At Casino de la Renard; Nice, French Republic:
Lily (to Ariadne): Good morning, Miss Hari. You look like you're doing much better. I'm so glad.
Ariadne (to Lily): Thank you, Lilian. I am feeling much better. Where are you off to today?
Lily (to Ariadne): Miss Persephone & Joseph are taking me on a fieldtrip to an art museum. She says I should learn some culture along with history.
Ariadne (to Lily): Very true. Have fun!
Lily (to Ariadne): I will. Bye!
Several hours later, in the Longfellow bunker; New London, Britannia:
Poppy (to Zoe): Feel up to a couple little errands in West Piedmont, honey?
Zoe (to Poppy): I guess so. What do you need, mom?
Poppy (to Zoe): There's a box in our bedroom closet that I need. I also thought you could stop into Chez Estevez and see the family, too. Emma was going to give me her journals from her time in New London. They may come in handy in our dealings with Hiiri.
Zoe (to Poppy): I think I can handle that. Is it alright if I stop at the café before I head back? I'd love a good cup of coffee.
Poppy (to Zoe): Of course, honey. Just don't tell your father or he'll insist on going with you. If I have to suffer without, so should he. ;-P
Zoe (to Poppy): Heehee… I'll go let Felix know where I'm going & then, I'll head off.
Poppy (to Zoe): Very good, honey. Now, I have to go see if I can talk your brother into letting Yuki go on a mission without him. Fun, fun.
Zoe: … I've never been so glad to be sent off on an errand, before.
An hour or so later:
Poppy (to Victor): Victor, are you seriously going to throw a tantrum about not going undercover to Cheng's with Yuki?
Victor (to Poppy): I'm not throwing a tantrum, Mother. I'm upset you want to send my fiancée to a dangerous pirate stronghold with no backup. I don't think that's ruddy unreasonable.
Poppy (to Victor): I am not sending her without backup, honey… I believe there may be backup already there. I just have to get in touch with them… You would give her away in an instant. And, if you remember, this is what she was trained to do. You, however, were not. Besides, she seems to be fine with it.
Victor (to Poppy): Fine. Clearly, I'm being stupid and hysterical. It's all fine as Moses.
Poppy (to Victor): … You're going to follow her, aren't you, honey?
Victor (to Poppy): No. If you both think it will put her in danger, I won't go. I've watched Dad get himself into far to much trouble acting like a stubborn arse. But you can be damn sure I want some kinda communicator 'ooked up in case she needs a quick blast out, awright? S'not like I'm totes useless.
Poppy (to Victor): Honey, you are far from useless. No one ever said that… I was hoping that you could spy on Cavanaugh for us. But, if you'd rather hem & haw and worry about Yuki, I guess we'll just have to find someone else… I wonder what Kian is up to?
Victor (to Poppy): ... That line won't work on me. You know that isn't true.
Poppy (to Victor): It's not a line, honey. We need to know what Cavanaugh is doing. The only way to do that is to get someone on his crew or in his armada. So, as the Captain of a ship, it's either you, Kian or your father… which one do you think would be best?
Victor (to Poppy): You know I'll do it, Mum.
Poppy (to Victor): Well, I was hoping you would. Your father is terrible undercover. He'd be shot in an instant & Kian isn't much better. Plus, you know what information is important and won't have to be briefed. You're really the best person for the job.
Victor (to Poppy): Heh. That's because he wants to be the next Dandy.
Poppy (to Victor): Well, yes. He's always admired your father for some unknown reason.
Victor (to Poppy): I think that's most likely because his father is a prat.
Poppy (to Victor): Heehee… Don't talk about other people's family members like that, honey. We sadly don't get to choose our parents… Feel free to talk under your breathe now. :-P
Victor (to Poppy): You and Dad are fine, Mum. You know that. Even if you do drive me mad sometimes. :-P When should I try to make contact? I'll need to speak to Felix. It will seem odd if a captain shows up with no crew...
Poppy (to Victor): You know I'm just teasing, honey. Mister Tesla is sending some automatons to act as crew for you. So, you'll look like a normal vessel. They all look human, so you won't have to explain the crew to anyone.
Victor (to Poppy): Oh. Good. I didn't want to have to explain to Zoe that I was asking her boyfriend to do something potentially dangerous. She's been a bit overprotective since his run in with Carver.
Poppy (to Victor): Just like you being overly-protective of Yuki after her bout of claustrophobia. I swear, you two are like peas in a pod.
Victor (to Poppy): ... I have nothing to say to that.
Poppy (to Victor): It's alright, honey. It'll only last a minute or so. :-P
Victor (to Poppy): You're hilarious. When do you need me to make contact? And where will Felix go while I'm making friends with murderers?
Poppy (to Victor): He can either go with you or come with us. It's his choice.
Victor (to Poppy): Of course. I'll speak to him. Was there something else? What did I do?
Poppy (to Victor): What do you mean, honey? This isn't a punishment.
Victor (to Poppy): I didn't think it was... You're looking at me strangely.
Poppy (to Victor): I'm just so proud of you, honey.
Victor (to Poppy): Oh. Heh heh. That isn't the response I was expecting.
Poppy (to Victor): I'm glad that I can still surprise you… Now, go on & see to your girl. I want you to make contact with Cavanaugh next week.
Victor (to Poppy): Heh. Aye aye, ma'am.
A short time later:
Yukiko (to Victor): … Victor, what's with the face?
Victor (to Yukiko): Sorry. I just had an odd conversation with my Mum.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh? Odd, like good or odd, like horrible?
Victor (to Yukiko): Just odd. I'm going to be spying on Cavanaugh while you're off spying on the Madame. I think she was expecting... I'm not sure. Some sort of fight, I suppose. She said she was proud of me.
Yukiko (to Victor): Of course, she is, watashi no ai. You're fabulous.
Victor (to Yukiko): I am, am I? You wouldn't happen to be trying to butter me up for some reason, would you?
Yukiko (to Victor): No other reason than the fact that I might not see you for a little while & I will miss you.
Victor (to Yukiko): I'll miss you too. You'll be careful, won't you?
Yukiko (to Victor): Of course, I will… Please, be safe. I'd hate to have to murder a whole fleet of pirates.
Victor (to Yukiko): In that case, come with me. I'll give you something to remember me by.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. Lead the way.
An hour or so later, at Renfield's; West Piedmont:
Nathaniel: ... I have a sudden and unexplained urge to punch someone in the face. The fucking hell?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Hey! That's my job.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Sorry, Stretch. Didn't mean to on tromp on your grounds there. What can I get you? Or are you here for River?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): My usual… And, can you give this box to Zoe? She's supposed to be along shortly. Mom asked me to drop it off.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Yep. I'll put it under the register. ...Hey. You still wanna meet Lily? We're gonna head back to Aiden's soon.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Of course, I fucking do.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh. Yeah of course you do. You wanna go to the house in London or hang out in Nice before?
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Whichever is easier… Though, I wouldn't mind seeing Nice. I hear it's nice.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): Heh heh. I thought you might. I'll pick you up tomorrow if that works for you.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Sounds good. Thanks for the coffee. Tell my slacker boyfriend that if he wants to see me sometime this week, it should be some time this fucking week... I'm interviewing new roommates next week, so I'll be busy. And, he needs to make a goddamn decision.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): ... Right. Heh. You got it.
Marlena (to Nathaniel): Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow.
Zoe (to Marlena): Hey Mars! Hug attack… Ooo, you're looking grumpier than usual (to Nathaniel) Hi, my sassy friend!
Marlena (to Zoe & Nathaniel): … Hi, Zoe. I'll catch up with you later.
Nathaniel (to Marlena): See you tomorrow. (to Zoe) Sassy? What the fuck does that mean?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Lively, bold, and full of spirit; cheeky… You know, YOU… What crawled up Mars' butt and died? Is she having trouble with Dean Winchester still?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Yeah, cuz that is EXACTLY how people describe me. Yeah. She's miffed cuz River won't move in with her. Plus, I'm sure digging up shit on Hiiri put her on fucking edge.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): She wasn't supposed to be reading that stuff. She was just supposed to give it to me & I was going to give it to mom... Damn. Our whole family is filled with snoops… So, why won't River move in with her? Does she snore or something?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Yeah. No shit. If you hadn't shown up so quick, I'd have read them myself. Whatever River's deal is, he isn't telling me.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Um, strange question... In this timeline, did he already run off for a couple years & come back?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Oh. Shit. I dunno. I assumed so, but maybe not. Do you think I should talk to him? Shit. What the fuck would I say?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): I don't know... Sorry. I have a tendency just to blunder into that stuff so I have no idea.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Ohhh son of a dick. That is gonna be messy. And she doesn't have Yoyo this time around... Maybe I should just threaten him. I think I could do that.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): She might not have Yoyo but she's got you... And, you're our sassy gay friend. ;-p ... Don't kill me! I'll bleed all over this clean floor.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): I'll sassy gay friend your scrawny goth ass all the way back to New fucking London!
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Aaaaaah. Alright, alright. I'm going. Geez, did your bedazzler run out of sequins or something?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): What? Just cuz I like dick I gotta be the homo version of a step-n-fetch?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): ... I have no words.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): You shouldn't. Get fucking lost 'fore I give in to your expectations and decide to style your fucking hair.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Heehee. I'll catch you later.
