At the Longfellow bunker, The Tombs; New London, Britannia:
Luc: Don't you children ever sleep!?! And no, I will not show you my weapons! How do you know I even have any on me? ... I need coffee.
Charles (to Luc): Mornin', Mr. Vadrouiller. Coffee? I fink... Excuse me. I believe the kettle's still warm if you'd rather have tea.
Luc (to Charles): I'd prefer coffee if it's not too much trouble... I had no idea that adding 10 children in here would be so chaotic.
Charles (to Luc): Um, yes. Chaotic is one way to put it. Here you are, sir. There's cream, but I'm afraid we're out of sugar and honey... Least some of 'em have stopped skulking 'round the tunnels waiting for the roof t' fall in.
Luc (to Charles): Did you get everything sorted with the young lady?
Charles (to Luc): ... You heard about that. Um, yes. I think so. As sorted as it can be. For her, I mean. She still ruddy thinks I... E--excuse me. I'm sure you don't want to hear about that. As far as the students are concerned, I believe it's all sorted.
Luc (to Charles): I'm sorry to say it was a bit hard to avoid. I overheard some of the children talking while on patrol with Fitzroy the other night. She handled herself admirably, though. I could barely tell she was bothered except for the clenched jaw. You get used to that sort of thing after awhile or you don't. And well, those folks don't last very long.
Charles (to Luc): I--I'm sorry, Mr. Vadrouiller. I was a bit lost in thought for a moment. You get used to what sort of thing?
Luc (to Charles): People telling stories about you or the folks you care about. But, like I said Fitzroy took it in stride... Did I say something wrong?
Charles (to Luc): No, no... My apologies. I was thinking about something else. I'm sure George was fine. She's the strongest person I know.
Luc (to Charles): What is on your mind, Mister Turner? If you keep wallowing like that, it's going to make you a bit like a prune.
Charles (to Luc): From some of the things she said... I, um, I think Vee, um Viola, thinks I was the father of her babe. The one she lost.
Luc (to Charles): Would she be wrong? Most people generally know who they've slept with, Mr Turner. It would certainly explain her vitriol.
Charles (to Luc): Yeah. They do, don't they? ...I might've played a little more naive than I was, and I'm not saying we were innocent babes, but I do know how babies are made. I wasn't the father. I know for a fact I wasn't. I was... I was so ruddy mad an' hurt when I found out she was in the family way. Didn't occur to me she thought... Suppose it doesn't matter now, does it?
Luc (to Charles): Not that I can tell... Though, I have a feeling she's going to still be a bit of trouble. Might I suggest keeping her away from Fitzroy? Or at least, not letting her know you're together.
Charles (to Luc): Oh... Um. She might already know about George. Not about George specifically, I mean. She thinks George is a boy. But she thought I was flirting with her, and I, um... I panicked. I told her I was seeing someone.
Luc (to Charles): It's fine, Mr. Turner. You may want to let her go on thinking that, then. To be quite frank, there's something about the young lady that puts me on edge. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I don't think we should trust her.
Charles (to Luc): Yeah... I think you're right, sir.
Luc (to Charles): I think it might be a good idea if we do a little digging on our Miss Viola, don't you? I'll let Mis-- mother know.
A couple hours later:
Charles: Bwahhh! (to Fiona) Ms McGillivray! You startled me. I was just closing up the kitchen... Is there something with which I can help you?
Fiona (to Charles): Heh. If I wasn't good at not being seen when I had the mind, I'd be ruddy terrible at my job, wouldn't I?
Charles (to Fiona): I suppose not. What is it, miss?
Fiona (to Charles): Heh. Just came in for my whiskey.
Charles (to Fiona): B-- but, there's no whiskey in... Oh. Yes. I suppose I should have expected that. If that's all, I'm going to say good night.
George (to Fiona & Charles): Miss McGillivray, you said you were going to show me tha-- Oh hello, Charles, I'm glad I caught you.
Charles (to George): Hullo, George. Heh. Ms McGillivray has been showing me where she's been hiding whiskey in the kitchen.
George (to Charles & Fiona): Is it the top shelf? Cuz with this group that probably would work for most of them. :-P
Fiona (to George): Ha! I doubt it. Monkeys can climb. Our appointment will have to wait, George, my lad. (to Charles) I'll have questions for you tomorrow, Mr. Turner.
George (to Fiona): Oh... Why do I feel like I'm being punished? Did I interrupt something?
Fiona (to George): Heh heh. Aren't you an eager one to learn to blow things to bits. It's not punishment, Mr. Fitzroy. I've got an assignment. There will be plenty of time for explosions later.
George (to Fiona): Oh, alright... (to Charles) It looks like I'm free for the evening, Charles. What about you?
Charles (to George): Um, yes. I suppose I am... Ms McGillivray didn't take her whiskey. I'm not sure where she had it hidden.
George (to Charles): Heh... Judging by the face you're sporting, I think she may have left it on purpose. What's up?
Charles (to George): Pwah! I haven't a doubt. I have a feeling I know what Ms McGillivray was going to talk to me about. We... Um, we probably should speak some place a bit more private... And I should hide this, um, "whiskey" where the students won't find it.
George (to Charles): Bring it with you. We can chat in my room. I already rang the bell of one little sneak trying to go through my stuff. I don't think anyone else will be trying for awhile.
Charles (to George): Heh. It's almost as bad as being back in the gang sometimes, innit?
George (to Charles): Heh. I'll take this any day... Come on in. Sorry about the mess. I haven't had a chance to tidy up. So, what's goin' on?
Charles (to George): Me too... I think Mrs. Potter asked Ms McGillivray to look into Viola. Mr. Vadrouiller thinks she's gonna cause trouble.
George (to Charles): What sorta trouble?
Charles (to George): Dunno. He doesn't trust her... I'm not sure if I do either. She spent two years thinking I'd run off. Abandoned her, Phil an' Charlotte... She just seemed to forgive me too easy. When I knew her, Vee was the type to hold a grudge.
George (to Charles): Yeah, she doesn't really strike me as the easily forgiving type with that chip on her shoulder. I mean, I did only talk to her for a couple minutes, though.
Charles (to George): Um... Mr. Vadrouiller suggested not letting her know we were seeing one another.
George (to Charles): ... Oh.
Charles (to George): ...You don't agree.
George (to Charles): I didn't say that. It's just weird enough her being here but now, I don't even get the comfort of being able to be with you. It just kinda sucks to use one of Miss Zoe's phrases.
Charles (to George): Yeah... It does suck, doesn't it? We can still spend time together if we're careful, I think. She thinks you're a boy. We'll have to be sneaky. Heh. Good thing you've been hanging 'round all these spies, yeah?
George (to Charles): Yeah, I've been learning a lot... I guess we should take advantage of the time we have, huh?
Charles (to George): Heh. I think so... You know those rumors the students were telling are just that, yeah? But, I'm guessing you know that.
George (to Charles): I know you're not the father of any child out in the world, Charlie. She's clearly delusional. I just wasn't expecting it. I'd heard all the Charlie Turner in the gang stories. That was a new one, it just threw me for a moment. I really don't want to waste any more breathe on Viola & her issues, if you don't mind. Can we talk about something else?
Charles (to George): Yeah. I'd like that. I'd like that very much, actually...
George (to Charles): Good... C'mere you.
