Someone to Lessen the Blow

Writers: Eimi, Emma
Date Posted: 5th September 2005

Characters: Birigundi, Demalia
Description: Birigundi enlists Demalia's help to face his mother after not Impressing
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 20 of Turn 3

Birigundi

It was hard to watch her friend stand there again. He seemed so strong, especially for the others who had been left, but she knew. She could see that it hurt to have been left there.

"Birigundi?" she said.

"Demalia," Birigundi said with a cheerful smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He hated the days that followed a Hatching. The friends who watched him from the stands would look at him with a twinge of pity, tell him next time was his time, to not lose hope. His friends who Impressed would walk around with huge smiles on their faces until they saw him and then they would smile almost appologetically since they had been chosen and he had not. It was always uncomfortable to meet his friends after a Hatching, but short of avoiding people all together it could not be helped. **Might as well get it over with as fast as possible.** "I guess Candidate white just suits me, huh?"

"It'll happen," she said. "I don't know what it's like to not impress, but I do know what it's like to stand, it takes courage to keep doing that." A half smile crossed her lips. "I know you probably didn't want to hear that, but it's true, I admire you for keeping going. And that's all I'm going to say, unless you want to talk about it?"

"No, not especially." Birigundi quickly realized that was a bit harsh.
It wasn't her fault, and she was just as uncomfortable as he was at that moment. He gave her what he hoped was a convincing smile. "But I appreciate it. I'm sure next time will be different."

"I hope so, I really do." She linked her arm through his. "Want to get some food? Now I've finally got the weyrlings down for the night, I'm free until the morning."

"Sure. But I should find my mother." That was another meeting Birigundi was felt ambivalent about. "Do you want to meet her?"

"I'd like that," she said. "I can tell her what a wonderful son she has, unless she already knows that!" she teased. He didn't sound truly happy, she guessed it would be hard to, especially when he had probably been looking forward to showing off a dragonet. Maybe it would be better for her to be there, then those awkward questions might be avoided.

"She probably knows, but I sure would like to hear more about it," he said with a wink before standing on tip-toe to look through the crowd.
"I think I see her."

He grabbed Demalia's hand and lead her through the crowd until they found a woman who didn't even come up to the greenrider's shoulder.
"Ma?" Birigundi said as he tapped on the darked haired woman's shoulder. Though her skin was fair, the features of the woman who turned around to face them were so much like the young man's there was no mistaking the relation.

"Oh Biri," she said as she threw her arms around him. "I am so proud of you! You will find yours next time, I know it!" Tears were starting to form in her eyes and her lip was begining to quiver as she looked up at her son.

Birigundi decided it was best to avoid the coversation that was sure to follow. He pulled the greenrider closer. "Ma, I want you to meet my friend Demalia."

"It's nice to meet you," said Demalia, offering her hand. "Birigundi has told me a lot about you."

"Oh?" his mother asked, as she looked at the greenrider, regaining her composure. She looked between the girl and her son, noting the proximity and the grin on her son's face. "_Oooooh_..." Her eyes widened a bit in surprise. "Oh, I see. Demalia, is it? Well, it's nice to meet you too." The woman began to reach out her hand to the girl awkwardly. She then stopped, shrugged and threw her arms around the greenrider. "Very nice to meet a _friend_ of Biri's."

Somewhat awkwardly, for the embrace was unexpected, Demalia hugged the woman back. "He'll find a bronze next time, I know it," she whispered to the other woman.

The woman gave Demalia a pleased smile. She didn't care if her son found himself a _green_ on the sands as long as he wasn't left again.
But she was quite pleased to have confirmation that he seemed to be destined for one of the bigger dragons. "Just call me Ma," the woman said happily as she took the girls hand in hers.

Birigundi was curious about what had been said between the two of them, but as long as his mother wasn't crying and looked, for once, genuinely happy after a Hatching, he really didn't mind.

Smiling back, Demalia glanced at Birigundi. He did look slightly happier now. "Would you like to get some food?" she asked.

"Of course! I would never pass up the chance to eat here at the Weyr.
I dare say, its bit grander than what I am used to at my small tavern,"
Ma said as she began expertly leading the way.

"I don't know. I loved the food at the tavern," Birigundi said fondly.
There were days he really missed the simple fare of the place he called home for most of his life.

"I could take you back there for a visit?" suggested Demalia. "They do let us out of here on occasion," she grinned. "Maybe sometime next month, on a rest day maybe?"

"Oh, Demalia, would you? I would love for you to come!" the woman cried, giving the girls hand a squeeze. Birigundi was begining to wonder who his mother was happier to see, him or the girl she obviously thought he was in a relationship with. **At least she's not crying anymore,** he reminded himself.

"Consider it done," said Demalia as they reached a table that looked to be groaning with the weight of the food on it. The kitchens had done them proud today, in honour of the event. She barely remembered the feast held when she had impressed Tapheth, but this was how she thought it should be.

Birigundi grabbed plates for each of them and they began piling them high with their favorite food. All the while his mother made comments on which of the Weyr foods were best and which were new from the last time. **She should know,** he thought as he took the special spiced tubers his mother recommended to them both.

He had finally had heard enough of all the great food offered at Hatchings. "I have enough food I think. I'll just find us a place somewhere," he said as he turned and walked back towards the tables, thankful he didn't need to hear about the many Hatching meals his mother had eaten.

"I can reccomend the cakes," said Demalia. "My mother made them, she's a cook here."

"Oh, is she?" the older woman asked with a grin. "Well, I better grab one for Biri too. He loves cakes. But of course I'm sure you know that already."

"I've noticed it," she replied. "But my mother's cakes are legendary round here. Worth tasting, but I'm biased of course."

"I would like to meet your mother someday," Ma said with a shy smile.
"Has Biri met your mother yet?"

"I don't think so, she'd have mentioned it if she had."

"Oh." A thoughtful look crossed the woman's face. "How long have you known Birigundi?"

"Since," she thought for a moment, "Since I was a candidate, so that'd be almost three turns I guess."

"Almost three turns," his mother said with a sigh. "That's a long time.
When did _you_ Impress?"

"Nearly three turns back, my family and I moved here just as the pass started, and I stood for one of the first few clutches then." She smiled remembering the moment Tapheth's gaze had locked with hers, the sheer joy of impression. "I couldn't believe it, I thought she'd go for one of the weyrbred girls, but she was so insistent that I was for her. Biri will find his one day, I know it."

"Nearly three turns ago? Biri's first Impression then?" Ma asked with a sigh. "I sure hope he will Impress soon. He has to. He just _has_
to." A twinkle entered the woman's eye. "But it is a relief to me to know that there is someone here who can... lessen the blow."

"He's got a lot of good friends here, and at times like this I hope he knows it," replied Demalia. She looked over, trying to see if he had found them any seats.

His mother lead the way over to the table where Birigundi sat. Setting down her mounds of food she said, "Oh! We forgot drinks. Not to worry, I'll get some. You just sit there next to Birigundi, Demalia, and I will be right back!" She gave her son a knowing wink before turning to go.

"Your mother's really nice," said Demalia. "I like her."

"She appears to like you too," he said with a grin. "I'm pretty sure she's making a few assumptions about you and I."

"Probably," said Demalia. "But she's happy for you today, and that is what you wanted, isn't it. Instead of comiserations." "Definitely." He gave the greenrider a little nudge. "Thank you for being here with me."

"Anytime," she replied. "What else are friends for?"

Last updated on the September 5th 2005

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Someone to Lessen the Blow