How Green Becomes Wood

He looked at his pocket watch, "Yes, because it is her bedtime." Truthfully, come morning Ivy likely wouldn't care much that he wasn't home, but this evening at the Necropolis she was protesting the disruption to her routine. Since Daizi had been working in the office again, she had been taking over more bedtime duties to get more time with her, but Dark still always gave her a kiss goodnight and he wasn't there to do so. Then, tucking his watch away he looked up at Kimberly, "I seem to be, yes. I cannot claim to understand why."
 
"Because you're the best guy dancer here outside of Thomas, and no one really wants to dance with him, sadly, because he's a swell guy," she said, gesturing toward the floor. "He just really needs to work out some issues. I wish he'd hurry up and do it."

On the dance floor, a slender young man danced with one of the women who'd wanted to dance with Dark. He looked to be an excellent dancer, and he was decently theme-appropriate, but he also seemed highly nervous and uncomfortable. Despite his movements being perfectly on point, his intense expression and visible sweating were clearly making his partner uncomfortable.
 
"And the curse of trying to hide in a closet without any doors," Kimberly murmured, but she looked a bit sad underneath the frustration. She shook it off, and in a blink smiled at him. "It's been absolutely fabulous! I hope you've been enjoying yourself, as well. Oh, there's Jeremy. I have to go. Ma'am." She gave an abbreviated curtsy to Ciara and dashed off.

"I will be happy when no one feels the need to curtsy to me any longer," Ciara said with a little huff.
 
"Ah," Dark replied simply, taking another glance at Thomas. Perhaps he would find himself dancing with more than women tonight. Not voicing the thought, he looked back to Ciara, "Have you told them not to, or is it unique to the occasion?"
 
"Hmm. Perhaps you should poll your former students," Ciara remarked with a faint smile.

On the dance floor, Thomas' partner ended their dance a little early, feigning some sort of foot or ankle tiredness. Thomas gallantly walked her to the edge and stood with her, looking genuinely concerned. Then another man came over and started talking, and, perhaps not even intentionally, Thomas was gradually removed from the conversation. He stood off to the side, awkward and alone. When the song ended, there was a short pause. Then, when the next one started, the second man took the girl with the "injured ankle" out to the dance floor.
 
Ciara glanced in that direction. "Thomas Newberry. He has worked in the Cyber division for three years. Before that, he worked for two years as." She paused, realizing she was not giving Dark the information he wanted. "Not much personally. I know there is some sort of personal conflict that has been impacting his efficiency lately. Why do you ask?"
 
"I cannot answer those questions unless you wish for me to repeat the gossip of the watercooler," Ciara said. "I am aware he seems to struggle in social settings, but he is extraordinarily efficient at work, and very good at conflict resolution as well as de-escalation. There is no awkwardness there." She approved of this. Personal should never interfere with professional.
 
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