Re: [in-person: damian & misha]
[The laugh, it wasn't aimed at Damian any. It was aimed at Misha's own real awful dialect. He talked a whole lot better now than he had when he'd gone to Heaven, and he grinned when Damian corrected.] When I was took up to Heaven, they didn't understand a damn thing I said. Folks from the hollow [which he still pronounced 'holler'] they talk real unique, on account of not being 'round city folks never. [He thought Damian looked real sweet like that, chin on knee, and his smile proclaimed that plenty loudly.] I went to school some, and I saw folks when my foster daddy took me places. I didn't think much on wanting folks when I was small. Folks weren't good. My daddy, he was real private, and I was taught we didn't trust folks outside our doors. [But, leaning 'bout Damian's childhood, that was always real important to Misha, and he just kept on dipping his fork in tomatoes and eggs, then sucking the fork clean as the other boy talked.] Is that why them ninjas came here? On account of wanting you dead? Or your daddy dead? He wasn't a member of that League, I reckon? Or was he, seeing as he was bedding down with your momma? [He scrunched his nose some.] I don't reckon I recall hearing echoing for the first time.
[Damian grabbed his fingers, and Misha looked on down at the color contrast a spell.] I think you did the best thing to do, Ahuvi, given the situation. Do you want me to try talking to her or Eddie any? [For Misha, it was a real big offer, 'specially since he hadn't been doing real well with Damian's kin recent. Well, excepting for Jason, who'd spent long 'nough on their couch in the Capital that he felt plenty familiar now.] I reckon Jason wants a future now. It's good. It means he's growing and moving and trying to suss out what to do with his life. It's better than just swinging at things without thinking on why he swings at them. [He smiled as Damian lifted knuckle and joined hands to rub at his eye.] We're going to bed soon as you're done with your eating, and it's always easier to talk to folks when they're standing there and waiting on a response with expectation looking on back at you. [Curiously.] He said you worry 'bout me a whole lot.