he's such a prude though

[if_at_first]

Sylvi settles in very thoroughly. She makes a point of going out on her wooden horse and wandering the city every day or two, even if she has no specific errand to run (although she does also place orders for lenses and very fine-tipped pens and new notebooks). She hugs Avedan when he has bad dreams and he hugs her when she does, if they successfully wake one another despite the long pillow between them on the bed. And she plows through piles and piles of old notes, and condenses her childhood for inclusion in the same library for future 'bels.

As of this moment she is up to her specialization in shines. Write write write.

Comments

[if_at_first]

"Love you."

[do_over]

"And I, you. Always."

[if_at_first]

"Mmm."

That was really a lot of conversation for her these days, let alone for the middle of the night.

[do_over]

It was. Aydanci just - hopes that means there's improvement, even if she doesn't feel it.

[if_at_first]

Well.

For the time being, Aly is still breathing.

[do_over]

That's all Aydanci can really ask for.

(No it isn't. He wants her to live, he wants her to get better, he wants her to live until she's ninety, and then keep going.)

[if_at_first]

Sylvi finally manages to wake up, gasping, scrubbing tears from her face, shaking from head to toe.

She unceremoniously flings herself at Avedan.

[do_over]

Avedan is asleep, and then he is surprised!

"Mmhr?" he mumbles. But he hugs her back (out of reflex), blinking blearily.

[if_at_first]

"Pox dream. One of Aly's close calls."

Squeeze.

[do_over]

Blink, blink.

Hair pet.

"M'sorry."

[if_at_first]

Snuggle. Sylvi knows better than to expect overwhelming coherence from him in the middle of the night.

[do_over]

That's a safe bet. But even without being completely coherent, he's perfectly capable of snuggles. Behold, how he can snuggle.

(Snuggle, snuggle.)

[if_at_first]

Snuggles are a vitally important function.

"Sorry for waking you."

[do_over]

"S'fine, you needed me," he mumbles, nuzzling a little.

[if_at_first]

Nuzzle.

"...Sorry I died. When you didn't know it was even possible I'd come back."

[do_over]

"S'fine," he repeats. Pause. "... The death wasn' - the - you came back. Eventually."

[if_at_first]

"Not without leaving you grieving for eighteen years."

[do_over]

"You came back," he repeats. "'nd I made the pox go 'way. Sucked, but - s'not your fault."

[if_at_first]

"I haven't dreamed her dying yet but - I decided to start breathing again when you asked me - and I still don't know if I decided not to, the last time."

[do_over]

"You were in pain."

[if_at_first]

"And I wasn't getting better, I know, I know, but I did want to stay for you."

[do_over]

"Shh, s'okay. I'm not - upset, there's - I don't think there's 'nything to forgive?"

(Aydanci - he, he was being selfish, anyway.)

[if_at_first]

"Mmhm."

Snuggle.



"I love you."

[do_over]

Blink, blink.

"Love you, too."

[if_at_first]

"Always, always."

Snuggle.