One Big Game

Writers: Eimi, Emma
Date Posted: 18th June 2006

Characters: Birigundi, Demalia
Description: Birigundi doesn't notice that it's more than just a game to his friend Demalia...
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 2 of Turn 3

Birigundi

"It's the most amazing thing," the candidate continued as he heaped more mashed tubers onto his plate. "I mean, I can really feel her stomach getting bigger. And I can really tell there's a baby inside. Not that I didn't believe that there was one in there before, you know..." A few finger roots were dumped along side. "But now its like its really real.
There's this little person inside, and its growing bigger everyday..."

Demalia just nodded, when she'd agreed to meet Biri for lunch, listening to him go on like this was not what she had expected. So she made appreciative noises as she located the salad bowl, and reaching for the tongs, lifted a portion of the rather fresh looking leaves onto her plate.

"So this morning I thought up two more names," he continued as they walked towards a table. "I thought Birilyn if its a girl and Birinai if its a boy. But the truth is I don't like either one," he chuckled.
"Its just fun trying to come up with new ones, you know?"

It was hard to hear this, she thought. Once she had thought that it might be them some day, talking over names for a child. Still when she looked at how happy he seemed. "Birilyn is pretty."

"Birilyn... Birilyn..." he repeated a couple times quietly before he shrugged a shoulder. "Yeah, not too bad I guess. I like Nairi better, though. That was the one I came up with while I was waiting for you."

"What about Gulyn?" suggested Demalia. Maybe if she came up with some truly awful sounding names, he'd change the subject.

"Gulyn..." He rolled that name around for a moment. "Definitely not for a girl, but I kind of like it for a boys name... Gulyn... hmmm."

"Dinia?" she made another suggestion.

"Oh, I thought of that one before," Birigundi said as he reached for the pitcher of water left on the table. "I liked Nairi better, though. But I think Nai wasn't quite so hot any of the names so far."

"Maybe you should talk to her about names?" suggested Demalia. Her own suggestions were not managing to change the subject at all.

"Oh, we do talk about it. It's just fun to think up new ones, don't you think?" he said with a grin. "Playing around with names and finding one that fits. What, for example would _we_ name a baby if you and I had one together? Come on, try it. Its fun!"

That was not what she was expecting. She paused for a moment, "Biride perhaps for a girl, and maybe Malgun for a boy."

"Very nice," he said with an approving nod. "I like those. Or how about Demari if its a girl, and Bilian if its a boy?"

"Liandi for a girl and Rigmal for a boy?" It wasn't as though she hadn't daydreamed some of these already. Maybe, just maybe one day soon she could use them.

"See, you're good at this game," he grinned. "Ok, how about Demadi for a girl, Emri for a boy?"

And that left Demalia wondering if that was all it ever was to Birigundi, one big game. Only this time it seemed that there were to be consequences, a baby.

"What's the matter," Birigundi asked as she grew quiet.

"It's nothing," she said. "I'm just tired."

He shrugged. "All right. If you say so."

"It's been a long morning - we sprang an early drill on the weyrlings,"
was her excuse.

"Well, make sure to relax this restday," he said as he poured her a cup of klah. "We don't want you making yourself sick."

"I intend to, maybe go to the beach perhaps, unless someone needs me here."

"Well, I'd offer to go with you, but I already promised to help Nai."

"She needs you now."

"Yeah, I suppose she does," he nodded thoughtfully. "And I will try to be there for her as much as I can. I'm really starting to feel the excitement now, Demalia. I can't wait until the baby comes."

"You'll be a great father," she said, a smile briefly crossing her face.

"Shards, I hope so," Birigundi sighed as he poured himself a cup of klah too. "Right now I'm not so sure. I mean, I'm, sure it will turn out all right, but... Oh well. Time will tell."

"It will, and you'll be okay, I know it."

"Thanks," he smiled as he reached over to give her hand a squeeze.
"You're a good friend, Demalia."

A friend, that's all she was. She gave him what she hoped was a proper smile, before releasing her hand to take a forkful of her meal.

Last updated on the June 19th 2006

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One Big Game