I think I can manage being collateral damage
Everest followed Tal’s glance toward the Peregrine, adjusting the crate’s angle slightly to avoid scuffing the gangplank. He moved in tandem with the courier easily—without needing to speak, his instincts filling in the gaps. It was rare to find someone else who knew how to move like this. Efficient. Practical. Focused. There was something quietly satisfying about it.
As Tal spoke, Ever’s expression didn’t shift much, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes at the mention of his father's name. "He’s not with the council anymore," Everest replied evenly, setting down the crate and straightening with a soft exhale. "Hasn’t been since Cian’s time, actually." The words were carefully chosen—not defensive, not evasive, just… true. "He’s still around, just not in that particular uniform."
He reached up to brush some imagined dust from his sleeve, something precise and absent all at once, before his mouth twitched faintly. "And yes—La Verbena." A slight nod, a touch of warmth brightening his blue eyes. "I fly her for Mateo from time to time." He paused, then glanced sidelong at Tal. "She's a bit temperamental, but she was built by Remi and Mateo years ago and I've been banned from making any changes to her design over the years, so.." He shrugs.
As Tal spoke, Ever’s expression didn’t shift much, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes at the mention of his father's name. "He’s not with the council anymore," Everest replied evenly, setting down the crate and straightening with a soft exhale. "Hasn’t been since Cian’s time, actually." The words were carefully chosen—not defensive, not evasive, just… true. "He’s still around, just not in that particular uniform."
He reached up to brush some imagined dust from his sleeve, something precise and absent all at once, before his mouth twitched faintly. "And yes—La Verbena." A slight nod, a touch of warmth brightening his blue eyes. "I fly her for Mateo from time to time." He paused, then glanced sidelong at Tal. "She's a bit temperamental, but she was built by Remi and Mateo years ago and I've been banned from making any changes to her design over the years, so.." He shrugs.
.
