Marlena (to Yukiko): I've been so busy with prepping for mid-terms that I forgot to ask you. How are you doing with everything? Really?
Yukiko (to Marlena): God, honestly... I have no idea. I mean, how does anyone cope with finding out that your whole family are not only a bunch of criminals, but also think of you as simply a commodity? It's just too weird.
Marlena (to Yukiko): I bet... (to Poppy) Hi there, Aunt Poppy. Ummm, Victor's not here if you're looking for him.
Poppy (to Marlena): Oh, I know that, Mars honey. I'm actually here for Yoyo. (to Yukiko) Do you have any plans for the next few hours, honey?
Yukiko (to Poppy): Oh really? Uh, I just have some studying to do for my last mid-term tomorrow. Is there something wrong?
Poppy (to Yukiko): Not at all, honey. I was just curious about something. Mouse has graciously agreed to let me the use of her workout area... Would you please throw on some comfy clothes & join me, please? (to Marlena) You can join us too if you'd like, Mars.
Yukiko (to Poppy): Oh. Yes, ma'am.
Marlena (to Poppy): Uh, thanks, Poppy but I have some more studying to do & a mid-term this afternoon.
Poppy (to Marlena): Well, suit yourself. Good luck with your exams, honey.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Good luck, Yoyo.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Thanks... I have a feeling I'm going to need it.
A few moments later:
Marlena (to Victor): Hey Victor! Is there a reason your mom is taking Yoyo down into our basement? She's about to get her ass kicked, isn't she?
Victor (to Marlena): What? Oh... Oh shit. THAT'S why she has me cleaning out all these bloody flintlocks. Mom won't hurt her, but um... Yeah. I may have mentioned that Seph said she nailed some CLANNG goon when they were running away from the automaton. And I'll bet she's going to grill her to find out exactly what happened when I went over to Britannia. It's really damned hard to lie when you're concentrating on not getting smacked in the head.
Marlena (to Victor): Damn... Your mom is sneaky.
Victor (to Marlena): Yeah. Tell me something I don't know. Crap. She and Dad are going to be beyond mad when they find out we went into the Tower of London. They're going to lock me in your basement until I'm old enough to retire.
Marlena (to Victor): Oh... I don't think Yoyo will say anything about it. She managed to look your dad right in the eye & not say anything. At least, that's what Persephone said. Oh, and by the way, Seph thinks Yoyo is the bee's knees. So, clearly you have to dump her. :-P
Victor (to Marlena): Oh god. I'm never going to hear the end of this from her. Maybe it's a good thing I'll be locked in the basement forever.
Marlena (to Victor): Yeah, she was going on & on about Yoyo kicking some guy. Poor Yoyo!
Victor (to Marlena): You weren't there when she confronted her parents...
Marlena (to Victor): Oh, was it terrible? She wouldn't tell me anything about it.
Victor (to Marlena): It was pretty terrible. And shocking. I mean, I know how awful some people are to their kids. Your dad, my parents, they all had shitty folks, but to see it first hand was... They basically told her that she was a girl, and her only worth was as an asset to her brother. It was like they didn't even care what might happen to her. She was honor-bound to obey. Her mom did most of the talking. I couldn't understand most of it. They were talking WAY too fast.
Marlena (to Victor): Damn, that explains why she didn't want to talk about it. God, she's really on her own now, isn't she?
Victor (to Marlena): Yeah. I wish I knew what to say to her, but I'm kind of at a loss.
Marlena (to Victor): Yeah, me too. We'll figure out something. I gotta run to class. I'll talk to you later!
Victor (to Marlena): Of course. Good luck with your tests.
Several hours later:
Yukiko: This was honestly one of the weirdest days ever... And that's saying a lot after the week I've had.
