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[Open RP]

Swish-swish. Swish-swish. It was never easy to squeeze through the door of the clinic in intentionally too-frilly clothing, but Luna never did like flinging the door wide open. What if someone was within striking distance? She'd never forgive herself if something were to happen.

Jokeph, as always, was a few paces behind her, eyeing the clinic warily as he held a sturdy folder packed with paperwork in one gloved hand.

Updated medical records from Neilan, a note in June's handwriting read. Neither Luna nor Jokeph had an interest in the contents, however. Jokeph simply wanted to get the folder delivered.

Luna, on the other hand, scanned the clinic for anyone she knew.

Elle had been sitting in the clinic for a while now. She'd accidentally got herself a bit more sunburnt than usual, and had ended up with an entire back of red peeling skin. That somehow also reacted with the scales from her tail, the ones that trailed slightly up Elle's back.

It didn't hurt now, not after the cream she'd been able to get from the clinic, but Elle had decided to sit around and wait anyway. She wanted less sunshine on her back when she walked home... that, and she liked the excuse to wait around. Maybe she'd run into someone?

Elle glanced up at the sound of the door opening. Her jaw dropped as she stared in disbelief at who was coming through. It, that is, she looked familiar, and the man behind her was familiar. Elle felt an involuntary heat creep up her neck and cheeks at the sight of him. She might not have a huge crush on him but it was still embarrassing!

She forced herself to look back at the teenager. Just who was that, anyway?

Elle! Hihihi! With a light touch to Jokeph's shoulder (Just a few minutes, Jo?), Luna trotted toward the VERY welcome face in the clinic.

Elle! I never thanked you properly for the letter you sent! It was so beautiful and-- She slowed to a halt as she squinted at Elle. Did something happen? Are you all right?

Quietly hunched under a chair, little miss Mia counted her 10 fingers; well, at least pretended to. Caroline had gone in for some unknown reason, so she had no choice but to leisurely rest in the coolest spot...under a chair. As the door opened, Mia peeked her head out with curiosity. When her eyes caught site of Luna’s outfit, her gray eyes smiled. “Whoa.” She spoke with a loud squeal of excitement. Never had she seen an outfit of such greatness, of such frill and fancy; Mia had to have it. The toddler gazed at Luna, pondering the time to jump up and take hold of the beautiful fabric. Her eyes followed Luna and stopped as she started to speak to Elle. That was then the devious toddler started to plot.

Oh, Luna!" Elle could reconize that voice anywhere. She couldn't believe it though, Luna had gone from little kid to teenager. "I didn't reconize you for a moment, you've grown!"

She blinked at the question. "I got sunburn today. Nothing too bad, just annoying. The letter was no problem, I was wondering how you were and I thought you'd like it... and speaking of how you were, how are you?"

Elle hadn't noticed the toddler in the corner yet.

Luna was well aware of the toddler's presence. To Luna, Mia's impulses came out loud and clear.... and they brought a faint smile to her face. Her eyes seemed to twinkle as she discreetly covered her mouth with one hand, keeping a small part of her mind trained on Mia, should she attempt anything TOO rash, but otherwise trying to appear outwardly oblivious.

We have company, Luna projected as quietly as she could manage. Sssh. Don't let her know I sense her.

With that, the projections grew strong once more. Jo and I both loved it so much-- I'm going to have to do something for you in return, you know!

Something was fishy, but Mia didn’t take too much of a notice to it. She began to crawl under the rows of chairs, her aim was the chair occupied by Elle. As Mia was coming close, she paused and peeked her head out from under the chair. “Oh noes.” She cried aloud, breaking her cover. Mia slithered back beneath the chair with a sigh, a large black bag jamming up her roadway. Time for plan B. Revealing herself to the world, Mia began to stand up and amble over to Luna. “Cuse’ me m’amz.” She said in her bravest voice, like a lion. “You wanna trade dresses?” Her head wings flickered for a moment with hope as her fingers wrapped around a small part of her own soft pink jersey dress. “It soft an’ goodz for travelin’” Mia nodded with a bright grin.

Luna knew something. Elle blinked at her and gave a tiny nod when she'd been told what was going on. So instead of letting ehrself away, she just shifted in her seat so that the tail wasn't caught so bad (who designed these seats anyway?!) and answered Luna. "You don't have to, it was a lot of fun to make."

She blinked when a a loud 'oh noes!' came from underneath her and nearly jumped up out of the chair. Luna had warned her, but still... it was a very little her to fit under there!

But at the toddler's next comment, Elle tried to hide a big grin, waiting for Luna's reply.

Luna's giggles intensified at Elle's reaction, but when Mia finally came forward and asked that absolutely darling question, Luna quieted. Laughter would've been quite inappropriate in a situation like this, and Luna knew it.

Instead, she lowered herself to one knee, putting a hand on Mia's shoulders and looking her directly in the eye.

How am I going to fit into your dress, little one? The projection came with a feeling of playfulness; and even if Mia couldn't hear either, the gentle smile on Luna's face would hopefully be enough to convince her that Luna meant no harm.

Mia gazed up at Luna with large puppy eyes, and as the laughter rang in her ears, her eyes began to water. This wasn’t a laughing situation; it was a situation of life or death! The toddler glanced over at Elle with a pout and rubbed her eyes with a chubby fist. She began face Luna as she got on one knee, a pout still intact. Mia was somewhat confused when she had the same feeling she had when she spoke to Ilex; did everyone have speech impairment around here? After listening to what Luna had to say, Mia grunted. “Just becuz you fat don’t meanz we can’t trade!” Caroline always complained she couldn’t fit into some of her clothes because she was too fat, maybe Luna had the same problem.

"Aww... I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you. You have very good taste in clothing!" Elle replied, wriggling out of the chair with a wince and kneeling beside Luna and the toddler.

She smiled, though she felt that frustation of her own ignorance welling up slightly. She liked kids enough, her mum sure had enough of them, but sometimes Elle had no idea what to do with them.

Luna tilted her head at Elle, a faint question being projected. Frustration? Why? She seemed just fine with Luna.

And as she turned her attention back to Mia, she mentally noted that Mia was one extremely lucky girl for asking the "fat" question to someone who knew what exactly she meant!

Yes, I don't mouthspeak well, Luna explained, smiling a bit sheepishly. And it's not that I'm fat, it's that I'm big. If you were to wear my dress, it would fall off. And if I were to wear your dress, I would rip it. With that, she patted Mia gently on the head. I wish I could have a dress as pretty as yours, but I couldn't bear to rip it.

“I not laughinz.” Mia eyed Elle, than started to randomly laugh. “I guess I doz.” She shrugged as if it were, you know, just a thing. “I guezz I no rip my dressez in doing trade.” The toddler hadn’t realized before, if she on with the trade than her precious ‘easy to travel’ dress may get ruined in the process. What a shame. Mia bit her lip than frowned. “You promiz when I get fat here, I getz to hav yo’ dresses?” Her eyes suddenly lit up as she pointed to her own flat chest.

The laughter relaxed Elle. It was just a toddler, not some ultrasensitive monster from the brink of the dark. (Like what Elle sometimes suspected Lirael to be.) She was just being silly.

"I'm sure you could find a dress just like it in a shop, you know. With lots of frills."

Luna would've quickly agreed with Elle, but found herself suddenly too embarrassed to speak-- or project any coherent thoughts.

Fat...here?!

...Well.

For perhaps the first time in her life, Luna blushed.

“Fo’ realz?” Mia asked with delight, the common saying had been implanted into her mind. Thank you MTV. “You thinkz you buyz me one?” She readied her eyes for the puppy dog of innocence look. “You knowz, I so tiny. I no monies.” Which was a fact, Mia was far too young for a job. Maybe the 'kindness of strangers' thing really worked. “Whatz wrong with herz?” Mia glanced over at Luna blushing; did she eat something and have to go to the bathroom? The toddler often turned red when she had to go.

Elle did notice Luna's blush, and for a startling moment, also noticed that Luna was 'fat there'. Luna really was a teenager! Elle wasn't sure if she should be glad for Luna or feel pity.

She laughed again at the toddler. "I might be able to find you something when I go shopping. What's your favorite color?"

Oh... wonderful. Now Elle was calling attention to it and--

...

Indeed, it would be time to clamp both hands over her mouth. It wasn't like she was going to say anything embarrassing, but the gesture was still appropriate. Luna thought.

“Omigee, you ma bestest friendz!” Mia squealed and flung her arms around Elle. “We chill sometimez?” She asked with a cheesy smile. On MTV, chill has been used many times.
Hmm, from the looks of it, it appeared that Luna was getting pretty bad. Mia resided away from Elle and waddled over to a pink bag. After a few minutes of rummaging, she held up a diaper and walked back over to Luna. “It happenz all da time. no be sorriez.” Mia repeated her own mother’s words as she flung the diaper at Luna.

"Okay, we can chill sometimes." Elle laughed, and hugged the toddler back. Well... now it wasn't going so bad. As long as the little girl didn't get teary again. Elle couldn't bear seeing little kids cry.

She blinked as Mia went off to retrieve a diaper for Luna. THat was just... huh?!

Luna couldn't get frustrated, angry, or insulted. She just... couldn't. She knew exactly what was going on in Mia's head, and it was all a perfectly logical explanation from her point of view. But one thing was quickly leading to another, which was quickly leading to another...

Her mind speech wasn't producing anything coherent. Embarrassment rolled off of her in droves. Unable to communicate in a way she thought the younger girl could understand, she went to her last resort.

"...E....Eh... Eh'kus me."

Leaving the diaper behind, she stumbled to her feet as quickly as she could -- no easy feat, considering the small platforms on her shoes -- and ran to the bathroom.

Jokeph followed her as quickly as he could manage, his face lined with worry and his thoughts unconcerned with privacy. After all, it wasn't a toilet Luna was looking for; it was isolation.

“Cool dawg.” Mia managed to produce a wink as she let loose a giggle. “Ruffruff!” She stuck out her tongue, not quite grasping the concept of ‘cool dawg’.

Mia gazed at Luna as she ran off, but the shock of hearing her speak hadn’t worn off. Her eyes glided back and forth until she realized what she had done, Mia had made an oppsie. “Ohnoes.” She put her hands on her mouth and started to waddle after Luna. As she reached the door of the bathroom, she knocked on it ...well whacked on it. “Mia make oppsie! Mia make oppsie!” The toddler cried as she hammered on the door.

"Yes, cool dog." Elle laughed too. Then she saw Luna run off, Mia followed soon after. Elle was left there blinking. Huh?

She had no idea what to do. For a few moments she thought about following but her back had started to ache again... and she could see that there was cloud cover. An even bigger plus was that she would't miss the bus!

Elle knew that now was probably a good time to rush home before the cream wore off and the sun came back. But she didn't want to leave Luna! ...on the other hand, this toddler would probably fix whatever was wrong.

And Elle would always be able to visit Luna for a girly chat. Which she intended on doing anyway.

She had no idea what to do so she scribbled a 'I'll call you or call me my phone number is ----- -Elle!', slid it under the door and hurried in the direction of the bus stop.

Luna bit her lip, staring at the door from the comfort of Jokeph's arms. She didn't want to upset Mia further, but she just couldn't will herself out. What was WRONG with her? Normally, things like that rolled off of her like water off a duck's back, but now--?

It's... all right. She finally projected, suddenly very vividly feeling Elle's absence.

“What are you doing Mia, if you have to go to the bathroom you knock nicely.” Caroline stepped in and whisked Mia into her arms.

“mommy, moomy. Mia make oppsie.” She wiggled and pleaded, her finger pointing towards the door.

“Hun, we’ll fix the oppsie later, we gotta rush home for Project Runway.” Mia’s mom winked at Mia and patted her head gently.

Mia pouted, she knew she made an oppsie and now she needed to fix it. However, restrained in Caroline’s arms she couldn’t do anything. Luna needed a hug.

As Mia was carried away, Luna was able to send one last projection at her; that she IS having a hug.

With that, she simply sighed and returned to trying very VERY hard to collect herself.