I will not be great, but I'm grateful to get through
Everest nods at that, following her line of thought easily. "There are many benefits to early swimming," he says, matter-of-fact as he reaches for the kettle. "Infants also possess reflexes that assist with buoyancy and breath control. They are, statistically, quite difficult to drown when properly supervised."
His gaze lingers a moment on Fern, softening at the sight of her settled so completely against Isla. At her teasing, he lets out a quiet chuckle and lifts one shoulder in a small shrug. [asy]"Alas, Mateo inherited a skyship rather than a workshop."
The surprise at her excitement is subtle but present, his brows lifting just slightly before easing again. He leans into her for a brief second longer, grounding himself in the closeness, before stepping away to finish the tea. Water pours, leaves steep, and over his shoulder, he answers her question, tone thoughtful but steady. "It has been overwhelming," he admits, without hesitation. "But not nearly as unmanageable as I anticipated."
He glances back briefly, then returns to the task, watching the colour of the tea deepen. "In fact, it has been quite manageable," he continues. "The variables are unpredictable, but they are predictably unpredictable. There is a pattern to her disruption." A faint hint of dry humour threads through his voice. "So I have not found myself particularly distressed by the lack of sleep, or the sudden alterations to her schedule." Only to when she disappeared from her crib.
He lifts the mugs, turning back toward her fully now. "It is... a system I can adapt to. One I find that I like more and more."
His gaze lingers a moment on Fern, softening at the sight of her settled so completely against Isla. At her teasing, he lets out a quiet chuckle and lifts one shoulder in a small shrug. [asy]"Alas, Mateo inherited a skyship rather than a workshop."
The surprise at her excitement is subtle but present, his brows lifting just slightly before easing again. He leans into her for a brief second longer, grounding himself in the closeness, before stepping away to finish the tea. Water pours, leaves steep, and over his shoulder, he answers her question, tone thoughtful but steady. "It has been overwhelming," he admits, without hesitation. "But not nearly as unmanageable as I anticipated."
He glances back briefly, then returns to the task, watching the colour of the tea deepen. "In fact, it has been quite manageable," he continues. "The variables are unpredictable, but they are predictably unpredictable. There is a pattern to her disruption." A faint hint of dry humour threads through his voice. "So I have not found myself particularly distressed by the lack of sleep, or the sudden alterations to her schedule." Only to when she disappeared from her crib.
He lifts the mugs, turning back toward her fully now. "It is... a system I can adapt to. One I find that I like more and more."
