Lucivar was sitting on a wall, swinging his heels against the bricks and sulking. Of course, he wouldn't put it that way, but that's what it was all the same. Daemon was sprawled ungracefully on the ground nearby, examining a flower intently and very much ignoring his brother's exaggerated sighs.

"I don't know why he's making such a big deal about it," Lucivar said, finally.

"Mmhmm," Daemon said noncommittally, tugging experimentally on a petal and examining it when it came off.

"It's not like anything actually happened."

Daemon glanced upwards at his brother and raised an eyebrow. "Mmhmm."

Lucivar scowls at his brother's skeptical expression. "And we've done worse than that before."

Daemon just stares at him and Lucivar frowns. "We have! Don't look at me like that. Don't you think he's overreacting?"

Daemon was silent for a long moment. Finally, he glanced down at the flower, over to the distant house, and back at Lucivar. Then back at the flower. And at Lucivar.

Lucivar fidgets and jumps off the wall, rustling small wings. "Daemon, come on. Aren't you going to agree with me?"

"No."

Lucivar turned around and gave Daemon his fiercest glare. "Why not?"

"Because it was a stupid idea in the first place."

The Eyrien boy puffed up his chest, looking infuriated. "Was not! You went along with it!"

Daemon shrugged. "Well, I guess that makes me stupid too."

Lucivar stared at his brother, open-mouthed.

"What?"

"I said, I guess that makes me stupid, too. For going along with it."

Lucivar blinked once or twice. "You're making fun of me," he said accusingly. Daemon shook his head, his face almost completely expressionless.

"What kind of older brother would I be if I made fun of you, Lucy?"

Lucivar spread his wings to their full (admittedly rather uninspiring) wingspan. "Daemon, I told you not to call me that!" he said peevishly.

Daemon's mouth didn't twitch once as he intoned, "I'm very sorry. I'll be sure to remember that next time, Lucy."

Lucivar howled at Daemon and launched himself at his brother. Daemon rolled over and got to his feet and seized the prostrate Lucivar by the neck and proceeded in giving his brother a very thorough noogie as Lucivar continued to flail at Daemon and bellowed threats in a rather unimpressively shrill voice, wings flapping and arms flailing ineffectually. Finally, Lucivar managed to get himself free enough to throw himself on Daemon and they enjoyed a good tussle in the wet grass until Daemon raised his hands and cried, "Surrender, surrender. Lucivar it is."

Lucivar got up and stalked a little ways away from his brother. "Yeah, that's right," he said firmly. Daemon's mouth twitched a little, but he didn't laugh, fortunately.

"Okay, Lucivar. You were right that he's overreacting a little."

"Told you so."

"Stop right there or you don't get any more out of me. But, little brother?"

"Don't call me that."

"It's true. Anyway, Lucivar?"

Lucivar turned around and gave Daemon his fiercest glare. "What?"

"Next time you're planning on going over a waterfall on a handmade raft? Let me know, first. I'm going to be sore for days."

Lucivar scowled. "I'm not sorry. You deserved it."

Daemon laughed. "Well. Now we've been effectively kicked out of the house, what are we planning on doing for the next few hours until Manny forgives us?"

"I don't know," the offended Eyrien grumbled. "Why don't you come up with a bright idea for once?"

Daemon's face splits into a very wide, very wicked grin. "I hoped you were going to say that."