Poppy (to Mouse): I would love some coffee, honey. Victor was being fussy, so I thought we'd go for a walk. And, your porch swing called to me. When did you guys get back in from your honeymoon? Did you have a good time?
Mouse (to Poppy): Late last night... It was wonderful. Vegas is so surreal. But, I'm glad to be home. So, what really brings you over?
Poppy (to Mouse): What makes you think there's another reason, honey?
Mouse (to Poppy): Because I know you. Clearly something is troubling you or you wouldn't have walked over here to sit in the swing. What's up?
Poppy (to Mouse): I'm just worried about your brother & my family, honey. Someone took my niece & Vincent crossed over to help find her. He asked me to stay here with Victor, so I'm a bit anxious & I haven't heard from anyone, yet.
Mouse (to Poppy): Oh, I'm so sorry... That's terrible.
Poppy (to Mouse): I have faith that Vincent will find her, honey, but it's just a tad frustrating to be on the sidelines. I'm not used to it.
An hour or so later:
Eep (to Mouse): Morning. Is there any coffee... Um, what's happening? Are you OK?
Mouse (to Eep): Shhhh... Poppy & Victor are curled up on the couch sleeping. Come into the kitchen with me.
Eep (to Mouse): Is everything OK?
Mouse (to Eep): No. Apparently, someone took Poppy's niece, Persephone. Vincent went over to help find her & Poppy's a bit freaked... She can't seem to get a hold of anyone over there & she hasn't heard anything.
Eep (to Mouse): Shit. No wonder she's freaking out.
Mouse (to Eep): Yeah... I wish there was something I could do for her.
Eep (to Mouse): Um... If you two wanna cross over and help, I can watch the baby.
Mouse (to Eep): That's sweet of you to offer... I was actually going to ask if we could offer to watch the baby... I'm not ready to crossover so soon after all of that stuff with Hiiri. I want to help, but I think I'd be in the way... and I'm still a little shaky about being there.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh thank God... Oh, um, I mean, every time we go there, something horrible seems to happen, but I know it's your brother...
Mouse (to Eep): Yes, it's my brother, who is much better at this whole pirate in an alternative dimension than he lets on.
Eep (to Mouse): OK, so we'll babysit. Hey. You alright?
Mouse (to Eep): I think so... Just my usual bad dream.
Eep (to Mouse): Christ. I thought so. You looked kinda rough. Come here.
Mouse (to Eep): Thank you... It's why I can't go back over there right now... I want to help, but yeah... here is good.
Poppy (to Mouse & Eep): Oh... Am I interrupting? The smell of coffee lured me in here. Victor finally settled down, he should be out for a bit.
Mouse (to Poppy): Let me get you a cup. Are you sure you don't want to sleep some more? You can take the guest room.
Poppy (to Mouse): Thank you honey, but I'm good for now.
Eep (to Poppy): How you doing?
Poppy (to Eep): To be honest, I'm worried, honey. I promised Vincent that I'd keep Victor over on this side where he'd be safe. And, that's the only reason I'm still here. I just wish someone would tell me what was going on.
Eep (to Poppy): Um, Mouse and I were talking about it, and if you want us to watch the kid, so you can find out what's happening... it's no problem.
Poppy (to Eep & Mouse): Oh my goodness! Really? You would do that for me? You guys are brilliant! Thank you!
Mouse (to Poppy & Eep): Oh... Now, we're hugging.
Eep (to Mouse & Poppy): Oh. Hey. Uh... Yeah. Hugging. Christ, Poppy! It's not that big a deal. We're family, right? Calm down.
Poppy (to Eep & Mouse): It is a big deal... I'll be back as quick as I can. There's everything you need in his diaper bag, but if he gets fussy, here's the spare key to the apartment. Thank you both!
Mouse (to Poppy): It'll be fine. We'll be fine. Get out of here, you crazy woman!
Eep (to Poppy): And, uh, be careful, OK?
Poppy (to Mouse & Eep): Of course!
Eep (to Mouse): So, looks like we're babysitting.
Mouse (to Eep): Certainly, looks like it... Um, I hope you know what you're doing as I've never actually babysat a baby before.
Eep (to Mouse): Uh... I was the youngest in my family, remember?
Mouse (to Eep): So, what you're saying is... we're screwed?
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. I'm kidding! Kidding! Don't worry! I used to babysit a lot when I was in high school. One of my coworkers used to always come in with her kids, and I used to watch them when I didn't want to go back to Pop's place.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh good, I'm glad one of us knows what we're doing. My only experience with watching kids was Vincent, and he was out of diapers.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. Well, now you get to see what you missed out on. It's a lot of bodily fluids. Fair warning.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, I suppose I have to learn this stuff at some point.
Eep (to Mouse): Babies aren't that hard. Most of watching them involves feeding, cleaning and holding them.
Mouse (to Eep): You're awfully cute when you're being all take charge & caretake-y. :-p
Eep (to Mouse): I'm, um, what?
Mouse (to Eep): Sorry, not cute... Um, manly? Sexy? ... I'll shut up now.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. Who am I to argue with my wife, huh? I... Oh. Shit. That's the baby. Be right back… Looks like he's awake, He's his father's son, alright.
Mouse (to Eep): Heehee, what did he do?
Eep (to Mouse): Well, I was about to give you a kiss before he started fussing. He's fine, but he really wants to seem to be held.
Mouse (to Eep): Heehee, do you want me to hold him? I think I can handle that.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh heh. Sure. Here you go.
A couple hours later:
Poppy (to Percy): There you are! Where's my husband, honey?
Percy (to Poppy): He's out at the pond, honey. He needed to think.
Poppy (to Percy): That doesn't sound good. (to Vincent) So, are the clouds imparting some secret wisdom to you, honey?
Vincent (to Poppy): Huh? POPPY? What are you... Where's Victor?!
Poppy (to Vincent): He's safe, honey. Mouse & Eep are watching him at their place.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh. Right. Of course. I should have realized...
Poppy (to Vincent): Uh oh... Are you alright, honey? I mean, besides the obvious.
Vincent (to Poppy): We got a ransom demand for Persephone, hun.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh... Is that why you & Percy haven't been answering my calls or texts? Because, you've been busy gathering up the money. How much do they want? I'm sure we can come up with something.
Vincent (to Poppy): He doesn't want money.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh... What does he want, honey?
Vincent (to Poppy): Come here... He wants you, lover.
Poppy (to Vincent): What!?!
Vincent (to Poppy): Here. Here's the note.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh… Well, then tomorrow I'll go meet him, honey. Simple as that. Of course, I won't be staying once we get Persephone back.
Vincent (to Poppy): I can't say I like this plan, hun. He won't be keen to let you leave, of course.
Poppy (to Vincent): He won't have much of a choice, honey, trust me.
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, I'm coming with you.
Poppy (to Vincent): I actually need you to do me a favor, honey...
Vincent (to Poppy): What's that?
Poppy (to Vincent): I need you to find Thaddeus & let him know what's going on...
Vincent (to Poppy): .... Alright, hun. I take it you don't want me getting anywhere near Achilles.
Poppy (to Vincent): That's right, honey... He will hurt you.
Vincent (to Poppy): Right. And you want me to believe he won't do the same to you? I don't like this, hun. I don't like this one bloody bit!
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, remember when you went to Drake's? How unhappy I was about it?
Vincent (to Poppy): I... Good God, Poppy! That's not... OK, it's exactly the same, but I still don't like it! And I wasn't alone.
Poppy (to Vincent): And, I won't be alone. You, Percy and Thaddeus will be my backup, honey. But, you can't ask me to not do whatever necessary to get Persephone back to her parents. You know, Bernard or Molly would do the same, if it was Victor.
Vincent (to Poppy): I know, hun. I'm not even suggesting that, I just... I don't like it. Your brother and sister-in-law won't either. You know we'll all do whatever it takes.
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, Achilles has no idea who and what I became after I left the gang. He has no clue as to who he's dealing with, not to mention that fact that no one hurts a member of my family & gets away with it.
Vincent (to Poppy): Damn fucking straight. OK, let me go find your brother, hun. Give me a kiss.
Poppy (to Vincent): Mmmm. I love you, honey.
Vincent (to Poppy): I love you too. I'll be back soon, hun.
A short time later:
Vincent (to Carver): What the hell happened to you?
Carver (to Vincent): What ever do you mean, sir? Oh! The injuries! Of course, sir. We ran into a street gang of children, sir. We were rather outnumbered. They used this to their advantage, sir.
Vincent (to Carver): Uhhhhh... Right. Look, I don't have time to fuck with you, Carver. Go get your boss. I have information for CLANNG.
Carver (to Vincent): Of course, sir. Right away, sir. We assume this has to do with the stolen baby, sir. We'll return with Mr. Clegg. (to Thaddeus von Clegg) Mr. Clegg, sir? Captain Potter is here about the stolen baby, sir. He would like to talk to you.
Thaddeus von Clegg (to Carver): What? Stolen baby? I didn't steal any baby... Oh right... Yes, lead the way, Mister Carver. (to Vincent) So, Captain Potter, what can we do for you?
Vincent (to Thaddeus von Clegg): It's about your niece, Mr. Clegg. Persephone has been kidnapped.
Thaddeus von Clegg (to Vincent): That's who the baby was that Carver saw? (to Carver) Why didn't you say that? Go to class... I'll deal with you later.
Carver (to Thaddeus von Clegg): We're very sorry, sir. We will go to class. We do hope we didn't disappoint you too badly. We didn't know who the baby was, sir.
Vincent (to Thaddeus von Clegg): It's Achilles Smith, Thaddeus. He wants Poppy to rejoin his gang and is using Persephone as a bargaining chip. She's going to meet him tomorrow. You, Bernard and I are going to act as backup.
Thaddeus von Clegg (to Vincent): Where is she supposed to meet him, Potter?
Vincent (to Thaddeus von Clegg): The Tombs Garden. Meet us at the Inn tomorrow morning, if you want to help. ... Poppy is livid.
Thaddeus von Clegg (to Vincent): Ah yes, the Tomb Gardens... Not really much of a garden, it's a graveyard. Plenty of good coverage. Hmmm, are you sure that Poppy wants me to just hang about with you lot and not stick snipers around the place? I mean, it would be no trouble. I'm not too keen on that Smith fellow taking members of my family hostage. Nor do I like the rumors I've been hearing...
Vincent (to Thaddeus von Clegg): The rumors about him trying to wrangle leadership of all the gangs in the Tombs? No. I wouldn't imagine you would like that news. Poppy knows Achilles the best, so personally, I'm going to follow her lead on this. I'd advise you to do the same.
Thaddeus von Clegg (to Vincent): Oh, fine... I am not used to having other people order me around, especially Stinkblossom... You can tell her I'll be there.
Vincent (to Thaddeus von Clegg): Will do. For the record, personally, I'd like to shove a sword down his throat the hilt hits his teeth, but it's not my call.
Thaddeus von Clegg (to Vincent): Well, maybe if we're lucky we'll all get that chance, Potter. See you tomorrow.
Vincent (to Thaddeus von Clegg): Heh. I doubt Poppy will give us the chance. She's most likely to beat us to the punch. We'll see you tomorrow.
Meanwhile:
Poppy (to Reggie Arbuckle): Reggie, you old parasite... Come out from there, right now!
Reggie Arbuckle (to Poppy): Oh, hello there, Miss Poppy. It's been a long time. You're looking well.
Poppy (to Reggie Arbuckle): Don't give me that, Reggie. I don't have much time. Where's Achilles keeping the children?
Reggie Arbuckle (to Poppy): Children, Miss Poppy?
Poppy (to Reggie Arbuckle): Yes, I've heard tell that he's been kidnapping children from their families. That's not how we used to do things, Reg... It's a bit despicable. I know, you're a good man... Where are they?
Reggie Arbuckle (to Poppy): I'm not at liberty to say, Miss. The boss would kill me, but I, um, could tell you that Tilly would love to see you & you know how she loves children... ever since she lost her own to the sickness.
Poppy (to Reggie Arbuckle): Oh yes, I remember, honey... Is she still staying at the house on Beech Street?
Reggie Arbuckle (to Poppy): Yeah, that would be the one... Be careful, Miss.
Poppy (to Reggie Arbuckle): Oh, I will. Thank you, Reggie.
Percy (to Poppy): Honey, what do you think you're doing?
Poppy (to Percy): Damn it, Percy! What the hell were you thinking following me around? You were supposed to be keeping an eye on Vincent.
Percy (to Poppy): I think he'll be just fine on his errand to your brother... I had a feeling you were doing that to get him out of the way. Clearly, I was right. So, what's the plan?
Poppy (to Percy): The plan is, that you're going to go back to the Inn and keep an eye on everyone, while I go and visit Tilly... You remember Tilly, don't you?
Percy (to Poppy): Yes, she always gave us the creeps. But, what does the gang's "house mother" have to do with anything?
Poppy (to Percy): Brain the size of a planet & you can't figure that out? ... That's probably where they're keeping the kidnapped children.
Percy (to Poppy): No need to be rude, honey... Look, how about I go back & get Vincent and then, we do this as a group?
Poppy (to Percy): Fine... I'll wait right here. Be quick about it!
A short time later:
Percy (to Vincent): Honey, come quick!
Vincent (to Percy): Percy? What's wrong?
Percy (to Vincent): Poppy... She's figured out where the children are & she's waiting for us to go get them... And, she totally tricked me... She's probably not waiting, at all... I'm an idiot.
Vincent (to Percy): Oh that... Shit! Where did you leave her?
Percy (to Vincent): On the corner of Beech & Umbrage, honey... I'm so sorry. I think there's something glitchy with my programming. I can't believe I fell for that stupid stunt.
Vincent (to Percy): Oh that... Do you know where she went? Think, Percy!
Percy (to Vincent): She said she was going to see Tilly. She thinks that's where Smith is keeping the children. Tilly was like the nanny to all of the children that weren't quite old enough to be on the streets alone.
Vincent (to Percy): Do you know where we can find this Tilly?
Percy (to Vincent): Well, she used to live in a ratty blue house on Beech Street, but I don't know if she still lives there, honey. But, that's as good as place as any to look.
Vincent (to Percy): Then what the hell are we still standing here for? Come on. What the hell is she thinking doing this alone? Fat Christ!
Percy (to Vincent): I think she's really angry & feels like this is all her fault, honey... I'm just guessing, of course.
Several hours later:
Vincent: Well... I just shook down an old lady. Jesus.
