Poppy (to Nathaniel): Good morning, honey. Coffee? Tea? Something a bit more substantial?
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Huh? Where the fuck..?! Oh! Right. Right. Sorry. I forgot where I was. I can't have... Caffeine makes me jittery. No thanks. Do you have any juice? Any kind will do.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): We've got some orange juice, I'll pour you a glass. Did you sleep okay? Vincent swears that couch is the most comfortable place on the planet besides our bed. But, I can't ever sleep on it for very long.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): It was a little cramped, but fine. Thanks for letting me stay.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): It's not a problem, honey. So, what's your plan?
Nathaniel (to Poppy): I have a friend in New York who said I could stay with him. I'm going to head up that way when I get together enough money.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): So, you'll be needing a job, then. Any thoughts about what you'll be doing to earn money? Exactly, how old are you, honey? Ever had a job before? Or were you thinking of fleecing us? I saw you looking around the apartment. I'm not dumb. Besides, half this stuff in here is heavily out of date. We haven't been living on this side of the pond for quite awhile.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Wh--what? No! I'm not a thief! I've got a job. I can do it from here on my laptop if you guys have a wireless connection. Jesus! Look, if you don't want me here, I can find someplace else to stay.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Honey, you can stay here but I won't abide blatant lying or secrets. If you're not honest with me, how can I trust you? Honestly, I don't care if you're a bit of juvenile delinquent. I know you've never hurt anyone, I've seen your record. Just not in my house. If you want our help, I mean, really want our help. You're going to have to do it our way.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Well, I'm sorry I haven't told you my whole life's story. I don't exactly know you guys from Adam either, you know.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): I realize that, honey. But, you came to us for help. So, if you want it, these are the rules.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Wait. How the hell have you seen my record?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): I'm very good at what I do, honey.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): So what? You're a cop? Or a bobby or whatever? You find anything else interesting, or just my juvie record? Doesn't matter. Thing's fulla crap anyway. I'm not gonna steal anything or do anything illegal or crazy while I'm here, OK?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Heh. Don't worry I'm not a cop. We've all had our brushes with the law. Well, not here anyway. I know a lot of things about you, but it's just paper & other people's words. I'd really rather hear it from you. So, care to enlighten me? Or are you going to let that giant chip on your shoulder weigh you down?
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Fine. Whatever. It's not like you probably don't know all this anyway... First time my parents sent me to one of those stupid, fu-- one of those camps, I was 15 and lumping a bunch of upset, teenaged queers together is a really shitty idea. I ended up ODing. The next four months were a tour of hospitals and institutions. We live in a small town. When I finally got back home 7 months later, there wasn't anyone who didn't know. That made me REAL popular, lemme tell you. If I get sent to one of those camps again, I'll end up in an institution afterward. That's how it goes. I wanna avoid that.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): That's completely understandable. I'm sorry that you went through all of that on your own, honey. Your uncle went through something similar, but I think you already know that, since you said you found that old article.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Yeah. Well, now you know.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Thank you for telling me, honey. Now, is there anything else you'd like to tell me? If it will make you more comfortable, you can ask me anything you'd like. It seems only fair.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): I think I've spilled enough of my guts. Christ, I don't know... Did my grandfather really threaten to kill Uncle Vincent? I know what the article said, but the family always claimed, if it ever came up, that it was all blown out of proportion.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Honey, I really wish that had been the case, but it was completely true. In fact, Mou-- Emmeline was probably being a little too honest in the description of his injuries in that article, but she didn't want to be accused of that very thing. I saw the photos and the x-rays. He was in pretty rough shape. I'm glad you were spared that kind of thing. Though being sent to those camps doesn't sound much better.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Dad never hit me. He's an idiot, but he's not a violent idiot. I don't know. I figured I could bide my time until college but that didn't work out so well.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): So, what about the boy who was on your phone? Is he the one in New York?
Nathaniel (to Poppy): That's Timothy. He's part of the reason staying in the closet didn't work so well. He's not... We broke up a few weeks ago. Reason number 2 I figured I had no reason to stay.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): I'm sorry to hear that, honey. Heh. You are so related to Vincent. He & Victor get that same look when they're trying not to say something that they really want to. It's like you're trying not to explode from all the words that want to come out. So, instead you try to play all stoic. Honey, trust me, it doesn't work. Just makes it more obvious.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Christ! Persephone wasn't kidding about you. No wonder your kid seems like such a goody two shoes. Timothy dumped me. He didn't like my job.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Oh yes, the mysterious computer job that requires an internet connection. So, what is it? Porn? Gambling? Internet Chat? And, please don't say things about my son, honey. You can be as insulting as you want about anything else, but I won't stand for that sort of thing.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): OK. OK. I'm sorry. And, I'm not doing porn or gambling or anything like that. It's just chatting.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Just chatting, huh? And it pays well & you like it?
Nathaniel (to Poppy): It's OK, & pays well enough, I guess. It's not like I can get a job at McDonald's when everyone in town knows I have a record. And YES. It's just chatting. There are a lot of lonely guys out there who'll pay to talk to a good-looking mo.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Well, if you wanted a "real" job, I'm sure we could get you something to do. Your uncle happens to know a lovely lady with a café & lounge. And, she wouldn't care about your record. That is if you wanted something like that.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): I... What? Not like 20 minutes ago, you were accusing me of casing the joint, and now you're offering to find me a job?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): What, honey? You were honest with me, which I appreciate. I needed to know what kind of person you were. It's always much easier to figure out what a person's angle is when they're feeling indignant. Besides, I now know what your tells are. And, since you were honest with me, I thought it should be rewarded. So, what do you say? Do you want a real job? Or do you really like talking to pervy old men?
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Hey, you don't know what kinda daddy issues I might have. I'm just kidding. Sure. Why the hell not?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Heh. Good. Get yourself cleaned up & I'll go talk to your uncle. (to Vincent) Honey? Are you still lounging in bed?
Vincent (to Poppy): For as long as I possibly can. We've got a house full of teenagers out there. Have you been grilling our newest addition, lover?
Poppy (to Vincent): Yes, honey. He's a got a huge chip on his shoulder & a bit of a mess, but I think there might actually be a decent person hidden deep, deep down under all of that resentment and attitude. I thought you could see if Mouse would give him a job at Renfield's or Dracula's Daughter. What do you think? If anyone can get through to him, it's probably your sister. She seems to have a gift for it. :-)
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. She certainly does. I can ask. You know sister dearest has a soft spot for broken, angry young men. :-P
Poppy (to Vincent): Good. I sent him to go get cleaned up. I've got some business to attend to in New London, so I'll be away for a bit. I'm leaving all of the wayward children in your capable hands. So, feel free to take Nate to your sister & see about that job. Then, you'll have one less to worry about for a little while. :-P And, I think Victor is hiding in his room waiting for the dreaded talk. I'm leaving that all to you. I don't think he's going to be at all comfortable talking to me about sex. Lucky you.
Vincent (to Poppy): Good heavens! You're leaving me alone with all of this? I may not survive. If I don't make it, know that I always loved you. Can't we go antagonize CLANNG or something less terrifying?
Poppy (to Vincent): Maybe later, if you've been good. You'll do just fine, honey.
Vincent (to Poppy): Mmmm. We shall see. Give me a kiss, beautiful, and I'll let you toddle off to do your spy stuff.
Poppy (to Vincent): I'll try not to take too long. I'm going to go the short way. I love you. See you soon!
Vincent (to Poppy): I love you too. Wish me luck!
Poppy (to Vincent): Good luck, honey!
A short time later:
Persephone (to Vincent): Knock, knock. Sorry to bother you, Uncle Vincent, but I was going to go grab coffee. Do you want anything?
Vincent (to Persephone): No thank you, Seph. Is my son squirreled away in his room waiting for the hammer to fall on him?
Persephone (to Vincent): Yeah, he's a bit terrified that you're going to be upset with him. I feel terrible for blabbing.
Vincent (to Persephone): It's alright, hun. We already knew, so don't feel too bad about it. We're not mad. I'll go talk to him. Enjoy your coffee.
Persephone (to Vincent): Okay. Thank you. I'll be back in a little bit.
Vincent (to Victor): Victor? Are you going to hide in here all day, or will you grace us with your presence sooner or later?
Victor (to Vincent): I wasn't hiding! Um, well, OK. Maybe I was. A bit.
Vincent (to Victor): You can exhale. I haven't come to yell at you. You haven't done anything wrong or to be embarrassed about. You've got a girlfriend you care about, and whom you've dated awhile, and now you two have a sexual relationship. It's all dreadfully mundane and normal, I assure you. Believe it or not, both your mother and I are GLAD...
Victor (to Vincent): DAD!
Vincent (to Victor): Heh. Calm down. Let me finish. Both your mother and I are glad something in your life is normal and run of the mill. We know that's not always the case in this family. Are you two using protection?
Victor (to Vincent): Yes. We're being careful. We, um, talked about all that stuff before we... Um, we talked about it.
Vincent (to Victor): Good lad! Were you both virgins before this? Do you need to go to Planned Parenthood to get any testing? I'm not going to be upset if the answer is no, you know.
Victor (to Vincent): Oh my god... Yes! We were both... I mean, we don't need to get tested.
Vincent (to Victor): OK. If Yoyo wants to get on birth control, which I would heartily recommend by the by, either your mom, or even your aunt would be more than happy to take her to Planned Parenthood. If she's not comfortable with us being involved, I'll show you where it is so you can take her. Don't make a face. This is part of being a grownup who gets to have sex.
Victor (to Vincent): I know. Thanks, Dad.
Vincent (to Victor): You're welcome. Come here and give me a hug, Little Man! I can't believe how grownup you're getting.
Victor (to Vincent): Yeesh! Alright, Dad. Stop! It's getting weird.
Vincent (to Victor): I'm stopping. If you have any questions, you know you can come to your mother or me. We'll try not to make it TOO awkward.
Victor (to Vincent): Thanks.
Vincent (to Victor): You're welcome. Now stop skulking in your room like a troll in a cave!
A couple hours later, at Renfield's, West Piedmont:
Mouse (to Marlena & Yukiko): I seriously think you two have had enough coffee. You're going to drink up all of my profits in one day. :-P
Yukiko (to Mouse): You're probably right, I feel like I'm going to float away. Can you overdose on coffee?
Marlena (to Mouse): Sorry mom. We've got projects due at the end of the week & then finals next week. We're a bit swamped.
Mouse (to Marlena & Yukiko): Just give it a rest & let it sink in. I'll get you both some water.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Why on earth did you make us come here? You know, my mom is going to be hovering.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Oh come on, she's not that bad and you know it. Be glad that you have a mom that cares about you & get back to work. This stupid paper isn't going to write itself. :-P
Marlena (to Yukiko): It is so unfair that you get to pull the bad parent card, you evil dictator. :-P
Mouse (to Marlena & Yukiko): Here's your water... What's got you both grinning like crazy people?
Marlena & Yukiko (to Mouse): Nothing.
Mouse (to Marlena & Yukiko): Okay, Frick & Frack, I'll leave you alone. If you need me, I'll be in the back teaching Janice how to make cheese biscuits. Try not to be too disappointed that I'm not hovering. :-P
Marlena (to Mouse): Heh. Thanks, mom.
Yukiko (to Mouse): Thank you, Mrs. Estevez.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Hey, do you have a pencil sharpener? I seem to be missing mine.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Yeah, it should be in the left inside pocket of my bag.
Vincent (to Yukiko & Marlena): Hey girls, is my sister hanging around?
Marlena (to Vincent): Hi Uncle Vincent! She's in the back teaching Janice how to make cheese biscuits. You'll probably hear the swearing soon. I think she's determined to find her something useful to do. She keeps saying there's got to be something that girl is capable of besides mucking up orders and flirting with boys.
Nathaniel (to Vincent): Your sister?
Yukiko (to Marlena & Vincent): Heehee.
Vincent (to Marlena): Hee hee. Thanks, Mars. Hopefully she'll be grateful for the great, big distraction I'm about to lay on her. (to Nathaniel) Adopted. I traded up in the world. (to Yukiko & Marlena) Girls, this is Nate Jones. He's my nephew. (to Nathaniel) Nate, this is Yoyo and Marlena. Make yourself comfortable and behave yourself, grumpy gob.
Marlena (to Vincent): Jones? Oh? OH! Wow. (to Nathaniel) Hi there.
Yukiko (to Vincent): Oh my goodness. (to Nathaniel & Marlena) So, does that makes you two cousins?
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Yes. One of those Joneses. I see our reputation proceeds us.
Marlena (to Yukiko): I think you'd actually have to be related by blood for that to be the case, Yoyo. (to Nathaniel) Well, it's not reputation so much as infamy. But, you seem harmless enough.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Oh. I'm confused.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Harmless, huh? Think that's the first time I've been accused of that.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Heh. It's okay. I'll explain it to you later. (to Nathaniel) Sorry to disappoint you. What brings you to town, Nate? Come to gawk at the weirdos?
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Not precisely. I'm staying with Uncle Vincent for a little while.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Oh well, welcome to the family, then. I hope you have a high threshold for the odd.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. Yeah. I think I can handle it. Believe me, I've dealt with worse.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Heh. You say that now. Trust me, you haven't seen anything, yet.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Mars, are you trying to give him a complex?
Marlena (to Yukiko): He says he can handle it.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Okay, fine. I'll keep my opinions to myself & continue working on my project.
Nathaniel (to Marlena & Yukiko): Somehow, I'm not concerned. I already got grilled by the littlest, squeakiest CIA member.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Heh. If you managed to hold your own against Aunt Poppy, maybe you're tougher than you look. (to Yukiko & Nathaniel) I'm grabbing a smoke, I'll be back in a minute.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Really? Your mom is so going to kill you.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Hush you. She's clearly having a talk with Vincent. I'll be back before you notice I'm gone.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Well, this isn't awkward at all, in the slightest.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Yeah. More than a bit. So, Marlena is related to... Victor, I'm guessing?
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Yeah, they're cousins.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen of Renfield's, West Piedmont:
Mouse: Dear god! What is so difficult about making these cheese biscuits? It's easy. Shredded cheese, red onions, parsley, milk, egg, biscuit mix. A monkey could do it. Heck, my eight year old could do it. Janice, you're killing me.
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh dear. Would you like me to stop by later, or shall I leave you to your in depth discussion of biscuits?
Mouse (to Vincent): Hey, little brother. Please, feel free to rescue me from my baked good nightmares. Does this look edible to you?
Vincent (to Mouse): Good heavens! Not even slightly. What is it supposed to be?
Mouse (to Vincent): It was supposed to be a biscuit, not a charcoal briquet. So, what can I do for you? Judging by the look on your face, this isn't a social call.
Vincent (to Mouse): That is a terrifying thought. I was wondering if you could help me with a bit of karma that's been deposited on my doorstep?
Mouse (to Vincent): Well, that sounds intriguing. Am I going to need to a drink for this?
Vincent (to Mouse): I think we both might need one, hun. That sour looking young man who accompanied me inside is Nathaniel Jones. He's my nephew. He ran away from home to avoid being sent to one of my father's horrid Christian Love and Bullshit camps.
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh damn! Come into my office, I've got a bottle of wine I've been saving for an occasion like this.
Vincent (to Mouse): Hee hee hee. A special bottle of wine for comeuppance? He showed up on our doorstep last night.
Mouse (to Vincent): How are you holding up? This has got to be a bit weird for you. Have a glass.
Vincent (to Mouse): It's... It's more than a little strange, actually. Hellooooooo deja vu. Speaking of which, would you be willing to give our latest wastrel a job? He's got a little bit of a record, apparently. and, he's been earning money by chatting up old, lonely men online. And, no offense, but you have a way with angry, broken boys.
Mouse (to Vincent): Lucky me... I'll do it for you. After the whole Janice fiasco, I do need an extra person here. I'm not sure I want him at the club, just yet. Besides, Sebastian handles the hiring over there & I don't want to step on his toes.
Vincent (to Mouse): Thank you, sweetie! I'm not sure what else to do with him. And I don't think he's quite 18 yet, so the club would be a bad idea.
Mouse (to Vincent): You're welcome, sweetie. Let's go meet this lost boy.
In the front of Renfield's, West Piedmont:
Marlena (to Yukiko & Nathaniel): See, I'm back. No harm done.
Yukiko (to Marlena): You smell like an ashtray.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Oh. So that's what she meant. (to Marlena) Can I bum a smoke off of you?
Yukiko (to Nathaniel & Marlena): Great. Now, there's two of you.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Hush you. (to Nathaniel) Sure. Here you go.
Yukiko (to Marlena & Nathaniel): Well, I hate to break up this little smoking party, but I gotta get to class. I'll see you later.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Thanks. (to Yukiko) Later.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Bye Yoyo. I'll see you later.
Oliver (to Marlena & Nathaniel): Mars, are you done with these glasses and plates?
Marlena (to Oliver): Oh yeah, Oliver. Thanks.
Nathaniel (to Oliver): Do you work here?
Oliver (to Nathaniel): Yep. I just moved back to town a couple months ago. Miss Mous-- Emma was nice enough to give me a job.
Nathaniel (to Oliver): Really? Well, suddenly the prospect of getting a job here is a WHOLE lot more interesting.
Oliver (to Nathaniel): Oh well, I'm sure I'll see you around then. I need to get back to work. I'm Oliver, by the way.
Nathaniel (to Oliver): Hopefully so. I'm Nate.
Oliver (to Nathaniel): See you around, Nate! (to Marlena) Your mom's on her way down & you smell like an ashtray, you might want to fix that.
Marlena (to Oliver): Yeah, yeah. Don't rat me out. (to Nathaniel) Heh. Now, I know why you were being sent to that horror camp.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Yeah. Sure. Like you didn't guess that before.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Well, I don't like to make assumptions.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. Some assumptions I think are pretty safe to make. I can't really pretend I'm anything other than what I am.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): How very existential of you.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): If you say so. Heh. I like you, Stretch.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Knock yourself out, twinkie.
Vincent (to Nathaniel): Nate? This is my sister, Emma Potter. You can call her ma'am. :-p (to Mouse) Hun, this is Nathaniel Jones, another wayward Jones boy.
Mouse (to Nathaniel & Vincent): Please... You don't have to call me ma'am, in fact I'd prefer if you didn't. Nice to meet you, Nate. (to Marlena) Mars, you smell like an ashtray.
Nathaniel (to Mouse): It's nice to meet you too. I won't call you ma'am. I'm learning my uncle has an odd sense of humor.
Marlena (to Mouse): Yeah, yeah. I had a cigarette. It's going to be the death of me.
Mouse (to Nathaniel): That he does. So, I've got a job opening, if you want it. It's doing a little bit of everything. Have you ever worked in a restaurant or café before? (to Marlena) I swear you are too much like your father.
Marlena (to Mouse): And, I'm completely fine with that.
Nathaniel (to Mouse): No. I... No. I've only ever been a, um, self-starter? (to Vincent) Don't snicker. I didn't mean it like that!
Mouse (to Vincent): Alright, you have brought him here, now get lost. I'll drop him off later. Okay? (to Nathaniel) Well, we'll start with the basics and see what you're good at. How's that sound? (to Marlena) And, you get your ass home. If you're going to smoke, do it somewhere that I can't see you. Tell your father I'll bring something home for dinner. Gabe is staying at his friend, Kyle's, until later so it'll be the three of us, unless you have plans.
Marlena (to Mouse): I'm going, I'm going.
Vincent (to Nathaniel): Alright. Calm down. I wasn't trying to imply a thing. Yeesh! Touchy, touchy. Nate, I'll see you later at home. (to Mouse) Sister dearest, as always, you are a saint.
Nathaniel (to Mouse): Heh. What do you want me to try first, boss lady?
Mouse (to Vincent): Yes, please put that on my tombstone... Emma Potter, a saint and a bit of a sucker. (to Nathaniel) I'm going to ignore that... First, it'll be the wonderful world of unpacking boxes, so you'll know where everything is. Then, we'll move to the front of the house and show you how to use the register. And, if you're good, I'll let you chat up Oliver.
Vincent (to Mouse): Hee hee. You say as if that wasn't going to make that your epitaph already. Love you, sweetie. I'll see you later.
Nathaniel (to Mouse): Heh heh. Sounds exciting. Lead the way.
Mouse (to Vincent): Love you too, pain in my butt.
A short time later, at the home of Eep & Mouse, West Piedmont:
Marlena (to Eep): Dad! Hey Dad! Where the hell are you?
Eep (to Marlena): I'm the hell on the porch! You're in a wonderful mood. What's up, monkey?
Marlena (to Eep): Mom sent me home. She's bringing food with her after she's done at work. And, Uncle Vincent brought her another stray kid. Mom's like the fuckin' orphan catcher or something.
Eep (to Marlena): Figures. You wanna wait for your mom to eat, or do you wanna get something now? Personally, I'm starving.
Marlena (to Eep): Yeah, food would be great.
Eep (to Marlena): Alright. Here you go. I'm sure Mom will be by soon enough to scold us for the weirdo crap we're eating. So who is this stray your uncle brought by?
Marlena (to Eep): Oh, he's apparently some gay boy nephew from the bio brother family.
Eep (to Marlena): Huh. One of the Jones contingency made an appearance, did he? I figured one of those fuckers'd show up sooner or later. That family can't fucking cope with anything outside of Ozzie & Harriet.
Marlena (to Eep): Yeah, he's a bit of a douche.
Eep (to Marlena): Yeah. Coming from that family? Not surprising. So you like him, huh?
Marlena (to Eep): He's okay. Mom's probably getting his number right now.
Eep (to Marlena): I don't doubt it. Between your mom and your aunt... Heh. You're right. We ARE the fucking orphan catchers.
A few hours later:
Yukiko (to Victor): Hey, I just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you. I hope everything is okay with you. I met your cousin today. He seemed... Interesting. Seph told me about her spilling the beans. I hope it wasn't too terrible.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh. Hey! I was thinking about you too. Yeah, Seph kind of opened her mouth in the heat of an argument last night and it flew. I'm, um, I'm sorry I told her, but, um, I... Heh. I kind of wanted to brag. My dad spoke to me about it today, and he was really normal about it. Embarrassing, but normal. Sorry you had to get exposed to Nate. I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Yukiko (to Victor): Your cousin wasn't all that bad. He just seemed sort of lost. He was mostly annoying Mars, he didn't seem to know what to make of her. I'm sure I will get an earful from your mom tomorrow at my lesson.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Well, he doesn't seem to like me, that's for sure. I know my mom was interrogating him. I feel kind of bad for him.
Yukiko (to Victor): I don't regret a second of it, just so you know. :-)
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh? Heh, that's good. Because I sure as bloody hell don't regret it,
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh good... I mean about the us part. I'll try & see you after my lesson tomorrow, if that's okay with you? As for your cousin, don't worry about it. If he doesn't like you, he doesn't know what he's missing out on.
Victor (to Yukiko): I'd really like seeing you tomorrow after your lesson if you're feeling up to it. And don't worry. I don't really care what Nate thinks of me. See you tomorrow!
Yukiko (to Victor): Bye Victor!
Victor (to Yukiko): Bye, Yoyo. Good night.
Persephone (to Victor): Oooo, bye Yoyo. Bye Victor! Oooo. I want to see you tomorrow... You are so smitten. I don't think I've ever seen you like this before.
Victor (to Persephone): Do me a favor, Seph, and kindly bugger off! Weren't you always the one who was complaining I was a "man whore?"
Persephone (to Victor): Well yes, but that's one of the things that I liked about you. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy for you. And really, I shouldn't be at all surprised. You & your love of the mundane. I just wasn't expecting it to happen so soon. I was figuring twenty years from now when your looks had faded, you'd settle down with some plain farmer's daughter. Have a bushel of children. I'd come by to visit looking fabulous, we'd sit on the porch & talk about the good ole days. You know, like you do.
Victor (to Persephone): One: Yoyo is hardly mundane. Just because I found someone I like doesn't mean I've gone all dull & respectable. Two: do you really think my looks are going to fade in twenty years? I mean, look at my folks. I'm not worried.
Persephone (to Victor): I'm just teasing. I'm giving you a hard time because honestly I'm jealous. I keep looking for my prince & keeping finding toads. You just stumble on the perfect girl & she just happens to reciprocate your feelings. Totally unfair.
Victor (to Persephone): Seph, trust me, when you meet the right guy, you are going to blow him away. He won't be able to keep away from you. Heh. According to my dad, it's what falling in love with Longfellow women is like. Don't worry. Until then, just have fun with all the wrong ones. :-P
Persephone (to Victor): As if I wasn't going to do that, anyway. ;-)
Victor (to Persephone): Heh. Yeah. Somehow I wasn't too worried about it. So what do you think of the new cousin?
Persephone (to Victor): I think he's a jackass in tight jeans, who is enamored by his own self importance. Which is really just a defense mechanism to hide his low self-esteem. And, I trust him about as far as I can throw him. How about you?
Victor (to Persephone): Hee hee hee. Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that way. That guy has more drama backlogged than a penny opera. I was worried I might be judging him a bit too harsh with him because he clearly doesn't like me.
Persephone (to Victor): No, you're fine. Honestly, I'll be happy to see the back of him.
Victor (to Persephone): Heh. Thanks. Although, somehow, I think we'll be enjoying his company for a while longer yet. Oh boy!
Persephone (to Victor): Oh goody. And, on that note, I'm going to head to bed. I'll see you in the morning.
Victor (to Persephone): Good night! I'll see you tomorrow.
