Carver (to Hiiri): Excuse us, ma'am? It's Carver, ma'am. There seems to be a charity organization seeking donations outside the ship, ma'am.
Hiiri (to Carver): What!?!
Carver (to Hiiri): Should we release the monkeys, or would you like us to ask them to leave ourselves?
Hiiri (to Carver): Oh, I love it when you deal with intruders, little brother. It always brings a smile to my face.
Carver (to Hiiri): Of course, ma'am. We live to please, ma'am. We'll use the big knife this time. After all, it is charity, ma'am.
Hiiri (to Carver): Oh, you always know the right thing to say to cheer me up. Just remember to leave one left or else how will they learn.
Carver (to Hiiri): Yes, ma'am.
Mouse (to Eep): Off to work I go, see you at 4pm.
Eep (to Mouse): Hmm? Right 4 pm. Right. Shit I slept in. I'm up. Later, pretty lady. Have a good day at work.
Mouse (to Eep): If you're feeling productive today, there's a couple boxes that need to go to Goodwill. :-)
Eep (to Mouse): Yeah. I think I can handle that.
Mouse (to Eep): Cool, thanks. See you later.
An hour or so later:
Poppy (to Vincent): Hey Honey, I hope you like Greek omelettes.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hun, that sounds delish. I'm at the cafe picking up coffee. Want me to get you anything while I'm here? (to Ripper) Oh! Hey Professor. Getting a nosh before class?
Poppy (to Vincent): A double cappuccino would be heavenly, honey.
Ripper (to Vincent): Oh. Hey Vincent. Yeah, I needed a little pick me up. How are you? I'm happy to see you back in one piece.
Vincent (to Poppy): Will do. (to Ripper) Safe and whole, and nearly none the worse for wear. So... This is awkward as hell, isn't it?
Ripper (to Vincent): Uh, slightly... I'm sure the awkwardness will wear off, eventually.
Vincent (to Ripper): For what it's worth, I am very sorry for my timing. I was confident I would make it back in one piece, but... Well, Hiiri has that Carver beast with her now. He's more than slightly terrifying, isn't he? Anyway, I needed something sweet and indulgent after this morning. I really go. Poppy's cappuccino will get cold.
Ripper (to Vincent): Oh, okay. When you get a free minute, can you & I talk?
Vincent (to Ripper): Oh. Yes, of course. I something with which I need to deal this afternoon, but I'm free after that.
Ripper (to Vincent): Can you meet me at my place around 5pm?
Vincent (to Ripper): Um, sure. I'll see you then.
Ten minutes later:
Vincent (to Poppy): I come bearing gifts of caffeine.
Poppy (to Vincent): You are an angel, honey! And, not to mention perfect timing. Brunch is done.
Vincent (to Poppy): I've been accused of being worse. And that smells divine! I really am going to have to start hitting the gym with more frequency if you keep this up, hun.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, I'm no expert, but I had to learn a bit of cooking working for Tesla, he's very particular about his nutrition. And, being a good assistant means knowing how to do a little bit of everything.
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, you're getting no complaints from me.
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, since I've got you here, I want to apologize for my behavior last night, not to mention my line of questioning.
Vincent (to Poppy): No worries, hun. We'd both had a little too much to drink.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh, well alright then, honey.
Vincent (to Poppy): And I'm sorry I curled up on you last night. I did warn you that I'm a bit of a cuddle slut.
Poppy (to Vincent): It's okay honey, I got a bit chilly, so you cuddling was just the right amount of extra warmth I needed.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh. Well, in that case, glad to be of service.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, If you don't mind, I'm going to curl up on the couch, watch TV & look in the newspaper for jobs.
Vincent (to Poppy): Not at all, hun. I've got something to do myself. I'll see you in a bit.
Several hours later:
Vincent (to Mouse): Hi, sweetie. I'm just dropping you a quick line to let you know, I ended up NOT doing an expose on my parents. Not yet. I haven't decided what to do yet, but I won't be on the 6 o'clock news any time soon.
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh, what made you change your mind?
Vincent (to Mouse): A very smart lady suggested I rethink my current course of action and make sure I'm not doing fore revenge. :-P
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh well, you DO know some very smart people. :-)
A couple hours later:
Poppy (to Vincent): So, honey, how was your day? Get up to anything fun while you were out & about in the great big world?
Vincent (to Poppy): I'm afraid not. I debated destroying my father's reputation as revenge, and was told I'm too inexperienced to be date-able.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh honey, need a hug?
Vincent (to Poppy): No, I'm fine, hun. I'm making it sound much more dramatic than it actually was. It makes for a better story. :-P
Poppy (to Vincent): So, were you really told you were not dating material by someone?
Vincent (to Poppy): Mmm. I was indeed. I can't say that I blame him, but I won't pretend it wasn't a bit of a blow to my ego. It's not exactly the kind of thing you want to hear, especially when he kept sending such mixed signals. C'est la vie.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh well, I understand mixed signals all to well, honey...
Vincent (to Poppy): Ouch. Well, I suppose you do.
Poppy (to Vincent): Sorry, honey... My mouth sometimes opens before my brain can stop it.
Vincent (to Poppy): It's not as though I can exactly argue with you, hun.
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, can we try an experiment? I'm curious about something.
Vincent (to Poppy): I think that largely depends on what it is, hun. What's up?
Poppy (to Vincent): I just need you to shut your brain off for a minute.... Stand up & close your eyes. Now, take a deep breath, let it out, and count to ten.
Vincent (to Poppy): Okay...
Poppy (to Vincent): Sorry to trick you into a kiss, but I just wanted you to not think so much for a minute. You've been over-analyzing everything, lately. And, well, sometimes a kiss is just a kiss.
Vincent (to Poppy): I... Uh... wow. And I don't know about you, hun, but I wouldn't classify that as "just a kiss." That was... Ahem. Well, that was nice. I should, uh... I should go do something.
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, sorry for my tactic, but I just wanted your full attention… I understand you've figured out you need to fix things in your life, but you know, you don't have to do it all right now... You're allowed to enjoy yourself, to make mistakes, to change things over time... No one is expecting you to be perfect right out of the gate. I think you're being really hard on yourself for no reason. Well then again, what do I know? I mean I just spent almost a year in a stasis chamber & tend to keep people I like at a distance, both emotionally & physically. So, I'm probably the worst person to listen to about anything.
Vincent (to Poppy): Heh. You and me both, hun. Well, not the stasis chamber it. Hee hee. You're alone on that one, I'm afraid. For what it's worth, you're right. I try more than a little too hard to be adult and stable and perfect. I suppose I just don't want my parents to be right about me. Isn't that dreadfully cliché?
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, I don't mean to sound harsh, but fuck them... They gave up the right to have an opinion about you, the moment they didn't appreciate the person that you were or see the potential in you. Plus, you have a new family that loves you for who you are, regardless of your countless imperfections.
Vincent (to Poppy): Countless, eh? Ouch. :-P
Poppy (to Vincent): Heehee, I hadn't actually counted, honey. :-P
Vincent (to Poppy): Don't get me wrong, hun. I'm not trying to win their approval. I want to prove them wrong.
Poppy (to Vincent): By making yourself miserable?
Vincent (to Poppy): Heh. Well, despite all appearances to the contrary, I'm not actively trying to make myself miserable. I want to be happy, stable and secure, living a fabulous life with people who love me. And I want to rub their petty, small-minded faces right in it. Heh. I know that sounds vindictive. And... It is.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh well, honey, I thought you already had all of that stuff... I mean, I would be pretty happy if I had your life. But, then I probably have a skewed perspective coming from the other side & all.
Vincent (to Poppy): Ha ha ha! No, no. You're right. Oh good heavens! You're totally right. And I'm a whiny little brat. I'm sorry, hun. Also, thank you for not slapping me soundly. I would have certainly deserved it. And I complain about Eep and Mouse living in their heads too much...
Poppy (to Vincent): Heehee, I think I like my kissing approach much better than slapping, honey... plus it doesn't hurt my hand as much. And, the gloomies do live in their own heads too much... but that's what makes them, well, them...
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. Very true. And, I think I prefer your kissing approach too.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh... did it suddenly get really warm in here, honey? I think I might be blushing. Now, I feel like I should go... and do something.
Vincent (to Poppy): I'm sorry, hun. This a mixed signal situation again, isn't it?
Poppy (to Vincent): Ever so slightly... I wish you'd just pick a box to put me in & keep me there. I mean, are we simply friends or is it always going to be complicated between us?
Vincent (to Poppy): Honestly? I don't know, sweetie. I really don't. But, I'd like us to be friends at least.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, I can definitely handle being friends with you, honey. You're one of the few people that I actually like. And hell, I couldn't even keep a goldfish alive, so the idea of a relationship terrifies the crap out of me...
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, that's good. I like you too. Heh. Well, I tend to sabotage anything with anyone that might actually have feelings for me.
Poppy (to Vincent): But, I can't help the intense attraction I have for you... So, I should probably go see about another place to stay tomorrow.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh. Well... If that will make you more comfortable, hun, of course. Personally, I haven't minded having you here. Even if it has been a little awkward.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, I've enjoyed staying here, honey. And, I've been trying my best to be respectful of your desire for no romantic entanglements. Despite the fact that my own desires go in the other direction. And speaking of directions, I should probably head to bed... I'll just go grab my pajamas from the bedroom.
Vincent (to Poppy): I understand, hun. You can take the bedroom, sweetie. Consider it an apology for being a confusing, whiny little piss-ant.
Poppy (to Vincent): No, no. Fair's fair. We agreed that I'd sleep in the bed when you were working at the club & you didn't work.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hun, I'm too tired to argue. Let me do you a favor. I promise I'm not expecting anything in return. Good night.
Poppy (to Vincent): Fine. But you're welcome to share it with me again, if you like... I leave it up to you. Good night, honey.
