Persephone: I hope this bloody thing is working right... (to Victor) Victor? Can you hear me?
Victor (to Persephone): Seph! Dear god am I glad to hear from you! Are you alright? You're all OK, right?
Persephone (to Victor): Oh god, Victor, it's awful over here! CLANNG soldiers are marching around the city like they own the place. You've got to have paperwork to get anywhere. But, we're all okay. Aiden & Percy are here, helping out & hiding.
Victor (to Persephone): Oh god, that's terrible! I don't know what's worse; CLANNG or having to spend all that time with Aiden and Percy.
Persephone (to Victor): Percy's been told to be on his best behavior by your mom, apparently... And, Aiden's not so bad. You just have to know how to talk to him. He's been helping me with my sword lessons. Are you okay? I heard that Hiiri was on that side.
Victor (to Persephone): Heh. If you ever met a person you COULDN'T handle, it would surely be a sign the world is coming to an end. We're all fine. Hiiri is staying with us. She is definitely not the same as her mechanical counterpart. She and Nate have become the bestest of friends, if you can believe it.
Persephone (to Victor): Oh, really? Are you sure the world isn't ending because the idea of Nate liking anyone seems like a sign... & Hiiri, at that I take it you guys aren't going to be coming back here any time soon, huh?
Victor (to Persephone): No... I... I don't think so. CLANNG's still looking for skippers, and now that my parents have both Nate AND Hiiri to worry about as well as me, probably not. Did you hear about them grabbing Yoyo?
Persephone (to Victor): Yes, Percy told me & Aiden told me about the ISS going over there to get Hiiri. What's happening to the empire? It's never been like this before.
Victor (to Persephone): I'm not really sure. I overheard my parents talking about it. They think it's a power grab by Parliament. They are pretty freaked out about it. You realize this means we may have to get respectable jobs like regular people.
Persephone (to Victor): Grunt! We need to do something, Victor.
Victor (to Persephone): I wish we could. So far, the only idea that my parents have come up with is closing down all the portals. Which might make CLANNG loose interest in skippers, but it wouldn't make Parliament any less power hungry. Plus, that is, without a doubt, the most horrible solution I can imagine.
Persephone (to Victor): That would be awful. Do you know what CLANNG wants with the skippers?
Victor (to Persephone): They think they've found some mythical island that has a bunch of stable portals on it. They want us so they can open up all the doors. Or to experiment on. I think they want Hiiri just so they can murder her.
Persephone (to Victor): .. It would be best if the portals got closed, then. Carver having access to stable portals would be terrible. I don't like it, but it sounds like the only option.
Victor (to Persephone): Well, I fucking hate it. Either we never get to see you and your family again, or Mars and hers. And either we're in Britannia where CLANNG wants to kill Hiiri and I, or we're over here where I'm a freak, and my whole family is out of work and useless.
Persephone (to Victor): You can't be on this side when they're closed, Victor. If Carver ever found out you were involved, he'd hunt you down... Or we go find this island ourselves?
Victor (to Persephone): And do what with it? Blow it up?
Persephone (to Victor): Yes... We blow it up.
Victor (to Persephone): You're not kidding, are you?
Persephone (to Victor): Not in the slightest. I've gotta go, Victor... I need to go to the library. I'll talk to you, later. We'll figure it out, okay.
Victor (to Persephone): OK. I miss you, Seph. Please be careful.
Persephone (to Victor): I miss you, too & I will. You enjoy your little vacation to Normal town. It won't be long until you're back to pirating :-P
Victor (to Persephone): I hope so. If not, my parents might take up bank robbing to alleviate their boredom.
Meanwhile:
Hiiri: Oops... I'm sorry, practice dummy. How'd I know how to do that? Oh right, the other one.
Poppy (to Hiiri): Honey, did the dummy do something to upset you? There are pieces of it everywhere. Are you okay?
Hiiri (to Poppy): I was just trying something out... apparently, it worked.
Poppy (to Hiiri): A little too well I'd say... After you clean up this mess, come get some breakfast, honey.
Hiiri (to Poppy): Yes, ma'am.
An hour or so later:
Hiiri (to Victor): Victor, are you in here?
Victor (to Hiiri): Oh. Hello. I'm here.
Hiiri (to Victor): Ummm, I need to show you something.
Victor (to Hiiri): Is everything alright?
Hiiri (to Victor): Yes, I think so... Have you ever thought about tightening the focus of a portal, Victor? Like, instead of a doorway it was a small pocket?
Victor (to Hiiri): I can honestly say I haven't. Huh. It shouldn't be any more difficult than opening a door. What would you use it for, though? Messages? To send small mammals to Britannia?
Hiiri (to Victor): I was thinking more like a hiding spot or a weapon... I kinda destroyed the dummy in the practice room, earlier this morning when I was figuring it out.
Victor (to Hiiri): Oh good god... That would be a nasty way to end someone, wouldn't it? The hiding spot idea would be damned handy, though. That's incredible! Come show me how you did it! Can you skip along on your timeline?
Hiiri (to Victor): Yes, sort of... I think I could show you how without destroying anything this time around... I hope.
Victor (to Hiiri): Well, I was thinking, if you could open a pocket, to hide, and make it a few minutes forward or backward, then even if it was a group like CLANNG who can track us, they wouldn't be able to actually FIND us, because we'd be a few minutes ahead or behind them. Oh... Heh. Sorry. I don't usually have anyone I can talk to about this stuff.
Hiiri (to Victor): No, it's okay. That actually sounds like a good idea. Maybe, we should try it?
Victor (to Hiiri): YES! Heh. I mean, yes. Let us. We shall endeavor not to destroy anything. :-P
Hiiri (to Victor): Heehee. I already made a mess once, I don't know if I want to face the wraith of mom-- I mean, your mom. Um, sorry.
Victor (to Hiiri): Don't worry about it. No one's going to get weird or anything if you accidentally call my parents Mom and Dad. I mean, it might be a little odd, considering circumstances, but no one will get mad. Heh. Seph used to call them that, until she was mad about something, and then it was AUNT Poppy... Oh. No. Sorry. That's not right, is it?
Hiiri (to Victor): I don't know... You altered the timeline, didn't you?
Victor (to Hiiri): Uh, maybe just a little bit. Um, maybe a whole shit load. Seph's parents had been killed, and I went back & warned my folks.
Hiiri (to Victor): And, because you're the one who did it, you're the only one who remembers that other timeline? I'm sorry, Victor. That sucks.
Victor (to Hiiri): It's alright. I might miss Seph, but I'm glad her family is here. It felt worse when I found out that her thwarted plans were what caused the other Hiiri to change plans and kidnap my aunt and Mars. Of course, without that, I wouldn't have have met Yoyo, because Mars would have been too young, and Mr. Rathbone would have been dead. And you wouldn't be here, and we might not have been here for Nate to find, and he sure as hell wouldn't have stayed... I'm going to give myself a headache.
Hiiri (to Victor): Heh... Yeah, I was just going to say that.
Victor (to Hiiri): Heh heh. How about we contemplate something less confusing, like how to open a pocket in reality and time? :-P
Hiiri (to Victor): Heehee. Alright, you asked for it. :-P
A short time later:
Poppy (to Vincent): Good morning, lover... Did the kids wake you? Hiiri & Victor are doing god knows what in the practice room.
Vincent (to Poppy): Good heavens, from the sound of it, let's hope the building survives.
Poppy (to Vincent): We can only hope, honey. Here, drink this. You look like you could use it.
Vincent (to Poppy): Thank you, lover. Have you given any more thought to what Hiiri asked us?
Poppy (to Vincent): Yes, I have... I was thinking to offer up the name, Zoe. What do you think or do you have a suggestion?
Vincent (to Poppy): Oooo, no. I *love* it!
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm glad you like it, honey. I thought it was appropriate with Hiiri's desire to start a new life. Did you come up with anything, lover?
Vincent (to Poppy): Nothing as good as Zoe. I was thinking for a middle name... I wanted to name her after my sister. But I wasn't sure if either Hiiri OR my sister would like that.
Poppy (to Vincent): Hmmm, I think that might be a little odd... Though, what about Zoe Meriwether, lover? I know it's my nom de guerre but I think it would be fitting so, her name is completely her own... And, I'll let you pick out the middle name.
Vincent (to Poppy): I think that's a very good idea, hun. And I'll come up with something good for a middle name. I hope.
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm sure you will, honey. You did a wonderful job picking out Victor's.
An hour or so later:
Victor (to Hiiri): Ha ha ha! Wow! I was not expecting THAT reaction. Oh my goodness... Look at this place. Hee hee. Mom's going to kill us.
Nathaniel (to Victor & Hiiri): What the fuck are you two doing in here?
Victor (to Nathaniel): Practicing! We can block someone from opening a portal! Heh. Kind of. Come here! I want to try something...
Nathaniel (to Victor): Fuck off! I don't wanna get involved with whatever you two are doing that made this room look like this.
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Oh, come on, Nate! It'll be fun... Maybe. You do remember what fun is, right?
Nathaniel (to Hiiri): No. I have no idea what this alien word is.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Don't be a such a suspicious bastard! I wouldn't hurt you. Give me your hands for a second. Do you feel that?
Nathaniel (to Victor): What the fuck is that?
Victor (to Nathaniel): Heh. Alright. Now concentrate on the kitchen. Really picture it clearly in your head. Really, really clearly. Now, close your eyes and think, I'm in the kitchen.
Nathaniel: Holy shit... What the fuck just happened?
Hiiri: Ummm. Nate? Victor? Where did you go? ... I am so dead.
Victor (to Hiiri): Hiiri! High five! I'm fairly certain we are geniuses! Nate opened a portal! (to Nathaniel) Oops! Easy, Nate. Sorry! I forgot it can be rough your first time.
Nathaniel (to Victor): Please...please never say those words to me ever again...
Hiiri (to Victor & Nathaniel): That was amazing! We should clean up this mess before the adults see it. I already got the Mom glare once, today.
Victor (to Hiiri): Heh heh. I should say so.
Nathaniel (to Victor & Hiiri): What the fuck just happened?
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): You opened a portal, Nate. Victor upped your juice by sharing some of his with you.
Nathaniel (to Hiiri & Victor): Jesus. Is that why I feel like I got hit by a fucking train?
Hiiri (to Nathaniel): Possibly.
Victor (to Nathaniel): I'm sorry about that, Nate! I didn't realize it would take so much out of you. (to Hiiri) Will you get Nate some juice and some aspirin? I'll clean up the mess we made.
Hiiri (to Victor): I'm on it.
A few moments later:
Poppy (to Nathaniel, Hiiri & Victor): Children, could you please join us in the living room?
Hiiri (to Nathaniel & Victor): Uh oh. Do you think we're in trouble?
Victor (to Hiiri): Probably.
Nathaniel (to Victor & Hiiri): Great. I suppose no one will care I was so not involved.
Poppy (to Hiiri, Nathaniel & Victor): Sweeties, why do you look like you're marching to the gallows? This is a happy occasion... Here, everyone gets a champagne glass.
Vincent (to Hiiri, Nathaniel & Victor): What did you lot do?
Hiiri (to Vincent): We may have made a bit of a mess in the practice room.
Vincent (to Hiiri): Oh. Is that all? As long as you clean it up, I'm sure we don't mind. (to Hiiri, Victor & Nathaniel) Should we?
Hiiri (to Vincent): No. We'll clean it up. I promise.
Nathaniel & Victor (to Vincent): No, not at all.
Poppy (to Nathaniel, Victor & Hiiri): Look, sweeties, we wanted you to meet someone... I think you'll like her.
Hiiri (to Poppy): Ummm, there's no one here but us. I'm confused.
Vincent (to Hiiri): Remember what you asked us a few days ago, hun? We hope you like what we've come up with.
Poppy (to Nathaniel & Victor): Victor, Nate, we'd like you to meet our new adopted daughter, Zoe Clair Meriwether... (to Hiiri) Honey, here's the paperwork to make it all official, if you like it.
Victor (to Poppy & Vincent): What? Really? Ha ha ha! Zoe! You guys can't resist the scifi names, can you?
Hiiri (to Poppy & Vincent): Oh my god, I love it! Thank you, thank you.
Vincent (to Hiiri, now Zoe): Oh sweetie! Don't start that!
Poppy (to Victor): Honey, the name means life, I thought it was apropos. And, we thought that since we were changing her name, we might as well do it all at once, honey. I hope you don't mind that you've now got yourself a sister.
Victor (to Poppy): Heh. I wasn't complaining. I was just surprised Hii-- Zoe was changing her name and being officially adopted. I like it! I don't mind at all.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): You haven't said a word... You hate it, don't you? Figures. You don't like anything.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Relax. I don't hate it. I'm happy for you. It's your moment, Zoe. I'm trying not to intrude on it.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Thank you... Heh. I guess we're cousins now.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Heh. It looks like we are. I'm sorry for the family you've just picked up from my side.
Poppy (to Nathaniel & Zoe): Oh! And sweeties, no more playing kissing cousins, if you don't mind.
Vincent (to Nathaniel & Zoe): Yes, you don't really want to encourage those kinds of rumors about Southerners, do you?
Nathaniel (to Vincent & Poppy): That's not fucking funny.
Victor (to Nathaniel & Zoe): You guys kissed? Really?! What on earth for?
Nathaniel (to Victor): Because I'm such hot shit even straight girls want a piece.
Zoe: I am so fucking embarrassed... I need a smoke or to be invisible right about now. (to Nathaniel, Victor, Poppy & Vincent) Oh god! Does everyone know about it?
Poppy (to Nathaniel & Zoe): Calm down, sweeties. We were just teasing. (to Vincent, Nathaniel, Victor & Zoe) I'm going to fix us all some dinner and YES, Nate, you will be eating. You can't avoid eating forever, you're wasting away. You need your strength.
Victor (to Zoe): I didn't know about it. Calm down. It's not a big deal, really. Your new dad has done WAY stupider crap than that. Also, welcome to the utter embarrassment that is being in this family. Sorry.
Zoe (to Victor): Gee, thanks. :-/
Vincent (to Zoe & Victor): We're not all that horrible. And he's right. I have done much stupider things. And made out with far more dreadful people. There was this one time your mother and I were in New Wales...
Zoe (to Vincent): I know, it still doesn't mean I'm not embarrassed. I mean, it was a really dumb idea. and you're really going to tell me a story about making out with someone? (to Victor) I see what you mean.
Victor (to Zoe): Wait until they start doing it in front of you.
Vincent (to Victor & Zoe): What? We were trying to get past a blockade.
Zoe (to Victor, Vincent & Nathaniel): And, on that note, I'm going outside for a smoke.
Vincent (to Nathaniel): Are you OK, hun? You look a little pale.
Nathaniel (to Vincent): I'm fine. I just have a headache. I'm going to get some fresh air. (to Zoe) Wait up.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Fine.
Vincent (to Victor): Why don't you show me what you two did to the practice room while your mom make dinner.
Victor (to Vincent): Oh. Uh... yes. Of course.
A few minutes later:
Nathaniel (to Zoe): I can take a hint, you know. You're still pissed at me. If you want space, I can leave you alone.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): I'm not pissed at you, I'm upset at myself. I should never have asked you to kiss me... It just made things more complicated between us.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): What? Really? You think THAT'S what made things weird between us? You asked me to do that. I could've said no.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Well, why didn't you, then?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Because, I thought it would help you get over you feeling crushed out on me.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Oh well, my mistake... You've been avoiding me the last few days. You know, for someone who doesn't like girls you've been you've been acting like someone that tried to get to 2nd base & struck out.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Get to...? I wasn't trying to fucking feel you up! And even if I was I wouldn't do it while you were fucking asleep. Thanks for thinking I'm the type that would, though. I... I'm sorry. I'm not trying to fight with you. I'll go back inside.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Nate, stop... That's not what I meant & you know it. You've hardly said more than 2 words to me or been alone with me ever since your dream thingie. You won't talk to me, so I have no idea what else to think.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): I... I know. I feel guilty and pissed off at myself and fucked up... Jesus... I'm sorry I've been avoiding you.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Well, cut it out.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Heh. Sorry. I know you said you're fine and all, but it's all so fucked up... and I had that stupid fucking flashback, which made me feel SO much better... Anyway, I'll stop being an asshole.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Well, just talking to me would be a good start... Not to make it weirder or anything, but I do miss curling up with you.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): I... I don't know what to say to that. Honestly, I miss hanging out with you too, but... Christ, I don't know. I feel like I can't be trusted or some shit now.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Fine... I'll leave you alone. Have a good night.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Wait! Wait, Hii--, um, Zoe. Sorry. God, all I fucking do lately is apologize... I don't want you to leave me alone. When I was raped, at Divine Hope, the guy who did it, he was my drug hookup you know? The first time he did it, I was in bed. Asleep. When I finally reported him to the counselors, no one believed me. He coped to giving me drugs, He said I was trying to get more out of him. When I thought you were Tim, it just tweaked the holy fucking hell out of me. I know I'm being fucking crazy about this, but it was barely two years ago, you know? I'm not all the way over it yet
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Oh, Nate... That's awful.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Yeah. No shit. Don't. Don't make that face. You didn't know the details.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Look, I trust you more than anyone else in the world. You're my best friend-- nevermind, it's dumb. Anyway, I wish I could help.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): God, please don't. I'm too fucking tired to argue with you. What were you going to say?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): No, it's okay. It's my own issue to deal with. You are way too tweaked to deal with my stupid shit. Just talk to me when you're reminded of that bullshit so you're not having to deal with it on your own, okay?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Alright. I'll try. In my defense, no one back home ever wanted to hear about it. It felt like the only people who believed me were in the hospital, and they were way more concerned with the "schizophrenia" than the run of the mill crazy shit. What were you gonna say?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): It's just me being a dumb girl... It's not important.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Believe me, right now, I could use something that's stupid and asinine to think about. What? Are you worried I secretly like girls and are worried it's just you I don't find cute? You wanna do Victor?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): … Um, it was the first thing. I don't want to "do" Victor... I told you it was the kissing that freaked me out & I meant it. I lied when I said I didn't like that kiss, before... I know, you don't like me like that, so I was dealing. I also know that all of it is completely stupid on my part. And, I am way too messed in the head to hang around you. You seem to be the only person that can upset me enough to wake up Hiiri. So, it's probably good that all this happened, so we can keep our distance. And, that's why I didn't want to tell you.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Oh. You, uh, you know you really don't like me all *that* much, right? Stop making a face. I don't mean it like that. I mean, I seem really interesting right now, because I'm safe, and nice to you, but not so nice that you get suspicious. The second you find someone else you like who actually likes you back, you'll chuck me to the wayside. :-P And I swear, I don't like girls. Divine Hope spent four months trying to teach me how to "manage" my sinful homosexual urges. If I could have started batting for the other team, I would have, just to save myself the fucking headaches.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Logically, I know you don't & I know what you mean. That's why I said I was being a dumb girl... You're my first crush. All my own & nobody else's, so I'm bound to be a bit stupid about it. I'm sorry that I'm tormenting you with it.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): You're not being stupid, and you're not tormenting me. You're being a normal teenager. We're fucking nuts. And honestly, you've gotta start doing better with your firsts.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Hey, if I could find someone else, trust me I would. :-P
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Heh. Yeah, well, get on that. Shit. Ignore me. It's not like I'm any better. We should get inside for dinner. If I don't eat something soon, I think your mom is going to strap me down and force feed me with a funnel.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Yeah, she had that look about her... Heehee, I have a mom AND a dad. This is so cool.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Heh. Yeah. A weird pair of parents at that. Jesus... God, why did I let Victor do that portal trick with me? I feel like ass.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): You'll feel a lot better once you eat something.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): I hope so... Next time I'll know better. Don't let Victor touch me when he says something like "I wanna try something," if I haven't eaten in a couple of days. Heh heh... Jesus that sounds perverted.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Heh. I will try.
Victor (to Nathaniel & Zoe): NOW you two make an appearance. Holy shit, we TRASHED the practice room, Zoe.
Vincent (to Victor): Victor Harrison! Language, please.
Victor (to Zoe): Sorry, sir.
Zoe (to Victor): I'm sorry. Nate & I were talking. I can help clean it up. (to Vincent) Here, I've got that, Vincent. I'm sorry for not helping sooner.
Victor (to Zoe): We've got it mostly cleaned up. Honestly, I was kind of proud. I've never... (to Nathaniel) Yikes! You look terrible. You need to eat something. I wasn't thinking when I had you open a portal before. I apologize. Do you want some juice?
Nathaniel (to Victor): Yeah. I probably should...
Victor (to Nathaniel): Here you are. Dinner should be served soon, so just take it easy until then.
Nathaniel (to Victor): Um, thanks. I'm going to just lay down for a little bit...
Vincent (to Zoe): Heh. It's fine, hun. This room has a tendency to get destroyed. It's what it's for. How is Nate doing? He's been worrying us.
Zoe (to Vincent): He-- He got tweaked the other day because of a dream & he's still kinda recovering. He'll be okay.
Vincent (to Zoe): It's alright, sweetie. I'm not going to ask you to tell me anything he said to you in confidence. We know he's going through a lot, and we know it's going to take time for him to start to be comfortable. We both understand.
Zoe (to Vincent): It's not that he told me in confidence... He, um, accidentally kissed my neck as a result of the dream & he freaked out. He didn't realize that it was me & it made him think about stuff that happened at that fuck-- stupid camp. Sorry.
Vincent (to Zoe): In this instance, hun, you can say fucking camp. It's appropriate. And this is why you two have been avoiding each other. Good heavens, if we had known that had happened, we would have never teased you two about your kiss. I'm very sorry. Poor kid. I hope he'll let us help him. I hope you will too. Welp, I think we've done as much as we can for now.
Zoe (to Vincent): Oh, it's okay. I think it's still a bit hard for him & I to trust people... I'm sorry I didn't say something sooner.
Vincent (to Zoe): I know it is, sweetie. Trust takes time to build, and knowing what little I do about his past, and his family... I certainly can't blame him. How about we go get something to eat?
Zoe (to Vincent): Sounds good to me, um, Dad. :-)
Vincent (to Zoe): Hee hee. Why don't I think you're saying that to me sarcastically this time? Come on, kiddo.
