Victor: Who on earth... (to Nathaniel) Nate? Don't you still have a key? I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind if you let yourself in. Are you alright?
Nathaniel (to Victor): I'd feel weird just walking in... And no. I feel like shit. Didn't sleep last night.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Is everything alright?
Nathaniel (to Victor): No! It's... My family is... Everything is fucked and I don't know what the goddamn fucking hell I can do about it!
Victor (to Nathaniel): Come on. You can tell me in a minute.
Nathaniel (to Victor): I'm not hungry.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Heh. We're not going to the kitchen. You remember we have a practice room with plenty of things to hit in there, don't you?
A moment later:
Victor (to Nathaniel): Here. Put these on and have at it. Put the gloves back in the cabinet when you're finished. I'm going to start the coffee.
Nathaniel (to Victor): Thanks.
A short time later:
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): ... Your stance & arm position is all wrong. If you're not careful, you're going to break your wrist. Here. Like this.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Oh Jesus! Yoyo! Christ... I didn't hear you come in. I wasn't really thinking about stance or anything... I just wanted to beat the shit outta something.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Heh. I could tell. But, this position will let you get a better punch. trust me, it'll give you a much more satisfying sound and, you won't kill your hands.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Thanks...
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): I do what I can... So, why are you trying to murder the punching bag? Was it being a sass mouth again? :-P Or is it something more serious?
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): My parents. They're bound and fucking determined to get Aiden arrested for some unknown, goddamn fucking reason. And I'm so fucking pissed and confused, I feel like I'm gonna fucking explode... I have no idea what the fuck I did to them. I mean, I know I wasn't the easiest fucking kid, but I wasn't drowning puppies or anything. Why the fuck are they doing this?
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): I wish I knew. Chess mentioned to me yesterday that he had been down there digging around. Did he not find anything useful?
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): I don't know. I didn't make it that far into the report. They're trying to make it look like Aiden was at that stupid fucking Divine Hope camp while I was there, and they're saying HE was the guy who raped me. We were going over the "incidence report" to see if there were inconsistencies with what actually happened, and... I think it got too hard for him. To read that shit, I mean, with me there, and know that's what my fuckhead parents were fucking accusing him of.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Damn, Nate. I'm sorry. How is he holding up? I mean, clearly you're here punching things & you look like you didn't sleep. So, I know how you're doing. But, Aiden has a tendency to get more shielded & quiet when he's upset.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): I noticed. He's been very stiff, upper lip, and British about the whole thing. I know he's upset... I didn't actually come here to hit shit. That was Victor's idea. I wanted to talk to Aunt Poppy. Something's bugging me about those reports.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Oh? What is it?
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Except for the parts where fucking Aiden was involved, the facts are right. TOO right, you know? Not "I'm trying to remember what my son said three years ago" right. Like "Someone at the camp wrote down what I said" right.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Did you talk to anyone about what happened to you while you were there? A counselor, maybe?
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Yeah. Eventually. It got to the point where I was scared he was gonna kill me so I told the "lead counselor" Pastor Hess.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Did anyone know you talked to this guy?
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Barry sure as shit knew. Pastor Hess kept me in his office after that. I thought he was calling my folks. He wasn't. He hauled fucking Barry in there to talk to us both and "get to the bottom of the incident." Barry said I was voluntarily having sex with him for drugs. Didn't help my case that I WAS getting drugs from him, they found them in my bunk while we were being "counseled." Pastor Hess dumped the lot of them on his fucking desk while I was there. I was too fucking shocked to talk. So... Barry knew what I said, probably whoever rifled through my bunk for Pastor Hess, Hell, half the fucking camp was probably gossiping about how I'd whored myself out for pills and then tried to cry rape
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Who was this Barry kid? Are his parents important? Wealthy?
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Barry Finbarr. I dunno if he's the spawn of anybody important, but he probably came from money. His parents always sent him care packages and shit every week.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Yeah, I think you should talk to Poppy.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Yeah. This whole thing fucking stinks.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Don't worry, we'll figure this out... I'm just wondering if someone is trying to make Aiden head back to Britannia or if this is just a terrible coincidence.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Either that, or I'm fucking cursed. Or an idiot... Ouch. Judging by by fucking knuckles, I'd say idiot. You were right about the punching.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Well, do you feel a little better?
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Not better. I'm still royally pissed off, but clearer. Thanks. I'm gonna go see if Aunt Poppy is awake.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Okay... I'm going to start my workout. Good luck!
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Thanks. Sorry I was hogging the space.
A few minutes later:
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Um, Aunt Poppy? You awake?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Good morning, honey. I was just lounging.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. Did you, um, did you get a chance to read that report about my family being dicks?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): It's alright. I was having a bit of a queasy morning. I just started on the report, honey. I take it that's why you're here?
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Yeah... I read part of it last night. I've been thinking about it, and the reports of the assaults in it are... They make me think someone wrote all that shit down three years ago, so somewhere, SOMEONE has the real files, right? And Yoyo thought I should mention Barry Finbarr, who was the ACTUAL fucking sadist, might be wealthy.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): I know, honey... I have a strange question for you... Have you ever seen this young woman? Take your time.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): I swear I know her from somewhere, but I can't... I think... I'm not sure, cause I was half out of my head the whole time I was there, but I think she was a nurse, maybe? When I was hospitalized. The first time, after the OD.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Okay... And, what about this one? Does she look familiar to you?
Nathaniel (to Poppy): That's Dr. Bernard! She was one of the psychiatrists I saw for like a nanosecond... What the hell is going on?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Well, I believe they work for CLANNG, honey or more specifically, Hiiri. Now, I want to show you one other photo... Do you recognize this woman at all?
Nathaniel (to Poppy): ... I don't know. It feels more like a nightmare than a memory. ...Is that Hiiri?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Yes, it is, honey. I need you to think really hard, if you've ever seen her back home. I may be grasping at straws here but, I have a theory as to what is going on. And, if I'm right, your uncle & I owe you a very big apology.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): You owe me a what?
Poppy (to Nathaniel): An apology... I think Hiiri has been watching you for quite some time, because of us. She may have suspected that one of Vincent's relations might be a skipper like him.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): You guys don't owe me anything. Seriously. I'm... I'm just not sure if I've seen her back home. Sorry.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): It's okay, honey. It was just a thought. We'll figure this out, Nate. Don't worry.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): ... It kinda makes sense if she's been keeping an eye on me, or whatever. I wondered how the fuck my parents got their hands on those reports. I know we'll figure it out. Thank you... I'm gonna head home. I'm kinda beat.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): Okay, honey.
Several hours later, at Nathaniel & Aiden's apartment, West Piedmont:
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Huh? Oh. Hey. Heh. Guess I fell asleep on the couch. Sorry. How was your day?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): It was fine... I picked up Chinese food. I hope that's okay.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): No. That's fine. It's not like I had anything prepared. Are you OK?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Not really, but I'm dealing with it. How are you?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Honestly, right now, I'm mostly worried about you.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): I'm sorry… I just made it through all of the report on your assault. It was horrible.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh. Yeah... It wasn't a picnic. But, um, I'm OK. You know that, right? I mean, I was really broken and fucked up for a while. But, I'm so much fucking better than I used to be, and you're a big part of that... I'm sorry. I'm sorry that being with me isn't easy or simple or any of that shit. God knows you deserve something, someone, less fucking complicated... I'm sorry... This is my fault.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Stop that line of talk, Nate. Do you really think my life before I met you was that simple & easy? I often spent months in a room deciphering messages from Kobayashi, being shot at or various other dangerous scenarios. While all of this is quite horrible. I'm not concerned about myself, it's you I've been worried about. Those reports were terrible & they filled me with such hatred for your family & the boy who did it. I've been trying my damnedest to remain calm & rational.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): ...That makes two of us. I'm so fucking pissed at what they're doing to you, I--I don't know what the fuck to do with myself. My parents are dicks. I love them, but there's no other way to put it. They are being HUGE fucking dicks. And Barry... Barry is a horrible pile of slime and bullshit shaped like a person. He's... Whatever. He's awful. But you know what? They're not in my life anymore, you know? You are. That's what's important to me. Fuck those other people. I'm not asking you to forgive, or forget, or any of that shit, just... Don't let this make you nuts. They're not worth it.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): I know. It's just you've been living with all of this for years, I've only been dealing with it for a short time. I'll be fine. I just need time to process it all… I wasn't joking when I said that you are the love of my life. Kobayashi has told me that I have some hangups about families that I need to work through & that all of this probably isn't helping much. She's probably correct.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Probably not. You know you can talk to me about whatever you need to, right? I mean, if you want. And yeah... we've both got family issues up the fucking ass. If we didn't, we probably couldn't deal with each other, you know? Even if it meant a much "simpler" goddamn life, I wouldn't trade you for fucking anything. I love you. And I... I'm glad I'm the "love of your life," cause you're sure as shit mine. ...I suck at being romantic. Sorry.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh… You want to ask me about my family, don't you? You consistently avoid the subject which makes me think you are far more curious about it than you want to admit… Go ahead, you can ask me anything.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Come on, man. They can't be fucking worse than mine. And yeah, I'm curious as shit. I'll admit it. Are you sure you're OK with me asking you shit? I mean, if you're not comfortable...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): If we're going to get through all of this in one piece, we shouldn't have any secrets… I'm fine. Ask me whatever you want.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Um. OK... What's your mom like? You've talked about your dad, but you've never really said anything about her. I mean, other that she's been kind of... estranged since your brother died.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): She lives in the country with my Aunt Mirabel's family. She mostly sits in a rocking chair & looks out the window. The doctors have said she's in a dissociative state or a fugue. Mrs. Esterly has always been more like a mother to me. She's the one that would bake me cookies when I needed cheering up, bring me soup when I was sick or bandage my injuries. My mother has always been a stranger, even before the accident.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh. Wow. Well, that explains why you don't talk about her... That fucking sucks. I'm sorry. What's Mrs. Esterly like? You said she used to be a spy like you and Yoyo and Aunt Poppy, right?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): She was… She is a very gregarious woman, always laughing & smiling. Heh. She once killed a man with her bare hands. She never stopped smiling. He had broken into our house to steal a file from my father's office.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. You miss her, huh?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Actually, I do… And, I feel terrible that she presently thinks I'm dead.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): You know, you could get Victor or Yoyo to get her a message or something right? Nothing covert. But, a little something. I mean, she was a spy, so she'll get it. Heh. She probably half figures it was all a con anyway. You guys tend to be fucking suspicious as hell... What's your dad like?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh… Imagine the exact opposite of your uncle & you would have a very good sense of what my father is like.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. So kinda like mine, then? :-P
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Yes, and my older brother is an exact copy.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. Yeah. Mine too. Bubba's a junior and everything. C'mere. So... what you're telling me is that I don't gotta impress your mom or dad, I just gotta make Mrs. Esterly like me... Does she like crepes?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh… Yes, but she has a real weakness for desserts. Cheesecake & Creme Brûlée are her two favorites.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Good to know. If I learn to make either of those things in my cooking lessons, maybe we'll send it along with your message. I can be a real sweet kiss ass when I need to. :-P
Aiden (to Nathaniel): That's good to know. ;-)
Nathaniel (to Aiden): I know it's kinda stupid, and she probably won't, cause I'm not some lord or a lady or whatever, but she's important to you.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): She doesn't care about that sort of thing. She'll love you because I love you.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah... Let's fucking hope so. :-P I know things have been kinda shitty, for both of us, but it's gonna be OK, alright? I mean, shit, dude. We've got my fucking aunt and uncle on our side. And Aunt Poppy's all hormonal and shit. We're gonna be FINE. Come on. Let's forget all this bull for now and go to bed. I dunno about you, but I slept like shit. You interested in wearing me out tonight?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh... I love it when you're all bossy & take charge. ;-) And yes, I am very interested.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. Yeah? Can't help but notice, you've been avoiding getting close to me. So, lose the fucking suit, and prove it.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): As you wish.
