Re: [Gala, Capital: Burden & Damian]
Damian would have disagreed with Burden's notion of a perfect world. It would not involve the boy slinking out unseen for his thievery. Instead, the ending of the conversation in the bathroom would have been changed and, perhaps even, the boy would have offered a kiss. A wild fantasy, yes, and one that Damian did not particularly care about, of course. However, if he had to alter the evening, this would be where he began. Reality, per usual, would have to make do. Burden appeared from the confines of the building, and Damian was aware of his being joined before he could espy the boy in his periphery. He peered over, away from the corpse of the cigarette, in time to watch Burden's blue eyes buoy upward from his, Damian's, shoe.
In a perfect world, Burden would be incredibly and objectively hideous. His dimple would render no stirring inside Damian, nor would the boy's low-lidded gaze. Again, reality denied Damian this, and he sighed. Burden was saying that he was nearly out of time, which made his request to go out of doors before Benjamin Coltan all the more about stating something (yes?), and Damian had already agreed to break his jealousy ploy. What use then was there in returning to the gala, alone, to face the man Benjamin Coltan? The man slotted his hands in the deep, heavy pockets of his coat, all that red velvet tucked away under black wool, and he nodded to confirm his participation in this walk to his car.
"Rather than remain with Benjamin Coltan?" Damian asked, being a shit some once more. He smiled back at the boy whose voice sounded dipped in honey, whose smile could be wielded as a weapon. "I suppose I have little choice. He has already been left behind." The man unfolded the collar of his coat, allowing it to stand upward and shield him from the wind. He began to walk in the direction he would be picked up in. He took a moment with his cell phone to send the details to his driver, and then once more, both of his hands were tucked away. "I was more successful in my socializing this time, would you not say?"