Poppy (to Zoe): Good morning, my little starlet. You were fantastic! I wish I had seen the beginning, but I was held up with lawyers.
Zoe (to Poppy): It's okay, mom. I'm just glad you made it for the final rehearsal & were able to see the show.... You really thought I was good?
Poppy (to Zoe): Honey, I couldn't be prouder of you if I tried. Here's your lunch & brekkie for the road. I may not be able to make it tonight for your grand opening. But, if I can, I will. I love you.
Zoe (to Poppy): Thanks, Mom. I love you, too. Be safe!
A short time later:
Vincent (to Poppy): Good morning, my darling wife. Did I miss our young miss starlet?
Poppy (to Vincent): Yes, she's safely off to school, lover. I fear she may be green-tinged for days after the play is done. :-P
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. As will half our towels, I fear. I think between the two of us, we got a bit carried away with the makeup. :-P
Poppy (to Vincent): Heehee, I would say so, honey. But, she looked and sounded marvelous, so I won't complain too much.
Vincent (to Poppy): She did, didn't she? Heh. It makes me wonder if my sister can sing, and has been hiding this talent all these years. How long before you have to cross back over, lover?
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm supposed to head back today, however, I fear that I may be delayed... I really want to be there tonight for Zoe's big night. It's not everyday, you get to see your daughter star in a play. I'd feel terrible if I missed it. Besides, she was trying so hard to hide her disappointment... I also sent word to Victor that he better get his butt over here, too.
Vincent (to Poppy): In that case, I fear you'll very much be delayed. Heh. We're going have a full house again. I hate to say it, but it will be nice.
Poppy (to Vincent): I agree, lover. I miss having our family all in one place.
Vincent (to Poppy): You know what this means, don't you? We should take advantage of our alone time while we have it.
Poppy (to Vincent): My thoughts exactly, lover. Come here, you scoundrel.
Vincent (to Poppy): Ooo. Scoundrel? You did always know just what to say to make me go weak in the knees.
Poppy (to Vincent): Heh. It's a gift... and a curse, lover. ;-P
Vincent (to Poppy): First one and then the other, no doubt.
A couple hours later, at the Piedmont Hotel, West Piedmont:
Nathaniel (to Aiden): You're absolutely sure we gotta get outta bed? Cause I'm pretty positive I could stay here most of the day.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): I'm sorry, but now that the building is ours, I need to talk to the contractor to get the repair work started & my banker to make sure my funds are being converted properly. As soon as, we're done we can climb back in bed. I promise... Or you could stay here without me.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Ah. I get it. You just don't want all those respectable bankers to see your scuzzy, not-quite-legal boyfriend. :-P
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Not at all... If you want to come & be bored while we drone on about the stock exchange & the price of lumber, you are more than welcome.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. As fascinating as you make that sound, and despite my HUGE stock exchange fetish, I think I'll pass.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Well, I should only be gone for an hour or two. How about while I'm gone you look for places to live in the paper? And then, we could go check some of them out tomorrow... If you'd like.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Um, heh... Yeah. I'd like that. I'll grab the freebie paper and a couple of rental mags too. Plus, I got a couple of boring ass errands I ought to take care of while I've got time.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Did you want to go see your cousin's play? I believe your aunt mentioned that it's opening tonight.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah. I did. Zoe's been busting her ass. You wouldn't mind going?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Not at all. I haven't been to the theatre in quite some time. And, Zoe would never forgive me if I kept you away. Besides, if I plan on being a part of your life on this side, going to your cousin's play seems like one of those things I should do. :-)
Nathaniel (to Aiden): It is. Thank you. I wish it was cause of a better reason, but I'm glad you're gonna be around. Very glad. Anyway. Go. Get lost before I try to convince you to stay and get you outta that suit.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Yes sir! I'll be back as quickly as I can manage.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Ditto. I love you.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): I love you too!
An hour later, outside of the Old Piedmont Inn, West Piedmont:
Nathaniel: Christ... It's just a building. Grow a set and get over it, already. Just--just walk up there and fucking... what? Look for blood stains? Fuck this. It was a stupid idea anyway.
Winchester (to Nathaniel): Excuse me, young sir, can I help you with something?
Ariadne (to Winchester): It's okay, Chess. This is Nate, Poppy's nephew. (to Nathaniel) Hey, Nate! What are you doing up here alone?
Nathaniel (to Winchester): You wanna take like five steps right the fuck back there, Red? (to Ariadne) Hey, Hari. I, uh, I didn't mean to spook you. Sorry. I've just been avoiding this place like the plague, and... It's hard to explain.
Winchester (to Nathaniel & Ariadne): I beg your pardon. I was in the process of securing the grounds. Which I should really get back to. Good day to you both!
Ariadne (to Winchester): Thanks, Chess! (to Nathaniel) Sorry about that, Nate. As soon as the sale went through a few of us were sent over to setup shop. It is so nice to hear someone speaking plain ole english. These Brit spies are stuffy.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): I think I pissed him off with my plain ol' English. Someone should start handing out personal space pamphlets to these guys. Anyway, I think I've filled my fucking "moodily staring at a building" quota for the day.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Heehee... Sorry. I just like seeing these guys taken off-guard. They spend way too much time making my job difficult. You should come by and swear at them from time to time. It'll do 'em all some good.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Heh. I'll teach a cussing class. Tell them it's all part of learning to blend in with this place and time. As funny as that would be, I don't know if I can go in there just yet.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): You don't have to go inside if you don't want to, Nate. There's not really much to see in there, anyway. Bunch of run-down rooms currently filled with automatons cleaning & spies setting up alarm systems. Quite boring stuff. I can't even load in my equipment into the infirmary until my area has been thoroughly scrubbed & sterilized, which may be a few days… Dude! I need to go find pizza! I have not had pizza in 2 months. I never realized how much I missed this side until right this second. :-P
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Heh. I don't blame you. Do you remember where the pizza place is?
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Not in the slightest. Mind taking me there?
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Nope. Not if you don't mind if I smoke while I do it. Don't make that face. I'll stay downwind.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Alright. Lead the way, smokestack.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Heh Yeah, yeah. Complain at me some more about it. It's been a real successful tactic so far for everyone else.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): I'm not complaining. What do I care what you do to your innards? Besides, I know Aiden smokes... Of course, I think he does it because he's never really thought about a long life what with all his occupational hazards. I'm sure dying from lung cancer is probably the last thing on his list of causes of death. I mean, in the last two months I've had to patch him up four times... Oh. Sorry. I'll shut up now.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): S'alright. It isn't like I didn't notice... I guess neither one of us has really put much thought into long term planning... Heh. Ha ha ha! Shit! Sorry. That's not funny. Heh heh. And I was all worried before, cause I didn't plan for anything...
A short time later, at Leaning Tower Pizza, West Piedmont:
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Heh. Can we talk about the elephant in the room? And, by elephant, I mean "sexy, sexy spy man".
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Um, yeah, I guess. What's up?
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): A, he is awesome & B, he totes lurves you. Oh, by the way, I totally saw his junk. And, well, congratulations! High five!
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): You--you wanna give me a high five because you saw my boyfriend's dick? That is a first.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): What!?! Dude! Are you kidding me? It now explains why you can't keep your hands off of him.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): It's not the only reason. Have you fucking seen the rest of him? Did he, um, talk about me?
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Not much, but when he did he practically beamed. You're pretty lucky, dude.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Yeah. Don't I fucking know it?
An hour or so later:
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Shit. I gotta get going. Zoe's got a play tonight. I'll see you later. Enjoy your pizza.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): See ya, Nate! Thanks for hanging out with me.
Several hours later, at the theater, in the Lovelace School of the Arts, East Piedmont:
Zoe: Breathe, Zoe, you can do this... Shit... There are a lot of people out there.
Meanwhile, in the seating area:
Nathaniel (to Vincent & Poppy): Hey. Sorry we were running a little late. Thanks for saving seats. (to Vincent & Yukiko) Hey.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel & Aiden): Hey there.
Poppy (to Nathaniel): No problem, honey. I'm just glad you guys showed up.
Nathaniel (to Poppy): Yeah. Of course. Heh. I'll bet she's happy you were able to make it.
Vincent (to Yukiko, Victor, Nathaniel, Aiden & Poppy): Hush Potter Clan and friends. It's starting.
Three hours later:
Colin (to Zoe): Zoe! Come on! We've got a standing ovation. We've got to go out and take another bow.
Zoe (to Colin): Oh shit! I'm coming!
Colin (to Zoe): Heh. Move your pointy hat, Elphaba! You ARE the star, after all.
A couple minutes later:
Zoe (to Colin): Well, that wasn't at all embarrassing. :-p
