A Few More Problems

[Exile]

>Sipping on her coffee, Lori was patiently waiting for the appearance of her younger brother.
>Alongside her mother and father.
>How she relished the thought of what she was going to do.
>As she finished the rest of her coffee, Lori saw the familiar face of the white-haired boy she had been dealing with for months.
“Lincoln, have a seat. We've got some very exciting news for you.”
>Lincoln, not knowing what was to come, sat down next to Lori.
>”Sweetie, it took a couple of phone calls, and some talking with Lisa to shuffle some funds around, but your father and I are happy to tell you that we've finally found a way to send you to military school!”
>Lori couldn't help but smile at the look on Lincoln's face.
>”W-what?”
>”I know, isn't it great, Lincoln?”
>”But I never said I wanted to go to military school!”
>”Well, Lori said that she'd heard how you wanted to join the navy just like Pop-Pop and we were so touched that we couldn't help but make your dream come true.”
>Lincoln looked completely speechless.
>He had been so blindsided that he didn't have time to think of a plan to stop this.
>Lori then decided to bring it all back home.
“Oh, Lincy, I knew you'd love it. The look on your face says it all.”
>Dragging him into a hug, Lori covered up her malicious smirk by facing away from their parents.
“And don't worry, they've got plenty of weekend furloughs. You'll be able to come back and see everyone. Even me.”
>Realizing there was no way out of this, Lincoln simply played along and smiled while hugging Lori back.
>”Thanks, Mom and Dad. I can't wait to go.”
“We know you can't, Lincoln.”

[Examination]

"Are you feeling any discomfort?"
>"Not really."
"Any unusual sensations at all?"
>"Nope."
"Hmmm. Present your tongue if you would, Lucy."
>Following the resident genius' command, Lucy opened her mouth up and displayed her tongue for examination.
>The latex glove on her younger sister's hand made Lucy's face scrunch up at the taste.
“I presume your taste buds are again reacting negatively to latex and milk.”
>A low groan came from Lucy's mouth to signal that Lisa's assumption was correct.
>Making a mental note of it, Lisa lifted up Lucy's tongue and checked the underside for abnormal discoloration.
>Not a trace could be found.
>Relinquishing her grasp on Lucy's tongue, Lisa discarded her gloves and began to jot down her information onto her nearby notepad.
“Judging from the lack of additional side effects, your resumed menstruation, and regaining the ability to taste once more, I would say it is safe to acknowledge your condition is normal. At least physically.”
>Looking up from her notepad, Lisa could see the deepened frown on her morbid sibling's face.
>”Do we have to do this?”
“I understand that the absence of Lincoln's presence from your day-to-day activities is posing a potential downward spiral in your mental state.”
>”I'm fine, Lisa.”
“Which is why you attempted to disembowel Lori with a shovel?”
>”That wasn't my fault. She shouldn't have followed me in the first place.”
>Lisa set down her notepad and adopted as neutral a posture as posible.
“Lori's increasingly draconian surveillance of you and Lincoln, justified or not, still doesn't account for the loss of appetite and interest in your leisurely activities.”
>Unwilling to entertain Lisa any longer than needed, Lucy promptly got off of the stool and made for the door.
“I'm here to help you if you need it, Lucy.”
>Without even looking back, Lucy walked out of the door and closed it behind her.