Vincent (to Poppy): Hmmm? What? Oh, shit! Where on earth did they wander off to?
Poppy (to Vincent): I haven't a clue. I checked everywhere on board. I hope they left a note.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh super. Alright. Let me throw my clothes on and we'll see if we can find them. Those misanthropic, awkward, pains in my...
Poppy (to Vincent): Actually, I think I know where they went, honey... We're not far from the house where we found Mouse. I bet they went there.
Vincent (to Poppy): That's one of the reasons I love you, sweetie. That big, sexy brain of yours. Come on. Let's go see if we can round them up.
Poppy (to Vincent): Heh... I hope that's not the only reason, lover. Otherwise, I've been wasting a lot of time keeping in shape. :-P
Vincent (to Poppy): I wouldn't refer to any of that time as wasted, lover. I think you know well, that I appreciate ALL your assets.
Poppy (to Vincent): You are a silver-tongued devil, Captain Potter. And, now I wish we didn't have to play hide & seek with the in-laws.
Vincent (to Poppy): Don't worry, I'll make it up to you.
Poppy (to Vincent): Of that I have no doubt, honey. ;-)
A short time later:
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. Is this the place, hun? Well...
Poppy (to Vincent): Yes, it is, lover. You take the front door, I'll go around back.
Vincent (to Poppy): Aye, aye. Do you think they'll try to make a break for it?
Poppy (to Vincent): I don't know, but I'm just concerned that it's a trick, a trap or they've been nabbed. And, I like to be prepared, honey.
Vincent (to Poppy): In that case, I'll see you inside. Don't worry. I'll be my usual subtle self.
Poppy (to Vincent): Be safe. I'll see you on the inside.
Vincent (to Eep & Mouse): HELLO? SISTER O' MINE? TALL, DARK & SEXY? IF YOU'RE IN THERE PUT YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON!
Mouse (to Vincent): Quit your shouting, little brother and we're not naked.
Vincent (to Mouse): More's the pity, hun. So, any particular reason you two sneaked out like a couple of teenagers with nary a word nor a note?
Mouse (to Vincent): I just came to grab a few things & I honestly meant for us to be back before you woke up. Eep's in Marlena's room. First door at the top of the stairs, if you want to go grab him. I'm just about done here.
Vincent (to Mouse): Will do, hun. Holler if you need anything. Oh! Before I forget... (to Poppy) You can stand down, hun! All is well!
Poppy (to Vincent): No need to shout, honey. I'm right behind you.
Mouse (to Vincent & Poppy): Heehee... Wow. She is very good.
Poppy (to Mouse): Hush... Shall I help you get these boxes onto the Falcon, honey? (to Vincent) And, lover, I thought you were going to be subtle? I know that is a difficult concept for you, but really...shouting? :-P
Vincent (to Poppy): I was providing a distraction, I'll have you know. :-P
Mouse (to Poppy): Yes, thank you.
Poppy (to Vincent): I shall write down that technique. Maybe, I should teach it in my class? Ooo. You could be my guest speaker, honey. :-P Why don't you go get Mister Gloomy? I'll help Mouse with these things. We shouldn't stay here too much longer.
Vincent (to Poppy): I'm going. I'm going. And just you watch, I'll teach one of your classes if you're not careful. :-p
Poppy (to Vincent): And, that will be an infamous day indeed, honey... Get your skinny butt up there! (to Mouse) Honey, what exactly is all of this stuff?
Mouse (to Poppy): Just some mementos, journals, & photo albums. This was my home, I accumulated a few things. There's only 2 other boxes upstairs with stuff for Marlena. You know, for when we find her.
Poppy (to Mouse): It's fine, honey. You don't need to explain. Come on, let's get these on board. I know a cubby hole we can hide them in.
Vincent (to Eep): Knock. Knock. Are you ready to go, Slim? Eep? Hey. Are you alright?
Eep (to Vincent): Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just... Sorry. I was supposed to be putting this stuff in boxes. All this stuff, it's just... I don't know. I haven't been here for my kid, or for Mouse. She's been on her own for 5 years. She was raising our kid. By herself! I mean, right now we're trying, right? But, what if it's all just nostalgia for her? And after a while, she won't want to deal with me or all my stupid bullshit. Or what if I'm a shit father? Lookit this stuff. Marlena seems awesome. What if I come into the picture and just fuck it all up?
Vincent (to Eep): Woah. Woah. Take it easy, Slim. It's alright. If Poppy & I, with OUR backgrounds managed not to screw up Victor, you'll do fine! Marlena's a lucky little girl to have you in her life. I mean, most people in your position would have freaked & probably run. But here you are worrying you're going to be a bad father. Heh. You'll be fine! As for my sister... Boy, howdy, do I wish I knew what to tell you. It's a clusterfuck and a half, to say the least. There's no guarantee that even if this had never happened, you and Mouse would have stayed together, you know.
Eep (to Vincent): But we DID. I mean, Victor said we...
Vincent (to Eep): Ohhhhh! You were feeling all stable & safe because Victor said something about you two being together in the future, weren't you?
Eep (to Vincent): ... Maybe.
Vincent (to Eep): Hun, even that was no guarantee. The future is totes mutable. Do you love Mouse? Do you still want to be with her?
Eep (to Vincent): What kind of fucking question is that? Of course I do!
Vincent (to Eep): Well then this is the reality you have to deal with now, hun. Concentrate on making it work, and ignore the "should-have-beens".
Eep (to Vincent): Yeah. You're right. Thanks, Vincent.
Vincent (to Eep): Don't worry about it. Just try and talk to us about it, alright? Come on. Let's get this stuff downstairs.
A few minutes later:
Poppy (to Eep & Vincent): Oh good, you're back. I was beginning to worry that I was going to need to send a search party. Got everything?
Vincent (to Poppy): We've got lots! I certainly hope it's everything.
Poppy (to Eep & Vincent): Did you see Mouse on your way down? She said she was running up to grab one last thing from her room.
Vincent (to Poppy): I don't think we passed her. Of course, I can't really see around this giant, what is this? A lion? A tiger? A liger?
Poppy (to Vincent & Eep): Your guess is as good as mine, lover... I swear, I should just tag you all so I can find you easily... I'll go track her down unless you or Eep want to do it.
Vincent (to Poppy): I can give you a hand once we deposit these in the Falcon. (to Eep) Come on, Eep, Let's unburden ourselves and find your lady.
A short time later:
Poppy (to Eep & Vincent): This house is like a maze. Do they give maps out at the front door to visitors?
Eep (to Poppy & Vincent): Don't fucking look at me. I'm completely turned around.
Mouse (to Eep, Vincent & Poppy): Are you alright? Why are you in the pantry? Did you think this was the back door?
Poppy (to Mouse): You could say that. We got a bit turned around looking for you. Was this house built by a madman?
Vincent (to Mouse): If I said yes, would you make The Face and snicker?
Mouse (to Poppy): Actually, it was. That's how Hiiri got a hold of it. But, once you know the secret, it's easy. (to Vincent) The Face? Oh right, the face... Um, no I won't make 'The Face', but I will snicker to myself... under my breath.
Vincent (to Mouse): Too late! You've already made it. :-p What's the trick to the place, hun?
Mouse (to Vincent): If the doorknob is on the right, you can only go to all the rooms with the same & it's the same for the left-sided doorknobs. The only space that connects the two are the hallways.
Several hours later:
Vincent (to Eep): If you keep eyeballing that butter knife like that, and I'm going to hide all the pointy objects on the ship.
Eep (to Vincent): Fuck off!
Vincent (to Eep): That's what I love about you, Slim. You're so erudite.
Poppy (to Vincent & Eep): What's going on in here, sweeties?
Vincent (to Poppy): Nothing at all. Tell Gloomy Gus to eat something. It's officially been a day since he's eaten.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh. (to Eep) Is that true, honey? You should really eat something. Do you not like my cooking? I'm hurt.
Eep (to Poppy): Your husband's a dick, you know that?
Poppy (to Eep): Really? I had no idea... Come with me, honey. You clearly need to do something to distract you. And, I have just the thing.
Eep (to Poppy): Um... OK. Where are we going?
Poppy (to Eep): To the cargo hold. Follow me.
Eep (to Poppy): Um, OK. What's going on?
Poppy (to Eep): Shhh. We don't want to disturb her. Just sit up here & watch. It's relaxing. She's been running through forms for the past hour. She's very good, a bit better than well, before... And, if you want to play with knives, honey. I'll teach you, just ask.
Eep (to Poppy): Oh... I wasn't! I was just... whatever. ... Sorry.
Poppy (to Eep): Shhhh. I'll be in the galley making dinner, honey. I hope you'll be hungry by the time it's ready.
Eep (to Poppy): Um, yeah. Thanks.
A short time later:
Mouse (to Eep): Oh... I didn't realize I had an audience. How long have you been sitting up there?
Eep (to Mouse): Um, not long. Poppy deposited me here to keep me from fighting with your brother.
Mouse (to Eep): What did Vincent do this time?
Eep (to Mouse): Nothing. He was just... nothing.
Mouse (to Eep): It's okay, if you don't want to talk about it. I'm all done here, I should probably get cleaned up before dinner.
Eep (to Mouse): He was just... He was giving me a hard time. He doesn't think I'm coping real well.
Mouse (to Eep): And, what do you think?
Eep (to Mouse): I think all things considered, I'm doing pretty fucking alright. They're acting like I can be trusted around myself. Christ... I haven't cut myself in fucking years. I'd like a little fucking credit where fucking credit is due.
Mouse (to Eep): Maybe, they're just trying to get you to react to something? So, you're not sitting & brooding... Heh... Remember when they were hounding us both right before we ran off together? They were like two little goth chihuahuas... You weren't really thinking of cutting yourself, were you?
Eep (to Mouse): I know they mean well, they're just both so... so fucking obnoxious about it sometimes. And was I thinking about doing something stupid? ... Yeah. If I'm gonna be honest, yeah. It crossed my mind. Bad habits die hard, you know? Was I gonna do it? Fuck no! I mean, just cause I think something, doesn't mean I'm gonna do it.
Mouse (to Eep): Ok, good... I mean, you could just talk to me instead. Though, I get the feeling I'm part of the problem... I overheard some of your conversation with Vincent at the house earlier.
Eep (to Mouse): You...you what? Jesus fucking Christ... I'm sorry. You shouldn't have had to hear that. I'm just... fuck it. I'm scared. You've been through, God knows what, & you've had to deal with it alone. I'm afraid I don't fit in your life anymore. I know. I'm being an insecure dick. You don't need to tell me.
Mouse (to Eep): And, here I was thinking that I don't fit into your life anymore... You know, in the five years I was here, I never once thought about being with anyone, but you. I even had several gentlemen offering to take me out & they just couldn't compare to this grumpy, cursing, smoke saturated surly artist that I used to know. Besides, I had my hands full with Marlena & that was enough for me. I'd really like you to be a part of my life, Felix. I know we're going to have some trouble getting over this & it'll take time. But, I still very much love you and I know Marlena will love you, too.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Heh. Well, that's good, cause I really want you, um, want both you and Marlena, I mean, to be a part of my life too.
Mouse (to Eep): Good... Um, is it okay if I steal a kiss from you before I take a shower? I mean, if it's too soon after everything, I can wait.
Eep (to Mouse): I'm fucking nuts about you. I mean, I've never stopped being fucking nuts about you. I'm having a real hard time not... Oh. Um, sorry. Yeah. I don't mind a kiss. Like, at all.
Mouse (to Eep): Well then, c'mere.
An hour or so later:
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, it looks like we should avoid the cargo hold for a little while, honey. The Gloomies seem to be working through their issues quite intensely, you might say.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh dear. Well, despite all their hemming and hawing and "oh noes, does the love of my life still love me" laments at least, there's one part of their relationship that hasn't changed. Heh.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, if that's what it takes for them to work it out, more power to them, honey. And, it gives us the distraction we need to go investigate my lead... We need to head to Padgett's.
Vincent (to Poppy): Padgett's? Really? Who on earth do we need to speak to at Padgett's?
Poppy (to Vincent): Your favorite dancehall girl I'm afraid. My contact says that she was dating a pirate on the ship that transported Hiiri & her strange assortment of cargo. Won't this be fun? Maybe, I'll finally get to punch her.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh good God! As if this whole fiasco weren't messy enough without involving Magdalena. She's crazy in a sparkly corset.
Poppy (to Vincent): I can go it alone, if you'd rather not press your luck, honey. It will be no trouble.
Vincent (to Poppy): No, no. It's alright, hun. I can handle Magdalena. Who knows? Maybe now that she has a beau, she'll behave.
Poppy (to Vincent): HAHAHAHA... Oh, I'm sorry, honey. I didn't hear you over all that . :-P
Vincent (to Poppy): A man can live in hope, lover. When should we go visit our favorite showgirl?
Poppy (to Vincent): The sooner, the better, honey.
