Hiiri (to Starling): Miss Starling, Have we heard from young Mister Jones? I know I said that he could take his time but I was not expecting this much dawdling.
Starling (to Hiiri): I have not heard from him, ma'am. Should I go check on him?
Hiiri (to Starling): ... No. Dealing with the ISS director's son is tricky business. We shall give him another day or so. In the meantime, have someone go visit the Kobayashis. They have something I want.
Starling (to Hiiri): Yes, ma'am.
At Aiden's house; New London, Britannia:
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well? I have a pot of tea made, or I could brew you some coffee if you'd prefer.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Oh... Thank you, ma'am. Tea'll be just fine.
Aiden (to Mrs. Esterly & Nathaniel): Good morning. (to Mrs. Esterly) You're looking quite lovely this morning, Mrs. Esterly.
Mrs. Esterly (to Aiden): Good morning, Master Aiden. Let me get you a cup of tea, dear.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Hey. Morning. I didn't wanna wake you.
Aiden (to Mrs. Esterly): Thank you very much. (to Nathaniel) It's alright. I was sleeping like the dead.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. That doesn't surprise me. Last night you were pretty fucking... (to Mrs. Esterly) Oh! Um, thanks for the tea.
Mrs. Esterly (to Aiden & Nathaniel): Hee hee. Here you are: breakfast.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Oh, I don't really eat...
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Yes, you do, young man. You are nothing but bones and sinew.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): It'll be easier, if you just go along with it.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Listen to Master Aiden, dear. Eat up.
Aiden (to Nathaniel & Mrs. Esterly): So, it looks like I may be called away for work for a few days. Nate, are you going to be okay staying here?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh. Um. I... You want me to stay here?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Of course, I do. It's only going to be for a few days. I'm supposed to work security for the Empress' visit to Gaul. She's meeting with the Royal family at Versailles. I'm sure Mrs. Esterly wouldn't mind the company.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): He's right, dear. It's a big house when no one else is in it.
Nathaniel (to Aiden & Mrs. Esterly): Oh. Um, yeah. Sure. If it's not a problem, that is. I mean... I don't really have anywhere else to go.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Well, I'll be happy to see you here when I get back.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): I, um, I would like that too... When are you leaving?
Aiden (to Nathaniel & Mrs. Esterly): I'm not sure yet. It could be tonight, or it could be a couple days from now. The details are still being ironed out.
Mrs. Esterly (to Aiden): Don't worry, dear. I'll keep a watchful eye on your young man.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly & Aiden): I'm not a little kid who needs babysitting, you know.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Of course you're not, dear.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): That's not what I was implying. CLANNG hasn't sent anyone looking for you yet, which means they will soon. I want you to have backup in case they show up. That's all.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah. About that... Yesterday, Zoe was showing me how to scramble my frequency when I skip. I'm thinking it might not be a bad idea to pop up on CLANNG's radar somewhere nice and far from here, & then make my way back a bit more under the radar. Or I could make myself scarce for a few days if that'll work better...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): That's not such a bad idea.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): If you're going to go to ground, do you have any contacts that can keep you out of trouble, Mr. Nate? I imagine if CLANNG starts looking for you, there won't be many places safe to hide.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly & Aiden): Not really, but I think I can figure something out for a couple of days.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Well, dear, when you think you've laid a good trail for them to follow, make your way back here. Best get rid of that uniform and communicator too.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Oh. Uh, I don't really own any other clothes...
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Oh good heavens. You act as though there aren't a whole collection of abandoned suits in this house. (to Aiden) You'd best get to the office, dear.
Aiden (to Mrs. Esterly): You're right... (to Nathaniel) Um, would you walk with me to the door, Nate?
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Oh. Um, yeah. Course. (to Mrs. Esterly) S'cuse me
A couple minutes later:
Aiden (to Nathaniel): C'mere you.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. With fucking pleasure. ... I'll see you later, alright? I, um... I love you.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Of course... And, I love you, too.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Good. You should go before I make up an excuse to drag you back upstairs.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Alright, I shall return as quickly as I can.
A couple hours later:
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Hee hee. Now there's a face long enough to trip a horse. Have a seat and I'll pour you something to take the edge off, dear.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Oh. Thanks. I should probably get going soon. I'm sure Hiiri's starting to get impatient, cause she ain't heard jack shit.
Ms. Dvorak (to Mrs. Esterly): Hello, Agatha darling... is this the boy?
Mrs. Esterly (to Ms. Dvorak): Hello, Margaux. Let me get you a cuppa, dear. Yes, this is Nate... I'm sorry, dear. What was your last name?
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly & Ms. Dvorak): Nathaniel Jones, ma'am.
Ms. Dvorak (to Nathaniel): Oh my, aren't you a looker, dear. If I was twenty years younger... I'd still be old enough to be your mother, I suppose. ;-)
Mrs. Esterly (to Ms. Dvorak): Hee hee hee. I don't think you have the kind of equipment he's interested in, darling.
Ms. Dvorak (to Mrs. Esterly): But, I brought a flame-thrower in my carpet bag, dear.
Nathaniel (to Ms. Dvorak & Mrs. Esterly): ... Uh. Wow. I have NOTHING to add to this conversation.
Ms. Dvorak (to Nathaniel): Don't go anywhere, dear. I have a couple questions for you.
Nathaniel (to Ms. Dvorak): You do? What the hell about?
Ms. Dvorak (to Nathaniel): I was curious to know where do your parents think you are, dear?
Nathaniel (to Ms. Dvorak): ... I don't know. Honestly, I'm not sure they care.
Ms. Dvorak (to Nathaniel): Oh. I'm sorry to hear that, dear... Would you like to get out from under CLANNG's grip?
Nathaniel (to Ms. Dvorak): I'd like that very much, ma'am.
Ms. Dvorak (to Nathaniel): What are you 5'10, 8 or 9 stone?
Nathaniel (to Ms. Dvorak): ... Yes, ma'am. Right on the nose. If I can ask, what are you planning?
Ms. Dvorak (to Nathaniel): Never you mind, dear... Are you naturally that dark-haired?
Mrs. Esterly (to Ms. Dvorak): I'm afraid he has quite a few scars that you'd have to replicate, dear. (to Nathaniel) Do you have any tattoos or birthmarks?
Nathaniel (to Ms. Dvorak & Mrs. Esterly): Um, yeah. This is my real hair color, and I've got a tattoo... I, uh... What the fuck is going on?
Ms. Dvorak (to Nathaniel): I hope it's not an overly elaborate tattoo... Have a lot of people seen it, dear?
Nathaniel (to Ms. Dvorak & Mrs. Esterly): Uh, no. I gave it to myself...
Ms. Dvorak (to Nathaniel): Oh, excellent... Has Hiiri ever seen it? I just need to know if we have to replicate it perfectly or not.
Nathaniel (to Ms. Dvorak & Mrs. Esterly): ...Um, she may have. There were a couple of times after Director Carver got a hold of me that I was a little out of it...
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): May, I take a photogram of it, dear? I'll need it for the corpse.
Nathaniel (to Ms. Dvorak): Yeah. Sure whatever the fuck... Did you say corpse?
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Yes, darling. I've helped a few people leave undesirable employment.
Nathaniel (to Ms. Dvorak): ... Oh. Well, shit. Heh. Alright. What the fuck do you need to see?
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): I need to see the tattoo if you don't mind. We're going to have to torch the body a bit, but that shouldn't be a problem.
Nathaniel (to Ms. Dvorak): Suit yourself. You need to see the brand too, or did you already figure on that? :-P
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): There's a brand? Why didn't you tell me about that earlier, dear?
Nathaniel (to Ms. Dvorak): Yeah. Hold on... Lemme get this off. Brand's here. Got that when I tried to run away the first time, and here's the tattoo.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): ... Alright, I think I can improvise something for the brand. Heh... I can see why young Mister Wilkes likes you.
Mrs. Esterly (to Ms. Dvorak): Hee hee hee. I do believe you made him blush, dear.
