How Green Becomes Wood

Turning to look back at the cabinets, Dark was quiet for a little while before asking, "Do you know what kind of wood they are? It does not look to me like they had a vinyl wrap over them, but I did not invite myself to investigate if they are stained plywood or maple."

"Look what you've done," Daizi chuckled. "What is the pony wall?"

"It is the half wall, I believe," Dark answered, still observing the cabinets.
 
"Yes, it is the short wall that attempts to create a designated entry way, but, in my opinion, makes actually entry difficult. For the cabinets, I have no idea what wood it may be," Ciara said honestly. "I believe it is real wood, that is all I know. I could contact the landlord, if you desire to know more."
 
"It could be maple," Dark said slowly, "If it is, painting them should be a crime because the chatoyancy is impressive. Hiding the natural wood grain is sinister." He slowly turned back around to face them, "We knew we wanted green cabinets, so although ours are also real maple, we took care to select ones with the least impressive natural wood appearance, for my own sanity. But yours are lovely. I do not usually prefer lighter woods, but it suits the space better."

"I should have warned you," Daizi murmured with a smile revealing she did not really mean it.
 
"I see," Ciara said gravely. "It is doubtful that the landlord would allow me to paint the cabinetry in any case, as I doubt it is easy to strip paint from wood, but I shall bear your words in mind and keep to painting only cheap and fake woods."
 
"It is doable, but it takes time." Dark mused, allowing himself to move beyond the thought of various wood grains.

Ivy, meanwhile, decided this was the perfect time to climb up on the couch. The furniture was bigger than it was at Tristan's apartment, but still smaller than it was at home, so she gladly pulled herself up onto it.
 
The twins moved to sit on the couch next to Ivy, Alec hovering close enough to catch her if she fell. Ciara made certain there was enough seating for everyone, knowing her furniture was short for Dark and Daizi, before perching on the wingbacked chair.
 
Ivy happily and precariously began walking along the couch, stepping onto and over their laps without much care, babbling as she went.

"I believe she approves," Dark commented, "Thank you again for having us over."
 
"You are very welcome," Ciara said, watching Ivy with a small amount of anxiety. She was fine, Ciara was sure, with lots of arms to catch her. Ciara remembered herself and stood to go into the kitchen. "Xander, if you could please lend a hand."

Xander willingly followed her, and they soon returned with drinks, a plate of the cookies Dark and Daizi had brought, and a plate of small finger sandwiches. They placed them on the coffee table, and Xander sat back down.

Ciara waited to sit until after she asked, "Will this be alright for Ivy? I was not certain what would be good for her."
 
As Ivy walked across the couch, she eventually stopped and flopped against Alec, because he was nearest, hugging him tightly and talking in his ear.

When Ciara and Xander brought the food over, Dark and Daizi first thanked her before gently prodding Ivy to do the same. As like when Xander gave her the tarts, she eventually successfully said, Shukran, but it took a couple minutes to tease it out of her. When she said it, she still was holding onto Alec with her cheek smushed against his shoulder.

Looking over the sandwiches, Dark said, "They should be, but we also have her own snacks packed for her in case she rejects them."

"What are they?" Daizi asked.
 
Alec grinned and held Ivy, letting her do what she needed and supporting her so that she wouldn't fall as she walked on him.

"Some are cucumber, and some are roast turkey with a cream cheese and herb spread," she replied.
 
"She can eat those fine," Daizi confirmed. "You're a big girl now, right Ivy?"

Ivy giggled and smushed her face against Alec's again, too busy looking around to say anything more concrete.

"Is your commute to work long now?" Dark asked curiously.
 
"It is not too bad," Ciara said as Alec tried to convince Ivy to un-squish her face and consider a sandwich. "I am allowed a few days to work from home, which makes the commute far more tolerable. And, Daizi, have you returned to the office yet? Or do you still work from home?"
 
"My first day back in the office will be April 15th," Daizi replied, taking a sip of a drink Dark had handed to her, "For the first week, I'll only be going in on Monday and Wednesday, then for the first month it'll be Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to give time to adjust. After that, I'll be back to being in the office daily."
 
"I'm, fortunately, difficult to replace," Daizi said, "and my boss had her children before the mechanisms to work from home had really been established, and she regrets not having that time with them." She was quiet for a few moments and then added, "I think, also, we all know Ivy is the only baby I'll have, so it is not something they will need to repeat for me."
 
"I am glad for you that you are able to have this time," Ciara said.

"Have you caught any bad guys lately?" Alec asked.

Ciara blinked at him. "Well, that is not really my department, but I believe I have added in the capture of a couple, yes."
 
"Are we still forbidden from knowing about your department?" Daizi asked innocently enough, while Ivy climbed off the couch and grabbed one of the sandwiches before sitting down on the floor to eat it.
 
"It does not make much sense to outsiders, barely to those within the organization, and is far from glamorous," Ciara replied.

"These sandwiches are good, Aunt Ciara!" Alec proclaimed, trying one of the turkey ones. He put a napkin under Ivy.
 
"I suppose I can relate to that," Daizi replied, smiling crookedly.

Almost immediately after the napkin was placed under her, Ivy looked down at the sandwich she was eating with her face twisted up, trying to decide if she liked it or not. Then she held the quickly smushed and bitten sandwich up to her father, "Baba?"

"That is a cucumber sandwich, Tifla," Dark told her, "Your Aunt Ciara made them."

Stretching up on her toes, she tried to push it further towards his face, but obviously could not come near to reaching.
 
Alec was just glad she was not trying to give it to him or, worse, feed it to him. There was no way he was touching the mush. "I think the cucumber sandwiches look good."

"They are good," Xander said around his third.

"Thank you," Ciara said, uncertain if she should do something about Ivy or not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top