How Green Becomes Wood

I mean there are professional framers, but I buy cheap ones from the dollar store. Why? Milo texted back. He had nothing going on to delay him.

"If you think of it, you must tell me," Dark told her, opening Ciara's door for her before going to his own side.
 
Xander went ahead and sent just the picture Cooger said was good for framing.

Ciara inclined her head, impressed and pleased when Dark opened the door for her. She settled in and buckled up. "A word of warning, if anyone asks you what you think of something that is clearly a word that is an acronym, tell them you are still gathering impartial data, and emphasize the word impartial, before coming to a decision. Any other answer will result in them attempting to sway you to their way of thinking."
 
It took Ciara a moment to remember who he was talking about. "Oh, no. They are much lower on the rungs, as it were. Their boss should be there, though, if you wish to remind him of your legal status."
 
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Exhaling through his nose vaguely harder than usual, Dark said, "I should prefer to not make my legal status a question this evening. Is there anything else I need to know?" The music in his car was playing low, but was distinctly a playlist consisting of bands like Failure, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, and Marcy Playground.
 
"That is a highly specific figure," Dark replied, glancing at her and fully believing it was something she took time to calculate, "Does that suggest I am expected to have worse decorum than 63% of the guests?"
 
"An unlikely scenario. I would estimate you to be on par with a minimum of 42%, and possibly worse than - at maximum - 21%," she said promptly. "The scale of 'lesser' being rather subjective, but weighted in your favor."
 
"You handle yourself very well," Ciara told him. "You have many talents in highly specific areas. I think I have judged your abilities well, but this evening will give the ultimate proof or disproof."
 
"So it will be," Dark replied, pulling into the circle where the valets opened the door to park the car for them. As he exited and waited for Ciara, since the employee of the function got her door for her, "Daizi is jealous this evening."
 
Ciara stepped out and nodded to the employee before taking Dark's arm almost gingerly. It was a very light, professional touch. "Then I shall have to find some way in which I can make it up to her." After a brief pause, she asked uncertainly, "This is a correct form of jealousy, yes? I am not placing you in any trouble, or her in a position of unease?"

The event center was big, grand, and very governmental. The exact kind of place one would picture for an FBI event. There were several couples trickling in alongside Dark and Ciara, and the steps were wide enough that they never once felt crowded. A few singles were walking up, as well, but some of them met their partners on the steps before reaching the massive double doors that stood open. Those doors had an extra frame in them. It was barely noticeable under the swaths of fabric draped around as decoration, but anyone who looked could see they were some form of security. They likely were not metal detectors as plenty of people were wearing things that could set them off. Several quiet men and a couple of women in dark suits stood about in unobtrusive corners, watching everyone as they entered the massive entryway. A quick jaunt down a short, red-rugged hallway to the left, and they were in a grand ballroom of sorts.

The walls were white, but they had been mostly hidden behind huge, floor-to-ceiling tapestries and pictures. The tapestries were mostly dark green or blue with gold decorations around the edges, and the pictures were of speakeasies of the past. Highly glamorous with happy people drinking illicitly. At one end of the room, an actual bar had been set up, one that looked like it had come right out of one of the photos, complete with multiple bartenders serving the attendees. A live band sat playing off to one side, and on the other end, a raised platform led to a podium. No one was standing there at the moment, but several chairs had been set up in a semi-circle in front.
 
"You may have to," Dark replied, offering his arm as Ciara reached out to take his. His lovely cologne was just detectable when she was so close, "but no, I am in no trouble, and she knows there is nothing untoward, she only wishes she could be on my arm this evening, it was my fault in my manner of dress. But she did declare you her enemy."

As they entered, he sized up their surroundings, taking quiet stock of the exits and the security. He was always a bit tense in crowds, but it was worse when the crowds were primarily members of law enforcement. Still, he had to appreciate the care put into the décor.
 
"Oh dear," Ciara sighed, not taking the warning lightly. She felt she was not in too much danger, but one should never underestimate a challenge.

The people around them were all in reasonably accurate 1920's garb. The men all had a very similar look, and many had gone for more of the "gangster" look, although it was arguable if it was purposeful or not. Many of the women had gone for the iconic, Hollywood-esque flapper beaded dresses. Not fully accurate, but most of them had managed to get their hair and makeup right, or close to. Many of them turned to look as Ciara and her tall date glided past, curious and in obvious awe.

"Ciara Cunningham!" boomed a voice.

Ciara allowed a single, very quiet, sigh, and turned to face the voice with a polite smile. "Associate Deputy Director. How are you this evening?"

A large man with a fake cigar gripped between his teeth strolled up to them, smiling. He moved like someone who had once been in fighting shape, but time behind a desk had added some extra padding to his frame. "Doing well. Glad to see you made it! And who is this gentleman?"

"Ghalib Dark, my companion for this evening," she said. "Ghalib, this is Aaron Thompson."

He stuck out his hand to Dark. "Just call me Thompson! That is a fine suit you've got there. Custom?"
 
The band was a nice touch, Dark thought. It only made him wish his wife to be by his side, but, he supposed, it gave him a reason to treat her to a particularly fancy night out.

Finding himself being introduced to the Associate Deputy Director, Dark stayed still and controlled, taking the briefest glance towards Ciara to inquire as to what sort of people he was going to meet this evening. "Sir," Dark replied, giving a firm handshake to the man. Speaking with well-trained politeness from years of attending these sorts of events with Daizi, he said, "It is a pleasure, and thank you. It is, in fact. Did you have much to do with the planning of tonight?"
 
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