Vincent (to Mouse): I've been thinking quite a lot about what you said to me last night, sweetie, & about how I've been acting like a kicked puppy. You're right. I want you to forgive me, and not hate me, but that's not fair. You were the one alone and locked up for 4 months with a madman who did... I can't even imagine what. No. I CAN, actually. I just would rather not, because it breaks my heart. I'm sorry for being so melodramatic about all this.
Mouse (to Vincent): Why is it unfair?
Vincent (to Mouse): It's not fair to you. You might need to hate me for a while to work through this. I've been terrified it would mean you... Well, I thought this would be a thing that would make you rethink having me as an adopted brother. I'll suck it up. Do what you need to do the get through this. Talk to me whenever you can. If you can.
Mouse (to Vincent): Sweetie, I don't want to be mad at you. I know logically that none of this was your fault, but there's a part of me that does. I'm working through it... It'll be fine, eventually.
Vincent (to Mouse): I know. I'll try to remember that. I know it seems ridiculous, but there's always a part of me waiting to foul everything up. And I'm sorry for not talking to you. I always thought... No. That's not right. I always TOLD myself if there was anything you wanted to know, you'd ask. It's a great way to tell yourself you're being open without actually having to have an awkward conversation.
Mouse (to Vincent): Well, I always thought that you would tell me things when you were ready & trusted me, that's why I never pried & just let you figure things out for yourself... but maybe, I should have... I never had any siblings growing up & sometimes I felt more like your mom than a big sister, and I wanted us to be friends.
Vincent (to Mouse): No doubt. Well, for what it's worth, I've got two older siblings AND a mom you're better family to me than they've ever been. But, my family wasn't exactly the epitome of "functional," so I'm sure I'm the wrong lad to ask. :-P
Mouse (to Vincent): See, there's my point, you make light jokes about your family and I always assumed it was pretty bad judging how I found you, but I don't know anything about it. Until a few months ago, I didn't even know what your birth name was... this is why I'm mad at you. The stuff Smythe did wasn't your fault, he's batshit insane, but the fact that you hid things from me, as if telling me what really goes on in your head is going to make me regret taking you in.
Vincent (to Mouse): I know, but I was always afraid it would, hun. And not because I didn't trust YOU. You already know my birth name was Paul Jones, the middle name was Nathaniel, BTW, after my dad. I grew up near Lexington,KY. My dad was a Southern Baptist Pastor, still is I think, and he drank heavily. My mom, Judith... well, I don't think she wanted a third child. At least not a little femme one who made the neighbors whisper. I have an older sister and brother, Mary & Peter, who are 14 and 11 years older than me. I don't really know them. They were both out of the house, and out of the state, before I hit middle school. Around a week and a half before we met, I came out to my parents as bi. You saw what the aftermath of that excellent idea. My dad told me if I ever set foot in his house again, he'd kill me. I stole all the money in the house I could find, hopped a train, and ended up at the hostel in Piedmont.
Mouse (to Vincent): Wow... I didn't expect you to spill your guts right this second, little brother.
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh, hee. Sorry. You know me. I get an idea in my head... There's nothing there I didn't want you to know, hun. I just... Part of me wanted to bury it, and be done with it. In a way, I don't think of that as part of my life, anymore. Not really. Sorry to get my verbal diarrhea all over you. :-P
Mouse (to Vincent): Wow... There's an image that probably will never go away… And, yeah that may be true, but it affects you and your behavior even if you don't think it will, because you haven't really dealt with that stuff.
Vincent (to Mouse): I know, hun. Even I'M starting to see the patterns repeat themselves. The whole mess with Poppy really hammered that idea home. As long as I'm being verbally sick all over us both (you're welcome), is there anything you really want to know I haven't said?
Mouse (to Vincent): God, I just don't know...
Vincent (to Mouse): Sorry, sweetie. I didn't mean to overwhelm you just now. I'll leave you alone. I love you, big sister. I'll talk to you later.
Mouse (to Vincent): Come to dinner tonight, little brother... I'll make your favorite & we can watch a movie or something.
Vincent (to Mouse): Are you sure, sweetie?
Mouse (to Vincent): Yes, I'm sure. Are you not interested? I mean, who's going to come over and help me get Eep drunk enough to play video games, if you don't come over?
Vincent (to Mouse): Hee hee. Well, that IS true. I'd love to come over.
Mouse (to Vincent): Good. Dinner will be ready in an hour or so, head over whenever you want.
Vincent (to Mouse): OK, hun. I'll see you soon.
Eep (to Mouse): Hey, Mrs. How's the homestead?
Mouse (to Eep): Just fine, hubby dear. I'm just making dinner. I hope you don't mind that Vincent's going to be joining us.
Eep (to Mouse): No. I don't mind. Um, you two are on speaking terms again?
Mouse (to Eep): Yeah, we're working it out.
Eep (to Mouse): How are you doing, Killer?
Mouse (to Eep): Yeah, I'm okay. Vincent actually opened up, told me some stuff & I'm feeling less mad at him.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Well, good.
Mouse (to Eep): Are you okay? Where did you wander off to while I was down in the basement?
Eep (to Mouse): I'm fine. Just went for a walk.
Mouse (to Eep): Anything on your mind you wanna talk about?
Eep (to Mouse): Oh no. Yeah. I'm fine. I just needed to clear my head. I'm walking up now. What's for dinner?
Mouse (to Eep): Pasta Puttanesca with Cheesy Garlic bread, and Lemon Basil Sorbet for dessert... it's Vincent's favorite.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh wow. Holy fuck that sounds good! It's, uh, it's nice to see you cooking again.
Mouse (to Eep): Yeah, I'm feeling better... I've been thinking about getting a cooking job... Or opening my own place.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh yeah? Well, you're a good enough cook. That's for damn sure.
Mouse (to Eep): Thank you for the vote of confidence! So, you'd be cool with the idea of me opening a teeny, tiny little eatery or working at a restaurant instead of deejaying?
Eep (to Mouse): Wait. So I WOULDN'T be dating the hot DJ down at the goth club anymore? There goes my street cred! I'm kidding. I want you to do whatever makes you happy, Killer. So take a break. Try something different to see if you like it.
Mouse (to Eep): Honestly, at the moment, all I want to do is hide in my apartment with you. But, I know that's unhealthy and a bit unrealistic.
Eep (to Mouse): I'd hate for you to give up DJing all together, because you really seem to like it, but I get feeling like you need a change.
Two hours later:
Eep (to Mouse): What the FUCK game have you and your brother got me trying to play?
Mouse (to Eep): heehee, it's just one of the weird video games that he wanted for his birthday a couple years ago. I generally just hit the buttons randomly and hope that it does something important.
Eep (to Mouse): How the fuck is he beating me one-handed? (to Vincent) HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU BEATING ME ONE-HANDED?!
Vincent (to Eep & Mouse): That's not all I can do one-handed. :-P
Eep (to Vincent): Jesus Christ! As nice as it is to see you acting like yourself... Jesus H. Christ! You are... DISGUSTING.
Mouse (to Eep & Vincent): Heehee. (to Vincent) Feeling better, are we?
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh. Heh. Sorry, sweetie.
Mouse (to Vincent): heehee, it's okay. It's nice to see you laugh.
Vincent (to Mouse): Thank you, sweetie. You're better than I deserve.
Eep (to Mouse & Vincent): Why the fuck did I agree to play this shit with you two? You're goddamn hustlers!
Mouse (to Eep): I thought you wanted us to be friends again… I honestly have no idea what I'm doing. Which one am I, again? I just keep hitting the O button.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. You're one kicking my ass! Which one is the O button? There's 50 million buttons on here!
Mouse (to Eep): It's purely luck, I'm usually terrible at this game. Don't worry, gimpy'll kick my ass in a second.
Vincent (to Mouse): Gimpy? I greatly resemble that remark, madam! (to Mouse & Eep) Hey, who wants to make this more interesting? Every time you die, lose a piece of clothing!
Eep (to Vincent): What?! Fuck no! And why the HELL are you unbuttoning your shirt?
Mouse (to Vincent): Umm, no… (to Eep) Hit the green & orange buttons at the same time and then hit up... That's the special move, I think.
Vincent (to Eep): Oh, for heaven's sake. Calm down. I'm just warm.
Eep (to Mouse): Ha ha ha! Yeah it is! Thanks!
Vincent (to Mouse & Eep): Oof. I am *exhausted*. Thank you, you two. I appreciate everything. Feel free to start stripping once I'm gone. ;-}
