How Green Becomes Wood

Immediately noticing the way Tristan looked at him, Dark pressed his lips together and silently willed his hair to grow more quickly. Putting his shoulders back, he answered, "I am sure you have heard already about Xander. Besides his injury, we are well. And yourself?"
 
"Doing very well, thank you," Tristan said, amused and only slightly trying to hide it. Alec had told him about the beard, and he'd seen a picture of beardless Dark, but that still had not fully prepared him for partially bearded Dark. The funniest part was Dark's reaction more than anything else.

"I need to grab my stuff, and I'll be ready," Alec said, quickly sweeping up the last of the front room. He disappeared into the back, humming happily.
 
Tristan glanced at Dark as he rearranged some small plants to fill in the gaps where others had been sold. "Yes, it is. Today would be Good Friday. I considered closing even though I do not practice, but it seemed like a good time to sell a few more flowers. Capitalistic greed won out over a shallow excuse to take a day off."
 
"Capitalistic greed, a desire to keep your own schedule since the day matters not to you," He shrugged, waiving one hand, "I believe for those who do celebrate, Easter is often a family holiday? I have never been raised to celebrate, even when I was to any degree religious."
 
Tristan chuckled at Dark's response. As usual, he was correct. "Yes, it usually is a family holiday, although I am not certain if that is the intent of the holiday, or what followers have turned it into. It is definitely one of the holidays where those who do not go to church go. The twice a year crowd, if I recall."
 
"Like Eid," Dark nodded, staying casual, "The good thing for those like us who are estranged or more from relatives who celebrate is we are free from pretending. There is no pressure for us to gather."
 
"I suppose this is true," Tristan said thoughtfully. "Events like these sorts of holidays do make for convenient planning to see people you never see, though, I suppose. Perhaps it is wrong to use a theoretically holy day for such a thing, but maybe it is no worse than turning a funeral into a family reuinion."
 
Tristan glanced at Dark, suspecting something was up, but also wondering if he was just paranoid. Surely Dark wouldn't be digging for information about that, would he? He had no real reason to, right? It would not affect his son. "This is also true, although I suppose since Easter is about new beginnings and rebirth, there is something to be said for second chances," Tristan said delicately.
 
Dark shrugged, pushing his hair back with one hand, "Daizi likes Easter, even though we don't celebrate. She said it comes largely from Pagan celebrations of the Equinox, have you heard that? She says that is why it is celebrated with eggs, rabbits, and all the... pastels. If it is tied to the Spring Equinox, I suppose it's also about flowers."
 
"I would not know, I am not particularly attached to such things," Dark replied, gently feeling the petal of a flower between his forefinger and thumb, "But Daizi appreciates the symbology. Not of the colours, of course, but she finds it a special time of year to discuss the way flowers bloom, and how they cannot grow when stifled or strangled by weeds." He turned to look solidly at Tristan, "I do not have her green thumb, but I imagine it would be difficult to begin again under such circumstances."
 
Tristan raised a brow and did not reply immediately. "Yes, growing while strangled is not something plants are particularly good at, though I am sure there is not really any such thing as a weed free garden."
 
Tristan hummed and was about to say something further when Alec came trotting in.

"Sorry! I misplaced my wallet," he said, rolling his eyes. "Found it! All is good."

"Very good," Tristan said. "I hope you have a very nice and very normal evening, and I intend to do the same."
 
"Take care of yourself, Tristan," Dark said, holding him in his yellow gaze for a moment before putting his hand on Alec's shoulder, leading him out, "If you need anything, you know where to reach me."
 
Tristan smiled and inclined his head. "Thank you, Master Dark. I appreciate your concern." And he meant it.

Alec glanced between Dark and Tristan, but he waited until he was outside and out of earshot from his uncle to ask, "What was that about?"
 
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