Mateo
champagne, cocaine, gasoline
and most things in between
and most things in between
Everest is in no state to realise this, but he really doesn't draw all that much attention as he passes through the throngs of people out of the skyship and down into the port. Luckily, Mateo knows exactly what to look for, and he zones in on the aviator the moment he recognises his too-straight posture and messy curls. Tossing the remainder of his coffee away and straightening up, Ever stops a few paces short of where the botanist would prefer him to be, and the smile he gives his friend is as apologetic as it is knowing.
"Hi," he says in a voice made rough by a good night and bad sleep. "Sorry about all this." All this not just being the circumstances, of course, but the way Mateo steps forward to wrap his arms around his friend to hug him tightly. "I know," he's already saying. "It is too much, and your clothes probably feel all wrong, and there is a new stall selling food I have never heard of, and the smell is different. I know."
Stepping back just enough to squeeze Ever's shoulders, he holds his hand out expectantly for the bag. "We will go to La Verbena, and then we will go to your place once everything is not so loud. Or to your parents' place. Wherever you like," he says. "Come on." Ushering him forward, Mateo is luckily well versed in creating space where there shouldn't be any, and they will be largely unmolested as they head to his little schooner.
"Hi," he says in a voice made rough by a good night and bad sleep. "Sorry about all this." All this not just being the circumstances, of course, but the way Mateo steps forward to wrap his arms around his friend to hug him tightly. "I know," he's already saying. "It is too much, and your clothes probably feel all wrong, and there is a new stall selling food I have never heard of, and the smell is different. I know."
Stepping back just enough to squeeze Ever's shoulders, he holds his hand out expectantly for the bag. "We will go to La Verbena, and then we will go to your place once everything is not so loud. Or to your parents' place. Wherever you like," he says. "Come on." Ushering him forward, Mateo is luckily well versed in creating space where there shouldn't be any, and they will be largely unmolested as they head to his little schooner.
I roam the city in a shopping cart
a pack of Camels and a smoke alarm
a pack of Camels and a smoke alarm
