Poppy (to Yukiko): Good morning, Yoyo. Could you please tell me what on earth happened while Vincent and I were out yesterday?
Yukiko (to Poppy): Good morning, Miss Poppy... I'm not sure I know what you're referring to.
Poppy (to Yukiko): Hmmm... So, there was no reason that you four were skulking about all evening barely speaking to each other? Or the fact, that Nate didn't eat anything and Hiiri is asleep on the floor of the living room instead of Nate's room, honey?
Yukiko (to Poppy): Oh, that... Hiiri & Nate had a bit of a row. Wait... Why is Hiiri on the floor?
Poppy (to Yukiko): I have no earthly idea, honey... I hope they work it out. They have been like two peas in a pod since their arrival.
Yukiko (to Poppy): I'm sure they will... Is it okay if I go back over to Mars' later? They're supposed to be getting home today.
Poppy (to Yukiko): I think that'll be alright, but if you could bring Victor with you, I would feel better, honey. I know you can take care of yourself just fine. Plus, he will be such a worry-wort until he knows you'll be safe over there, himself.
Yukiko (to Poppy): Heh... Yes, ma'am. I'm going to go run through my forms while it's nice and quiet.
Poppy (to Yukiko): Alright, honey. And, if you feel like telling me what really happened yesterday, you know where to find me.
An hour or so later:
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Hey, um, Yoyo, I... Oh. You're, uh, armed. Never mind. It can wait.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): It's okay. You're safe... for now. What is it?
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): I wanted to say I was sorry. For screaming at you yesterday. I'm kind of a -I don't know- emotional roller coaster right now, and the whole thing just tweaked me. So, um, sorry. For being a dick. That's all.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Wow... So, are you okay? Did you & Hiiri work it out? Poppy seemed a little concerned & asked me what happened. I just told her you two had a fight. The adults don't need to know what all happened. It'll just stress them out & I think they've got enough to worry about at the moment. So, you can stop looking nervous.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Oh. Yeah. I guess they do. Um, thanks. Hiiri's OK. I just scared her. I didn't scar her. I'm... I've been better. Course, I've also been worse. I forget how much my meds fuck, uh, fucked with my emotions, so when I go off them. Anyway, sorry. I'll let you get back to swording.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Stop...You can't just come in, dump all that on me and then, turn around and walk out. Have you been taking your meds again? And, remember, I am holding a sword.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Jesus! Point that someplace else! No. I can have moments of rationality and clarity without a cocktail of drugs, you know.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Look, I know we didn't get off on the best foot, but I'm not your enemy, you know? I was just worried about Hiiri. She's had it pretty tough & her feelings are all mushed up with other people's. I was feeling protective of her. She told me about the kiss you guys had and some other stuff. I didn't want you to be toying with her. And, you act like such a self-centered ass most of the time, that I'm not sure you would have realized it.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): I know, and I'm glad you were looking out for her. I wasn't trying to toy with her. I swear to fucking god. And I wasn't trying to dump on you. I was just trying to say sorry. I don't know what else to say right now.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): How about something like "Yoyo, thank you for helping me through this and not do something stupid"? Or, "it was great the way you & Victor helped me through my freakout rather than letting me stomp off even though I've been nothing but a jerk to you." If I had a dollar for every time someone apologized to me for them acting like a dick, I'd be rich. My father & brothers used to do it all of the time whenever I saw something I wasn't supposed to. "Oh, I'm sorry, Yukiko, you weren't supposed to see me punching that man in the alley." "Oh, I'm sorry, Yukiko, I was going to tell you about sending you off to be married." Why am I even telling you any of this? You could care less.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Thank you then. For helping me yesterday. You didn't have to. You kept me from doing something really stupid. Fuck, a bunch of really stupid shit, probably. I wasn't rational. And, I'm sorry your family is full of dicks. And yeah. I mean that. I'm not heartless. I don't enjoy it that shitty stuff happens to people who don't deserve it.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): You're welcome and I'm glad you didn't leave. Life would be so dull if you weren't around to sulk & scowl at everyone... I'm joking... Is it alright if I give you a hug or would that be weird?
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): What? Um, yeah. I guess. If you want.
Marlena (to Nathaniel & Yukiko): Wow... I go away for a couple weeks & the world goes screwy.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Mars! You're home. I thought you guys were coming home later.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko & Marlena): You have no fucking idea. Anyway, I'll let you guys catch up.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Yeah well, Mom & Dad got itchy to come home, so we left on an earlier flight. (to Nathaniel) Thanks... Hey. Do you have any smokes? My dad's out on the balcony and he's jonesing for one. Mom's catching up with Poppy & Vincent in the kitchen. And, Goo is tormenting Hiiri & Victor somewhere. So, if you could give him one, that would be great.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Oh. Um, yeah. I guess. Sure.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): I owe you one.
A short time later:
Hiiri (to Eep & Nathaniel): Is it safe out here? Oh, can I have one? That Gabriel boy is exhausting. No offense. I just don't have a lot of energy today.
Eep (to Hiiri): Heh. You're not telling me anything I don't know. I'm his father.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Here you go.
Hiiri (to Eep & Nathaniel): Thanks... Am I interrupting something? Is this a club meeting for scowly smoking men?
Eep (to Hiiri): Is there a club for that now? You're not interrupting. Nate's a little weirded out cause he started crying. It's fine. I teach painting. You should see the fucking hysterics I see. And that's from the teaching staff. I should go reign in my kid before he finds something dangerous and does something stupid.
Hiiri (to Eep): Yeah, Victor was about to show him the sword room, so that might be a good idea. Nice seeing you, Eep. (to Nathaniel) Here... I've got a handkerchief. You look like you need it more than I do.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Thank you. Sorry. At some point I'm gonna have an emotional response like a normal human being and not an asshole. I just... He asked me how I was and arched an eyebrow at me when I said fine and I fucking lost it.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): I hate to break it to you, Nate, but I think you just had one.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): If this is what normal emotions are like, then they're fucking overrated.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): I'm glad I got you alone I wanted to ask you something. Don't worry, it's nothing overly emotional or even about you... I don't want to be Hiiri, anymore. I mean, I want a new name. Everyone has these preconceived notions about me & I think in order to really be my own person, I need to stop living in HER shadow... What do you think?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): And... A new name isn't a bad idea. I mean, I'll bet that's why my uncle changed his name, right?
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): I always assumed so. Though it could just be because, Paul Jones sounds like a missing member of the Monkees or Beatles.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Shit. Heh. Yeah it does. Try being named Nathaniel Jones. At best I'm named after obnoxious evangelistic douche "Pastor Nate". At worst, the abusive dickbag that was my grandfather. Honestly, he was always pretty OK to me even after all the shit hit. Grandma on the other hand, she stopped sending me birthday cards, didn't include me in the Christmas cards anymore... And you'd better believe she made DAMN sure to send them to Bubba. Anyway, what kinda name were you thinking?
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Ummm, I have no idea. Honestly, I was kinda thinking of asking Poppy & Vincent to do it. Or would that be weird?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): I don't think that'd be weird. You're a member of the family, right? Makes sense.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Thank you, thank you!
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Oh god, don't do that. I'm gonna... What? What did I say?
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): The whole 'part of the family' thing... I still can't believe it.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Well, yeah. I don't think you could get rid of the Potters now if you wanted to. Or Yoyo for that matter. Jesus... She has been the fuck on my case for the past two days. Don't get me wrong, I deserved it. I didn't think she had it in her.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Really? You should have seen her when a salesman came to house the other day. I think she almost made him cry & give her a ton of stuff for free... It was kind of funny, actually.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Heh. After being on the receiving end of her wrath, it doesn't surprise me, and I kinda get why she likes Victor so much now.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Oh? Why is that?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Sounds like her family's fully of lying dicks who never really talk to her or ask her shit. Victor's honest to a damn fault.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Heh, that is true... Which I would guess means when he says he's just trying to help or that he's worried about someone then he really, really means it... Interesting, don't you think?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): Yeah, yeah. I get it. I'll apologize and thank him too.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Good.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): If I choke on all the crow I'm about to eat, my death is gonna be on your head.
An hour or so later:
Nathaniel (to Victor): Uh, Victor?
Victor (to Nathaniel): Yeah?
Nathaniel (to Victor): Don't worry. I'm not gonna be a dick. I just wanted to say I was sorry for the way I acted yesterday, and, um, thank you. You know. For helping me, and for helping Hiiri. I know I haven't really done anything to deserve... Anyway. Thanks.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Oh. You're welcome. Are you feeling alright? You haven't started back up on your meds or something again, have you?
Nathaniel (to Victor): No! Why does everyone keep asking me that today? I'm not an idiot. I know I owe you and Yoyo big time right now, OK?
Victor (to Nathaniel): OK. Don't get upset. I was just concerned after yesterday. Can I ask you something? Were you really going to kill yourself?
Nathaniel (to Victor): No, of course not! ... Probably not. I don't know. I was... I don't know. I didn't wanna feel anything for a while. I wasn't in the best head space, you know? I don't think so.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Are you doing better today?
Nathaniel (to Victor): Yeah.
Victor (to Nathaniel): That's good to hear. Um, you don't have to keep standing there making small talk with me, you know. You sure you don't wanna hug me or something? Everyone else has so far.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Uhhh, no. I think I'll pass on that, thank you.
Nathaniel (to Victor): Thank god for that. Later.
Victor: Well, that was certainly unexpected.
Several hours later:
Hiiri (to Vincent & Poppy): Excuse me... I'm sorry to bother you, but I had something to ask you.
Vincent (to Hiiri): It's no bother, hun. What can we do for you?
Hiiri (to Vincent & Poppy): Um, I was wondering if you would mind... I don't want to be Hiiri, anymore. Will you two give me a new name?
Vincent (to Hiiri): Oh, sweetie...
Poppy (to Hiiri): Are you sure, honey?
Hiiri (to Poppy & Vincent): yes. I'm sure. Will you do it? Please?
Vincent (to Hiiri): Of course, hun. If you want us to, we'd be honored.
Hiiri (to Poppy & Vincent): Oh my god! Thank you, thank you!
Vincent (to Hiiri): Oof! Good heavens! Heh. I need those lungs to breathe, sweetie.
Poppy (to Hiiri): Honey, it's okay. Calm down. I think we may need a day or so to come up with something suitable. This is a big responsibility.
Hiiri (to Poppy & Vincent): I'm sorry. I'm just excited.
Vincent (to Hiiri): Hee hee. Clearly. It's alright, hun. We still expect you'll have the final say. This is going to be your name, after all.
Hiiri (to Vincent & Poppy): Right. Take your time. No pressure. I guess I'll go to bed, now. Good night.
Poppy (to Hiiri): Heehee. You're allowed to be excited, honey. Sleep sweet. (to Viincent) Heh. Any ideas, lover? And, do not say Leia, Uhuru or Serenity... Unless, you want to sleep alone tonight.
Vincent (to Poppy): Well I wasn't going to suggest any of those until you said something. :-p Hee hee. I'm kidding. We'll sleep on it.
Poppy (to Vincent): Good idea, lover.
