I think I can manage being collateral damage
Everest hummed softly, a sound halfway between agreement and amusement as Tal described La Verbena as stunning. "She is," he admitted, the corners of his mouth twitching again—this time something closer to a real smile. "Bit like piloting a very determined jungle." There was no frustration in his voice, only fondness. The vines didn’t behave, the wind didn’t always catch her right, and the ship herself seemed to have moods depending on how Mateo had spoken to her last—but Ever wouldn't have traded her for anything else.
At Tal’s sudden realization, the aviator tilted his head slightly, as though watching a particularly delicate equation resolve itself. The progression from frown to blink to sheepish scratching was easy enough to track, and Everest gave a quiet, nearly soundless chuckle in response. "Not so little anymore, no." He let the words hang in the air for a beat. And he’s doing well. At least," he added, eyes flicking briefly upward as if to consider the accuracy of the statement, "as well as anyone can be when half the world is fracturing and everyone’s looking to you to grow miracles out of the dirt." As a botanist, his friend had been asked almost daily if he was capable of growing roses and lilies, and by gods, Mateo had been trying.
"And you?" he asked after a moment, tilting his head slightly toward Tal. "Still based out of Halo?"
At Tal’s sudden realization, the aviator tilted his head slightly, as though watching a particularly delicate equation resolve itself. The progression from frown to blink to sheepish scratching was easy enough to track, and Everest gave a quiet, nearly soundless chuckle in response. "Not so little anymore, no." He let the words hang in the air for a beat. And he’s doing well. At least," he added, eyes flicking briefly upward as if to consider the accuracy of the statement, "as well as anyone can be when half the world is fracturing and everyone’s looking to you to grow miracles out of the dirt." As a botanist, his friend had been asked almost daily if he was capable of growing roses and lilies, and by gods, Mateo had been trying.
"And you?" he asked after a moment, tilting his head slightly toward Tal. "Still based out of Halo?"
.
