Poppy (to Mouse): Hey honey, can I come over and examine the present from your "ex"?
Mouse (to Poppy): Oh yeah, of course... do you think it might help get Vincent home?
Poppy (to Mouse): That's indeed what I'm hoping, honey. I'll be over shortly.
Three hours later:
Poppy (to Vincent): Hey honey, I have some good news & some bad news about the hourglass... Good news, I think it'll work. Bad news is that I think I'm the only thing that can direct the device to open the portal... There's the possibility that it may drain my power cells completely, so we may have to do a full transfer - you for me. I'm still looking into it. But, I'll gladly switch places with you, if need be. You belong here with your family & friends.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh hun... What would happen to you if your power cells get drained?
Poppy (to Vincent): I'd become inactive until a new power source was located... I'd essentially be a very large expensive paperweight, honey.
Vincent (to Poppy): Is there a power source on that side we could use to recharge you if that happens?
Poppy (to Vincent): Maybe, but there's no guarantee that there's something compatible in your world & if I'm powered down here, there will be no one to fix it. So, we'll have to switch places. I'll get recharged, you'll be home & I can assist in finding a way to reopen the doors from the other side. Clearly, there are forces at work trying to keep us apart, honey. And, just when I thought we had found a nice balance...
Vincent (to Poppy): Clearly, it's too much sexy for one reality to handle. Are you SURE you'll arrive here safely and be able to recharge, hun? As much as I want to come home, I don't want you to put yourself at risk to do it.
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, that's all very sweet of you, worse comes to worse, I can be taken to Colorado Springs or Current & get fitted with a new one. The risk is minimal... just sadly keeps us apart.
Vincent (to Poppy): I know. I wish there were a better way to do this, but sadly I don't think there is at the mo. I've been checking my usual paths, and they're ALL shut down. And if chatter the pirate channels is any indication... that's the case all over.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, then this is the only option... Can you be on that side of the Old Piedmont Gate in one hour?
Vincent (to Poppy): I can. Who so you need to be here to take care of you after the tranfer?
Poppy (to Vincent): If you could have Klaude there, honey, that would be great, she'll know what to do.
Vincent (to Poppy): e'll both be there in an hour. ... Poppy, thank you for doing this for me.
Poppy (to Vincent): Of course, your family & friends need you...
An hour or so later:
Eep (to Mouse): Hey pretty lady. How are you holding up?
Mouse (to Eep): As well as can be expected... Poppy was just here and she thinks she can bring Vincent home. Oh, and she gave us a very nice "wedding" present... a new car. She apparently, has no concept of what is appropriate. I mean, it's actually her car & I tried to give it back to her, but she wouldn't take it.
Eep (to Mouse): Wait. Wait. There was too much crazy in that sentence for me to take in all at once. Poppy gave us HER CAR? That's... That makes no sense. What's she gonna drive? And she thinks she can get Vincent home?
Mouse (to Eep): Sorry... She thinks she can bring back Vincent with the hourglass. The only thing is, she'll end up taking his place... So, she gave us her car as a present, since she doesn't know if she'll be back. She said she thought you could use it. She said some other stuff about newlyweds & so on, but I'm not repeating it.
Eep (to Mouse): Wow. I... Jesus. I don't even know what to say.
Mouse (to Eep): I know, it's a lot to take in. Sorry, I just blurted it all out earlier.
Eep (to Mouse): No. No. I understand why. I still don't think I've processed it all. And she has to swap places with Vincent to bring him home?
Mouse (to Eep): Yeah, that's what it sounds like. She could stay here, but there's the possibility the process will make her inactive... She needs to switch with him, so she can be "recharged" if that happens. Everything else just went way over my head.
Eep (to Mouse): Yeah. Tell me about it. I have kind of a tough time reconciling "Old Poppy" with "Brain the Size of a Planet Poppy." Sucks that they both can't stay, though. I feel bad for Vincent. I think he's still kinda hung up on her. How are you feeling? You've been kinda... on edge the past couple of days.
Mouse (to Eep): I'm sorry, I thought I'd be happy that Smythe was trapped, but I'm actually a bit disappointed that I didn't get to punch him... And, there's a part of me that's unbelievably giddy about our cross-dimensional wedding & I feel a bit guilty about it. I mean, my brother is trapped, and I miss him, but I'm also angry with him... but I love you... so yeah, just don't quite know what to focus on...
Eep (to Mouse): What? Don't feel guilty about that! Vincent was trapped, but it's not like he was in trouble. He was stuck but safe, right?
Mouse (to Eep): Are you sorry you asked? :-P
Eep (to Mouse): No! Of course I'm not sorry. I kinda wish you felt more comfortable talking to me about this shit. Heh. You know, I, uh, I was kinda afraid you'd say no when I asked you to marry me.
Mouse (to Eep): Really? Why on earth would you think that? I was actually wondering if you were ever going to ask me. I figured after my painkiller declaration you were going to steer clear of the very idea of it. Not to mention, the whole gone a little mental from torture thing... :-)
Eep (to Mouse): Honestly, I think I'd be more freaked out if you weren't kinda fucked up from all that shit. I wasn't sure you'd still be interested, after, you know, everything... Um, I'm really sorry I never told you about Bizarro World. I just... I couldn't come up with a way to make it not sound completely bat shit. I mean... even NOW it sounds a little bat shit to me. I thought all that shit was over and done with when I woke up next to you. If I had known...
Mouse (to Eep): Wait... What do you mean, woke up next to me? Vincent said this happened before we met...
Eep (to Mouse): God, I don't know how to even begin to explain all this shit. Uh... Smythe originally grabbed me before we met.
Mouse (to Eep): And, you came back after we had started dating?
Eep (to Mouse): Yeah. Vincent said it was because I was pulled through a doorway they opened up in my room...
Mouse (to Eep): ... But, who was I with all that time?
Eep (to Mouse): Oh no! It was me! He said something about how the timelines weren't synched up right... So my chronology got all fucked up somehow. I don't know. It was WAY over my head. Honestly, I don't think Vincent understands it all that well either.
Mouse (to Eep): No, that boy was never very good in science... the only time he paid any attention was when Simon Templeton was his lab partner. But, why after everything you & I have been through, you didn't feel comfortable telling me any of this? Especially, after I told you about the weird dreams that I had been having... I think that's what upset me the most. I mean, you expect me to tell you what's going on with me but you & Vincent didn't trust me, enough...
Eep (to Mouse): It's not that I didn't trust you! It's just... Well, um, Vincent asked me not to tell you. He said he and the Davenports were working together on something he couldn't tell me about, and they kinda saved my life, so... When my chronology finally decomposed, or whatever, I had all these memories of being HERE with you... I started thinking I'd just dreamed the whole thing.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, that explains you not telling me... but, why didn't Vincent? I mean, after everything I've done, you'd think he would have trusted me enough to tell me... I mean, look what happened because he didn't trust me? I should just tell Poppy to leave him there... I won't, but I'm angry enough that I feel like that's an option. Thank you for telling me all of that.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh... Um, you're welcome. If you have any other questions, lemme know. I can't promise I can answer them, but I can try. And, um, for what it's worth, I don't think Vincent didn't tell you because he didn't trust you. But, I dunno. You're gonna have to ask him. When did Poppy say they were gonna try the transfer?
Mouse (to Eep): Not sure, I think it should have happened already.
Three hours later:
Poppy (to Vincent): Did it work, honey? I just got done recharging & since I'm obviously on this side with the Davenports... I'm hoping you're on the other side where you belong.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh, I'm so glad you're OK, hun! I'm where I'm supposed to be. I'm sorry I didn't contact you sooner. The crossing was a little rougher than I was expecting.
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm just happy to hear from you, honey.
Vincent (to Poppy): Likewise. I know I already said this, hun, but thank you again. I hope I can see you again soon to properly thank you.
Poppy (to Vincent): I will keep my fingers crossed, honey, that our paths will cross again.
Vincent (to Poppy): As do I. Keep yourself safe, sweetie, and let me know if there's anything I can do.
Poppy (to Vincent): Same goes for you, honey. I left a little something for you at your apartment...
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh? An interesting something, or a practical something?
Poppy (to Vincent): Possibly, a bit of both, honey.
Vincent (to Poppy): I suppose I'll just have to wait and see, will I? Shoot! I've never been good at waiting. (to Eep & Mouse) Hi gang! Guess who just rejoined his proper timeline? The first two guesses don't count.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, honey, anticipation is good for the spirit... I need to be offline to finish my recharge. Stay safe!
Mouse (to Vincent): I'm glad you're back, little brother!
Eep (to Vincent): Holy shit! Are you OK?
Vincent (to Mouse): Thanks, sweet sister. I'm glad to be home. (to Eep) Yeah. I'm OK.
Mouse (to Vincent): I imagine you'll want get home and rest after all of that...
Eep (to Vincent): Well, I'm glad you're OK. Uh... Also? You REALLY need to talk to your sister. She's really hurt you didn't trust her with all of this inter-dimensional pirate bullshit.
Vincent (to Mouse): I ought to. Seems I passed out a bit after I arrived. I have a kink in my neck you wouldn't believe. But... I'd like to see you. I owe you... I owe you more than an explanation, hun. But, if you don't want to see me I understand. (to Eep) Yeah. I know.
Mouse (to Vincent): Well then, come on over... I'm making Crawfish Etouffee and you're just in time for dinner. (to Eep) Hey sexy man, just so you know, I've got Crawfish Etouffee for dinner & Vincent's joining us...
Vincent (to Mouse): It sounds better than I deserve. I'll see you soon, sweetie.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh! Crawfish Etouffee sounds pretty damn good. So, um, are you gonna be OK? Seeing Vincent, I mean?
Mouse (to Eep): Well, the fact that I felt like cooking something today for the first time since I got home, makes me feel more like myself... I'm not mad at you, anymore, but as far as, Vincent goes, I don't know...
Eep (to Mouse): Well, I guess you're about to find out. Either you'll feed him, or punch him in the face. Possibly both.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, I don't want to be mad at him, but I can't help it. And, the fact that he acts like he deserves it just upsets me more... I wish everything was back the way it was, but it's not going to happen, so he & I need to deal with this. And, for your information, it'll probably go hug, punch, food. :-p
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. I don't doubt it.
Twenty minutes later:
Vincent (to Mouse & Eep): I'm outside the apartment. I just have one request.... Don't punch me in the face. Or my right arm.
Mouse (to Vincent): ... Fine... You take all the fun out of everything.
Vincent (to Mouse): Now, now. I didn't say you couldn't hit me, just not in the face, as I STILL have a black eye, & not in the right arm; It's already sore.
Mouse (to Vincent): It's very hard to punch you when you already look pathetic... It's really not fair. What did you do to your arm?
Vincent (to Mouse): I dislocated my shoulder.
Mouse (to Vincent): How did that happen? Did you get it relocated? I know how to fix it, if you haven't, as I've done it before.
Vincent (to Mouse): Ouch! When did you... Oh. Right. I'm sorry, sweetie.
Mouse (to Vincent): For someone who said they wanted to talk, you.'re being awfully vague & unhelpful. Just come on...
Vincent (to Mouse): Of course, sweetie. I'm sorry. And, well, I weight 115 pounds. When I try to ram a sword down someone's throat, it takes a bit of force on my part.
Mouse (to Vincent): You rammed a sword down someone's throat?
Vincent (to Mouse): I tried, but I'm afraid I didn't succeed. Smythe was between me and the door, hun. Well, *mostly* between me and the door. And he was pointing a TeslaArcht at you, Eep and Poppy.
Mouse (to Vincent): Well, I've got some tiger balm, that'll help with the ache...
Vincent (to Mouse): Thanks. So... either hit me or scream at me. This polite conversation is making me crazy.
Mouse (to Vincent): Look, I'm waiting for you to give me an explanation before I decide what I'm going to do with you. Yes, I'm mad at you... but I'm not got going to hit or scream at you, just because you think you deserve it. You're pretty beat up looking & it wouldn't really fix anything or make me feel any better in the end. I just want to know why you didn't tell me about all of this stuff. Didn't you trust me? And, don't give me the bullshit answer of the Davenport's told you not to... I'll believe Eep when he says that, but you have never done what you're told in your life, so the truth would be nice...
Vincent (to Mouse): You're right. Good heavens... I don't know rightly where to start, hun. But, I'll tell you everything. Well, everything I know. I've been crossing over for a couple of years. It took me a while to convince myself I wasn't suffering head trauma. I didn't want to tell you not because I didn't trust you. Sweetie, you have to know... You're the about the only person in the whole world I trust without question. I just didn't want to make your life any weirder. I know how much Greg's whole involvement screwed your head on wrong. I didn't tell you about what I was hiding for the Wizard, because even though I was so fucking SURE it was safe here... I didn't want to involve you in anything that could potentially be dangerous. You OR Eep. I'm so sorry, sweetie.
Mouse (to Vincent): While that all sounds very brave & thoughtful... it clearly wasn't the best idea. Just because my life was all ready weird because of my past experiences didn't mean you shouldn't have told me... Hell, I'd have probably believed you right off the bat, since I have had such strange things occur around me and I could have helped you, as I think I've proven, I'm pretty capable.
Vincent (to Mouse): I wish I knew what to tell you, sweetie. I really do. I don't blame you a bit for how you feel.
Mouse (to Vincent): And now, what do we do? I love you, little brother, but I don't trust you. I feel betrayed.
Vincent (to Mouse): I love you, and I wish to all that's holy and good I told you about this the first time I stumbled through a portal. And that I'd never agreed to hide those stupid plans. Believe me. I thought I was doing the right thing.
Mouse (to Vincent): I know you did but that doesn't make any of this any easier. Smythe would have tortured me either way... but at least, I would have been prepared for it. Look, just give me some time...
Vincent (to Mouse): I... That... That doesn't make it any better, sweetie. I should go. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I should go.
Mouse (to Vincent): I wish there was a way that things could go back to the way it was between us, but it can't. I do love you, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to forgive you, just yet.
Vincent (to Mouse): I know, hun. I'm not asking you to forgive me. I'll see you later.
Mouse (to Eep): You can come back inside if you'd like... I think it's safe.
Eep (to Mouse): How did it go?
Mouse (to Eep): Well, I didn't punch him, so that's gotta count for something.
Eep (to Mouse): Well that's good. How are you?
Mouse (to Eep): To be honest... upset. I think Vincent really wanted me to hit him & scream. I just don't have the energy or desire to give him what he wants. If I did that, he'd be off the hook in no time... I could use a hug.
Eep (to Mouse): Well, I can't blame you. And I can certainly give you a hug.
Mouse (to Eep): And, that's why I love you. :-)
Eep (to Mouse): I love you too.
