The kid can judge all he likes. He'll understand when he's older. ...Or maybe he won't! He's about the age Wolfwood was when Wolfwood started smoking, the older man thinks, finally lighting up his first cigarette in what feels like weeks. Without the continual healing -- and already short lifespan -- he got from the Eye, smoking might really fuck him up long term. Best if he doesn't start.

Besides, that leaves more for the grownups. Wolfwood breathes out a deep lungful, rejoicing in the head rush from days and days of nicotine withdrawal, as Nicholas tells him about a crybaby little kid, and another he got to be a hero for. Turning his face up to exhale means that Nicholas can't see his face when he talks about how the crybaby was only there a little while.

So things were different for Nicholas, and his Livio. Damn.

"You really caught her? When she fell all that distance? I have to admit, that's pretty amazing."