Not Much For Parties

Writers: Anna, Cali, Eimi
Date Posted: 18th September 2006

Characters: B'vin, X'amor, D'cal
Description: B'vin and X'amor chat after the Waterball game until D'cal spoils the mood.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 13, day 14 of Turn 3
Notes: Mentor Approved

He couldn't believe D'cal had talked him into staying for this party.
Watching the waterball game hadn't been too bad. Everyone was watching from shore, cheering or booing as the play called for it. With everyone focused on the game he didn't need to chat and be sociable with those around him. _Here_ however, now that the game was over, it was harder.
A firepit had been set up earlier in the day, and with some fish
cooking and a keg of beer opened, everyone was starting to chat and form groups.

B'vin saw D'cal in the center of one of those groups, they looked like other players from the game and he felt too awkward to join them.
Realizing he was completely alone and obviously out of place, he headed over to the table with the keg. At least there he could kill a bit of time and have a drink, then maybe he could just slip away and D'cal wouldn't ride him for not _trying_.

X'amor had enjoyed watching the game but even though he had gotten a
lot better at being around more people over the past few months, a
large party such as the one he was at, wasn't his kind of thing. But he had promised himself to meet some new people or at least get to know some better so when he saw the greenrider that he remembered was named B'vin he walked over to the keg to get a drink as well.

"Hello there, It's B'vin right?" X'amor said as he filled a cup with some of the cool alcoholic drink.

"Yeah, um... hello." he replied, trying to hide the fact that he didn't know this rider's name in return.

The bluerider saw the hesitation and smiled, giving the other rider his hand, "I'm X'amor, rider of blue Calodith."

Good, somebody was talking to him, now he could _really_ tell D'cal he gave it a try. "Were ah, you playing in the game?"

X'amor shook his head, "Nope, just came to watch. I'm not normally so good in big parties like this, but I'm trying to get to know more
people."

That relaxed B'vin a little, "I'm not much for parties either, but I told a friend I'd give it a go. I just don't know what to say to people, you know?"

"Well, hello! B'vin, you've made a new friend?" D'cal asked, walking up and throwing an arm around the greenrider's shoulders companionably.

"Um, yeah." Good, now D'cal's actually _seen_ me making an effort.
"D'cal, this is X'amor. He's not much up for big parties either."

"A perfect friend for you then," the bluerider grinned and held his
hand out. "I'm D'cal, rider of blue Aosorath."

"Well met D'cal, I ride one of those blue lumps," he gestured to where some dragons had laid in the sand, "Calodith is his name."

"Sorry," B'vin shifted away from the keg, realizing he had been
blocking it, "Did you want some drink?"

"Oh, yes thanks." he leaned down to the spigit and filled up his mug. Standing back up he looked at D'cal, "So are you the friend that made B'vin come to the party?"

"Well, I wouldn't say I _made_ him come to the party. But I did invite him," D'cal said, giving the greenrider a playful push. "Are you trying to ruin my reputation here, B'vin? Or just trying to keep all the guys to yourself?"

B'vin felt his cheeks flush, "What? No It's not... we were just talking." He shook his head, embarrassed.

X'amor grinned behind his mug as he took a drink. He was glad to be
around some one who, like him, wasn't all that good at socializing.

"Well, just let me know if I'm in the way," D'cal said, giving B'vin a quick wink. It was good to see him at least make an attempt at being friendly with new people.

Now B'vin was getting annoyed. "Cut it out D'cal."

"Oh, come on, B'vin. Lighten up. It's a party! It's time to have fun.
Why don't I get us a few drinks, eh?" D'cal said, trying to make peace with his offering.

X'amor had been head about to refill his mug, "I'll go ahead and do
that." he filled two more mugs and handed them to the other riders. When he passed B'vin's mug to him, X'amor held his hand on the mug a moment longer than he needed to, allowing their hands to touch. X'amor's charcoal eyes with their amber flecks sparkled as he pulled his hand away from B'vin's mug.

Almost dropping the mug X'amor had given him, B'vin had had enough.
His pulse was racing, from anger... or something else, and it made him nervous. D'cal had instigated this, making him come to this party, and then teasing him in front of the other bluerider. B'vin had held up his end of the bargain and he had come, now he could leave.

"I'm going back to the Weyr." B'vin said slamming the mug down on the table harder than he had intended. Not looking back he turned away from the two blueriders towards the safety of Serenth.

"Whoa! B'vin, come on, the party's just getting started!" D'cal called after him. He took a few steps after him but he could tell it was a lost cause. "I'm sorry, ok?"

X'amor was completely surprised by the greenrider's reaction. He hadn't thought his slight flirtation would set B'vin off. "Uh, hey, I think I
might have done something, in fact I know I did. I'll go talk to him." And X'amor ran off after B'vin, not waiting for D'cal to reply. "Hey B'vin! B'vin!"

D'cal's plea almost made B'vin turn back, but X'amor's made him continue on. He didn't want to talk to the bluerider, he wanted to run and hide. He had felt a spark, a flutter in his chest, when X'amor had passed him that cup, and B'vin felt guilty for it. He didn't know why and he didn't want to think about it. All B'vin knew for sure as he gave Serenth the mental image of the Weyr and they took off, was that he _never_ wanted to go to a party again.

Last updated on the September 26th 2006

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Not Much For Parties