At the Longfellow bunker, The Tombs; New London, Britannia:
Poppy (to Vincent): I think the crisis has been averted, lover. Victor & Yuki are curled up asleep in her attic nest. They looked so adorable.
Vincent (to Poppy): Thank goodness. Things are complicated enough without throwing heartbreak into the mix. Poor kids... Hee hee. Let's go take a picture.
Poppy (to Vincent): Heehee. Oh, we should!
A few moments later:
Poppy (to Vincent): ... After you, honey.
Vincent (to Poppy): You just want me to go first in case Yuki throws a dagger at us. I know your game, woman! ...Shhh. Oh look at them! Too cute!
Poppy (to Vincent): Shhh... See, I told you, they were adorable.
Yukiko (to Poppy & Vincent): ...You're not nearly as quiet as you think you are. And, you're both very lucky I recognized your footsteps.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oops. We've been discovered... (to Yukiko) Sorry, Yuki.
Victor (to Vincent & Yukiko): Mum... Dad... I love you both, but seriously piss off! I'm trying to... GAH!
Vincent (to Victor, Yukiko & Poppy): We're sorry. We've taken our picture and cooed over you. We're going. Get a bit more rest.
Poppy (to Victor & Yukiko): We love you both. (to Vincent) Come on, lover. I'll fix us some breakfast.
Vincent (to Poppy): Ooo. Breakfast! I fear I may not be suited to stealth, lover.
Poppy (to Vincent): Heehee. You never have been, lover. It's one of the many things I find infuriating about you. ;-P
Vincent (to Poppy): It's a good thing I'm also charming and extraordinarily good-looking then, isn't it?
Poppy (to Vincent): Yes, it is a very good thing, lover. They're really the only reasons I tolerate you. ;-P
Vincent (to Poppy): Hee hee. So long as your properties are straight.
Poppy (to Vincent): Properties? Are you checking out my acreage, lover? And, first thing in the morning, too? I'm shocked. ;-P
Vincent (to Poppy): Of course I am! You've got great... tracts of land!
Yukiko (to Victor): ... Would you like me to kill them?
Victor (to Yukiko): Bloody hell... YES. Then we can all run off and join the Smith Gang. ...Heh. They never change, do they?
Yukiko (to Victor): I do believe your parents may be a constant of the universe. I can only imagine what they're going to be like when they're really old... It will be terrifying.
Victor (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! They'll be the scandal of the rest home. Heh...
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh... You seem different this morning, Victor. Are you feeling okay? You scared me a bit last night.
Victor (to Yukiko): I'm fine. Another Victor, this time from the distant future, moved in to my noggin last night, so it's business as usual... Heh. I'm alright. I feel like I spent a rowdy night out, but I'm otherwise fine, I think. Sorry to worry you. I'm almost afraid to ask...How am I different this time?
Yukiko (to Victor): ... Well, your voice for one. You had more of an accent before... You actually sound more like the Victor I knew. Wait. You said another Victor from the distant future... How many are in there? Or were you just teasing?
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh heh. Sorry. I was just making a bad joke, there's just the two of us... I am not finishing that sentence. I felt a bit like Carver. Guh! That is just *disturbing.*
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh!?! HAHAHA! You are nothing like Carver, watashi no ai.
Victor (to Yukiko): Thank the bleeding heavens! Carver is... Well, I don't have to tell you, do I? You've had your own run-ins with him... Wait. Have you?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. Yes, I have had my share... He's not crazy about me & Fi to tell you the truth. But since he left CLANNG after Hiiri disappeared, I haven't run into him very much, thankfully.
Victor (to Yukiko): Yeah.There was something about a scar I thought... Heh. Nevermind. Sorry. Do you want to get breakfast with me?
Yukiko (to Victor): Sure.
Victor (to Yukiko): Excellent! Come on. We can sneak out this way as long as that...
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee... Lead the way.
A few minutes later:
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Yep. It's still there. God save the never changing, ever crumbling architecture of the Tombs! Watch this bit here. It's a bit soft... Right down this back alley, and Bob's yer uncle. Here we are in the dirty, gloomy street with nary a glance, knowing look or arched eyebrow from my folks. This way. Who've they got working at the inn with Seph off ruining the minds of future generations?
Yukiko (to Victor): That would be young Charles Turner and a rotating bevy of serving girls that I haven't bothered to learn their names.
Victor (to Yukiko): SERVING GIRLS!?! The very idea. Heh. That must have been Aunt Molly's doing. Uncle Bernard is FAR too cheap. :-p Charles, eh? I knew a Charles Turner once... Poor sod. Here we are!
Yukiko (to Victor): They're usually quite busy. Your aunt has been trying to get the old barn in the back turned into a bar.
Victor (to Yukiko): So I see... Wow.
Charles (to Victor & Yukiko): Hello, Mr. Harrison! Ms, Sato! I'll be with you in a moment... We're a bit rushed today, I'm afraid.
Victor (to Charles): Ruddy hell! Charles! You look...
Charles (to Victor & Yukiko): Yes, I know. Taller. It's been most inconvenient. Please seat yourselves, if you don't mind. Be right there!
Yukiko (to Charles): Thank you, Charles. (to Victor) He's definitely gotten a bit taller since last I saw him. Heh. I bet the girls are chasing after him.
Victor (to Charles): ... Heh. Of course. (to Yukiko) I shouldn't doubt it... I think that's the same Charles I knew. Seems he's doing well, doesn't it?
Yukiko (to Victor): I believe your mother found him hiding out on the docks in some crates near the Falcon. She brought him here. Sound right?
Victor (to Yukiko): No. Well... Yes, actually, but the Charles I knew was in the Smith gang. He'd... He'd had a hard time of it.
Yukiko (to Victor): Yes, that would be the same one, then. He was hiding out from them.
Victor (to Yukiko): Bloody hell! Wow. What a difference... I like this version of the tale better. It has a much nicer ending. When I met him, they'd found him. Or maybe he'd never left. Achilles had made an example out of him...
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh... I think it's best I don't ask the details. I like this ending better, too.
Charles (to Yukiko & Victor): I'm so sorry for the delay! What can I... Is everything alright?
Victor (to Charles & Yukiko): We're fine, Mr. Turner. Just hungry. We'll have whatever you recommend.
Yukiko (to Charles & Victor): That sounds great... You wouldn't happen to have any of those sweet rolls Miss Molly makes, would you?
Charles (to Yukiko & Victor): I think I can find you some, miss. I know just the thing. I'll be right back with some coffee and tea.
Yukiko (to Charles): Thank you... (to Victor) So, um, I've made a decision.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh. Um, right. So... Um, am I happy or am I going to sulk?
Yukiko (to Victor): I think you'll be happy. Well, I hope you'll be happy. I can't promise it's not going to be weird & that I may occasionally freak out and need some alone time, but I'd like to see where you & I go from here, together.. I can't deny that I love you and the thought of not seeing you fills me with more dread than the idea of being awkward & uncomfortable at times. I'm not going to wear the ring until we decide it's time. Is all that alright with you?
Victor (to Yukiko): Yes! Heh. Sorry. Yes. That's fine with me.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh... Now, will you do me a huge favor? Can we please go get you some clothes of your own? You don't look at all comfortable in the suits. You look handsome in them but also like you're wearing someone else's clothes. I think you need to come up with your own style. What do you say?
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. It would be a distinct fucking pleasure.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee... Good.
A moment later:
Yukiko (to Charles & Victor): Oh! I'm sorry, Charles... That was terribly inappropriate. We didn't see you there.
Charles (to Yukiko & Victor): Heh. I assumed not, miss. Here you are. I was able to find some sweet buns for you. I hope you enjoy.
Victor (to Charles & Yukiko): Thanks, Mister Turner. It looks delicious!
Charles (to Yukiko & Victor): Oh. Um, yes. Thank you. I'll leave you to it, then.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee... Is it wrong that I find it funny to make Charles blush?
Victor (to Yukiko): No. It's hilarious!
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee. You should see him around his little friend, George. She likes to torment him mercilessly, it's very entertaining.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh heh. If he let's her, it's because he fancies her, I'll wager.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. He most definitely fancies her. His face lights up when he sees her & then he collects himself. Persephone likes to tease him about it.
A little while later:
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Well done, Mr. Turner... This breakfast is delicious! Do we eat here often? How on earth am I not a giant, fat mass?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. We only come here once in awhile when we're in town. Your mother worries for the Longfellow's safety if we're spotted here too often.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Yeah... That sounds about right. So, after I stuff myself silly, where should we go to get me new kit?
Yukiko (to Victor): Trubshaw's is always good. Your parent's have an account there or we could wander the market. It's up to you.
Victor (to Yukiko): ...Heh. Well, then, let's go keep me from being an embarrassment to you.
Yukiko (to Victor): ... You're not an embarrassment. Far from it. I just thought this might be easier if you were comfortable, for both of us.
Victor (to Yukiko): I'm not? I'll have to try harder then... Heh heh. I'm just kidding. Let's try Trubshaw's first, shall we?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. Lead the way.
Several hours later, at Trubshaw's; New London, Britannia:
Yukiko (to Victor): Wow… You're really going for the whole airship captain look with that ensemble… Um, is there a shirt that goes with that?
Victor (to Yukiko): Ha ha! What? Is it too much? Will it scandalize high society? :-p I think there's a shirt around here somewhere...
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. When I said find something comfortable, I didn't think you were going to try for the award for sexiest airship crew... Damn! Between you & Felix, we're never going to get anything done because of the tittering girls swarming the ship.
Victor (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! Alright, alright... I'm changing. You're sure you don't want me to keep this ridiculously tiny vest? ;-)
Yukiko (to Victor): … Try that Hussar Vest, instead.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh... I look like a gingery version of my father in this. Heh. That wasn't a complaint. I'd sort of forgotten how much I looked like my parents. Or maybe didn't realize it.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh… And, here I was thinking I liked it on you.
Victor (to Yukiko): It's a bit heavy, but I think my Mum would be quite disappointed in me if my clothing were all purely functional. Besides, a very cute girl at the shop told me she liked it on me.
Yukiko (to Victor): … Oh, really? I didn't see one… Heh. This is Trubshaw's, Victor, even the most fashionable looking ensembles are practical. Pull one of the bars in the front of the vest… Each one is filled with a lockpick. Very handy. ;-P It's why your mother always insists on getting her clothes from here.
Victor (to Yukiko): Well I'll be buggered... That is a ruddy handy feature on this... Ruddy 'ell! On this VERY expensive piece of clothing. Whooo! I don't think I've ever spent this much on one piece of... Heh. I suppose that isn't precisely true, is it?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. It's okay, Victor. Both your mother & I have an account here. Besides, I needed to get new kit for being on an airship and for working at the casino. So, it's covered. Did you want some trousers or footwear?
Victor (to Yukiko): These boots seem fine to me, but I suppose I'll need trousers? I mean, these ones are part of a suit set, aren't they? I don't suppose I've got a pair of good solid work... Is that what you're going to be wearing at the casino?
Yukiko (to Victor): Yes… Is it too much? Missus Trubshaw insists on dressing me in dark green. I'm not sure how I feel about it. It does allow for good movement and there's some hidden weapons in it, which is always helpful but--
Victor (to Yukiko): You are gorgeous.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh… Thank you.
Victor (to Yukiko): I didn't mean to catch you off guard, it's just... Wow. Not that you aren't stunning in coveralls and kimonos as well. :-p
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee. Very smooth… Mrs. Esterly tried to get me in a dress like this once before… It didn't end well.
Victor (to Yukiko): Because of your claustrophobia, right? You know, if you think it might be a bit too much for you, you can just wear trousers. Plenty of women do. I doubt anyone at the casino will mind terribly.
Yukiko (to Victor): I know. But, I'm supposed to be acting as a "hostess". Zoe said that most of them are wearing dresses. The ones in trousers are standing by the doors & I'm not really intimidating enough for that… Heh. I mean, size-wise. That's why I always have Fi with me. Folks are usually too busy waiting for her to get into a fight with someone, so I can slip around more easily. No one usually seems too concerned about the tiny asian girl. That's why she & I work so well together.
Victor (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! Yes, I can see Fiona making a very good distraction. Maybe, and it pains me to have to say this, we can find something a little less slinky that won't tweak you as much?
Yukiko (to Victor): … Maybe. But, first. Come closer… Closer… Heh. Now, tell me why you like this dress.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Dark green is a lovely color on you, & there is something incredibly appealing about a gorgeous woman in sexy clothes.
Yukiko (to Victor): I think I'll get it… A dress like that might come in handy if I need to seduce someone. ;-)
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Well, it would work on me, that's for ruddy sure.
A few minutes later:
Victor (to Yukiko): Well, I think this is me sorted. Did you find another dress you like?
Yukiko (to Victor): I grabbed three more. Missus Trubshaw insisted… Heh. I think I'm very much done. You look very nice. I see you decided to go with a shirt.
Victor (to Yukiko): I could take it off if you prefer I wear it that way. ;-)
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. Perhaps, later… Come on, let's head back. I'm sure your parents think something lurid happened to keep us out all day.
Victor (to Yukiko): ... Lord. They're probably HOPING for that. Perverts. At least I come by it honestly.
Yukiko (to Victor): … Heh. That you do.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh... Come on. I know a short cut.
Yukiko (to Victor): You're the boss… this time. :-P
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Don't worry. I promise I won't let it go to my head.
A little while later, on the street; New London, Britannia:
Yukiko (to Victor): …This doesn't look like a shortcut. We're going in a different direction. You're going to be a bit of trouble,aren't you?
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Who me? Do I look like I'd be trouble? Maybe it's not a shortcut, so much as a scenic.
Yukiko (to Victor): … I am not answering that. :-P
Victor (to Yukiko): So long as I look like *interesting* trouble. Heh. Give me your hand, and step up here...
Yukiko (to Victor): Alright.
Victor (to Yukiko): You can see the whole river... Well, most of it. Heh. The smoke's a bit too thick for all of it.
Yukiko (to Victor): Wow… This is… just… Wow.
Victor (to Yukiko): And, Mum's place is right over there... See? I told you it was a shortcut.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh… Race you there?
Victor (to Yukiko): Really? You think you can beat me there? Heh. Care for a wager to make it interesting?
Yukiko (to Victor): Yeah… No skipping. What's the bet?
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. I don't need to skip. I can do it the old fashioned way... What do you wanna bet?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. Winner decides.
Victor (to Yukiko): SOMEONE is confident. Alright, it's a bet. Ready?
Yukiko (to Victor): Yes...
Victor (to Yukiko): One... Two... Three... Go!
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh… Sneaky bugger.
A short time later, on the roof of the old Longfellow house, The Tombs; New London, Britannia:
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh! What? It's impossible! How the ruddy hell did you beat me? I know these streets bloody blindfolded!
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee. So do I, silly man. My mother used to make me run the rooftops on a timer. If I didn't do it in the time allotted-- Nevermind. What should be my prize is a way more interesting topic of conversation? Any suggestions? ;-P
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh... Worst I ever got was a beating from whatever bloke was chasing me. I'm afraid my mouth is far too full of crow to suggest an appropriate prize. :-p
Yukiko (to Victor): Well then, I think I would like a foot massage & a nice dinner prepared by you as my prize.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. A foot massage I can handle, but, uh... How nice a dinner are you expecting? Does eggs and a scrapple count? ;-)
Yukiko (to Victor): Nope… I want you to make me a NICE dinner… The old Victor could have done it. :-P
Victor (to Yukiko): Are you... Are you trying to make me jealous of MYSELF?
Yukiko (to Victor): Yes? … Can you really blame me? I'm starving.
Victor (to Yukiko): Well it's ruddy working! Heh... Right. I can do this. I've done it before, haven't I? How hard could it... No. Nevermind. I'm not finishing that sentence. Let me get dinner started.
A little while later, in the kitchen, Longfellow bunker:
Yukiko (to Victor): Shall I keep you company or would you prefer me to wait somewhere else?
Victor (to Yukiko): I don't mind the company, but if you need some space, I'll more than... What the ruddy hell is THIS?
Yukiko (to Victor): I have no idea… But, I think I want to stay and watch this. :-P
Victor (to Yukiko): Gee. Thanks.
Yukiko (to Victor): You are very welcome, watashi no ai.
