How Green Becomes Wood

Ivy continued to squeal in delight, kicking her little feet. This had been the BEST day.

Daizi pulled at her shirt, "I had a feeling I was pretty covered, especially after he pulled me in," Daizi said, and nearly said she might wait to change until after she washes the counters, but then thought about her options for a moment longer and instead said, "I should do that now before I clean the counters, otherwise I might end up creating a bigger mess."
 
Alec lifted her and dropped her a couple more times before finally letting her come down far enough to grab his face. He blew out his cheeks and made faces at her.

Xander nodded, looking her over. "Probably a good idea. Good luck."
 
Ivy squealed, pressing on his puffed out cheeks and then copying the faces he made.

"I may as well shower after your father, just to be safe," Daizi said as she headed out of the nursery. When she entered her bedroom, she found her husband about to step into a cold shower, intending to calm himself. It only took Daizi saying his name for him to change his mind. Much later that night, they lay in bed besides each other. Daizi was falling asleep, but stirred when she felt her husband roll over onto his side to face her.

"Daizi?" He murmured, only able to make out the shape of her shoulders and hips in the dark.

"Yeah?"

"I love you." He said.

"I love you too," Daizi yawned, snuggling deeper into her blankets.

With one hand, Dark reached out and pulled the covers further up on her shoulder, "You vex me, do you know that?"

"Yeah," She giggled sleepily, "I do."

"I am really glad you do." He sighed, feeling content and grateful, "I look forward to being ninety and still being tortured by you."

Humming tiredly, Daizi just scooted close enough to him to wrap her arms around his waist, and settling her head in against his chest mumbled, "Giving you grey hair is my love language."

"Yeah," He sighed, resting his cheek against her hair and enjoying the smell of her shampoo, "I know."

"I'm gonna haunt you one day." She mumbled, and had absolutely no idea what he said afterwards. All her dreams were to the rhythm of his heartbeat.

Then they woke up on Tuesday like it was any other day, and the week itself was as standard as it could be, except for the time set aside to wrap Cooger's presents and make certain they had their outfits fully in hand for his party. On Friday, after another fairly standard day, Dark drove to the car to pick up Alec. Normally, he waited out in the car, but this day he met Alec inside, at his request. Anytime he entered the flower shop, he was a bit wary, since he never knew who would be inside or what they would ask of him, but he smoothed his vest down and ran his hand through his hair, steeling himself for whatever he was bound to encounter.
 
The shop was empty except for the usual assortment of plants and a few new display racks of non-flower-related things like bars of handmade soap, lotions, soap dishes, and face care as well as another with a small selection of linens, bags, and linen scent sprays. All flower-themed, of course.

Alec came trotting up from the back, grinning broadly. "Ba! Hi! Thanks! Say, have you seen Uncle Tristan's new products he's trying out?"
 
"One of the reasons. I wanted you to pick out the right soap for Mama," Alec said, indicating them. "She said she wanted one, but I haven't had a chance to pick one out yet. It's been surprisingly busy here."

Alec was stalling while Tristan retrieved something from the back room. He'd tucked it in a very safe place, which of course meant he first had to find it and then dig it out. It took him only a moment, and then he rolled into the front with the large box balanced on his lap. "Ah, Mr. Dark!" he greeted him formally with a smile. "I am glad to see you. How is your day? And why do you look as though you are waiting for the other shoe to drop?"
 
"I can help with that," Dark said, "I know what she likes." And, less importantly, what he liked. It didn't factor in enough to the point where he'd choose a soap she wouldn't enjoy because he liked it, but if he was torn between two scents he knew she'd like but he only liked one... Well, he had to live with it too, after all. He turned at the sound of the wheels and nodded cordially to Tristan, "Ah, hello. I am well," for once it was not a lie, and despite his expression being the same as it always was, it showed in his bearing, "And I never know what to expect when I come here. I am sometimes swarmed."
 
Tristan smiled, picking up on the fact that Dark was, indeed, well and as close to happy as he might ever be, whatever he might name the emotion for himself. "This is true, and I apologize for that. At least, I apologize for it when I am not paying you for it." He gave Dark a wink and then wheeled closer. "As it happens, I have something for you that your son assured me that you might be in need of." He lifted the box to present it to Dark.

Alec hid a smile and edged away to where he could see Dark's reaction clearly.

Inside the box and carefully supported and protected on all sides with padding, was a black felt cowboy hat. The extra-wide hat band was nearly black, as well, and looked black at a glance, but a closer look or catching the right light revealed it to be the deepest, darkest shade of blood red. Stainless steel accessories around the hat band glinted in the shapes of upside-down crosses and three tiny playing cards, each with a six on it. Red and black bird feathers, real feathers that had been artistically dyed, were wrapped and bound to the hat band. The real show-stopper about the hat, though, was the crown itself. It was a skull without a jawbone shaped into the hat, deep and dramatic, with silver beads in the eye sockets. The hat was worn and aged artificially, which was fairly obvious, but it gave the hat that little bit extra in its looks instead of being shiny and new. In time, if it was worn, it would garner some real wear and tear which would blend beautifully into the artificial wear and give it that genuine look.
 
"The money helps make it tolerable, but I hate to learn what that might mean about me," Dark replied casually, then took the box from Tristan, looking quizzical if one knew how exactly to notice such a look from him, "Did I forget I had some reason to receive gifts come up?" He asked, before opening it. Then his eyes widened slightly as he took out the hat, turning it around in his hands to admire all the details. "This is..." he sought for the word, "I cannot think of it in English. It is truly a work of art." He looked down at Tristan, "This is not something you can acquire in only a few weeks, I would not guess."
 
Tristan smiled, pleased to have taken Dark by surprise. "In truth, it is something that I have had in the works for some time, I have a friend who specializes in such hats, and I requested one from him on your behalf, and when I heard about Cooger's party, well, it was too good to pass up. Mind you, it was interesting getting your measurements. Your son was a great help in that regard."
 
Dark turned the hat to the side and ran his fingers over the 666 playing card detail and asked, "I hope you are not offended by me asking why? It is just a very nice gift, I do not feel I have earned it." Then he took a slow look at Alec, "Dare I ask how you managed it?"
 
"No, you do not dare," Alec said, shaking his head with a smirk.

Tristan smiled and backed up his chair to give Dark more space. "A gift does not need to be earned, but that being said, in my eyes, you have earned it. I only ask that you send me a picture of your family at Cooger's function. It would be a delight to see what a creative group like yourselves come up with. Alec has refused to tell me."
 
Pressing his lips into a line so thin his facial hair nearly made his mouth vanish entirely, Dark considered saying something about that. His only guess was Alec had entered the bedroom while he was sleeping and measured his head then, and it seemed like it was pretty important to warn his son not to do that. All it would take was one slip up when it came to locking the door and he'd be scarred for life.

It was a bit weird to say in front of Tristan, though. And anyway, "I do not know if I see how, but thank you. This is..." He nodded to himself, "Well, it is better than anything I would find simply in stores. I would be glad to send you a photograph of us all."
 
Tristan inclined his head. "Thank you for accepting it." He had been a little worried that Dark would refuse the gift, and he was very happy that he hadn't. "I hope it is enjoyable. He did invite me, but I was unable to come. A shame. I was looking forward to figuring out a way to fully fit the theme." He tapped his wheel and winked.
 
Tristan knew Dark misunderstood why he thought Dark might not accept the hat, but he merely smiled and said, "Alec mentioned Daizi might like a bar of soap. Have you picked out one for her?"

"This one or this one, right, Ba?" Alec asked, pointing to the two Dark had been pondering.
 
"I do not feel any doubt," Dark replied slyly, picking up the one soap and sniffing it, imagining what it might smell like on her hands when she caressed his face. Then he set it down, picked up the other soap and did the same thing. Then, setting the soaps back down, he stood with one hand resting lightly on his hipbones and stood with his brows furrowed. Finally, he lifted the second soap again and said, "This one, I think."
 
"Good!" Alec said in relief. "I already paid for it since they are all the same price, so it didn't matter which one you picked."

"Do you want a bag?" Tristan asked.

"I don't think we need it," Alec said with a grin. "Thanks, Uncle Tristan! For all of it."

Tristan chuckled. "You are very welcome."
 
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