twenty-third date; [video]

[laurice]

[This is Larry standing at the foot of the stairs of his house, beside the life-size statues of Phoenix and Edgeworth, his two best friends who have long since left the Port (again). His head is bowed and he looks strangely thoughtful. The NV is perched somewhere some distance away so that you can see much of Larry and the statues.]

Well...if there's one thing I'm thankful for, it's my friends. All the friends I've met in the Port, and back home. [He brightens up a little bit.] Like...really, really thankful. I've met a lot of 'em.

[A pause. Larry grips something he wears around his neck - the round orange pendant he had been wearing for several months now.]

That's why...some time ago, I made a wish.

[He cups the gem in his hands, and it morphs into something more ornate and egg-shaped, shining with a dazzling orange light. The light spreads all over his body and he closes his eyes as if asleep as his clothes change - his jacket becomes a tailcoat, his shirt becomes a vest and a cravat (with a small orange gem mounted in the center), his trousers become breeches tucked into boots high as his thighs...and when the transformation is complete, he is clutching a six-foot orange halberd with a mean-looking edge - which he quickly moves away from Phoenix's spiky head.

Suddenly Larry looks a little more confident, even breaking into a confident grin.]

'Bout time I told you guys. I became a Puella Magi to protect my friends, and I kept it a secret 'cause I thought someone might get hurt by a witch or something if they found out. But...I dunno, witches don't seem to do that sort of thing. [He scratches his head with his free hand.] Besides, it was pretty hard to keep this sort of thing under wraps. 

I have to fight witches from now on, but I don't mind if it means having the power to protect the people I know!

Comments

[laurice]

I guess, but... [He sighs and shrugs.]

It's not really that bad a deal. I did get the powers I wanted and more...and my wish.

[hostage]

Yeah. You just gotta look stupid and fight witches forever. That sounds great.

[Not.]

[laurice]

[It's better than nothing!]

H-hey, you get used to it! And I think my costume looks heroic!

[hostage]

I'm just saying, I bet there's better ways out there.

[laurice]

Like what? Buying powers by the box?

[hostage]

Like I said, you never know. All kinds of crazy stuff in this place.

[laurice]

[Larry shrugs.]

This is crazy too, but now that I'm stuck with it, I'll just have to stick to it! [He sounds pretty determined.]

[hostage]

Who says you gotta be stuck with it? There's probably people who fix that, too.

[laurice]

But Kyubey said I can't change this, I think...

[hostage]

Maybe that's how it is where Kyubey comes from, but this place changes all the rules.

[laurice]

Well...yeah, but...all the rules? All of them?

[hostage]

That's my experience, yeah.

[laurice]

...You? You had your powers changed with no rules to stop you?

[hostage]

Not exactly.

[laurice]

So...uh, what was your experience?

[ locked ]

[hostage]

Crossroads. Talk to Mr. Gold if you seriously want help with your, uh, problem. He'll know where to point you.

[ locked ]

[laurice]

Who's Mr. Gold?

[ locked ]

[hostage]

The guy who owns Crossroads.

[ locked ]

[laurice]

What's Crossroads? A shop?

[ locked ]

[hostage]

Yeah. A pawn shop.

[ locked ]

[laurice]

Aaaaand powers are pawned there?

[ locked ]

[hostage]

I dunno. I'm just saying, if anybody knows, Mr. Gold knows.

[ locked ]

[laurice]

Aaaaand that's all you're gonna say?

[ locked ]

[hostage]

Yep.

[ locked ]

[laurice]

O...kay.

Thanks, I guess. Didn't catch your name, by the way.