[“It looks warm.”
Discos has such a gentle voice… Carver could listen to them describe just about anything and be happy for it.
“It used to just be a dirt and stone cellar, but Maw wanted to make it homely, for the new folks, before they can leave. There’s… of course there’s the front room- I showed you that already. But there’s a wall, now, so folks can get out of the way, if they need some space but like… can’t head out very far yet. The walls have wood boards on them now… they’re a nice warm dark color, and there’s a couple rugs on the floor. It’s still dirt. But… it’s kind of endearing? And there’s mushrooms coming between a few of the planks on the walls, but… it’s Mawris’s place, so like, that’s not a huge surprise.”
Discos takes a moment to run her fingers through Carver’s hair while she laughs to herself, and he hums back to them. He’s fighting back sleep, but this is a familiar dance. She’ll keep awake as long as they can manage while Discos gets talking about something that’s not overly important, so it’s not a problem when Carver does fall asleep, but it’s interesting. It’s a very comfortable dance, on nights like tonight, when Carver’s wounds all ache, but aren’t quite so bad that they have to lock up the whole hive to keep the world out. No, it’s just… soothing. Keeps her mind a little distracted from the pain.
Discos brushes his hair back out of his face, and it surprises Carver a little, to feel it on her bare cheek. They’ve gotten so used to keeping their face covered that sometimes they forget when it’s not. And… it makes their bloodpusher twist, a little, knowing that Discos doesn’t care either way. Of course she’s used to seeing tragic injuries, with the sweeps she’s been friends with Mawris, but… it’s nice.
Discos has a palm resting against Carver’s cheek, and the weight of it is, in the end, what carries them into unconsciousness.]