Persephone: Ow, ow, ow. I think my wrist is broken. That Jasper Lee boy is a menace. On the plus side, I-- Ooo, passing out now.
In West Piedmont:
Mouse (to Victor): Hey Victor, you're up awfully early... I mean, for you. Want any coffee or breakfast?
Victor (to Mouse): Yes, please. Something to eat would be wonderful, thank you. May I put the kettle on for tea?
Mouse (to Victor): Oh yes, of course... How does an omelet sound?
Victor (to Mouse): That sounds excellent! Thank you.
Mouse (to Victor): Alright, one omelet coming up... So, how are you this morning?
Victor (to Mouse): Confused, honestly. I was hoping that after I had some time to think about it, everything would be go back to feeling normal. But, I feel like I thought a hole in the ground all night, and I'm still just... I can't believe my dad killed somebody. My DAD.
Mouse (to Victor): I know... And, I really wish we never had to tell you all of that. We've all tried really hard to let you kids have as "normal" a childhood as we could. But, sadly with Hiiri resurfacing, well, it's just unavoidable. I'm sorry. And, your Dad was really affected by what he did. For all his bravado & big talk, he was freaked... And, honestly, I'm fairly certain that if I had been in his place I would have done the very same thing.
Victor (to Mouse): Yeah. He told me, and he told me how he and my mom got in the biggest fight of their lives over it, as well. I understand. I really do. I mean, Mom and Dad work as PIRATES. It's not like we associate with the most pristine of people. They tend to be dull anyway. It still seems strange to think of my dad... I know. I'm being childish about it.
Mouse (to Victor): Well, if it makes you feel any better, he's never done anything like that since.
Victor (to Mouse): It does. And I know it doesn't make my father a bad person. If the truth is told, part of me is a little terrified, Aunt Mouse. I've read all the files I could get my hands on about Hiiri, but... What kind of person could push my dad to do that?
Mouse (to Victor): I know this is a lot to take in, but your Dad was trying to protect you. He thought that Hiiri was coming for you... She's not a person. I mean, she is human, now, but she was created by a madman. Did your dad tell you about Smythe?
Victor (to Mouse): Yes, he did. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up anything painful.
Mouse (to Victor): It's alright. I've had plenty of time to come to terms with all of it. I'm just worried about Mars. She's still a little shaken about the whole thing. She and I spoke all last night in her room... Speaking of which, anything interesting happen last night with you?
Victor (to Mouse): Oh. I rather doubt there's any point in denying it, is there? Mars's friend Ms Kobayashi stopped by to talk to Mars. But, we ended up talking instead. She asked me out, and, um, gave me a kiss.
Mouse (to Victor): Wow. That's a bit of a surprise... I didn't know she had it in her. If you'd like to go out with her, I could let you off the hook for an evening... And, I promise not to say anything to Mars.
Victor (to Mouse): Really? Oh. Wow. I, um, I would like that. I'll admit I'm a bit nervous about it, though. Most of the young ladies I've had any experience with haven't been, um, curious souls. They weren't really askers of questions. Which suited me just fine. Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies. What do I do if she wants to know something about me?
Mouse (to Victor): Well, if you really like her, tell her about yourself... You're a smart lad, Victor, you'll figure it out. Besides, I think you could use the distraction from all this crazy stuff & it's about time you had some normal teenager experiences.
Victor (to Mouse): Heh. When you put it like that, it sounds like I'm being sent on a day For My Own Good. Honestly, I don't think I'd know what to do with a "normal teenaged experience" if it came up and slapped me.
Mouse (to Victor): Oh... Would you rather I tell you that you can't go out with Yoyo ever so that you can sneak out & do it? Because, honestly that's not really my style. I just think you & Mars have been punished enough & with Hiiri on the loose, it may be awhile before we all get to have simple lives again, so we've got to seize the little bits of normal we can.
Victor (to Mouse): Heh. No, I'd rather not sneak out. Thank you, Aunt Mouse. How is Mars doing?
Mouse (to Victor): Better, I think. She managed to get herself off to class this morning. Eep is going to check on her at lunch.
Victor (to Mouse): Poor Mars... If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know.
Mouse (to Victor): She'll be okay. She's going to go on a museum trip with one of her classes to New York this weekend, so hopefully that'll cheer her up. She normally loves museums.
Victor (to Mouse): Oh. Good. Thank you for breakfast. Do you need any help with the dishes?
Mouse (to Victor): Nah, I've got it. You go enjoy your day, do something fun.
A few hours later:
Marlena (to Yukiko): Yoyo, have you been avoiding me? I know I've been a little pre-occupied but you usually sit with me between morning classes.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Wha--Oh god! You scared the heck out of me. Sorry. I was lost in my own little world... What did you say?
Marlena (to Yukiko): Sorry. I was just asking if you were avoiding me.
Yukiko (to Marlena): I'm not avoiding you, don't be silly. I had 2 tests to study for & a piece to rehearse. Speaking of which I really need to get back to it. I'm supposed to be presenting it next week & there's a couple tricky parts... Don't make that face.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Sorry... It's just been a weird few days.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Tell me about it... No, seriously, come on. You can sit in the rehearsal space & talk to me while I play.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Really? That would be nice. Thanks...
Yukiko (to Marlena): That's what friends are for, silly.
Several hours later:
Victor (to Persephone): Seph? Persephone? Can you read me? Damn. I guess the communication channels are still down.
Persephone (to Victor): Victor, is that you?
Victor (to Persephone): Hey! Yeah. I was just about to give up the hope of this thing connecting. How are you doing with the Lee brats?
Persephone (to Victor): Oh well, I'm no longer having to act as governess for them... but my right wrist is broken. Mom & Dad are terribly upset & I'm on a painkiller so I'm just fine... I think. How are you?
Victor (to Persephone): What?! What happened? Did one of those little horrors break your wrist?
Persephone (to Victor): Yes, Jasper Lee pulled a prank on me, which knocked me down the hill in front of their house & I tried to catch myself.
Victor (to Persephone): Oh my God. That little... Ooo! That shithead. Well, Jasper Lee might not be the only reason you're home early. We've had... God, how do I describe the past few days? Do you remember, from my Mom's files that psycho automaton modeled after my aunt?
Persephone (to Victor): The one with the weird name? Yeah. I remember reading something about her. Why?
Victor (to Persephone): It looks like she paid someone to make clones of her. It's... It's all so screwed up. Most of them were destroyed years ago. But, one of them showed up in my aunt's backyard the other night! Mars totes freaked out. From what Aunt Mouse and my dad told me, um, Mars and my aunt were held hostage by her. For years.
Persephone (to Victor): Oh god! Is everyone okay? She didn't do anything to anyone? Do you need help? Ooo... I shouldn't jump up so fast.
Victor (to Persephone): Calm down, Seph! It's OK. We're all alright. She just scared us. Um. My dad told me all about her last night. She's... Terrifying doesn't seem like a strong enough word. And... I don't know how else to say this, but my dad, um, he killed her. Not the other night! Years ago when I was still a baby. He... She showed up at his friend's house and he...
Persephone (to Victor): Oh... wow... After everything I've heard I'm surprised it wasn't Aunt Poppy.
Victor (to Persephone): Hey! My mom's not like that. Um, anymore. I think. God, of course, I would have never thought my dad had it in him either.
Persephone (to Victor): I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset you. How is your banishment going? Is it totally grunt?
Victor (to Persephone): It's alright. It's just been an odd couple of days. On the same day that my dad unloaded his Hiiri drama bomb, one of Mars's friends from college asked me to see a movie with her, and gave me a kiss. Aunt Mouse knew all about it... She MUST have surveillance or something set up somewhere. She's totes going to let me go.
Persephone (to Victor): It's probably just Mom-radar, like how my Mom always seems to know when on of us is hiding something from her.
Victor (to Persephone): It's uncanny. You'd think after all the years I've had of mom lecturing me about tells and how to bluff, I'd be able to lie to the Pope.
Persephone (to Victor): Heehee, so you've got a date with a girl in West Piedmont, huh? So is she pretty & dumb? How heavily did you flirt with her? I'm not at all surprised some girl on that side fell for you. I figured eventually you'd run out of girls on this side to to flirt with mercilessly. :-P
Victor (to Persephone): Ha ha ha. She's very pretty, but not dumb at all. She's only a year older than us. She got admitted to Mars's school early.
Persephone (to Victor): Well, color me impressed... Smart & pretty, that's not your usual type at all, cousin o' mine.
Victor (to Persephone): Yeah. Tell me about it. What the hell am I gonna talk to her about?
Persephone (to Victor): You've been on plenty of dates before... What do you normally talk about with the girls you like? Or has this one taken you by surprise? ... If so, I like her already. :-P
Victor (to Persephone): Maybe a little bit. Besides, it's not like girls I've dated in the past have been interested in me for my repartee.
Persephone (to Victor): You're putting a lot of undue pressure on yourself about this date... Just relax & be yourself. Dates can be fun & if you don't hit it off, it's no big deal. What are you two going to do on your date? And, when are you going out with her?
Victor (to Persephone): Probably. I'm nervous. Usually, if a lady and I don't get along, it's no big deal. We're never in one place for very long, so it's not like we'll run into one another, but this is Mars's friend. Her ONLY friend. I don't want to make things awkward. Or get Mars mad at me, for that matter.
Persephone (to Victor): Hey, what am I chopped liver? I'm her friend, too. And, you're going on one date. No one expecting a lifetime commitment or anything... If you don't want to go out with her, don't. But, if you think you might like her then you'd be a fool to pass up the opportunity. Besides, I REALLY like the idea of a girl that makes you nervous.
Victor (to Persephone): Her only friend on this side, dorkus. She admitted that besides you and I, Yoyo is the only one she hangs out with. I don't think Martian is as solitary as she likes to pretend she is. And OF COURSE you like the idea of a girl who makes me nervous.
Persephone (to Victor): Like, you didn't make fun of me when I was being nervous about going out on a date with the boy that shall remain nameless.
Victor (to Persephone): You're right. I'm a terrible cousin, a fiend, and I deserve all of the vitriol you can muster. :-P
Persephone (to Victor): Oh? Am I really being so terrible? If I am, I'm sorry. This whole wrist thing is very grunt & it's making me cranky.
Victor (to Persephone): No, of course not. I'm only teasing you, because you flustered me. I'm sorry you were hurt. If I ever run into that Lee kid, I promise to trip him down a hill. Or push. Whichever happens first.
Persephone (to Victor): Heehee, thanks... I should go. Mam is looking at me, which means I probably have to do something.
Victor (to Persephone): She always has something for you, doesn't she? Give my regards to her and Uncle Bernard. Thanks for listening, Seph.
Persephone (to Victor): I'm always here for you, silly, you know that... I'll pass on the message. And, Victor, try to enjoy yourself while you're over there. I know I would. :-P
Victor (to Persephone): Heh. I will. Good night.
A few minutes later:
Marlena (to Victor): Oh hey, Victor... were you talking to Seph?
Victor (to Marlena): Yeah. I needed someone to talk to. She's off governess duty. One of the little Lee monsters broke her wrist.
Marlena (to Victor): Oh, that's terrible... though, I bet she's glad to be away from them after that. I was just on my way to bed, but I wanted to say thank you for the other day. It was nice of you to watch after me when I cracked up about Hiiri.
Victor (to Marlena): Oh. It wasn't any trouble, and under the circumstances, it was totes understandable. But, you're welcome. That's what family's there for, right?
Marlena (to Victor): Yeah, but it was still nice. So, thanks.
Victor (to Marlena): You're welcome. Good night, Mars.
Marlena (to Victor): Good night, Victor.
