A flash of blue from the corner of their eye caught Ever’s attention, and they jumped off the crate, walking over to where a set of blueprints sat. ‘Talk about lucky.’ Flipping through them, Ever dragged her fingers over the diagram of the engine, brows furrowing slightly. It almost looked like a coal-based engine, similar to the kind used in locomotives in the 30s and the occasional blimp. “Fascinating.” Ever reached up, running their chin. “I wonder if this is a standard combustion engine or does it run on the heat produced by the burnt coal?” 

“I could tell you the answer, or I could let you keep snooping.” Ever looked up to see the source of the voice was a scraggly looking boy with a gap in his teeth and clouded, dirty goggles. “You’re Tes’s friend, right?” 

Ever returned their attention to the paper, flipping it to a more detailed diagram of a different engine. “You could call me that…” Ever ignored the boy as they spread their fingers across the slightly crumpled blueprint. 

“So, do you need help or not?” There was clear agitation in his words.

Ever looked up, a frown pulling at their lips. “Do I look like I need help?” 

“You know what? Forget I said anything.” The boy gave a half-wave, leaving Ever alone once more. They took in the diagram of the plane engine. 

“So, it actually runs on a kerosene-based fuel, not coal or steam. Interesting.” Ever reached up, running their fingers through their hair. “I wonder what percent of alcohol is used in the fuel?” Tilting their head to the side. ‘It seems to be piston based, so it might use a higher lead-based fuel.’ Ever awkwardly rubbed their chin, letting out a hum, knitting their brows together in concentration. 

A hand on their shoulder caused Ever to jerk back to reality, turning sharply to see Tesla standing behind them. “Ya good there, Ever?” The pilot raised a brow at them. “You looked a lil’ out of it.” 

“Yeah. I’m fine.” Ever ran a hand through their hair. “Was just…thinking.” 

“Nothing bad, I hope.” 

“Nothing bad. Just…thinking is all.”

“Okay, if ya say so.” Tesla shrugged. “Are you ready to go?”

“You’re ready?” 

“Yup.” Tesla puffed out her chest, popping the ‘p’ on the word. “I’m ready when you are!” 

“Then let's get going.” Ever brushed past Tesla, glancing over their shoulder with a smile. “We’re losing daylight.” 

The sound of Tesla jogging after them, coming to walk in time with the slightly shorter person. They spent the walk with Tesla talking their ear off about her day while Ever nodded along. Not quite listening, but also not exactly ignoring her. “And so like, I don’ get why they wanted me ta–” Tesla stopped abruptly. “Hey. Are ya listenin’ to me?” 

“Huh?” Ever jerked their head toward Tesla, taking half a second to process what their companion had said. “Oh yeah. Totally.”

“You totally weren’t!” Tesla pouted, crossing her arms over her chest, turning her head away.

Ever groaned. “I’m sorry. What were you saying?” 

“No. You don’t get to know what I’m talking about. That’s what you get for being rude.” 

Ever rolled their eyes, shrugging. “That’s fine. You do you.” They approached the airship station, Tesla eventually broke her self-imposed silence and continued to talk their ear off. As they walked up the steps that lead up to the airship landing, Ever’s ankle began to throb, causing them to lean against the railing. Talking as much pressure as possible off it as they waited for the throbbing pain to subside. 

“Are ya okay?” Tesla asked, coming to a stop next to them.

“Yeah, I just need to take a breather. My ankle is killing me.” Ever mumbled as they rubbed their ankle. Tesla glanced between Ever and the top of the stairs, looking like she was considering something. “Okay. I think I’m good.” They pushed themselves up with a groan, forcing themselves forward and up the stairs. Coming to s stop on the landing, Ever stumbled slightly, arms waving wildly as they tried, and failed, to catch their balance. 

“Woah there,” Tesla’s hands on their shoulders steadied them as she pushed Ever back onto their feet. “That was close.” Tesla laughed into their ear as she stepped up onto the landing, giving them a concerned side-eye. 

“...Thanks,” 

“Eastbound ship leaving in five! Eastbound ship is leaving in five!” 

“And that's our cue to book it!” Tesla smirked as she began running across the platform, Ever hot on her heels, pushing themselves through the crowd. They bobbed and weaved through the people who were both coming and going from the small industrial town of Angel Falls.  

Ever broke through the crowd, jogging after Tesla, just barely managing to step onto the airship before the doors closed. Breath coming in gasps, they watched as Tesla dropped two copper coins into the payment receptacle and Ever slipped in behind her, stumbling slightly they collapsed into the seat next to her. 

Ever looked over their shoulder as they started to rise into the sky. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this.’ 

The smile that pulled at their lips didn't go unnoticed as Tesla leaned back, stretching her arms along the back of the seat. “So, have you decided where you wanna work?”

“I think…Cogsworth would be an interesting place to work.” 

“Yeah? Ya think so?” Tesla tilted her head toward Ever, looking like she was actually interested, which made them feel a little bad about ignoring them earlier. 

“I do. I’ve always been fascinated with how things worked. I used to take apart car engines when I had the time.” 

“Do ya think ya could fix a biplane?” Tesla hummed slightly.

“I’m not sure, but I’d love to try.” Ever bounced slightly as the airship hit a bout of turbulence. “I’d love to see what makes one work.” 

“I might be able to arrange that…” Tesla spoke slowly, rubbing the back of her neck and Ever whipped their head toward Tesla, neck painfully cracking with the motion. 

“You could!?” They couldn’t contain their excitement at the prospect. 

“Well, I do work at an aeronautics company, so yeah, probably.” Tesla shrugged, leaning back, crossing her leg over her knee. 

“If you do that, I’ll owe you big time.” 

“Ya could say you’d owe me an’ arm an’ a leg.” Tesla could barely get through the sentence before breaking into a full-stomach laugh. 

Ever wasn’t amused, giving a deadpan stare and raised brow. “Really?” 

“Sorry. Is that offensive?” Tesla spoke, laughing slightly. 

Ever looked down at their prosthetic left arm and right foot. “Maybe a little, but I won’t hold a grudge.” 

“Well, for that, I am thankful.” Tesla gave a mock bow, hand pressed to her chest. “You have my gratitude.” She spoke, obviously trying not to let her accent slip through, but Ever could still hear twinges of it eking through. Ever couldn’t keep the chuckle that bubbled up in their chest from escaping, and they reached up, covering their mouth.

“Next stop, Liberty Station! Next stop, Liberty Station!” The conductor called and Ever stood up along with many of the other passengers. The airship slid roughly into the dock, causing them to stumble backward into a pair of strong arms, the smell of motor oil filling their nostrils. 

“You’re a bit of a klutz today, huh?” Tesla laughed, chest vibrating against Ever’s cheek. They quickly disengaged themselves from the pilot's arms, the heat of embarrassment making itself known. 

Ever brushed themselves off, cleaning their throat. “We should get going. Don’t want to get left behind.” The pair quickly made their way out of the airship and on to the platform. They moved with the flow of the crowd from the station and into the street, the crowd slowly thinned and Tesla’s shoulder brushed up against Ever’s causing them to look up at her. 

They walked in time with one another, moving through town back toward the part of Liberty where Cogsworth’s ship was located. Ever stepped onto the front porch, reaching to open the door, only to stop when the sound of light singing hit their ears. They turned around, narrowing their eyes toward where they’d thought the sound was coming from. 

“Is something wrong? Tesla leaned into their field of view, lips turned down lightly. 

“Do you hear that singing?” 

“What singing?” Tesla followed Ever’s line of sight. “I don’t hear anything.” 

“I…must be hearing things.” An uneasy tension settled over their shoulders as they stepped inside the cogsmith, the sound of ticking clocks and grinding gears a welcome distraction. 

“Hello~” Tesla sang as the door slammed closed behind them. “We’re here for Ever’s permanents.” 

A head peeked out from a back room, the eponymous Cogsworth stepping out and adjusting his glasses. “Ah. Good. Good. Let me go get them for you.” Ever and Tesla exchanged looks as Cogsworth disappeared once more. The drifter moved to lean against the counter, crossing their arms over their chest. Tesla kicked the floor, scuffing the tip of her boot against it. “Ah! Found them!” Cogsworth cried from the backroom, scurrying back to where the pair stood. Ever pushed themselves up off the counter, just as he placed the dark oak box on it. “I think you’ll like these.” He opened the box to reveal brand new, much sleeker-looking prosthetics. 

No more exposed wires or gears, instead it had copper plates screwed into its front and the fingers were made of individual joints connected with a ball joint at the hand. Pushing up their sleeve, Ever twisted their arm off, a twinge of pain shooting through it, but it quickly faded. Grabbing the arm, they attached it, rolling their shoulder, and flexing their fingers. “So, how does it feel?” 

“It moves better than the old one.” 

“Good. Good.” He adjusted his glasses. “Try the foot on.” Ever turned their attention to the foot, which like the arm looked similar but with no more exposed wires and a slightly more angular design. They picked it up, noticing the ball joint near the top, similar to the one that connected the hand to their arm. Turning it upside down, Ever noticed the rubber bottom, meant to add some extra grip. Leaning back against the counter, they replaced the prosthetic giving it a short test drive, walking across the small shop. “How does it work?” 

“It works great.” Ever jumped, a smile pulling at their lips as they found they were able to bend their foot in a way they weren’t before. “So much better than before.” Ever stretched their arms over their head, groaning as the metal creaked slightly. 

“Well, then you're good to go. If you need any adjustments, you know where to find me.” Cogsworth spoke as she closed the box. 

“Actually, I had a question for you.” 

“Oh?” He adjusted his grip on the box, holding it close to his chest. 

“I’ve been looking for a job, and I was wondering if you were hiring?” 

He hummed, setting the box down, and tapped his chin. “I’ll admit that as I’ve gotten older, I could use more help around the shop. Do you have any experience in cogsmithing?” 

“Not really, but I’ve always been mechanically inclined.” Ever chuckled slightly, shoulders bouncing with the sound. 

“I really could use the help.” Cogsworth hummed. “If you’d like, we could discuss the terms of an apprenticeship. Do you have time for that?” 

Ever glanced at Tesla, who shrugged. “Do you have anything you need to do?” 

“Kinda, but I’ll just give ya the money for the airship fare. Sound good?” 

“Yeah. That sounds fine with me.” Ever held out their hand, in which Tesla dropped a single copper coin. “Thanks.” Dropping the coin in their pocket, Ever let a small smile pull at their lips. “I’ll see you back at the boarding house.” 

Tesla gave a half-wave. “Yeah. I’ll see ya.”

Ever watched as Tesla left before turning to look at the cogsmith. “So, let's discuss.” 

X x x x x X

A few hours had passed before Ever stepped out into the late afternoon sun, squinting against it. “And remember you start bright and early tomorrow!” Cogsworth spoke from the doorway, causing Ever to turn to look at him. 

Ever gave a half-hearted salute before speaking. “Of course, Sir. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” And with that Ever began leisurely making their way back toward Liberty Station, ready to head home and give Tesla the good news.