Onboard the Wicked Sister:
Yukiko (to Zoe): <knock, knock> Zoe? Are you up and about?
Zoe: Huh? What? (to Yukiko) Oh, good morning, Yuki... Did I oversleep again? Last night's guard duty wiped me out a bit.
Yukiko (to Zoe): No, you're fine. I was wondering if you could do me a favor... without telling your brother.
Zoe (to Yukiko): Oooo, a secret? Yeah, sure... Wait. Is it going to get me in trouble? Heh. Who am I kidding? I'll do it anyway. What's up?
Yukiko (to Zoe): It's not a secret... yet. I just received a message from the casino. Mister Park would like to speak to me. Can you skip me there and back before Victor realizes we're gone?
Zoe (to Yukiko): Heh. Probably. But, if he's awake he'll feel me skipping & come looking for me. We'll leave a note saying we're off to do girlie things.
Yukiko (to Zoe): Girlie things?
Zoe (to Yukiko): ... Um, I don't know but fairly certain he won't ask because he won't want to hear the answer. :-P
Yukiko (to Zoe): If you say so... Come find me when you're ready.
Zoe (to Yukiko): Will do.
An hour or so later, at Casino de la Renard; Nice, French Republic:
Ji Yong (to Yukiko): Ms Kobayashi. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.
Yukiko (to Ji Yong): ... You're very welcome, Mister Park. What can I do for you?
Ji Yong (to Yukiko): I am going to be taking over as Chairman for the Bleak House. This will be a temporary, hopefully brief, arrangement.
Yukiko (to Ji Yong): Oh... And, you'd like me to stay here again?
Ji Yong (to Yukiko): That will be up to Mr. Rodchenko... May I ask you a personal question?
Yukiko (to Ji Yong): ... If you feel you must. I'm sorry. You've never asked me a personal question in all the times we've run into each other. It's a bit odd.
Ji Yong (to Yukiko): ...My apologies. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I was curious why you stopped working as an assassin.
Yukiko (to Ji Yong): Heh. Well, that's a bit of a tricky question. It wasn't really by choice. I had to fake my death after my last mission went a bit topsy-turvy. I was blacklisted & a hit put out on me. So, as far as the ISS knows I'm dead. I had to find a new line of work... So, here I am working as a mechanic on an airship. I don't regret the decision most of the time.
Ji Yong (to Yukiko): Most of the time?
Yukiko (to Ji Yong): ... Yeah. Zoe teases me that I'm a bit of a "Danger Junkie" because of my former occupation & that was one of the reasons why I always jump at the chance to do something different or dangerous. I'm not good at routine according to her. I have to admit that she might not be wrong. Though, I'd never tell her that. She's already got a big enough ego.
Ji Yong (to Yukiko): ...Yes, I can understand that. I have a proposal for you, then. There is some concern over my return to the Bleak House. I would be grateful if I had an ally with me.
Yukiko (to Ji Yong): HAHAHA-- Oh wait, you're not kidding, are you? You consider me an ally? I'm flattered. It wasn't too long ago that we were both trying to kill each other for various reasons... I would be honored to go with you. Kuso! Victor is not going to like this at all.
Ji Yong (to Yukiko): True, but that was for work...You don't have to do this, Ms Kobayashi.
Yukiko (to Ji Yong): Yes, I do. I owe you & I always pay my debts.
Ji Yong (to Yukiko): ... As you say. I know Hari and my brother will appreciate knowing someone will be assuring that I come home.
Yukiko (to Ji Yong): You have a family now, Mister Park. Of course, I'll help you come back to them. When do you want to go? I'll need a day or so to get ready.
Ji Yong (to Yukiko): We have 5 days.
Yukiko (to Ji Yong): Alright. I'll be back here in plenty of time. I need to get back to the ship… I hope Zoe hasn't gotten herself in trouble.
Ji Yong (to Yukiko): ...Yes. Her family does seem to have a knack for it, don't they?
Yukiko (to Ji Yong): You have absolutely no idea… I'll see you soon.
Several hours later, onboard the Wicked Sister:
Zoe (to Yukiko): Oof… And, here we are back onboard the ship with no one any wiser. Damn. I need a nap.
Yukiko (to Zoe): Thank you, Zoe, for your help.
Zoe (to Yukiko): You're welcome… Are you going to tell me what that was all about?
Yukiko (to Zoe): No. You have a surprisingly big mouth.
Zoe (to Yukiko): Heh. You would not be the first person to ever tell me that… Well, you know where I am if you want to chat.
Yukiko (to Zoe): I do & I will… I've got work to do.
A little while later:
Victor (to Zoe): Hello, bitty baby sister of mine. How went your "girl stuff"?
Zoe (to Victor): Just fine… What's with the terms of endearment? Hoping to get some dirt on your girlfriend?
Victor (to Zoe): Well, if I was, you'd be the one to ask, wouldn't you? Why? Have you GOT dirt to dish?
Zoe (to Victor): … I'm not sure I should say.
Victor (to Zoe): Ha ha ha! Which totes means yes. How the ruddy hell have you managed to survive with OUR bloody mum?
Zoe (to Victor): Mostly by talking a lot and not saying anything. Distraction technique I picked up from dad… Heh. It's funny to have experienced it from both sides.
Victor (to Zoe): So long as you've got a plan. So what is Yuki planning on doing that she doesn't want me shoving my beak in? Something stupid? Something dangerous? Something dangerously stupid?
Zoe (to Victor): Heh. Probably. But, she honestly wouldn't tell me. Said I had a big mouth. The only thing I know for sure is that she met with Mister Park at the casino. They spoke for quite awhile and then we did girlie stuff. She bought a couple undergarments that I really wish I didn't see because it just dawned on me why she bought them... And, now I want to wash my brain & forget I ever saw that… Sheesh, it really sucks when one of your only friends is your brother's girlfriend, you know.
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. And you're trying to distract me from the fact she had a meeting with Mr. Park with all your talk of girlie under things. Not that I mind, of course. And where do you get off being scandalized? Like you and Mr. Baldwin are any better. :-p
Zoe (to Victor): Yeah well, I doubt very much that you & Felix have gone underwear shopping together… Or have you? :-P Because if you have then you guys have a totes weird friendship. And um, that reminds me, I should buy him some warmer shirts. I took her to Paris on the other side, by the by. Undergarments are much tinier over there… Picture that now & stop trying to grill me. I really don't know anything else.
Victor (to Zoe): Ha ha ha! All right. Fair enough. I'll let you alone, and go see if I can find out about these scandalous buntings.
Zoe (to Victor): … Don't you have some captaining to do?
Victor (to Zoe): Actually, I do. I'll just go relieve your young gentleman, shall I? So you two can discuss the under things YOU bought. ;-)
Zoe (to Victor): … I'm certainly not going to complain about that. Yuki is in the engine room, FYI.
Victor (to Zoe): Cheers, Zoe.
A little while later, in the engine room:
Victor (to Yukiko): So, here's where you're hiding from me.
Yukiko (to Victor): I haven't been hiding. I was fixing that damn capacitor coupling that keeps coming loose for some inexplicable reason...
Victor (to Yukiko): It's the right one, isn't it? ... Oi! You sneaky little... Here's your problem. Why is THAT where you want your nest, Risu?
Yukiko (to Victor): That damn-- Do you think anyone will notice if I make squirrel stew?
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh heh. I think Zoe might notice, yeah. Besides she's a bitty, ickle thing. It'd be a very thin stew. She's looking for someplace to hibernate, I'll bet. We'll fix her summit. Heh. Far, FAR away from the engines.
Yukiko (to Risu): Heh. Lucky for you, rat... (to Victor) So, did you come down here because you couldn't get any info out your sister?
Victor (to Yukiko): Something like that. I got a bit, then she tried to distract me with talk of very tiny under things.
Yukiko (to Victor): I was planning on talking to you & I didn't want bigmouth to tell you first... Mr Park asked me to accompany him on a business trip. He needs someone he trusts to watch his back... I said yes. Before you start hollering, I owe him my life. He saved my life twice & one of them was from himself. He's hoping the trip won't last too long. He did just get married & have children, recently.
Victor (to Yukiko): What do you mean? He saved you from... Someone sent Mr. Park after you!?! Bloody 'ell...
Yukiko (to Victor): No. We were both sent after the same person. We fought. He could have killed me but he chose not to. I think my age threw him.
Victor (to Yukiko): Yeah... Not the sort of behavior you expect from an agent of the Bleak House, is it?
Yukiko (to Victor): It was quite a shock. I think he went to work for Mr Rodchenko shortly after that.
Victor (to Yukiko): Well, if Mr. Park needs a sharp set of eyes on his side, and you think it'll make you square... Um, I know this is what you do, and I trust you know best how good you are at it, but... You'll be careful, yeah?
Yukiko (to Victor): Of course. You're not rid of me that easily, Victor Harrison Potter.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. I hope to hell not. I've got plans for you, Miss Yukiko Kobayashi.
