Another wintry evening sees an already overcast sky darkening what feels like hours early. A chilly rain has begun to fall, only a light mist for now but will grow heavier as night approaches. Luckily by the time Va'os arrives, he isn't too soaked and won't draw the ire of any of the Healers on duty. Really, they're probably growing accustomed to his presence here and not just because of the one patient. Rielle IS his focus for this visit, however and he'll make his way over to where they've placed her… unless she's been moved.

Thankfully, Rielle is where she's been for the past few days - a cot in the recovery area, as close to the entrance as she can possibly get. She's even sitting up now, propped up with a generous amount of pillows. It turns out she isn't nearly as good a patient as she is a practitioner, being a source of frustration for Varden and the journeymen on duty. Familiarity means most of them know she doesn't mean and growling she may emit, of course; they've seen her in her healthy state, after all. Right now, she's quietly grumbling at the journeyman changing her score bandage, though the woman is answering in kind and being rather matronly about it. Once she's gone, she huffs a sigh and looks up to find someone approaching - someone she very much wants to see as often as he can be spared. She beams tiredly at Va'os, shifting slightly and wincing with the movement. "I'm going to go crazy," she notes frankly by way of greeting. "Though I think better of it whenever I see you, thankfully."

"Now you know how your patients feel, when they grumble at you about being stir crazy." Va'os counters with a crooked smile of his own. It's a little frayed at the edges and his eyes cary a tired, weary look to them despite his efforts to maintain a more positive mood as he comes to join her at the side of her cot. There's a glance to the bandages and a little frown, but he IS relieved to see her sitting up and in good enough spirits. "But if you're feeling well enough to feel like you're going crazy… I'm going to guess that you're on the mend?"

Rielle gives a soft "hmph" at that, moving to fold her arms and realizing just in time that it isn't a good idea. To Va'os' last, though, she manages a little smile and pats the edge of the cot to encourage him to sit there, reaching for his hand. "I was determined to be on the mend since day one," she replies, a roundabout way of just saying "yes." Sighing, she carefully lifts her splinted left wrist, eying the thick wrappings balefully. "This should take somewhere around a month and a half. The ribs will take a full two, though I have a hunch I might be able to speed it up a little with some supplements," she asserts determinedly. "The scoring should be safe enough to walk with in another day. It had damn well better be. I haven't been able to get far enough to go see Obhaeroth…" Teal eyes dart downward to her lap at that, her lower lip caught in her teeth as a sudden lump in her throat cuts her words off for a moment.

Va'os scoffs lightly, "That sounds like you." he teases about her determination. As she spells out each injury and the amount of time, his expression clouds over but he keeps his tongue in check. No need to sarcastically point out the obvious, though he does give voice to a small sigh. His gaze lifts however when her words cut off and he catches her struggling. Carefully, he seats himself on the edge of the cot, leaning forwards to cup his hand against her cheek. "Hey." A soft spoken request for her to look up. There's no pep-talk to follow, just a reassuring smile before his eyes narrow in thought. "… can you be moved at all?"

He won't have to try too hard. Rielle's eyes are over-bright when she lifts her head with Va'os' touch, and she scoffs a little at his question. "I think I can. It isn't the best idea, even if I'm sure I can handle a crutch with my good arm, but I'd do it if they'd let me have one." She aims a mild frown toward the apothecary nook where several Healers are currently gathered, though none notice. She doesn't mean for them to, of course.

"That's all you need? A crutch?" Va'os will meet her gaze and wait long enough for her answer. Then, being who he is, he'll go right to action! Only he's not heading off to that apothecary. Oh no. Skip that, skip the red tape and bothering the Healers! He's just going to act as Rielle's crutch… even if it means half or fully carrying her to their destination. Will they catch hell for this? Probably. Will he even manage to escape before someone throws a fit about him "borrowing" one of the patients? Maybe. Va'os doesn't care, at least not beyond Rielle's well being and safety. If she protests too much, he'll drop the plan (NOT her! have faith, there). "… I can't believe they wouldn't do something to let you see Obhaeroth!" he mutters under his breath.

There will be no protesting from Rielle! Except for the involuntary sort that comes from twinges in her side. She'll nod and then try just hanging on to Va'os, but it won't last very long before she's opting to be carried in full. And yes, they do start getting some protests, though mostly hesitant because it's the Weyrleader stealing one of their charges. "I'm going to see my dragon, and if ye think ye'll be getting in the way of it, I fecking dare you!" ends up being her final counter before they're let to pass, a not-often-used temper drawing her Ruathan lilt to the fore for just a bit. Afterward, setting her head against Va'os' shoulder in exasperation, she tells him, "It's not that they wouldn't so much as they couldn't." Of all people, he knows how many injuries they're dealing with at the moment. Much as she's hated not getting to go out to Obhaeroth, she does understand.

Don't make him laugh, Rielle! Va'os comes close to it, when she decides to part with that threat as he all but hauls her out of there. Oh, there's going to be some colourful gossip come morning! Again, not even registering in his head right now. He sobers when she grimly reminds him of just how badly injured she was, when she was first brought in and that tempers his behaviour too. His next movements are slower, more cautious, as he's hyper-aware of her and his hold; he'd probably not forgive himself easily if he accidentally added to her injuries. "Just tell me if it gets to be too much, okay?" If he'd thought this through, he'd realize he has to get her BACK somehow too but it's too late now! Committed to see this to the end, he'll bring Rielle to her other half.

Gossip being the constant that it is, Rielle isn't even thinking about it herself. Nor does she care. She trusts that Va'os will get her back just fine as well, assuming she'll simply end up carried again. His last finds her giving a little shake of her head. "I will, though it won't be. I trust you." She punctuates her words by carefully pulling herself into range to kiss his cheek, even though it sends another twinge through her ribs. "It's worth it for him," she murmurs, relaxing again and just holding on to Va'os for the rest of the ride to where Obhaeroth waits in the lower bowl, as close to the entrance of the Craft Complex as he can get without shoving his head inside.

"You can thank me later," Va'os grins faintly in response to her kiss and while he appreciates it and cannot read her mind, he's not oblivious to what that might've cost. At least the rain is holding off, the earlier drizzle tapering away and the winds low enough not to cause too much discomfort. He'll bring Rielle as close to Obhaeroth as possible, without exposing her too much to the elements. "… think you'll be okay?" he asks, while still offering himself as a crutch. He figures this reunion will be better with him on the sidelines, but he won't leave unless he's assured Rielle can brace herself properly.

Obhaeroth is practically vibrating where he crouches, humming enough that someone might think there's a Hatching happening somewhere. She'd forgotten about the chill in the air but doesn't care, especially with the billowing of hot dragon breath coming so frequently. The brown croons richly when she's set on her feet, her left leg taking more weight than the right. "I'd…feel steadier if you stayed," she admits, and not just as an excuse to keep him close. But in a moment she's leaning almost fully against Obhaeroth's nose, favoring her left side, her face buried in the warm brown hide. She's quiet for long moments, still clinging to Va'os with her right hand but otherwise still until disengaging needs to happen for the sake of not taxing herself. "He says thank you, but…it's a deeper sort of thank you than I can put into words," she tells Va'os, evidence of tears on her cheeks when she pulls back to look at him. Though Va'os may perhaps have a moment in which the impression of warm sunlight fills his mind with golden gladness, a springlike breeze swirling glittering motes about the edges of his consciousness in grateful mental embrace before it withdraws, finishing the thanks Rielle conveys on his own.

Va’os hesitates when Rielle admits to preferring him to stick around, glancing up and sidelong to where Obhaeroth practically vibrates. If that’s what she desires, he’ll do his best to shrug off the sense that he’s intruding on a very private moment; yet the moment she’s leaning more on the brown, he’ll take a small step back. He’s still within reach but not right there and giving them some space to reconnect without his presence mucking it up. Somewhere, Tsiroth is ‘leaning’ a bit on Obhaeroth, but the bronze is respectful in keeping any musical score to a minimum; it’s just plain, raw support that he’s offering. Va’os smiles warmly, for both Rielle and her other half’s sake, though he can’t quite seem to make direct eye contact and appears a little flustered. “… I can get a good enough idea and you’re welcome…” The last is directed more to the dragon than the rider. “It just didn’t seem right.” He’s also impulsive and reckless at times, so if there were reasons, he’ll probably hear about it later. Surprised by the sudden warm sunlight filling his thoughts, Va’os relaxes under the unspoken appreciation by Obhaeroth. “Stay as long as you like… just don’t tax yourself or I’ll never hear the end of it.” Light, light teasing but he’s at least behaving more like himself!

Rielle gives Va’os’ side a squeeze in reassurance, taking a guess at why he’s being a bit awkward. “It’s okay. I’d probably better get back in considering it’s cold.” For Southern, anyway. “And I reassured him that I’d be able to be out and about tomorrow, so I’ll get to see him again. Just this little bit of time now… It helps.” Obhaeroth rumbles his accord for that, giving a gentle nudge that both pushes his rider against Va’os and touches the bronzerider’s shoulder. “Even he’s telling me to get going,” she notes with a chuckle, wiping away the lingering moisture on her cheeks before looping her arm around Va’os neck. “Back we go?”

“It is, isn’t it?” Va’os reflects on the current weather. Just another tidbit of information he overlooked in his impulsiveness! He’ll catch Rielle when she’s all but nudged back into his arms by the brown, stifling a bit of laughter as he grins past her to Obhaeroth. “Alright, I got the hint! We’ll get going.” Like before, he’ll be cautious and it may be slower returning to the infirmary; half because he’s tiring and half because he’s being a little selfish in wanting an excuse to linger with her longer. It won’t be at the expense of her health though! “… it was worth it, I take it?” Not that Rielle faces trouble. Va’os is going to get the lectures, here.

Rielle doesn’t mind being slower in the least! Who says she won’t get any lectures, since she’s supposed to “know better” and whatnot? Any delay in facing them is welcome. Chuckling softly, she nods, resting her head against Va’os’ shoulder. “Completely worth it,” she affirms as they move back toward the infirmary. Obhaeroth croons as he continues watching them, not moving until they’re out of sight. The brownrider sighs, her eyes fluttering shut for a bit. “What I wouldn’t give to just be able to fall asleep with you,” she murmurs. “Anywhere but that cot. I can’t wait to be out, even if it’s just to a ground weyr.” Faranth knows she won’t be able to go home for a little while yet, after all.

Va’os chuckles and focuses silently for a few strides. He’s aware of her resting against him and her murmured wishes are met with a fond, if tender, smile. “You’re not alone in that though,” he murmurs back, with a quiet scoff. “But I guess we have to be good, hmm? One rule breaking activity at a time, here!” he teases. Not that their current ‘activity’ is really breaking any rule! “Once you do get your ground weyr, I’ll be sure to visit. Maybe bring a little… gift, or something.” Does he have something up his sleeve? Maybe. He doesn’t have a chance to elaborate, only to grin at her before they’re stepping back into the Infirmary and several Healers are already zeroing in on them. “Uh oh. Welcoming party…” Va’os stage-whispers by Rielle’s ear, barely able to contain his snickering. Privately, in a lower voice he adds, just for her: “Try not to go too stir crazy, eh?” Which is just Va’os’ way of saying ‘I love you’ and ‘I should go’.

Rielle lifts a gently angled brow at the mention of a gift. “Well, now you have me curious.” Then the approaching Healers come into view, and she rolls her eyes. “Oh leave off; he’s putting me back where he found me,” she grumbles when they come near. “See? I’m fine.” She sits pointedly on her cot when they reach it, moving around easily enough, though she’s setting her jaw against the twinges in her ribs so that she doesn’t noticeably wince. With a sigh, she looks up at Va’os once more and nods. “I’ll do my best. It’ll be easier now.” Seeing Obhaeroth and getting to be with the bronzerider whenever he has a moment to spare helps to keep her grounded. Sitting a bit straighter, she lifts a hand to his cheek and kisses him gently, a whisper of, “I love you,” uttered against his lips before she relaxes and settles back, resigned to her fate for the evening but much more settled about it now.