So Much Death

Writers: Cali, Devin
Date Posted: 10th November 2008

Characters: D'ren, B'vin
Description: B'vin and D'ren don't want to be cheered up.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 12 of Turn 4

B'vin sat in the corner of the dining cavern and picked at the small loaf of bread in front of him. He really wanted some more spiced tubers, they had been delicious, but he was too self-conscious to go back up. He looked ridiculous trying to hobble around on a crutch and carry a plate.

D'ren slid into the spot across from him. "I'm pretty sure you aren't going to try to cheer me up."

B'vin eyed the bronzerider. They weren't friends, but he was more comfortable around him than most because of his friendship with D'cal. "Now why would I bother to try that?"

"Exactly." D'ren lifted his fork.

"Where's that girl of yours? Is she coming?" Dysali was a nice sort, maybe she'd go up and get some more tubers for him...

"I hope not." D'ren felt bad for saying it, and even worse for thinking it.

So much for more tubers then... "Hmph. Trouble in paradise." It was more of a statement than a question.

D'ren sighed. "Just ... arguing again."

That surprised B'vin. He couldn't remember seeing them together recently, but then again, he tried not to pay that much attention to them if he could help it. They were always all lovey dovey and perfectly happy together it made him a little nauseous. "You screwed up?"

D'ren pushed a piece of meat around with his fork. "She keeps trying to cheer me up, and I don't _want_ to be cheered up."

"I take it you've told her that?" the greenrider more than understood wanting to wallow in self pity and depression.

"Yes. She thinks I'm slowly killing myself because I'd rather stay in my weyr than go around pretending everything's fine." D'ren stabbed a piece of meat. "Everything's _not_ fine."

"She sounds a bit overly dramatic." B'vin said with a sigh. "Things aren't going to be _fine_ for another fifty turns."

"There's just so much death."

B'vin just nodded and took a long swig of his ale. Finally he spoke again, "Sometimes I envy those that can just block it out."

D'ren took a bite of his food and swallowed. "I've tried, but I just care too much."

"That's unlucky for you." B'vin stated.

"Yeah." D'ren poked at his food some more.

"I suppose you could always just hope that you're the one who's killed in the next fall," the greenrider said with a sarcastic lilt, "then you won't care about _anything_ anymore."

"Now you're being _too_ gloomy." There was just a hint of amusement in the bronzerider's eyes.

B'vin let a small smile press on his lips as he gave a non-committal shrug and tore off a piece of bread, popping it in his mouth. After a moment he spoke though he looked at his plate and not at D'ren. "If we didn't fight Thread we'd all die within a turn. So we do, knowing that there is a chance we'll die anyways but we can maybe save those we care about. Some people deal with that by ignoring it. Others by embracing it. Still others by having a stiff drink or getting laid. And then there are those that just go numb inside, slowly, until they wait for Thread to find them because it's too hard to fight."

"Now you sound like Dysali." The amusement was gone.

"Maybe." the greenrider said without feeling. "And maybe I was just trying to figure out where I fit in it all." He unconsciously held at his leg as he stood, the bandages protecting his recent threadscore bulky under his pant leg, and grabbed at the crutch next to him so that he could make his ungraceful escape. "Enjoy your tubers."

D'ren made a noncommittal noise. Maybe sitting next to B'vin hadn't been the best idea.

Last updated on the November 18th 2008

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So Much Death