Man of Steel

Writers: Chelle, Cymiri
Date Posted: 12th August 2013

Characters: Chupsin, Daimhin
Description: Daimhin comes to see the healer after he gets upset.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 2 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Keayd, Chaysea, Sinla, Genna, Karhal, Loella, Makarl, Yanley

"I can't say I didn't warn you." Daimhin's voice was far softer than the
words it contained as he lounged on the edge of the door frame.
"It still sucks though. How are you holding up, Chupsin?"

Wondering who had come into his demesne, he turned around to see
Daimhin. The healer had closeted himself in his laboratory, looking at
slides. He liked the comfort of work, as usual, and it meant he didn't have
to speak to anyone. "Warn me?"

For a long second, Daimhin regarded his old friend. He was ever aware that
Chupsin was, indeed, a level above him, yet in many ways also less aware of life's
norms because of it. Then he shook his head, small smile on his lips.
"Never mind. But you didn't answer me- how are you holding up?"

Putting down what he was doing, Chupsin turned and faced Daimhin, eyeing him
shrewdly for a moment. "As always I go on and do my duty. It's all I can ever do."

"Still talking wherry dung, then?" His smile brightened to something more like his usual wicked
grin.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Chupsin was quickly becoming
irritated. He was not in the mood for riddles. It was bad enough quite a few holders
probably thought he was cracked. The rest had taken pity on him and had showered
him with food. His food storage was overflowing.

"I merely wish to know if you have succeeded in re-convincing yourself you are a
man of mere iron and steel. I see you have." He kept his tone friendly. There was
no point in another fight.

"I'm not made of iron. I just..I can't afford to indulge in such dramatics. It's not
healthy to do so. I need something to comfort me and work does that. So
that's what I turn to when nothing else goes right." His craft was his safety
net and Chupsin realized that. The fact that what he had done had threatened
it and his career was a source of inner horror at himself.

"Tell me, healer...is it healthier to keep everything bottled inside till it breaks and
you do too? Or to talk about it how and when you choose?" He kept his voice
very neutral, and despite the question, moved straight on with a vague wave
of dismissal.

"I'm not here to get you to admit or do anything, Chupsin. I just want to know if you are ok.
Not managing, or crafting or if you have an opinion about how you should or shouldn't act or
if you are keeping to those roles suitably. Just if you are actually now ok. Believe it or not,
some people worry about these things."

Chupsin hadn't been bottling. He had been fine till Makarl had done what he'd done and
set him off. The healer had a vague notion that he was angry about it not only because of
his outrage but also for Sinla's hurt feelings. Not being one to share his personal business
with just anyone, Chupsin didn't particularly want to open up to Daimhin. He had chosen Keayd
for that purpose. However, he had the feeling the guard wouldn't leave him alone until he had
an answer and he wanted quiet in his lab again. "I doubt I will ever be what I was before, but I'm
in no danger of...giving up."

Daimhin couldn't decide if he was angry or just sad. It kept his answer very short. "Glad to hear it."

"So tell me, how is your Captain these days?" He easily turned the subject, wondering if Karhal was
still up to his tricks.

"Lucky enough to have a pretty woman eager for his attention." Lucky enough to be allowed her, too.
But he kept his lips firmly thinned over *that* thought.

"Oh?" Now that was news and it did rouse Chupsin's curiosity.

Daimhin was a gossip- but Karhal was his captain. "I'm sure you'll hear."

"Perhaps." There were ways to find out things if he wanted to, like Tourniquet for instance, but he didn't
bother. He had other things to worry about. Still if a woman meant Karhal had someone to worry
over him and make sure he ate and slept, Chupsin was all for that. "Anyway,
I've just been working again." And making sure that Yanley was eating.

"Lords know where you find the energy to be bothered with it. I thought *I* was a stickler for my job. Then
again, not like either of us have much to fill the rest of the time with." He hoped that wasn't quite as bitter as
it sounded.

"Hmmm I've been finding my hands full with my niece lately, but otherwise, the vintner hall isn't too far."
Indeed, he had been bothering Keayd and even his sister, who was also a widower, more often than late.

"Genna's a willful girl. I don't envy you." He chuckled at the other. "I do hear you on the Vintner Hall though.
Funny it always seems further away on the way *back* though!"

"See...Keayd has an extra room so it's not a problem when I need to stay on." He shrugged. Chaysea had
another room too, but Chupsin preferred to wake up drunk with his friend instead of his sister. Just one of those things.

"Lucky you! The rest of us just have to make our own way. On which note, I should probably be going."

Last updated on the September 3rd 2013

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