Hiiri (to Victor): Good morning, Victor. I made some coffee, if you'd like some.
Victor (to Hiiri): Oh. Yes, I would. Thank you. I see you found you some clothes that aren't from my dad's "goth bartender" collection. That's good. Some of that stuff is inexplicable. Did you really go out to pick up boys last night?
Hiiri (to Victor): Yes. Nate thought it might help me feel like a normal teenager & get over the whole evil clone thing.
Victor (to Hiiri): Heh. Well, there's a certain amount of logic in that. I know whenever I felt a little to other, I'd... Oh. Heh. Never mind. I'm sure you don't want to hear that. Are you hungry? I'm going to make some breakfast. I'm *starving*.
Hiiri (to Victor): Wait. What were you going to say? I want to know & yes, some food would be great.
Victor (to Hiiri): Alright. Breakfast it is. Nate will probably want some too when he gets up... I think we have enough eggs. And I was going to say, whenever I felt a bit too isolated or odd, I'd find myself some pleasant company. Heh. Usually some lass who wasn't interested in conversation and wouldn't ask too many questions.
Hiiri (to Victor): Oh. So, Miss Kobayashi isn't your usual type... that's interesting.
Victor (to Hiiri): No, not really. I mean, before now, what was I supposed to talk to them about?
Hiiri (to Victor): Your keen fashion sense? … So, um, are you in love with her or is too soon to know?
Victor (to Hiiri): You'd be shocked how quickly fashion as a topic of conversation can be exhausted. And... I don't know yet. Things have been a bit, well, they're always complicated in this family, aren't they? You certainly seem to think I'm in love with her.
Hiiri (to Victor): You've got the look about you, like the way your dad looks at your mom. But, I think you're unsure & it sort of terrifies you. With good reason, you're young and don't have the safest life. It's kind of adorable.
Victor (to Hiiri): And it suddenly got a whole lot more unsafe, didn't it? That's it in one. Well, done.
Hiiri (to Victor): I'm quite observant, it's a gift & a curse. I'm sorry if I was giving you a hard time last night. It seems to be contagious around Nate. He's a bit of a mess, right now & being snarky seems to be the way he copes. He could really use a friend right now... Hell, I could too.
Victor (to Hiiri): Yeah. Tell me about it. I know the feeling all too well. And Nate isn't a little bit of a mess, he's a huge mess.
Hiiri (to Victor): Heh. You two are like opposite sides of the same coin. You both remind me of Vincent at your age for different reasons. Just cut him a little slack, okay? I know he acts like a jerk, but he'll get over it... eventually... I think.
Victor (to Hiiri): I try. I really do. Heh. But, in case you haven't noticed, he's not overly fond of me. He's been subtle about it. I'm not sure if you've picked up on the underlying tension there. :-P I'm sorry we're all so jumpy around you. I know you're trying to be a different person. We should strive to treat you as such.
Hiiri (to Victor): Well, you seem to be doing an alright job of it, but your parents seem to be either overly nice or avoiding me completely. Your mom seems to leave the room whenever I enter it...Not that I blame her, I did horrible things to people she cared about.
Victor (to Hiiri): No you didn't. Not you specifically. You may have those memories, but that wasn't you. I think if you want to be a different person, you're going to have to make that distinction. Besides, it's best not to dwell on memories that aren't yours, or aren't right. It will make you crazy. Or odd.
Hiiri (to Victor): Yes, and we wouldn't want that, now would we? :-P
Victor (to Hiiri): Yes. How would ever endure it? I don't think this family would know odd if it came up and mauled us. We're going to have to go underground, aren't we? When CLANNG finds out we've hopped over to this side.
Hiiri (to Victor): Possibly, but I've been doing a little thinking about that & I might have an idea. I'm still working on it, but if your parents will hear me out, maybe they can help come up with the rest of the solution.
Victor (to Hiiri): Really?! That would be... That would be outstanding! Let me know if you need help making them listen.
Hiiri (to Victor): Well, I do have one question... Do you want to stay on this side & be a "normal" teenager or go back to Britannia? Because, what I'm thinking might make us all of no interest to CLANNG, but then we'd become average. And, it would make you & your family have to rethink a few things.
Victor (to Hiiri): Oh. Oh, Jesus. I... I don't know. I mean, I've fantasized about it. Who the hell wouldn't, but actually doing it... I don't think I could ask Mom and Dad to stay on this side for good. My mom would never see her family. I'd never see Seph... Staying in Britannia would be just as bad for my dad. And then I'd never see Yoyo or Mars. God... I REALLY don't know.
Hiiri (to Victor): Well then, scrap that idea... I guess it's back to the drawing board.
Victor (to Hiiri): How would you do it? I mean, how do you keep someone from being a freak? Isn't it in our DNA?
Hiiri (to Victor): Yes, that's true. But you know how I mentioned that Nate's energy signature is practically non-existent? Well, I was thinking that if we all burned all of our energy closing the portals between here & there. It would take some time for them to stabilize & if we stopped skipping then we'd fade into obscurity & CLANNG would forget about us. We'd have no idea how long it would take for them to come back, so I figured you'd want to pick which side you were on. So, like I said, back to the drawing board.
Victor (to Hiiri): What do you think CLANNG would do with all the other portal skippers they caught if the portals closed down? I suppose it's too much to hope that they would let them go.
Hiiri (to Victor): Oh, um, some of those people aren't skippers... They may have been a couple of very nasty folks that I ran across when I was being chased and used as decoys. Don't look at me like that. They were trying to hold me for ransom & get CLANNG to pay them for me. It's how I discovered I could plant false readings. And, I may have made them look like they were skippers. Actually, I totally did. There was no maybe about it. That's why I was so exhausted when I arrived.
Victor (to Hiiri): Huh. They're going to be in trouble very soon aren't they? I don't like the idea of leaving anyone to CLANNG. But it's not as though we can do anything about it. Tell my folks about your theory. If they decide they like the idea... Well, I'll figure it out.
Hiiri (to Victor): I didn't like doing it, just so you know... It was a 'them or me' type situation. And, they were nasty pieces of work.
Victor (to Hiiri): You're not getting any judgments from me. Well... Not many anyway. I'm a ruddy pirate's son, after all. Thanks.
Hiiri (to Victor): I'll talk to your parents about it. Maybe, they can figure out a better way.
A short time later:
Marlena: Knock, knock. Anybody home? Hello?
Victor (to Marlena): Oh! Hey! Mars! Um, stay right there! (to Hiiri) Do you mind staying here, please? I don't think she can handle seeing you.
Marlena (to Victor): Oh okay.
Hiiri (to Victor): Oh yeah, of course.
Victor (to Hiiri): Thank you! (to Marlena) Hey! Sorry, Mars. Um, Hiiri's in the kitchen. I didn't want you getting, you know, caught unawares.
Marlena (to Victor): Oh, right. Thanks. I was cleaning my room, getting ready for the family trip and realized I needed to return these books to you. I completely forgot that she was here.
Victor (to Marlena): Thank you. I figured you might have. When are you leaving?
Marlena (to Victor): Sunday, I think. Mom's busy getting stuff situated at work, schedules made, speeches to managers being given... the usual.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Hey. Morning. Uh, afternoon. Why are you hiding in the corner?
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Marlena is out in the living room with Victor.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): So what? Oh! Is she one of the ones afraid of you?
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): I think so. She wasn't too happy to see me the last time I ran into her & her mom.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Huh. You don't say. Be right back. (to Marlena) Hey, stretch. So you're the one who's got Hiiri cowering in the kitchen?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): What!?! Hiiri's cowering in the kitchen? I honestly, don't know what to say to that.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Yeah. She's afraid of you, I think. Or at least, afraid of how you're going to react to her. I never took you for a bully.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Nate! What the fuck is wrong with you?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Back the fuck off, Nate... I haven't done anything to her & I certainly wasn't going to. You've got a lot of damn nerve to assume that I would. (to Victor) It's okay, Victor. I can fight my own battles.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Calm down. I didn't mean that you were gonna hit her or anything, and I'm not trying to belittle anything you're feeling… (to Victor) Shut up, Victor. (to Marlena) But the girl hiding in the kitchen isn't the same person that you've been having nightmares about. Probably not even remotely. If you'd go meet her face to face, you'd see that. But, somehow I'm guessing you're not going to do that.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): First off, fuck you, Nate for acting like you know anything about me. Secondly, I'll go meet her if it'll shut you up.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): It would shut me right the fuck up.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Fine. Should we march into the kitchen or ask her to come out here?
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Whatever you want, Slim. It's your rodeo.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Hmmm... Somehow, I seriously doubt that. But, I think it would be better if one of you go ask her to come out here. She might feel a bit ambushed if we go marching in there right this second.
Victor (to Marlena): I'll get her. (to Nathaniel) Behave!
Nathaniel (to Victor): Yes, sir, Dad.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): So, why are you suddenly Hiiri's white knight?
Nathaniel (to Marlena): I'm not anybody's white knight. God, the very idea someone would need rescuing by me is... I'm not sure if it's funny or pathetic. Probably both. Besides, maybe I know how she feels. Neither one of us really belongs anywhere. And I hate seeing someone beat themselves up for something that's not their fault. She didn't do any of that shit.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): I know she didn't, but it's still hard to let go.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Yeah. I can imagine. But I got read the riot act yesterday by her for taking my anger out on the wrong people. Thought I'd return the "favor."
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Hmmm, that's unexpected.
Victor (to Hiiri): Hey, um, Hiiri? Mars wants to meet you. If you're up to it.
Hiiri (to Victor): Really?
Victor (to Hiiri): Yeah. Is that alright with you?
Hiiri (to Victor): Um, okay...
Victor (to Hiiri): Come on. (to Marlena & Nathaniel) Hey. How are you two holding up? No fist fights?
Marlena (to Victor): We're fine. (to Hiiri) Hi Hiiri.
Hiiri (to Marlena): Hi, Marlena... I'm really sorry for all the awful things the other Hiiri did. Please don't hate me.
Marlena (to Hiiri): Damn, you look so much like photos of my mom when she was a kid... Look, I don't hate you. Scared of you, yes. Hate, no.
Hiiri (to Marlena): That's understandable... I don't expect us to be best friends or anything, but I'm honestly not her. Just give me a chance.
Marlena (to Hiiri): Fair enough... My family is going to be gone for a couple weeks & Yoyo is housesitting. Before we leave, will you come over and talk to my mom and dad? I think they would feel a lot better about going on this trip, if they could see for themselves how different you are. Besides, I'm pretty certain my mom will know you're lying if this is all just a ruse.
Hiiri (to Marlena): Oh yes, of course... That's not scary at all. Nope. Not at all.
Several hours later, at Eep & Mouse's house, West Piedmont:
Yukiko (to Marlena): Seriously? Is that what you're wearing out tonight? You look like the 1960's threw up on you.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Back off, Mary Quant. I've had a rough day... And, um, Hiiri might be joining us.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Oh... Really? Are you going to be okay?
Marlena (to Yukiko): I'm trying to be. Besides, Nate read me the riot act this afternoon about giving her a chance to prove that she's different.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Well okay then... So, are you going to wear that?
Marlena (to Yukiko): Yes. God damn it.
Meanwhile, at Poppy & Vincent's apartment, West Piedmont:
Hiiri (to Nathaniel & Victor): Um, strange question... Does this look okay?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): It will if you unbutton it by like 5 buttons. (to Victor) Victor, help me out here. You're hetero. More cleavage, yes?
Victor (to Nathaniel): Jesus... No. She's going to meet my aunt and uncle, not to trawl dockside bars.
Nathaniel (to Victor): Yes, but who knows what the rest of the night will bring.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel & Victor): God... I don't think I can do this... I should just stay here.
Victor (to Hiiri): You'll be alright. Of all the parents you should be terrified of, mine are the worst, right? I mean, they're the ones with all the weapons. Uh... Most of the weapons.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel & Victor): Weapons don't scare me... This is like meeting my parents for the first time. I want them to like me.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): You know that sounds really fucked up, right? Make that face at me again. It so very nearly gets me hot.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Only nearly? I'll try harder next time. :-P Oh, and Marlena mentioned to tell you that someone named Oliver was going to meet them at the club later.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): You're going to have to try SO much harder. Oliver on the other hand...
Victor (to Hiiri & Nathaniel): Wait. Oliver? With the crazy hair that works for Aunt Mouse?
Hiiri (to Victor): Yes... Shhhhh.
Victor (to Hiiri): Oh. Um, alright.
Hiiri (to Victor & Nathaniel): Alright, I guess I should go and say hello to Eep & Mouse. Wish me luck!
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): You'll be fine.
Victor (to Nathaniel): So, I wanted to ask you something.
Nathaniel (to Victor): Knock yourself out.
Victor (to Nathaniel): You started that fight with Mars on purpose, didn't you?
Nathaniel (to Victor): What? Why would I do something like that?
Victor (to Nathaniel): Because we were all so focused on being pissed off at you, that Mars ended up talking to Hiiri out of spite.
Nathaniel (to Victor): Heh. Do you really think I could organize something like that?
Victor (to Nathaniel): Yeah.
Nathaniel (to Victor): Ha ha ha! Alright. Alright. Stop making that face. You look like your dad. You're right. I did. I figured giving Stretch someone to focus all her anger on would help her get to the heart of the matter. Your mom taught me that trick, you know.
Victor (to Nathaniel): I thought so. Huh.
A short time later, at Eep & Mouse's house, West Piedmont:
Hiiri (to Eep & Mouse): Um, hello? Marlena told me that you wanted me to come and talk to you before we went out tonigh
Eep (to Hiiri): Yeah. We kinda did. Have a seat. Holy shit. You look like Mouse... Sorry. (to Mouse) Sorry.
Mouse (to Eep): It's fine, sweetie. She is made from me... sort of. (to Hiiri) So, how are you settling in?
Hiiri (to Eep): It's okay. (to Mouse) Um, it's been a bit strange, but everyone has been very nice... So, I wanted to apologize for everything but it was suggested that I should stop holding onto that stuff. But, if you want me to, I will.
Mouse (to Hiiri): I think we can hold off on the apology... This is so weird. Is this weird for you?
Hiiri (to Mouse): Yeah, it is.
Eep (to Hiiri & Mouse): It's weird for me too, in case anyone is wondering.
Mouse (to Eep & Hiiri): Well, while we're waiting for the girls to finish getting dressed I'm gonna get myself a drink. Anyone want one?
Hiiri (to Mouse & Eep): A gin & tonic would be great... I'm just kidding... I'm fine, actually. Thank you.
Eep (to Mouse): Yes. Please. (to Hiiri) Are you old enough to drink that shit?
Hiiri (to Eep): Probably not... but, you know if you're offering. This seems like a situation best dealt with by being slightly intoxicated.
Eep (to Hiiri): Heh. Well, I can't argue with that. So... Jesus. This is really, really fucking weird isn't it? No offense, but I can see why Vincent says he always ended up scolding you like you're one of the kids.
Hiiri (to Eep): Yeah, it's totally weird... So, if I called Vincent daddy, do you think he'd let me get away with stuff? Because that would be useful, I think.
Eep (to Hiiri): ... Heh. I think he would shit a brick.
Hiiri (to Eep): So, I should totally do it?
Eep (to Hiiri): The adult part of me is going to tell you no. You should not do that.
Hiiri (to Eep): So, that's code for 'you should do that but I shouldn't actually say yes because he'd be mad at me'?
Mouse (to Eep): Here's your drink, sweetie... What's with the suppressed grin?
Eep (to Hiiri): Heh. I can neither confirm or deny anything. (to Mouse) Thanks. I'll tell you in a second.
Hiiri (to Eep): Heh. Fair enough. So, would you like to ask me questions or can I go? The girls are looking like they're ready to go. And, I've already been traumatized by Marlena & Nate for one day. :-P
Eep (to Hiiri): From what I understand, Nate's pretty fucking traumatizing. I don't have any questions. (to Mouse) Do you?
Mouse (to Eep): No, I don't think so. (to Hiiri) Go on, go out with the kids.
Eep (to Mouse): Jesus... She's, uh, she's not what I was expecting.
Mouse (to Eep): Really? I just couldn't get over her appearance... It was like looking into a time-traveling mirror.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh god, yeah. She looked so, SO much like you. But, um, yeah. I kept waiting for *Hiiri*, you know? She just seemed like a nervous, kind of angrier version of you, who was in desperate need of a hug. I don't know. What did you think?
Mouse (to Eep): Honestly, I think I need to sleep on it.
Eep (to Mouse): So then let's sleep on it. Let the kids figure her out.
Mouse (to Eep): Sounds good to me.
Eep (to Mouse): Heh. You're just saying that because it's the least amount of work for us. Don't get me wrong, that's not a criticism.
Mouse (to Eep): Well, clearly I'm very lazy... Wait. I just realized Gabriel is asleep and we are teenager free for the night.
