Poppy (to Vincent): Good morning, lover. Did you miss me?
Vincent (to Poppy): Good heavens. You are a sight for very sore, lonely eyes.
Poppy (to Vincent): I've missed you, too, honey. I've managed to finagle a few days away from the bunker but I've got somethings we need to discuss. They're a bit time sensitive, so we need to figure out somethings before I go back.
Vincent (to Poppy): I was afraid this was more than just a cross-dimensional booty call.
Poppy (to Vincent): Honey, you are never JUST a booty call.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. Well, a man can hope. Do you want to talk now, or would you rather get coffee and spend some time together first?
Poppy (to Vincent): How about coffee & we discuss things while I sit on your lap and distract you, lover?
Vincent (to Poppy): Dirty pool, madam. Dirty pool. Heh. Here's your coffee. Come here, lover...
Poppy (to Vincent): ... Heehee, you love it when I play dirty pool... I had a run-in with Hiiri, yesterday.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh good God... You're alright? You are alright, aren't you?
Poppy (to Vincent): Yes, honey. It was in crowded sidewalk café, she didn't touch me. There would have been too many witnesses. She just told me, well, threatened actually, that anyone caught performing any acts of "terrorism" towards CLANNG will be hanged, no questions asked. But, that's not what I came to talk about. Hiiri, I can handle. It's the Russians & their portal experiments...
Vincent (to Poppy): Mmm... And this is extraordinarily bad news, I'm guessing from the way you're kissing my neck. As a delivery method for bad news, it's not bad.
Poppy (to Vincent): I try, honey... Dr. Korlovsky has figured out their own device for controlling the portals, however, they have to test it on a stable portal. They fear it may affect all of the stable portals, effectively making them all closed for who knows how long. I spoke to Tesla & he thinks that any natural skippers may be able to still skip through, if they have the ability to open them wherever they like. However, anyone who lacks that particular ability or uses a portal generator may be stuck.
Vincent (to Poppy): In other words, me.
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm afraid so, lover... You'd still be able to cross over with another skipper while the portals recalibrate. But, we may need to test Korlovsky portal device soon, if we want to make sure everyone on this side is safe... I've also been making arrangements to set up a housing in West Piedmont for my people. Chances are, if things go pear-shaped with the portals, Hiiri will come gunning for them without mercy. If they're all over on this side, she won't be able to touch them.
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, that makes the decision for us, doesn't it? Good heavens...
Poppy (to Vincent): On the plus side, Aiden went to speak to the empress & didn't get himself arrested. She's now engaged to one of the Russian princes and as soon as they are married, CLANNG will be removed from power, if all goes well.
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, he does better on his trips to the palace than we do, doesn't he?
Poppy (to Vincent): I should say so. It helps that he used to work for the Empress directly & he speaks the language of the hoighty-toighty. Victor & Yoyo want to stay behind and continue to run cargo in the Sister, so we have some kind of income coming in. I'm not all that crazy about the idea but, it does make sense.
Vincent (to Poppy): You're thinking of staying on this side, lover?
Poppy (to Vincent): Yes, honey. At least, until all we get removed from the blacklist... If that happens, at all. My people are a bunch of British spies some of which have never been through the portals before. They'll need to learn a lot about life over here. Especially, if we're stuck for who knows how long.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh, hun. Come here.
Poppy (to Vincent): It's okay, honey... We've got two days before I need to be back. And then, I will have the very fun task of talking to Bernard & Molly. They should be safe when we leave. And, when I come back here, it'll be for good.
Vincent (to Poppy): It's not OK, sweetie. You don't have to pretend this isn't bothering you for my benefit.
Poppy (to Vincent): Of course, it bothers me, lover but I have to do this. Too many lives are at stake & I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I acted so selfishly when I could save the people counting on me. Besides, I have a nice big prezzie to give CLANNG before we leave.
Vincent (to Poppy): I wouldn't expect anything less of you, gorgeous. How about you let me dote on you for the next two days?
Poppy (to Vincent): You have yourself a deal, lover...
Vincent (to Poppy): Excellent. Then come with me and let me start doting. Also, there may be some fawning. Fair warning.
Poppy (to Vincent): I am practically giddy with anticipation, honey.
A few hours later:
Nathaniel: Hey, Uncle Vincent. I'm ho... I mean, I'm headed out! I'LL SEE YOU LATER!
Poppy (to Vincent): We really may want to invest in a better lock on the door, lover. One that the children don't have a key for. :-P
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. Oh dear. I'd feel sorry for him if I hadn't spent several days on an airship with him and his boyfriend.
Poppy (to Vincent): Heehee. You Jones boys & your appetites. No wonder Aiden had such a look of exhaustion about him.
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, you know how us Jones boys can be... We'll have to stock the kitchen with energy drinks next time he visits.
A few minutes later, on the street, West Piedmont:
Nathaniel: Sweet baby Jesus... If I was ever gonna relapse, now would be that time.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Hey. I was just coming to find you. Did you get my text?
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Huh? Oh. Hey. No, sorry. My phone's dead. I was gonna charge it when I got home, but, um... Yeah. My aunt's visiting. What's up?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Heh... I was coming to give you a check for your part of the sale for the triptych. Also, I brought you a pack of smokes. Some fucking moron paid the full asking price on it... I really didn't think anyone would buy it.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Seriously? Wow. Way to go, stretch! And THANK YOU for the smokes. God fucking knows I can use them right now. I told you you don't have to pay me, you know... Holy shit. Is this right? I--I can't take this!
Marlena (to Nathaniel): You better fucking take it! You earned it. And, don't give me that whole thing about how you didn't do anything but stand there shit. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have ever thought about even doing the damn thing. Besides, I know how much you want to get your own place at some point. And, this will help. So, shut the fuck about it.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Alright. Alright. Shutting the fuck up. Um, thank you.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): You're welcome... Sheesh.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. Like you're any better. Speaking of which, how are you taking being an art world rockstar?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Gimme a fucking break. One ridiculous sale & a write-up in the newspaper does not make me a rockstar. When someone wants to put my paintings in the Guggenheim or MOMA before I'm dead, then I'm a rockstar.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. Alright. Fair enough. Don't take the fucking compliment if you don't wanna.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Heh. Sorry. I'm not good at taking compliments.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Yeah. No shit.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): So, you wanna come with me to my parent's house? Dad's making empanadas.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Oh. Um, I wouldn't be intruding, would I?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Nah, Gabe has a friend over. And, Mom & Dad could probably use another non-eight year old at dinner.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. Yeah. Alright. If there's food and no one is doing it dirty in the kitchen, then it's an improvement. Thanks.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): I can promise you both of those things... Mom & Dad can usually contain themselves when kids are around.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. Well, that's an improvement over my aunt and uncle, that's for fucking sure.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Heh. Trust me, I know. They've been like this ever since I first met them.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. I don't doubt it. I have no idea how Victor copes with that. My parents don't even kiss in front of me.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Heh. That's why he acts like an old man most of the time.
At Mouse & Eep's house, West Piedmont:
Mouse (to Marlena & Nathaniel): Thank god! I'm so glad you two are here. The boys are driving me nuts. And, your father won't let me in the kitchen.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Ha ha ha! (to Mouse) Oh. Ahem. Sorry. Um, thank you for having me over.
Marlena (to Mouse): Heh. Did Dad hit you with the wooden spoon again?
Mouse (to Nathaniel & Marlena): Yes. He's a ruthless dictator in the kitchen when he's making his mom's empanadas.
Nathaniel (to Marlena & Mouse): Heh. I have a hard time imagining Mr. Estevez being a dictator about anything.
Mouse (to Nathaniel & Marlena): Heh. I'll let you both smoke one cigarette on the porch if you go in & see. :-P
Nathaniel (to Mouse): Uhh... (to Marlena) Why am I filled with dread at that suggestion?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Because, you have a good sense of self-preservation.
Mouse (to Marlena & Nathaniel): Hush you, he won't know you're kidding... Oh shit! I hear yelling in Gabe's room. Be right back.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. Um... Will your mom get super pissed if I smoke a cigarette outside?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): She'll just make a face at you, but if you smile at her, it'll throw her off... I'm gonna go check on Dad in the kitchen while you do that.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Oh. Heh. Yeah. Alright. Thanks.
A minute later, in the kitchen:
Marlena (to Eep): Hey Dad! When's the fucking food going to be ready? The natives are getting restless.
Eep (to Marlena): Yeah? Well, they'll fucking wait. This shit takes time. How you holding up, Monkey?
Marlena (to Eep): Um, just fine... Why? What have you heard?
Eep (to Marlena): I was asking cause of all the attention being paid to you cause of the painting. Why? What else is going on?
Marlena (to Eep): Yeah, it's fucking weird. I'm just trying to not think about it, honestly. It makes me a bit nauseous. I thought you were asking because of the whole Hiiri thing. When Zoe was crashing with me, she told me about her.
Eep (to Marlena): Oh. I can honestly say I wasn't expecting that. So... How are you doing?
Marlena (to Eep): I really am fine. I mean, Zoe told me some things about Hiiri I didn't know... It made me feel kinda bad for her, which is fucking nuts, cuz she's horrible... But, Zoe's a good kid & she came from that, so there's got to be some good inside Hiiri, right? Maybe? I mean, Zoe's made up from Mom & she wouldn't act the way Hiiri does. Not even after what she went through. Shit. I'm sorry, Dad. I shouldn't have brought it up.
Eep (to Marlena): It's alright, Mars. Honestly, we should have told you about it when we realized we were dealing with Hiiri again... And Zoe is alright. She's human. Hiiri... Hiiri is something else. She's done some really awful things, and not just to us. Jesus. I didn't mean that to sound as harsh as it did. I just meant... Fuck. I'm gonna concentrate on these fucking empenadas.
Marlena (to Eep): It's okay. I'll go set the table.
Eep (to Marlena): Give me a hug first, you grumpy ass.
Marlena (to Eep): Sure, Dad.
