At Aiden's house; New London, Britannia:
Charles (to Persephone): Is that breakfast? Thank God! I'm famished... Thank you.
Persephone (to Charles): You are very welcome, Charles.
Charles (to Persephone): Can I ask you a question? Is there a reason you and the... Mrs. Esterly are locking me in at night? You don't think I'm as dangerous as all that, can you? ... Miss?
Persephone (to Charles): ... Oh. It's just to make sure you're not walking about too much & Mrs. Esterly has been having some "unsavory" types visiting. She was worried they might be snooping around.
Charles (to Persephone): Heh heh. All right. Fair enough. I didn't think it could possibly be me. Thanks for the food, gorgeous.
Persephone (to Charles): ... Oh, uh, you are very welcome. Just ring down if you need anything, sweetie.
Charles (to Persephone): Will do.
A few minutes later, in the kitchen:
Persephone (to Mrs. Esterly): Mrs. Esterly... Charles just called me gorgeous & noticed we've been locking him in.
Mrs. Esterly (to Persephone): Well, bullocks. I suppose I'll go see who we're dealing with, shall I?
Persephone (to Mrs. Esterly): Should I wait outside?
Mrs. Esterly (to Persephone): ...Well, dear, I think it's up to you. You're going to have to deal with this as well, but it might be a bit uncomfortable.
Persephone (to Mrs. Esterly): Oh... Well, never mind. Just holler, if you need me.
A little while later:
Mrs. Esterly (to Charles): I hope I'm not disturbing you, sweetie. How is your ankle doing?
Charles (to Mrs. Esterly): It's been better. I'd appreciate a bit more whiskey if you can manage it. For the pain... Ma'am.
Mrs. Esterly (to Charles): Of course. Although, if I'm going to fetch you more to drink, I'd like to know who exactly I'm fetching it for.
Charles (to Mrs. Esterly): What do you mean, Mrs. Esterly? You know who I am. It's Charles.
Mrs. Esterly (to Charles): Hee hee. Good heavens. You must think me senile, young man. You're certainly not the Charles I know.
Charles (to Mrs. Esterly): ... Fair enough. I might not be the one you know, but I'm still Charles. Heh heh. Think of me as Charles Turner, the first. You can call me, Charlie, if you want.
Mrs. Esterly (to Charles): ... Well then, hello, Charlie. As you say, you're not the young man I know, so who does that make you, exactly?
Charles (to Mrs. Esterly): I might be different, but I'm not new. Not precisely. I've been here since the start, not that CHARLES would ever admit it.
Mrs. Esterly (to Charles): What do you mean?
Charles (to Mrs. Esterly): Ha ha! You don't really think a boy as skittish as Charles presents himself to be would end up with the Smith gang, do you? What on earth would he do? Alphabetize their knives? He ain't exactly the innocent he pretends to be. Our Mum died when we were 9, and I joined up with the Smiths to keep from dying in the bloody damn gutter. Don't suppose you knew all that, did you? If it weren't for me, we'd both be gutted by now.
Mrs. Esterly (to Charles): Well, that makes sense... I'm sorry, dear. Were you expecting me to be shocked?
Charles (to Mrs. Esterly): ... I guess I was.
Mrs. Esterly (to Charles): I'm afraid you've involved yourself with the wrong group for that sort of thing. Now that the tea has taken affect, Why don't you sit back, relax, and listen to the sound of my voice for a bit...
Charles (to Mrs. Esterly): ...yes, ma'am.
A few hours later:
Mrs. Esterly: ... Good heavens. That was certainly something. (to Persephone) Persephone, dear, you can stop skulking about. I'm finished.
Persephone (to Mrs. Esterly): Yes, ma'am… How is he?
Mrs. Esterly (to Persephone): I'm not sure... And I'm not sure this is the first time something like this has happened. I believe that's the Charles we know in there now.
Persephone (to Mrs. Esterly): … You think this has happened before? How can that be? He's been living with my family for all this time & I've never seen him act like this… Are you sure this isn't some trick of Maladori's?
Mrs. Esterly (to Persephone): Well, that's a possibility, of course, but when I hypnotized him, his answers stayed consistent. It seems he had a bit of a harder time when he was younger than we thought.
Persephone (to Mrs. Esterly): Oh… The poor little lamb.
Mrs. Esterly (to Persephone): Not surprisingly, it seems he lost himself for a bit after his mother died. I'm not sure if this break is due to Maladori's injection, or because of some sort of emotional trauma. From the way Charlie was speaking, he's been around for a while.
Persephone (to Mrs. Esterly): Emotional trauma? You don't suppose it has anything to do with his not being able to go back to the Inn, do you? He was very upset about that.
Mrs. Esterly (to Persephone): I think that might be part of it, sweetie.
Persephone (to Mrs. Esterly): Well, I suppose we'll just have to get to know this Charlie person if he insists on being around. Should we tell George?
Mrs. Esterly (to Persephone): I think we'll have to. I'd hate for her to stumble into this blind.
Persephone (to Mrs. Esterly): Heh... I wish I could say this is the weirdest thing I've ever been confronted with... But I have to admit, I never thought it would be Charles that was full of such surprises. He always seemed so wonderfully dull.
Mrs. Esterly (to Persephone): Hee hee. In my experience, those are often the people you have to watch the most closely. I'm going to go put a little something together for him. I'm sure he'll need it after all those questions I asked.
Persephone (to Mrs. Esterly): ... Fair enough. Here, let me go make us some herbal tea. It'll help calm our nerves.
Mrs. Esterly (to Persephone): Thank you, sweetie.
Outside Le Théâtre de Rose Rouge; Nice, French Republic:
Liesel (to Victor): Excuse me, sir, my shoe caught the rug… Oh, Victor! Fancy running into you here. I didn't take you for the theatre type.
Victor (to Liesel): Oh? Why is that? I can be the civilized sort... If hard pressed.
Liesel (to Victor): Oh? Are you being hard pressed? … Or would you like to be?
Victor (to Liesel): Heh heh. As tempting as that may be, I am exactly as pressed as I want to be. I'm here with my soon-to-be fiancée.
Liesel (to Victor): Oh? So, you're only soon-to-be engaged? I can work with that… C'mon, buy me a drink. No harm in a drink, is there?
Victor (to Liesel): Really? Heh heh. You've never had a drink lead you to some of the places I've had, then.
Liesel (to Victor): Heehee. I'm game if you are. Maybe, I like the risk… Besides, you're the one buying the drink.
Victor (to Liesel): As tempting as that may be, I'm about to be late meeting the girl I love. It was very nice seeing you again, Liesel.
Liesel (to Victor): Oh… Well, you can't fault a girl for trying… Here's my card, if you ever want to take me up on that drink, handsome. Enjoy the show! I know I will. ;-)
Victor (to Liesel): ...I'm sure. Cheers.
A moment later:
Yukiko (to Victor): … What the bloody hell is SHE doing here?
Victor (to Yukiko): Trying to get me to buy her a drink, I think... Why don't I buy you one instead?
Yukiko (to Victor): That sounds lovely, Victor... Why don't you get us those drinks while I go powder my nose? Be right back.
A few minutes later:
Yukiko (to Liesel): … Miss Rotmensen? I thought I told you not to return.
Liesel (to Yukiko): Oh, did you? I hardly remember. Besides, I'm a member of the Bleak House and what exactly are you? Nothing. You're not even on the registry. You're just all talk. Go back & enjoy your young man while you can.
Yukiko (to Liesel): … You are very lucky we are in a crowded theatre, Miss Rotmensen… Good day.
Liesel (to Yukiko): I am truly shaking. Toodles!
A short time later:
Yukiko: Ooooo. That woman… (to Victor) Oh? Thank you, Koibito.
Victor (to Yukiko): You're welcome... Is everything all right?
Yukiko (to Victor): You should stay away from that woman. Can you please do that, Victor? She isn't to be trusted.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Of course she can't be trusted...You're serious, aren't you? Bloody hell. Luc said the same thing, you know. I'll stay away from her if you want... Heh. Besides, there's only one woman whose attention I want tonight.
Yukiko (to Victor): You say that now… But, I know you. Please, don't just say you'll stay away from her & then go see what you can find out anyway. This is very serious. Ok?
Victor (to Yukiko): ...All right. I won't. Seriously. I'll keep my distance if I see her. I don't exactly trust her. Why do you think I didn't send my response to your letter with her?
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh… Well, I wasn't quite sure of her until-- Nevermind. It's not important. Thank you, Koibito… Why exactly are we here?
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh, Because, you said you wanted me to take you on a "proper date." ...Or was that code?
Yukiko (to Victor): Code? I don't know what that means… So, a proper date is sitting in a dark theater watching a bunch of idiots prance around on a stage?
Victor (to Yukiko): ... Heh heh. According to Zoe it is. Since you seem less than enthusiastic to be here, would you like to bugger off and do sommit else?
Yukiko (to Victor): Yes, very much so… Is there a place to shoot some billiards around here?
Victor (to Yukiko): I'm sure we can find a place. Billiards, eh?
Yukiko (to Victor): Yes. Fi taught me how to play.
Victor (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! Well, then. Let's go see what kinda trouble we can get ourselves into.
Yukiko (to Victor): Yes, let's.
