Meanwhile:
Ripper: Damn! It is too early for this… (to Robert) Hey writer man, I got to crossover and see the empress. I'll be back later today. Want me to bring you back something? :-P
Robert (to Ripper): Sure. Make it something simple and easy to carry. An airship will do. :-p Have fun with your royalty, Mr. Fancypants. I'll be here toiling away like the peasant I am.
Ripper (to Robert): You could come with me if you like... You'd probably like Victoria, at least, when her mother is not around.
Robert (to Ripper): You'd take an Irishman AND American to see her Royal Highness? Would the court ever survive the scandal? With a heavy heart, I have to decline your offer, good sir. I've got this review on cat litter to finish up. Art will not wait.
Ripper (to Robert): Well, you can't say I didn't try. Have fun with your cat litter. I'll see you soon. :-)
Robert (to Ripper): Your attempt was duly noted. I'll take a raincheck for next time. Have fun storming the castle!
An hour or two later:
Mouse (to Poppy): Hey there, Poppy & little man. What brings you to our neck of the woods?
Poppy (to Mouse): I just wanted to come over and thank you, honey. I don't know what you did to get O'Malley to back off, but I appreciate it.
Mouse (to Poppy): Oh, it was no problem. I mean, I can't stop Hiiri, but I could at least, do something about that whole mess. How's he doing?
Poppy (to Mouse): I'm really worried, honey. I'd be able to handle it if he was being pervy, but this-- Well, this is something different entirely. I've been trying to get him to relax, but aside from drugging him which we all know how that turns out. I don't know what to do.
Mouse (to Poppy): It'll be okay... I hope.
Meanwhile:
Ripper (to Miranda): Miranda!?! What are you doing here? When you asked me to go talk to the Empress, I didn't think you were coming with me. It's not safe for you here. You should really head back. I can handle this.
Miranda (to Ripper): Same old Jacob... I don't need you to be chivalrous & protect me. I need to speak to the Empress about me mam & I just need you to get me into see her. I'll be out of the city before anyone's the wiser. Calm down.
Ripper (to Miranda): Fine... But, I think this is a very bad idea.
Miranda (to Ripper): Shhhh, too pretty...
Vincent: Poppy? Hun? Oh God. HUN? Where... Oh. She took Victor for a walk. Of course. We're fine. We're all fine. Everything is fine. Aside from the fact I'm talking to myself. Good heavens. I need some coffee.
A short time later:
Poppy (to Vincent): Hi lover! We're back from our walk. Did you miss us?
Vincent (to Poppy): You scared the hell out of me when I woke up and couldn't find you. Why didn't you wake me up, hun?
Poppy (to Vincent): You looked like you needed to sleep, honey. I left you a note.
Vincent (to Poppy): I found it. Believe me, if I hadn't, I'd probably be frantic right now rather than just un-caffeinated. Where on earth is the coffee?
Poppy (to Vincent): It's right here... Where it always is, honey. Are you okay? Did you sleep alright?
Vincent (to Poppy): Not very, I'm afraid. I kept waking up last night thinking I'd heard something. Don't make that face, lover. I'll be fine.
Poppy (to Vincent): I can't help it, honey. I'm worried about you. After everything we've been through, I've never seen you like this before.
Vincent (to Poppy): Come here, sweetie. I wish I knew what to say to you to make you feel better.
Poppy (to Vincent): How about that you will relax, honey? Mouse told me what happened with Eep yesterday...
Vincent (to Poppy): Ah. She did, did she?
Poppy (to Vincent): Yes, I went over to see her on our walk.
Vincent (to Poppy): I'm trying to relax, hun, honest and for true. It's just... I know why you and Mouse and even damnable Percy want me here. Safe, sound & out of the line of fire. But all that does is give me time to fret over what her next horrible act will be.
Poppy (to Vincent): Ooooo... You are infuriating! Why must you fret over her? I know she's horrible, but your well-being is way more important than whatever damnable plan she has in the works. You keep saying that you want a simple life and then you keep throwing yourself into messes like this. Just leave it alone... Please?
Vincent (to Poppy): Hiiri is my fault, hun.
Poppy (to Vincent): No, she's not! She's Smythe's fault. I don't care how you much you want to take the blame for her, but I'm sorry to say you taking that job for Tesla isn't want made Smythe make her. So, stop it!
Vincent (to Poppy): ... Ouch. You know, you slap harder than any other person I've ever met. And that's saying something.
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm sorry, honey, but... Well, you deserved it.
Vincent (to Poppy): Alright, Slappy McGee. Easy. Easy! I'm just trying to tease you. I'll try to relax, hun. Have a little patience with me? It's going to take some time for me to get--to get everything out of my head.
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, I understand better than most... It's just I know where this path leads if you don't stop now. I would hate for you to go through that kind of thing. You are too good of a person.
Vincent (to Poppy): It'll be fine, lover. I've got you to to slap me into shape, don't I?
Poppy (to Vincent): You'll always have me, lover.
Vincent (to Poppy): I know. Thank God. Heh. And heaven forbid anyone else ever say that I'm "too good a person" for anything ever again. :-p
Poppy (to Vincent): Heh. Well, you're also my favorite scoundrel, if that makes you feel any better, lover.
Vincent (to Poppy): Mmmm. Well, I have to admit that mollifies me a bit, lover.
Poppy (to Vincent): Good. I'm going to put Victor down for his afternoon nap & then I'll see what else I can do to help you relax.
Vincent (to Poppy): Mmmm. I AM a bundle of tension. It's hardly decent.
Poppy (to Vincent): It's so true-- Bloody hell! Could you grab my communicator, lover? I've got my arms full with the little man.
Vincent (to Poppy): I've got it, hun! Hello?
Margaux (to Vincent): Vincent, sugar? I need to speak to the little poptart.
Vincent (to Margaux): She's got her hands full of baby at the moment. Can you hold on, or is there a message I can give her?
Margaux (to Vincent): Oh... Well, I don't really have much time. So, I guess a message will have to do. It's about the Colonel... He's dead... He was mugged on his way back home from a trip. I'm so sorry.
Vincent (to Margaux): He--He was mugged? The Colonel?! We just--we just SAW him. How in the world... Thank you for letting us know, hun. I appreciate it.
Margaux (to Vincent): Please, send my love to Poppy. I know what he meant to her. I'll talk to you later, sugar.
Vincent (to Margaux): I will. (to Poppy) Poppy? I, um, I have some bad news, hun. That was Margaux. Ambrose is dead, sweetie. His body was discovered this morning. She said it looked like he'd been mugged on the way to his rendezvous.
Poppy (to Vincent): WHAT!?! But, how? I--
Vincent (to Poppy): Those were all the details she gave me, hun. I am so, so sorry. Come here.
Poppy (to Vincent): Thank you, honey... I think I may need to go lie down for a little while.
Vincent (to Poppy): Of course, hun. Do you need me to get you anything?
Poppy (to Vincent): No... I'm good. Thank you.
Vincent (to Poppy): Come on, sweetie. Do you want me to lie down with you? Or, am I hovering too much?
Poppy (to Vincent): Whichever you'd like... I think I just need to not think for a little while.
Vincent (to Poppy): OK, sweetie. I'm going to put something vapid on the TV for you and grab some dinner for us. Do you want me to take Victor?
Poppy (to Vincent): No, he should be fine. Besides, when he wakes up, he'll be hungry.
Vincent (to Poppy): I'll be back before you can miss me, lover. Call if you want anything. I love you, hun.
Poppy (to Vincent): Thank you, honey. I love you, too.
Vincent: Oh God... I think I'm beginning to understand why Eep took up smoking.
Several hours later:
Vincent (to Miranda): Miranda? Can you read me, hun?
Miranda (to Vincent): I read you, Vincent. What can I do for you, me boyo?
Vincent (to Miranda): I wish I was calling with better news, hun. We got word this afternoon that the Colonel has been found dead. God only knows if it's related to that bit of wedding crashing we did, but I thought I'd warn you to watch your back. Let me rest easier tonight, and tell me you and Belinda have moved the base.
Miranda (to Vincent): Oh... I believe she was making the necessary arrangements when I left. We had been planning on making the move, anyway. But, she upped the time table and I had a bit of an errand to run. As soon as I get back, we should be good to go.
Vincent (to Miranda): Get back? You haven't managed to get back to Rangoon yet? Where on earth are you?
Miranda (to Vincent): I was on my way when I realized that something need to be done about me mam, so I asked Jacob to get me an audience with her majesty. She's a nice gel. Massive crush on you, by the way.
Vincent (to Miranda): No kidding. Why do you think I haven't been shot yet? Wait. Are you still in New London? Good God, woman! Are you TRYING to get yourself slaughtered? How soon can you get back to Rangoon?
Miranda (to Vincent): I've got a berth on the next airship to Qin... so, a day or two. I'm laying low, I've had to hide before. Don't you fret. I'll be fine.
Vincent (to Miranda): Don't fret, she says... Miranda, I really don't think the Colonel's murder was an accident. If Hiiri could find an old con man and grifter like Ambrose, you won't be hard to track down. No offense, but you don't exactly blend, hun. Shit. Where are you staying? The Falcon in back in running order, I should be able to get you to Rangoon in a few if we use the right jumps.
Miranda (to Vincent): I'm presently staying at Jacob's house. I had planned on going to a tavern near the dock, but he insisted.
Vincent (to Miranda): Oh good. Two people she's wanted to kill at one point in the same location. That's a swell idea! Keep the doors and windows locked and the curtains drawn. I'll be there as soon as I can.
Miranda (to Vincent): Yes, yes. I have actually done this sort of thing before, you know. I was a captain of an airship for a number of years. Not to mention the fact that I'm now part of a rebellion. Do you think we're just sitting around having tea & crumpets?
Vincent (to Miranda): The way my lucky's been going? Who the fuck knows? God... I'm sorry, hun. You're right. It hasn't been the best of months. (to Ripper) So, does your boyfriend know you're currently shacked up with a busty lady pirate, Professor?
Ripper (to Vincent): If you must know, I called and left him a message. And nothing is going on between us, Captain... I'm dating Robert.
Vincent (to Ripper): Oh get your knickers out of that knot. I know that! I was just trying to be jovial so I don't come across as paranoid & crazy. I'm going to come by and give Miranda a ride back to the Qin territory. She might not be safe in New London.
Ripper (to Vincent): Alright, I'll make sure to pick up all of the knickers & the other sundry things off the floor.
Vincent (to Ripper): According to Miranda, you've been having tea and crumpets. Who knows what I would have found if I showed up unannounced? I'll see y'all soon.
Ripper (to Vincent): A scantily clad tea party, apparently... See you soon, Captain.
Miranda (to Ripper): Is it just me or has the littlest pirate been acting a bit kooky, lately?
Ripper (to Miranda): Heh. I knew I shouldn't have loaned you those books... But, yes he's been acting a bit odd.
