A little talk...
Co-written with amykouai, because I don't understand the... thing I don't understand.


[setting: that room above the bar]

*Laurence is still tied up and on top of the magic circle. Lina is trying to spoon feed him some, uh... hamburger.*

Laurence: This is embarassing.

Lina: Well, look, we can't let you out until we're sure you're okay again. Now say ah...

Laurence: What happens when I have to go to the bathroom?

Lina: *blanching* Uh...

*The door opens, and in walks Luna.*

Lina: Onee-san! Just the person I wanted to see. What do we-- uh... who's that?

Luna: *smiles mysteriously* Oh, you mean this?

*And she steps out of the way of the door...*

*There's a flash of something like a suddenly dying flame, outlining a short figure in the doorway, who peeks her head in.*

Girl: ...hihi?

Laurence: ...who's that?

Luna: Oh, someone.

Laurence: Onee-sama, be serious.

Luna: *smiles* She's just someone I thought you should have a talk with...

*The girl toes carefully in, the light revealing her to be a little younger than Laurence is now.*

Girl: Um... I hope I'm not interrupting, but. *shyly* Luna went to come and get me, but... and... *giving up* Yeah.

Laurence: Onee-sama, are you trying to set me up with a girlfriend? ¬¬

Luna: Somehow I knew you'd say that. No, Laurence, this is different. *to the girl* Isn't that so?

Girl: *blinkblinks* Um... Yes. Um. *steps gingerly into the magic circle and sits on the ground beside Laurence* She said you were having trouble not being grown-up, huh?

Laurence: *flaring up and turning to Luna* You TOLD her that? What are you doing? Running around the bar telling my problems to everybody that'll--

Luna: Shhh. I'll explain later. Just listen. *smiles* Go on, dear.

Girl: *sweatdrops* Well, I sorta know a few people like you, but. *sits in silence for a moment* ...why does it bother you that nobody treats you like a grown-up?

*Laurence simply pouts, turned away from the girl.*

Luna: Laurence, answering her with your behavior isn't what she had in mind.

Laurence: ...hey! *turns to the girl, but still staring at Luna* I don't know why. I just hate it. I can't do what I want to, and nobody treats me with any respect.

Girl: *smiles a little as she watches sibling bickering* We~ell... What kind of respect do you want?

Laurence: I want... I want people to act like I'm important, not like I'm a half-brained idiot that can't take care of myself.

Girl: ...why is how people treat you so important? *tilts her head, looking into his eyes* Why do you have to be _told_ that you're an adult?

Laurence: ...I don't know.

Girl: Mmm... Y'know. I've always thought that what _you_ think should be more important than what everyone else does.

Laurence: But... if everyone treats me like a kid, I'm a kid in practicality, right?

Girl: *looks a little flustered* Well... yeah. But. "Practicality" isn't reality, y'know. You can't change people's minds, but, you can change yourself... *pokes Laurence experimentally* You're whoever you tell yourself you are. You don't have to listen to other people.

Laurence: I'd go crazy if I did that! o_o

Girl: Why? Well, there're limitations, but still.

Laurence: If you're the only person that thinks something, and everyone else tells you something different... you'd go a little crazy, wouldn't you?

Lina: Well, hey, what's a little insanity among family members, eh? :3

Luna: Shhhhh.

Girl: *shrugs a little, not minding the sisters' comments* Everybody thinks something different from what everyone tells them. They just won't say it. *pokes Laurence again* Besides, you only have to put up with it for a few years, y'know.

Laurence: ...you're right. Holy crap, I'm going to grow out of this mess. Literally. o_o

Luna: *smiling* What, that didn't occur to you?

Laurence: Believe it or not, NO.

Girl: *giggles* Silly boy. You might as well enjoy it while it lasts, y'know.

Laurence: Like how?

Girl: Oh, I dunno. Enjoy the feeling of not always having to be responsible, maybe? And of being able to sit in your sisters' laps again? You haven't lost anything, y'know.

Laurence: Hey, that's right! I can sit in cute girl's laps! :D

Lina: *facepalms*

Luna: Uh, yeah. That's... sort of what she said.

Girl: *sweatdrops* ...um, yes, exactly! Not quite what I had in mind, but. *tucks her hair behind her ear* Like I said, you haven't lost anything -- you just had taste of the future. And besides, I've always thought that being mature means knowing that "adult" and "child" aren't opposites, and there's always a time to be either, or both. ...um.

*The girl looks over at Luna helplessly.*

*Luna says nothing, but simply nods and smiles back at her. It is, however, one of those smiles that speaks a thousand words.*

Girl: ...I think I'm done speeching. *reaches in to give Laurence a small hug and a kiss on the cheek, which he can't really avoid* ...feel any better?

Laurence: I think so.

*He glances back over a shoulder at Lina, who is beaming.*

Laurence: *turning back to the girl* Thank you. n_n

Girl: *blushes as she gets up and dusts herself off* Welcome! ...well, so, now what, Luna?

Luna: How about we head downstairs for a nice cup of tea?

Girl: ...what, we're leaving him tied up?

Luna: Well... Laurence, do you promise you won't try to hurt yourself?

Laurence: ...you're going to untie me? o_o

Luna: Promise me.

Laurence: I promise. Are you going to untie me now? :D

Luna: *laughs* Lina, you can have the honours.

*And so...*


There! And damn it, I couldn't have done that alone. So nyeh.


*You can hear Laurence and Lina's voices chattering in the hallway outside, and then, they grow fainter and fainter, until finally, they're mixed in with the ordinary noise of the bar below.*

*A faint, incandescent, bird-shaped outline in the shadows.*

Voice: ...um. Is he gone?

Luna: *doesn't look up* I think so.

*A young girl steps out -- the same one having a chat with Laurence before.*

Girl: ...um... you didn't tell him that he's never going to grow up, did you?

Luna: *thoughtfully* Didn't have the heart to, really.

Girl: 'kay. Just checking. Should I hang around for a bit?

Luna: Oh, sure. Don't burn anything, though, love.

Girl: *sweatdrops* ...I'll try not to. Really. Promise.