At the Longfellow bunker, The Tombs; New London, Britannia:
Eva: Mr. Franklin! ... (to Luc) Oh. Yes, of course, Luc. Excuse me. I think I was thinking something out in my sleep. What time is it? How long was I asleep?
Luc (to Eva): Not long enough if you ask me... I think it's morning. Would you like some coffee or breakfast?
Eva (to Luc): There must be others. She's clearly not the only one. He must have implanted memories. That's how she knew Mr. Turner... What was that? Oh. Yes. Coffee. That would be most appreciated. I need to clear my head... I woke you. I'm sorry.
Luc (to Eva): It's alright... Heh. You're clearly distracted. Let me go get us some coffee while you work through whatever's got you in a tizzy.
Eva (to Luc): It's that Viola girl. She and the little girl with her are clones, and I believe I know where from whence they came. Honestly, I feel foolish for not working it out before. To be fair to myself, I suppose can be forgiven. Una and I had been awake for a few days.
Luc (to Eva): Ah, so they're clones... Of who exactly?
Eva (to Luc): My current theory is they're based on the young woman Mr. Turner used to know. I could be completely wrong, of course. If she were cloned some time recently, that means Mr. Franklin learned how to duplicate memories. At least some of them. Of course, the other option is that she may have been a clone the entire time. Oh! Coffee. Thank you… You put cream and sugar in it. That was very thoughtful.
Luc (to Eva): Heh. I try... Do you think this may also be related to Felix's sister?
Eva (to Luc): What was I saying? Oh! Yes. I think it may be. From the notes, Mr. Franklin was clearly trying to replicate the experiments Professor Maladori used to create us. ...I wonder where he was getting the funding. Mother seemed to think it was too expensive a venture, and Hiiri... Excuse me... That's still a very uncomfortable memory. Hiiri had your foster mother on the payroll.
Luc (to Eva): Yes, I remember being told that she was getting funding from Vernian Industries... I don't believe she was happy about it. She was always concerned that the idiots who controlled the purse strings would interfere in her work. Which is why she preferred more clandestine measures for getting funding... Though, I think in her dotage, she started to appreciate the lack of footwork.
Eva (to Luc): That could very well be it. I believe Mrs. Potter has remarked on the effectiveness of "following the money."
Luc (to Eva): Heh. That does sound like something she would say.
Eva (to Luc): It seems she has a point. I wish I could go through Mother's paperwork. If Vernian Industries was paying Maladori, they would have had a record of it. You are very attractive. I wonder if it was that or the fact that you flirted with me first that made Una jealous... I need to remember to make a note of that.
Luc (to Eva): ... Your sister is jealous?
Eva (to Luc): Yes, so she says... Is that something I shouldn't have mentioned to you? I'll admit to being at quite a loss. I don't believe anyone has ever been jealous of me before.
Luc (to Eva): Normally, I think you refrain from telling that sort of thing to other people. However, it's very flattering but I don't really think your sister is interested in me. I think she may just be jealous of the attention. You both are clones of Aunt Emma after all. She was a bit of an extrovert in her younger days if I understand it correctly.
Eva (to Luc): I believe that's it. Whenever the two of us are together, she's the one more likely to receive attention from admirers.
Several hours later:
Egon: Why would there be a school in this hellhole? (to Winchester) I would greatly appreciate the removal of the knife from my groin.
Winchester (to Egon): … I'm sure you would. Who are you & why are you here?
Egon (to Winchester): I was invited by a Miss Poppy Meriwether… Percy showed me her proposal. I have to admit that I was intrigued.
Winchester (to Egon): … What is the password?
Fiona (to Winchester & Egon): I had to say, Fox. That's a strange way to show new investors a good time.
Winchester (to Fiona & Egon): Firebug, I'm not sure if you know exactly who this is… Well, I do. I'm a bit skeptical.
Egon (to Winchester & Fiona): … Ah, Mister Fox, I thought that was you. The last time I saw you, I believe you were hanging upside down from a street lamp while your sisters cut you down. You were strung up like a Christmas goose.
Winchester (to Egon & Fiona): I was twelve.
Fiona (to Winchester): Heh. So, you've ALWAYS had a thing for that, have you? The missus has been expecting Rotmensen.
Winchester (to Egon): Fine. Enjoy your meeting… (to Fiona) I'll be making the security checks.
Egon (to Winchester & Fiona): Thank you. I'm beginning to think I will enjoy the meeting very much.
Fiona (to Winchester): Watch yourself, lovely. I've made some "improvements." (to Egon) This way, Rotmensen. I'm to take you the long way.
Egon (to Fiona): Very good.
A little while later:
Fiona (to Winchester): Here you are... I'm guessing there's a reason the Magpie sent me to greet her V.I.P.
Winchester (to Fiona): We have history… I wouldn't have killed him.
Fiona (to Winchester): So I gathered.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen:
Charles (to Antony): Tony? Why are you here? ... Don't tell me that you've gotten yourself in trouble again.
Antony (to Charles): Nah! I been in the garage all day. The Cap'n's been teachin' 'bout --whatchacall em? C'mbustion engines. Figured you needed help in th' kitchen.
Charles (to Antony): Oh. Well, yes. Help would be most appreciated. Thank you.
Antony (to Charles): Thought that might be th' case.
Charles (to Antony): ... What is it you want, Tony?
Antony (to Charles): Well, you never told me 'bout yer bird, Mr. Turner. I gots questions.
Charles (to Antony): I don't care how many questions you got, Tony. Or how many potatoes you peel. I'm not telling you anything about my girl.
Antony (to Charles): Fine. I don't want t'hear bout you getting all mushy wif some addle-brained crumpet anyhow... I wanna know 'ow to get in good wif the gels.
Charles (to Antony): ...Wh-what? Ha ha ha! Tony, I have no idea how to offer assistance with that.
George (to Antony): Heh. Any gel in particular, Mister Tobias?
Antony (to George): What? No! None of yer bid'ness, poofter! She's not... I mean, NO. (to Charles) An' you do too know 'bout ladies, Mr. Turner! I 'eard 'bout you wif them workin' girls!
Charles (to Antony): Tony, if I had any kind of "sway" with the brothel workers, it's because I treated them kindly, like people.
George (to Antony): Heh. So, you like a young lady and you want to impress her, huh? Going 'round calling other fellas poofters probably not going to help… Is she one of the girls here?
Antony (to George): No!
Charles (to Antony): Does that mean you don't like Bethany? That's a shame. She was in here looking for you earlier.
George (to Antony & Charles): Oh? Bethany is it? She's quite a pretty one… I happen to know for a fact that she really loves tulips. But, if you're not interested in her then you don't care about that sort of thing.
Antony (to George): Yeah, well I ain't. So it don' matter. (to Charles) Sorry, Mr. Turner. I jus' remembered there's summit I gotta do.
George (to Antony): … There's a lovely flower cart on the corner of Garrison & Travers, Mister Tobias! (to Charles) Heehee. That was fun.
Charles (to George): Heh. It was a bit, wasn't it? I'd feel worse about it if a whole host of people hadn't teased me the same way.
George (to Charles): Yeah… Heh. I guess it'll be a real shame that Bethany likes Daffodils and not Tulips.
Charles (to George): George! Heh heh... That isn't nice. Tony is alright. A bit... Um... He's a bit Tony-ish, but alright. Besides, from the way Bethany was asking after him, I don't think it will matter what he brings her.
George (to Charles): Heh… She asked me out earlier. I had to politely decline because of my sweetheart, Charlene… I wasn't really expecting that kinda thing. I panicked. She played it off nicely… I think they might be trying to find out about us.
Charles (to George): Oh. That would explain why Tony was willing to help with the potatoes, then.
George (to Charles): Heh… That or they really do like each other, which would be just adorable.
Charles (to George): I don't know... He was asking me for my "expertise" with ladies. Seems suspicious to me. :-p
George (to Charles): HAHAHA! I can see why you'd be suspicious… Heh. Sorry. I'm being sent off somewhere for "safe-keeping". Something to do with your lady friend and my father… Some birthday week.
Charles (to George): Oh. Well that ruddy well... What was the word? ... Sucks? That ruddy well sucks!
George (to Charles): I know... I'm supposed to head back with Eva.
Charles (to George): When are you leaving?
George (to Charles): I don't know, yet... Am I going to be plagued with my father's projects for the rest of my life?
Charles (to George): No, I don't think so. Don't look at me like that that! It's true. If there's one thing Ms Poppy is trying to prove with this school, it's that none of us are defined by our origins. I mean, it is, innit? It'll be OK, George... Come with me. I know it's a bit risky, but... Spend the night with me? All night?
George (to Charles): I'd like that, Charles, a lot but you've been having a tough enough time to add me to the mix. I mean, Tony seems to think I'm a poof. If I'm caught coming out of your room. I can't see it helping anything.
Charles (to George): As of this moment, Wildcat, I really don't give a rat's arse.
George (to Charles): Heh... Well, when you say things like that. How can I resist? Lead the way, Charlie.
