Yukiko (to Vincent, Victor & Fiona): Good morning... Is there any hot water?
Victor (to Yukiko): Good morning! I think the water in the kettle is still hot. I can put it back on the stove if not.
Yukiko (to Victor): Thank you. As long as it's not boiling, it should be fine. It's bad for the tea leaves.
Victor (to Yukiko): No, it's not quite that... Wait. What?
Fiona (to Victor): Ha ha ha! Oh no. Don't get her started. She thinks all of Britannia should have her tea confiscated, because we don't know what to do with it.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh... I brought my own tea with me. I'm a bit particular about it. Fiona thinks I'm a snob.
Fiona (to Yukiko): You ARE a snob.
Yukiko (to Fiona): And, you're an uncivilized barbarian. :-P
Fiona (to Yukiko): Course I am! Never claimed anything else, did I?
Victor (to Yukiko, Fiona & Vincent): Heh. Everyone's particular about something. Dad has strong opinions about what the British do with coffee.
Vincent (to Victor, Fiona & Yukiko): I do. You brutes murder it. If there's a decent cup in all the Empire to be had, I haven't tasted it.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Captain Potter has been regaling me with tales FAR too funny to be true.
Yukiko (to Fiona, Vincent & Victor): Oh really? I'm sorry to have missed story time.
Victor (to Fiona, Yukiko & Vincent): Oh god... Don't tell him that. PLEASE don't get him going again.
Vincent (to Yukiko, Fiona & Victor): Hee hee hee. I'm afraid the missus and I are a deep and profound embarrassment to my son.
Yukiko (to Vincent): Oh? You don't seem all that bad to me, but then I did miss out on the stories. :-P
Fiona (to Yukiko): Let's say that I now know a whole host of new ways to get arrested at an Imperial Ball.
Yukiko (to Vincent, Victor & Fiona): Heehee... I'm not sure Fiona needs any more lessons on how to get kicked out of places. She tends to do a fine enough job all on her own.
Fiona (to Yukiko): True, but I've never done it while wearing a fancy party dress. :-P
Vincent (to Yukiko, Fiona & Victor): Hee hee. I have.
Victor (to Yukiko, Fiona & Vincent): Dad is lucky that the Empress likes him, and his antics, or he would have been hanged by now.
Yukiko (to Vincent): Well, that sounds quite impressive. I'd love to hear the story some other time.
Vincent (to Yukiko, Fiona & Victor): Hee hee. I think I'll let my son tell that one. He was the one who had to get me out of the dungeons.
Victor (to Vincent): Did you hear that? Dad!
A few minutes later, on the bridge:
Kian: Maltese Falcon. Come in, Maltese Falcon. Potter! Answer your damn radio console. It's the one with the big dial in the center, you git!
Victor (to Kian): This is the Falcon. We read you. Who is this?
Kian (to Victor): This would be the Neptune's Bride... Victor, is that you?
Victor (to Kian): It is, Kian. What can we do for you?
Kian (to Victor): More like what I can do for you... You're heading for an ambush. Wong Fei Hung's got a trap setup ahead. We just caught wind of it. You may want to alter your course a bit.
Victor (to Kian): Oh shit! No kidding! Thank you, Kian! You saved our arses.
Kian (to Victor): I figured I owed you folks one after that mishap in the Colonies. Clear skies to you!
Victor (to Kian): Clear skies and fair winds! (to Vincent) Dad! We need to change course.
Vincent (to Victor): Woah! I see you've already started. What's going on?
Victor (to Vincent): We just got a warning from the Neptune's Bride. Wong Fei Hung has an ambush set up ahead for us!
Vincent (to Victor): That pain in the ass. (to Yukiko) I'm afraid taking you to Singapore may take a little longer than anticipated, hun.
Yukiko (to Vincent & Victor): Is there anything Fiona & I can do to help?
Vincent (to Victor): I plugged new coordinates in, kiddo. We can regroup in Madras. (to Yukiko) How on earth did they know to expect us?
Victor (to Vincent): Aye aye.
Yukiko (to Vincent): I'm not sure... (to Fiona) Fi, I think our mission may have been compromised.
Fiona (to Yukiko, Vincent & Victor): Jesus, Mary and Joseph! I thought something about this smelled rotten. Sorry to put you in trouble, Captain.
Vincent (to Yukiko, Fiona & Victor): No worries. We've been in tighter spots before. Are you two still planning on going to Singapore?
Yukiko (to Vincent): Good question. We probably need to report to ISS before we call it a wash. (to Fiona) Fi, what are you thinking?
Fiona (to Yukiko): ...Mmm. (to Vincent) Captain, how quickly can you get us back to British airspace?
Vincent (to Fiona & Yukiko): If that's where you want to go, we may be able to make a couple of jumps to get us home shortly... I think we can help you girls out when we get home as well. (to Victor) The fastest route home will take three jumps. Do you think you'll be able to handle the last two, kiddo?
Victor (to Vincent): I can do it.
Fiona (to Vincent): If you could, we'd be obliged. (to Yukiko) The home office won't be expecting us for a few days. We need to go to ground. I'm afraid the rot's in our foundation.
Yukiko (to Fiona): ... This is my fault, isn't it? Because, I refused my last mark. You warned me there was going to be trouble.
Fiona (to Yukiko): We can worry about that when we're not on a flying death trap. (to Vincent & Victor) No offense, Captain. Mo chreach! WHAT IS THAT BLOODY BEEPING?
Victor (to Fiona): It's the proximity alarm. I guess they got tired of waiting, and decided to come and find us.
Yukiko (to Victor & Vincent): I'm very sorry for all of this.
Victor (to Yukiko): It's fine. They won't catch us. And really, you've been far less trouble than my father.
Vincent (to Fiona, Yukiko & Victor): My own flesh and blood says these things. My poor heart!
Yukiko (to Vincent, Victor & Fiona): I guess we should get out of your way, unless you need a hand.
Victor (to Yukiko & Fiona): Actually, I'm going to need you on the bridge for the next two jumps. (to Vincent) We've got about a two minute ETA until we hit the first one, Dad.
Vincent (to Victor): I'll take the helm. You're sure you can do this, kiddo?
Yukiko (to Victor): What do you need?
Victor (to Vincent): Yes. I'm sure I can handle it. (to Yukiko & Fiona) Just stay up here. It takes a lot of energy to get the ship and her passengers through a portal. Normally, we wouldn't have enough to do 4 jumps in one trip, so I'm going to help out a bit.
Yukiko (to Victor): What do you mean by help?
Victor (to Yukiko): Organic matter is a bit harder to get through a portal than inorganic, so I'm taking some of the...
Vincent (to Victor): Explain in a minute. We're about to hit the first jump. You've only got a couple of seconds between them.
Victor (to Vincent): Yes, sir. (to Yukiko & Fiona) Grab hold of my hands, and whatever you do don't let go. Try to keep your mind clear.
Fiona (to Vincent, Victor & Yukiko): I still don't see how this is going to conserve enough energy to... Mo chreach!
A short time later:
Fiona (to Vincent, Victor & Yukiko): What in the name of seven bloody hells was that?!
Vincent (to Victor): That's the last one cleared! Victor? Victor are you alright? (to Yukiko) Grab him before he falls!
Yukiko (to Vincent): Yes sir! (to Victor) Victor! Are you okay?
Victor (to Vincent, Yukiko & Fiona): Jesus... I don't think I can do that again…
Yukiko (to Victor): I don't think anyone is asking you to... Hopefully. Just rest.
Vincent (to Victor): Heh. It's alright, Victor. You don't have to. We're where you need to be. (to Yukiko) Ms. Kobayashi, could you get him to the galley? He needs some juice or coffee in him.
Fiona (to Vincent): That's an impressive little talent of your bonnie boy's, Captain Potter.
Vincent (to Fiona): That it is. I'm sure you can understand why we'd be very grateful to you and Ms. Kobayashi if you would forget you saw it.
Fiona (to Vincent): I used to be a boxer, Captain. Thing about getting hit in the head as a job, is that it makes the memory a might slippery.
Vincent (to Fiona): Thank you, Fiona.
Victor (to Vincent & Yukiko): No. It's alright. I can make it to... Ooo. Shit.
Yukiko (to Victor): Let me help you, Victor. It's alright... I'm already impressed. I promise.
A few minutes later, in the living quarters:
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. So... That would be my parlor trick...
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. So, I saw. Would you prefer juice or coffee?
Victor (to Yukiko): Juice if we have it...
Yukiko (to Victor): It looks like there's lemonade... Here, you are... I won't tell anyone about your secret, Victor.
Victor (to Yukiko): Thank you. So, um... Heh. I have no idea what to say.
Yukiko (to Victor): This is all a bit awkward... I feel a bit like I've seen you naked by mistake. Oh. Probably a bad analogy. My apologies.
Victor (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! Oh... Oh shit! Ouch. Heh. Naked I could handle. Naked doesn't get you strapped down in a laboratory and dissected, or put on an ISS's "Persons of Interest" list, or conscripted into service for the Good of Queen and Country. :-P
Yukiko (to Victor): It doesn't take having a trick like yours to get you conscripted. Believe me.
Victor (to Yukiko): ... Yeah. I know. That's how my mom ended up with the ISS, and I know I probably already have eyes on me so I try to be as uninteresting as possible. Heh. Fortunately, I think I'm a bit of an undesirable because of my dad. :-P
Yukiko (to Victor): That's probably true. You look like you could use some rest. Do you need help getting to a bunk?
Victor (to Yukiko): No, I don't think so. I'm just exhausted. Trying to keep two people on a fast-moving target is more fucking difficult than... OK. Maybe I need a little help. Heh. Sorry.
Yukiko (to Victor): You know, it's not a sign of weakness to need help, Victor... Or are you just afraid of me touching you? ;-p
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. I wouldn't use the word "afraid." Giddy, possibly. Flustered, definitely. Thank you.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. You're very welcome. Get some rest. I should go and see if your father & Fiona need any help.
A few minutes later:
Fiona (to Yukiko): How's the fluffy lad?
Yukiko (to Fiona): He's resting. That little trick of his took a lot out of him. What's going on up here?
Fiona (to Yukiko): The Captain's taking us back to home sweet home via some rather roundabout routes. We should be back shortly. He says he has a place we can lay low for a bit. I want to do some digging before I announce we're back. The Dandy says he as a hidey hole we can borrow, so long as we keep our yaps trapped.
Yukiko (to Fiona): Oh, of course, we'd be quiet about it. We're not idiots... So, what do you thinking is going on? I know you have an idea in that big giant brain of yours.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Oh, I've got all kinds of ideas, but it's still too early to crack any of them open. Why don't you tell me what's going on with you and Mr. Fancy Britches instead?
Yukiko (to Fiona): What? There's nothing going on. We had a drink together last night & made small talk. Oh, and I kissed him. But, that was all.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Oh. Is that all? ...Heh, heh.
Yukiko (to Fiona): ... What are you implying? I'm certainly not going to have my way with him on an airship with his father onboard... Not that I would, anyway... Stop grinning at me like that!
Several hours later, at Aiden & Nathaniel's apartment; West Piedmont:
Nathaniel: Butt Fucking God! How much of this shit am I gonna burn?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Nate, what's going on in here? Gah! Let me open a window... Are you trying to make a smoke bomb?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): If I wanted to make a bomb, I'd just make a fucking bomb. I wouldn't choke us slowly with smoke.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Calm down, Nate. What were you doing in here?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): I have to go to work tomorrow, and I've never cooked a day in my fucking life. I have memories of doing it, so I thought... It doesn't fucking matter what I thought. I can't do it! I'm fucking boned.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): You're not... boned? I'm not even sure what that means. However, if you talk to Emma, I'm sure she'll understand & re-teach you, if that's what you want... I am going to miss your cooking. Heh. We'll just have to order takeout in the meantime.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): … I need a fucking cigarette. Just leave all this shit. I'll clean it up in a minute.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Can I join you or do you need a moment alone?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh... Um, no. I don't mind. I mean, you can come if you want.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): ... You're rolling your own cigarettes? You always hated doing that... Damn. You really aren't my Nate, are you? There's so much about you that's the same, but you're also different.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): ... Shit. I was kinda waiting for you to say something like that. I'm... I know this is weird for you. I wish I knew what the fuck to say. If you want to... I dunno. If you want me to back off or whatever...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): ... I can't imagine my life without you in it, no matter which version you are, Nate. I love you more than anything. Just give us a little time to get to know each other again. Alright?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): I am more than fucking willing to give you how ever much time you need. Really. Look, there isn't a reality I know of that I wasn't crazy fucking in love with you. I'm not worried about that. I'm just... I know I'm not the same guy. I was... I was worried that cause I wasn't the same guy...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Come here, you. I'm sorry to say that you are very much stuck with me.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. Wow. Holy shit I love you! ... Sorry. I, uh, I feel for you SO fucking much that it kinda freaks me out, sometimes.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh. That is quite a compliment & quite a kiss... I think I could learn to like this version of you.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. I hope so, cause, honestly, whenever I'm this close to you all I can think of is ripping off your clothes with my teeth, and having my way with you 'til you beg me for mercy at least twice.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh... I don't beg.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Fucking twice.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Prove it.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): With pleasure. Remember, you fucking asked for it.
Meanwhile, at the Longfellow bunker; The Tombs, New London, Britannia:
Yukiko: What the hell is this place? When Captain Potter said hidey hole, he wasn't kidding. I'm freezing.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Oh... I think I might be in love, Yuki. I may need some time to myself. Alone. With this bunker. It is GORGEOUS.
Yukiko (to Fiona): ... You can have it... It's like a nightmare... Only the dead should be buried like this. I-- I don't do well in places like this.
Fiona (to Yukiko): What are you... Kobayashi? Kobayashi!
A moment later:
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh! Excuse me, Ms. Kobayashi. I'm sorry I startled you. I was just bringing you some extra... Are you alright?
Yukiko (to Victor): I--I'm sorry, Victor. I can't stay here... I can't breathe. I need to get outside.
Victor (to Yukiko): It's alright. Not all of the bunker is underground. Come on.
A short time later:
Victor (to Yukiko): If you push right... Oh! There it is. Right here. There we are. Watch your step right there. Heh. These stairs have been rotten longer than I've been alive. I *think* Mom had them reinforced, but I'm not certain. Here you are.
Yukiko (to Victor): ... Thank you... I'm feeling better already.
Victor (to Yukiko): It wasn't a bother. The tunnels can be a bit much for most people, especially if you're a bit claustrophobic. My father doesn't really like them either. This is the main house. We're in the heart of the Tombs, so you don't have to worry about anyone paying you or Ms. McGillivray too much mind. Oh! I was meant to give this to you. Extra blankets and a copy of the floor plans for the tunnels. Heh. I thought your partner would like those.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh yes, I'm sure she'll appreciate those... Are there trees in the yard here? If so, I think I'll sleep out there, if its okay.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh. No, not really. Here... Shit. Hold on. The locks on this door are ancient... There we are. As you can see, it's not really much of a garden. More like a fenced-in alley, really. It's hard to keep trees in this part of town.
Yukiko (to Victor): ... Oh damn.
Victor (to Yukiko): You could sleep in the upstairs attic room. It's not very, uh, pleasant--it's a bit mildew-riddled, I'm afraid--but, there's a hole in the roof, so it's the closest to open air sleeping you'll be able to get around here.
Yukiko (to Victor): I guess that will have to do. Thank you for the blankets.
Victor (to Yukiko): You're welcome... Do you normally sleep outside?
Yukiko (to Victor): Yes. My flat in East Garden has a roof garden & I sleep out there most nights. It's a habit I picked up as a child... My mother wanted me to be able sleep anywhere as part of my training. Heh. Apparently, it worked too well. Besides, her punishments were to be enclosed in a locked box. If I could figure out how to escape, I was forgiven. I spent three days there once, until I discovered the trick. She had almost given up hope that I was going to get out... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said all of that.
Victor (to Yukiko): That's terrible. I'm very sorry you had to endure all that. ...My dad is the same way, you know. He and my aunt were both tortured in a very small cell by Hiiri for a while when he was younger... I'm sorry. That's probably not helping. Heh. If it makes you feel any better, I was the opposite. I was raised on the Falcon. My mom said my first time at a park, I bawled. I didn't know how to process the open space. :-P
Yukiko (to Victor): Well, I guess I should take that as a sign that there's hope for me yet. You seem okay now... Or is it just an act?
Victor (to Yukiko): I like to think of myself as better. I haven't burst into tears in a park in --oh-- at least a year or two. ;-)
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee... I appreciate you being so kind to me about it... Most times I can deal with the claustrophobia. But I think I'm overly stressed & it was just too much down there.
Victor (to Yukiko): I understand. It wasn't a bother. Honestly. If there's one thing we Potters understand, it's the odd and unusual. :-P
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh... I'm definitely both those things. You should probably get those schematics to Fiona. I think I'll be fine on my own.
Victor (to Yukiko): Good night, Ms. Kobayashi. I... That is, it was very nice to see you again. I hope you sleep well.
Yukiko (to Victor): Wait, Victor. What were you going to say?
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. I, um, I really wanted to kiss you again. You are an exceptional kisser, you know. But, as you said, I should go.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh, I would actually like that very much. I mean, the kissing part, not the you leaving... If the truth is to be told I was thinking about it all day.
Victor (to Yukiko): You have? Really? Heh. I'm not sorry to hear that. For purely for scientific reasons, you understand, we should probably try kissing again. To compare and contrast, of course.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh yes...for science, of course... I'd hate to impede scientific discovery by refusing.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Who are we to stand in the way of science...
Yukiko (to Victor): You talk too much... C'mere.
