It's the middle of the day and A'hali's been turned out of the infirmary again. This time because the official transfer has gone though and he's now offically NOT Serval. The large man looks a little lost as he enters the shipweyr, pausing in the doorway and just staring around the room like he's trying to figure out what to do with a whole half day of no responsibilities other than to go find M'noq and speak with him.

Vani is here! Although it may not be immediately apparent, as she's dozed off over some hidework in one of the comfy armchairs. At her feet Flufferkins regards the lesser creatures from his loaf-like position while Figners has remembered to tuck his wings carefully close as he drapes himself over Vani's chest and shoulders. With the arrival of the large brownrider, Flufferkins abandons his disapproval to thump onto the floor and approach with pitiful starving chirrups, complete with loving brushes against A'hali's legs. SOMEONE is awfully happy to see A'hali home at this unexpected hour. (Vani will be too, once she regains consciousness)

Kitty wants attention? That's cool. A'hali can do that. Reaching downwards the big man sweeps up the cat to cuddle the cat against his chest for a moment. Know who doesn't like that? Paua. She was outside but the SECOND she realizes someone else has taken up A'hali's affections she swoops in to hiss and chitter at the cat UNHAPPILY. Flufferkins does not like this chittering and digs her claws into Hal's arms and then launches herself hissing and meowing off and into the bedroom in OFFENSE. Hal swears at the scratches and turns to give Paua an unhappy look for her being a jerk. That should be enough noise, right?

It is certainly enough noise to rouse Figners, who once again forgets that his wings also react in suprise THWACK! That wing in the face should do the trick. "Fuck! Figners!" Vani responds to the first thing that she can see (a whole heap of blue wing that disappears quite quickly as Figners re-rediscovers between). Once that is out of the way, she blinks a couple of times before focusing on A'hali. "Shit? You okay?" Cos them scratches are kinda obvious. Ah the peaceful awakenings of a shipweyr full of pets <3 "Sit." She points at the chair she is abandoning to go in search of a little water and a little rag.

"Sorry," because Hal's sure that this is ALL HIS FAULT. Now Vani's awake and she doesn't get enough sleep as it is. A sad feel-terrible giant here. But she's taking control and so A'hali with the disgruntled gold are going to go sit down like directed. "Aren't deep." Meaning she doesn't really need to worry about his scratches. They're nothing. Instead there's something that he needs to say to her, but how to say it he isn't sure. So instead he says, "Vani…" and then stops.

Vani busies herself in the kitchen for a brief moment. It's a small kitchen, and finally everything is organised in a way that makes sense to rational sane people (as opposed to insane pirates~) She makes her way back with a mug of water and a little cloth. "A'hali." Vani returns with a small scowl. She doesn't get to take care of him nearly as often as she would like, and she's preparing to fight for her right to dab at those scratches on his arm. "No need to be sorry." She allows with a little softness as she settles herself straddling his lap. It's totally the easiest way for her to do her doctoring okay?

A'hali's gaze is looking downward his normal reluctance to speak that shoos away around vani coming back. He'll allow her to minister to his hand. Sitting completely stoic he'll not note when it stings. "Vani…" still not sure how to say it, "I've been transferred. To Lynx." Hal's been bad about explaining what's going on with him lately what with Vani so busy with the weyrlings.

Vani is just going to super focus on that hand, and those scratches, dabbing as gently as she dares. But if he's not completely lost in his bad feelings he'll feel the hand under his give three quick squeezes. "Oh…?" She asks, still apparently intent on seeing to his super serious injuries, but also allowing him the time to work his way up to telling her what is on his mind. "Ohanaveth will like Lynx. He'll get to visit lots of new beaches…" dabdabdabdab.

"I… am not to go back to the infirmary." No timeline set, and obviously, if shit REALLY hits the fan that ban is going to be set aside cuz the needs of the many > Hal's needs.

Now Vani stops her gentle ministrations and looks up to her weyrmates face. "I'm sorry." Her turn to apologise, even as she drops that little rag back into the mug and wraps her arms around his shoulders. "Sorry I'm not here more." She whispers. "And sorry…" Because she knows how hard he worked to get into the infirmary in the first place. "I love you." It’s not related to anything, just a little something to bring a little light into the gloom.

A'hali's not going to cry, okay? He's STOIC AND STRONG. "Rielle says…" some silence descends as A'hali wraps his arms around his weyrmate, "I have to be tougher." Not her words, she said something about coping right? Hal knows this is for the best but still… "I'm not good at sneaking." Vani got any hints for him?

Vani probably has a better idea of what Rielle said, however it isn't something she can verbalise easily. "Perhaps a rest is good for now?" And no, Vani is not sharing any of her sneaky secrets… cos then he'd probably be a little more aware of when she is using them herself. "The weyrlings are a bit older now… it might be nice, we could spend a little more time together…?" It is an almost shy invitation, even as she settles that little bit more comfortably.

"You are not mad at me?" A'hali has to make sure of this completely. Her lack of suggestions doesn't put him more at ease about how he's suppose to act around his new wingleader. Hopefully he figures something else. "If M'noq says okay?"

"Why would I be mad at you?" Vani asks, her tone full of surprise. "If it is what you need to do love…" She's still on the fact that he must be bummed out about finding purpose outside of healing rather than the fact that he's made her post-weyrlinghood plans a little more complex. "I don't imagine M'noq would have any objections. And Lynx does explorations as well." Only the sneaky ones get the sneaky assignments… which Vani has never really spoken about. "Just be yourself." She leans back so she can tap his nose gently. "See where that gets you." It got Vani this far after all.

"I didn't tell you." About how stressed hee has been in the infirmary, or the amount he had let his work get to him. Leaning back isn't acceptable and Hal wraps his arms around her to draw her in close and bury his scratchy bearded face in her shoulder. There aren't many more words he has, so he starts nothing.

"Well. Yes I'm mad… no… furious about that." Vani isn't really and places a kiss on top of that head on her shoulder to communicate her lack of fury, before sighing in that world weary way of hers. "You'll figure it out" She has faith in him. "And I'll help you… if you'll let me." Cos he is stubborn and quiet and has a habit of… shielding her. "I love you." In case the kiss (which multiplied into three kisses while no one was looking) wasn't simple enough for him.

A'hali can't help it. He has this mistaken impression that Vani is glass and she'll shatter if he presses too hard. Plus after all the stuff with D'ex… A'ndi… just, kid gloves all around. "I love you." Admission of feeling returned. She can give all the kisses, Hal is just going to hold her.

And everyone survived and was stronger for it… although Vani still isn't entirely sure about D'ex… but even then she's almost friendly with her sniping these days. "What do you need me to do love?" She asks gently after a long moment just sitting in his lap and trying to hug him as comfortingly as he usually hugs her (she really doesn't have the bulk for it)

A'hali will take what he is given, and then do soothing out of character for him. With his face hidden from her a slight shaking ripples though his large frame. He's crying, the helpless don't - know - what - to - do kind of tears.

Right. Clearly he needs Vani not to go anywhere for a good long while. And so she doesn't. Instead she'll continue to be his shoulder to cry on, alternating between squeezing him tightly, and stroking his hair (stubble) - quiet reminders that he is no longer alone… and the doesn't need to maintain his quiet strength for this moment. If a few empathetic tears fall from the greenrider own eyes, she'll kiss where they land and keep on trying to soothe his hurt.

Vani crying too is the LAST THING that A'hali wants, so the moment those first drops fall he'll begin to pull himself together again, taking in deep breaths to calm. (At least he has some coping stratigies, right?) "Sorry," again it's uttered, because it's all A'hali has. "When they die…" It's a million times worse now with the death ecoing though his link with Ohanaveth. And to know that if he'd only been BETTER or STRONGER or FASTER he could have maybe done something… Helplessness is something that A'hali doesn't do well with. An animal, yes, that's easy. There's no Ohanaveth to share exactly what they felt in those moments before death.

Vani inhales deeply herself before touching her forehead to his. "I was crying for you. Not because of you." She attempts to explain, giving gentle kisses to the corner of each of his eyes. "There is nothing to be sorry for." Luckily she's not really the type to paraphrase older, wiser adults…so there is no mention of the power of healing tears. "I can't imagine." Instead she is honest. "It's hard enough…" Those few times when wingmates suddenly are absent. "I'm not going anywhere though." She squeezes three times. That's important right?

"It was… stupid." Maybe not the right word, but it's the word A'hali's got right now, "I thought if I learned more… no one else would die." The death of his clutch mate in FIRE EVERYWHERE was a defining moment for the brownrider, and now…

Vani gives a long sigh, full of her own understanding and heart-soreness for her weyrmate. "Even if you learned everything, I don't think…" She pauses, leaning back to watch A'hali carefully. "No one can stop death." Are the words she is able to find, struggling to find the magic fix-it ALL words. "Sometimes. Sometimes there is nothing we can do but let it happen." And it sucks and it is heart-breaking, and Vani doesn't particularly like thinking about it herself, so she's going to go back to cuddling now. Perhaps there is something to Hal's usually silent reassurances.

The look A'hali gives back is one full of stubbornness. He KNOWS that but… at the same time… Wrapping his arms around her he'll do the cuddling thing for a while. Really, there aren't more words that he could possibly say that aren't more silliness.

At the same time… He wouldn't be A'hali if he didn't care so damned deeply. Perhaps Vani has it a little easier with her not-so-open heart. "What is your favorite meal?" It's not at all awkward the way she blurts out that random question. "I will make it for you, and get some of those pastries you like." After the cuddles. ALL THE CUDDLES (naturally). She might just be a little bit lost, but clearly she's starting to operate on the assumption that many little joys will help ease the great big sorrows in his heart.

A'hali reluctantly releases Vani at her question. Clearly she knows what does make him feel better. Even after years of being secure in food Hal will ALWAYS remember nights spent hungry. A favorite food full of carrot and potato like ingredients gets named with a hint of hope. It is hearty food, made for some as large as Hal. No girlish figures.

Vani wasn't actually planning on leaving anytime soon. But seeing as he wants the hearty kind of meal that is always best when cooked long and slow she takes advantage of his relinquishment. "Fortunately for you… I have plenty of beef right now…" Cos Caelisth killed a cow… she told him about that right? "Want to help peel and chop?" She asks shyly, while she is happy to do IT ALL, she's hopeful a little cozy domesticity will help with what ails him. "Or you could just sit and watch" So long as he is close so she can keep an eye on him.

A'hali isn't a good talker but he is good at listening. He doesn't have anything against cooking with her, but his offer probably isn't exactly what she wanted. "I'll get wood?"

"I'm not leaving your side today mister." She warns him, still not entirely disengaged. "If you go chop wood, I go chop wood too." She's not sure what else she can do to help… but for today at least she can do this much (through a little creative dragon-fibbing)

A'hali leans forward and kisses Vani's cheek. "No chopping." Her hands are safe. "Bringing back." So if Vani REALLY wants to hail wood… "For food." Because she did promise that as a thing

Vani waves safe-safe her hand in gentle dismissal. "Haul, chop. Same dif… I'll be there!" She promises firmly despite her waving hand. "Besides, I'd have to visit the kitchens anyways." ALL THE FOOD! Including the sweets for after. Of course the pair of them could possibly benefit from a little straightening up giving she was so recently sleeping, and Hal was attacked by a most unrepentant cat (Seriously Fluffers is watching this all go down with disapproving eyes from the couch. "Anything you'd like to do love?" While they are out and about. It is entirely possibly the greenrider is brewing an entire day of cocooned simplicity for Hal in an attempt to reassure him on as many levels as possible.

Poor Vani. She deserves someone who is a better conversationalist than A' hali. And someone better at expressing his opinions, or having them. Sometimes Hal struggles with that too. "Where ever you need." Free license Vani.

Right, so Vani is going to do all the little things brewing in her little head. Starting with examining those scratches. There really isn't much more she can do about those. So step two. "Do I look okay?" Cos she's not always a tidy sleeper. Even as she asks she's turning to find her shoes and a jacket. The autumn bringing with it rain as it usually does. "Wood, then kitchens, then back home?" She confirms, watching him intently from under her dark lashes.

Reaching up A'hali smoothes back Vani's hair from where it has poofed up in sleep. He has to follow her to finish the petting, then nods when she lists the steps they are going to follow to make this an evening. Just to be sure though A'hali must ask, "Weyrlings?"

"You want to see the weyrlings?" Vani may be a little confused here. "I mean I just had Caelisth them them I was violently ill…" She sounds dubious, but allows the petting. "Most of them are doing well. I think one hates me for cutting his hair…" She is trying to guess what A'hali wants from that one word query.

A'hali shakes his head for the misunderstanding. The LAST thing A'hali needs right now is to see babies who hurt themselves regularly. Instead, "Shouldn't you be there? " Even if it would prove her a liar.

Vani turns now, a little clearer on what information he was wanting. "Perhaps I should…" She admits even as she wraps her arms around his torso. "But you need me more right now… they'll survive a day without me." Of course wagging is part of her own coping mechanism. "I'm sorry I can't give you more. But I can give you today. Just you and me…" And some wood… and food. Simple pleasures to help offset his not so simple upset.

A'hali envelops his woman into his arms lifting her off the ground for a few seconds so he can breathe in the scent of her hair and relish the ability to be in the moment with her. "I love you."

Vani doesn't giggle as she is lifted into the air, but she does move her arms to wrap them around his neck, even as her legs replace her arms around his middle. "I love you too." Well D'uh! And there is a kiss on the cheek seeing as he is busy sniffing her hair. "The sooner we get these errands done, the sooner we can come back home…" And just cuddle and smell the increasingly delicious smells of his favorite meal as it cooks.