Yukiko (to Hiiri): Good morning, Hiiri. Are you all ready to head over to the house?
Hiiri (to Yukiko): Just about... You don't want to wait for everyone to get up?
Yukiko (to Hiiri): No, Poppy made it pretty clear that we needed to go, today & if I wait... it's just going to make me sad & not want to go. Besides, we're not going away forever & it's just across town.
Hiiri (to Yukiko): Yeah, you're right... Should we write a note?
Yukiko (to Hiiri): Actually, that's not a bad idea. I'll grab a piece of paper.
A short time later, at Eep & Mouse's house, West Piedmont:
Percy (to Yukiko & Hiiri): Hello there, ladies. Lovely to see you both. The house & grounds have been secured. And, there's been no CLANNG activity that I can find since the little monster & henchmen went back through the portal.
Yukiko (to Percy): Oh, well, thank you for doing all of that, Percy.
Hiiri (to Percy): Percy, can you please walk me through everything you did? We don't want to accidentally set anything off.
Percy (to Hiiri): Oh, of course, honey... I didn't think either of you would be interested in all of that.
Hiiri (to Percy): Well, you thought wrong. (to Yukiko) Percy & I will be back in a few minutes.
Yukiko (to Hiiri): Okay. I'll throw your bag in the guest room. I'm going to crash in Mars' room.
At Vincent & Poppy's apartment, West Piedmont:
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Good morning, honey. It's nice to see you up and about. Coffee?
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Yeah. I'm feeling better. Coffee'd be great. Um, thanks.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Here you are, honey. It looks like the girls headed over to the house a little while ago. They left you & Victor a note.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Oh. Thanks. I see where Victor gets his Sherlockiness from. A note? Oh yeah... Heh. Hiiri is nuts. Um, Yoyo realizes she didn't write the note to Victor in English, right?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Heehee. She probably didn't want anyone snooping & it was early. I can speak Nipponese, but reading it is another story. And, it wasn't rocket science to figure out they were gone. It's quiet and Hiiri isn't anywhere looking like she's going to pounce on someone, grinning like an idiot, sweetie.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Heh. Her note said, "Our love can never be. I'm taking the children. Do not look for us. P.S. You KNOW. P.P.S. Yes you do." Oh, and "P.P.P.S. Visit me!"
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Heehee. The love that can never be? I see why Vincent keeps being reminded of Mouse. Heh. She is a bit of a nut.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Yeah. She's alright. Do you think she's gonna be OK? I mean, with all that stuff she's got rattling around in her head...
Poppy (to Nathaniel): I think that as she has more experiences of her own, all of the other stuff will take a backseat. She's got 29 years worth of someone else's memories, not to mention Hiiri's in there. And, she's been awake for only a few months. It's just going to take time. She'll probably have good days and bad, but at least she now has people that care about her and can hold her hand those times it's rough... Heh. She's really lucky that she's got you, Nate.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): "Lucky she has me?" Heh. I don't know about that. But, um, thanks.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): You are way to hard on yourself, Nate. I know, I can't possibly know what it was like growing up in your family, but I can take a guess... Up until the time my father died when I was 10, he was a mixture of a loving, supportive father & a monster who blamed me for my mother's death. His grief made him blind to what he was doing. And, I was really messed up for a very long time. But, thankfully, I found people who cared about me & helped deal with all of that. The first step, though is realizing that your parent's hangups are not your own. You're a smart, charismatic, worthwhile human being. I wish you could see that.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): I, um, I wish I knew what to say to that. Honestly, I haven't always been the best person, and I've done A LOT of stupid shit but, I'm trying, you know. I appreciate it, though. What you said.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Well, that's good, honey... And, if you ever want to play the 'I did terrible, stupid shit' game. I hate to say it, but I'd probably have you beat, but honestly, no one wins at that game & it's incredibly depressing. I'd much rather focus on the positive. I know you're trying. And, whether you like it or not, you've been adopted into our strange, little family. So, take advantage of that fact. We wouldn't have invited you to stay, if we thought you were a lost cause. :-)
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Oh. Yeah. I guess not. Um, thanks.
Victor (to Poppy): Good morning, Mom. (to Nathaniel) Hey. Is there any coffee left?
Nathaniel (to Victor): Yeah. Should be. How's your hand?
Victor (to Nathaniel): Huh? Oh! Yes. It's fine. I just scraped it up a little bit. Heh. That always happens when you're working on an engine.
Nathaniel (to Victor): I guess. I really don't know anything about cars. Here. Yoyo left you a note. I'm guessing by the grin on your face that you can read that.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Most of it, and I can take guesses at the rest.
Poppy (to Nathaniel & Victor): And on that note, I am going to go workout, sweeties.
Victor (to Poppy): Mom. Don't make that face! It doesn't say anything untoward.
Poppy (to Nathaniel & Victor): I will take your word for it, honey.
Nathaniel (to Victor): What does it say, then?
Victor (to Nathaniel): None of your business!
Nathaniel (to Victor): It's totally a naughty letter, isn't it?
Victor (to Nathaniel): Your obsession with this is both disturbing and gross.
Nathaniel (to Victor): Calm down. I'm just teasing you. You know, I'm trying not to be such a huge dick. I... <cellphone rings> Shit. It's my mom. (to Mrs. Jones) Hi, Mom. No. ... No. Mom, I'm not! ... No, I'm NOT. No! How many other ways can I say this to you? ... NO. Gee, I dunno. Maybe I left because I didn't want to be sent to... I haven't had one in months. I'm not crazy, Mom. ... No, I'm NOT. ... Yeah. I know. ... Yes. I know. ... I KNOW. Yes. Mom... If it's a phase then it's a pretty long fucking one. ... What do you want me to say? Tell him whatever the fuck you want to tell him. ... Yes. ... Yes, I'm safe. ... No! Well, I'm not. Yeah. ... Yeah. I know. ... I know.
Poppy (to Victor): Honey, what's going on? Who's Nate talking to?
Victor (to Poppy): His mom, I think. His phone rang, and he went out on the patio.
Poppy (to Victor): Oh... Honey, you may want to make yourself scarce before he comes back. I have a feeling, he's going to be in a mood.
Victor (to Poppy): Yeah. It didn't seem to be going too well when he stepped out. I think I'll go check to see if Hiiri and Yoyo need anything.
Poppy (to Victor): Good idea, honey.
At Eep & Mouse's house, West Piedmont:
Yukiko (to Hiiri): Did you get everything sorted with Percy? ... Is he gone?
Hiiri (to Yukiko): Yes, I sent him packing after he showed me how to arm & disarm the new system and what it actually does. No sense in only him knowing how to do it. He'd insist on staying & I don't think either of us want that.
Yukiko (to Hiiri): No, that would be terrible. Is it just me or does he seem a bit odd to you? I mean, I haven't been around a lot of automatons. But, he seems definitely different than the few I have come across.
Hiiri (to Yukiko): That's because he is... He's actually more like Hiiri than say, Oliver. He had an actual personality downloaded into his matrix as opposed to Oliver, who was programmed with a unique adaptable personality. I think it makes a difference.
Yukiko (to Hiiri): Oh... I only mildly understood that.
A short time later:
Nathaniel: Why the fuck did I bother even picking up the fucking phone? (to Poppy) Oh! Hey, Aunt Poppy. I'm, um, I've gotta go... lay down. I'm not... I'll see you later.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): I understand, honey.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): I'm alright. You don't have to... I'm fine.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Come here, honey, you look like you could use a hug.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): They thought I was on a bender, or had stopped my meds again and had a break, or something. They know I'm safe now, at least. If they believed me.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Oh, honey... Did they ask you to come home?
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Yeah. Kind of. They wanted me to go to the camp. Or to my doctor's.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): I'm sorry, honey.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): It's fine. If I was expecting a different reaction, I'm an idiot.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): That may be true, honey, but it doesn't change the fact that it hurts.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Yeah... Guess so.
At Eep & Mouse's house, West Piedmont:
Victor (to Hiiri & Yukiko): Hello? Hiiri? Yoyo? Are you home?
Hiiri (to Victor): Hi, Victor! Yoyo is, um, in the bathroom... possibly cutting her hair.
Victor (to Hiiri): She is? Heh. She said she wanted to do it. She always had to keep it long before because of her family.
Hiiri (to Victor): I suggested that she go somewhere to get it cut, but she harumphed at me and then went into the bathroom with scissors. I think there were a couple boys at the mall who said something about her hair & it irritated her.
Victor (to Hiiri): Uh oh... (to Yukiko) Yoyo? Is everything alright in here?
Yukiko (to Victor): Huh? What? ... Victor, what are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you. I just wasn't expecting you so soon. :-)
Victor (to Yukiko): Nate got a call from his mother, so I thought I'd give him some space. Plus, after that note you wrote me this morning... So, what happened at the mall to make you decide to hack off all your hair?
Yukiko (to Victor): There was a boy flirting with me, quite aggressively, when I said I wasn't interested & that I had a boyfriend. He started saying some decidedly rude things about where I was from and my appearance. I'm glad Poppy & Hiiri weren't around when it happened or they probably would have killed him. Anyway, it just made me feel awful and want to cut my hair, but I keep starting and stopping. I've been growing my hair since I was little & it's the last bit of attachment to my family. I know, it's completely stupid after everything that they've done... Maybe, Hiiri's right & I should have someone else do it.
Victor (to Yukiko): It's not stupid. You don't have to cut it if you don't want to. Of course, I think you'll look adorable either way. Of course, I think you'd look adorable bald.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee. Thank you... It's amazing how you always seem to know the right thing to say to cheer me up. I think I do want to cut it... I just want it to be my choice and not because some asshat was awful to me.
Victor (to Yukiko): That's why you're dating me and not the mouth-breather. That and your impeccable taste. ;-)
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee. So true. Want to go with me to get my hair cut by someone who actually knows what they're doing?
Victor (to Yukiko): Sure. I wouldn't mind. When do you want to go?
Yukiko (to Victor): How about right now? Unless, you had plans for the afternoon. :-)
Victor (to Yukiko): Nope. I'm yours to command.
Several hours later, at Eep & Mouse's house, West Piedmont:
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): You're making a face.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): They're doing it again... Are they ever going to come up for air?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Probably not. Maybe we'll luck out and they'll suffocate each other.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): That wouldn't be good. We'd probably get blamed for it.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Yeah. Probably. Want me to go around back and see if I can find the hose?
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Oh... is that really an option?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): I could stop them if you really want me to. Apparently, I'm an expert at disrupting shit. Depends on how much of a snit you want Yoyo to be in later.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): ... No, she can probably kick my ass so I'll be good. They've just been drooling all over each other since they came back from getting her haircut... Do you want to do something or is sitting around watching crap television fine with you?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): No. I just stopped by after work to see how you were settling in. I'm probably not very good company anyhow. I'll see you tomorrow.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Hold on there, Mister Grumpypants... What's wrong?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Nothing much. My mom called today.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): And?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): And what? What else is there to say? My mom called. She pissed me off.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Oh... Did you tell her about your new girlfriend? :-P
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Yeah. That's just what I want to tell parents who insist the whole liking guys is either part of my "severe mental disease" or a "phase" I'm going through in some "attempt to get attention." So, no. I didn't tell them I had a girlfriend.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Geez, I was just kidding. You might as well go home and be grumpy all alone, if you don't want to talk to me or get that very large stick out of your ass... God, I need a smoke.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Alright. Alright. I'm sorry, OK? Will you forgive me for the price of a cigarette.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Hmmm, I suppose... So, why did your mom calling you put in such a snitch?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): I don't know. I really shouldn't have been surprised by anything she said. It's just... It's not like I WANTED to do this now. They were gonna send me to the camp. The ticket was PURCHASED. You know? And then there would have been a hospital visit... There always is. Never mind. It's not important.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): What!?! Of course, it's important, you big dumb idiot.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): It's not. It's nothing new, and it's not like everyone here hasn't dealt with worse. Really. It's fine.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Fine. I'll stop bugging you about it.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): God. Hiiri. Don't fucking pout. Honestly, I'm just... I don't know. I feel like an idiot complaining. I mean, you've got some other crazy person's memories rattling around in your head, Aunt Poppy had some asshole dad, Uncle Vincent got the shit beat out of him at my age, Yoyo's parents tried to turn her into some kinda prostitute... Christ. What the fuck am I supposed to add to that? My troubles are mundane enough to be run of the mill.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): That doesn't mean that they're less valid just because other people had it worse.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Maybe, but it sure feels like complaining to a homeless guy that you can barely afford rent. Sorry. I'm not trying to be a dick. I'm really not. It was just a shitty conversation. Apparently, my brother's trying to get everything in order for college, and all this "trouble" with me is VERY distracting to the family. I really should have planned a more convenient time to run away. Course, by that logic, I should have picked a more convenient time to be gay, or get fucked by an adult, or get myself... Um. Don't worry about it. I'll survive. I always do.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Shut up, Nate... Your parents suck. Just because you don't fit into their idea of a "good" son shouldn't fucking matter. You're what they got and they should be helping you, instead of causing you to second guess or belittle yourself... So, I say fuck 'em. You've got all of us, instead.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Yeah... Thanks, weirdo.
