Since the much honoured sector creators allowed me, here's a microfic I wrote that plays around with Lucien's character (the other characters in the story are either canon, Nella's or from my very own Sector CS).
Trough a glass, darkly
"Why on Earth not?"
"I don't
want to see."
The words were spoken softly but, to the careful listener, it was obvious that no arguments would help.
Lawrence was not a careful listener.
"How can you not want to -- look it's perfectly safe, no risks whatsoever, I have some implants myself -- they work like a charm, I'll even throw in--"
"No."
"If it's the surgery, I can assure you -- no complications. It's completely painless...take you about fifteen minutes I even have--"
"No!"
"Look there's nothing shameful about--"
"NO!"
With the last word Lucien took one step forward and such was his anger that the much larger (and armed, come to think of it) boy quickly stepped back, banging on the bulkhead behind him.
"Why d--"
"Shut UP! I don't want your gadgets, your machines our your tricks. What is there to see in the word except cruelty, greed and hate? What can I see save dross and refuse?"
"But there is so much that is wonderful."
"Spare me the cheap platitudes!", Lucien said with mounting derision, "Rainbows and puppy-dogs? Laughing faces? But rainbows are only there because of a storm and puppies grow up to be vicious beasts and people laugh out of stupidity, mockery or hate. Just leave me be!"
Lawrence stood awhile, blinking and, while he tried to speak, nothing stuttered random syllables came out. At last, he took a deep breath and began haltingly:
"I--I think you are wrong -- if you just tried, if you tried to--"
Lucien interrupted him. Not with words but with a sudden total silence -- then, as Lawrence's speech petered out, his eyes unerringly sought those of the older boy. He began to approach even closer, speaking, though quietly, with great force.
"
You don't want me to try because of me. You just want to try out your newest toy -- that's all you want isn't it? To indulge your petty, selfish fascination with toys? You pretend to seeing beauty but what of all those nights where you sit staring mindlessly at that box? What about the secret lab? What about Mars?"
His hand shot out pointing at Lawrence who shrank from it like it was a viper and, having run out of space to withdraw, stood frozen his hand halfway to his MUSKET. Apparently oblivious to him, Lucien continued:
"
You don't really care about ANYONE -- all you want is to play and have enough room to run away as you always have done. Even that dolphin -- it's just another toy? Isn't it? ISN'T IT?"
Lawrence finally pulled himself together enough to croak:
"I--I never--"
"
LIAR! You'd slit that fish open if you though it would be more fun that way! And--"
Suddenly he stopped as something sharp poked him in the throat. A moment later Lawrence spoke in a strange sing-song voice that shook an quivered with alien emotions.
"I should probably inform you of three things: I just pointed a MUSKET at your throat, Traikki is not a fish and I would rather die than hurt her. If you even
think about saying that again I will pull the trigger."
They stood there for some time in perfect silence -- a grotesque tableaux of imminent violence. When Lawrence, slowly, as if with great effort lowered his weapon. Just then, rounding the curved corner of the Moonbase observation deck came Alejandra -- smiling as usual, and bouncing in the low gravity. She landed lithely next to them and spoke brightly
"Why hello! How did the discussion go?"
Lawrence was first to speak.
"Poorly."
"Oh. I'm sorry. Well you can meet up again later -- right now Numbuh 74.239 wants to see you about the budget and the Very Expensive Array -- he also wanted me to tell you that "Numbuh Phi is irrational" though he was snickering when he said it."
Lawrence started to chuckle at that, and seeing Alejandra's puzzled frown muttered "Math joke.". Then, with one last ambiguous glance at Lucien ran off in a easy lope.
Lucien and Alejandra remained in silence for some time, while the young boy's breathing slowed and returned to normal. Soundlessly, she floated next to him and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder and spoke
"But you could see roses."
He gave a start, tensed and then relaxed again. Then, with an odd catch in his voice he said:
"No. Not even for roses."
Then he left -- in slow, careful, neat strides -- without saying goodbye.
Alejandra spent some time looking trough the windows, at one time noticing Lawrence, Shi and Numbuh 74.239 in vac-suits wrestling with a recalcitrant node of the VEA and she waved, though there was little of her customary cheer in it. Finally, she muttered "...trough a glass, darkly...isn't it?". Then she left.