champagne, cocaine, gasoline; and most things in between
Operational. Manageable. All words that mean something and nothing, depending on the context and the recipient, and Mateo certainly doesn’t miss it. Even so, he maintains his pace with Ever as they set off again into the Celestine, where the enclosures are blessedly quiet and empty, as are the majority of the pathways. Glancing to the side as his friend speaks again, the botanist taking deep and measured breaths, he can’t help the way his eyebrows flinch together, though the odds are good that Ever won’t even see it.
”I do not consider you a problem at all,” he tells him earnestly. ”But you are my oldest and best friend and I want you to be happy and comfortable. If you were able to say that you were and for me to mind my own business, I would, but… that is not the case. And I can do something about it, so I am. I want to.”
Falling quiet so as to give himself a chance to get his breath back, Mateo listens quietly to the things Ever does say, and what he doesn’t. ”You are welcome, Ever. And for what it is worth, you do not need to try to be anything but who you are around me. We grew up together. I know you.” He smiles.
”I do not consider you a problem at all,” he tells him earnestly. ”But you are my oldest and best friend and I want you to be happy and comfortable. If you were able to say that you were and for me to mind my own business, I would, but… that is not the case. And I can do something about it, so I am. I want to.”
Falling quiet so as to give himself a chance to get his breath back, Mateo listens quietly to the things Ever does say, and what he doesn’t. ”You are welcome, Ever. And for what it is worth, you do not need to try to be anything but who you are around me. We grew up together. I know you.” He smiles.
