Ripper (to Vincent): Hey Captain, I hope everything is okay with you... if you need anything, just let us know.
Vincent (to Ripper): Safe & sound for now, Professor. Thanks for the concern. Can I ask you a question? Did my sister seem OK last night? I'm afraid she's none too pleased with the whole situation.
Ripper (to Vincent): She seemed okay to me, but honestly, we were really busy last night. Word got out that she was working the bar & her "fans" came out of the woodwork... I think Sasha wanted to take advantage of the fact that she was in the club. And, I can see why she'd be upset if there's the potential you might get hurt.
Vincent (to Ripper): Hee hee. That sounds like Sasha. I wonder if sister dearest has finally realized she has a fan club. It might have just been a brave front, I'm glad to hear she seemed OK. She was livid when I left. And since it might be a while before I can come back... But, she should be OK. She has a lot of people looking after her now.
Ripper (to Vincent): It's nice and all to be concerned about your sister but, how are you holding up, Captain? Are you really okay?
Vincent (to Ripper): Well, you know me... Good God. I'm too tired & sore to even finish that. Honestly? I have seen better days. I'm not feeling like the best, most noble guy right about now.
Ripper (to Vincent): Is there anything I can do to help?
Vincent (to Ripper): Short rearranging time & space or finding a way to keep me from making stupid decisions, I'm afraid not. I haven't felt this alienated in a long time. It isn't pleasant, so I appreciate the thought. I really do.
Ripper (to Vincent): Sadly, I can't help with the time & space thing, but I can tell you that I'm fairly certain that we would all drop whatever we were doing and come to your rescue... just say the word.
Vincent (to Ripper): Oh. That's... Well, thank you, Professor. Hopefully, I won't need any rescuing. (to Delia) Hey, hun. Sorry I skipped out on Friday coffee and gossip, but I had to head out of town unexpectedly.
Delia (to Vincent): so I heard. You all had the rest of us worried when everyone realized that you'd gone off the radar.
Vincent (to Delia): I know, hun. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry.
Delia (to Vincent): any idea when you'll be back? I know you're doin whatcha gotta do but.. well.. here you at least have people that have your back. Hell, if nothing else we've proved Leon is pretty good in a fight.
Vincent (to Delia): Oh, hun... Believe me, I would like nothing better than to be home right now, but, I've got to sort this out. Hopefully it won't take too long.
Delia (to Vincent): I hope so too... its just not the same without you behind the bar.
Vincent (to Delia): I'm sure! Who's going to make wildly inappropriate comments? Y'all might start behaving yourselves without me.
A couple hours later:
Poppy (to Vincent): Hey honey, how you holding up? Is time still synched with us over there or can you tell?
Vincent (to Poppy): As far as I can tell, we're still synched up, plus or minus a few hours. Your former employers have been kind enough to let me stay on board the Calpurnia while I recoup, And Klaude tries to work out exactly what Smythe did to the portals.
Poppy (to Vincent): Emmett sent me some data they've been studying... I think I may have narrowed down what caused the interference in the portal we entered through, but I'm not sure what it means...
Vincent (to Poppy): Any theories, hun?
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, so far the only theory I have come up with sounds completely impossible... either someone had mini time/space device or a handful of chronotons in their pocket. Both, seems a bit daft to me, so I'm looking over everything again...
Vincent (to Poppy): Actually, sweetie, that might not be as far-fetched as you think. That would have caused the portal to collapse like it did?
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, I think if there were two similar devices in the portal that could cause the collapse... Smythe clearly has one of them, but he'd be foolish to bring a second one in there powered up with him & it doesn't explain the readings...
Vincent (to Poppy): It might not have been Smythe. I have to confirm something with my sister first. (to Mouse) How are you doing, sweet sister o' mine? How did last night go?
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, if you can shed some light on this, that would make it easier to find a solution.
Mouse (to Vincent): I'm fine... everything's fine...
Vincent (to Mouse): Suuure it is. What's wrong, hun?
Mouse (to Vincent): Sorry, I was working out... How are you?
Vincent (to Mouse): Are you SURE, sweetie?
Mouse (to Vincent): Sure, that I was working out? Yes, I'm quite sure that's what I was doing... Are you okay?
Vincent (to Mouse): Alright. Fine. Don't tell me what's wrong, but I'm going to be bugging the hell out of you when I get back. Did you bring that hourglass Greg gave you when we crossed over?
Mouse (to Vincent): Yes, I thought it might come in handy & that was why Greg sent it to us.
Vincent (to Mouse): Ah! Well, that may explain why the portal started collapsing early on us. (to Poppy) Hey hun, it looks like my sister may have carried something through the portal crawling with chronotons. She should still have it if you want to examine it.
Mouse (to Vincent): Really, you think it's my fault?
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh, sweetie, how on earth did she get her hands on something like that?
Vincent (to Mouse): No! Of course not, sweetie! I would have probably done the same thing if I were you. Like you can be blamed for not knowing how these space/time portals work. Honestly, I've been using them for years, and I STILL don't understand them. :-P (to Poppy) Remember when I told you my sister used to "date" the grim reaper? It was a Christmas gift apparently.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, if that's true, honey, we may be able to use it to get you home. I'll take a look at it tomorrow.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hun, that's the best news I've heard all day.
Poppy (to Vincent): Don't get too excited, honey, I won't know for sure until I look at it...
