At the Longfellow bunker, The Tombs; New London, Britannia:
Victor (to Nathaniel): Hey, mate. Where's my... Ha ha! Ruddy 'ell! WHAT is that you're wearing? Where in the blazes did you get a CLANNG uniform? ...Wait. This is a sexy thing, innit? In a school full of CHILDREN, cousin o' mine? I didn't think Aiden had it in him.
Nathaniel (to Victor): Stop trying to high five me, you dick! This is all your mom's doing.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Ohhh! Thought you needed a bit more military fierceness to look like you'd been in CLANNG, eh? Heh. She's not wrong. You were strung pretty tight when I first met you. Had a bit of hardness to the eyes. Heh heh. When this version of me met that version of you, that is. At any rate, it's mostly gone now.
Nathaniel (to Victor): ...Yeah. It's amazing what happiness, personal fulfillment & not getting the shit beat outta ya once a week can do for a guy.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Awww! Don't make that face! I didn't mean anything by it. It's nice to see. I'm glad you and Wilkes are doing well. Say... What are you doing right now?
Nathaniel (to Victor): Nothing. Just waiting for your mom to put me on the goddamn tour for... Are you trying to fucking pick my pockets? <smack>
Victor (to Nathaniel): Trying and barely succeeding. -Here's your gum back.- You've been learning, haven't you? Excellent! Come along, Cousin Nate!
Nathaniel (to Victor): Why?
Victor (to Nathaniel): I'm supposed to be evaluating how sticky some of these kids' fingers are, and you'll be the perfect scary, hyper-aware mark.
Nathaniel (to Victor): Heh... Alright. Fine. Lead the way.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Cuz we don't want to make it too easy on them, do we? Come on. Let's go scare some kids. You KNOW you want to...
An hour or so later:
Zoe (to Antony): I swear, Tony, if you pinch my ass one more time, I'm going to punch you in the head...What are you trying to prove, anyway?
Antony (to Zoe): Heh. Only that you've got a fine arse, miss.
Zoe (to Antony): ... Yeah, I'm sure that's what it is. I think you're acting all manly & brutish because you're trying to impress somebody. Anyone in particular catching your eye?
Antony (to Zoe): ... Says who? You can't trust these gossips, ya know.
Zoe (to Antony): What gossip? I only just got here.
Antony (to Zoe): ...Yeah, well... Ya still can't trust it.
Zoe (to Antony): ... So, um, do you like people thinking you're a boy, Tony? Or do you honestly like girls?
Antony (to Zoe): Wot? Heh... Who says I'm not a boy?
Zoe (to Antony): You're lack of an Adam's apple, for one. Heh. In another life, I hung around with a ton of drag queens. And, for two, your pants are just a tad too tight which would be pretty uncomfortable if you had any tackle.
Antony (to Zoe): ...I dunno. Why's it matter anyway? Don't change who I am, do it? An' yeah. I like girls awright. They're better'n boys by a long stretch, ain't they?
Zoe (to Antony): Heh. Can't really fault your logic there... But why not just be a girl named Tony? I mean, this group of folks wouldn't care. And, you're safe here. Besides, look at Miss McGillivray. She's very much a lady and you don't see her prancing around in dresses and acting all lady-like. Actually, I think that might be one of the signs of the Apocalypse.
Antony (to Zoe): I never said I was one fing or th' other. People jus' don' suppose girls get named Antony... Might be an odd name fer a girl. I dunno. Mum called me brothers an' me same as the lot she 'ad afore us. Said she didn't see the point t'learnin' new names.
Zoe (to Antony): Oh. Heh. My mistake. I thought you were pretending to be a boy because it's a bit safer on the streets like that... It happens quite a bit, I hear. Now, would you like to meet one of the best airship mechanics in the world?
Antony (to Zoe): Yeah. There's that too. Was usually smarter if they didn't know you was a girl. Sometimes is... Now what was you saying 'bout an airship mechanic, miss? You innit lyin' t'me to keep me quiet, are you?
Zoe (to Antony): Heh. Not at all. She's about to install some new whatchamacallit that Mister Tesla made for the Wicked Sister. I'm sure she could use a clever assistant like yourself… Just don't ask her too many questions or babble too much. She really hates that.
Antony (to Zoe): ... I dunno if I can promise that, if I were t'say th' truth. But I bet I can try like the dickens.
Zoe (to Antony): Heehee. I think that'll be fine. C'mon.
Antony (to Zoe): Right after you, miss.
At Tesla's Monastery; Colorado Springs, Colorado, American Colonies:
Eva (to Felix): I don't understand you, Mr. Baldwin! You've been here making a nuisance of yourself by hovering for weeks. And now that your sister is out of danger, you don't want to see her. I'm confused.
Una (to Felix): It is quite exasperating.
Felix (to Eva): I just wanted to make sure she's well, Miss Eva. I'm not looking to make things more complicated for her. (to Eva & Una) I'm sorry if my presence has been an inconvenience for you.
Una (to Felix): … How does Zoe put up with you and your kicked puppy routine?
Eva (to Una): I was just thinking the same thing, sister dear.
Felix (to Eva & Una): ... If you don't want me here, ladies, just say so.
Una (to Felix & Eva): I don't believe we said any such thing. Did we, sister dear?
Eva (to Una): Not in the slightest. (to Felix) Believe me, Mr. Baldwin, if we wished you to leave, you would know it. We are not ones to mince words. What is the real reason you don't want to see Miss Wells?
Una (to Eva & Felix): I promised to bring Josette some pudding for dessert. I'll leave you two to duke it out.
Felix (to Eva & Una): ... You said she wasn't sure she remembered who I was. It was bad enough thinking that... that other woman killed her... Being forgotten feels worse. I'm sorry I don't want to be slapped in the face with that feeling.
Eva (to Felix): Oh. Well, um, yes... I can see how that would be rather upsetting. Uh... There there... You should see her, Mr. Baldwin. Even if it's painful, it will be better than dithering about wondering.
Felix (to Eva): ... I'll think on that.
