How Green Becomes Wood

Ivy squealed, giggling as Alec spun her around. She didn't understand what was special about today, but it was great to say good morning like this.

"And it's Baba's birthday!" Daizi told Ivy cheerfully, then told Alec, "We've got the banquet hall at Dark's favourite restaurant from six to nine. We probably need to leave here at 5:30."
 
"No, we're going to open them all here," Daizi answered, "You know how he hates being stared at. We do have a birthday cake, but he's absolutely demanded we only serve it and not sing at him."
 
"Such a shame," Alec said and tossed Ivy up and caught her. "I'd love to see his expression if we did sing!"

"Don't. You. Dare," Xander warned.

"I won't, I won't!" Alec huffed. "I know not to push too far!"
 
"I wouldn't push him much at all today," Daizi counseled, "It's his birthday, he deserves to not be hassled. Honestly, it's a kindness on his part to allow us to celebrate him, you know what he's like. If it were up to him he'd sit in his shed all day, accept no gifts nor cards, speak to nobody except maybe us, and complain about how sweet whatever dessert we gave him was."
 
Alec heaved a sigh. "I know. I wish he could see how much of a gift he is and let people spoil him for it. Oh well. It is what it is." He set Ivy in her chair. "Ready for food, Ivy?"
 
"I think something I've had to learn is you have to spoil someone with the treatment they feel spoiled by," Daizi said, setting out Ivy's breakfast first, "So I let him sleep in, I put a pair of his socks on our bathroom's towel warmer, and he'll get a quiet, comfortable day before a nice dinner."
 
"Yeah, but you've had years to figure that out, and it's not like everyone can do those things for him," Alec pointed out. "I can see Cooger letting him sleep in, but not put his socks on the towel warmer."
 
"That's true, but you still do know about him," Daizi replied, "You know he doesn't love being the center of attention, but he values acts of service. That's why little things like warming his socks makes him happy. He spent his formative years in survival mode, rarely having that moment where someone did something truly nice for him just to treat him. Mid day, bring him down a cup of tea or coffee, he'll be delighted."
 
"Luckily his birthday isn't a school day," Daizi assured him, squeezing his shoulder, "he also loves quality time. Just getting to be around people who love him, even if nothing out of the ordinary is happening, is what he values most. Everybody loves most what they used to lack."
 
"He loves that most of all." Daizi said, sitting down besides Ivy to help make sure she ate all of her breakfast.

Over an hour or so later, Dark came bleary-eyed downstairs, his hair still damp from his shower but still combed, the bulk of the styling needed for his hair texture finished. On most days when he was allowed to sleep in, he felt some level of guilt doing so---not on his birthday. Although he didn't really enjoy the date in a broad sense, and although he was pretty sure he wouldn't mind if all celebrations of it ceased, he allowed himself to sleep in without a second thought that day. Despite how difficult things had been for him, he had slept well and he had slept deeply. "Sabah Al-Khair", he mumbled, his voice still extra deep and gravely.

"Sabah al-Nur," Daizi replied, going over to kiss him good morning, "Happy Birthday, Goose."

"I believe you already wished me a happy birthday," He told her, hugging her at her waist.

"And I'll keep wishing you one."
 
"We are here also," Xander remarked dryly. "Birthday of more than blah."

"Birthday of more than blah?" Alec asked quizzically.

Xander shrugged. "Better than may you not have an awful day on this day of your birth. It's a mouthful."
 
Ivy babbled at her father, but there might have been a ha tucked somewhere in there, so Dark accepted it, "Well thank you, my darling daughter."

"She has been waiting to see you all morning," Daizi grinned, "All she's wanted was to see her Baba on his birthday."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top