Hiiri (to Starling): Miss Starling, where have you been?
Starling (to Hiiri):
Hiiri (to Starling): Very good. The preparations for leaving the empire are underway. We will be leaving for Switzerland tomorrow. Be ready.
Starling (to Hiiri):
Hiiri (to Starling): As long as they can fit in those two steamer trunks, Miss Starling, I don't see why not.
Starling (to Hiiri):
Hiiri (to Starling): Of course.
Starling (to Hiiri):
At the Lovelace School of the Arts, East Piedmont:
Jessica (to Zoe): Zoe! What on earth happened to your hand?
Zoe (to Jessica): Oh, um, nothing... OW. Don't fucking poke at it, Jess! Damn.
Jessica (to Zoe): Sorry... Are you okay?
Zoe (to Jessica): Yeah, yeah. I'm fine.
Jessica (to Zoe): Okay... I'll leave you to your brooding.
A short time later:
Colin (to Zoe): Hello pretty girlfriend of mine. How are... Holy crap! What happened to your hand?
Zoe (to Colin): Oh, um, I may have punched Joseph in the face, last night.
Colin (to Zoe): You did what? Oh my god! What did he do?
Zoe (to Colin): Honestly nothing... I was just still really mad about the other night. I'm a total asshole.
Colin (to Zoe): No wonder he's not in school today... How much trouble did you get in? Are you alright?
Zoe (to Colin): I don't know yet. Mom & Dad are waiting to talk to his father, first. I told them, I knew I fucked up & if they let me go to the dance, I'll take whatever punishment they want to give me with no protest. I don't know what came over me, I was just so angry at him. Thankfully, I didn't break anything, but he's going to look like a raccoon for a few days.
Colin (to Zoe): Oh man... Well... You've got a couple of classes with him and he's living in your building, right? We can get his homework and stuff for him. Not that he'll necessarily WANT his homework... I can give it to him if you want.
Zoe (to Colin): No, I can do it. Hell, I should do it. It's the least I can do to make amends for my stupid... You are amazing, you know that?
Colin (to Zoe): Oh! Heh. I am? well, I'm not gonna argue with you when you say I'm amazing like that.
Zoe (to Colin): Yeah, you are. Yesterday, you were all glowering about him & today, you're offering to bring him his homework.
Colin (to Zoe): Oh. Uh... Heh. I'm just trying to be nice. I'll probably go back to glowering at him soon enough. :-P
Zoe (to Colin): Heh. Fair enough.
An hour or so later, at Poppy & Vincent's apartment, West Piedmont:
Poppy (to Vincent): How'd the chat with Joseph's dad go, honey?
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, I didn't give him a pair of black eyes to match his son's... Which might be a goddamn miracle.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh? He's that pleasant, huh? Well, Zoe will be disappointed. She loves his books.
Vincent (to Poppy): Maybe he's fine as a person, but I can't say I care for his parenting skills. Apparently, he didn't ask Joseph what happened to his face. In his words, "assumed he got in a tussle. My boy can defend himself." When I apologized and explained it was my daughter's fault, he started laughing. He called Joseph out of his room, and wanted to know if Zoe was as "tiny and scrawny" as I was. The poor kid looked like he wanted to crawl in a hole and die.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh, that poor boy.
Vincent (to Poppy): I pointed out that being small doesn't mean a person doesn't know how to punch. Ooo! I've never wanted to prove a point more.
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm so sorry, honey... I guess that just leaves the question of what do we do about Zoe. Should we punish her?
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, she clearly feels awful, but she can't go around slugging people because they've pissed her off. When is the dance?
Poppy (to Vincent): I believe it's next Saturday, lover.
Vincent (to Poppy): Well, we can certainly ground her until then. No computer, no phone, and she'll have to wear an inhibitor. Do you think two weeks is too little?
Poppy (to Vincent): I think that's more than sufficient, honey. It's her first offense, after all. And honestly, if I had been in her shoes, I'm not sure I wouldn't have done the same thing.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. I don't doubt it. :-P And, I don't want to come down on her TOO hard for beating the crap out of a guy who oversteps his bounds, but, she hit him a day later. She wasn't scared; she was just mad. Heh. I don't want her to be a tiny little terror either.
Poppy (to Vincent): I agree, honey, which is why I think two weeks is fair.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee hee. Thank you, hun. This is the first schoolyard fight we've ever had to deal with. Let's hope it's the last. I was torn between an overwhelming urge to ground Zoe forever for being a barbarian, and smacking Joseph myself. And then beating the shit out of his father when he made a crack about if he couldn't defend himself from "the likes of us" then he deserved the black eyes.
Poppy (to Vincent): Ooooo, I'd like to give him a piece of my mind.
Vincent (to Poppy): I was tempted, especially when I found myself trying to defend his kid and he shushed me. Unfortunately, I couldn't come up with a way to prove my point that didn't involve inflicting bodily harm, and I thought that might set a bad example. :-P How are you and the passenger today? Give me a hug, gorgeous!
Poppy (to Vincent): Heehee, I love you, honey. We are doing quite well so far. It's so odd having the house all to ourselves. It would seem that I've grown used to the hustle & bustle of the bunker.
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. I know. It's entirely too quiet in here, isn't it? What do you say we fix that?
Poppy (to Vincent): Heehee, that sounds like a very good plan, lover.
Vincent (to Poppy): Come with me, beautiful wife and love of my life.
A couple hours later, at Wanda's building, West Piedmont:
Wanda (to Nathaniel): Hellooo, cute stuffs! Are you the other half of the adorable new tenants.
Nathaniel (to Wanda): Oh. Uh... Hello. I guess so? Heh. My boyfriend and I just moved into the building, if that's what you mean.
Wanda (to Nathaniel): You MUST be Aiden's beau. Good gods. You're *both* gorgeous and accented. That is SO not fair to the female population. I'm Wanda.
Nathaniel (to Wanda): Oh! Hello. I'm Nate. It's nice to meet you. Aiden mentioned you stopped by the other night while I was at work.
Wanda (to Nathaniel): Nate Jones, right? You're the one with the criminal record. Oh! Don't be embarrassed. You should see MY arrest record. Hee hee hee. My juvenile one was even longer! Something about you seems REALLY familiar. Have we met before? Please, please, PLEASE tell me that if we have, whatever we did was totes legal in the state in which we did it. My publisher will KILL me if I get into another one of my "escapades." She threatened to quit a million times when I said "Jesus can suck it" on CNN.
Nathaniel (to Wanda): I... I have no idea what to say to all of that. Heh. Uh, yeah. It's Nate Jones, and, no, we've never met. You may know my uncle. His name is Vincent Potter? I'm his brother's son.
Wanda (to Nathaniel): Oh my various gods! You're Short Stack's nephew? No wonder you're such a cutie. He doesn't have a brother, does he?
Nathaniel (to Wanda): Yeah. He does. Um... Pastor Nate is my grandpa.
Wanda (to Nathaniel): Wait. Pastor Nate the homophobic hate-monger who beat the shit out of Vincent when he was a kid?
Nathaniel (to Wanda): Yeah. That would be the one.
Wanda (to Nathaniel): And you shacked up with a gorgeous slice of gay man meat? NICE! Way to stick it to your family in the sexiest way possible.
Nathaniel (to Wanda): Heh. Um, thanks. I think. Uncle Vincent said you'd like that so much you'd probably give us a break on the rent. Do you really own this building? You don't look old enough.
Wanda (to Nathaniel): Ha ha ha! You are a charmer and a TERRIBLE liar. Just like your uncle. Yes, I own the building. And you know what? I totes WILL give you a break on rent. After all, having boys as adorable as you in the building isn't gonna hurt business. So, you're coming to the dinner party Saturday, yes? Say yes. I mean, it's not like I own the building. ;-)
Nathaniel (to Wanda): Heh. Yeah. We'll be there. Thank you very much for the invitation. It was very nice meeting you, Wanda. I should get back home.
Wanda (to Nathaniel): Ooo. Brown chicken, brown cow! I won't keep you. Later, cute buns!
Nathaniel: Well, that was... That was something.
A couple minutes later, at Nathaniel & Aiden's apartment:
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. What are you in here scowling about?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): This blasted piece of ridiculously pointless machinery. I don't understand the point of a tiny countertop oven. I tried to heat up some water for tea, thinking I'd be all modern... I think I like the tea kettle better.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Ha ha ha! Oh... Shit. I'm sorry. I really am. Usually, you only use microwaves to heat up shit that will take too long in the big oven. Mostly leftovers. Heh. Almost everybody still uses a kettle for hot water and shit. Heh. Sorry I laughed. I promise you can mock the shit outta me for all the crap I do wrong in Britannia, OK?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh. It's a deal. I should really get back to these books. I'm boning up on my history from this side. It's quite fascinating the slight variations between the worlds. In some eras, it's virtually identical while in others completely different.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. I'm glad the interview went well. I think I got us a discount on our rent, by the way.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Oh? Did you make friends with the landlord?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Um, I did something. I'm not exactly sure what happened. Apparently, I stuck it to my family in the "sexiest way possible." And, yes, the Wanda you met is the same Wanda my uncle knows, and the same Wanda who owns the building.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh. Well, I guess I should let you go off on errands alone more often.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): I don't know about that. You know I can't be trusted on my own. Oh my god. I think I've spent too much time around my uncle...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Well, I hope you'll pardon me that I find it far more sexier when you say it.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. Well, I should hope to hell so.
A few minutes later:
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Did you know that you're quite distracting when you do that?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): When I do what?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Rubbing my back while I'm trying to read. Don't get me wrong, It's quite enjoyable... Just very distracting.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh. Heh. Sorry. I'll leave you to your history. I'll go be distracting someplace else.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Don't you bloody dare... Come here, the books can wait.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh... Yes, sir.
A few hours later, at the Piedmont Museum of Art & Science, West Piedmont:
Delia (to Aiden): Alright, sir. You did well last night. And you had the grace to not look completely askance when I asked you whether or not you might squeal like a girl when presented with mummies and human remains of varying ages. Quick question though...
Aiden (to Delia): Yes, Ms. Fawkes?
Delia (to Aiden): Do you have a legal identity on this side including a social security number?
Aiden (to Delia): Of course, Ms. Fawkes. I have all the necessary documentation that shows I'm a recent recipient of a green card. And, all of it will stand up under extreme scrutiny. I promise.
Delia (to Aiden): Excellent. That means you get to be a legal minion and I don't have to pay you under the table. Welcome to the joy of taxes.
Aiden (to Delia): Heh. I had to take care of taxes back home in London. It's probably just as horrific here... or possibly worse. Do they send a tax man around to your house to scold you and make you feel guilty for not supporting the care of the realm?
Delia (to Aiden): Uh... no. If the tax guy comes to your house it's for an audit and you'll probably go to jail and have all your stuff taken. Here it involves lots of paperwork, complex rules I'm not certain are in english and what I'm almost positive is theoretical math equations. Seriously. I know people with math degrees that get confused.
Aiden (to Delia): Well, that just sounds positively dreadful. Who knew that you Yanks could come up with a way to make taxes more terrifying... So, does this mean I get the job? Or do you like tormenting all your potential hires like this? :-P
Delia (to Aiden): No. I just like asking random people I interview for tax information.... Yes. You got the job. You start Monday. Be here at 10 and be ready for some boring paperwork.
Aiden (to Delia): Thank you so much! I'll see you on Monday.
Delia (to Aiden): Not a problem. Dress in something you don't mind getting dusty. Nothing formal. You'll be working with me in the archives. Also, I can't have you outdressing me. I get enough of the with Vincent, heh.
Aiden (to Delia): I think I can handle that.
A few minutes later:
Delia (to Vincent): Thanks for the reference. I ended up hiring him. Kinda straight laced. Calls me "Ms."... which is weird. I'll see if I can't break him of that though. Or else everyone is gonna start thinking I'm responsible or something, shish.
Vincent (to Delia): Hee hee. Glad to hear he worked out. Don't let Aiden's fussiness get to you. He the son of an English lord in Britannia. He can't be all THAT straight-laced. He's dating a member of my family, after all. :-P
A couple hours later, at Renfield's:
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Hey, Stretch. Need a light? I'm guessing from the obnoxious way he was whistling, that you didn't cut River loose yesterday.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): What the fuck are you talking about? He was whistling? ... God, way to be fucking discreet, River... How's the new place?
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. Have you fucking met River? The new place is good. Empty as shit, but good. The owner of my building knows my uncle of all weird shit. She's, uh... I don't even know how the fuck to describe her. She found out who my grandpappy is, and gave me a high-five for being gay and sticking it to my family in a "sexy" way. I think I'm gonna have to start checking the fucking place for cameras and shit.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Heh. You're living in fuckin' Wanda's building? Heh. I bet she loves you guys.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Oh Jesus. You know her too, huh? We're in fucking trouble, aren't we?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Heh... Yes... Maybe... No... She's actually pretty cool. She used to watch me when I was a kid. She used to live with my dad. As long as you let her know your boundaries & you DO need to tell her, she's a lot of fun & a good person to know.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Oh. Heh. Well, that's good to know at least. I guess she was the reason we got accepted despite my background check being shitty.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Oh, whatever you do, DO NOT let her talk you into going to the zoo or the aquarium or any public spaces after hours. Trust me. She got me arrested when I was little, well not, really. She got arrested. I just got held at the police station while they called my parents. She & fuckin' Percy were babysitting. It was weird with a capital W.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): She got you arrested? Holy shit! What the fuck for?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): She & Percy took me to a petting zoo... Apparently, the animals were not what was getting petted. While they were distracted I wandered into the pen with the llamas. Mom & Dad were livid.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Ha ha ha! Oh. Oh shit. Heh. Sorry. That's not funny. So she really DOES have an arrest record...
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Yeah, she does. Mostly for lewd & lascivious behavior or indecent exposure.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. Well, shit... Makes a B & E seem like small potatoes. :-P Hey. Can I bribe you into to helping me carry some shit?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Sure, I'm not above a little bribery.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. Good to know. Wanda gave us a couple of bottles of wine if you want one. I'm not gonna drink it.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Oh yeah, sure. So, whatcha need help with?
Nathaniel (to Marlena): I just have a couple bags of clothes left at my aunt and uncle's place. Mostly stuff Colin's dad, Jacob, gave me.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): So, you wanna ride over there & load up my car with your shit? I'm willing. We can also go check on Zoe while we're there.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Oh. Yeah! That might be a better idea. Heh. I forget some people can fucking drive. What's going on with Zoe?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Word on the fuckin' street is that she punched some boy in the face.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): She punched someone? Holy shit! What happened? Is she alright?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): I'm not really sure... Some boy got fresh or something.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Well, fuck... I hope she beat the shit out of him.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Heh... I think she gave him two black eyes.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. Good. I mean, I probably shouldn't be glad she hauled off and punched someone, but good.
A short time later, outside of Poppy & Vincent's building:
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Um... Is that a cop car in front of my aunt and uncle's place?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Fuck. It is... Should we go in or should we head back to your place?
Nathaniel (to Marlena): No. It's, um, it's fine. I mean, we don't know it's there cause of anyone in our family, right?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): God, I fucking hope not... Come on, let's go get your shit.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Yeah. Our luck's not that bad, right? ... Don't fucking answer that.
A few minutes later, at Poppy & Vincent's apartment:
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Um, hey. Mars and I were just stopping by to pick up some more of my sh--stuff. What's up?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): I'm not really sure.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Hey, how are you doing? I heard you beat the shit outta some guy.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Hush you.
Vincent (to Nathaniel, Zoe & Marlena): Hey, kids. Nate, you and I are going to have to go with these officers to clear some things up.
Nathaniel (to Vincent): WHAT? Why? I didn't DO anything. I...
Vincent (to Nathaniel): Calm down. It's alright. It's just a misunderstanding, and we're going to get it cleared up, OK?
Marlena (to Vincent): Oh... (to Nathaniel) You want me to grab your shit & drop it off at your place?
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Um, yes, if you don't mind. Can you tell Aiden what's going on too, please?
Vincent (to Nathaniel & Marlena): He probably already has an idea. This involves him as well. Your parent's attorney has contacted his lawyer already. Don't worry, kiddo. We'll sort it out, alright? I'll be here with you the whole time.
Marlena (to Vincent & Nathaniel): Shit... I'll load the car & get going.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): It'll be okay, honey. (to Zoe) Shouldn't you be in your room, sweetie? I do believe you're grounded.
Zoe (to Poppy): Yeah, I'm going. (to Nathaniel) Good luck.
Nathaniel (to Poppy & Zoe): Yeah. Thanks. I'll see you later, Shortie. OK? (to Marlena) Um, here's my key. In case you need it. I'll get it from you later.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): You better.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Okay... Call me, if you need anything.
Vincent (to Nathaniel): Come on, kiddo. Let's get this over and done with. (to Poppy) We'll see you soon, lover. Hold down the fort.
Poppy (to Vincent): I will, lover. (to Nathaniel) We love you, honey. It'll work out… (to Zoe) Here, honey... Don't tell your father.
Zoe (to Poppy): Oh... I thought I was grounded?
Poppy (to Zoe): Don't get me wrong, honey, you are totally grounded with a capital G but it's been a rough day for all of us. But, this will help you sleep soundly. So, just drink it & then go to bed.
Zoe (to Poppy): Okay... Thank you. Good night, mom. I love you.
Poppy (to Zoe): I love you too, honey. Sweet dreams.
