At a cottage; Thurso, Scotland, Britannia:
Poppy (to Vincent): … Well, I certainly feel properly punished, lover. Unless, you'd like another go? ;-P
Vincent (to Poppy): That is tempting. So very, very tempting... But, I should really get back to the kids. You, woman, are NEVER allowed to die on me again, or I will be REALLY mad. ...I love you.
Poppy (to Vincent): I love you, too, honey… I've thought of a way to deal with this… I'm going to be in the apartment in West Piedmont tomorrow. Bring the children… I think if I stay there, it'll keep everyone safe and you all can visit me without arousing too much suspicion from Roland and the ISS.
Vincent (to Poppy): I knew you wouldn't let anyone put you on your back, lover. Heh. Present company excluded. We'll be there.
Poppy (to Vincent): … Are you sure you have to go right now, lover? I'm not quite sure if I'm apologetic enough. Maybe, you should stay and make me sorry. ;-P
Vincent (to Poppy): ... Goddamn. You sure know how to get my attention, don't you? ...Oh! Heh. I think I could stay for a little while longer.
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm very happy to hear that, honey.
Meanwhile, at Tesla's Monastery; Colorado Springs, Colorado, American Colonies:
Yukiko (to Zoe): Whoa there, Zoe! I think we've been sparring long enough. You've got to be worn out by now. You can't even throw a punch properly, anymore. I could have killed you three times, already.
Zoe (to Yukiko): No, let's go again.
Yukiko (to Zoe): … While I'm more than willing to do this with you. I'm not going to let you kill yourself. So, just stop… Please?
Zoe (to Yukiko): Fine.
Felix (to Zoe & Yukiko): ... Am I interrupting?
Yukiko (to Felix): Thankfully, yes. Would you please talk some sense into that thick skull of hers? I'm getting sick & tired of all the Potters self-destructing & behaving like idiots.
Felix (to Yukiko): ...They do all seem to be doing that, don't they? (to Zoe) Come on Pretty Lady.
Yukiko (to Felix & Zoe): Thank you… I've got to go wrangle my little helper, Tony. Who knows what kind of trouble she's gotten into while I've been mucking about with her… Zoe, get some rest.
Zoe (to Yukiko): Yeah, yeah… (to Felix) Where are we going?
Felix (to Zoe): We're getting some fresh air. You've been drunk, fuming, and hiding inside all week. Before you say anything... I know. And you have every right to feel as rotten as you do. But, how about you let me try to take your mind off things for a while?
Zoe (to Felix): Because, I don't want to take my mind of it… My mother is dead & I want to kill the person who did it. But, there's no point. It was fucking Starling. And, as far as that walking toaster is concerned my mom was just one more of her toys. I'm very angry, hurt & I don't know how to make these feelings go away.
Felix (to Zoe): I know. And I know nothing I can say or do will make you feel better, just like I know you really can't forget this. But, I'm worried about you. You can't keep going like you have been.
Zoe (to Felix): … Are you serious? You've been avoiding your sister for weeks even though she's been asking to see you & you're going to give me the "you've got so much to live for. you can't keep going on like this." speech?
Felix (to Zoe): ...Fine. If you want me to go talk to my sister, let's go talk to my sister.
Zoe (to Felix): … I can't do this, Felix. Not right now… Just leave me alone.
Felix (to Zoe): ... Shit. I know I'm making a hash of trying to say the right thing. And of helping you. But I don't think I can leave you alone.
Zoe (to Felix): … Lucky me.
Felix (to Zoe): ...
Zoe (to Felix): … I haven't cried, Felix. Not at all. Not even one tear. Why can't I cry? You'd think this would be something that would make me cry. But, I just can't seem to do it.
Felix (to Zoe): I don't know. If I had to guess, I'd think it's because you can't bring yourself to believe the worst. Your family tends to be unbelievably optimistic, you know.
Zoe (to Felix): I'm not feeling very optimistic right now.
Felix (to Zoe): Come here, Zoe.
Zoe (to Felix): … I'm sorry I've been such an asshole.
Felix (to Zoe): It's fine. I love you all the same. Good. Bad. Crazy.
Zoe (to Felix): Heh. You got a thing for broken chicks, huh?
Felix (to Zoe): Heh. No more than you've got a thing for damaged, ridiculously attractive men.
Zoe (to Felix): … It's not men like that I have a thing for, just you.
Felix (to Zoe): Good.
Several hours later, on the street; New London, Britannia:
Amunet: Well, I give up for today. I'm just having no luck finding Miss Poppy. I don't know what Luc was thinking.
Nathaniel (to Amunet): Hey. Any luck?
Amunet (to Nathaniel): Not at all… Which is a bit odd. Usually, I can find traces of a person even if they're dead but it's like her existence was scrubbed clean… Are you just humoring Luc? It's okay, if you are. I've never seen him like this before & we've been partners forever.
Nathaniel (to Amunet): I thought you were gonna say something like that. For the record, no. I'm not just humoring him. This whole thing is way too fucking squeaky clean to be trusted. It's like goddamn Disneyland. It stinks... How's he holding up?
Amunet (to Nathaniel): He's not sure how to act. He spent his whole life being told how horrible his birth parents were, only to discover that it was all lies. Not to mention, he has a "girlfriend" that has been freaking out because it would appear that her sister switched sides... Honestly, I think giving him something to focus on no matter how ridiculous is better than letting him wallow. He's a terrible wallower. This one time at school… Nevermind, he would kill me if I told you.
Nathaniel (to Amunet): What? I'm gonna fucking judge? I can bet I've done something stupider. In one lifetime or another. Besides, he's not the only one who's trying to keep busy cuz he doesn't know how to act.
Amunet (to Nathaniel): …We seem to have picked up a tail. Recognize him? That looks like a CLANNG jacket or at least, it used to be.
Nathaniel (to Amunet): Shit. Yeah. We ran into him in a bar. He tried to get Victor to buy him a drink last night. Wanna go terrorize him with me?
Amunet (to Nathaniel): Heh… You had to ask?
Nathaniel (to Amunet): Heh. (to Craine) What's the matter? Don't know how to take no for an answer?
Amunet (to Craine): The gentleman asked you a question, soldier. Speak up.
Craine (to Amunet): What makes you call me "soldier," beautiful? I'm hardly the armed forces sort.
Amunet (to Craine): Are you now? Then where'd you nick the CLANNG jacket?
Nathaniel (to Amunet): He was fucking in CLANNG. Trust me. (to Craine) ... What the fuck do you want!?!
Craine (to Amunet & Nathaniel): ... Let's say I WAS with CLANNG. I'd suddenly have found myself without a job or a place to life.
Amunet (to Craine): Yes, that is very sad. But that doesn't explain why you're following us.
Nathaniel (to Craine): Oh yeah? Sucks to be you, then.
Craine (to Amunet & Nathaniel): Isn't it obvious? I have no idea what's going on, but you two seem to have a pretty good idea. Plus, you're both pretty adorable, so it hasn't exactly been a chore...
Amunet (to Craine): No one has ever referred to me as adorable... (to Nathaniel) Can I kill him?
Craine (to Amunet): I find that hard to believe.
Nathaniel (to Amunet): Let him alone. He's got bigger problems than us. (to Craine) Not that this hasn't been a slice, but we gotta go. If you're smart, you'll forget you saw us.
Craine (to Nathaniel & Amunet): Heh. I've never been accused of being particularly smart. Wait! Clearly you have some familiarity with, uh my former employers, shall we say. I'm just trying to work out what happened. I come back from a little unscheduled R & R, and the whole world has imploded. Well, my whole world, at any rate.
Nathaniel (to Craine): Yeah. The world fucking does that sometimes. Just be glad you didn't implode with it. Look. We can't answer whatever questions you got, alright? And even if we could? We wouldn't.
Craine (to Nathaniel): If that's the case, fancy a shag? It would have to be at your place, I'm afraid, as mine seems to have exploded. It's an open invitation, by the by. You, her, your gingery friend from the other night, all three of you... (to Amunet) Any friends you may want to bring along, adorable.
Amunet (to Craine): ...
Nathaniel (to Craine): What?
Craine (to Nathaniel & Amunet): I'll admit neither of you seems like my usual type, but I appear to have some free time in my hands.
Nathaniel (to Craine): Yeah? What's your usual type like? Deaf?
Craine (to Nathaniel): No. Someone who likes to be bossed around in the bedroom.
Nathaniel (to Craine): ... Ha ha ha! Shit! Oh...ha ha! Oh shit! (to Amunet) C'mon. Don't kill him. Heh. He's got enough problems. Let's go.
Craine (to Nathaniel & Amunet): Wait! I was serious about the open invite! You can bring the knives if that's your thing... Where did they go?
A few minutes later:
Amunet (to Nathaniel): HAHAHA! Was he serious? I've heard some strange stories about CLANNG but that... HAHAHA! He talks way too much, but he was very attractive. It's a shame, really.
Nathaniel (to Amunet): Heh. Judging by my past experience? He was fucking serious. If you wanna go get you some, go for it. You'd better bring a gag, though. Bet he runs his mouth the whole damn time.
Amunet (to Nathaniel): Heh. As tempting a thought as that might be, I have a feeling I'd be stuck with him... or have to pay. Neither strike me as very pleasant... And then, I'd have to deal with a body & you know how Miss Pop-- Oh. Sorry. I beg your pardon. I forgot.
Nathaniel (to Amunet): ... S'alright. It's... <cough> It's Fine. We should get back, anyway.
Amunet (to Nathaniel): You are probably right... Do you want me to keep looking? I could make some inquiries with some people I know.
Nathaniel (to Amunet): Yeah. Be as quiet about it as you can, though. I'm probably being paranoid, but something about this makes my hair stand on end.
Amunet (to Nathaniel): I'll be as discreet as possible... I'm not quite sure what the proper level of paranoia is when dealing with spies, former or otherwise. Whatever it is, it's probably not nearly enough.
Nathaniel (to Amunet): Not nearly. If someone can get to Aunt Poppy that person can get to us all... You coming back with me?
Amunet (to Nathaniel): No. I need to head back home. I promised Mars that I'd model for her latest painting. If I'm gone too much longer, she'll kill me. I'll be back soon to continue my search. Please, say hello to Luc for me... I can get back on my own. No need for you to waste your energy.
Nathaniel (to Amunet): Yeah she will. Tell Stretch I'll see her soon. I'll pass along your regards to Luc. Later.
Amunet (to Nathaniel): Bye.
