Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Greetings! Have you heard or seen Poppy? I've been trying to reach her all morning & her communicator has been turned off.
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Good morning, Emmett. Don't worry about Poppy. She arrived back at the Falcon safe and whole last night. It seems she had a bit of a rough day yesterday. She said got some sad news about someone she cared about getting killed.
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Oh... Is she okay?
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Honestly? I wish I knew. She's not being very forthcoming about the whole thing. May I ask you a strange question, Emmett? I wish I knew a way to ask more delicately, but was Poppy always an automaton?
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Oh. That certainly wasn't a question I was expecting to have to deal with, this morning... Um, no she wasn't.
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): After some of what she said last night, I suspected as much. That certainly explains some things.
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Oh, does it? Wait... What did Klaude tell you?
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): That the "human Poppy" program had been re-installed, and that she had been programmed with a proverbial "clean slate." At least as far as our past relationship was concerned. And while I'm sure that seemed like a wondrous idea at the time, it HAS caused more than a few complications.
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Fiddlesticks! This is one of those times, when I have a powerful desire to go smack my sister... I am so sorry.
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Madam, I've had that desire several times myself.
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): I don't really know, if it's my place to tell you any of this, but uh, Klaude couldn't repair Poppy... Um, the Poppy you knew is still in the "Percy" body.
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): What do you mean Klaude couldn't repair Poppy? You can't possibly mean that she's... Oh good heavens! Well, that certainly explains a great many MORE things. I really, REALLY wish someone would have seen fit to tell me this. What if I had dragged her into something dangerous without thinking?
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Oh, don't worry about that! Poppy is more than capable of taking care of herself. I'm sure there was some reason as to why Klaude didn't want to tell you, but I can't even begin to fathom what it was.
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): I can't either. Does Poppy know about Percy?
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Oh yes, that's why we woke her up... It's a very long story & probably one you should talk to Poppy about.
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Ha ha ha! Oh, eh, heh. I'm sorry, hun. The ridiculousness of the whole situation just hit me. All this time I've been trying to keep Poppy from "finding out" she's an automaton. Oh good heavens...
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Well, I'm glad you can see the humor in it...
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Madam, if I couldn't find humor in the absurd soap opera that is my life... I would most likely lock myself in my bathroom and never again emerge.
Emmett Davenport (to Vincent): Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm about to go & have a good, stern talk with Klaude. Be safe, Vincent!
Vincent (to Emmett Davenport): Give her a double finger wagging for me. We'll be careful. Stay safe yourself, hun! (to Poppy) Knock, knock, hun. Are you awake yet?
Poppy (to Vincent): ... Yes, honey. I've been up for hours, just thinking. What's the plan for the day?
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, hun, I think maybe we should head home, regroup and rethink.
Poppy (to Vincent): That sounds good to me.
Vincent (to Poppy): I don't know about you, but I could use a long hot bath. Especially, if my suspicions about Hiiri's "guest" are correct...
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, when do you want to leave for home, honey?
Vincent (to Poppy): I'm ready anytime, sweetie. Are you hungry? I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of fancy nosh on board. And, I did want to talk to you about last night...
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh... Something simple would be fine, I'm not really that hungry. Honey, I'm sorry I was acting weird, last night. It was a long day.
Vincent (to Poppy): Coffee should be ready in a few. Don't worry about how you were acting. If anything, I owe you an apology.
Poppy (to Vincent): What for, honey?
Vincent (to Poppy): For not being completely honest with you, hun. I spoke to Emmett Davenport this morning. I know about Percy.
Poppy (to Vincent): What!?! How did she know? Oh, that's why you want to talk about last night...
Vincent (to Poppy): I don't suppose Klaude or Emmett ever told you this, hun, possibly because it's all so massively confusing.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh... What is it, honey?
Vincent (to Poppy): The automaton Poppy was sent to keep an eye on Eep and I. We ended up in a bit of a complicated relationship. I'm sorry to say this, hun, but it didn't end well.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh... I had no idea. Klaude just told me we were friends... Well, that certainly explains a lot. And, you had a relationship with her? Well, doesn't that just take the cake? I finally get a boyfriend & I'm not actually me.
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, Klaude told me you had been reprogrammed with the "Human Poppy" protocol. I was under the impression you were still an automaton. I feel more than a bit foolish I didn't realize you weren't.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh... I'm sorry, that's probably partially my fault. I didn't really know how to brooch the subject.
Vincent (to Poppy): Yes, well, the bloody hand the other night probably should have been a clue.
Poppy (to Vincent): Look, honey, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. The reason for an automaton me was & still is very hush hush. I thought it might be easier if everyone just thought of me as your friend & not as a different entity all together. If I had known that there was a romantic connection between us, I certainly wouldn't have tried to kiss you the other night.
Vincent (to Poppy): Heh. I suspected as much. Well, now that we both feel odd and awkward about the whole thing... Are you ready to head home?
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh yes, that would great. Honey, when you mentioned Percy earlier, you were just talking about the automaton, weren't you?
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh, of course. Who else? Wait. Klaude DID tell you about your other version getting downloaded into a male body, didn't she?
Poppy (to Vincent): Yes, she did. I thought you were talking about something else, honey... It doesn't matter. I thought it was odd that Emmett would have known about it. I mean, I only just found out about it, yesterday.
Vincent (to Poppy): Thank heavens! I thought that was another deeply awkward conversation we were about to have. What did you find about yesterday? Are you sure you're OK?
Poppy (to Vincent): How much do you know about me, Vincent? I mean, I've never been much of a sharer & I can tell you're much the same way. Did the other me ever tell you about my family?
Vincent (to Poppy): Nothing, hun. It was probably one of the reasons we got along. We both took each other at face value. We never discussed family.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well then, why break a trend, honey?
Vincent (to Poppy): Honestly, sweetie? Because, it's starting to occur to me that it might possibly be the worst way to deal.
Poppy (to Vincent): What? So, honey, you want me to share with you something deeply personal & upsetting? Like, normal people? Couldn't we just make some perverted comments at each other and then, just go home?
Vincent (to Poppy): If that's what you want, sweetie.
Poppy (to Vincent): No, I'm willing to try it the other way, if you'd like. But, this is a bit weird for me... I've always been much more comfortable with dealing with other people's issues than my own.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. Another thing we have in common, hun. Then how's this? My birth name's Paul Jones. I ran away from home when I was 15 after my father threatened to kill me. I come from good ol' boy, Kentucky-dwelling, bourbon-drinking, Southern Baptist stock. You officially know more about me than your clockwork counterpart. :-P
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh... my turn, I suppose. Um, I was born Poppy Longfellow in the neighborhood of New London generally, called the Tombs. I ended up on the streets when I was ten. My brothers were mostly a bunch of ruffians, though a couple managed to make good. I just found out last night that my youngest brother, Percival, was killed during a job with 2 of my other brothers... He was my favorite & I thought he knew better than to get involved with Gideon & Markus.
Vincent (to Poppy): I'm so sorry, hun.
Poppy (to Vincent): It's not your fault, honey. I had tried to put all of that behind me. I had been working for Tesla since I was seventeen. I thought that if I could distance myself from it, then I could just forget. But, then I had to go back there, yesterday. And, finding out about Percy... Dear god, is this what the gloomies feel like all of the time? No wonder, they're so moody.
Vincent (to Poppy): I know it's not my fault. But, that doesn't mean I can't feel pity for you, hun.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, that's generally why I don't like to share, honey... Rage, irritation, dislike those are things I can deal with... I can't deal with pity.
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, pity was the wrong word to use, so I'll apologize for that. And I know all about thinking time and distance is enough to heal all wounds. It's a pity that it doesn't work, isn't it? I feel bad you're hurting, hun. If there's anything I can do to help, let me know.
Poppy (to Vincent): I can think of a few things... but, sadly most of them involves being naked, honey & you don't seem at all willing. So... If we could just crossover & I'll go start my search for a place to stay, that would be lovely. And, I'm just teasing, by the way...
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh... hee hee. I'm sure I looked like I had just swallowed a carp. Let's head home. And I'd like to just state for the record, interest was never the problem. :-P
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, I KNOW you're interested, but I said willing. Two totally different things.
Vincent (to Poppy): Good heavens. I suppose you do. I guess there is some kind of karma in the world.
Poppy (to Vincent): I find it very unfair that robot Poppy got to have sexy fun times while I slept in a stasis chamber...
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, if it makes you feel any better, she also got into several fights with me and, I'm afraid, got her heart a bit broken.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh well, in that case, I guess I should be happy I missed all that, honey.
Vincent (to Poppy): Yes. As shocking as it seems, dating me was not all rainbows and kittens. (to Mouse & Eep) Looks like we're headed home, gang. We'll see you soonish, I'm sure.
Mouse (to Vincent): Well, that's good to hear! Eep & I have been debating whether or not we should be concerned, yet.
Vincent (to Mouse): We are physically none the worse for the wear. Mentally, I'm ready to collapse into a puddle. It's been quite a couple of days.
Mouse (to Vincent): Awww, little brother. I'm sorry to hear that. If you're up for it, can you stop by on your way home? I want to give you a hug & I think it might do Eep some good to see you in one piece.
Vincent (to Mouse): Of course. Awwww, was Mr. Giggles worried about us?
Mouse (to Vincent): Yes, he was... We both were.
Vincent (to Mouse): I missed my favorite little Gloomies as well. We'll see you soon.
Several hours later:
Vincent (to Mouse): We're home again, home again. Jiggity jig.
Mouse (to Vincent): Go relax, little brother, come & see me tomorrow. :-)
Vincent (to Mouse): Will do, sweetie. Can I still stop over and get a drive-by hug, though? As I said, it's been a hell of a couple of days.
Mouse (to Vincent): Of course, you can.
Vincent (to Mouse): Thanks, hun. I was once again reminded today how lucky I've been to have you. We'll catch up with you tomorrow.
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh really? I look forward to hearing everything.
Poppy: Oh my, I just found a bunch of very interesting photos on my phone...
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh dear. If those are the photos I think they are, I feel like I ought to apologize, hun.
Poppy (to Vincent): No apology necessary, honey, they're quite educational...
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh dear...
Poppy (to Vincent): Looking at you, honey, I didn't think you were that flexible...
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh. Well, not with my arm in a sling. :-P
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, all I can say, honey, is bravo... And, I really need a cold shower now, so if you could drop me off at a hotel...
Vincent (to Poppy): Of course, hun. Do you have a room someplace?
Poppy (to Vincent): No honey, but I'll make do with anything at this point.
Vincent (to Poppy): I know the feeling. I'm ready to drop.
An hour or so later:
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh good heavens. How can no place have a vacancy? Are you sure you don't just want to crash at my place for the night? I'll let you have the bedroom, and I'll take the chaise lounge.
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, I am not sleeping on a futon sexually unfulfilled. This isn't college.
Vincent (to Poppy): Well then FINE. If you have a better idea, then I'm open to suggestions. But I'd rather not spend all evening trying to find a hotel that doesn't look like it's run by Norman Bates.
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, psychos don't scare me, at least, they're committed. Just drop me off here & I'll find my own way.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh for... I'm NOT dropping you on your ass randomly in the middle of the night.
Poppy (to Vincent): Look, you're not the boss of me. Just let me out of the car & go about your business.
Vincent (to Poppy): God! Poppy, I know you're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, but... WOMAN, put your seatbelt back on! You're not jumping out of a moving car! What the hell?
Poppy (to Vincent): Damn it, monkey boy, let me out of the fucking car! I don't need or want you to be my white knight.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh,you insufferable... I'm not trying to be a fucking white knight, I'm TRYING to be a decent human being. You are making that increasingly difficult. Fine. You want out? The car's stopped! Go on then!
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, fine... I will.
Vincent (to Poppy): Poppy. POPPY wait! We're at the docks! At least let me take you downtown… … You, uh, you didn't have to slap me.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, you didn't have to grab me.
Vincent (to Poppy): No. Obviously not. So... Do you want to go back to my place?
Poppy (to Vincent): Yes, please.
