Summary: Bickslow has a frank discussion with his youngest about women and finds out his youngest prefers older women. Bickslow gives him some pointers, much to Lucy's chagrin. Anabelle Justine won't know what hit her.
Lucian is 12 when he realizes he finds girls his age to be immature and flighty. His first crush was on his Aunt Mira and his recent crush is on the actress/mage Imogen Pewter. His brother catches him masturbating to her image, which hangs on his wall across from his bed. Castor blackmails Lucian into being his personal gossip for a week after that incident. But Lucian won't apologize for liking women who are mature, have worldly experience, and know what they want. He saw what happened to Mica and Nellie and now Nellie is a lesbian! (He's too young to fully grasp the concept of Bisexuality and the depth of feelings that come from sharing your life with another person).
Nevertheless, Lucy puts her foot down one day and insists Bickslow has a talk with his youngest. Afterall, he's his fathers son in every way that matters. Bickslow slowly drags his body up the stairs and into his youngest son's bedroom. With the invitation to enter granted (Bickslow does NOT want a repeat of what happened with Castor), Bickslow lowers himself into Lucian's desk chair and the two stare at one another.
"Lucian," Bickslow starts off and immediately Lucian has the urge to rehide his dirty magazines he bribed Iggy Dragneel to get for him. "It has been.. I mean. Well, Look, Lucian, there's nothing wrong with liking older women and exploring your body-"
"Kill me now," Lucian moans into his pillow as he twists his body away from his well meaning but very out of his depth father.
"If you're going to be masturbating, which is healthy and totally normal, maybe wait until you know you're going to be alone. And make sure your mother doesn't find your materials. Under the bed is the worst place to hide those types of magazines." Lucian's face turns bright red in a way that reminds Bickslow of a younger, inexperienced Lucy. He misses those days acutely now that he's had to pull back from missions and his back hurts just by getting out of bed.
"Look Dad, it's really Castor's fault. He should know to knock! It's rude to barge into someone's bedroom without knocking! Mom taught us better manners," Lucian whines.
"Don't deflect Lucian. I had a talk with Castor as well about knocking. I want you to feel free to express yourself but also want you to be safe and make sure everyone is ok. As you are now exploring your sexuality," at this Bickslow tries not to shudder and cry. His baby, all grown up. Lucian gives him a dark glare, all Lucy as well. "Don't look at me like that. You and whichever person at the guild your age you want to experiment with is fine but you gotta be careful! Things like accidental pregnancy or pushing your partner when they're not comfortable are things we have to talk about so you understand boundaries and can clearly communicate your boundaries to your partner when the time comes."
"Ok but dad, I'm into women." Bickslow wants to roll his eyes. Why does his son insist on calling teenage girls women? "Ok I see that look. I mean it dad. This is really embarrassing but women! Like Imogen Pewter!" Bickslow looks at the poster to his right and has to suppress the urge for his brain to make connections to what Castor walked in on and the image of a scantily clad Imogen Pewter. "Girls my age are so immature. They're gossipy and flighty and they don't treat me like anything other than a cute boy. I want a woman who knows what she wants and has worldly experience-"
"I am going to cut you off Lucian. I understand completely, but you are 12. So if you plan to wait until you're 17 and it's acceptable for you to date someone in their 20s, because there is an age of consent in Fiore, then I just want you to have the information for whatever situation you find yourself in." Lucian seems to accept this and nods. He doesn't want to wait for it to be acceptable for women like Imogen Pewter to date him, but the idea of experimenting with girls he won't get in legal trouble for experimenting with is not something he's sure he wants. Bickslow starts talking and Lucian tries his hardest not to zone out in embarrassment. Bickslow covers everything he covered with his older three and then stops to see if Lucian has questions.
"Dad."
"Yes," Bickslow is relieved Lucian seems to take what he said, he listened and wants to ask questions.
"Could you help me get Annabelle Justine to agree to a date?" Bickslow can't help but laugh. His friend Freed's youngest is 16, just a few months shy of 17. If his son wants to be with Annabelle then he's going to have to wait a few years, but he's happy to give him pointers on how to flirt with the older teen. Lucy was right, this kid is his son.