Eep (to Mouse): You'll kick ass! Lemme know how they go. I'll see you after work.
Mouse (to Eep): Thanks! Have a good day at work.
Vincent: Oooo! Trying to navigate the doorknob and a latte at the same time has ended in tragedy. And latte down the front of my jacket. Work is going to be SO interesting tomorrow night.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh honey, I wish I was there to help you navigate around.
Delia (to Vincent): And why is that exactly, sugar butt?
Vincent (to Poppy): Aww, thanks, hun. I'm fine. More annoyed than injured. How go things on your side of reality? (to Delia) Oh that's right! You haven't seen my latest round with pathetic-ness. I dislocated my shoulder, so my arm is in a sling. For four weeks! And worst of all? It's a blue, multi-strapped monster! I own nothing that matches this fashion disaster. :-P
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, I'd still be willing to be your nursemaid. Things are happening here, the "wizard" wants to run a test to see if he has a solution to the portal problem, but he needs a volunteer... I am thinking of doing it, as I'm a safer candidate than any of the sisters... Still thinking on it, though.
Delia (to Vincent): Oh, for fuck's sake. How on earth did you accomplish that might I ask? This. This is why we can't have nice things or take you anywhere. Were you channeling Leon or something? You're not built to withstand a beating like he is. I swear, your spirt animal is a kicked puppy or something similar.
Vincent (to Poppy): Don't let him talk you into anything dangerous, hun! I know our wizard is a genius, but he forgets to factor in the human cost of his ideas, it seems. (to Delia) Hee hee. It might just be at that. Don't worry, hun. I've been beat up FAR worse than this before.
Poppy (to Vincent): Are you worried about me, honey? Don't fear, I'm not volunteeering for anything until I know all the angles. That's actually one of his greatest flaws, I think... He doesn't often think of the people.
Delia (to Vincent): Be that as it may, I believe my point is still valid.
Vincent (to Poppy): Of course I worry about you, hun! I never stopped. (to Delia) Yes, Mommy Dearest. How are you, BTW? It feels like it's been a million years! How is tall, intense & dreadlocked doing?
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, honey, I worry about you, too. Are you alright? You sounded a bit down the last time we talked.
Delia (to Vincent): He's doing well, oh son of mine. Healing up pretty good. As for the voicemail you'll have to ask him. Seems end of the nightmares only meant the beginning of the strange shit.
Vincent (to Poppy): Things have been a bit rocky between me and Mouse since we got back. She's hurt I never told her about my Dr. Who adventures, or anything about myself, really. She says she doesn't blame me for what Smythe did to her, but I'm not so sure I feel the same. (to Delia) Maybe it's just some kind of leftover trauma. What kind of weird shit has it been?
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, did you tell Smythe to kidnap your sister? Or torture her? While, I understand your need to beat yourself up because of the guilt... you did think you were keeping her safe by not telling her all about your other life and I think that should count for something.
Delia (to Vincent): Well I know he got a weird note at work and during the meeting at the coffee shop he said his Thor's hammer felt warm.
Vincent (to Poppy): It should, but it doesn't change what happened. And it doesn't change the fact that I took on more risk than I could handle alone. Maybe she's right. Maybe I don't trust people like I should. (to Delia) Well, that IS some strange shit. Remember back when our lives used to be normal? Wasn't that nice?
Poppy (to Vincent): I promise, I won't tell your sister that you think she might be right.
Delia (to Vincent): Yeeeah. I'm not sure that ever happened. I think it's a myth. All it was is we kept our crazy more private is all.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh, I don't mind if she's right. I just hate being wrong. (to Delia) Hee hee. Well, I can't argue with you when you're right.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, I'd offer to punish you, honey... but I think you've suffered enough. ;-)
Delia (to Vincent): Since when? You love to argue! Lol. Your middle name is "contrary".
Vincent (to Poppy): Good heavens, Miss Meriwether. Do the Davenports know you make such improper offers? ;-} (to Delia) It is not! Oh... Hee hee. But, I suppose, it probably should be. Well, if this past few weeks have taught me anything, it's that I'm not always as right as I think I am. Shocking, isn't it?
Poppy (to Vincent): Only to you, my good sir, only to you. ;-)
Delia (to Vincent): Down right unthinkable! It's like you're learning or something. We can't have that!
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, I do have the tendency to bring out the absolute worse in everyone. It's one of my better traits, I think. (to Delia) Good heavens, no we can't! I might start acting like a responsible adult. Then what fun would I be?
Poppy (to Vincent): Awww, honey, I certainly didn't mean it like that... I'd give you a hug, if I was there... if you wanted one.
Vincent (to Poppy): I certainly wouldn't mind a hug. You'll have to keep it for me until next time we see one another.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, honey, holler if you need anything. Be safe!
Vincent (to Poppy): You too, hun! Be careful.
Four hours later:
Mouse (to Eep): Hey Mister man, I just got home. How's your day going?
Eep (to Mouse): You know, the usual: action, adventure, intrigue. How'd the interviews go?
Mouse (to Eep): I think they went okay, they both said they'd call me in a few days... so, who knows?
Eep (to Mouse): Well, they'll hire you if they know what's good. Shit, all you should have had to do is bring them a sample. Seriously, I think I've put on like 10 pounds living with you.
Mouse (to Eep): Really? You wouldn't know it to look at you, beanpole. :-P
Eep (to Mouse): Yeah. Well, OK. That might be a slight exaggeration. Maybe it's closer to like 2 lbs, but still ...
Mouse (to Eep): They liked my credentials, but they asked a lot of questions about why it took me so long to get back into cooking since my last go around was years ago and the last food service job was at the coffeehouse & not cooking.
Eep (to Mouse): Yikes! Can't really say, oh I was afraid my grim reaper ex might kill someone, huh? What'd you tell them?
Mouse (to Eep): I just said that after college & the loss of my grandmother, I felt the need to travel and life just sort of moved me in a different direction, but I've always loved cooking & had thought about getting back into it and now seemed like the time to do it.
Eep (to Mouse): Good answer! I'll be shocked if you don't get one of them.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, the downside is that if I get one of them, chances are I'm going to be working restaurant hours & no more cooking at home… On the plus side, you'll probably lose those 2 pounds in no time. :-P
Eep (to Mouse): Well, fingers crossed. Course, can't say that I won't be a little bit sad that I have to go back to cooking for myself. :p
Mouse (to Eep): heehee, well, we could always open our own place & you could make empanadas for me all of the time. :-P
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. Would that be part of my job description as a "kept man"? Now would probably be a bad time to mention that my mom also taught me to make tamales, wouldn't it?
Mouse (to Eep): Well, yes, that would have to be part of your duties... you make tamales? You're making this whole "kept man" thing sound better and better.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. Well, yeah. I kinda know how to make them. I could try to make them tomorrow before work if you want.
Mouse (to Eep): Heehee, actually I know how to make tamales... I could show you. :-)
Eep (to Mouse): Both of us in the kitchen at the same time? Heh. Do you really think that's a good idea?
Mouse (to Eep): I'm willing to risk it, if you are.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. Well, alright. You were warned.
Mouse (to Eep): I'll start prepping for the tamale making. :-)
A few hours later:
Poppy (to Vincent): hey honey, we're outside one of the portals & I swear I just saw your sister run off when we were landing... Oh no!
Vincent (to Poppy): WHAT?! (to Eep & Mouse) Where are you two?!
Mouse (to Vincent): At home. What's up?
Poppy (to Vincent): bzzzztttt
Vincent (to Poppy): Poppy? (to Mouse) I don't know! I don't know! I just got a message from Poppy that she saw you outside of one of the portals and then she said she was shot!
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Vincent, we're at the portal where Smythe was trapped... A group of his henchmen opened the portal, he's free... Someone looking an awful lot like your sister shot Poppy. We're getting her to safety...
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Oh, sweet mother of God! I just checked with my sister. She's here. I... I don't know what... Shit. Shit. Shit. SHIT! Is Poppy OK?
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): I'm not going to lie, she's damaged pretty badly... but we'll take care of her. I have no idea what's going on. Mingan is going after them along with Captain Goodpenny.
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Alright. Sorry. I'm being calm. Do we know if any of the portals to our world are open? (to Mouse) I just confirmed with Emmett. Poppy's been shot, and whoever did it looked a lot like you, sweetie.
Mouse (to Vincent): What!?! I've been here the whole time. Why would I shoot Poppy?
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Well, it looks the portal that's outside our Colorado Springs is open on this end. Not sure about your side. We were here taking some readings when we got ambushed.
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Oh good heavens! Are you and Klaude alright? (to Mouse) I believe you, sweetie! I don't think it was you. And... I don't know how else to say this, but Smythe escaped. Do you still have that alarm system in place? PLEASE tell me you do.
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh god... yes, I do... damn it, I thought it was over.
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Yes, thankfully. We just got Poppy aboard the Time Out...
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Please take care of her, Emmett. (to Mouse) Thank goodness. So far, they're not sure if any of the portals to our little slice of reality are open... But, I'll sleep better knowing you have an alarm. I'll be over in a sec, hun. Poppy left me a very nice parting gift.
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): We'll do our best... Not to sound completely paranoid, but do you know for sure that your sister is really your sister? It wouldn't be unheard of...
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh... okay... I need to tidy up the kitchen.
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Believe me, I KNOW. I didn't know Poppy was an automaton when we first met, remember? And, I don't want to be indiscreet but we got rather intimately acquainted. But her cat, Otto, hasn't been acting strange around her at all. If she were an automaton or a construct, he would know. (to Mouse) Oh heavens... Do I need to give you and Eep some time?
Mouse (to Vincent): We were making tamales... he's a bit of tyrant in the kitchen... nevermind... it's fine.
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Alright, I just needed to ask... I mean the woman's hairstyle was different, but other than that it looked just like Mouse. And, she apparently works for Smythe... this isn't good...
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Good Lord. As I said, I'm certain my sister is here with us, so the only reasons I can think of that there's a 2nd Mouse & all too disturbing to think about right this moment. I'll make sure the gang is all OK on this end. (to Mouse) And you have a fetish. I know. I know. I'll see you shortly.
Mouse (to Vincent): I don't have a fetish! I just like it when he's all bossy in the kitchen... oh, wait. that totally might be a fetish...
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Stay safe. If you see or hear anything, let us know. And, don't worry about Poppy, we'll get her fixed up.
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Will do. Take care of yourselves, and of that saucy assistant of yours! I'll let you know if we see anything. (to Mouse) Yeah you do. Oh Lord... I hoped this was all over too… God, I hope Poppy is OK.
Mouse (to Vincent): Yeah, me too. How you holding up?
Vincent (to Mouse): I... I'm not sure yet. Right now, there's too much to think about and on which to focus, but... Are you OK?
Mouse (to Vincent): I'm a bit freaked, but not as much as Eep is, I think...
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh dear. How's Mr. Smiley doing?
Mouse (to Vincent): I think he's going to wear a groove in the floor from the pacing... maybe, you can talk to him?
Vincent (to Mouse): I can try, hun. (to Eep) Hey, Slim. How you doing?
Eep (to Vincent): Uh, yeah. Kinda not OK. I thought this shit was over and done with! I thought we were done with this! How the fuck... I mean... Jesus!
Mouse (to Vincent): See what I mean?
Vincent (to Mouse): Yeah. So I see. I'm pulling up now. Do me a favor? Grab him and kiss him hard, deeply and with tongue.
Mouse (to Vincent): uh ok, but how exactly is that going to help?
Vincent (to Mouse): That should reset his brain.
Mouse (to Eep): Feeling better?
Eep (to Mouse): Uh.... Well, kinda. Wow. That works.
