At a cottage; Thurso, Scotland, Britannia:
Poppy: I seriously hate this place… Well, I guess I should get used to it… Maybe, with a little gasoline & some matches? No problem.
Thaddeus (to Poppy): What's the ETA on that breakfast, stinkblossom?
Poppy (to Thaddeus): ... I'm not your housekeeper, honey, I'm your sister. Mrs. Newcomb will have your breakfast ready for you momentarily, I'm sure. Are you comfy?
Thaddeus (to Poppy): Yes. I have to say this is a step up from my previous accommodations... but, only just.
Poppy (to Thaddeus): Yes, well, you're a former, thought to be dead leader of CLANNG so, hiding in a hovel in Scotland is it for you... I can always put you back in the ISS holding cells if you'd prefer. I'm sure they'd love to have you back, honey.
Thaddeus (to Poppy): Touchy, touchy, stinkblossom. This will do just fine.
Poppy (to Thaddeus): Good. I sacrificed a lot to get you out of that hellhole... And, I could use some sleep. I've been running non-stop for 48 hours. If you need anything, ring the bell. Mrs. Newcomb will take care of you.
Thaddeus (to Poppy): All kidding aside... Thank you, Poppy. I mean it. I'm glad you got me out of that place.
Poppy (to Thaddeus): You're welcome, honey. I'll see you after I get some beauty sleep.
A short time later, outside:
Vincent: That should be the place... Goddamn. I dunno what's worse. Thinking she's there, or thinking she's not.
Thaddeus (to Vincent): Don't move, we don't like skulkers 'round here. Besides, it would be quite sad to get shot by an old man in a wheelchair. Especially, one still waiting for breakfast. Makes me cranky.
Vincent (to Thaddeus): I'm sure I've been shot by stranger folk… Thaddeus? That can't be you, can it? Good God...
Thaddeus (to Vincent): ... Thaddeus? Never heard of him... I'm called-- Blast this damn memory! Fine. Thaddeus, it is, I suppose. Who be you, boy? Come to check out the new neighbors, have you? I swear news travels fast in a small hamlet like this... Don't be spreading the name around too much, wouldn't want the little miss to get upset with me. You know how women are.
Vincent (to Thaddeus): I thought I did, but the older I get, the less I realize I know. My apologies, sir. I thought for a moment you were my brother-in-law. He died some time ago. I was clearly mistaken. I don't live around here. I was looking for someone. Heh. You can always do what I do, shove it in your face when she's not looking, and insist you never got any.
Thaddeus (to Vincent): I don't recall being married before but my memory isn't what it once was... You do look a wee bit familiar to me. Who might you be looking for? I've got a couple folks in the house I'm anxious to be rid of... I'll give 'em to you cheap. Especially, the old battle-axe that's making me breakfast. She never gives me enough bacon. At least, I assume so. She strikes me as the kind that would do that.
Vincent (to Thaddeus): Heh. You can always do what I do, shove it in your face when she's not looking, and insist you never got any... I was looking for my wife. My lady and I spent very nearly every day together for the past twenty years. People usually think me a fairly capable man, but the truth is I don't know what to do without her. Nor do the kids.
Thaddeus (to Vincent): Heh. I like you, my boy... Come in & have breakfast. I don't know about a wife but, no one should be sent off into the great, wide world on a quest without a cup of tea and some nourishment. Wives are a slippery lot. It's probably why I never bothered with one... that I recall. One could be showing up at any minute, for all I know. ;-P
Vincent (to Thaddeus): A cup of tea would be nice. Thank you… Any kids of your own, Commander?
Thaddeus (to Vincent): In a manner of speaking, I did once... Nice lad. There was a bit of a war on, so to speak & I had to send him away. (to Ginny Newcomb) Mrs. Newcomb! Add one more for breakfast, if you please. Shouldn't much matter since you're slow as molasses.
Ginny (to Thaddeus): Fine, you old goat... (to Vincent) Hello sir, I'm sorry for my rudeness. It's been a bit of a nightmare getting the place in order at such short notice. I've got tea for you both & brekkie will be up in a tick.
Thaddeus (to Vincent): See? What did I tell you? She's an evil dictator and I ought to know.
Vincent (to Ginny): Don't go to too much trouble on my account, Miss. I wouldn't want to trouble you. (to Thaddeus) You don't seem much like an evil dictator type to me. More like whimsically malevolent.
Ginny (to Vincent): It's no trouble & it's missus, been happily married five years, Mist-- I'm sorry, the Commander didn't give me your name.
Thaddeus (to Vincent): Heh. I like that... whimsically malevolent. (to Ginny) Write that down, Mrs. Newcomb.
Ginny (to Thaddeus): Write it down, yourself... Here's breakfast for you both. I'll bring something upstairs in a bit. I'm sure the little miss will be wanting something after the last few days she had.
Vincent (to Ginny): ...You can bring her mine, Mrs. Newcomb. I haven't touched it. I accepted the Commander's offer more out of manners than hunger. Thank you for the tea. I... <ahem> Excuse me. I really should go.
Thaddeus: zzzZZZzzzZZZZzzz
Poppy (to Ginny): Ginny, the lure of bacon was too strong to resist... (to Vincent) Oh bloody 'ell! Vincent, what are you doing here? Were you followed? You shouldn't be here. It's not safe.
Vincent (to Poppy): … It was Percy. I wasn't followed. I've been listening to the chatter around town. I... I was just leaving.
Ginny (to Poppy & Vincent): ... Oh, you DO know each other... I'll just wheel the commander into his room, shall I?
Poppy (to Ginny): It's alright, Ginny. This is my husband. (to Vincent) Vincent, stay... Please?
Ginny (to Poppy & Vincent): I could tell, ma'am. He looks like the picture in your room... If you need me, holler.
Poppy (to Ginny): Thank you. (to Vincent) I know you're mad at me, lover, and I deserve it. I didn't do it because I wanted to leave you... I wanted to keep you safe... And, you're just going to keep on walking, aren't you? Fine. I don't blame you, at all.
Vincent (to Poppy): Poppy... I don't know what to say. I don't even know what to THINK! Do you have any, ANY idea what you put the kids through? Do you know heartbreaking it's been, not only to lose you, but to think Lucas was going to have to grow up without you? ...
Poppy (to Vincent): ... They were going to kill you all, if I didn't help them. And, I do mean, all. You, the kids, my brothers, their families. Everyone... I just figured if I was out of the picture, you'd be safer.
Vincent (to Poppy): What if Victor or Zoe had gone back to "save" you? We could have lost one of them!
Poppy (to Vincent): I knew you wouldn't let them do it... Well, I hoped you wouldn't... I am totally going to kill Percy. I hope you know that it broke my heart to do it. But, I thought that mourning one person was better than losing you all... I'm so sorry.
Vincent (to Poppy): ... So. What do we do now?
Poppy (to Vincent): I guess that's up to you, honey... I need to make sure Thaddeus is alright here. Mrs. Newcomb & her husband are former trainees of mine, so I know he'll be protected. But, his memory is a bit spotty, I'm worried about what the ISS did to him.
Vincent (to Poppy): I noticed that. A guy tries to kill you a few times, you think he'd remember you.
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm just not sure Roland will honor our agreement to the letter... So, it may be best if I stay away, for now. As long as I'm dead, he'll leave you alone & you'll be safe. On the plus side, you won't have to worry about CLANNG anymore... And, you're making the angry Vincent face, at me... Go ahead, say whatever it is. I deserve it.
Vincent (to Poppy): ... I can't keep lying to the kids, Poppy.
Poppy (to Vincent): That's why I didn't tell you in the first place, lover... I know it probably doesn't mean much at the moment but I missed you, desperately.
Vincent (to Poppy): You have no idea. Come here! I'm going to be SO furious with you later, but right now...
Several hours later, at a pub; Colorado Springs, Colorado, American Colonies:
Craine Wolfram: Oh bugger… (to Victor) Hey. How about you buy a guy down on his luck a drink?
Victor (to Craine): Nope.
Craine (to Victor): Wha-- what?
Victor (to Craine): You heard me. We're all havin' a bad ruddy day. (to Nathaniel) I'm gonna get us another couple of pints.
Nathaniel (to Victor): Sure. (to Craine) Don't look at me. I ain't buying you shit either. ...You might wanna loose that ring you got on. CLANNG ain't real popular right this second.
Craine (to Nathaniel): Bullocks. I didn't realize I was still wearing... Wait! How did you know this was... Hey! That was bloody odd.
