Vincent (to Delia & Leon): How are you two doing? Not freaking out too badly, I hope?
Delia (to Vincent): Better now that I'm no longer drugged or drunk or some combination there of. Tesla got pretty freaked out by the wardrobe though. Wouldn't let me near it till leon checked it out.
Vincent (to Delia): Poor little guy. Traveling between worlds can do funny things to kitties.
Delia (to Vincent): So I've noticed. That big, gray talking thing was Otto, wasn't it?
Vincent (to Delia): It is. The younger the cats are when they cross over, the more it can change them.
Delia (to Vincent): Yikes. Good thing Tesla's grown then. I'd say a 50ft. Thunder Cat is quite enough change, thank you.
Percy (to Delia & Leon): Hey sweeties, how are you doing? Our kind host is about to take afternoon tea, if you'd like to join us.
Delia (to Percy): Is it alright if I just wear pants? Some of the other thing in here for me seem like they'd take an hour to get into... and that's just the stuff I recognize.
Percy (to Delia): That should be fine, Mouse already did it, so Nikola should be used to it by now.
Leon (to Percy): That does sound quite lovely, Mr. Poppycock. We will come post haste! Will he mind if Kitty Dynamo comes?
Percy (to Leon): He won't mind at all, honey (to Delia & Leon) though I should mention that you're both going to find him a bit familiar looking and I can explain it to you at tea...
Delia (to Percy): Wait, wait, wait. We're having tea with our host, Nikola. And I'm bringing along my cat, Tesla. The universe won't implode?
Percy (to Delia): If it didn't implode when he & Eep met, honey, I think the universe is safe. :-)
An hour or so later:
Delia (to Percy): Man, I can see what you mean! Its almost creepy! Is he a robot too? Do we all have clockwork counterparts?
Percy (to Delia): No, not everyone has robot counterparts, Mouse was an isolated incident.... But most people have human counterparts.
Delia (to Percy): Huh… that's...huh. I guess that makes a sort of sense but it's kinda weird to think about.
Percy (to Delia): I know it's a lot to absorb, honey, if you have questions feel free to ask & I'll try my best to explain... (to Vincent) Hey honey, are you & Ripper back from your meeting, yet?
Delia (to Percy): Yes, but to be fair, is it really, actually, any stranger then anything else that's been going on?
Percy (to Delia): That's true, honey.
Delia (to Percy): My boyfriend was haunted and talks to Death and maybe Thor? That's not clear. Mouse also kinda dated Death you're an android.. Ripper apparently talks to the Empress. Vincent really IS an air pirate, no offense, thought that was a bit of sexy pretend between the two of you. My cat is electric, Otto talks and Eep… is... huh. Fairly normal. So the thought of doubles is kinda par for the course.
Vincent (to Percy): We're all finished, hun. And I managed to avoid getting us cast into the dungeons.
Percy (to Vincent): Well, that's good, honey. Did the meeting go well? (to Delia) Gee honey, when you put it like that, it makes it sound like I just gave you the keys to a trailer park...
Delia (to Percy): Hehe… while that is funny to imagine I meant it more as me trying to take it all in stride.
Vincent (to Percy): As well as taking me to meet royalty could be expected to go. The Empress seemed taken with me. Her mother, however, seemed less than charmed. She said from the tales, she expected that I'd be taller. :-P
Percy (to Delia): Oh sorry, honey, I'm glad you can find the humor in all of this. (to Vincent) Well, one does what one can, honey.
Delia (to Percy): Yes, well, it's either this or me feeling like I'm going insane. I prefer the first option.
Vincent (to Percy): Hee hee. I told her that I was big enough to get the job done. Poor Ripper, he nearly choked when I said that.
Percy (to Vincent): I'm sure. Did her majesty agree to help? (to Delia) Well, if there's anything I can do to make you feel less insane, honey, just let me know.
Delia (to Percy): Ha! Will do. Honestly this seems more incredible then anything else. I always wanted adventures and now is my chance. (to Vincent) Remind me to smack you later for not letting me in on this sooner and hogging the adventure.
Vincent (to Percy): That's the good news, hun. We should have some help. Apparently, Her Highness was keen to keep anything from happening to me. (to Ripper) I meant to apologize for earlier. I didn't mean to embarrass you in front of your patron.
Ripper (to Vincent): It's alright, I'm just glad that they both thought you were funny... And charming.
Vincent (to Ripper): Well thank heavens for small favors. :-P At least it looks like we'll be getting some help.
An hour or so later:
Leon (to Percy): While I am certainly enjoying our little jaunt, I was wondering if you could help me find about two feet of thin brass chain?
Percy (to Leon): Sure, honey, if you follow me to the workshop I'm sure we can find you exactly what you need.
Leon (to Percy): I want to make a collar and drag strap for Kitty Dynamo so he stops arcing electricity and making the everyone twitchy.
Percy (to Leon): We can definitely oblige, Mister Lion-O...
Leon (to Percy): Awww, yeah. Lion-o and the Thunder Cat. If Delia had spots, we'd be quite the trio. Are there cat people here? (to Vincent, Ripper & Percy): I hesitate to ask, but have any of you met my double that lives here in Britannia?
Percy (to Leon): So far, Otto is the closest equivalent... But, you never know. And, I don't think I've met your counterpart, at least not that I'm aware of, honey.
Vincent (to Leon): Not yet, big guy. Of course, not everyone has a counterpart in this reality. I don't, for example.
Leon (to Vincent): Wait...I thought you were from here originally?
Vincent (to Leon): Moi? No, believe it or not, I am a creature of our reality and time. :-P
Leon (to Vincent): Coulda fooled me, Captain Tightpants. I suppose you've got a swanky airship covered in cannons tethered about somewhere?
Vincent (to Leon): Swanky? Yes. But, it's not COVERED in cannons. I'm not trying to overcompensate for anything, you know. Well, you SHOULD know… After all, they ARE very tight pants. :-P In fact, I think they just got the royal seal of approval.
Leon (to Vincent): Really? What shade of lipstick does her Majesty wear, anyhow?
Vincent (to Leon): She's a bit young for my tastes. :-P
Leon (to Vincent): I meant to ask if Poppy switching to a boy body had anything to do with you? S/he'd be quite jealous of the Empress.
Vincent (to Leon): Oh no. Not at all. Today is the first time I've actually met Her Royal Highness. I'm not on the straight & narrow path on this side. Poppy had to be loaded into another body because her original body was shot.
A couple hours later:
Percy (to Eep & Mouse): Hey sweeties, just checking on you... Haven't seen you all day. Are you okay? Have you eaten? Should I send up food?
Eep (to Percy): Poppy, fuck off, please.
Percy (to Eep): What, honey? I'm just concerned... I could send up some fruit juice, I'm sure your electrolytes are a bit depleted by now... Or should I be more impressed?
Eep (to Percy): Wait... What? Oh. OH! Jesus Christ! Seriously, go fuck off! Go bother Vincent for a while.
Percy (to Eep): Fine... You are no fun at all.
Eep (to Percy): Yeah. Yeah. I'm SO disappointed you don't think I'm any fun.
Percy (to Vincent): Honey, Eep & Mouse have been holed up on their room all day, I tried to check on them & Eep told me to fuck off, he's so mean. :-(
Vincent (to Percy): Awww, hun. Give the newlyweds some space. They haven't really had any time to themselves, you know.
Percy (to Vincent): I know, honey, I was just worried about them.
Vincent (to Percy): Why is that, hun?
Ripper (to Percy): Hey, is there a way to get my hands on a very large bottle of rum? I think I have a dire need for one.
Percy (to Vincent): Well, after yesterday's visit from Hiiri, I just wanted to make sure the Gloomies were okay... (to Ripper) Oh my, yes, I'll bring one up to you, momentarily, honey. Would you like some company?
Vincent (to Percy): I'm sure they're both freaked to Hell, hun. But I trust them both to have one day to themselves at least.
Ripper (to Percy): Oh, thanks and I wouldn't mind the company... You sure Vincent won't mind?
Percy (to Vincent): I'll leave them alone, honey. It looks like I need to go procure some rum for Ripper. (to Ripper) I don't see why he would, honey...
Vincent (to Percy): Oh dear. (to Ripper) I hope you don't need the rum because of me, Professor. Sorry again. I'm clearly not fit for royal company.
Ripper (to Vincent): It's not that... I just spent too many hours spurning the advances of the Queen mum... And let's just say it's been awhile. (to Percy) Oh my...
Vincent (to Ripper): Oh good heavens! Well, I'm glad that I'm not her type in that case.
Several hours later:
Vincent (to Mouse): How are you doing, sweetie?
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh, just fine, little brother. How are you doing?
Vincent (to Mouse): I've had... an interesting day. But, I didn't get arrested, and I believe I got us some help tracking down Hiiri. So all and all I'd consider that a win.
Mouse (to Vincent): Well, that's good, but I don't think Hiiri is in this world, anymore...
Vincent (to Mouse): Probably not, but I doubt we've seen the last of her. Unfortunately. Are you sure you're all right? Po--er--Percy seemed concerned about your mental well being this morning.
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh... I felt a little unhinged last night after my visit from Hiiri, but I'm feeling much better now. Eep helped me relax. He's been very attentive & patient with me... I just worry that I'm a burden.
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh, sweetie. I seriously doubt Eep would consider you anything resembling a burden. I'm so very glad he's there for you. I... Hun, I'm worried about you. I know that you're putting on a brave face, because you don't want to worry me... And maybe you're still a bit angry with me. It's OK. I understand. I... I just hope you're talking to someone about all this. Anyway... It's been a long day. I just wanted to check in on you. I'll let you get back to your beau. Love you, sweetie.
Mouse (to Vincent): Sweetie, I appreciate your concern & it's true, I don't want to worry you... but I promise I'm going to be okay, eventually.
Vincent (to Mouse): I know you will, hun. But, that doesn't mean I can't worry about you until then.
Mouse (to Vincent): Thank you, little brother. And, I'm not mad at you, anymore. You know perfectly well that I can't stay mad at you for long.
Vincent (to Mouse): Well, I AM impossibly charming. And I apparently have a bit of a growing fan club. Who can blame you?
Mouse (to Vincent): Yes, I'm actually the President of the Vincent Fan Club, we meet on Tuesdays... we have buttons & t-shirts. If you'd like one, I'm sure I could get you a good deal. :-P
Vincent (to Mouse): Hee hee. Actually, I'm slightly terrified that there could be fan club swag. Course, it would all be for "Sebastian Dearheart." So I'm afraid I'd still have to pay full price. :-P
Mouse (to Vincent): God, Isn't he one of the main characters in those terrible Jacqueline Roquelaure romance novels that Wanda likes? Wait... Is that what you meant by having a character based on you? HAHAHA. I read one of them when I was home sick one day... And, wow.
Vincent (to Mouse): Yes, yes. Yuck it up, sister o' mine. I DID say it wasn't exactly fine literature, didn't I?
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh god, thank you, little brother, I needed that. And, the Empress is a fan of yours? I'm surprised you're not strutting around like a proud peacock.
Vincent (to Mouse): Hee. Well she's a fan of the character, not me exactly. He's based on rumors, based on stories about things I may have done. With a load of extra sex thrown in. TRUST ME. Nothing I've done has ever been quite that interesting. :-P
Mouse (to Vincent): Well, now I'll never be able to read the rest of that series... This is why we can't have nice things. :-P
Vincent (to Mouse): Good heavens, tell me about it! Poppy & I read the first novel in the series... And... well, my life has been VERY meta lately. And knowing the author CERTAINLY doesn't make it any less awkward.
Mouse (to Vincent): Wait, you know the author, too? ... And, you say your life isn't interesting?
Vincent (to Mouse): Well, I didn't say it was boring, just not quite as interesting as the stories make it out to be. :-P Honestly, I wasn't exaggerating when I said I was essentially a glorified antiques dealer.
Mouse (to Vincent): Well, I think after all of this, you need to change your business cards. :-)
Vincent (to Mouse): Vincent Potter: Glorified Antiques Dealer, Pirate, & Mythic Figure of Romance and Intrigue ;-}
Mouse (to Vincent): I know I haven't exactly been myself, lately... but I have to ask, what's been going on with you & Poppy?
Vincent (to Mouse): As for Poppy and I, good heavens, hun, I wish I knew. We're still spending a disproportionate amount of time together. Which she's worried will keep me from forming relationships with "real" people. She's the one who seems to think I've got a bit of a fan club.
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh really? Do you think she's right?
Vincent (to Mouse): Under normal circumstances, I'd love to say yes, and bask in the glory of having a fans... But right now, I just don't know. I'm a bit off kilter.
Mouse (to Vincent): No, sweetie, I meant about the other thing... you have always had a fan club.
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh. I don't know, honestly. Probably. Oh heavens. It seems like all I say to questions these days is "I don't know."
Mouse (to Vincent): Well, I'd say talk to Poppy, because she's good at this sort of thing, but since that's part of the issue, you'll have to settle for me, I suppose.
Vincent (to Mouse): Well, I wouldn't call it settling, hun. I'm just not sure if I know what to say. Clearly I have trust issues around other people. Poppy was... Well, she was different. God... She probably felt safe... feels safe, because she isn't quite human. I wish I knew what else to say.
Mouse (to Vincent): And, it doesn't have anything to do with missing the old Poppy?
Vincent (to Mouse): ... I do. I really do, hun. But, I still think I did the right thing. In the end.
Mouse (to Vincent): Well, I still think that's a bit of a cop out, but I'm not going to argue with you. Plus, it's a moot point now... Seeing how she's completely different & well, uh, nevermind...
Vincent (to Mouse): Completely different and male? Believe me, I noticed.
