At the Longfellow bunker, The Tombs; New London, Britannia:
Yukiko: Gah! What!?! Who!?! (to Percy) Percy! What the bloody hell are you doing sitting there? That is very creepy.
Percy (to Yukiko): Honey, is trying to stab someone really an appropriate morning greeting? ... Darn it! There's that waistcoat ruined.
Yukiko (to Percy): You're lucky that's all I ruined. What do you want?
Percy (to Yukiko): I have some intel that I thought you might be interested in, honey.
Yukiko (to Percy): Well, go tell Miss Poppy and leave me out of it.
Percy (to Yukiko): It's not for her, it's for you... Your eldest brother is currently in talks with "ninkyō dantai". He's discussing sending Daisuke to Nippon to be kobun to the oyabun of the Tanaka clan.
Yukiko (to Percy): ... And, why exactly is this my problem, Percy? My family thinks I'm dead for one & secondly, I'm a disgrace to the family honor and death was the only way I could possibly repair the damage I caused, according to my mother...
Percy (to Yukiko): I just thought you might care. That's all, honey.
Yukiko (to Percy): Yes well, I don't... Now, get the bloody hell out of my room!
Percy (to Yukiko): Temper, temper, honey. You're going to get wrink-- Okay, I'm going! No need to throw sharp pointy things... Sheesh.
Yukiko: I swear, when Mars gets that device of hers working, I hope she tests it on him... Maybe, I should suggest it to her? Heh.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Well, well, well Kobayashi... I leave for a wee bit, and you've got strange men coming out of your room.
Yukiko (to Fiona): That wasn't a man, that was Percy.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Heh. I know. Automaton, great ruddy pain in the arse, forerunner of bad news, usually... How are you, girl?
Yukiko (to Fiona): Heh. You're telling me... I'm fine. Really. How'd your mission go?
Fiona (to Yukiko): The usual: Chess got himself shot and didn't make a peep, but broke a nail and wouldn't ruddy stop whining about it.
Yukiko (to Fiona): HAHAHA! That sounds about right.
Fiona (to Yukiko): I will never understand that man's obsession with his nails.
Yukiko (to Fiona): Heh. He probably had dirt under them throughout his entire childhood... And, his manicure is ruddy expensive. I went with him once. I don't think I've ever spent that much on something that wasn't weaponry. :-p
Fiona (to Yukiko): Tsk. If he wanted to waste money on useless folderol, I've got some more entertaining suggestions for him. Ha ha ha! Which I'm sure he fears. So, since you're not dragging me down to the practice room, I'm taking it you've reached some sort of peace with your fluffy lad.
Yukiko (to Fiona): Something like that. Heh. Though, I think he's little miffed at me. I beat him in a rooftop race & made him make me dinner... It was terrible. Zoe had to come to the rescue & salvage it for us. Heh. It was funny.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! Well, next time you'll know better than to ask him to cook for you. :-P Right. Since you don't seem too keen on telling me whatever it is you've got on you mind, I'll leave you to it. Promised Fox I'd bring him a bottle and a nail file. As if the likes of me has a nail file.
Yukiko (to Fiona): Heh. I'll tell you tonight over a bottle, if you still want to know, you nosy brute. :-P
Fiona (to Yukiko): Heh. Seems a square deal to me. I didn't get into this business due to my shy and retiring nature. See you tonight.
Yukiko (to Fiona): See you then, Fi!
A couple hours later:
Zoe: Motherfucker! This was my favorite t-shirt! (to Risu) Risu, my closet is not your personal snack spot!
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. You've got to give her something to chew on that's more interestin' than your clothes. Here. Try this.
Zoe (to Victor): Oh, thanks... How'd you know that?
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. I found an abandoned squirrel pup in the park late one spring that I kept for a while.
Zoe (to Victor): Oh? Heh. You are just full of surprises, big brother.
Victor (to Zoe): Ha ha ha! In this family, I've got to find some way to stay interesting, don't I? Um, if you're not busy that is, would you mind teaching me to cook a few things? Seems I'm more than a bit out of practice. I asked Mum, but Lucas isn't feeling well, so I don't want to be a bother.
Zoe (to Victor): Of course. Whatcha want to learn?
Victor (to Zoe): Something simple. :-p
Zoe (to Victor): How about an omelet? It'll be a good refresher for you. We don't want a repeat of last night. :-p Come on.
Victor (to Zoe): Lead the way, boss.
A few hours later:
Yukiko (to Fiona): Took your sweet time getting back. Did Fox need you to reassure him that his nails would be pretty again? :-P
Fiona (to Yukiko): I don't want to discuss that daft bugger! What are we drinking?
Yukiko (to Fiona): Heehee. Fair enough. I grabbed a bottle of whiskey.
Fiona (to Yukiko): That'll do the trick. So what are we not discussing?
Yukiko (to Fiona): Bloody Akira! He's been talking with the Tanaka family about sending Daisuke to join them. The bloody Yakuza! I didn't think he was that bloody stupid! Daisuke just got married about a month ago… And yes, I know I'm not supposed to be watching them but it wasn't on purpose and no one saw me. It just pisses me off. And, Percy just had to tell me… Ruddy cold-hearted bastard.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Hell. Your brother is a right bastard, you know that?
Yukiko (to Fiona): Yeah, he is… He takes after our mother.
Fiona (to Yukiko): ... Fox was bragging about knowing a few geishas with connections. We might be able to arrange a few things behind the scenes to keep Daisuke out of the Yakuza.
Yukiko (to Fiona): That would be very good… I don't like my brothers but, Daisuke & his new wife deserve to have a nice, normal life.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Heh. Well, he is a a fucking twit, so there's only so much we can do.
Yukiko (to Fiona): True… So, you & Fox are doing well?
Fiona (to Yukiko): Whatcha mean by "fine"?
Yukiko (to Fiona): Fine, as in acceptable… I mean, I'm grouchy & dealing with a bunch of shite. You know, fine.
Fiona (to Yukiko): ... Suppose we could be considered fine.
Yukiko (to Fiona): Really? Just fine? You looked more than fine when you got back from your long ass vacation. What happened?
Fiona (to Yukiko): He's drugged, half out of his noggin, and talking ruddy nonsense.
Yukiko (to Fiona): Heh. He proposed & announced that he wants to have thousands of bouncing babies with you again, huh?
Fiona (to Yukiko): ... Not this time. He said something much fucking stupider.
Yukiko (to Fiona): What could be stupider than all that?
Fiona (to Yukiko): He kept insisting he was dying, and he wanted to make sure I knew his "true feelings." I didn't want to hear it. He's not bloody dying, for one.
Yukiko (to Fiona): What the bloody hell does he mean by "true feelings"? … He is such a ruddy poof, sometimes.
Fiona (to Yukiko): I can take a guess, and it's nothing that needs saying.
Yukiko (to Fiona): Awww, why do you hate it when people care about you & want to tell you so, Fi? … Heehee. I might be a little drunk.
Fiona (to Yukiko): ... Probably because it reinforces my suspicions that those folks are balmy.
Yukiko (to Fiona): Heh… Go ahead and ask me. I know you're dying to.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Ask you what? About your we little lordling? I already know. :-p
Yukiko (to Fiona): … What do you know?
Fiona (to Yukiko): Heh. That he was here last night, despite his terrible supper. And that grin gives me a good guess what you got up to.
Yukiko (to Fiona): Heh. Oh right, the grin. I can't seem to stop grinning when I think about it.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! So I see. That good, was it?
Yukiko (to Fiona): Heh. Apparently, having 2 people's experiences mixed up in 1 brain isn't all bad. I was a little worried to tell you the truth. We had a couple close calls while you were gone. I freaked out a bit. But yesterday was lovely, we spent the whole day together. He's a lot like he used to be but different in a bunch of tiny ways. I think I've finally come to terms with that.
Fiona (to Yukiko): You? Freak out? You don't say! Heh heh. Well, good for you, Kobayashi. Glad you found some use for him after all.
Yukiko (to Fiona): Very funny, Fi. You make it sound like I freak out all the ruddy time... At least, I can deal with someone telling me how they fee-- Oh. Wait. Heh. No, I can't either. Nevermind. Just continue to play house with Fox & stop stressing about it.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! None of us can. We're all bitter, broken bastards. Fox would be drinking just as much, and looking just as pale if the positions were reversed.
Yukiko (to Fiona): Heh. More than likely… I'm sure it's about time you went and checked on the daft bugger.
Fiona (to Yukiko): I should. Hopefully, he's either sobered up, or is too drugged to sleep. Why don't you go catch up with the Fluffy Lad? He's hovered outside your door at least 3 times since I've been here.
Yukiko (to Fiona): I think I just might do that. I'm glad you're back. I missed ya, Fi.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Oh lord. Another one! I'm getting gone before your sentimentality starts warping my brain as well.
Yukiko (to Fiona): Get out of here, you inhuman ginger bastard! :-P (to Victor) Victor? You can come in. Fiona was just leaving.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! Flatterer! Cheers, Kobayashi! (to Victor) Go on, wee Lord! She's been waiting for me to leave all night.
Victor (to Fiona): Heh. G'night, Fiona. (to Yukiko) Sorry to disturb you so late. Here. Heh. Zoe helped me make cookies.
Yukiko (to Victor): Thank you. You could have brought them in at any time. This is still your room too, you know. Unless you want me to bunk up in the attic? Or do you just like lurking?
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh. Heh... I suppose I could have. I, uh, I didn't want to interrupt... And I DO enjoy lurking.
Yukiko (to Victor): Well, please feel free to lurk your way over here.
Victor (to Yukiko): With pleasure... I enjoy being with you, you know. I don't need privacy. Not from you.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. That's good to hear... I love you, Victor.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh... Wow... I don't ever get tired of hearing you say that. I love you too...
