"There is something beautiful about a winter wedding." Dark replied, "Especially when the snow falls and the holly berries are blooming. It is ethereal."

He waited calmly, having prepared to ignore the women, but when one spoke to him, he turned, looking down at her. After a quick glance at her bridal sash, he answered her by saying, "In a manner of speaking."
 
The sound of Dark's voice coupled with him using words like "ethereal" while talking about the beauty of winter weddings made a couple of the ladies sigh.

"Oh?" She twirled a piece of dyed blonde hair in her fingers. "What brings you here so much? Girlfriends?" She added a bit of emphasis on the plural.
 
"No, I come to pick up my son," Dark answered, noticing her advances and hoping she and her fiancé/e were polyamorous, "He works here. Do you come often for your partners." He, too, emphasized the plural.
 
"Never been to this one in my life, but I could come more often," she said with a smirk, earning an elbow and a hiss from her friend.

Alec poked his head out. "HI, Ba!" He greeted him happily. "You've met Shantelle. That's great! Could you help us out real quick?"
 
"If you need me to," Dark replied, slipping out of his coat and suit jacket and folding them neatly on the checkout counter, not wanting to risk dirtying them since he had a date later, and one where he was expected at a relatively classy gala. Then he went out front where he lifted the visibly heavy box with relative ease in full sight of the glass window, his muscles straining against the fabric of his shirt. Once he was carrying it he asked Alec to open the door for him since his hands were full.
 
Alec opened the door promptly, and Tristan pointed out where Dark should put the box. Every woman in the room held her breath as they watched Dark carrying the box into the shop. When he set the box down, a soft, low moan, barely audible, swept through the room like a near-silent wind. Alec glanced around, confused, not realizing what it was.

"Thank you," Tristan told Dark seriously, handing him his coat back. "I really appreciate it. Have a wonderful weekend with your wife."

"See you later, Uncle Tristan," Alec said with a little wave.

"Wait, are you two brothers?" one of the bridesmaids asked, because, of course, that was what she focused on.
 
Hearing the sound, Dark stayed crouched for a few moments, his back to the women, just to prepare himself, and then stood slowly, turning to Tristan and refusing to look at any of the women. "It was no trouble," He assured Tristan, putting back on his suit jacket first and then holding his coat over his arm. Turning and looking down at the bridesmaid he simply answered, "No, we are from different sides of the family."
 
"Oh," she said, looking distinctly disappointed. Then she smiled. "Well, I happen to run my own photography business, so if you ever need anything," she presented him with a card.

"I'm in digital software," said a second, stepping forward with her card.

"I'm not working right now, but I used to work in a law office," said a third, presenting a slightly bent card.

"As a janitor," muttered the fourth before offering her card to Dark. "I'm catering. I make the best tamales have ever had!"

The fifth gave a little flourish with her card. "I'm in engineering," she purred. "I'm very good at making engines run. All kinds of engines."

The bride pouted but ultimately offered Dark her card. "I'm in cleaning, and I'm the boss of a branch! Pretty cool, right?"

The driver sighed quietly and stepped forward, but instead of a card, she just murmured, "I am so sorry."
 
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