When Strange Worlds Collide, Day 19

At Zuzu Sushi; West Piedmont:

Zoe: Oh my fucking god! How I have missed you, Sushi! I didn't realize just how much. I'm going to take you to Canada & make you my bride.

Felix (to Zoe): So... How do I eat this again?

Zoe (to Felix): Heh. Dip it in the wasabi & soy sauce mixture. Yuki would be so mad at you. This is the food of her people. :-P

Felix (to Zoe): It is not! This is the *fancy* food of her people. Heh. I know what to do with soba. This may surprise you, but until now, most folk haven't treated me to fancy dinners.

Zoe (to Felix): This is not all that fancy. It's served on a conveyor belt. Just pop it in your mouth. You're going to love it. I love it, especially this volcano roll oh, and this one with the cream cheese. I'm going to marry it.

Felix (to Zoe): Ha ha ha! Only this time and place could take a fancy food and put it on a conveyor belt... Oh... What was this? What did I just eat?!? How can I get more?

Zoe (to Felix): Heh. Told you... Here. Try this one.

Felix (to Zoe): Mmm... What can I say? You know what I like, pretty lady.

Zoe (to Felix): Heh. I try… 

A little while later:

Zoe (to Felix): Felix, can I ask you a serious question?

Felix (to Zoe): ...Heh. Alright. What did I do?

Zoe (to Felix): … I just wanted to ask you to move in with me. I mean, I know we stay in the same place now but I'd like to share a living space with you, if you're willing. I still want to come stay over here but I want you to come with me.

Felix (to Zoe): Oh? ...You know that I might spend most of my time on the Sister, right? Heh. It's not as though I can leave the Captain on his own. ;-) ...You wouldn't mind having me here?

Zoe (to Felix): I'm not sure if you've noticed but I happen to like your company quite a bit… Heck, I'd ask you to marry me but I didn't think you'd say yes.

Felix (to Zoe): ... No. Not just yet.

Zoe (to Felix): Oh… I was just kidding with the last bit… You know what? Never mind. I'm sorry I brought it up.

Felix (to Zoe): Dammit, woman! Will you listen to what I'm trying to tell you? I'm not ready to get married to you NOW. I didn't say not ever.

Zoe (to Felix): And, I didn't say we had to get married right this second… you ass. You are SO damn frustrating! Forget the whole thing. You stay on the Sister. I'll stay here.

Felix (to Zoe): I'm damn frustrating?! If you'd asked me this question five months ago... Hell! I'd have run off before you had the chance to notice I was gone! But if I dare to entertain the notion, need some time, I'm a bloody cad! Fine. If that's how you think about it... I'll stay on the goddamned ship.

Zoe (to Felix): Ooooo, I should leave you right here.

A moment later; onboard the Wicked Sister; Nice, French Republic:

Felix (to Zoe): ...WHERE THE HELL AM I, AND HOW DO I GET BACK?

Zoe (to Felix): Oof… Calm down. You're back on the bloody ship… Have a nice life. I'm going back to the apartment.

Felix (to Zoe): ... Zoe, wait. Will you please wait a damn minute? This... I didn't mean I didn't want to live with or marry you, you know. I just... I need some goddamn time to think, and you make a bloody habit of ambushing me... Which I love most times, but... Sometimes, it scares me a bit.

Zoe (to Felix): … I'm sorry. It's just that the only way that you'll ever talk to me about important stuff is if I ambush you. I never know what you're thinking. I just want to know what direction we're going in… Is that really so bad?

Felix (to Zoe): No... Heh. Though I might have some opinions on your delivery methods. :-)

Zoe (to Felix): Fine… I'll just be quiet, demure, & live in ignorant bliss. Who am I kidding? That would bloody suck. I don't ask this stuff because I want to trap you or anything. I just feel like we're just playing at a relationship. All of the fun stuff but nothing serious.

Felix (to Zoe): I'm serious about you, pretty lady. Dead ruddy serious. I love you, and I... I'm not interested in being elsewhere. I'd be a lucky man if I could spend the rest of my life with you...

Zoe (to Felix): ... I'm sorry I got so uppity.

Felix (to Zoe): Ha ha ha! No you're not! And if you are, don't be. Seems I like uppity women.

Zoe (to Felix): Thank goodness for that!

When Strange Worlds Collide, Day 18

At the Casino de la Renard; Nice, French Republic:

Nathaniel: I swear to fucking God, if one more woman fucking giggles at me, I am going to... Fuck. I dunno. I will shave my goddamn head.

Yukiko (to Nathaniel): What's with the look, sourpuss? Let me guess, Aiden kicked you out of bed to go running with him.

Nathaniel (to Yukiko): That is a goddamn part of it. Think I've been a smoker way too fucking long to suddenly start taking up with jogging an' shit.

Yukiko (to Nathaniel): HAHA.Not even 20 & already so jaded. You should be exercising, you won't always be able to rely on that fancy trick of yours.

Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Yeah, yeah. I know. I got Aiden on my ass to exercise; I got Lily on my ass to quit smokin' so much... There's a whole collection of women round here that I swear are setting their schedules around the best time to stand in groups an' titter at us. An' now I'm too fuckin' jaded. I been this way since I was 15, sister. Hate to say it, but y'all are fucking stuck with it. :-p

Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Oh, poor you. It must really suck to have folks that care about keeping you around for awhile. Would you like a tiny violin? Did you whine this much when you were with CLANNG? Because, I have a hard time picturing Hiiri putting up with it. :-P

Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! She didn't. Why the fuck you think I got sent to Carver for "reprimands" so much? :-p Heh. And a "tiny violin"? Seriously? Where'd you pick up that shit? ...Wait. Where the fuck else? Zoe, right?

Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Oh god, I'm starting to talk like her. I clearly have spent too much time locked on that ship with her... Speaking of which, where the hell has she & Felix run off to? I haven't seen them around for a day or so. I hope they haven't gotten themselves into any trouble.

Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Heh. I can take a couple of guesses about what they've been up to.

Yukiko (to Nathaniel): … I don't want to think about that.

Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! They're no worse than you and Mr. Fancypants. I thought y'all were gonna have to start charging for that show you were putting on the other day... Heh. You kinda got a thing for inappropriate PDA, don't you?

Yukiko (to Nathaniel): Heh. It's not my fault that Victor suddenly enjoys shocking people. ;-p

Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Heh. Yeah. It's ALL Victor. Sure.

A few hours later:

Sang Gi (to Yukiko): Hey there, pretty lady. You seem upset. Is there something I can do to help?

Yukiko (to Sang Gi): ... No.

Sang Gi (to Yukiko): ... Would you like a drink, then?

Yukiko (to Sang Gi): No.

Sang Gi (to Yukiko): Look I'm just trying to be friendly. It's not like there's a ton of folks our age around here.

Yukiko (to Sang Gi): I am not here to make friends, Mister Park. I am here to work. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a couple of gentlemen cheating over there.

Sang Gi (to Yukiko): Oh yes, of course...

A moment later:

Sang Gi: Sheesh. It's hard to believe that was the same girl I saw skinny-dipping in the pool, last night... Oops. I'm being eyeballed.

Nathaniel (to Sang Gi): Heh. Better watch yourself, Gee. Yoyo will stab you if you annoy her too much.

Sang Gi (to Nathaniel): What? Really? But, she's so tiny & delicate... Are you pulling my leg?

Nathaniel (to Sang Gi): Ha ha ha! Oh man... I didn't think that tiny, helpless shit actually fooled anyone, but apparently it does. Heh heh! She used to be an assassin. Worked in some of the same circles as your brother. Besides... She's not on the market.

Sang Gi (to Nathaniel): Now, I know you're pulling my leg. I've seen the folks my brother worked with & they're all crazy. Ms. Sato doesn't seem all that bad. Besides, she doesn't seem nearly as banged up as Ji Yong. He's got scars from well, I don't know what specifically but they look pretty nasty... Market? I'm not looking to buy her or her affection. I was just trying to be nice.

Nathaniel (to Sang Gi): ...You have spent too much time around the casino, you know that? Heh. Believe what you want. She used to work with my fianc--companion. You'll see. ...Sooner or later, you'll see.

Sang Gi (to Nathaniel): Heh. That sounds ominous... Um, out of curiosity, when you said she's off the market. Who's she stepping out with? Not that shaggy ginger fellow that dresses like a theater extra, is it?

Nathaniel (to Sang Gi): Pffft! HAHAHA! You mean my cousin, Victor? Yeah. That'd be him. Heh. Shaggy...

Sang Gi (to Nathaniel): Heh. That is very interesting. I was sure she had some older gent like Mister Wilkes.

Nathaniel (to Sang Gi): Nope. Like I said they worked together. Heh. Aiden's here with me.

Sang Gi (to Nathaniel): Well, I assumed that, after your last visit here. I should get back to work... Oh, and your cousin is playing poker again in the bar. Mister Wilkes suggested that I let you know.

Nathaniel (to Sang Gi): That pain in the fucking... Later!

Aiden (to Yukiko): Miss Sato, I do believe it's time for you to take control of the situation. If you please? I'll just stand right here.

Yukiko (to Aiden): Whatever you say, Mister Wilkes... (to random gentlemen) Come on, boys. Afraid of a little girl?

Aiden (to Yukiko): Heh. I do believe you're smiling, Ms. Sato. Do you actually enjoy making these ill-mannered cretins pull out weaponry?

Yukiko (to Aiden): Is that a trick question?

Nathaniel (to Victor): Victor, what the hell are you...

Victor (to Nathaniel): Heh. I was wondering when you'd show up. Before you start, here.

Nathaniel (to Victor): Wha... What the fuck is all this?

Victor (to Nathaniel): You had a pro at the tables. He was good. Not better than me, obviously. :-p Stop making that face. I'm done with the tables for a while. You don't want a rumor starting you've hired a card hog... A cardsharp hired by the casino to bilk all the other players outta their cash.

Nathaniel (to Victor): Oh. Yeah... Thanks.

Victor (to Nathaniel): You're welcome. I was only playing cuz I didn't know what else to do... Heh. I'm gonna go see if Yuki's done for the Night.

Nathaniel (to Victor): Yeah... 

Victor (to Nathaniel): Cheers.

Nathaniel (to Victor): I have no idea what just happened.