At the Longfellow bunker, The Tombs; New London, Britannia:
Victor: ... Oh ruddy 'ell. I'm in bloody trouble...
Zoe (to Victor): What's with the face, big brother? Want some tea with your pout?
Victor (to Zoe): I'm not... Yeah, alright. I'm ruddy pouting. Cuppa'd be nice. Thanks.
Zoe (to Victor): Here ya go. So, what's bugging you?
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. This what you normally do to get me to talk? Stare knowingly 'til I crack?
Zoe (to Victor): Most of the time... There's also the verbal assault method where I just start talking until you can't stand it anymore. Or you could just tell me, it's probably easier.
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. More'n likely. It's Yuki... I think she's gonna stop carrying on with me. Well, this version of me at any rate.
Zoe (to Victor): Why do you say that?
Victor (to Zoe): She gave me back her engagement ring last night, and mentioned that we had to decide whether or not it was worth it to go forward.
Zoe (to Victor): Well, that hardly means giving you the boot. Unless, there's more... There's totes more, isn't there? What dumb thing did you do?
Victor (to Zoe): ...I, uh, I told her that I loved her... During a bit of an intimate moment.
Zoe (to Victor): Oh? HAHAHA! Of course, you do, dumbie. You always have. In every bloody timeline... Wait. What did she do?
Victor (to Zoe): She went very quiet, said she needed some time and left.
Zoe (to Victor): Oh, big brother, that's exactly what she means. She was deeply in love with you, the other you. She's still mourning his loss. I think she wants desperately to have the same thing with you but, you're different, not in a bad way, just not him.
Victor (to Zoe): I know. I'm not blaming her for any of it... I know I'm not the bloke she wants.
Zoe (to Victor): You & the Yuki from your timeline only just met before we changed things. Give her some time… Did you really mean it when you said it?
Victor (to Zoe): Yeah... I did. I more than did. Which also means I'm allowed to be a little heartbroken, I think. Heh. Thanks for listening, Little Sister. I'll be awlright. I really should get myself moving.
Zoe (to Victor): It'll work out. Honest. Don't give up... Maybe, you should woo her? Just a thought. I mean, you're not the same but, maybe you need to show her what she means to you in a ridiculous display.
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. Maybe I will. What's the worst that could happen. She'll just slaughter me in my sleep...
Zoe (to Victor): She wouldn't do that... I don't think... If she does, can I have your room? :-P
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. Sure. Have at it.
Meanwhile, onboard the Wicked Sister:
Yukiko (to Felix): Felix, are the balloon lines secure? I want to test the engines for lift off.
Felix (to Yukiko): Should be, but it's worth checking a second time, I think.
Yukiko (to Felix): Okay. You take the port lines, I'll take starboard.
Felix (to Yukiko): Aye, aye... How are you holding up?
Yukiko (to Felix): ... I'm fine. Why do you ask? Wait... What do you know?
Felix (to Yukiko): Heh. Nothing beyond what my eyes tell me. You always get gruff when you're upset about something.
Yukiko (to Felix): Oh? Do I? That's good to know... I'm thinking of going to Nice on my own. I know I told Zoe we'd all go but I'm not sure that's such a great idea, right now.
Felix (to Yukiko): Oh no? No offense intended then, miss, but I'll let you be the one to tell her.
Yukiko (to Felix): I was planning on it. I wouldn't, what's the phrase, throw you under the cart like that. Besides, if you both want to go, she could simply skip you there... I just don't think I can be around Victor right now... It's too strange.
Felix (to Yukiko): ... Well, I can't say that I can fault you. Of course, I might feel a bit different once I've spent time on the ship with a no doubt very moody Captain.
Yukiko (to Felix): Would you prefer that I stay? Because, I believe the choice is simple. It's either dealing with a moody captain or dealing with me.
Felix (to Yukiko): Heh heh. Sorry, Yuki. I've had too much experience with the Captain in a foul-mood for that to be much of a threat.
A few hours later, in the attic of the Longfellow bunker:
Zoe (to Yukiko): Yuki! There you are! I've been looking all over for you. Why are you up here?
Yukiko (to Zoe): I thought I'd stay up here for a bit. I just need a place to think & I doubt your brother knows about it… Or does he?
Zoe (to Yukiko): If he does, it's not from me… Are you okay? I mean, really. Not, in the "I'm a tough as nails former assassin" way.
Yukiko (to Zoe): No, I'm not bloody fine! I'm upset, and sad, and confused. And, I really wish EVERYONE would stop asking me & just sodding leave me the hell alone! I'm glad that Victor is okay and that he's getting acclimated but I'm not sure I want to be here any longer.
Zoe (to Yukiko): … It's okay. You're allowed to be all those things about this situation. It totally sucks for you. I'm sorry. But, I care about you. I don't want you to make a dumb decision just because you're feeling hurt & confused. You guys have managed to find each other and work through the weirdness before. That can't be just a crazy coincidence.
Yukiko (to Zoe): You're very sweet, Zoe, but please stay out of this... I'd really like to go to Nice on my own, if that's okay with you. Felix wants me to stay on the Sister because he thinks it'll be less awful than if I go to Nice alone. I don't agree.
Zoe (to Yukiko): … Victor was in a pretty terrible state while you were in Qin… and, earlier. He thinks you want to end it with him… Do you?
Yukiko (to Zoe): Possibly… I don't know. He's not the person I was in love with, Zoe. I keep trying to pretend that he is, it feels like a lie.
Zoe (to Yukiko): … Oh… Well if you don't think you could ever have feelings for him. It's probably best that you end it now. No sense dragging it out. Best to do it fast like removing a band-aid. One quick yank. I'll leave you alone. I was just worried about you… Bye.
Yukiko (to Zoe): Goodbye, Zoe.
A couple hours later:
Victor: Hey, Mum. I... Heh. Oh fuck me. What am I bloody well doin' up here? I could just go actually TALK to Mum... Heh heh. I'm bloody daft.
Yukiko: Time to get the fuck out of here. I think I've waited long enou-- (to Victor) Oh, bloody hell! What are you doing up here?
Victor (to Yukiko): Holy fucking hells! Cor! I think you just stopped my bloody heart...
Yukiko (to Victor): Sorry… Zoe said you didn't know about this place… I am going to kill her.
Victor (to Yukiko): Woo... This used to be my Mum's room. I used come up here to think and, uh, sort of --heh-- talk to her a bit... Daft, I know.
Yukiko (to Victor): … I believe she's down in the living quarters with your father & Lucas.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Yeah. I know. I'm still getting used to that. I, uh... Heh. I guess I can try to talk to her. While I've got ya... Um. Here. I wan'cha to have this back. It doesn't mean anything by it! But... Well. Just don't seem right that someone else would have it. I can't imagine any version of me'd not want it to be yours. You don't have to wear it, o'course, but... Heh heh. I was thinking I was going to be so much smoother than this...
Yukiko (to Victor): Victor, please…
Victor (to Yukiko): Throw it in the river if you don't wanna keep it. I'm not taking it back, Yuki… If you don't want me coming to Nice with you, I won't. But I'm not about to give up either. Sorry. I won't. I can't.
Yukiko (to Victor): Why?
Victor (to Yukiko): Because I meant what I said: I'm in love with you. Hopelessly. Madly. Heh. And I'm a stubborn, stupid man... I can't imagine my life without you. You're an amazing woman. All you've done, and all you've been through... And you're still kind, and fiercely fucking loyal, and willing to trust...
Yukiko (to Victor): Victor, stop… I'm none of those things... I was on my way out the door.
Victor (to Yukiko): Bullshit! I'm right, and you ruddy know it! That's why you're scared. If you want to run off because that's easier for you. That's your right, but don't expect that I'll be happy about making it easy on you.
Yukiko (to Victor): I am not ruddy scared! Don't bloody talk to me like that!
Victor (to Yukiko): Yeah? Pull the other one!
Yukiko (to Victor): I have killed people for less! Why are you doing this? What's the bloody point? … You're just going to leave me again.
Victor (to Yukiko): If you wanted me dead, I'd be on the floor bleedin'. Wait... What did you say? What do you mean, I'm going to leave you again?
Yukiko (to Victor): You know exactly what I mean.
Victor (to Yukiko): I didn't leave you, Yuki. Not on purpose. I wouldn't do that for the world. You have to know that...
Yukiko (to Victor): … Victor? You sound different.
Victor (to Yukiko): ...Did I? Sorry. My head's killin' me...
Yukiko (to Victor): … What's the last thing you remember saying to me?
Victor (to Yukiko): ...I was asking you what you meant by me leaving you, wasn't I? No. Wait... there was something else.
Yukiko (to Victor): This is so confusing… Are you-- Which Victor, are you? Or are you both? You were talking like him.
Victor (to Yukiko): Was I? Oh... Maybe I'm both? Neither? All the Victors of all time eternal? I... Oh... Shit. I... I think I might be sick.
Yukiko (to Victor): Come on, let me help you. My hidey-hole nest is up around the corner, you can rest there... You weren't kidding when you said you weren't going to make it easy on me, you ruddy pain in my arse.
Victor (to Yukiko): I'm alright. Just a bit queasy... Thank you... Heh. You know, I'd hoped I'd be so charming that you'd be willing to give me half a chance. Cocked that right up, didn't I?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh... Apparently, the gibbering idiot is a much better approach.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Clearly. Fortunately, I seem to be better at being an idiot than I am at being charming.
Yukiko (to Victor): Well, you're a charming idiot, if that's any consolation... Can you make it up these stairs?
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. A small one. I think my delicate ego will survive. I should be fine... Mostly fine...
Yukiko (to Victor): Should I get help? Do you need anything? You're worrying me.
Victor (to Yukiko): Don't worry,Yuki. I'm alright I'm just a bit tired, I think. I couldn't sleep last night...
An hour so later:
Yukiko: Huh? Where? Oh, right... <yawn> (to Victor) Sleep sweet, watashi no ai.
Victor (to Yukiko): Huh? Mmm. Yeah. Watashi wa anata o aishiteasu... ...Zzzzzz.
