[Ioska. There was something about it that made him latch onto it. It felt... he wasn't sure, but there was something about it, something that made his pulse flare. People called him a variety of things, but usually nothing so simple and yet so almost-intimate. Out loud, he'd only ever fess up to being pleased with the compliment, though. He was good at what he did, and he took pride in it. Most of the time, anyway.]
You're not a monster. [He took a hit, pausing for a moment more to put thoughts together than to appreciate his joint.] I might be, but not because of what I am.
[But rather who he was. He wasn't ashamed of it, either. He was awful and he knew it and the only way to not be swallowed alive by guilt or depression or self-hatred was to own it. But he'd never think of anybody as a monster for what they were, especially not if they dealt in dreams.
He almost bristled when Dimitri said he'd seen the way Kavinsky'd been looking at Ronan. It wasn't like it was a secret, but clearly, it'd been a surprise to Lynch. Clearly, he'd missed the memo where Kavinsky was a complete and utter fool for him. He still didn't think he'd asked for much from Ronan, yet here he was, sitting in his dreaming field with Dimitri instead of the other boy.
There were a lot of things he could have said, snide comments he could have made, jokes, something to deflect, but he didn't say any of the things that initially came to mind. His brow furrowed and, very earnestly, asked-]
Why?
[Why did Dimitri care? Why did he think Kavinsky didn't deserve to be alone? Most people didn't care and he'd gotten used to that.]
no subject
You're not a monster. [He took a hit, pausing for a moment more to put thoughts together than to appreciate his joint.] I might be, but not because of what I am.
[But rather who he was. He wasn't ashamed of it, either. He was awful and he knew it and the only way to not be swallowed alive by guilt or depression or self-hatred was to own it. But he'd never think of anybody as a monster for what they were, especially not if they dealt in dreams.
He almost bristled when Dimitri said he'd seen the way Kavinsky'd been looking at Ronan. It wasn't like it was a secret, but clearly, it'd been a surprise to Lynch. Clearly, he'd missed the memo where Kavinsky was a complete and utter fool for him. He still didn't think he'd asked for much from Ronan, yet here he was, sitting in his dreaming field with Dimitri instead of the other boy.
There were a lot of things he could have said, snide comments he could have made, jokes, something to deflect, but he didn't say any of the things that initially came to mind. His brow furrowed and, very earnestly, asked-]
Why?
[Why did Dimitri care? Why did he think Kavinsky didn't deserve to be alone? Most people didn't care and he'd gotten used to that.]