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Luna always has identified more with Porcelain than she has her own people.

Now, she seems somewhat embarrassed, glancing down at her hands awkwardly.

"Filet-o-fish!"

Grateful for the lull in conversation, Sofi sits just as ungracefully in her own chair and begins sniffing experimentally at the sandwich. Finally satisfied that the fish isn't objectionable in any way, Sofi takes a large bite before speaking.

"Man, Lu, what was that, the Spanish Inquisition?" Her words are difficult to understand, seeing as how her mouth is packed full to bursting, but that doesn't seem to deter her at all. (In fact, one might say she enjoys spewing bits of pre-chewed food with every syllable.) "NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!"

But Luna is lost in thought as she searches her memory... and suddenly, she lets out a cry of surprise.

She'd almost forgotten how things used to be when she was a small girl. How as a young child, she still saw eye-to-eye with grown Boyan and Melody. How part of her identification with Porcelain was based on how, unable to speak, they were just like her.

...Suddenly, all she can think of is why. She honestly doesn't know when things changed or why. But she believes her memory, and that means that they did change.

She misses the "madame and master" comment.

Luna has a child of her own. She is quite adept at deciphering this language.

Everyone, she answers, and then pauses. Brother can explain better than I.

"I want lots of sugar in it!" Sofi answers. "And this filet-o-fish kind of tastes funny." When Luna shoots her a stern glare, she backtracks. "I didn't mean BAD funny! Just different! It's not bad!" To demonstrate this fact, she takes another large bite.

Jokeph is the first to sample his udon, taking a spoonful of broth, bringing it to his lips... and for the first time that night, he smiles.

"Ehhhh?! He likes it!" Sofi exclaims. Luna seems equally shocked, until she samples her own broth.

The projections are clear-- Luna is absolutely stunned that this broth actually has a little bite to it.

Sofi coughs.

Luna turns to stare at Rika.

And Jokeph, surprisingly the most affected by this question, makes a strangled noise somewhere between a choke and a snort, and suddenly sprays a mouthful of hot and sour soup all over the table.

From his nose.

Luna and Jokeph nod in unison.

--But now, Sofi seems thoroughly confused.

"Why not?"

Cue more choking from Jokeph.

He is my guardian, Luna explains, eyes fixated on the table.

She's never actually CONSIDERED such a thing. And at the moment, she seems so rattled by the question that her mental mutterings slip out of her self control and fill the air around her to compete with Setushi's cloud of aaaaaaaaaaawkward.

Jokeph keeps one hand over his mouth, as if another salvo were possible despite not taking in more soup.

He rather enjoys the status quo. He and Luna are together at all times, or at least within mental earshot. He is hers, and he supposes, in a way, she is his. Certainly, there was a time when her attention focused on another, but it had been so experimental, so fleeting, that he didn't even think to feel threatened by it.

But what if...

What if she DOES find someone else to focus her attentions on? If she were to truly fall in love and want to devote herself to someone else?

The thought of separation terrifies him beyond belief. And for the briefest of instants, he finds himself hating Rika and Sofi for putting the very notion of marriage into Luna's mind. Everything is FINE the way things are. Mistress Luna does not NEED to be married. She doesn't HAVE to think about finding someone to marry.

Nothing has to change. Nothing SHOULD change.

And though he doesn't move at all, the knuckles on the hand covering his mouth go white.

Luna stares at Jokeph, brow furrowed with worry.

And finally, after what seems like an eternity, he relaxes and resumes eating as if nothing had happened.