BLOODANDPERFECTION & DARIAMUS
On Draven’s 18th birthday, Darius announces he will enlist in the military. Draven doesn't agree. Art by Riot Games.
Darius drags the side of his hand against the table and pulls breadcrumbs to the edge. He takes care in making a neat pile with every piece before letting them all fall into his waiting hand. Draven always makes a mess when he eats, but Darius doesn't seem to mind anymore.
He brushes the palms of his hands against each other over an unlined bin. The crumbs fall like sand in an hourglass. Once his hands are clean, he stands at the corner of the room, palms still together and his eyes looking down at trash. He doesn't budge.
Behind him, his brother sits and watches while a basket of barely warm bread sits between them. The steam is beginning to fade in the dim light.
"I asked you to stay after dinner because I need to tell you something." Darius finally speaks with his back still turned. He knows he should face Draven before he says this, but his waist won't turn.
"I'm enlisting in the military."
Darius' words come out so quick it was as if he was shoving them out of his own mouth to keep his tongue from scalding. When he finally turns, the motion is far slower. "I thought about it for a while, but I couldn't do it when I turned sixteen." Darius continues while walking towards the small table. "I didn't want to leave you yet, you were just too young. I'm not blaming you for anything. I just wanted to wait until your 18th birthday -- for today."
He closes his body off to his brother. Darius' hands are clasped tight over the table, and as he leans in, the uneven legs tip the table to his side. The bread rolls in the basket move slightly with the movement.
"It'll be a lot better for the both of us. I can get us more money, a better place... We won't have to worry about the Winter anymore." Darius searches for some sort of acceptance in Draven's eyes. He continuously rolls out words of justification: better this, better that, comfortable everything, no more skipping meals -- and then finally, Darius stops.
"...We don't have to live beneath anyone. You want that, don't you?" Darius can see Draven’s face clearly without steam in the way. The bread has gone cold.