Best Two Out of Three

Writers: Devin, Yvonne
Date Posted: 1st March 2024

Characters: D'ren, F'lin
Description: D'ren is feeling gloomy at the Turn's End celebration and F'lin tries to cheer him up.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 13, day 1 of Turn 10

D'ren had gone down to the Dining Hall with the intent of celebrating.
The weather was pleasant, so the Turn's End festivities had spilled
out into the Weyrbowl, with tables set out under the clear, warm sky.
For a while he listened to the harpers and watched the dancing, and it
was nice. But his mood started to darken and with alcohol flowing
freely, he drank cup after cup.

Eventually D'ren found himself sitting alone at a table, staring
gloomily at the smiling, happy dancers.

He wasn't alone for long before F'lin appeared out of the crowd and
sat heavily next to him, a cup of wine sloshing in one hand. "Happy
Turnover!"

"Happy Turnover," D'ren muttered in automatic response.

F'lin paused with his cup halfways to his lips. "What's up with you?
It's a party!"

"I know." D'ren sighed. "It's supposed to be a happy event but . . . I
keep thinking about all the people who aren't here. Who never get to
have another Turnover party. My friend I'ster. Lenala."

"Yeah." F'lin sipped his wine and set it aside. "I miss them too. I
wish we were home."

Home. Dolphin Cove had been home once. River Bluff had started to feel
like home. He'd stayed at Dragonsfall only until he'd had the
opportunity to come here. "I keep going to different places and hoping
things will get better, but it's just . . . me. I carry everything
with me in my head." D'ren took another drink of wine.

"Want me to chop it off?" F'lin kept his tone light. D'ren's words
were too familiar and something he didn't want to think too deeply
about. Not at Turnover, not when there was dancing and wine and music
to distract himself.

D'ren made a face. "Ha ha. I think I need that to keep the rest of me
going." He wished he didn't end up wallowing in sadness and bad
memories so often.

F'lin's thoughts were slower than usual because of the wine, but it
came to him that D'ren needed a distraction. "If you call that
'going'. I bet I can beat you in an arm wrestle. Blindfolded."

D'ren blinked through the haze of alcohol. "Blindfolded? Why does that
make a difference?"

"Okay, not blindfolded. We could do best out of three. Not that I need
three gos to beat you, though." F'lin stood up. "Hey everyone! I'm
going to beat D'ren at arm wrestling!"

"What?" D'ren's cheeks heated. People were looking at him. Whether it
was the wine or the potential of public embarrassment, D'ren's
usually-hidden competitive streak came out. "No you won't!" He pushed
his cup aside.

"You sure about that?" F'lin turned and walked backwards toward one of
the tables. "Bet you a mark that I win."

Money too? Behind F'lin, people were drawing closer to watch. Well,
D'ren couldn't say no in front of all these people. He was already a
weak excuse for a bronzerider, he didn't want people laughing at him
on top of that. "Fine!" He followed F'lin.

F'lin sat at the nearest table, settled his elbow and held his hand
out for D'ren's. He was already feeling pleased with himself for
getting his friend out of the corner. "It's a bet."

D'ren mirrored him, gripping F'lin's hand. He didn't know if it was
just in his head, but the crowd seemed to be closing in around them.
"On three?"

"One, two... three!" F'lin pushed hard against D'ren's hand. They were
fairly evenly matched since both of them tended toward slender over
bulky, and neither of them wanted to lose when there was an audience.
They struggled for a moment until F'lin's hand dropped backwards.
"Shells!"

D'ren was a little surprised. "Ha! Pay up!" There were a few cheers
and claps around them.

"We said best two out of three, remember?" F'lin held his hand up
again. "Unless you're too scared?"

"'M not scared." D'ren felt a little dizzy as he clasped F'lin's hand
again. "One . . . two . . . three!"

F'lin had thrown the first match-- just a bit to cheer D'ren up and
get him into the game. This time, though, he really tried. He and
D'ren were fairly evenly matched. The bronzerider grimaced as he
fought to push D'ren's hand down and wondered if he'd made a mistake.

D'ren shifted slightly, trying to get more leverage, but that was a
mistake. It had the opposite effect. His hand started tilting back and
before he knew it, it hit the table.

"Ha!" F'lin raised his arms in victory. "I won!"

D'ren frowned, feeling the weight of eyes on him. His whole body felt
hot. "Still one more to go." The table thunked as he dropped his elbow
onto it, opening his hand toward F'lin.

"You're on." F'lin clasped D'ren's hand eagerly this time, alight with
the feeling of a good challenge. This was fun, they'd attracted a few
onlookers, and his friend wasn't moping anymore. Until he was beaten
again, anyway! "One... two... three!"

The other bronzerider put all his effort into it this time. All these
people watching him fail was the last thing D'ren needed. Distantly he
was aware that an arm wrestling contest wasn't a commentary on his
life, but it still felt that way. Their arms strained, tilting a
fraction one way, then another.

F'lin found himself winning, perhaps because D'ren was drunk. But
D'ren was drunk and sad, and needed something to make him feel better
about himself. What was Turn's End but a big party to celebrate
another Turn on Pern? What was winning at the cost of a friend's
happiness? The bronzerider hesitated, and in that moment D'ren won.

"Yes!" D'ren lifted his arms as the small crowd cheered. "Ok _now_ pay
up!" Thank Faranth he hadn't embarrassed himself.

F'lin grimaced. "Scorch it." He felt around in his pockets but came up
with nothing but lint. "I'll pay you tomorrow."

"I'll hold you to it." D'ren hoped he'd be able to remember it
tomorrow. Tomorrow . . . a new Turn. Would it be any better than the
last?

F'lin watched the shadow flit across D'ren's face and his friend's
momentary happiness start to fade. He held up his hand again. "Best
two out of three?" he asked hopefully. "C'mon. Let me win that mark
back."

D'ren's head was fuzzy but he wasn't _that_ confused. "We just _did_
two out of three."

"I mean two out of three two out of threes," F'lin said confidently. "You know?"

D'ren's gaze tilted up and he frowned as he tried to process that.
"Maybe we get more drinks instead." The bronzerider stood. Where had
he put his cup?

"Need a break, buddy?" F'lin grinned as he stood. "We can do that. But
I will get you to let me try to win my mark back before the end of the
night."

"You just don't want to pay me." D'ren shook a finger at him, then
turned and wandered toward one of the refreshment tables.

F'lin trailed after him, pleased within himself. D'ren wasn't moping
in a corner by himself anymore and they'd get to arm wrestle again.
And maybe go dancing... they'd attracted the notice of a few pretty
eyes.

All in all, it was a good way to spend the Turn's End.

Last updated on the March 5th 2024

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Best Two Out of Three