mods please delete

[bipolar-wolfcat]

Kael chuckled and pat Briar's shoulder as he headed for the table, "You get points for trying, Commander." He went to the table and sat down, still mulling over Daichi's comment as he frowned softly. Maybe I do drink a little too much... But we all have our own ways of dealing with these things, and I'll be having at least one drink in honor of my friends... He sat in a chair at the table Briar had indicated, his brow furrowed in thought.

[Madame Butterfly]

[I'm not really sure what to post... oh, Daichi, be more chatty please *prods*]

Absolutely starving as he was, Daichi's stomach gave a long and drawn-out growl. There was a small pause from the other groups sitting nearby, then a flood of laughter. It wasn't that funny but, then again; people got drunk early around here. The whole thing was pretty embarrassing... he grinned sheepishly, and shrugged. "I guess I'm really looking forward to eating properly," he said. It was kind of an unnecessary comment given the occurrence.

He bit his lip. "Why did Evin act so coldly?" he blurted out suddenly. Flushed red, he amended; "I know it's his job to be... like that. But they were our friends, not jut numbers on a sheet of paper." He choked, and added; "It could have been us, it could have been me or you, Kael... or even you, Briar."

Daichi shook his head, and laid his face in his hands. He muttered; "I didn't sign up for this to be talked about like that, when I die."

[LegionWolf]

"Heh, I suppose," she answered with an off chuckle as Kael patted her shoulder. She went over to join the guys, spinning her chair around backward so she was leaning against the back with her arms folded over it. As Daichi spoke, she watched him, listening to what he had to say. She frowned slowly at his comments, though she couldn't exactly disagree with them... however, she knew Evin better than they did and knew that he far from heartless.

Sighing, she glanced down at the worn wooden table, her eyes tracing over the knife marks and carvings. "It would have been the same had it been any of us, "she replied slowly, her voice a bit quiet and forlorn. She was quiet for a long moment before continuing, looking up at them. "People die in our line of work; that's just how it is. We all knew the risks when we signed up for this, including Carter and Sonja. If we all gave in to heartache and sadness each time one of us died, then we would be useless. Evin has his ways of dealing with things, but he doesn't lose his cool. Being the Commander of the Riders is not an easy job to begin with; if he broke down with each news of death, then our command is gone. He is not heartless... he's a good leader who is hurt by each death in the Riders as a whole, just as we are at the death of those in our group. In a way, he has it worse."

[bipolar-wolfcat]

Kael said nothing. He just relaxed in his chair, looking thoughtful. He saw Daichi's standpoint, but he also knew that Briar's words were true.... after a short silence, he sighed softly, "We've just returned. Let's try to have a hot meal and think of the good times we had with them." He grinned, his eyes regaining their playful twinkle as he sat up in his chair to regard the entire group, "Heck, if it had been me, I'd expect you all to have a good time," He winked at Daichi, "and maybe a drink, to honor my memory."

[Madame Butterfly]

Daichi lifted his head, and took a deep breath. That was the second time he'd lost control today. This needed to stop... he'd never felt so affected by death before, it happened all the time in the poorer areas. Maybe it was just this time was the first when he'd been friends with the deceased. He shook his head, ashamed.

"I know," he said quietly, "I guess I just lost it, for once. Sorry."

He didn't want to think about the pictures that kept flooding his mind; the smell of smoke and fire, burning flesh. The screams of children and animals and the battle cries of the raiders blending together in a horrific wail... the image of a woman, pregnant, falling with a spear through her back, right in front of Sonja; and how his fellow rider had first turned pale than bright red in front of his eyes. He could still see her running into the thick of things, even though Briar said to fall back, even though there was no hope escaping the flood of raiders.

Kael was right. Focusing on that wasn't helpful. He thought of Sonja, accepting the slightly-older new rider with a brisk but motherly attitude, pushing him like he was still a fresh trainee who didn't know which side of a horse bit... and helping him open up and make fast friends for the first time in his life. Having to help a drunken Carter to his tent after the younger man drank a bit too much with Kael, and then helping him as he threw most of his belly's contents up. Not a pleasant memory, the last, but funny.

Daichi raised his eyebrows. "I will not drink, and you will not die; how about that promise?" he said dryly. Sometimes he didn't get Kael.

[hope it was OK to "make up" what happened. Will change if not. Kind of got brutal...]

[LegionWolf]

Briar sighed, reaching up to rub at her tired eyes with thumb and forefinger. She was about to give Daichi a reply, but a serving woman came over to get their orders. "What can I get for the lot of you, tonight?" she asked, her large bosom moving while she spoke. Making a face that read 'holy crap', Briar cleared her throat. "For now, just four plates of whatever you're serving for dinner tonight." She looked at the three guys with her. "I'm buying," she clarified, then looked back at the waitress. "And I'll take a honey mead, please." Resting her chin on her arms which were folded over the back of the chair she was leaning forward on, the commander waited for the rest of the men to take their drink orders as well.

[bipolar-wolfcat]

Kael gave Daichi a sour look before turning his attentions to the waitress, "I'll have the same... Unless you've something better to suggest, my dear." He smiled winningly at the barmaid, causing her to roll her eyes and smile. Knowing that such a woman was impervious, and probably used to, such half-hearted charms, he sat back in his chair, choosing to leave Daichi's comment left unanswered. His companion's overly serious manner sometimes got on his nerves, but now especially was not the time to let such things get to him. His heart was set on making the most of this night.

[LegionWolf]

While everyone was ordering whatever else they wanted, Briar's eyes went a bit out of focus as she thought back to the events that lead to Sonja and Carter's deaths. They had arrived in the small town of Breyton on their normal patrol, not expecting anything out of the usual. Breyton was typically a happy and friendly place where the people would greet the riders with smiling faces and words of welcome. When they arrived though, everything had been very tense and uneasy, like a shroud of gloom had settled over. Not a single resident was out and about; no one selling their wears on the streets, no children or dogs out playing, not even a chicken wandered by. It was then that the raiders struck, filing swiftly out of the homes of their victims to attack the raiders. But there were just too many and any help the Riders could have hoped for were already dead or taken away. It was just too much for the former group of eight to take...

[Madame Butterfly]

He nodded thanks at Briar, when she said she'd buy. The group normally took turns buying, riders weren't rich men... he wasn't sure whose turn it was, with the whole tragedy that'd thrown his mind for a loop, just that it wasn't hers.

He almost grinned when he heard Kael flirting with the waitress. Some things, at least, were normal.

"The same--well, I mean... just the food for me, thanks," Daichi said, not surprised at the strange look that got him from the waitress. Not many men his age didn't order a drink to settle things over, not when they were with a group of friends who were also enjoying themselves. He scratched the back of his neck self-consciously. He wasn't a prude. He just didn't like losing control over himself, was all.

He frowned, and suddenly shook his head. The waitress had wandered off but he grabbed her sleeve and tugged. She turned, a fierce look in her eyes--he blanched, knowing what it looked like. But he wasn't leering, he wasn't about to offer anything lewd. "I--I changed my mind," he said quietly, eyes wide; "I think maybe I'll have some of the honey mead as well."

He gulped, and turned back to sit properly in his seat. He just wanted not to think of those thoughts anymore, he wanted to feel different. That was the point of a drink--right?

[bipolar-wolfcat]

Kael was surprised when Daichi grabbed the waitress, smiling as the other Rider further surprised him by actually ordering a drink. That's a first... Maybe it'll help him loosen up. In any case, it's progress, he thought, relaxing in his chair and glancing at Daichi. "Way to go, slick. I hope you can handle it." He chuckled, then noticed the distant look in Briar's eyes... He frowned, but decided to leave her to her thoughts. He knew that, sometimes, people just needed a moment to think.