Zoe: OW, my fucking head. Did anyone get the number of that truck? Where the hell am I? What's that knocking?
Colin (to Zoe): Hey. Heh. You're up, and you look about as awful as I feel. Want some alka-seltzer or something? Oh, and if anyone asks, I told them we didn't know the punch was spiked. :-P
Zoe (to Colin): Shit… Oh, yes please. What happened? Where are we? The last thing I remember was arguing with Patrice about Farscape.
Colin (to Zoe): Heh. Yeah you were. Here you go. You're in Sean's room. I called my dad to pick us up last night. You were kind of out of it, so he thought it would be best if you slept here. He called your dad and let him know where you were, so don't worry.
Zoe (to Colin): Thank god… I didn't do anything stupid, did I?
Colin (to Zoe): Define "stupid."
Zoe (to Colin): I don't know. Dancing on tables, making out with strangers?
Colin (to Zoe): Heh. Well there was no table dancing sadly, and the only person you made out with was me... You did kind of go off on a tangent about how sexy you thought I was in front of Jess. And half the cast. And my dad.
Zoe (to Colin): Oh god. I am soooo embarrassed. I think I might go and die now.
Colin (to Zoe): Heh. It's alright. It was flattering. A little embarrassing --a LOT embarrassing-- but flattering. Dad thought it was funny. Especially when you told him that, no offense, his husband was sexy and all, but that I am "WAY fucking hotter."
Zoe (to Colin): … I don't think there's a hole deep enough to hide in.
Colin (to Zoe): Please don't die or go live in a hole. I'm more than kind of fond of you, you know.
Zoe (to Colin): That's nice of you… Can I just hide under the covers for a few minutes longer?
Colin (to Zoe): Heh. Yeah. If you want. Do I have permission to approach the sovereign state of Blanket Fortia?
Zoe (to Colin): Hmmm… Would you like to become a permanent resident or do you need a travel visa?
Colin (to Zoe): I'd like to apply for permanent residency. What do I have to do?
Zoe (to Colin): Heh. Just climb in & give me a kiss. And, please tell me that you're not angry with me.
Colin (to Zoe): I think I can handle the criteria. I'm not mad at you. Honestly, that was THE most fun I've ever had at a cast party.
Zoe (to Colin): Well, I'm glad… You're so warm. I could fall back asleep really easily, if you stay in this blanket fort with me much longer.
Colin (to Zoe): As tempting as that is, can I just say it's REALLY weird to be cuddling with my girlfriend in my little brother's room?
Zoe (to Colin): Oh, right… I should probably get up & get home.
Colin (to Zoe): Yeah... Probably. Provided you're not in any trouble, and you're up to it, do you want to hang out later?
Zoe (to Colin): I'd really like that… I'm going to take the shortcut home. I don't think I can look your dads in the face at the moment.
Colin (to Zoe): Oh. Heh. Alright. Give me a call, OK?
Zoe (to Colin): I will. See you later.
Colin (to Zoe): Cool. I... Um, I-I'll see you later.
Zoe (to Colin): Wait... What were you going to say?
Colin (to Zoe): It was nothing... I mean, nothing bad. Heh... I'm not used to being tongue-tied.
Zoe (to Colin): It's okay. I won't bug you about it, then.
Colin (to Zoe): Thanks... You should probably head home. Unless you just can't tear yourself away from these awesome robot sheets.
Zoe (to Colin): Heh. It's not the sheets that I can't tear myself away from… But, yeah, I should go… Um, I love you. Bye!
Colin (to Zoe): Wow... I, um, I... And she is already gone.
A few minutes later, at Poppy & Vincent's apartment, West Piedmont:
Zoe (to Vincent): Dad! I'm home! I'm sorry for being so late.
Vincent (to Zoe): There's little Miss Party Time. It's alright. Robert called me last night and said you were in a bad way.
Zoe (to Vincent): Yeah, I didn't realize the punch was spiked until I drank a third cup. I should have known better, but by that point I was having too much fun.
Vincent (to Zoe): Sweetie, you have to be more careful than that. You didn't know all the people there or what they could have been capable of, and YES, I know you know all this, but I'm still going to worry about you, so stop with the face. I wish you ann Colin had been more careful, but I'm glad you were safe. I assume you're going to want to sleep off that MASSIVE hangover you're nursing?
Zoe (to Vincent): Yes, please. Sleep would be very good and welcomed. Colin made sure that I was okay. He's very much a gentleman… sometimes, too much of one.
Vincent (to Zoe): Hee hee hee. Oh. Oh dear. I knew I liked that boy for a reason.
Zoe (to Vincent): Laugh it up, dad.
Vincent (to Zoe): I am. I know you're smart, Zoe, but this is a big step, whether or not it feels like one to you right now. Being a little extra cautious isn't the end of the world, you know. It's a lesson I may learn myself one of these days. :-P
Zoe (to Vincent): I know it is. And, I'm trying not to pressure him about it. I just have all these memories from Emma & I feel like if I do it with someone that I really like, then maybe all those memories will go away & I can be fairly normal.
Vincent (to Zoe): Well, you are with someone you really like, and find very, very sexy from the sounds of it. :-P Colin likes you just as much. Patience, padawan. You must learn patience. It'll happen when he's ready. And probably sooner than your mom and I would like.
Zoe (to Vincent): Heh. You're really saying that when Victor & Yoyo are currently curled up in his bed… so, unfair.
Vincent (to Zoe): Don't remind me. We weren't exactly jumping up and down about that either, you know.
Zoe (to Vincent): I know. I was just trying to deflect attention from my "sex life" or lack thereof. I'm gonna go lay down.
Vincent (to Zoe): Alright. Go feel better.
A little while later:
Yukiko (to Victor): Victor, are you awake, yet?
Victor (to Yukiko): Hmmm? Yeah. I'm awake. I'm awake.
Yukiko (to Victor): It's okay. I'm sorry if I woke you.
Victor (to Yukiko): It's alright. I should probably get moving as it is. What's wrong?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. You big worrywart, there's nothing wrong. I was just laying here thinking.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. I may have been called a worrywart once or twice. What were you thinking about?
Yukiko (to Victor): I was just being sappy & trying to figure out how long we've been dating.
Victor (to Yukiko): If you add up all the time on both sides, it's a little over a year, I think.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh, wow.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Is that a good or a bad wow?
Yukiko (to Victor): It's a very good wow. And, I just realized that my 18th birthday is coming up in a little over a week. Which means I am no longer beholden to my family in any way.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh wow! That's right! Heh. It gets hard to keep track of the birthdays when you're skipping back and forth. It's next week, right?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee, I should say so. I think it is, it's the 14th of March. It's no big deal.
Victor (to Yukiko): What do you mean it's no big deal? It's a very big deal! What do you want to do?
Yukiko (to Victor): I don't know. I've never celebrated my birthday before, Victor. There's no reason to start now. I just realized this one means I'm free & I can do whatever I want from now on.
Victor (to Yukiko): Well, that sounds like a reason to celebrate to me, but we don't have to do anything if you don't want to. You've really NEVER celebrated a birthday? That's... Well, that's awful.
Yukiko (to Victor): My mother didn't think that sort of thing was important & I was at the Academy for most of my birthdays since I was seven.
Victor (to Yukiko): Regardless, I'm buying you a gift, and you're not to complain about it.
Yukiko (to Victor): I'm not going to complain about a gift from you, it's very sweet. When did you want to head back to the Sister?
Victor (to Yukiko): Alright. Good. No bloody birthdays... I tell you. We should probably head back fairly soon. There are a couple of deliveries that have to be made in the next few days.
Yukiko (to Victor): Okay, that sounds good. And as much as I love your family, I miss our alone time on the Sister.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. I'm about to say something I never thought I'd say, but it is a bit crowded here.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee. So, should we pack up & head out or do you want to wait another day or so?
Victor (to Yukiko): No, I suppose we should head back sooner rather than later. Did you want to stop by the Inn before we leave?
Yukiko (to Victor): I probably should report in there & see if anyone needs anything… Can I ask you a silly girlie question, Victor?
Victor (to Yukiko): Of course. You can ask me anything.
Yukiko (to Victor): Have you ever thought about getting married? Not now or any time soon, but someday. The reason I'm asking is because of the deal your parents made with my brother. By now, he's probably found out that we didn't get married immediately & word will be out that you've got a Nipponese partner aboard the Sister. I just don't want my family making trouble for us. And, we all know how much Akira likes to make trouble.
Victor (to Yukiko): That he does. Are you... Do you want to get engaged?
Yukiko (to Victor): A little bit, but we don't have to… I told you it was a sappy girl thing. And, judging by the look on your face, it scares the hell out of you.
Victor (to Yukiko): Yoyo... I love you, and I would a very lucky man if we wed someday, but I don't know that I'm ready for that yet.
Yukiko (to Victor): … No, no. You're right… I'm sorry I brought it up. I'm gonna go get showered & dressed. I'll go check in at the inn.
Victor (to Yukiko): I'm... I'm sorry.
A couple hours later:
Zoe (to Victor): Hey, big brother, what's with the mopey face?
Victor (to Zoe): Earlier, Yoyo just... She asked me if I wanted to get engaged. She... I think I hurt her feelings.
Zoe (to Victor): Oh… That's rough, big brother. I mean, it makes sense that she would ask. You guys have been dating for awhile & she grew up with a family that was going to marry her off and now, we're the closest thing she has to a family besides the spy brigade. She probably just wants to feel like she belongs somewhere.
Victor (to Zoe): Oh good god... Now I really feel like a jerk.
Zoe (to Victor): Sorry.
Victor (to Zoe): I wish I knew what to do. I love Yoyo, and I don't want to hurt her, and I want her to feel wanted and loved, but... I'm not sure that I'm ready to be married yet. I've lived kind of a sheltered life up until now.
Zoe (to Victor): Did she say she wanted to get married or just engaged?
Victor (to Zoe): Engaged, but doesn't that mean you're about to get married?
Zoe (to Victor): No, you dummy, that just means that at some point you will get married. You could be engaged for years. Just because our parents had a very short i.e. non-existent engagement doesn't mean that other people are that anxious.
Victor (to Zoe): What? But I thought that... Oh good lord. So, what you're telling me is that I'm an idiot in addition to being an arse.
Zoe (to Victor): Yep… I wish I could say something to make you feel better about it but in this situation, yeah, you're being a dumbass.
Victor (to Zoe): No, I'd rather know I was being foolish than have you spare my feelings. Thanks, Zoe. I'm going to go talk to her.
Zoe (to Victor): Good luck, you're going to need it… I think she went into the practice room when she got back from the inn.
Victor (to Zoe): Oh. Really? I'm going to need all the luck I can muster.
A moment later:
Victor (to Yukiko): Yoyo? Do you mind if I interrupt you?
Yukiko (to Victor): Fakku! Anata wa watashi o kowagara seta. You shouldn't sneak up on someone swinging a whip chain around, Victor.
Victor (to Yukiko): Yikes! So I see. I... I wanted to apologize for what I said earlier. I, um, I misunderstood what you were asking.
Yukiko (to Victor): … I've all but forgotten what I asked, Victor. Don't worry about it. Fiona said to say hello to you. At least, I assume you're the only one she calls Fluffy Lad.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. I think I probably am. I, um, that is... I'm an idiot. A right bloody idiot. And if I haven't made you completely reconsider it, I mean, would you... Would you agree to be my fiancée?
Yukiko (to Victor): What!?! Victor, you don't have to do this. You meant exactly what you said earlier. It's okay.
Victor (to Yukiko): I'm not doing anything I don't want to do. I want you to know how much I love you & I want you to be a part of my family. I'm still not ready to be married just yet, but that doesn't mean I'm not ready to commit to you.
Yukiko (to Victor): I'm not ready to get married either, Victor. And, I know you love me. I love you too... I'm sorry. I was just feeling sappy thinking about my upcoming birthday & impending freedom. And, I'd rather you proposed because you wanted to & not because I guilt-tripped you into it.
Victor (to Yukiko): Wait. You think I asked you to become my fiancée because you made me feel guilty? Heh. Have you EVER known me to do anything I don't want to do? I'm far too much like my mother for that.
Yukiko (to Victor): True… But, you also don't like it when people you care about are upset with you. Can we just forget about the whole thing?
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh. Yes. Of course. If that's what you want.
Yukiko (to Victor): Come here, Victor. I love you & if you really, really want to be engaged, I would love to be your fiancée. But, can you look me in the eyes & tell me that you honestly would have asked me if I hadn't brought it up?
Victor (to Yukiko): Today? No, probably not. Would I have asked you to marry me in the future? Absolutely.
Yukiko (to Victor): You are a smooth one… Why don't you take me to your airship?
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. I try. I'll take you wherever you want to go.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee. Take me to your airship & then let me show you why being engaged to me is such a good thing. ;-P
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Aye aye!
A couple hours later:
Zoe (to Colin): Hey Colin! I'm sorry I'm calling so late. I slept most of the day, nursing this headache & then there was brother drama.
Colin (to Zoe): Hey! It's alright. I've been nursing a headache all day myself. Is your brother OK?
Zoe (to Colin): Well, judging from the way he & Yoyo left a few minutes ago, I'm guessing he's fine, now… He was just being a bit obtuse.
Colin (to Zoe): Ah. Heh. That kinda drama. Are you feeling better?
Zoe (to Colin): Yeah, much better. How about you?
Colin (to Zoe): Physically, I'm fine. Emotionally, I may be scarred for life. My folks would NOT stop teasing me about getting drunk.
Zoe (to Colin): Yeah, my dad was teasing me about it, too.
Colin (to Zoe): Um, about earlier. I'm sorry I told you what you said to my dad. That was stupid. I should've kept my dumb mouth shut.
Zoe (to Colin): It's okay. I'm actually glad you told me, I'd hate to be blindsided with it, later. I'm just sorry that I acted like an embarrassing drunken idiot at the party. But, I'm glad I didn't do anything too bad. And, honestly, I would have said that I thought you were sexy when I was sober… just not to your dad.
Colin (to Zoe): Heh. No nothing TOO horrible. You might have told several members of the cast and crew that you were a "Sci Fi Queen," and I believe that "bitches best bow down and recognize." I think Eli and half the tech guys are in love with you now.
Zoe (to Colin): Oh… Well, I didn't say anything that wasn't true. :-P
Colin (to Zoe): Yes, I believe you "schooled us all," oh mighty queen.
Zoe (to Colin): Heehee, I could really get used to hearing that. Are you up for hanging out with me for a little while?
Colin (to Zoe): Who am I to refuse a request from the queen? Heh. I would like that.
Zoe (to Colin): Should I come over there or meet you somewhere?
Colin (to Zoe): I've got to get dressed first. Where do you want to meet?
Zoe (to Colin): I don't know. I guess it depends on what you want to do... I think there's supposed to be a meteor shower tonight. How about the park we like?
Colin (to Zoe): Oh! Yeah. That sounds excellent! If you grab us some blankets, I'll grab a thermos of coffee and a telescope.
Zoe (to Colin): I can totally do that. I'll see you soon.
Colin (to Zoe): Awesome! See you soon!
A minute later:
Zoe (to Vincent): Hey dad, I'm gonna go watch the meteor shower with Colin. I'll be home in time for curfew.
Vincent (to Zoe): Alright. have fun, kiddo, and be careful. I'll see you when you get back. Oh dear. I think I'm all alone this evening.
Zoe (to Vincent): Oh, don't get into too much trouble by yourself, dad. :-P
Vincent (to Zoe): Aren't I supposed to say that to you? :-P Go! Go on! Don't keep your boyfriend waiting.
Zoe (to Vincent): Okay. Love you, see ya. Bye!
Vincent: I'm all alone. Time to... Uh. Who on earth knows? Now what do I do with myself?
