I think I can manage being collateral damage
Everest welcomed Isla into his arms, his hands smoothing over the familiar curves of her waist as he brushed the smallest errant curl away from her pebble blue eyes. His gaze, bright and intent, softened as he beamed down at her, something warm and unguarded slipping into his expression. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss against her forehead; soft, tender, something unspoken he'd hope would weave between them even as the murmur of the party rippled around them, hoping for that brief moment, he might make her feel like she was the only thing in his world.
Then, a shift in energy—a wave of greeting, a call of surprise!, a flurry of movement—signalled the arrival of Astaroth. Ever turned slightly, offering a polite smile toward the guest of honour despite not knowing him. It was Danta, standing near the entrance with his signature flair, who briefly caught Ever’s attention if only because of their time spent together in the brothel. But that felt like a lifetime ago, and quickly his focus returned, inevitably, to Isla.
"I flew in this afternoon," he answered, his voice pitched just for her as he tucked her against his side. "Once I heard about Asta’s party—and that you had received an invitation—I offered to pilot the first skyship heading this way." His fingers traced absent patterns against the small of her back as if to reacquaint himself with the feel of her. "I hope you don’t mind," he added quickly. "But I couldn’t go another day without seeing you. And since I didn’t want to interrupt your work, this seemed like the perfect opportunity."
Then, a shift in energy—a wave of greeting, a call of surprise!, a flurry of movement—signalled the arrival of Astaroth. Ever turned slightly, offering a polite smile toward the guest of honour despite not knowing him. It was Danta, standing near the entrance with his signature flair, who briefly caught Ever’s attention if only because of their time spent together in the brothel. But that felt like a lifetime ago, and quickly his focus returned, inevitably, to Isla.
"I flew in this afternoon," he answered, his voice pitched just for her as he tucked her against his side. "Once I heard about Asta’s party—and that you had received an invitation—I offered to pilot the first skyship heading this way." His fingers traced absent patterns against the small of her back as if to reacquaint himself with the feel of her. "I hope you don’t mind," he added quickly. "But I couldn’t go another day without seeing you. And since I didn’t want to interrupt your work, this seemed like the perfect opportunity."
Even if I had to lose you to know you I'd still be that temporary phase that you grow through
