How Green Becomes Wood

"I'm really, really looking forward to that one," Daizi said, setting the walking stick aside and snuggling up to Dark on the couch. After a long day walking around in the sun, it was nice to just burrow into her favourite person.
 
As they were heading up and after they were out of earshot of Dark and Daizi, Xander asked, "So, what was with not dancing at the thing earlier? Mama looked surprised you said no."

"Well, at first I didn't realize they meant everyone and anyone could join, and then I just felt awkward," Alec told him.

Xander paused on the landing and eyed Alec skeptically. "Since when has feeling awkward ever stopped you from doing something fun?"

"I didn't know the steps!" Alec protested.

"I repeat my former statement: When has that ever stopped you?" Xander said dryly.

Alec sighed and started walking forward again, nudging Xander along with him. "It was different this time because it was a special dance. It wasn't just some fun kick and spin among friends. It's Mama and Baba's national dance. It's important. I didn't want to treat it lightly or make it seem like I wasn't taking it seriously."

"I guess I could see that, but they wouldn't care. They care that you're trying," Xander told him.

"I was serious when I said I'd try next time, and I'm willing to learn with Ba. Maybe once you're healed up so we aren't a line of two," Alec smiled.

Xander snorted but nodded. "Sure, why not?"

The twins took turns showering and then chilled out for the rest of the evening.

The next morning, they were off to school again, though this time their backpacks were fuller than usual with gifts. They were both hoping to run into their friends sooner rather than later to lighten the load.
 
Alec squeaked in excitement and grabbed Milo's arm. "That is so exciting! Congratulations! Oh, sorry." He quickly let go. "This is great!"

Xander nodded in approval. "Even of you don't get it, this is good practice. Good job."
 
"Our Ba abhores talking to people, and he somehow managed to teach for years," Alec told him. "Even if it ends badly, it's just one interview. You'll always have a second chance." He smiled at Milo. "I think you underestimate how attractive you are, too, in a very... Harry Potter kind of way. Speaking of Potter, when they ask you to tell them three positive and three negative things about yourself, give them your Potter house adjectives."
 
"I loved the first three, maybe four books when I read them, but never mind. Just look up some quizzes online. That will give you a good start," Alec told him encouragingly. "It's a place to start so you have some concise answers to hold onto when the panic of answering the questions strike." He patted Milo's shoulder. "I'm very pleased for you to have gotten this far!" He glanced away. "Oh, there's Becky. I need to talk to her real quick. I'll be back!"

As Alec left, Xander studied Milo. He reached out and very carefully took hold of his shirt at the shoulders, pulling him up. He gave him a few delicate nudges and prods, lining him up to stand up straight. Xander raised his brows as he looked up at Milo for possibly the first time. "Did you know you're as tall as my Mama?"
 
While Alec left, Milo did his absolute best to keep his look of absolute dread from deepening in his face. All he could think was if he went to the interview armed with Harry Potter facts, the interviewer would just think he was a big, big fan of the series, and then he'd have to admit he didn't even like it in the first place. But then, the next thing he knew, he was being prodded and lifted up straight, and he looked at Xander in true, deep bewilderment, "...uh... yeah? At least as tall as her..."
 
Xander looked him up and down and nodded. "Definitely at least as tall as her. You should own that. Stop scrunching. You look less like a sad basset hound and more like an Irish Warhound. I'd say Dane, but you're too skinny for that." He shrugged off his backpack and rifled around inside it for a minute. "I got you something at the Arab festival. Here." He handed Milo the purple yashmagh, which he'd wrapped around the caligraphy set. Wrapping and gift all in one! "That's called a yashmagh. It's pretty common in the Middle East, a few different styles, but they're all basically the same thing when you get down to it."
 
"That's kind of mean to basset hounds, I think, they're good dogs, and anyway they have stubby legs... and giant paws..." Milo replied, sliding his hands back into his pockets, and vertebrae-by-vertebrae creeping back down into his usual slouch. He stayed there like that until Xander gave him a present, when obviously he had to remove his hands from his pockets, "This is very cool," He said truthfully, and then turning his head asked, "What do I... do with it? The yash...magh, I mean?"
 
"It's usually a hat and an optional face covering or shawl," Xander said. He pulled up a few pictures and showed Milo. "It really works to keep the sun off your neck. Comfy, too. It takes a bit to get the hang of tying it."
 
"Oh, cool," Milo mumbled, wondering if he'd ever be bold enough to. Then he looked at the calligraphy set, specifically at the reeds, "Did you get this from a thousand years ago? I didn't even know they still made stuff like this!"
 
"Yeah, I was pretty surprised, too, but I thought it might jog your interest," Xander said with a little shrug. "It's pretty cool. Those are reeds, and they're called 'Qalam.' I don't know what that means, but it's cool."
 
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