At Ariadne's apartment: East Garden, New London, Britannia:
Ariadne (to Victor): Good morning, Victor. I wasn't expecting to see you this morning. Want some coffee? I'm sorry to say your girl still isn't cooperating. Aiden tried talking to her last night… It did not go well.
Victor (to Ariadne): Coffee would be wonderful, thank you. I didn't suppose it would go well last night.
Ariadne (to Victor): Here you go… I'm sorry about your girl. I hate keeping her under lock & key but Ms. Dvorak thinks it would be for the best. She's been hearing some rumblings about the Yashidas and she thinks Yuki may have something to do with it.
Victor (to Ariadne): .... Shit. What kind of rumblings? She hasn't been telling me much. She thinks I'll try to get myself involved.
Ariadne (to Victor): They've been doubling up security at all of their homes and facilities. And, Hideki has been seen with Starling & Carver. And, there's a rumor of a hit out on the head of the Yashidas.
Victor (to Ariadne): What? A hit? Really? Huh...
Ariadne (to Victor): … What are you thinking, Victor?
Victor (to Ariadne): I'm not sure yet. May I speak to Yuki?
Ariadne (to Victor): Of course, sweet cheeks. I've still got her locked down in the basement. Here, bring her some breakfast.
Victor (to Ariadne): Thanks.
A few minutes later:
Victor (to Yukiko): Yuki? I brought you some breakfast.
Yukiko (to Victor): … I'm not hungry.
Victor (to Yukiko): When was the last time you ate? Stand back a bit; I'm coming in. And I'm not using the door, so you can forget about the "knocking me unconscious when I open the door and running out" idea.
Yukiko (to Victor): Fine.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh! I didn't expect you to be that close. Are you sure you don't want something to eat? Hari said you haven't... What the hell happened to your hand?
Yukiko (to Victor): Nothing. I was just trying to get out… it's like a tomb.
Victor (to Yukiko): That doesn't look like nothing. Let me... Will you... Just let me... Will you stop acting like a bloody petulant child and let me look at your goddamn hand!?!
Yukiko (to Victor): Fine… Here.
Victor (to Yukiko): Just let me have a butchers at it, awlright? ...You haven't broken it, but you cocked it up for sure. If you're not going to eat, at least have a cuppa tea or coffee or summit. You need something in your system... What?
Yukiko (to Victor): OW! That bloody hurts… why are you talking like you're from the Tombs?
Victor (to Yukiko): Sorry. It slips out when I'm upset about something. I picked up some of it from my mom and some of it from growing up 'round here. My dad mostly runs cargo in the Tombs.
Yukiko (to Victor): And, what are you upset about? You're not the one locked up in this box.
Victor (to Yukiko): Doesn't mean I like seeing you have to be in it. There. That should be a little better at least... May I ask you something?
Yukiko (to Victor): Thank you… What do you want to know?
Victor (to Yukiko): Did you order a hit on the head of the Yashida clan?
Yukiko (to Victor): What!?! No. I'd never do that… If I wanted him dead, I'd do it myself.
Victor (to Yukiko): That's what I assumed. I mean, why waste the money for one? ...I think someone may be trying to set you up. It's just a theory, mind, but it makes sense.
Yukiko (to Victor): Why do you say that?
Victor (to Yukiko): Hideki comes into town seeking retribution for his brother, in a what's a very sloppy, public way to go about it. Especially for the son of a Nipponese crime family to behave, the more I think on it... You've been threatened, your partners been attacked, you're backed in a corner... If someone wanted to take out the head of the Yashidas, or stage a coup, this would be an excellent way to go about it. Most people would assume you're responsible. Hmmm... they could even start rumblings it's the crown, or that ISS has lost control of her agents if they wanted... As I said, it's just a theory. No one is telling me much, so I'm just speculating, but hearing Carver and Starling are involved always makes me worry there's a Grand Plan we're missing somehow...
Yukiko (to Victor): … Victor, I told Hideki he had three days to get out of town and that if he didn't I would kill him & then, go after his father. It was a bit of a bluff. I was on my way to take out his father when you grabbed me. I knew Hideki wouldn't leave & I wanted to bring the fight to their door. I'm tired of being a puppet.
Victor (to Yukiko): I know. I'm sorry. And I'm so very sorry you were thrown in the basement. Before you go do anything rash, please help us try to find out what's going on, and who's really behind it. Please? We have to ken out who's holding the bloody strings before we can cut them.
Yukiko (to Victor): I have a feeling I know exactly who is behind it, Victor. I refused a private contract two weeks before all of this started.
Victor (to Yukiko): What kind of contract?
Yukiko (to Victor): I'm not sure of the details of the contract. It's customary to not be shown the target until after a deposit has been paid. But the contract was from Madame Cheng.
Victor (to Yukiko): I don't suppose that's a coincidence? If I get you out of here, you won't run off on me, will you?
Yukiko (to Victor): No. I'm just going to go home. I want to sleep in my own bed & take a long hot bath.
Victor (to Yukiko): Will you be safe there? You still have a price on your head, after all. And you really should talk to Mrs. Esterly about all this. And my mom.
Yukiko (to Victor): I am tired of talking, Victor. No one knows where I really live except for Fiona. I have a decoy setup in New London proper. I just want to be left alone… And, out of this fucking hole.
Victor (to Yukiko): Of course. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... My apologies. I'll pass along the information on to Mrs. Esterly.
Yukiko (to Victor): Thank you. Are you going to let me out of here, now?
Victor (to Yukiko): You don't need to do it right now, of course, but if you are tired of everything, you really should speak to my mother. She left active duty with the ISS once before & helped Charles leave the Smith gang. Grab my hands, clear your mind and think of where you want to be...
Yukiko (to Victor): You're going to skip me to my flat?… Alright. You can come with me, but I'm still mad at you.
Victor (to Yukiko): I know. I won't stay. I'm just your ride. I promise.
Yukiko (to Victor): You know, you really suck at this whole fight thing. You could at least act like you care that I'm mad at you. Instead of rolling over like a kicked puppy… It makes me feel like an ass, despite the fact that you did all of this.
Victor (to Yukiko): This isn't ALL my fault. I certainly didn't want to toss you in the basement. Bloody hell! I feel guilty enough without... Whoa... This isn't the time. I need to stay calm if I'm going to get you home.
Yukiko (to Victor): So, that's it? … You know what, I can get myself home on my own. Just open the door, please.
Victor (to Yukiko): No, of course that's not bloody well it! Do you really want to have this row right now? Fine! If you want to blame me for this whole ruddy mess, then fine! I don't bloody blame you. So let's get the bull and cow about it done, you can tell me to skeeve off, and I won't ruddy bother you anymore.
Yukiko (to Victor): Victor, you let me get bloody well locked up in this hole for days while you know how I feel about enclosed spaces! You came & grabbed me in Qin and then let Hari put me here. You act like I don't know how to take care of myself. I love you… but this isn't going to work. I mean, how can it? We only seem to work when one of us is willing to set aside our life for the other. It's a recipe for disaster. I don't have any interest in living on the other side and you're going to school there. We were just fooling ourselves because of those damn dreams.
Victor (to Yukiko): ... I had no idea Aunt… I mean, Ms. Dvorak was going to ask Hari to throw you in the basement. I'm very sorry for that. It wasn't my idea. I'll go ask Hari to let you out.
Yukiko (to Victor): Fine.
A couple minutes later:
Ariadne (to Victor): Victor, are you okay? I heard yelling.
Victor (to Ariadne): I'm all peaches and cream. Yuki's ready to go home. She was going to try to threaten, possibly assassinate, the ruddy head of the Yashidas, but I don't think she's keen on that any longer. Says she's got a house no one knows about but Fiona. She'd like very much to be cut ruddy loose. I told her I'd pass on the ken. I should be getting home...
Ariadne (to Victor): Really, that's that? One fight with your lady love and you're packing it in, little man? That's disappointing.
Victor (to Ariadne): It wasn't the ruddy fight! Everyone fights! Cor bleeding hell, *I'D* be cross with me if I were in her place! ... It's... She doesn't want to be with me. It isn't the first time she's said it, either so that's it for me, isn't it?
Ariadne (to Victor): I'm sorry, Victor, this is all my fault. I put her in there because if I put her anywhere else, she'd escape. I think she's scared and the way she deals with that is to be angry. I'll let her out, but if you really love her, you should fight for her.
Victor (to Ariadne): ...Will you give me a few more minutes?
Ariadne (to Victor): Of course, take all the time you need… Here's the key. I'm gonna go for a walk, I'll be back in a couple hours.
Victor (to Ariadne): I don't think it takes that much time to get dumped... Thank you.
A moment later:
Victor (to Yukiko): The door's unlocked...
Yukiko (to Victor): Thank the gods. I was worried that you were going to leave me here.
Victor (to Yukiko): I wouldn't do that... Wait! Wait... Before you leave, I just... This is harder than I thought it would be. I just... I need you to tell me that you don't want to be with me. I won't bother you again after this, I just...
Yukiko (to Victor): … Can't we do this some other time, Victor? I just want to go home, right now.
Victor (to Yukiko): Just bloody tell me! I haven't slept in three days fretting about you in that ruddy hole. Just say it, & then we can both go.
Yukiko (to Victor): … Fine, if that's what you want… I-- I don't want to be with you. There. You bloody happy now?
Victor (to Yukiko): ... Yeah. I'm... I'm right fucking thrilled. I care about you, you know. I'm gutted you got thrown in a damn bloody hole... But, truth be told, the only reason it happened is that there are a right bucketful of people who are worried you're about to run off and get yourself ruddy well murdered, and you act as though it's all a huge cunting inconvenience. Having people care must be a terrible inconvenience to you. So bloody sorry. Cheers.
Yukiko (to Victor): Get stuffed, Victor! I sat in that hole for 2 bloody days hoping that you would come and get me out of there! Or at the very least stay with me because you knew how much it freaked me out. But, you left me in there… alone. So, get off your bloody high horse. Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm getting the hell out of here.
Victor (to Yukiko): Don't tell me to get stuffed! Where do you think I was every bloody night?! Oh forget it! What do you care where I was?
Yukiko (to Victor): … Where were you?
Victor (to Yukiko): I've been here, the whole bloody time sleeping on Hari's ruddy damn floor.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh.
Victor (to Yukiko): I know this is bloody insane, and I know it makes no sense, but I just can't imagine... It--it doesn't matter. I... I'm sorry I shouted. I said I wouldn't bother you any more. I'm going to go find a drink. Or something. Good night… What?
Yukiko (to Victor): Stop doing that, Victor. You're always doing that. Why can't you just talk to me?
Victor (to Yukiko): I don't know what else to say. I'm mad about you, Yuki. Utterly, stupidly, madly in love with you. And that's not enough. You keep... You're hung up on these bloody fucking dreams, and... It's not enough.
Yukiko (to Victor): … I don't know what to say.
Victor (to Yukiko): ...If you've heard enough about how heartbroken I am, I'd really like to go home now.
Yukiko (to Victor): Sometimes, you are such a ruddy idiot… I love you, Victor.
Victor (to Yukiko): Then what is the fucking problem!?!
Yukiko (to Victor): I don't know… Come with me, right now.
Victor (to Yukiko): Why the... Oh! Oh. We, uh, we aren't fighting at this point, are we?
Yukiko (to Victor): Not unless, you want to… Can you skip us to my house right now? I desperately need a bath & a big fluffy bed.
Victor (to Yukiko): I can. I just... I need to get my heart rate down a bit more... Heh. If I try to skip us while I'm upset, things might go odd.
Yukiko (to Victor): … Oh. Then, I guess I should stop doing this. I'd hate for things to go odd.
Victor (to Yukiko): Gawd blimey! ...Oh. Um, heh. Excuse me. That, uh... That is REALLY distracting. We're going to end up in the past again if you don't let me concentrate...
Yukiko (to Victor): Alright, I'll stop.
Victor (to Yukiko): Thank you. Believe me, if you think your head is scrambled now, meeting your parents as kids will scramble it further. Awlright... Concentrate on one room in your house... Don't think about anything else. Picture it clearly in your mind...
Yukiko (to Victor): Okay.
Victor (to Yukiko): Ready? One, two...
A moment later, at Yukiko's flat; East Garden, New London, Britannia:
Victor (to Yukiko): THREE. Here we are… I think. Is this where we're supposed to be?
Yukiko (to Victor): Yes… Welcome to my home. Would you like a glass of wine?
Victor (to Yukiko): ...Um, yes. Please. That would be nice. Thank you.
Yukiko (to Victor): Here, you are… So, um, do you want to talk about everything that just happened or can we skip all that and go right to the making up?
Victor (to Yukiko): Just... Just one thing. Yes, I know this is ridiculous, but... I really want to try to make this work. Odd and awkward or no. Do you?
Yukiko (to Victor): I don't know, Victor. I love you and want to be with you but, how do we make this work? Is this going to be long distance? I really have no interest being on the other side. You've got school and your family over there. I have a life here. What do we do?
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Well, the distance thing isn't really a problem. My parents MUCH prefer your side to the one where I'm going to school. I grew up in New London. If it weren't for Zoe and my mom getting pregnant, I don't think they would have stayed on the other side as long as they did. I'm a skipper. It's not as though the distance is a problem for me...
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh, I suppose not… If we could do anything at all, what would you want?
Victor (to Yukiko): I'm not sure. I know we all have these other memories, and I KNOW that must be insane for you, but honestly, I could care less about those other memories. That isn't here or now. I just want to... I want to spend time with you.
Yukiko (to Victor): I want to spend time with you, too… Would you like a tour of my flat?
Victor (to Yukiko): Yes. That would be lovely. Thank you.
Yukiko (to Victor): … If I were to ask you to drop everything & come live with me, would you do it?
Victor (to Yukiko): ... Would you?
Yukiko (to Victor): I'm asking you. I'd like to know where I stand.
Victor (to Yukiko): I... I don't know. I want to. I'd REALLY want to, but I'd like to finish school. I know sooner or later I'll end up following in my father or mother's footsteps, but... It's hard to explain. I've been groomed my whole life to be a pirate.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. This my favorite part of the flat… My bedroom. A perk of being on the top floor. An optional open air area. I had a very clever engineer design it for me so, I could sleep in a bed but still be out in the open & enjoy the garden... So, how much school do you have left?
Victor (to Yukiko): Wow! This is amazing! ...I'm not sure how much school I have left, honestly. I haven't exactly had a conventional schooling schedule. I believe I'm a bit younger than most people are when starting university. I think I could be done in another couple of semesters if I was motivated enough... Do I sound like I'm being a braggart?
Yukiko (to Victor): What kind of motivation would you need? ;-P
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. I don't know. What kind are you offering?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. Well, I could offer a place to live here in New London with a woman who loves you.
Victor (to Yukiko): That's some decent motivation. Are you willing to wait while I finish school? I know it's more than slightly ridiculous... because, honestly, WHAT on earth would I do on the other side, but I want to go to school for my own sake. I've grown up under the shadow of The Magpie and The Dandy my whole life, and this is something that's mine alone.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. I understand. The invitation can wait until you're done with school.
Victor (to Yukiko): I promise, the advantages can more than make up for the disadvantages to dating a skipper. :-P
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh, there are advantages… Like what?
Victor (to Yukiko): Well, if you ever want to visit someplace, in TWO realities, it's just a thought away. Um, provided we have a map. Or have been there before. I'm killing the whole "romantic allure," aren't I?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee, just a little.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Sorry. I'm still getting used to this as something that won't scare people or get me locked up. I was very heavily discouraged from using my, uh, "talents" as a kid.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh. I had the complete opposite experience. My mother encouraged my "talents", however they're a bit different from yours.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. I suppose you could say that it depends on the talent. Swordplay, observation, pickpocketing, all that was *fine.* Anything that might get me dissected or thrown in a research laboratory, however...
Yukiko (to Victor): So, what do we do now?
Victor (to Yukiko): I would very much like to continue seeing you. In fact, I propose we actively start dating. I'm going to be off for the summer hols very soon. Once we see how that goes, we take if from there. What do you say?
Yukiko (to Victor): Actively dating? What exactly does that mean?
Victor (to Yukiko): It means I'll be bothering you every moment I have free.
Yukiko (to Victor): Despite all my training & everything I was told to do or not do... I would like that very much.
Victor (to Yukiko): Would you? Oh! Heh. Good! I'd like that very much too.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. So, does this mean that I'm your girlfriend?
Victor (to Yukiko): Um... Do you want to be my girlfriend
Yukiko (to Victor): My god, Victor, you are so obviously the son of a spy. You always turn questions around on me… I'd say yes, if you'd ask.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh. Ha ha! I'm sorry. I don't even realize I'm doing it. Yuki, would you be my girlfriend? The answer I'm looking for is yes, by the way. Please say yes...
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee. Yes, I would like to be your girlfriend.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh! Excellent! Heh. I was a bit afraid of what your answer would be. Thank you. For giving me a chance.
Yukiko (to Victor): … I probably should have said no but you're right that we should forget about those memories & simply make our own. Besides, I do love you and I can't really imagine my life without you.
Victor (to Yukiko): I can't either... Do you want to properly make up now?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. Yes, I think it's well past due.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Aye , aye, miss. Lead the way.
