Vincent (to Percy): We're just resting before the edged weapons come out. Good morning, Percy.
Percy (to Vincent): Oh... edged weapons? Is that what we're calling it these days, honey? Kinky.
Vincent (to Percy): I... Good God. I have nothing to say to that.
Poppy (to Vincent & Percy): It is really too early for this kind of nonsense.
Percy (to Poppy & Vincent): Heh. It's hardly early at all. You both seemed to need the rest, so I let you sleep. Molly's got breakfast staying warm in the oven for you. And, I sadly have to head Paris to find the gloomies for you.
Vincent (to Percy): Oh! That's... Thank you, Percy. (to Poppy) Shall we get some breakfast, and then head to New Jersey, lover?
Poppy (to Vincent): Sounds lovely, honey.
Percy (to Vincent): It's not a problem, honey. Have fun with Edison, I don't envy you that visit! (to Poppy) Poppy, don't shoot him if you can help it.
Poppy (to Percy): Which him, do you mean, honey?
Percy (to Poppy): Take your pick... (to Vincent & Poppy) I'll see you both soon.
Vincent (to Poppy): Heh. And after all those promises to me you wouldn't actually do it. Or was that just pillow talk? ;-) (to Percy) Be careful, hun! Good luck.
Poppy (to Vincent): Hmmm, which answer will get you to bring me breakfast in bed, lover? :-P
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. The one where you tell me what a handsome lad I am.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh... In that case, lover, I would never shoot a gorgeous man like you, when there are so many other things to do with you.
Vincent (to Poppy): Heh. That works. I'll be right back.
Poppy (to Vincent): You are wonderful, honey. Will you check on the little man while you're over there?
A short time later:
Vincent (to Poppy): I did one better. I brought the little man with me. He wanted to see his mum, didn't he?
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh, of course, he did! (to Victor) Hello there, you little cutie.
Vincent (to Poppy): Heh. (to Victor) You're making it very hard for me to leave, Little Man.
Poppy (to Vincent): And, where do you think you're going, honey? We have a few hours to spare before we absolutely have to be on our way.
Vincent (to Poppy): What's the matter? Can't stand to let me out of your sight?
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, there's that, lover... and, I suspect you are up to something.
Vincent (to Poppy): Who me? I'm the picture of innocence, lover.
Poppy (to Vincent): Hmmm, I don't think anyone could ever accuse you of that, honey... What are you up to? You clearly brought Victor here to so that I wouldn't get upset... You're not coming me with me to see Edison, are you?
Vincent (to Poppy): I wasn't going to take off behind your back. I just thought if Victor were here we'd be less likely to start shouting again. I know. I'm being ridiculous.
Poppy (to Vincent): Where exactly are you going, honey?
Vincent (to Poppy): With you seeing Edison, and Percy looking for the Gloomies, I thought I might pop in and pay my respects to Grace O'Malley.
Poppy (to Vincent): OH... ARE you insane, honey? You are so very lucky that I'm holding our son right now. What do you hope to find out? I have no words.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hear me out, hun. Drake grabbed me to hand me over to Hiiri. He and O'Malley were working on something with her to control the pirate shipping lanes. That deal went south faster than a shipment of Moon Pies and Natty Light thanks to us. Fast forward to now, and she's somehow gained gotten her hands on something that controls both portals AND time, hun. However she managed it, I'll doubt O'Malley OR Drake have been invited to share the wealth. I'm hoping the kindly Queen Mum of the Pirates is feeling a bit bloody minded about her, and willing to share info.
Poppy (to Vincent): So, you're going to go on your own to see the woman who kidnapped Jacob, may have killed her own son & is gunning for her own daughter? How am I supposed to be happy about this?
Vincent (to Poppy): That's rather why I handed you our son before we started discussing it, lover. It's not half a bad idea. You know that.
Poppy (to Vincent): No, it's actually a very good idea... I'm a bit miffed that I didn't think of it, first. But, please tell me you're going to bring backup with you... Just in case.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. I'd love backup, but I have no idea who in Britannia I could possibly ask. "Hey. Want to go piss off one of the most powerful pirates in all Britannia? Hello? Hello?" Huh. The fake person hung up, hun
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, I have three suggestions and you're probably not going to like any of them, lover.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh?
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, there's Bernard, Carver or Margaux, honey... Though, I have a feeling Margaux would be the better bet. I know the ISS would pay a hefty sum to put one of their agents in the O'Malley territory even just for an hour.
Vincent (to Poppy): I'm not about to ask your brother to follow me off on some dangerous fool's missi-- I mean, intensely good idea. And Carver? Seriously? I'd be in more danger getting a knife in the back from him than the O'Malleys.
Poppy (to Vincent): So, Margaux it is, then... Where's a good meeting point for you, lover?
Vincent (to Poppy): We might as well meet at the airship docks in Liverpool. From there it's just a short jump to the O'Malley stronghold.
Poppy (to Vincent): All right, honey, I'll pass on the message to her. So, I take it I should find my own way to New Jersey so you can take the Falcon? I'm sure I can pick up a berth on one of the passenger airships and I'll take the little man with me. Edison may be a lot of things, but he wouldn't hurt a child.
Vincent (to Poppy): That sounds like a plan, lover. I think this is the first... anything I've done without you in a long while, isn't it, hun?
Poppy (to Vincent): Yes, and I wish you wouldn't remind me, lover. If you get killed by O'Malley, you do realize that not only will I slaughter them all, but that I will hunt you down wherever your spirit rests and slap you silly, right? I love you... please come back in one piece.
Vincent (to Poppy): Coming back in one piece is the general plan, sweetie. I promise I won't let them harm hair one on my pretty little head. Be careful yourself. Edison isn't exactly a prince. Oh. Not that the royal family is exactly well behaved.
Poppy (to Vincent): Good, see that they don't. I should make travel arrangements & contact Margaux. See you soon, lover.
Vincent (to Poppy): Miss me? I'll miss you.
Poppy (to Vincent): Of course, I'll miss you, honey.
Vincent (to Poppy): Heh. Good. I'm looking forward to the reunion already. (to Victor) I'll miss you too, Little Man. Keep an eye on your mother, won't you?
Poppy (to Vincent): We'll be fine, I'm just going to pretend we're on a leisurely trip to the colonies to speak to someone about an invention. At least, that will be my cover story. I got a message from Margaux. She says she'll be in Liverpool with bells on. So, best get a move on it.
Vincent (to Poppy): I'm going, hun. I'll see you soon. I love you, Poppy.
Poppy (to Vincent): I love you, too.
A couple hours later:
Margaux (to Vincent): Hello darling! You look well. How's poptart and the little one? I hope I dressed the part. I know I can't possibly replace Poppy as your partner-in-crime, but I'll certainly make sure you don't get killed.
Vincent (to Margaux): Well, that's the important thing, hun. I do hope Poppy warned you keeping me safe and whole can be a trick and a half. And you look smashing, hun. Ready to head out?
Margaux (to Vincent): I am always ready, sugar.
Vincent (to Margaux): Well, then. We're off to go make nice with a huge family of pirates who'll probably want to shoot me on sight. After that, we can get mimosas.
Margaux (to Vincent): Sounds like a regular Thursday to me... Not to worry, it'll be a walk in the park. Plus, if all goes well, you're both going to be quite well off with the bonus Poppy's going to get for getting me in there. And, I absolutely love mimosas.
Vincent (to Margaux): Hee hee. I like you attitude, madam. We're coming up on the jump point now. We'll be there in three and a half shakes.
Margaux (to Vincent): I'll follow your lead, sugar, unless things go pear-shaped & then, you really should listen to me.
Vincent (to Margaux): Yes, ma'am. Heh. What? Were you expecting a fight?
Margaux (to Vincent): Honestly, yes... I've read your file & I've seen you in action, sugar.
Vincent (to Margaux): Did you now? That file's been making the rounds, hasn't it? Believe me, I want to avoid getting murdered.
Margaux (to Vincent): Oh, you little silly billy, I read your file ages ago. Who do you think recommended Poppy to watch over Tesla & then you? I didn't know that Tesla was going to end up using her for an experiment, but I probably should have. Scientists, go fig. Anyway, after I read your file, I knew that Poptart was the best person to watch over you. Though, I didn't expect her to get emotionally involved with you... or end up married with a child, either.
Vincent (to Margaux): Heh. I'm not sure she expected that either, hun. To be entirely fair, we did try VERY hard not to get "emotionally involved." And, I think you'll find I'm a bit more level headed than that half-crazed 18 year old in those overblown tales. Uh... No matter what the small armada pointing guns at us might suggest. :-P
Margaux (to Vincent): Should we wave hello, sugar?
Vincent (to Margaux): Of course! We have manners, don't we?
Margaux (to Vincent): Heehee, I like you.
A few hours later:
Percy (to Mouse & Eep): There you are, sweeties! I have been looking all over Paris for you! Why on earth would you take off like that? ... Wait... Who is that?
Eep (to Percy): We couldn't find our daughter, so we picked this one up while we were in Paris. Who do you think it is?
Percy (to Eep): But... Huh? Wait. How? Vincent thought, for sure, you were going to be hurt or killed by Drake. I'm confused, sweeties.
Mouse (to Eep & Percy): Look, while you two sort things out, I'm going to put Marlena in a bunk. She needs some sleep. (to Eep) Let me know when you're ready to head back to New London. (to Percy) Nice seeing you again, Percy.
Percy (to Mouse): Oh right... Nice seeing you too. (to Eep) Could you please explain to me what is going on, honey?
Eep (to Percy): Um, we got Marlena back.
Percy (to Eep): Well yes, I can see that, honey, but how? Didn't Drake have her? I mean, you two look unscathed. You can't tell me that you just knocked on the door and he handed her to you.
Eep (to Percy): Um, yeah. That's kinda exactly what happened. We walked up, Mouse asked Drake to give her our daughter back and we left. I... I don't even know what else to say.
Percy (to Eep): Oh well, I'm just speechless, honey... I guess, I'll head back since you've got everything under control unless you need me.
Eep (to Percy): No, I... I think we're OK. I'm just still kinda overwhelmed. We can make our way back to the Inn from here. Oh. Will you let Vincent and Poppy know that we're OK, and we'll see them soon?
Percy (to Eep): Of course, honey.
Eep (to Percy): Thanks. See you later.
A short time later:
Mouse (to Eep): Hey. Mars is finally asleep... Is there any beer or liquor in the galley?
Eep (to Mouse): Yeah. I think I saw some rum in there. Percy headed back. How, um, how is she?
Mouse (to Eep): She's a bit confused, achy, but she couldn't get to sleep because she was quizzing me about you. Be warned that when she wakes in the morning, she's probably going to hit you with a barrage of questions... Is the rum, Captain Birdie's? If it is, I'll skip it.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. That's alright. I think I can handle it. I don't know what the fuck kinda rum it is. There's a squid on it.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh good... Do you want to head back towards the inn or dock somewhere for a day or so?
Eep (to Mouse): Um, I wouldn't mind hanging out for a day. We kinda have some catching up to do. Here you go. Rum and, uh, juice. Sure. Juice. Oh holy shit! That is... that is disgusting!
Mouse (to Eep): Ugh, that is nasty... I think straight rum, it is. I'll take us into the nearest port, if you can point me in the right direction.
Eep (to Mouse): Guh. Yeah... OK. Um, we should be only an hour or so from here, and then we're not too far from the Inn when we wanna head home.
Mouse (to Eep): Sounds good... I'll get us there in no time. Wanna sit up here & entertain me while I pilot this thing?
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Heh. Um, sure. So what do you want? A song? A dance?
Mouse (to Eep): Heehee, if I said yes, would you do one of those things? I actually just meant talking... you said we had catching up to do unless you just want to sit quietly.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. You've SEEN me dance. You really want me to do that? But, um, yeah. It's been 5 years, you know? I just thought... Is there anything you wanna know?
Mouse (to Eep): Everything, anything... I know it's been 5 years for me, but it's only been months in the "real world". I've decided to take a relaxed approach to the whole thing, because I'll just drive myself crazy, otherwise.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Um, right. So. What the fuck is new? Uh... I've painting a bit. Well, actually, um, a lot.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh, that's fantastic. I'd love to see what you've been painting. I really loved the painting you gave me for christmas.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. Yeah, well, hang on to that thought until you've seen them. It got kinda outta control. I, uh, I even sold a couple pieces.
Mouse (to Eep): Heh... So, I'm dating an artist, that's coo-- Oh, I mean... Damn. I'm sorry.
Eep (to Mouse): No. No. It's fine. Sorry. I didn't mean to make a face. Just still a little, um... It's fine.
Mouse (to Eep): No, no. I'm sorry, I keep forgetting that for you, we're married.
Eep (to Mouse): It's OK. It's just that, um, well the doppel-whosits kinda said the same thing. Um, I know the whole marriage thing is... um, fucked. If it makes you feel better we could pretend we're having a torrid affair. Uh... That was a joke, you know.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh, it was a joke... That's a shame, because I kinda liked the idea. It would certainly make it easier. :-P
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. I think I can cope with the idea of having a sweaty, torrid affair with a pretty woman.
Mouse (to Eep): Ooo, a sweaty torrid affair, even... I'm glad there's a separate cabin on this airship. ;-)
