[PQ] building castles out of dirt

Damien

oh, let's take a chance and roll the bones
try to forget all them enemies and debts

Damien drove the last nail in with a measured strike, then leaned back on his heels to inspect their work. The lines were square, the frame steady beneath his hand when he gave it a sharp shove. “That’ll hold,” he said, satisfaction threading through his otherwise even tone. He dusted his palms against his trousers, then glanced sidelong at Theea. “Not bad,” he added, quieter, as though offering her a verdict. “Corners are tight. You’ve got a steadier hand than you think.”

He gave the brace one final push for good measure before he rested his hammer on the rail and motioned with his chin toward the boards above. “That’s the worst of it done. Let’s get back up there before someone decides the porch would make a good stable.”

Straightening, he caught sight of Flora approaching, sunlight flashing against her curls and the easy grin she carried. His brows ticked up. “Just another day in Torchline, huh?” he quipped, fingers brushing the back of his neck. “Suppose if I’d tried to help with your end of it, I’d only have been in the way.”

With that, he fell in step behind Theea, ready to follow her back up onto the porch and for whatever task came next.

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Damien makes sure the porch is solid before he follows Theea to the porch for the next order of business!