Onboard the Wicked Sister:
Zoe: Hey guys! I made gumbo for whoever is hungry.
Yukiko (to Zoe): … I'm not sure I know what that is, Zoe. I think I'll pass for right now. I've got work to do in the engine room.
Una (to Zoe): Thank you, Zoe. I'm quite famished… Let me just finish up here.
Zoe (to Yukiko & Una): Okay. The food'll be waiting when you're ready for it.
A short time later, in the galley:
Felix (to Zoe): You are an angel, pretty lady. I'm starving. Heh heh. I fear we may have to force feed your brother.
Zoe (to Felix): Why? What's wrong with him? Is he okay?
Felix (to Zoe): I'm sure he's fine, but when I tried to get him to come down for food, he said he'd eat later. I've never seen him skip a meal.
Zoe (to Felix): Heh. He doesn't normally… I think he's a little nervous. I'll bring up a bowl of food to him in a little bit. Here, you go.
Felix (to Zoe): Don't see what he has to be nervous about. He seems to be doing fine. ... Good lord! This is outstanding. I don't think I've ever eaten so well in my life. Heh. You're going to lose all interest in me when I'm fat.
Zoe (to Felix): I highly doubt that you could ever get fat. I'm glad you like it… It's my ow--Aunt's special recipe.
Felix (to Zoe): Ha! I'm sure I could get fat if I had the opportunity. I never have before, but I'm willing to try. ;-)
Zoe (to Felix): Heh. I'm not sure what to say to that.
Felix (to Zoe): Well the rest of the crew had best hurry, or I'll be trying to get fat with this meal alone.
Zoe (to Felix): Well, don't do that. I was hoping we could take a walk topside after you're done eating. I wanted to go look at the stars.
Yukiko (to Felix & Zoe): Alright. I've come to eat this… gummo.
Zoe (to Yukiko): Heehee. It's gumbo. Here. When you're done. Will you take a bowl to Victor? He's still on the bridge.
Yukiko (to Zoe & Felix): … It looks very interesting, Zoe. Thank you.
Felix (to Yukiko & Zoe): It's very good. You're lucky you showed up when you did, boss lady. There might not have been any left.
Zoe (to Yukiko): You don't like it?
Yukiko (to Zoe & Felix): No, no. It's quite good. I've just never had anything like it before. I didn't mean to interrupt. I'll go take a bowl to Victor before his hands fuse to the control panel… It IS a lovely night for a stroll topside. The sky is very pretty. ;-)
Felix (to Zoe): I think she might be suggesting we go for that walk.
Zoe (to Felix): Yeah, she's real subtle… We don't have to if you don't want to. I can go up by myself.
Felix (to Zoe): Heh. Now what precisely about that doesn't sound enjoyable to me, pretty girl?
Zoe (to Felix): You are a silver-tongued devil, you know that… Can I ask you a question?
Felix (to Zoe): You know you can ask me whatever you like.
Zoe (to Felix): Heh… You say that now… Look, I know you've got a hang up about relationships and the whole lo-- L word thing, but I'd like to know where we stand… Are we just fooling around or will you be my boyfriend?
Felix (to Zoe): ... That's a legit question, pretty lady. I don't know, to tell you the truth. I've never been here before. I don't think of you as someone I'm "just" fooling about with, if it tells you anything.
Zoe (to Felix): Well, that's good because I don't think of you that way, either. But, I'm guessing you already knew that from my previous outbursts.
Felix (to Zoe): Heh heh heh. I might have suspected that.
Zoe (to Felix): So, will you be my boyfriend? I know it's probably silly & juvenile but I hate not knowing what to say when people ask… Not that people ask. God, now I'm being a babbling idiot. Sorry.
Felix (to Zoe): I... I certainly don't mind, pretty lady, but I'm a long ways away from being able to court you or take you out properly.
Zoe (to Felix): Heehee… Would you really want to waste all that kind of stuff on me, anyway?
Felix (to Zoe): Why wouldn't I?
Zoe (to Felix): Oh, um… I don't know how to answer that.
Felix (to Zoe): Heh heh. So I see. You're going to have to get better at taking compliments, you know that?
Zoe (to Felix): Heh... Well, to tell you the truth, I get a little overwhelmed when you do it.
Felix (to Zoe): Oh? Why is that?
Zoe (to Felix): … No reason. Well, at least, no reason you want to hear.
Felix (to Zoe): Whatever the reason, I can't fathom it. You are quite an amazing woman. With THE most amazing hazel eyes...
Zoe (to Felix): I have hazel eyes? … That can't be right. Emma has brown eyes... Are you sure? I mean, I thought I had brown eyes… Um… Shit. Nevermind.
Felix (to Zoe): Ha ha ha! Trust me, pretty lady. I'm QUITE sure. They're a bit greener than Momma Bear's, but not as light as Poppa's. Is Emma your biological mom? Heh heh heh. Don't look so shocked. You mentioned your folks took you in.
Zoe (to Felix): … Sort of… Shit… I'm like Una & Eva. Except with extra bits… Feel to run off in horror, now.
Felix (to Zoe): "Extra bits?" Ha ha ha! I know for a fact that you're all woman, Zoe. What do you mean?
Zoe (to Felix): Well, Una & Eva are made from just Emma… I have Emma, Poppy, Vincent and… Hiiri in me. That's how I can skip when they can't… This was a mistake. I shouldn't have tried to have a relationship with anyone on this side… I'm sorry.
Felix (to Zoe): Whoa. Wait a moment! Don't you dare run off! So, what? You expect me to dredge up every terrible story I have to tell, but I learn something unpleasant about you, and you're ready to run off? Oh... Is THAT what having me as a "boyfriend" means?
Zoe (to Felix): … Oh… I just thought that you wouldn't want to be with me after finding this stuff out… I mean, Hiiri did some big, crazy shit on this side and well, I don't know… Emma said I should be my own person but it's hard when you know you're just a copy.
Felix (to Zoe): I don't know anything about this "Hiiri" person, but I've met the twins, and I'm guessing Emma is your Auntie Emma. Sorry to burst your bubble, pretty lady, but besides seeming related, you're nothing like any of them. I'm nobody's damn project, Zoe. If you expect me to trust you enough to...fucking spill my guts, but can't trust me enough to do the same, then this is as far as we should damn well go with this.
Zoe (to Felix): I do trust you… That's what fucking scared me. With all your 'I'm the wrong sort' & 'courting' talk. You think you've done a bunch of terrible things & I've got a bunch of fucked up things hiding in my head. I instantly trusted you when I looked in your eyes. And, I probably shouldn't have but, I did… It wasn't a matter of trust that I didn't tell you. I was embarrassed. So, if you don't want to continue. I wouldn't blame you, at all.
Felix (to Zoe): You were... Why the hell were you embarrassed!?! Good God! Like you can fucking help how you got here... I was given birth to all right and proper, and my mother damn well SOLD me to pay off a pub tab. And I don't THINK I've done terrible things. I HAVE. I was on a privateer ship. Ask your Poppa or the Captain what that entails if you don't believe me.
Zoe (to Felix): I'm not an idiot, I know what it entails…
Felix (to Zoe): And...?
Zoe (to Felix): I don't care about what you've done in the past. I care about what you do in in the present & the future… and who you do it with.
Felix (to Zoe): So then why do you think I'll care about your past so much?
Zoe (to Felix): Cuz apparently I AM an idiot… You are amazing.
Felix (to Zoe): No, I'm not. I just have been around long enough not to get all riled up over something stupid that isn't even your doing.
Zoe (to Felix): Oh well, I'm sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I really do lo-- like you, you know? I'm just worried that you don't feel the same. I know it's dumb because you're still right here. But, I seem to be slightly dumb. It might be inherited. I'm also a babbling idiot again… I seriously need to shut up.
Felix (to Zoe): Heh. Well, I'm sure I could come up with something more interesting for you to do than babble.
Zoe (to Felix): Oh really? I don't know about all that. I do like to babble quite a bit.
Felix (to Zoe): That you do. Come here, pretty lady.
Zoe (to Felix): … Um, if I told you that I loved you, right now, would you freak out?
Felix (to Zoe): Heh heh. Lord... You weren't kidding about the babbling. No. I wouldn't freak. Would you freak if I couldn't say it back yet?
Zoe (to Felix): … Then I won't say it out loud, but I'm thinking it.
Felix (to Zoe): Heh. Alright. Fair enough.
Zoe (to Felix): Come on, sexy man. I think we could both use a good night's cuddle & sleep.
Meanwhile, on the bridge:
Yukiko (to Victor): Watashi no ai? I brought you something to eat… Zoe said it was called gumbo.
Victor (to Yukiko): Ooo. Gumbo! Thank you.
Yukiko (to Victor): Don't you think it's about time to take a break and drop anchor for a bit?
Victor (to Yukiko): It's alright. It's not that... Oh. It IS rather late, isn't it? Heh. Yeah, I suppose it's about time I took a break. I was just trying to put as much distance between us and the twins as possible. I can't imagine how they must feel right now.
Yukiko (to Victor): I'm sure they don't even know how they feel right now. They just need time. They did good work today. They'll probably sleep quite soundly tonight. It'll be good for them.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh? That's good to hear. Do you think it would be out of line if I asked Mr. Tesla to take them on as assistants? If they're interested, that is. Mr. Telsa can be a bit... Um, I think the kind word for it is...
Yukiko (to Victor): Peculiar?
Victor (to Yukiko): Ha ha! Peculiar works. I was trying to think of a nice way to say "terrifying." He's worse when left to his own devices. Think of Mars, but without the humanity. And kind nature.
Yukiko (to Victor): Wow… Heh. You may want to leave that last part out if you really want them to stay on with him.
Victor (to Yukiko): I'm sure they'll see for themselves. Heh. He is amazingly brilliant, which should appeal to them. ...He's not a BAD man, I just always got the impression he really, REALLY wanted to cut open my skull and dissect my brain. It can be unnerving.
Yukiko (to Victor): Well, it IS a nice brain. ;-P
Victor (to Yukiko): I knew it! You only love me for my frontal lobes, and not my body like a proper pirate.
Yukiko (to Victor): … Oh well, I guess that's nice, too. ;-)
Victor (to Yukiko): Nice? Just "nice"? Goddamn... I'm gonna have to institute a rule that we're not taking on anymore crew members that are better looking than I am. Zoe is going to be so upset when we drop Felix off at the next port.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee… Are you really worried that I've been secretly lusting after Mister Baldwin, watashi no ai? You really shouldn't worry about that sort of thing. I only have eyes for you.
Victor (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! No, I'm not honestly worried. I've seen how you act when you lust after someone. :-P
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh right… That O'Malley fellow is quite something. All smile, dark eyes & swagger… I bet he wouldn't ignore his lady when she's clearly trying to get him to leave the bridge with her. ;-)
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh! Oh my god, I'm an idiot. Heh heh heh. I'm sorry. Would you let me make it up to you?
Yukiko (to Victor): C'mon, I think you could use a back rub & a good night's sleep. You did a fine day of captaining today, sweetness.
Victor (to Yukiko): Thank you. A back rub and a good night's sleep sound divine, and the company sounds better. Watashi wa anata o aishiteimasu.
Yukiko (to Victor): Watashi mo, anata o aishiteimasu.
