I think I can manage being collateral damage
Everest recognized Liam’s voice before his face. It wasn’t intentional—just a byproduct of a mind that cataloged details whether he wanted it to or not. Tone. Cadence. Familiarity. It slotted neatly into place even before he turned, pocketing his pocket watch with a smooth motion before meeting the other man’s gaze.
"Liam." The greeting was crisp, polite, though Ever’s fingers flexed slightly around the tea he wasn’t drinking. His mind was still caught in timelines, delays, recalibrations, but he shifted, adjusting his posture into something more conversational; something he'd likely not have been capable of doing when the pair last met, pre-infection. "It has been a while," he agreed, dipping his head in acknowledgment. "And I’ve been—" different, changed, altered at the fundamental level of my being "—busy." A small, precise pause. "Flying mostly."
He tilted his head slightly, gaze flicking over Liam in quick assessment. He looked—well. Not bad, not particularly good either. Wary. On edge. Then again, who wasn’t, these days? "Didn’t expect to see you here," Ever noted, tone more observational than surprised. "Just passing through, or do you have business in Stormbreak?" It had been a while since the former-dragoon had been a regular in the flying city, at least from what Ever could recall.
"Liam." The greeting was crisp, polite, though Ever’s fingers flexed slightly around the tea he wasn’t drinking. His mind was still caught in timelines, delays, recalibrations, but he shifted, adjusting his posture into something more conversational; something he'd likely not have been capable of doing when the pair last met, pre-infection. "It has been a while," he agreed, dipping his head in acknowledgment. "And I’ve been—" different, changed, altered at the fundamental level of my being "—busy." A small, precise pause. "Flying mostly."
He tilted his head slightly, gaze flicking over Liam in quick assessment. He looked—well. Not bad, not particularly good either. Wary. On edge. Then again, who wasn’t, these days? "Didn’t expect to see you here," Ever noted, tone more observational than surprised. "Just passing through, or do you have business in Stormbreak?" It had been a while since the former-dragoon had been a regular in the flying city, at least from what Ever could recall.
Even if I had to lose you to know you I'd still be that temporary phase that you grow through
