Onboard the Wicked Sister:
Zoe (to George): Good morning, George. You're up early. Care for some breakfast?
George (to Zoe): Yes please, Miss Zoe... I'm not used to being on an airship. Is it always so rocky?
Zoe (to George): No, we've just hit a patch of rough wind. We're hoping to be out of it, shortly. Here. Drink this slowly. It should help.
George (to Zoe): Oh. Thank you...
Zoe (to George): Heehee. You don't have to be suspicious of it, sweetie. It's just Chamomile tea to help the queasiness. Heh. I've become the ship's cook and sometime doctor... mostly because no one else wants to & I seem to have a talent for it. Speaking of which, let me get that breakfast started for you.
A short time later:
Charles (to Zoe & George): Good morning, George, Miss Zoe. I hope you don't mind; Mr. Baldwin said I could use this as a crutch. The chair isn't very practical on the ship, especially when it's rocking... Are you feeling well, George?
Zoe (to George): That's fine, Charles. Care for some breakfast? I'm taking requests.
George (to Charles & Zoe): I'm a bit better now... I'm not used to air travel. I haven't done it much before.
Charles (to Zoe): I would greatly appreciate some breakfast. Thank you. Um, if you need any help, miss, I'd more more than happy to lend a hand.
Zoe (to Charles): Heehee. Be careful what you offer, Charles. I may take you up on that... For right now, how about you cut up this stuff?
Charles (to Zoe): Yes, miss. I really don't mind. I've been feeling a bit... I'm happy to be useful, and I like working in the kitchen.
Zoe (to Charles): Well, honestly, I'll be thankful for the help. We've got a bunch of growing young men onboard & a picky eating ninja. But, I don't want you on your feet too much. I don't want to deal with an irate Mrs. Esterly. ;-P (to George) Feeling better?
Charles (to Zoe): Heh. Yes, miss. (to George) Would you like some more tea, George?
George (to Zoe): Yes, thank you... (to Charles) More tea would be very nice, Charles.
Zoe (to George & Charles): Um, I don't know how to bring this up... In fact, this is super awkward but, if you guys are going to be alone and um, intimate... You'll need these. Just read the instructions & if you have any questions, I'll do my best... I'm sorry if I'm embarrassing you.
George (to Zoe & Charles): <cough, cough> ... Oh my!
Zoe (to George & Charles): Heh. Sorry, George. But, you guys were being pretty obvious last night.
Charles (to Zoe & George): What on earth are... Oh. OH! But... I-- I mean, we weren't... Oh.
George (to Zoe & Charles): …
Zoe (to Charles & George): Oh shit! I'm gonna go deliver breakfast to the rest of the crew... You guys sound like you need to talk. If you can stir the stew, Charles. I'd appreciate it.
Charles (to Zoe): Yes, of course, Miss Zoe.
George (to Zoe): … (to Charles) I'm not sure what to say, Charles.
Charles (to George): ... I, um I don't either, honestly. Heh. This...This is, um, a bit of a strange conundrum, isn't it? It does explain why Charlie was being such an insufferable arse this morning.
George (to Charles): Oh, I'm sorry, Charles. He has no real reason to be. We honestly didn't do anything more than kissing. If he said we did, he was just trying to get your goat. He seems to delight in upsetting you.
Charles (to George): Yes, he does at that, doesn't he? ... He doesn't care for me much. Especially now. It bothers him that you fancy me.
George (to Charles): I figured as much... I don't want to make this more awkward for you than it already is, Charles. I thought I was helping by suggesting dating both of you. But, I don't want to be a point of contention.
Charles (to George): ... Um, I mean to say... I-- I assume you still... Ahem.
George (to Charles): Spit it out. I'm not a mind reader... Heh. Sorry. I'm a little tired and cranky from the rocking ship. I like you, Charles, quite a lot. Heh. Clearly. Or I wouldn't put up with all this craziness. Charlie is just you but way more sure of himself.
Charles (to George): Well, it's easy for him to be, isn't it? He doesn't worry about being the decent sort. Or, I suppose more accurately I didn't worry about it at one time... Do you think Miss Zoe would mind if I added something?
George (to Charles): I doubt it. She seems to be pretty easy going… And, Charles, it seems only fair that I do this… Heh. We don't want Charlie thinking he has the upper hand, now do we? ;-p
Charles (to George): Heh... No. Not in the slightest.
A few hours later:
Yukiko (to George & Charles): Oh, pardon me. You must be our guests, Charles & George…Heh. I expected you to both be boys. Interesting.
George (to Yukiko & Charles): Oh! Where did you come from!?! We were just exploring the ship… If that's alright?
Charles (to Yukiko): Um... Excuse us. You must be Ms. Sato.
Yukiko (to Charles): You are correct. (to George) It's fine. I just didn't realize that exploring the ship involved so much… tongue. (to Charles & George) I would avoid the lower decks in your "exploring". I'm presently repairing some coolant lines. It's a bit stuffy and warm down there. I was just heading back after a quick break on the upper deck. It should be another hour or so.
Charles (to Yukiko): Um, y-yes, miss. We will. (to George) Won't we?
George (to Charles): Yes, of course. (to Yukiko) Thank you for the warning. (to Charles) C'mon, Charles, I'm sure your ankle could use a rest.
Yukiko (to George & Charles): Oh! Have either of you seen the captain or first mate recently? I could use a hand down here. I'd ask you two but, you're injured and you're too short. Not to mention, all that exploring you're doing.
George (to Yukiko): No, ma'am, I haven't seen either of them all day.
Charles (to Yukiko): Oh. Um, no miss. I haven't seen the captain since earlier this afternoon in the galley.
Yukiko (to George & Charles): That's just typical… Well, try not to get yourselves into too much trouble. I've got work to do or we might all explode in a fiery crash…
A couple minutes later:
Charles (to George): ... Well. That was something.
George (to Charles): Yes, it was… I get the distinct impression that we are way out of our league on this ship.
Charles (to George): ...Um. Yes. More than a bit. Heh. I suppose I should be glad I didn't end up on board.
George (to Charles): Do you want to go back to your room and rest or explore some more?
Charles (to George): I should probably rest a bit soon, but, um, I think I'm well enough to explore a bit.
George (to Charles): Okay… Well, the lower floors are off limits for the moment. So, where would you like to go? Zoe made mention of a library. Any interest in that?
Charles (to George): Oh! Heh heh. Yes, quite a bit of interest, actually. ...Thank you.
George (to Charles): I think she said it was this way… Um, can I ask you a personal question, Charles?
Charles (to George): Yes, of course.
George (to Charles): If you think about me in the all-together so much, why have you never said or done anything about it before? Were you just trying to be gentlemanly?
Charles (to George): Oh! I, um... Yes. I-- I suppose so. I didn't want you to think that I... I mean, I enjoy your company, and I worried...
George (to Charles): Worried about what?
Charles (to George): He worried we were gonna crack our nut and end up as bad as Achilles. Heh heh. He was half right, wasn't he?
George (to Charles): Damn it, Charlie! I was talking to Charles. Bring him back!
Charles (to George): Why? I can tell you all the same stories and with a whole lot less stalling and stuttering.
George (to Charles): I know but, I wanted Charles to tell me. I thought it might be good for him to actually express himself… Is this how its going to be? Every time I try to talk to him about personal stuff he tunes out & you pop up?
Charles (to George): ... I didn't tune out. I'm sorry, George... I suppose I hesitated a bit too long, and Charlie got a bit pushy. I... I think he was actually a bit afraid of what I was going to tell you...
George (to Charles): What were you going to tell me, Charles? I wanted to know or I wouldn't have asked. And, if Charlie doesn't ruddy behave I won't be doing anything with him again. Mark my words.
Charles (to George): He'll behave, I'm sure. I'm afraid I have to admit he's right. I was, um, concerned about my mental state.
George (to Charles): I'm confused... What does that have to do with you and me?
Charles (to George): Oh! I, um... Yes. I-I suppose so. I didn't want you to think that I... I mean, I enjoy your company, and I worried... He worried we were gonna crack our nut and end up as bad as Achilles. Heh heh. He was half right, wasn't he? That was some of it. The rest was, um, complicated. Achilles ran extortion scams using some of the brothels in Liverpool. He used to send me around to pick up the payments, and some of the ladies would be very distressed about... you know. Their employment. And I kept thinking about my mom, and what a hard time she had providing for me...
George (to Charles): I'm not a trollop, Charles... Nor am I offering up myself to just anyone who comes along. Bloody hell! If that was the case I would have accepted Robert Doyle's offer... Heh. Only, he thought I was a George in every sense. It was all a bit awkward.
Charles (to George): N-- no! I don't think that! Why would I...? I-- I just mean... I was associated with men who were...
George (to Charles): What? Boorish men?
Charles (to George): They were brutes and terrors! Worse than terrors. To women especially. I... I didn't want to be like that.
George (to Charles): You've got to stop comparing yourself to everyone, Charles... You are your own person.
Charles (to George): And my etiquette book said to treat a young lady properly and put her at ease you should... Don't laugh! ... I wasn't sure how I was supposed to behave, so I looked it up.
George (to Charles): Heh... Charles, get your head out of those ridiculous books. No one but spinsters & people who live in cellars read those things. I would think after all the time we've known each other you would have realized that I like you for being you. And for your information, if you do anything I don't like I'll ruddy well let you know quite loudly & forcefully with my foot... Just talk to me straight is all I ask.
Charles (to George): Heh. I don't doubt that in the slightest. I know it may not seem like it, but I'm more comfortable around you than anyone else I know. Which is why I worried so very much about doing something wrong.
George (to Charles): That's very sweet. And, you're very sweet. <yawn> And, I'm getting sleepy. Come curl up with me, Charles. Please?
Charles (to George): I, um, I would like that. I promise I'll talk to you straight. Heh. And I'll stop reading the etiquette books.
George (to Charles): Thank you… C'mon.
