An abandoned building; The Tombs, New London, Britannia:
Hiiri: It's amazing what you can discover with a barrel of money & an ounce of persuasion... Of course, I mean, the threat of bodily harm.
Carver (to Hiiri): Yes, mistress? What can we do for you, ma'am?
Hiiri (to Carver): I want you to find this Delphine Delacroix. I would like to meet with a former employer of hers. It seems we may have a common interest. And, it might be mutually beneficial to cultivate a relationship... And, by relationship, I mean, not stabbing them in the eye until AFTER I'm done with them.
Carver (to Hiiri): Of course, ma'am. That is what we assumed you meant. We shall find her for you, ma'am.
Hiiri (to Carver): Thank you, little brother... I have missed you and your wonderful talents while I've been away. Feel free to put Starling back together, if you feel the need for a traveling companion. I made sure not to punish her too terribly. I know how much you like her.
A short time later:
Carver (to Starling): Miss Starling? Are you back online?
Starling (to Carver): … AFFIRMATIVE… <insert name here>.
Carver (to Starling): We don't think so, miss. Pity. We never were good at putting things back together, miss.
Starling (to Carver): … I seem to be wrong way round… ASSISTANCE REQUIRED...
Carver (to Starling): Oh? Oh. Yes, miss. It would seem so. We shall fix that when we return, miss. We have someone to find for our mistress.
Starling (to Carver): ASSISTANCE REQUIRED… <insert name here>… Don't leave me like this… <insert name here>.
Carver (to Starling): We won't, miss. Next time you wake up, you should be properly sorted, miss. Good night.
A few hours later, at the docks; New London, Britannia:
Delphine (to Felix): Ooooo, fancy running into you here of all places, mon brave cœur. You look much better than the last time I saw you.
Felix (to Delphine): Bonjour, Delphine. I was lucky enough to find a soft touch to take me in. I must have been quite a pitiable sight.
Delphine (to Felix): Yes, it was quite painful to see… Are you, by any chance, interested in making a bit of fast money, mon cheré?
Felix (to Delphine): Heh heh. Depends. I'm still working off the favor from the soft touch. What kind of job is it?
Delphine (to Felix): It's working security. Ms. Greymalkin needs two more bodyguards for a petite soirée. She throws the absolute best parties. It pays quite well… And, you will LOVE the dress I'm wearing… I might even let you help me remove it afterwards.
Felix (to Delphine): Heh heh. So, what's the catch? I'm not usually your first choice for these high-society gigs.
Delphine (to Felix): … My first two choices were sadly shanghaied & arrested, respectively. Besides, you clean up trés bien & I need something handsome to look at. And, if I recall you owe me a bit of a favor… You do this & I'll call us even.
Felix (to Delphine): Mmmm. That I do. When is it? I've got a new captain these days. I'd rather he not take these stitches back.
Delphine (to Felix): In a couple hours. I can skip us there… Oh… And, I also need another bodyguard. Any suggestions, mon cheré? Like I said, my first two choices were unavailable.
Felix (to Delphine): ... I might. Let me go talk to my Captain. I'll see who I can wrangle up for you. Can you meet back here in an hour or so?
Delphine (to Felix): You are perfection, mon chére. I'll see you shortly.
Felix (to Delphine): A bientôt, jolie dame.
A short time later, onboard the Wicked Sister:
Felix (to Yukiko & Victor): Ahoy, Captain? Boss Lady?
Yukiko (to Felix): Good evening, Mister Baldwin. What can we do for you?
Victor (to Felix): You have really shitty timing, Felix. It's like a curse with this family.
Felix (to Yukiko & Victor): Oh? Heh. Sorry for that, Captain. Delphine just asked me to work to cash in my favor to her by working security for a party Ms. Greymalkin is throwing. I seem to remember your lot expressing some interest in her.
Yukiko (to Felix): Oh yes, we did… Are you going to do it?
Felix (to Yukiko & Victor): Seems like an easy enough way to repay her, and she needs a second body guard if one of your people wanted to tag along and dig up some dirt.
Yukiko (to Felix & Victor): Well, it should be someone she's never worked with before or really met… That leaves Chess & Fiona out.
Victor (to Yukiko & Felix): That's Nate, Aiden and I all out too...
Yukiko (to Victor & Felix): Heh. I guess that means me… Unless, you think Zoe could handle it?
Victor (to Yukiko & Felix): Heh. Do you really want Zoe in the same room with Delphine when she starts flirting with Felix?
Yukiko (to Victor & Felix): Heh. Not at all… We could send that Percy fellow with him… But, after all the stories I've heard that might be too cruel. Heh… It looks like you're stuck with me, Mister Baldwin.
Felix (to Yukiko): Heh. I'll count myself lucky, then.
Yukiko (to Felix): So, when is this party?
Felix (to Yukiko): In a few hours. I'm not sure where. Delphine said she would skip us there. Most likely so we can't find our way back.
Yukiko (to Victor & Felix): Great… I'd feel a bit better if we had a skipper tail us. Just in case, we need one. Victor? You think you can tail Delphine?
Victor (to Yukiko & Felix): I can. Delphine might be very good, but I'm better. Besides, you'll be with her, which will make it easier.
Felix (to Yukiko & Victor): ... Ah. So that's a family trait, is it?
Yukiko (to Victor & Felix): It certainly would appear to be… I need some time to gear up. I'll meet you up top in 20 minutes. One of you may want to let Zoe know what's going on, so she doesn't worry or interfere.
Felix (to Yukiko): Aye aye, boss lady.
A moment later:
Victor (to Felix): So, Zoe told you she was a skipper, did she?
Felix (to Victor): She did, Captain. Don't worry. I told her I won't tell anyone what she, or you, can do, and I won't.
Victor (to Felix): We would appreciate that. Do you want to tell my sister what's going on, or shall I?
Felix (to Victor): I think I'd better do it, sir.
Victor (to Felix): Remember: you asked to do it. Try to convince her to stay here, please. I'll see you topside. And PLEASE stop calling me "sir." It's more than a bit odd.
Felix (to Victor): Heh heh. Aye, Captain.
A little while later, in Zoe's quarters:
Felix (to Zoe): Zoe? Are you awake, pretty lady?
Zoe (to Felix): Huh? Oh. Hi there, sexy… What's wrong? Something's wrong, isn't it?
Felix (to Zoe): Heh. Nothing's wrong. I'm going to go get myself out of Delphine's debt. Don't worry. Your brother and Yuki are helping.
Zoe (to Felix): Oh… Is it worth asking, if it's dangerous? Would you tell me, if it was?
Felix (to Zoe): Well, if you wanted to know, I suppose I'd tell you. It's not dangerous. My job is to go look intimidating to room full of the highest of society. Heh. Avoiding Delphine's advances will be the most challenging part of the night. Yuki's coming along to spy on Mrs. Greymalkin, and the Captain is going to provide transportation if we need to get home tout de suite.
Zoe (to Felix): And, you want me to stay here, I take it?
Felix (to Zoe): That was what Big Brother told me to say to you.
Zoe (to Felix): If that's what Victor wanted you to say to me… Do you want me to stay here? Just so you know, I'm often really bad at doing what I'm told.
Felix (to Zoe): Heh heh. I may have heard that said about you, pretty lady. I believe I told you once that I'm not in the habit of telling fine, opinionated ladies such as yourself what they should do.
Zoe (to Felix): Heh. I do recall you saying that sort of thing… So, you have no opinion, at all? What if I told you I was coming with you? I can actually behave around Delphine. I'm not an idiot… I can't believe Victor or Yuki don't trust me.
Felix (to Zoe): Heh. Your brother did make that joke, pretty girl, but I don't think that's the reason he's hoping you'll stay home. Lady Greymalkin is the one that runs Vernian Industries as far as I know, & Franklin has been doing experiments on skippers.
Zoe (to Felix): I understand all that…Which means that he would be in danger, too. He's just trying to play hero. He's got a serious complex.
Felix (to Zoe): Heh. Heh.
Zoe (to Felix): Go on, go… Tell, Captain White Knight, that I'll stay here like a good little helpless girl.
Felix (to Zoe): Will you?
Zoe (to Felix): … Yes. No… Maybe…
Felix (to Zoe): No you're not. Come on.
Zoe (to Felix): Aren't you worried about disobeying your captain?
Felix (to Zoe): Heh. *You're* the one doing the disobeying. I told you to stay put like I said I would. :-P
Zoe (to Felix): Heh. You are really something, you know that?
Felix (to Zoe): I do recall hearing you say something like that.
A few minutes later:
Victor (to Zoe & Felix): I was wondering when you two were gonna get up here. Couldn't convince her to stay, huh?
Zoe (to Victor): He tried his very best, big brother… I'm just too stubborn.
Victor (to Zoe & Felix): I didn't think he would, but it was worth a shot. I thought maybe sexiness would work where logic failed. :-P
Zoe (to Victor & Felix): Heh. Cheap shot, big brother… I promise I'll stay away from the actual party.
Yukiko (to Zoe): Yes, you will, Zoe… Far, far away from it… I'm very sorry.
Zoe (to Yukiko): Wha--
Felix (to Yukiko & Victor): What the hell did you do to her?
Yukiko (to Felix & Victor): Don't worry, she's just asleep. She'll wake up pissed but safe. I knew you'd cave in. She's not trained for this sort of thing… Victor, can you go put her on her bed?
Victor (to Yukiko & Felix): Yep. Got her. She can't come with us, Felix. Delphine can track skippers and having the two of us jump at the same time would be like setting a lighthouse on fire. I'm not sure the inhibitors could cover that.
Yukiko (to Felix): You can be angry at me all you want but, you know it was the right call. As soon as Victor gets back, we'll go meet Delphine.
Felix (to Yukiko & Victor): I'm not saying it wasn't the right thing to do, I just didn't care for the method.
Victor (to Yukiko & Felix): I don't like it either, Felix, but we don't have time to argue.
Yukiko (to Felix & Victor): Besides, anything else she would have seen coming.
Victor (to Yukiko & Felix): And it doesn't hurt to have someone on the sidelines who can come find us if we get caught.
A few minutes later:
Yukiko (to Victor & Felix): Come on, lets get this over with.
Felix (to Yukiko & Victor): You're the bosses.
