"Well, yes, we were - expecting to -

- damn it, this isn't even surprising in retrospect, we're so far apart -"

"He said that too. Said maybe it was about touching, actually, being partially inside each other's shields. ...I'm sorry. This really isn't great, is it." 

"I could try sleeping in your bed? - that's probably both unwelcome and logistically complicated -"

Shavri giggles and then immediately claps a hand over her mouth. 

Vanyel turns crimson. "I. Um. That would be extremely weird as I'm sure you're aware, but - I mean, if Leareth wouldn't mind, which it doesn't seem like the sort of thing that'd bother him, I would feel bad about not helping you with that?" 

"We haven't extensively discussed whether we are allowed to sleep in third parties' beds within the terms of our relationship but I'm pretty sure it'd bother him dramatically less than not getting to see me, if it bothered him at all. But like, it's a pretty big ask of you and it would take weeks to even find out if it would work."

"That's true, it wouldn't just be one night. Hmm, that makes it kind of a worse idea because I have nightmares a lot, especially right now, and if we're both sleeping badly I think we'd just make it even worse for each other." 

She nods, biting her lip. "Well. Who knows. Maybe soon somebody'll - figure out how to blow up the moon."

"Huh?" 

"Stand-in for coming up with a replacement for the 'invade Valdemar' step of the secret plan that I made up for quick reference when I was talking to Savil."

"Interesting. I guess that's a helpful thing to have, to talk about hypotheticals." He yawns. "Sorry. Oh, by the way, I've been un-uninvited from meetings! Although I think I might not be at the first one today because Tran will be there and we, er, don't do well in the same room right now." 

"He doesn't like me either but I suppose he wouldn't care to be skipping all the meetings I'm in."

Bitter chuckle. "No. Anyway, er, did you at least sleep a bit better last night?" 

"Not great but better, yeah, thank you."

"Mmm, that's good. Anyway, sorry for barging in on you like that - I almost told you in the middle of the night but Yfandes thought you probably wouldn't thank me for that." 

"I would have said 'thank you' but objectively it wouldn't have done me any good. Thank you for telling me now."

"You're welcome. Er, I did take notes on the conversation - it wasn't that useful a conversation, Leareth was so distracted - but I can make you a copy and bring it when I see you later today?" 

"I'd appreciate that."

"Will do. I'll see you later." He heads out. 

Belrun hugs her dad. She looks at the various littlest bits of her own blood and draws their shapes; she's not sure when she'll be interrupted and unlike a random other organism she'd have to stop looking at and lose forever, she can always look at blood again and eventually find a similar part to finish observing whatever she was looking at.

And a while later Herald-Trainee Dara shows up to collect her. "We're having a meeting with me, Savil, Katha, and Tantras, and afterward you'll meet with Vanyel and some other set of people." 

"Okay. Thank you." Belrun follows her.

Tantras is sitting in the meeting-room waiting for them. He doesn't look hostile the way he did before, though he also avoids looking directly at Belrun. 

Savil looks like someone who didn't sleep especially well. "Come on in. We don't have that much of an agenda for today but I think Dara had some ideas? You should start with anything that's come up in the interim, though." 

"Vanyel had a dream with Leareth and - I didn't - so there's that - I don't think it impinges directly but if I am in a conspicuously bad mood that's why."