At the Casino de la Renard; Nice, French Republic:
Bianca (to Aiden & Nathaniel): Good morning! Your little friend in the room is one of Cora Pearl's young ladies.
Aiden (to Bianca & Nathaniel): Oh? Are you familiar with the young lady, Mrs. Rodchenko?
Nathaniel (to Bianca & Aiden): So she's a pro, then? Who the hell would send a courtesan to Victor's room?
Bianca (to Aiden & Nathaniel): Yes, very much so. That's Liesel Rotmensen. She's quite an expensive courtesan. So, clearly it was someone with money... Did he possibly make some new friends in the casino?
Nathaniel (to Bianca & Aiden): Damn. I'd say so...
Bianca (to Aiden & Nathaniel): If you'd like I can go return the girl to Cora Pearl's estate and find out who paid for the visit.
Aiden (to Bianca & Nathaniel): That would be most helpful, Mrs. Rodchenko... I'd like you to take an escort, if you don't mind.
Nathaniel (to Bianca & Aiden): I'd suggest someone other than Yoyo. :-p
Aiden (to Bianca & Nathaniel): Heh. Yes. I agree... Perhaps, Zoe?
Bianca (to Aiden & Nathaniel): Oh, darlings! Zoe would be perfect. Anyone who asks I can tell them she works for me. No one will think twice.
Nathaniel (to Bianca & Aiden): ...Why am I suddenly filled with dread?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Because, you're paranoid. Don't get me wrong. It's one of the things I like about you. ;-P (to Bianca) Thank you, Mrs. Rodchenko. We'll have Zoe meet you in the lobby in an hour.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. Or maybe I just know my family well enough to be a paranoid dick.
Bianca (to Aiden & Nathaniel): Wonderful. I'll go get ready.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh. Well, I don't feel comfortable sending Mrs. Rodchenko alone. Would you rather go?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Will there be tons of tittering women? Then FUCK no.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh. And, that is why I suggested Zoe. Perhaps, they'll discover where Victor is. Because, I'm not looking forward to having to tell his parents that we lost him. I realize he can take care of himself but your aunt is not someone to trifle with.
A few hours later, at Cora Pearl's estate; Nice, French Republic:
Zoe (to Bianca): … I'll be right back, Bianca. I've, uh, got an itch I can't scratch.
Bianca (to Zoe): I have no idea what you're talking about, Zoe… Be careful.
Zoe (to Bianca): Heh. Always…
Bianca (to Liesel): Come along, Miss Rotmensen. I want to say hello to Cora Pearl.
Liesel (to Bianca): Yes, of course. She'll be in the drawing room at this time of day.
A little while later:
Zoe (to Victor): Victor? You in there?
Victor: Go stuff yer bloody ruttin'... (to Zoe) Zoe?
Zoe (to Victor): Yeppers… So, who'd you piss off, big brother?
Victor (to Zoe): Heh... The madame's brother. He fancies himself quite a card player. He was annoyed a "foul-mouthed, gutter-born brat" beat him in the game... I figure the Missus of the house thought she could use me for summit or another.
Zoe (to Victor): Heh… I can only guess what she had planned for you… Are you okay?
Victor (to Zoe): Coupla broken fingers. They either got me drugged or there's some hell of an inhibitor field up... My cobbler's spinning.
Zoe (to Victor): I think you're drugged… Come on, let's get you out of here. Bianca is talking to the lady of the house.
Victor (to Zoe): Right. Oh 'ell... Thanks. Watch yerself, Zoe. These women are bloody ruthless...
Zoe (to Victor): Heh… We're not going out the front door, big brother. We're heading up & out. (to Yukiko) Yuki? Ready with the rope?
Yukiko (to Zoe): Hai… (to Victor) Don't make that face, Victor. You and I are going to be having a very long talk later.
Victor (to Yukiko): ...Oh. (to Zoe) Maybe you should just leave me here. To die. (to Yukiko & Zoe) I'm just kidding! Just kidding!
Zoe (to Victor): I'm not sure you want to piss off your girlfriend right now. She's been a bit murderous, lately.
Yukiko (to Zoe & Victor): Quiet, you two. When we get up to the roof. Zoe, skip us to the casino. Bianca has already left so we can safely extract him. Put this harness on, Victor.
Zoe (to Yukiko): Yes, ma'am… (to Victor) You are in soooo much trouble.
Yukiko (to Zoe): … You ready?
Zoe (to Victor & Yukiko): Yep… Take my hands…
A moment later, at the Casino de la Renard:
Zoe (to Victor & Yukiko): Oof. And, here we are.
Victor (to Zoe & Yukiko): ... Oof. Thanks, Little Sis... oh shit!
Yukiko (to Victor): That is for making me worry about you… (to Zoe) Zoe, get your brother to the doctor.
Zoe (to Yukiko): Um, okay… (to Victor) You're going to need some ice for that lip.
Victor (to Yukiko): ... (to Zoe) Thanks. Bloody hell...
Zoe (to Victor): Sorry about that, big brother. She's been in a tizzy about you since you first disappeared.
Victor (to Zoe): Yeah. I know how I'd feel if I were in her place... Thank you. For finding me, Little Sister.
Zoe (to Victor): Heh. It was a group effort, big brother, but you are very welcome. And yeah, I know how you'd feel but I don't think you'd punch her to express your concern. Dr. Crow will take good care of you. Want me to stay?
Victor (to Zoe): Heh heh... Oh. Ouch. She got me good... I'll be alright by myself. I don't wanna cause you guys any more trouble.
Zoe (to Victor): Which is Victor speak for 'Please stay with me cuz I'd like you to but I'm too stubborn to ask."
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. Yeah. Sorry. It's been one hell of a couple of days... They were planning on selling me off somewhere.
Zoe (to Victor): Yeah, that's the chatter Mister Rodchenko caught wind of.
Victor (to Zoe): There was that much chatter over it? ...Oh. Of course. They worked out who I was, didn't they? Shit! I'm an idiot.
Zoe (to Victor): Yep. Why do you think Nate, Yuki & Aiden were so up in arms about you gambling? Someone recognized you as the Dandy's son. Next time when someone tells you to keep a low profile will you bloody listen?
Victor (to Zoe): ...Yeah. I will. Sorry. I wish I could tell you I wouldn't do something this stupid again, but... It's kind of in our bloody genes, innit? But, I'll listen next time. I can promise that.
Zoe (to Victor): Good. How's your hand & your face?
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. Fine. Just fiiiiiine... Course that might be the drugs.
Zoe (to Victor): Heh. Want some help to your room?
Victor (to Zoe): I don't think I... Bloody 'ell. Yeah. A hand would be sparkling...
Zoe (to Victor): Stop being a dumbass, Victor. You're not on your own, anymore.
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. Don't I know it. If I were still on my own, I'd still be sitting in that cell, wouldn't I?
Zoe (to Victor): Yeah you would. Now get some sleep.
Victor (to Zoe): Hee hee... I Think Dr. Crow have... Had? Gave! Gave me something extra. G'night.
Zoe (to Victor): Good night, big brother.
Yukiko: … (to Victor) Oh, it's you.
Victor (to Yukiko): Sorry. Didn't mean to... I know you ain't the happiest with me right now. I just need to... Shit! Heh heh heh.
Yukiko (to Victor): Let me help you with that. You probably need to rest.
Victor (to Yukiko): Thanks... Between whatever they dosed me with and Dr. Crow's painkillers I ... Heh heh. Holy hell! Nothing bloody works. I'm sorry I was such a bloody moron. I... Ruddy 'ell, you're gorgeous! Sorry...
