There is laughter and there is light in Halo's eternal winter, and in spite of what he had given up, Evie's friendship and genuine gladness at seeing him was a welcome reminder of all that he still had. They had known each other for nearly as long as he had possessed water manipulation, and between the two he would far rather have her in his life than any mere magic.
The hug was returned with a long arm around her shoulders and an affectionate squeeze that might surprise those who did not know him as well as she did. "I am glad," he rumbled as she pulled away, and his emerald eyes were clear and bright at her assurance.
There was mischief in her smile, however, and the Tidebreaker waited, relaxed and content, patient as the sea for her news that was surely something good with how she barely held in her excitement. "Oh?" He started, head only beginning to tilt in curiosity before she opened the protective parka and revealed a belly round as the full moon. His eyes widened in surprise and he did not try to stop them; not with Evie, who he had long since ceased guarding himself around. "Indeed!" The exclamation was short and shocked, but after a moment he shook his head as a broad smile slowly spread from cheek to cheek, the news sinking in and becoming real. "Evie... congratulations! This is wonderful!"
He had spent hours considering the words with which to reveal his own state to her. Days aboard the airship, imagining how it would play out. Now, however, he cast all his plans away. There was a time for teasing and a time for games, but this was now a day of celebration and sincerity. The mermanta's tail split as he gathered it out of the water and pulled it beneath him, dark scales shifting to dark leather that sparkled with hand-stitched stars as he rose on bare feet so that he could wrap his arms - gently, so very gently - around his friend and her precious cargo. "Congratulations," he said again, the whisper filled with deep affection and joy in equal measure.
The hug was returned with a long arm around her shoulders and an affectionate squeeze that might surprise those who did not know him as well as she did. "I am glad," he rumbled as she pulled away, and his emerald eyes were clear and bright at her assurance.
There was mischief in her smile, however, and the Tidebreaker waited, relaxed and content, patient as the sea for her news that was surely something good with how she barely held in her excitement. "Oh?" He started, head only beginning to tilt in curiosity before she opened the protective parka and revealed a belly round as the full moon. His eyes widened in surprise and he did not try to stop them; not with Evie, who he had long since ceased guarding himself around. "Indeed!" The exclamation was short and shocked, but after a moment he shook his head as a broad smile slowly spread from cheek to cheek, the news sinking in and becoming real. "Evie... congratulations! This is wonderful!"
He had spent hours considering the words with which to reveal his own state to her. Days aboard the airship, imagining how it would play out. Now, however, he cast all his plans away. There was a time for teasing and a time for games, but this was now a day of celebration and sincerity. The mermanta's tail split as he gathered it out of the water and pulled it beneath him, dark scales shifting to dark leather that sparkled with hand-stitched stars as he rose on bare feet so that he could wrap his arms - gently, so very gently - around his friend and her precious cargo. "Congratulations," he said again, the whisper filled with deep affection and joy in equal measure.
