"Oh, sorry, hon," Vlad said, placing his glasses on top of his head. "Teige's place is pretty close to the Assembly hall, and the vote just came down--R.I.T. has passed. Finally."

Hawk looked up in surprise, as he pulled the thin blanket off. "Whah--really?! I--I slept through it??"

"Wull, you lost a lot a' blood, an'--" Liya began, as Hawk rose too fast and staggered under a sudden dizzy spell. Immediately she was under his wing, pushing him upright, scolding, "Get up slower, jeez!"

He let her practically hold him up, mumbling, "Thanks, Liya."

"You wanna see out?" she said, guiding him towards the bay window.

"Yeah."

She helped him sit down in her spot on the window seat, where he sagged sideways against the windowpane.

"I'm gonna go see if Teige's got somethin' to eat," Liya told him. "An' water, too. Uhm--"

She hesitated, and then hugged him around the neck, murmuring in an almost embarrassed tone, "Be right back."

"Aw, I ain't goin' anywhere, Liya," he assured her, grinning a bit.

When she'd left, Vlad looked up from his phone and remarked wryly, "I think she might have some trouble letting you out of her sight for a little bit."

"Yeah, maybe," Hawk admitted, glancing out of the window.