:I mean, everything, more or less. I don't see them unless I go looking, that's pretty strange compared to what I'm used to in places with more than one sentient species around. People usually want to be involved in things, not just know about them.:

:Huh! I hadn't thought about it that way. Yfandes is so involved in my life, but – I guess the Companions sort of keep to themselves, when they're not with their Heralds: 

:Yeah. And I might want to talk to them sometimes, but I don't want to bother them if they're doing that for a reason. I guess I can just ask them about it sometime, but if there's ways it's more normal to talk to them, or less normal, that'd be good to know.:

:Hmm. Companions don't usually talk to anyone except each other and their Heralds. But Yfandes has already ignored that sometimes. She doesn't mind talking to you. if the others didn't seem to mind then it's probably fine?: 

:I guess I can work with that. How are you feeling?:

:...Little better, actually. Could walk longer. Um, if you think that's a good idea: 

:You'll sleep better if you're tired out a little more, yeah. Is there anything interesting to look at nearby?:

The river is pretty but– Vanyel flinches, no, on reflection he doesn't want to go there even with Deskyl and her calming effect nearby. :There's a nice decorative rose garden this way: 

The calming effect ramps up a bit, and she follows. :Who takes care of the roses?:

:Um, there are gardeners who work here...: 

Vanyel keeps walking, occasionally swaying closer to Deskyl so he can sort of lean on her. He can keep conversation going on a given topic for about a minute at a time before running out of words and ending up lost in thought. Well, not thought so much as calm-muted grief and emptiness. 

She doesn't hesitate to touch him, brief hugs and handsqueezes that don't interfere with walking, and keeps distracting him whenever he reaches the end of a topic, with questions or observations or stories about things she's seen and places she's been, and keeps an eye on how tired he is.

The walk does seem to be doing him good. He's starting to flag by their second pass around the rose garden though. 

She gives him another squeeze and steers them back toward his rooms, still talking about what a double-star sunset looks like.

It sounds beautiful. Vanyel tries to picture it, finds himself smiling despite his exhaustion. 

She gives him another hug when they get back to his apartment. :Go on in, I want to stay out here and watch the sunset for a little while.:

:Of course: Vanyel heads in. He manages to at least get his boots off before flopping down on his bed. 

When he's asleep, she reaches out to Yfandes. :Hey.:

:...Deskyl? Is everything all right? I thought Van just went to sleep...: 

:Yeah, everything's fine. I'll leave you alone if you'd rather but it might be a good idea for us to talk logistics sometimes.:

:No, no, of course - now's a fine time to talk, I need a lot less sleep than Van so I don't usually go to bed until later: 

:That's convenient. I don't know what sleep schedule I'll end up on when I'm awake more than half the day, but hopefully later hours, I prefer them. Anyway, two things - do feel free to wake me if he needs calming, for one, and - I guess the question to ask is how much the extra sleep is helping, whether he'll catch up sometime soon or, if not, how bad it'll be for him to go without the help for a couple of days.:

:It's definitely helping: Yfandes is making her way to Deskyl's position now, her white form glimmering in the twilight. :But, I mean, he managed for an entire year and a half, before now. He'll survive. Why?: 

:I'm not recovering as fast as I should be - not because of this, because I keep running into things I want to do and doing them instead of sleeping. And I can hibernate for a couple of days and get it over with, but that's all or nothing, if I do it I'm out 'till I'm done.:

:Huh! Er, and how long would you need otherwise? I guess you're saying you don't know, because other things might keep coming up?: 

:Yeah. I was hoping for a few weeks but it might be a few months at this rate. Faster if I get stricter about it, but I'd rather just get started on things.: