Persephone (to Aiden): Oh, dear god! Why am I not surprised to find you in Liverpool? (to Percy) Come on, we're leaving.
Aiden (to Persephone): Wait! Seph! Why on earth are you here? What's going on? Don't you dare stomp away in a huff! (to Percy) Percy?
Percy (to Aiden): Sorry, handsome, but she's the boss.
Aiden: ... Well, that went better than I expected. I half-expected her to shoot me on sight.
A few minutes later:
Persephone (to Percy): Clearly, we need to go abroad. France or Qin?
Percy (to Persephone): How about home, honey? This is a really terrible idea--
Persephone (to Percy): Fine... Qin, it is. Get the airship ready. I'll go get us some supplies.
Percy (to Persephone): Whatever you say, honey.
A thirty minutes later:
Persephone: This is seriously grunt! I don't think I have enough money to get supplies for Qin... Hmmm, France it is, then.
Percy: Dear God, that girl is going to get it as soon as I figure out how to change these command code locks... I seriously wish Poppy were here.
Vincent (to Percy): Percy! Where on earth is Persephone? You two are in SO much trouble...
Percy (to Vincent): Oh, thank goodness, Vincent! This was not my idea. She's got my command codes locked. I can't disobey her. It's terrible. I've been trying to get her home, but she won't listen to me. Persephone went to get supplies. She wants to go to Qin. You've got to stop her. She's acting insane!
Vincent (to Percy): I wish she was as observant as she is devious! You two have been attracting attention all over. Good heavens. Sorry, hun. I have to shut you down.
Percy (to Vincent): I understand.
Vincent (to Percy): Hopefully, I'll see you soon. I'm going to go find that... lovable... right royal pain in my ass.
A few moments later:
Vincent: Right. Percy stowed, ship should be disabled, and I've got a very good idea what kind of supplies that girl is after. (to Persephone) Persephone Longfellow, don't say a word to me, girl. Don't even blink in surprise. When I get you someplace safe, your ears are going to burn for a week from all the shouting, but right now, you've got two... oh. No...
Persephone (to Vincent): Oh, grunt.
Vincent (to Persephone): THREE ugly looking gentleman following you. Come on! What on earth were you thinking? What ON EARTH could you possibly have been thinking? You know CLANNG is watching your family's inn has has just been ITCHING for an excuse to haul y'all in. Oops. Hold up, back up one, and duck in here.
A minute later:
Madam Rosetta (to Vincent): Vincent, you scoundrel! I haven't seen you in ages.
Vincent (to Madam Rosetta & Persephone): Hello, Madam Rosetta! Look at you! Good heavens, hun. Don't wear that kind of thing around me; I'm a married man. My darling niece and I are going to be borrowing the private room for a tick. Don't mind us. You didn't see a thing.
Madam Rosetta (to Vincent): Of course, darling.
Persephone (to Vincent): ... Um, where the bloody hell are we?
Vincent (to Persephone): We are in the "Private Room" of Madam Rosetta's Palmistry place. Basically, we're hiding in the wall. She has that bloody shop so packed full of gimcrack & gewgaws, it's impossible to find if you don't know it's there.
Persephone (to Vincent): Oh... Do this often, do you?
Vincent (to Persephone): It's not the first time I've been here. Nor has your aunt. You are SO lucky I caught up to you in Liverpool. And infinitely luckier you never left Britannia! You don't have the right kind of paperwork to travel right now, girl! CLANNG would have picked you up before you were 10 feet into non-British air. You are smarter than this, Persephone.
Persephone (to Vincent): Oh... The inn was suffocating me with Mam being preggers, she's been pushing me to run the place. And, I've been on my own & it looks like you guys aren't ever coming back... And, then stupidface backed out of our deal... I just had enough. I know it was stupid... That was why I brought Percy with me. I'm sorry.
Vincent (to Persephone): Sweetie, sweetie. Come here. Good lord, you're too much like your aunt for your own damn good, you know that? I know you're frustrated and bored, hun. But that is NO excuse for the way you've been carrying on. You toyed with the emotions of someone who honestly cared for you, and THIS stunt... Sweetie, if you would have been captured, they would have done worse than kill you. We've all been beside ourselves with worry. We will see what we can do to make you less desperate, alright, hun? But you need to work WITH us, and not launch off on these extraordinary plans that will end in death or heartbreak.
Persephone (to Vincent): Yes sir... I'm sorry.
Vincent (to Persephone): Not as sorry as you will be when your aunt and mother get a hold of you, I'll wager. Come here. Ooo! I love you, you pain in the ass. Whenever you're done serving whatever punishment you will so rightly deserve, I will talk to your mom and dad about you running cargo jobs with me. Victor wants to go to school, and CLANNG can't strangle all the pirate smuggling channels forever... I hope.
Persephone (to Vincent): Oh grunt... Mam is going to kill me.
Vincent (to Persephone): That is very likely. Come on. We should be able to get to the Falcon. You're going to have to come home with me for a bit, until we know for sure it's safe to get you back to the inn. I'm sure your aunt will have some choice words for you as well.
Persephone (to Vincent): ... Alright. Grunt, this is totes going to suck.
A few hours later, at Poppy & Vincent's apartment, West Piedmont:
Vincent (to Poppy): Lover? I'm back. Wayward child in tow. Have we heard from Victor and Yoyo?
Poppy (to Vincent): They're home safe & sound, honey... (to Persephone) Persephone Longfellow, you have some explaining to do!
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh thank GOD. Good heavens. If all the children could just stay out of live and death drama for a week... I need a vacation!
Persephone (to Vincent & Poppy): I know, I know! I'm a terrible, horrible person & you're very disappointed.
Vincent (to Persephone): No, we're disappointed because you're NOT a terrible person. You're smarter and better than this.
Poppy (to Vincent): It's alright, honey. Persephone & I are about to go into the practice room & have a very long talk.
Persephone (to Poppy): We are? ... Grunt.
Nathaniel (to Vincent, Poppy & Persephone): Oh! Oh... Uh, shit. I, um, I didn't mean to interrupt. I'm just gonna grab a cigarette.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Honey, it's fine... Seph & I are just leaving. (to Persephone) Isn't that right?
Persephone (to Poppy): Yes, ma'am. (to Nathaniel) It was nice knowing you.
Nathaniel (to Persephone): Um, yeah. Glad you're OK. Uh, for now...
Persephone (to Nathaniel): Thanks.
Poppy (to Persephone): Come on, Miss Longfellow.
Vincent (to Nathaniel): Are you alright, Nate?
Nathaniel (to Vincent): Huh? Yeah. I'm fine. Just not awake yet. I'm gonna go grab a smoke.
A few minutes later:
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Hey Nate, can I bum a smoke off of you?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Sure. You're grinning like a cat that got at the canary. Date go well last night?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): OH MY GOD! It went better than okay... He's-- Well, he's just awesome.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Heh. What happened? Did you finally kiss him?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Yes... It-- it made my toes curl. I think that's a good thing. Actually, I'm fairly positive that's a good thing.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Heh. Yeah. Toe curling is generally a good thing. So, finally done with the He-can't-actually-like-lil-ol-me dance? :-P
Zoe (to Nathaniel): I don't know, I am such a marvelous dancer. :-P But yeah, he told me that he liked me & that he'd like to kiss me a lot more. So, I'm just going to try to enjoy it and stop stressing... How are you & Aiden doing?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Um, good. Heh. Maybe too good. Aunt Poppy advised me to slow the fuck down. I, uh, I definitely do NOT have a libido issue...
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Heehee, I've slept in the same bed with you... Did you really think was that really a problem? :-P
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Don't be gross! And yes, I did worry about it... Aiden wants to take me out on a "proper date" whatever that's going to entail, so it doesn't seem like we're doing something "tawdry." That's what I get for making fun of Victor's accent so much. I end up with a boyfriend twice as British.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Heehee, does he look as good as Victor without his shirt on, too? :-P
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Better, if you ask me.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Heehee... So, he's your boyfriend, now? No wonder Poppy wants you to slow your roll. It was only a couple weeks ago that you were all worried about your date with Oliver & pining over old whatshisname. I'm glad you found somebody but, sheesh, at this rate, you're going to be married & divorced before a year is out.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Shit! I did say boyfriend, didn't I? I--I didn't mean that... I mean, it's not like we said we're dating or anything. Fuck... And he totally just called off his wedding... I'm being a fucking moron. Just because he said... Sorry.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Calm down, drama queen! I was just teasing you. Geez. You are seriously hung up on him... Have you talked to him about any of this?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): No. He's not a real big sharer, and... Um, we didn't end up doing much talking last time we saw each other.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Heehee... Well, I guess, the big question is do you want him to be your boyfriend? I mean, he did just call off his wedding because of you. Well, partially because of you & partially because Persephone is an awful selfish self-centered girl. Or are you just so caught up with the fact that he's the first guy you've been comfortable with?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): No, it's not just that. I mean, that's part of it. I'm not gonna lie. That's kinda a big deal for me, you know? But, I do like spending time with him, and no, not just because he turns me on. Yeah, he's kinda off, but so am I. It works. He said he's not that warm or cuddly, but he's not a dick. He does care, and he tries to be "properly comforting." Heh. It's pretty fucking adorable, actually. Plus, I don't seem to annoy the shit out of him.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): And, you're okay with him, really? No pretending to be fine or secretly having freakouts or anything?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Not yet. I mean, there were a couple of times we had to stop, and I needed to take a couple of deep breaths, Last time we were together, I started to freak out a little. He stopped even before I asked him to & helped me calm down.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Oh well, that's good. I'm sorry for grilling you about this, Nate. It's just I remember what a mess you were in about Oliver, all the crap with your boyfriend & then, not to mention the stupid shit with me. I just want you to be okay.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): I know. Thanks. I'm OK, I promise.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Ok. Well then, tell him you want to date him. No sense in waiting around, if that's what you really want.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Maybe this whole thing is a bad idea... I mean, he doesn't even live in this *reality* let alone country.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Well then, don't... Just keep it light & simple.
Nathaniel (to Zoe):Yeah... We'll see.
Several hours later:
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Nate? I just wanted to let you know that I'm back in town. I can send you the address of where I'm staying, if you like.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Hey! Heh. Yeah. I might wanna know where to find you. Could have a vested interest for some strange reason.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): ... Oh right. My apologies. It has been a very strange day. My hotel isn't far from your aunt & uncle's. Here's the address.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): I was just teasing you, you know. You alright?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Mrs. Esterly was in a bit of a state. CLANNG & ISS officers came to question her about my whereabouts. I had to have her close up the house in town & go stay with her family in Oxford. I tried to make contact with some of my co-workers & I've been blacklisted. So, I'm pretty much out to sea.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Shit... Is she OK? That, uh, that does not sound good. What happens now?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): She's fine. She was an agent in her younger days... She was apparently quite vocal about what she thought of their tactics. I have no idea what I'm going to do now... Stay on this side until I figure it out, I suppose.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Jesus Christ. That fucking sucks. I know the feeling... Do you want company, or... Are you kinda pissed at me?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): I would love some company, actually. I missed you... Why would I be upset with you?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh. I thought maybe my little mutant trick was part of the reason you got in trouble... I'll, uh, I'll see you soon, OK?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): No, it was because of my association with your aunt actually. Apparently, all of her past students were being brought in for questioning... I look forward to seeing you.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Shit. That's just fucking fabulous... Right. I should be there soon. (to Poppy) Hey, Aunt Poppy? I'm was going to go visit Aiden. He's had a shitty day. He got blacklisted. He said all your former students are getting grilled by ISS and CLANNG.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): ... Well, that would explain why I have suddenly been blacklisted myself. Go see Aiden,honey. Please, tell him we'll figure something out.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Yeah. I will. Thanks. I'll see you later.
A short time later:
Nathaniel: Wow... (to Aiden) Hey! Heh. Hi. It's snowing!
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Oh, it is? For some reason, I didn't think it snowed here... It's very pretty.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): I don't think it does very often. Heh. It snows even less down where I'm from. Holy shit, now I'm cold!
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Come on, let's go back inside. I'll warm you up... I can put the electric kettle on.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. I'm sure I can think of a couple of other ways you can warm me up.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Oh. Heh. That would fine, too.
