At Aiden's house; New London, Britannia:
George (to Charles): Pssst... Charles? Come over to the window.
Charles (to George): George!?!
George (to Charles): Shhhhhhh. Not so loud! I don't want your nurses to know I'm here. Ms. Dvorak is sending me off for a bit. I wanted to say goodbye before I left.
Charles (to George): Oh... Do please come inside. You're making me anxious hanging off the ledge like that. I, um, I'll miss seeing you. If I'm not here when you return, I've most likely gone off with Captain Potter, um, the younger one that is.
George (to Charles): I hopefully won't be gone too long... I'm going to some bloke named Tesla's Laboratory. Ms. Dvorak said that I could be of use with some of his research... Will you come visit me? Here or there, whichever is easier? I don't like the idea of not seeing you again.
Charles (to George): Yes! Of course! I mean... Excuse me. I would very much like to visit, if you'll receive me. Stop acting thick as a brick, Charles. She said she wanted to see you. She'll start thinking we're slow, the way you behave. Heh. So tell me, Wildcat. Any particular reason you didn't want "the nurses" knowing you were stopping in to say goodbye?
George (to Charles): Mostly because I didn't want them asking a lot of questions. Heehee... You know, you don't have to be so proper with me when we're alone, Charles. I won't think any less of you.
Charles (to George): It's cuz he doesn't trust himself around you. I, on the other hand, have NO problems being improper...
George (to Charles): Oh! … Heehee... That was very nice. You should take lessons, Charles... Oh! I beg your pardon.
Charles (to George): I-- it's, um, it's quite all right...
George (to Charles): No, it wasn't. That was rude of me. I like the way you kiss.
Charles (to George): You do? Thank goodness! I-- I know I'm not as, um, overconfident as some people... Shut up! She fancies you, you great twat! God in heaven only knows why, but she does! She likes it when I kiss her like that cuz she wants YOU to do it.
George (to Charles): Heehee. You should listen to Charlie.
Charles (to George): I've had enough of your bumbling around fer a while! I'm buggering off! If you muck this up, it's on your head, Charles! Excuse me. I think... Heh. Yes, that's gotten rid of him for a while.
George (to Charles): Oh? So, you want me all to yourself, do you? I'm sure I'd be willing to oblige. ;-P
Charles (to George): Um, yes. I'm rather afraid I do.
George (to Charles): Good... Because I want you all to myself, too.
Charles (to George): Oh... Oh my. That was amazing! ... Heh. I, um, I've quite literally lost my breath.
George (to Charles): Heehee. I should probably go before we get ourselves in trouble.
Charles (to George): Oh, yes. Of course. I'm going to miss you terribly, you know. Will you write to me?
George (to Charles): ... You could come with me, you know? ... Though, it probably wouldn't be proper.
Charles (to George): You... You want me to come with you? Could I? I mean, I wouldn't be in the way? I shouldn't want to impose. And I've got... you know. Charlie needs to be considered.
George (to Charles): Heh. Clearly, I don't mind... And, I don't know, maybe the twins & Mister Tesla could help you?
Charles (to George): Um. I... I would like very much to come with you ...When do we need to leave? I'll need a cane or a crutch, I'm afraid.
George (to Charles): Heh. I can do one better! I have a wheelchair Ms. Dvorak used for a... ruse, of some sort. I'm supposed to leave in a few days. Ms. Dvorak is trying to arrange my passage with Miss Poppy. She's being difficult according to Ms. Dvorak. If that doesn't work, we'll be going by airship. I'll let her know you're going to be my escort.
Charles (to George): Y-- yes. Good. That will give me time to properly thank Mrs. Esterly and Miss Persephone, and pack... Heh. Not that I have much to gather up. Most of the books I've been reading belong to the Longfellows...
George (to Charles): See you soon!
Charles (to George): Oh! Heh. Yes. I'll... I'll talk to you later.
A moment later:
Persephone (to Charles): What are you plotting up here?
Charles (to Persephone): Plotting, miss? Why? Oh dear... I-- I didn't do something while I was Charlie, did I?
Persephone (to Charles): ... Were you being Charlie, sweetie? I just thought I heard talking up here. I was coming to clear away the breakfast tray.
Charles (to Persephone): Oh. No, miss. That was, um... George came by to say goodbye. She's going to work with someone named Mr. Tesla for a bit.
Persephone (to Charles): Oh... For the love of God! Charles, when your girl sneaks into see you, DO NOT tell the people she's avoiding. Secondly, she's not going on her own to Mr. Tesla's, is she? He's nice, enough but if she's not careful she'll be talked into something unsavory, like, a stasis chamber... I'll have to have words with Ms. Dvorak.
Charles (to Persephone): Oh. Uh... Yes. I suppose that's, um, good advice to consider in the future... N-Not that this will happen again, I mean! A-- and she's not going alone. She asked if I would accompany her as her escort. I, um... I said yes.
Persephone (to Charles): Oh? ... That sneaky little minx. She is terribly clever, heh, I actually fell for her act. She was concerned about your leaving without say goodbye to her... Seems she thought of a way to avoid having to.
Charles (to Persephone): Oh... Um. Yes, I suppose so.
Persephone (to Charles): Heehee. You may want to hold onto that George, sweetie. One day, she may rule the world.
Charles (to Persephone): I'd certainly like to try, Miss Persephone... Oh! Um, excuse me. Heh. I seem to have trouble discerning between internal and external dialogues lately.
Persephone (to Charles): Don't we all, Charles… Heh. Only your's now seems to have a voice and mind of it's own.
Charles (to Persephone): Yes... And an increasingly pushy personality, I'm afraid.
Persephone (to Charles): Well, you just push right back, Charles. Don't let him bully you.
Charles (to Persephone): Heh. I won't... Thank you, Miss Persephone. I'm very grateful for everything you, Mrs. Esterly and your family have done.
Persephone (to Charles): Oh, Charles, you are so very welcome. I know that Ma & Da will want you back at the inn as soon as you're able… I mean, if you're still interested, by then. And, I know they'll want to say goodbye to you before you're off gallivanting, so I'll see if I can bring them around later, today. I'll be back in a bit with lunch and today's newspaper for you.
Charles (to Persephone): ... Thank you, miss.
A few minutes later:
Charles: ... So the high and mighty Longfellows are coming over for a visit, huh? Yes. Behave yourself, Charlie. And they are *not* high and mighty. Whatever you say... You know, I have kept myself alive, out of debt, and out of trouble for quite some time. Which, I believe, is more than you can say when we did things your way, so behave yourself and stop pouting. Please... Fine.
A couple hours later, in the kitchen:
Poppy (to Mrs. Esterly): Hello honey, I see you've been invaded by the hurricane that is the Longfellow family. Heehee.
Mrs. Esterly (to Poppy): Hee hee. That we have. Don't just stand there in the cold, dear. Come inside! What can I get you?
Poppy (to Mrs. Esterly): Whatever you're having would be just fine, honey. I've been making the rounds checking on the family… It's hard to believe they're all grown-up and off on their own. It's both gratifying and sad.
Mrs. Esterly (to Poppy): Hee hee. I know the feeling all too well... Here you are. This should stave off the night chill a bit. How are your children? Doing a bit better than you'd like? Dreadful not to feel desperately needed, isn't it?
Poppy (to Mrs. Esterly): It's utter hell, honey… I did leave them a note on the galley table to remind them who's boss but it was just for show. I'm proud of them all but it feels like only yesterday that Victor was born.
Mrs. Esterly (to Poppy): Good gracious, I know. Sometimes, I can't figure out how on earth the young, serious little boy who used to read mysteries in my lap can be old enough to have a family of his own.
Poppy (to Mrs. Esterly): Heehee. Look at us being all sappy & maudlin, honey.
Mrs. Esterly (to Poppy): Hee hee. I'm afraid that's what happens when you get old. Of course, you've got quite some time before you're my age.
Poppy (to Mrs. Esterly): Heehee. You are not as old as you pretend to be, honey. You don't fool me. ;-P I should go and save young Mister Turner from the Longfellow horde before he is forced to join CLANNG in revenge. :-)
Mrs. Esterly (to Poppy): Hee hee. Thank you for saying so, dear. That's very sweet of you. If you're going upstairs, bring Mr. Turner a warm drink. That room is a might drafty. And tell Charlie he best have been minding his manners.
Poppy (to Mrs. Esterly): Heehee. I will, honey. I'm sure my brother & Molly have doted on him plenty and swaddled him in so many blankets that he won't be able to move & feeling like he's in a sauna… Heh. They're lovely people. Salt of the earth. ;-P
Mrs. Esterly (to Poppy): They really are. Charles was devastated when he realized he wouldn't be able to go back to the inn.
Poppy (to Mrs. Esterly): I'm sure. It's always hard to leave somewhere you love & especially when you feel like you belong there.
Mrs. Esterly (to Poppy): Especially after you're so desperate to find something like it... Good heavens! I'm keeping you. Go and rescue Mr. Turner.
Poppy (to Mrs. Esterly): Heehee...
A couple minutes later:
Poppy (to the Longfellows): Good gracious, you two! Take your ruddy brood out of here and leave the poor boy alone… (to Charles) Now, that they're taken care of. How are you, Charles? When did you get so tall, honey? Must be from your mother's side of the family. Giants were they?
Charles (to Poppy): ...Miss Poppy. I don't think so. Mum wasn't this tall that I remember.
Poppy (to Charles): Heehee. It was a joke, honey. Give me a hug!
Charles (to Poppy): Oh. Yeah. Of course.
Poppy (to Charles): And, you can stop trying to figure out my angle, Charlie. I don't have one other than making sure you're alright.
Charles (to Poppy): ... I'm very sorry, Miss Poppy. I thought you said you were going to behave. I did! I AM. I didn't say squat about all that hardware she's carrying, did I? ...Word travels fast in this group, don't it?
Poppy (to Charles): Faster than wildfire, honey… How much hardware, do you think I'm carrying?
Charles (to Poppy): ...At least two guns, something hard and heavy in your right pocket, and what I'm guessing is a stiletto in your stocking. Could be more, but I thought looking for anymore than that might be rude. Heh... And would seriously disturb Charles.
Poppy (to Charles): Heehee… Good eye, honey. For your information, there are three more… I'm sure you'll learn where they are if you stay with George long enough. Ms. Dvorak was the one that taught the trick to me. ;-)
Charles (to Poppy): Yeah? I look forward to learning then... You aren't all all what I was expecting. Heh heh. Though, I shouldn't be surprised.
Poppy (to Charles): Heehee… To steal a line from my husband. Let me guess, you thought I'd be taller, honey?
Charles (to Poppy): I wasn't expecting you to be quite such a scrapper. Guess we shoulda believed those tales Achilles tol after all.
Poppy (to Charles): Oh honey, only about half of them are true. More like 60%. No, 80%. Well, 89% are completely true. And, don't judge a book by its cover. You never get the whole story that way.
Charles (to Poppy): No? You've got a pretty nice cover, Mrs. Potter. Charlie! That's not pro-... Calm down. It's not like she's interested.
Poppy (to Charles): Not in the slightest, honey. You can stop trying to shock me. I learned from the best & you've got nothing on him. Besides, I'm more than old enough to be your mother & I don't believe your young lady would like that sort of thing. Or are you bored with her already? I mean, I could see how always having a chaperone would put a little dampener on the party.
Charles (to Poppy): ...Haha! Guess you aren't that easy to shock after all. I'll behave. An' yeah, having chaperone gets old. Doesn't it Charles? You know perfectly well that I'm not bored with George! And that I don't need the likes of you to chaperone me. The idea... I'm sorry to expose you to such unpleasantness, Mrs. Potter. Thank you very much for checking on me.
Poppy (to Charles): Heehee. I've heard much worse, Charles. I'm glad you're on the mend.
Charles (to Charles): Heh, heh... Guilty conscience, Chuckles? ... I have no idea what you're talking about. (to Poppy) Thank you. I'm physically doing much better.
Poppy (to Charles): Hugs to you both! I have your travel plans to arrange. Don't get into too much trouble.
