Re: [Gala, Capital: Burden & Damian]
The sign of the cross, though it was done as contrition intended in earnestness, earned a smile from Damian. He had an image in his mind of Burden, engaging in that which he ought not—for example, with the 'girls' he had mentioned, upon the island—employing this ritual blessing with every thrust. It was not reality, Damian was certain, but it was amusing in its hyperbole. He laughed quietly, even as he'd spectated the perusal and scrutiny of Burden's pale gaze upon velvet-clad leg. "You are welcome," the man replied with the same crystal of amusement seeded in his tone. He smiled once more, as if it were all but a joke between them. "I am communicating effectively."
As stated, of course, Damian's amusement waned as sincerity waxed. While the unexpected earnestness was incredibly stupid, strategically, it was what was elicited from Damian. He saw the brief spark of surprise upon Burden's face, pretty as it was, then, he was no longer thinking upon it. The boy was saying it was not simply his impending priesthood that derailed him from Audrey as an object of affection and/or romance and/or sexual interest, and Damian required a moment to digest this news. He had been certain of his perspective, but he did not detect deception in the boy Burden's honey-warm tone.—More unforeseen than the rest of it combined was the impact left upon Damian as Burden peered so stalwartly at him and uttered his utterance. "Oh," Damian said. Burden was not gay.
Though he had, at this point, disembarked the counter, Damian was now less immediately eager to leave. He had only intended to do so, so he might enact his plan. The plan, however, was rendered suddenly moot. Burden had taken hold of Damian's sleeve. Damian allowed it as an anchor, as an ache. "You mean me." He paused. "You are not gay," he informed Burden once more, with confusion a crown upon his face. As in, 'yes, I take your meaning, but the meaning is not founded in reality as I know it.' Green gaze gaped from the boy to the open door, to the boy, and back. Damian did not move. He felt, unfortunately, emotional, and he did not doubt color was climbing in his cheeks. His mind seemed unable to find a foothold in any solid thought. He blinked. "You mean me?"