Delphine (to Ms. Dvorak): Je suis ici, Mme Dvorak. Que puis-je faire pour vous?
Ms. Dvorak (to Delphine): I need you to stop hunting down skippers, my dear. You're riling up some very sensitive people with your latest antics.
Delphine (to Ms. Dvorak): Je suis désolé, but I can't do that. I've been paid quite a large sum of money & my last ruse was discovered quicker than I was expecting. I thought they'd just think the skipper was tapped out & not that it was a fake. Hiiri just needs one more.
Ms. Dvorak (to Delphine): One more for what, dear?
Delphine (to Ms. Dvorak): For her ridiculous machine... She's planning on going back in time and killing someone.
Ms. Dvorak (to Delphine): ... Do you know who that someone might be, dear?
Delphine (to Ms. Dvorak): No, she keeps referring to them as the chihuahua or munchkins... I'm not quite sure what that means. I believe it's personal.
Ms. Dvorak (to Delphine): Hmmm... Well, my advice to you is to focus on getting Carver out of the way. If Hiiri asks, tell her you're having a tricky time tracking another skipper down. They are a rare commodity, so it shouldn't be too big a stretch.
Delphine (to Ms. Dvorak): Oui, madame.
Ms. Dvorak (to Delphine): And, Delphine? If I find out you've been grabbing children to fulfill your obligation to Hiiri, you won't have to worry about Carver, dear. I'll kill you myself. Do I make myself clear?
Delphine (to Ms. Dvorak): Très clair, cristal comme.
Ms. Dvorak (to Delphine): Good. Now, go on. Carver isn't going to go off to Bleak House without a little more prodding.
Delphine (to Ms. Dvorak): Oui, madame. Au revoir.
At Aiden's house; New London, Britannia:
Joseph: Shit. This bed is fucking comfortable. I think my bed at home might be made of rocks.
Mrs. Esterly (to Joseph): Good morning, Joseph. How are you feeling, dear? No ill effects I hope.
Joseph (to Mrs. Esterly): I'm feeling much better. Thank you. I should probably get out of bed. Oh. Um. Where are my clothes? I left 'em on the chair over there. You're not going to try and clean me up & try to pass me off as a white boy like in the movies, are you? Because, I bathe everyday & unless you put me in bleach I'm not getting any lighter.
Mrs. Esterly (to Joseph): Hee hee hee. Oh, good heavens, no. I'm not sure if you noticed, but New London is not quite as light skinned as you seem to think it is. I'm laundering your clothing, dear. I'm the housekeeper. It's my job. You can wear a dressing gown until they're done. Or, if you want to go sightseeing, you can borrow one of Master Roland's suits. That's what Nathaniel has been doing. Hee hee. Much to his never-ending dismay. Why on earth would I put you in bleach?
Joseph (to Mrs. Esterly): Oh. Sorry. I think I watched too many old Westerns as a kid. They're always depicting my people as being savages & wanting to act like the white man... Nate said it was 18 something over here. That wasn't really a good time for my people, you know? I got a little paranoid. I'm sorry.
Mrs. Esterly (to Joseph): It's quite alright, dear, and perfectly understandable. If I were to give you my honest opinion on the matter, it's not a good time for a good number of people. The Empire has some rather funny ideas about the superiority of the British people, you see. But, I suppose that's how Empires are born, isn't it? Oh, and of course, a good number of her countrymen take those funny, rigid ideas and stick them straight up their arses. Hee hee. I've been around too much & too long to hold with such nonsense. Do you think it's proper for a housekeeper to order the master of the house about, and ask his guests to help with dinner?
Joseph (to Mrs. Esterly): Oh, um, I really don't know. I've never been in a posh place like this before. I'm sure my dad has... And, has very strong opinions about the people who own them & why they invite him to the parties.
Mrs. Esterly (to Joseph): Hee hee hee. Well then, I'll tell you. It's not. Lord Wilkes would have a stroke at the very idea! The people in the big houses are people just like the ones in the little houses, dear. Hee hee. Though, they will try to make you think otherwise. No matter what the nationality or class, we're all a bit more alike then we care to think, I'd say.
Joseph (to Mrs. Esterly): Heh. I like you're way of thinking much better than my dad's. I think he's still a bit bitter about everything... He didn't used to be so bad, but after Mom filed for a divorce & kicked him out of the house... Well, he's been wallowing. Shit. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be telling you this stuff. It's just old shit.
Mrs. Esterly (to Joseph): Don't you worry. It's not a bother. Memories are like the linens; you've got to get them outside in the sun once and a while, or they go all strange and musty. Come on now. Come down to breakfast. I hate to disappoint you dear, but we're not SO posh that you're getting breakfast in bed. Hee hee hee. I've got some lovely scones with butter and jam downstairs.
Joseph (to Mrs. Esterly): Oh wow... I'm starving. I could eat a horse... I'll be right down.
Mrs. Esterly (to Joseph): I'll leave you to it, then.
Joseph (to Mrs. Esterly): Thank you for the robe... I'm going to try and put some real clothes on.
Mrs. Esterly (to Joseph): Very good, dear. There should be a few suits in that wardrobe that fit. We'll see you shortly.
A few minutes later:
Joseph: Wow... Those are some fucking high waisted pants... Gods... I look like I'm going to a funeral...
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Morning. ... Ha ha ha HA! Oh... Oh Jesus! Sorry. Heh heh. I just know EXACTLY how you're fucking feeling right now.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): Yeah, I had to skip the fucking button shirt & tie... I hope that's okay. These pants are weird.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Yeah. It'll be fine. Just throw a jacket and scarf over it, and no one will be the fucking wiser. And yeah... The pants are something fucking else. Heh. I would kill someone in front of their mamma for a pair of jeans right about now... Shit... My kingdom for a cotton-blend! Everything is made out of wool and linen and fucking nettles woven into cloth.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): Heh... So, I should watch out that you don't steal my jeans, is that what you're fucking telling me?
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Ha ha! Yeah. Pretty fucking much. I don't have anything of mine on this side, and if you think I'm wearing these fucking wedgie machines back home, you got another thing coming.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): I think you may have solved the uptight Victorian question, though... It's cuz of these pants.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Ha ha ha! So that's why their personalities change so much when you get them outta their clothes...
Joseph (to Nathaniel): ... I wouldn't really know anything about that.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Oh yeah. Sorry. Bad joke at my boyfriend's expense...
Joseph (to Nathaniel): Heh... So, um, what's the deal with that Persephone chick?
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Heh. What do you wanna know?
Joseph (to Nathaniel): Oh, um, what does she do for fun? How old is she? ... Does she have a boyfriend?
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Heh. She's 18, I think. She's Zoe & Victor's cousin. I know she likes the theater, & getting her cousins in fucking trouble... She was working as a pirate with Victor, but looks like she's back at the Inn now. He family owns an Inn not too far from here. And, she doesn't have a boyfriend. I know there's a guy she likes, but I don't think it's gonna go anywhere.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): Oh. That's all good to know. Thanks.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Heh. Yeah. Sure.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): ... So, she works at an Inn nearby? Any chance you can point it out to me? I mean, unless I'm going home soon. Am I?
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Heh. It's up to you. I can probably get you back, but I'll be in pretty rough shape, so we'll probably need Victor or Zoe. Well, it's not something that most of us go around telling people. It can be kinda dangerous, you know?
Joseph (to Nathaniel): Wait. So, Zoe can do this skipper thing, too? I'm so going to kick her ass for not telling me...On second thought, she's got a mean left hook. I wouldn't mind staying for one more day, but I probably need to get back for school.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): She's had to go through a lot of shit because of it.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): Oh wow. This is some totally sci-fi shit... I feel like I just found out I'm a mutant and joining the X-men or some shit. I can't believe you don't think this is fucking cool. What is your power to be a grumpy old man or something?
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Heh. No. It's not that. It's just... God, how do I explain this without sounding like I'm a fucking loon? Cause I can do this, and cause of who my family is, there's this, uh, well, she's an automaton. And she's got this vendetta. God, even saying that makes me feel like a paranoid weirdo.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): Well, that fucking sucks... But, she's not doing anything this fucking second, is she? You're in an alternate reality, dude. Aren't you fucking curious about it? I know I am.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Yeah. And Aiden's been trying to get me outta the house for like weeks, but... I dunno. It's... If I go out there...
Joseph (to Nathaniel): Dude! It's a big fucking city. How do you even know that this automaton even knows you're here or where you are? Or are you afraid that you're going to like it & not want to go back?
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Heh. No, that's not it. There are advantages living back home I don't get to have here. Hiiri... Hiiri murdered my ex, and probably my grandfather. I can't help but shake the feeling she always knows where I am. ALWAYS. Especially on this side. And I feel like I'm putting whoever is with me in danger. Heh. Told you there's no way I can explain it without sounding fucking crazy.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): No, I don't think you're fucking crazy. I just think you're giving her what she wants. I mean, if you're too afraid to do anything & you're going to live in fear, then you might as well just roll over & stick a fork in yourself. I don't know who said it but there's an old saying... 'While I still have breathe, there's hope.' Come on, let's get lost in this big fucking city & make your boyfriend come find us again. You can tell people you're from the colonies & you captured me for a traveling circus or some bullshit. It'll be fun.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): You are fucking insane. You sure you're not still stoned? ... Heh. Sure. Why the fuck not?
Joseph (to Nathaniel): You really need to learn to live a little, Nate or you're going to have a heart attack before you're 40.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Probably. Believe it or not, I'm working on it. So you wanna sightsee, or do you have more words of fucking wisdom for me? :-P
Joseph (to Nathaniel): No more words of wisdom. I fucking promise.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Heh. I'm holding you to that. Anytime I hear something that sounds like it might be on a t-shirt, I'm slapping you. I'll go let Mrs. Esterly know we're heading out.
A few hours later, at Mouse & Eep's house, West Piedmont:
Gabriel (to Eep): Dad... I was reading' one of my books and it said we has 9 planets… but when I asked my teacher she said we only has 8 now. Dids we lose one somewhere? Where would it EVEN GO? Do we has a lost and found for planets somewhere!?! That would has to be HUUUUUGE!
Eep (to Gabriel): Heh heh. No. Pluto was considered a planet when I was a kid, because it orbits the sun. But, later they decided it was too small to be a planet, and they downgraded it to a planetoid, which isn't quite the same as a planet.
Gabriel (to Eep): ... WHAAAT? Who gets to decide stuff like that? That seems like an awful lots of responsibility. And really, not a nice thing to say to Pluto. Poor Pluto. Just cause its tha runty planet.
Eep (to Gabriel): It's OK, Goober. I don't think Pluto cares. What... What do you have in your pocket?
Gabriel (to Eep): ... um.. this neat rock I found. Some candy... and, I'm not sure what this is.
Eep (to Gabriel): That's the shell to a cicada nymph. They hatch in the ground, dig their way up out of the dirt, then they grow wings, and shed their shells, and then leave those behind. It looks like we're going to have a bunch of them this year.
Gabriel (to Eep): Really? Why do they leaves there shell behind then? Wont's they get hurt withOUT if? And won't they look less cool?
Eep (to Gabriel): Nope. They have a new exoskeleton underneath. And they look just as cool. After work, we can go try to find some more.
Gabriel (to Eep): Oooooooh can we? We'll go on a bug shell hunt!?!
Eep (to Gabriel): Yeah. In the next couple of weeks, we should start seeing the flying ones.
Gabriel (to Eep): OMG THAT IS SOOOOO COOL! Do you think Mars would like it if I brought her some?
Eep (to Gabriel): She might. Heh. Though I think you'd like it more if she didn't.
Gabriel (to Eep): .... I have no idea what you're talkin 'bout, Dad. I.. uh.. just wanna share with my sister. Because sharing is nice?
Eep (to Gabriel): Yes, I'm sure sharing is the reason you want to give your sister bugs.
Gabriel (to Eep): Mom says sharing is CARING. I only wanna love Mars. With bugs. I see no flaws in this.
Eep (to Gabriel): How about we collect extra bug shells, and we'll ASK Mars if she wants some instead?
Gabriel (to Eep): .... Fine. I guess that works. If she doesn't want them that just means more bugs for me and Otto.
A couple hours later, outside of Aiden's house; New London, Britannia:
Joseph (to Nathaniel): See? That wasn't so fucking bad... And, look we made it back without getting lost once.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Heh. I'll count my fucking blessings. That was... That was something else. You're SURE you're not still stoned. :-P
Joseph (to Nathaniel): If I was stoned, could I fucking do this?
Nathaniel (to Joseph): What the fuck are you doing?
Joseph (to Nathaniel): I'm just walking on my hands. I couldn't do this if I was stoned.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Ha ha ha! I suppose not. Though, I haven't been stoned in like 2 fucking years, and I STILL don't think I could do that.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): Heh. That's cuz you lack fucking confidence. Anybody can do it.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): So, you're just fucking insane, then. Duly noted. Heh. When you called that jackass with the mustache "kemo sabe..." I thought I was gonna lose my shit.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): That jackass deserved it... Heh. You telling that other guy off was pretty fucking priceless.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Oh God... I should not have fucking done that. That is NOT how you act in civilized British society... Ha ha HA! God... I so fucking fail at high society! Ha ha! ...Heh. I hope I didn't cause any trouble for Aiden, though...
Joseph (to Nathaniel): How would any of those stuck up snobs know who we are? Shit. Hold still. You got something on your face. Heh. Fucking chalk dust. It gets everywhere.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Jesus fucking Christ! Don't... Don't fucking DO that! Sorry! Sorry... You just... You caught me off guard is all.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): What!?! I'm just wiping your face. Chill out. I'm not going to kiss you. Unless, you want me to... I'm just fucking kidding. Sorry. I didn't mean anything by it.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): It... It's fine. I don't... I'm not big on the unexpected physical contact. I know you didn't mean anything by it. It's fine.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): ... So, how long ago was it?
Nathaniel (to Joseph): What?
Joseph (to Nathaniel): When you were abused or accosted? How long ago?
Nathaniel (to Joseph): ... That fucking obvious, huh? Well, shit... Last time was about three years ago.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): It's only obvious 'cuz I recognized your reaction. Like a kicked puppy... You start to prep for the kick. My mom works with abused kids. She's a shrink. That's why I don't fault her for working all the time. She's doing important shit.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Like I said it's fine. Let's just go inside, alright? Heh I'm sure Mrs. Esterly wants to shove a shitload of food in your face.
Joseph (to Nathaniel): Okay... Lead the way. I'm fucking starving.
Nathaniel (to Joseph): Yeah... Come on.
A moment later:
Nathaniel: Aiden? Mrs. Esterly? Anyone in?
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel & Joseph): I was wondering when you boys would get back. Are you hungry?
Joseph (to Mrs. Esterly): Fucking starving.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Heh. I think Joseph mentioned he was starving one or twice. I'm not really hungry right now. Thanks.
Joseph (to Mrs. Esterly): He's not hungry 'cuz I rattled his cage a bit.
Nathaniel (to Joseph & Mrs. Esterly): My cage is just fucking fine. I'm just not hungry right this second, alright? Is Aiden home?
Joseph (to Nathaniel): If you say so.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Yes, dear. I think he's in his room reading. I'll leave you a plate in the icebox if you change your mind. (to Joseph) Let me fix you a plate, Joseph.
Joseph (to Mrs. Esterly): Thank you.
A few minutes later, in the master bedroom:
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Hey. We're back.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Did you have fun? I was beginning to wonder if I should go out & look for you two.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah. No, it was fine. We actually had a pretty good time until... Never mind. It wasn't a big deal. Gimme a hug.
