How Green Becomes Wood

"Perfect," Alec smiled. "And I'll pick out something similar in shape but probably different aesthetically for my room. And I'll need toys... And a cool collar... something befitting her."

"The name might need to come before the collar if you want to get the kind that has her name on it," Xander pointed out.

Alec studied the out-cold kitten for a moment. "Mystic." He tipped his head. "Hmm. I don't know."
 
"The oldest known cat name is Nedjem, from Ancient Egypt. It means 'Sweetie', and Nedjem belonged to a priest during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut." Daizi commented, "Is there a sort of theme you might like?"
 
"Nedjem," Alec said to sound it out. He shook his head. "Nope. Doesn't feel right. I think I need to spend some time with her to really get a good feel for what her name should be. I'm thinking something that goes with maybe a black cat... or something dignified... or musical..."
 
"Call her Cat Benatar," Cooger suggested.

With his quiet little amused smile, Dark replied, "Somehow, I do not believe that is what he meant by a musical name. You will think of the right name eventually, I am certain. Our black cat was named Lenore."
 
"She sounds like a very lovely cat," Alec agreed. "And a great name! I'm sure a good name will come to me. I'm trying not to rush it."

Xander stood. "We should bring in the rest of the stuff. Do you want to help, or watch your kitten sleep?"

Alec hesitated, considering. "Help," he decided, standing up to go with him."
 
Dark got up, leaning down to kiss Daizi's cheek before he did, just because he liked her, "You are very fortunate, you get out of the hard work because the kitten fell asleep on you."

"I did too," Cooger grinned, "I've still got your baby."

Dark looked at his friend, not particularly amused, and then glanced at his very much awake daughter, "Ivy-Qadira, do you want to sit with Mama?"

Naturally, Ivy babbled happily, so with a heavy sigh, Cooger set Ivy down on the couch and headed towards the front door to help.
 
The twins started with their gifts since they were the last thing to go into the car and separated them into piles once they were inside. Then they helped Dark and Cooger bring in everything else. It didn't take long with so many helping hands. Once everyone and everything was inside, Alec showed Cooger some of the gifts he'd gotten, especially the pocket knife. He figured the pocket knife would be of more interest than a makeup palette to Cooger, and it was just so random! And pointy.
 
By the time they came inside, Ivy had wiggled herself underneath Daizi's arm and was looking wide-eyed at the sleeping kitten, her cheek pressed against her mother's chest so hard her one eye was basically forced closed. Daizi was gently talking to Ivy about the kitten and how gentle they needed to be with her, but hadn't yet let Ivy pet her.

"That's a pretty good knife," Cooger said, taking it and looking it over. "Not the best out there, but it'll do ya. Do you know pocket knife etiquette?"
 
When Ivy had come over, the movement was enough to slightly rouse the kitten, but all she'd done was resettle and go back to sleep. She didn't mind the human staring at her so intently with one and a half eyes.

"I can't remember the last time I even held a pocket knife," Alec admitted.

Xander hung around to listen. He felt pretty confident, but it wouldn't hurt to hear the etiquette again.
 
Ivy stuck one hand in her mouth, cooing softly. This wasn't the first cat she had seen, by now she had visited Cooger's cabin, even having been brought when her parents were both there to check on this very kitten. She had also been brought along to the homes of some of her mother's friends: Ellis and D'Arcy both kept cats. But this kitten was in her house, and that was the most confounding and fascinating thing of all.

"If you hand someone a knife, you hand it to them handle first, blade pointed upwards. That way you don't cut them, and they won't cut you. If someone hands you a knife, never close the blade. You always gotta hand it back to them the way they handed it to you, else it's bad luck." Cooger advised them seriously, "and even if you don't believe in bad luck, you still gotta do it that way, in case the other person is superstitious. They'll sit there thinking you're rude."
 
"Okay, knew the first one from the kitchen. That makes sense, too," Alec nodded. "I didn't know anything about the second thing. I suppose it makes sense on a manner's level. Anything else I need to know?"
 
"Nothing that's not normal knife stuff," Cooger shrugged, "Some people will say if you give a knife you gotta give a coin with it so then the person you give the knife to can give the coin back. Otherwise it'll 'cut' your friendship. But I don't think that one is as common."
 
"I guess we gotta pay off Austin later, then," Alec grinned. "Oh! Xander, where's your mug? I want to show Cooger the mugs Claire got for us. Made for us!" He showed Cooger the mug with the cat. "It was practically like destiny!"

"Well-made stuff," Xander confirmed, showing Cooger his black mug. "Let me put those in the kitchen when Cooger's done with them."
 
"If only it was a black cat," Cooger replied, looking at the inside of the mug for a long time. He didn't like the outside much, although he recognized it's artistry... But he was a bit jealous of the cat inside of the mug. He wanted one with Hank inside. "These remind me of... oh... Tarot, who was that friend of yours who made mugs on your birthday? That one who moved away?"

"Jade," Daizi answered, "She still mails me them sometimes, but we agreed we can't do every year any more, or else I'd have more than I could possibly use."
 
"That would be a lot of mugs," Alec agreed. He noted Cooger's look and wondered if there was a way he could get a similar mug for him. Possibly. He made a mental note to remember that for a future gift.
 
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