Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Oh. Nathaniel. Good morning. I wasn't expecting to see you up and about this early. Good gracious, dear. You look a fright.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Huh? Oh. Sorry. Didn't sleep much last night. I didn't wanna keep Aiden up. My uncle called... My grandfather is dead.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Oh! I'm so sorry to hear that, sweetie. Let me make you a cuppa. We you two close?
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): ... No. Not exactly. Do you know a lot about my family, Mrs. Esterly?
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): I wouldn't say a lot, dear, but I do know a bit.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): My grandpa, when Uncle Vincent was younger... He and my grandmother did some pretty awful shi--uh--stuff to him. But, after the trial, and the, uh, the camp, my grandpa was the only one in the family who didn't treat me like... I dunno. I was a leper or something. Which really fu--um--annoyed my father. I know he was just probably feeling guilty, but I... I don't know. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel here, you know?
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): I understand, dear. It's hard to work out how you feel about family members with whom you don't get on.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): That's not the only thing. Uncle Vincent said my grandpa'd only been missing for a few days, but that they found his body... And it, uh, it looked like it had been... That he died months ago. And... I can't help but think. My grandpa had dementia, not too badly at first. He'd just forget shit. But, then it got bad. Really suddenly like over a year ago. Before I left... He seemed alright, but he would say or do weird things... Like, he forgot how to use the microwave. Acted like he'd never seen it. You don't think Hiiri...
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Well, I don't know, dear. Unfortunately, and I do hate to say it, but I wouldn't put it past her. That's enough of that talk this early. You look awful. Drink this, and go lay down for a spell.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Bwuh! What IS this? I'm drinking it! ...Was there *booze* in that tea?
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): You're wrong, dear. There wasn't any tea in that cup. It was a hot toddie. A double shot, actually. Go. Go on.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Mrs. Esterly! I can't drink! I've got a problem with...
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Shush. I don't doubt you had your demons, Nathaniel, but it seems to me you had more of a problem with your situation than with drinking. You show a lot of restraint. You don't give yourself enough credit, young man. Don't worry. If I'm wrong, and you wind up drinking all the wine in my house, I will lock you in the cellar until you dry out. It won't be the first time I've had to do something like that, dear. Now go. Get off to bed. You're going to want to lie down shortly, I imagine.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): ...Yes ma'am.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Good lad!
A short time later, in the master bedroom:
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Your mom, man... Well, no. She's not your mom, is she? She might as well be though, huh? Heh. YOUR MOM, man!
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Are you talking about Mrs. Esterly, Nate? What happened?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): She fucking ROOFIED me! No...I guess not roofied, exactly, cause I knew she was doing it, but you know! I thought it was tea. Until I tasted it. Jesus!
Aiden (to Nathaniel): She probably thought you needed some sleep, which I believe she's right... Heh. She's done it to me before.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): She's a sneaky fucking old lady. Think she's all sweet with the knitting needles... I... Oh fuck! I think I'm drunk!
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Let's get you tucked into bed.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. I haven't been drunk in... Sheeeet, I don' know. Heh. In a long ass time.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh. I can tell... Come on, get under the covers. I'll let you get some rest. I have some errands to help Mrs. Esterly with.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah. I'm... Sorry. I didn't mean to be...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Nate, you didn't do anything wrong. I just know you didn't sleep all night and you could use the rest... Besides, tomorrow… Well, I wanted it to be a surprise but, we may be going home very soon. I have to meet with my lawyer in West Piedmont. And, I thought you might want to come along.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): What? Really? Will that be alright, you think? I mean, I did kinda break out of the fucking nut house...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Well, yes... But Sabrina has been arguing that they had no right to do that & that her experts say you're sane. She's been threatening to sue the hospital & the sheriff's department for wrongful incarceration... It's all beyond me.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Holy shit... That's that's fucking AMAZING! Heh. I thought... I dunno. I thought... C'mere!
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Alright, but then you're going to get into this bed and take a nap, right?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh... Yes, fucking sir. God, you're fucking hot. You know that?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh. I believe I've heard you say that once or twice before... Whoa... What are you doing? Stop unbuttoning my shirt... You are incorrigible.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): You say that like it's a bad thing... Oh! Oh JESUS! Alright! Ha ha ha! Fucking ALRIGHT! I'm getting in bed. Don't have to fucking pick me up and fucking chuck me in it. Your fault anyway. Being all goddamn sexy 'n shit...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): ... I'm not quite sure how that's my fault.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah, well... It is.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): I love you. Get some sleep. I'll be up to check on you in a little bit.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): I love you too. Christ... I'll see you later.
Several hours later, near the market; New London, Britannia:
George: ... Oops, I'm not sure how to move this damn thing.
Charles (to George): Mr. Fitzroy? What are you doing? Do you need some assistance?
George (to Charles): Oh um, yes please. That would be very helpful. Could you give me a hand putting this trunk in this cart?
Charles (to George): Of course. Just let me... Oof! Good heavens! I think... Lift a bit more on your side. There! Yes. I think that has it.
George (to Charles): Thank you, Mr. Turner. What brings you to this part of town?
Charles (to George): I was just picking up a few goods for the inn. Good night, Mr. Fitzroy.
George (to Charles): Well then, I certainly don't want to detain you. Thank you again.
Charles (to George): You're very welcome, mi... Excuse me. You're very welcome, sir. Please pardon my mistake.
George (to Charles): It's fine... I shouldn't have told you in the first place.
Charles (to George): Oh. I knew before you told me, Mr. Fitzroy. ... Perhaps knew is too strong a word; I suspected at the very least. I really can't fathom why anyone else would think differently, if the truth is to be told.
George (to Charles): What!?! I make a bloody good boy! Better than you at any rate, Chuckles.
Charles (to George): But, I *am* a boy, Mr. Fitzroy. And my name is Charles.
George (to Charles): My point exactly!
Charles (to George): ... I'm afraid I don't understand.
George (to Charles): ... I have to go.
Charles (to George): Yes, of course. I'm very sorry to have kept you. Good night.
