It-- he doesn't want to burden Seto too much with this, and he did mean it when he's mentioned that Seto had helped him. Esteban is going to lose them; these fragile people, these beautiful people that he's met on the train. Butterflies fluttering close to him.
But it's worth it.
If his friends are butterflies, then Esteban will protect the gardens where they can rest their weary wings. He will give them the sunshine that he can, he will give them the beauty that he can. He will give them the joy that he can share, because they are his friends, because they are so bright and beautiful, and Esteban wants them to live, live fully and without regrets.
So even though he sees Snapper, and he knows she wants attention too, he takes a moment to step close to Seto again, and wrap his wings around them both. To lay his head back on his friend's shoulder, and take in the comfort offered again. Because as much as Esteban is thinking about his friends, and their gifts to him...
They also think of him, and his gift to them.
It's... humbling. And bright. And soft. And too many emotions Esteban doesn't know how to untangle. There is light in there. And fear. A smidge of it, at the corners of his mind. But he has them. He has them, and they watch over him, the same way that he watches over them. Pull him along when he starts pulling back.
Gift him with life, and love and joy, and shelter him from pain.
When he draws back, his eyes are red, and there are still tears caught into his eyelashes. But Esteban smiles, grinning brightly, as he picks Snapper up from her trainer's hands.
"Thank you~" It's no less meaningful for how weak it sounds, a gentle sound uncommon from the tall half-elf. It takes him a deep breath before he can turn to Snapper again, all of the joy returning to him, and he nuzzles her softly as he holds her close.
"I get it~ I missed you too, lil' bite~" Warm hands hold her steady as he scratches lightly underneath her chin,
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It-- he doesn't want to burden Seto too much with this, and he did mean it when he's mentioned that Seto had helped him. Esteban is going to lose them; these fragile people, these beautiful people that he's met on the train. Butterflies fluttering close to him.
But it's worth it.
If his friends are butterflies, then Esteban will protect the gardens where they can rest their weary wings. He will give them the sunshine that he can, he will give them the beauty that he can. He will give them the joy that he can share, because they are his friends, because they are so bright and beautiful, and Esteban wants them to live, live fully and without regrets.
So even though he sees Snapper, and he knows she wants attention too, he takes a moment to step close to Seto again, and wrap his wings around them both. To lay his head back on his friend's shoulder, and take in the comfort offered again. Because as much as Esteban is thinking about his friends, and their gifts to him...
They also think of him, and his gift to them.
It's... humbling. And bright. And soft. And too many emotions Esteban doesn't know how to untangle. There is light in there. And fear. A smidge of it, at the corners of his mind. But he has them. He has them, and they watch over him, the same way that he watches over them. Pull him along when he starts pulling back.
Gift him with life, and love and joy, and shelter him from pain.
When he draws back, his eyes are red, and there are still tears caught into his eyelashes. But Esteban smiles, grinning brightly, as he picks Snapper up from her trainer's hands.
"Thank you~" It's no less meaningful for how weak it sounds, a gentle sound uncommon from the tall half-elf. It takes him a deep breath before he can turn to Snapper again, all of the joy returning to him, and he nuzzles her softly as he holds her close.
"I get it~ I missed you too, lil' bite~" Warm hands hold her steady as he scratches lightly underneath her chin,