Re: In-person: Damian/Burden
Damian refused to be insane. He had the armature of recollections, bones without flesh, of such occurring in his head. A resonation of laughter, black, blood, and eyes. And thus, he had decided, he was not to be insane. Whatever this was, with Burden, with Misha, it was not to be the breakdown of his reality. It could be falsehood. It could be misdirection and betrayal. Perhaps it was some plot of Grandfather's. But, it would be no more than this.
Burden shrugged, indicating he did not know why Leena might engage in such deception. This was expected. Damian did not know why she might either. He did not think she would. Then, yes, he extracted the cigarette and claimed it for himself. He lifted his nose into the air as Burden laughed. He enjoyed the sensation of the smoke in his throat and in his lungs. When Burden looked back toward him, he could see the moon of the boy's face in his periphery. He did not look back. "Perhaps," he said, "if you had kissed me, we would not be here." It was not a good argument, but Damian did not mind in this instance. He only wished to needle. He ought be much more concerned than he managed to be. He was aware of this.