Marlena (to Yukiko): Yoyo, are you okay? Why are you laying on the floor?
Yukiko (to Marlena): You're tall, Mars. Why are you so tall? Are you part tree or giraffe?
Marlena (to Yukiko): Heh. Are you drunk? Why are drunk?
Yukiko (to Marlena): Oh, because I drank a bottle of saké.
Marlena (to Yukiko): That's not what I meant. What happened?
Yukiko (to Marlena): Oh, I got a letter from my uncle, Hiro, he's my mother's brother. He heard about everything that happened & he wants me to come live with him & his family in Shanghai, where I will be treated like a daughter. He is also willing to clear the debt with my brother, get me back from the Potters & he has someone that he thinks I would be a good match with.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Well, fuck.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Yeah, my thoughts exactly... I'm not going, just so you know.
Marlena (to Yukiko): Good... Let me get you some water.
Yukiko (to Marlena): Thanks.
A few hours later:
Yukiko (to Victor): Victor? Victor... Victor... Victor... Victor.
Victor (to Yukiko): Yoyo? Are you OK? What's wrong?
Yukiko (to Victor): You're handsome. Ooo... I think I may still be drunk. Yep. Definitely drunk
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. So I see. What's the occasion?
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh, the usual... Family drama. I just don't feel like dealing with it at the moment. What are you up to?
Victor (to Yukiko): Uh, nothing much. Are you sure you don't want to talk about it? Getting drunk solo seems a bit out of character.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh, I wasn't alone, Mars was here for a little while. You don't want to hear me whine about my stupid family bullshit.
Victor (to Yukiko): Sure I do. I mean, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. I'm just hiding out from Nate.
Yukiko (to Victor): It was just a letter from uncle Hiro. He offered to take care of things with my brother & buy my freedom back from your family. In exchange for that, I would go live with his family in Shanghai & be his daughter. He only has sons. And, would arrange my marriage with the son of one of his prestigious business partners. Bleccch. I've been working on my response. I've been trying to figure out how to tell him thank you but no.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh. Wow. That, uh that sucks! What the fuck is your family's deal with arranged marriages? Sorry. I shouldn't judge.
Yukiko (to Victor): It's very traditional in Nippon. To be fair, Uncle is under the impression that I have been sold to foreign devils & that his offer is a decent one... I haven't seen him since I was four, so he has no idea who I am.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Well, we ARE kind of foreign devils.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. Just a bit. So, why are you hiding from Nate?
Victor (to Yukiko): He's kind of obnoxious in general, but he seems to be in an extra special good mood today. Since he takes such an interest in trying to annoy me, I'm taking the easy way out and avoiding him.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh. If you wanted a better place to hide, you could always come over here.
Victor (to Yukiko): You know, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. Or, are you just trying to take advantage of me in your drunken state. Because I'm OK with that.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh no, you've discovered my master plan!
Victor (to Yukiko): Yes. How can you live with yourself, you cad?
Yukiko (to Victor): It's quite difficult... And terribly lonely.
Victor (to Yukiko): e can't have you lonely, can we? What kind of boyfriend would I be? I'm going to go check with my parents to let me wander.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh, I hope they'll let you.
Victor (to Yukiko): I do too.
A moment later, at Vincent & Poppy's apartment, West Piedmont:
Victor (to Poppy): Hi, Mom. May I ask you something?
Poppy (to Victor): Of course, honey, what is it?
Victor (to Poppy): Yoyo apparently got kind of an awkward letter from her uncle offering to buy her away from us foreign devils, & marry her off like a proper young lady. She's a bit upset about it. May I go visit her?
Poppy (to Victor): I don't know, honey. It's getting a little late.
Victor (to Poppy): It's West Piedmont, Mom. It's not like it's dangerous out there. I'll be back before curfew. I just want to check on her. She keeps saying she's fine, but you know how Yoyo is.
Poppy (to Victor): Fine, honey. Go check on her.
Victor (to Poppy): Thank you! I'll be back before you can miss me.
Poppy (to Victor): Alright, honey.
A short time later:
Vincent (to Poppy): You're making a face. What's wrong, lover?
Poppy (to Vincent): Am I? I'm sorry, honey. Victor ran off to go see Yoyo. Her family is being difficult, again.
Vincent (to Poppy): What? That poor thing can't catch a break, can she?
Poppy (to Vincent): Too true, lover.
Vincent (to Poppy): Come here, hun. Let me see if I can't get you out of that dour mood. How did your visit with my sister go yesterday?
Poppy (to Vincent): It was lovely. And, just so you know, she is not expecting, so you can forego the eating of your sword, honey.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee hee. I see that Persephone has been tattling on me as well. How is Nate doing at the café? He hasn't been unbearable has he. Not that Mouse can't handle it.
Poppy (to Vincent): She said he's doing fine. He did make a bit of a mess his first day, but nothing major.
Vincent (to Poppy): He skulks around here like a kicked dog, but Mouse does just fine with him. Why doesn't that surprise me? :-p
Poppy (to Vincent): Heehee. Oh, and guess who seems to share your love of the clockwork?
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh no. Dare I guess? Nate has been flirting with Oliver.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh my yes, and she hasn't had the heart to tell him about Oliver. She figures he's had enough weirdness for right now.
Vincent (to Poppy): He probably has. At least Oliver is harmless enough. If it had been Percy on the other hand...
Poppy (to Vincent): Heehee, he met Percy yesterday. Strangely, did not seem all that interested, so fingers crossed.
Vincent (to Poppy): Really? Thank goodness he has more sense than I did at his age then.
Poppy (to Vincent): We were also discussing the impending holiday. Specifically, what do we do with Yoyo over Christmas since she can't stay on campus. I don't feel comfortable with her staying here. I think that might send the wrong message to the kids.
Vincent (to Poppy): No, I agree. Not to mention we're stretched a bit to capacity at the mo. Good gracious! When did we become fuddy duddies? Can Mouse and Eep house her for the month?
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, they were planning on taking their annual winter trip during the break, so she can either go with them or stay and housesit. Mouse knows that Yoyo is responsible enough to be able to handle it, but well, there's a part of me that doesn't like it. Probably, because I know what I would be doing if I had a boyfriend & a house all to myself for a month.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. We HAVE become fuddy duddies! I can understand your hesitation, hun, but I think she'll be alright. I can't help but think it will be awfully lonely for her staying there by herself. Do Yoyo or Mars have any friends that could stay with her?
Poppy (to Vincent): Persephone is the only name that springs to mind, honey. And, I think I'd feel more comfortable with Yoyo being there on her own.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee hee. She'd certainly get into less trouble on her own than if Seph is involved.
Poppy (to Vincent): I'll try to remember to ask her tomorrow. She might have a suggestion. Is this what "normal" parents deal with? Ugh. I'll take killer pirates, any day.
Vincent (to Poppy): I think so. Dreadful, isn't it?
Poppy (to Vincent): We really need to figure out how to go back to the Falcon, lover. I may die from this level of mundane.
Vincent (to Poppy): Unless Victor decides to go to school here, or Carver dies, I don't know how we can make that happen, lover.
Poppy (to Vincent): I wonder if we can ask Yoyo to sweet talk him into going to school here? Don't look at me like that, I'm just kidding... Unless, you think it's a good idea. :-p
Vincent (to Poppy): Heh. I don't think we'd have a hard time convincing her to try. How about I talk you into going to bed with me instead?
Poppy (to Vincent): I think that sounds like a lovely plan, honey.
