When Strange Worlds Collide, Day 45

At Casino de la Renard; Nice, French Republic:

Nathaniel (to Victor): Will you calm down? It's not like she can call. I'm sure Yoyo is fine. Just do your damn job.

Victor (to Nathaniel): ... Fine. I'll just go charm those brainless twits over by roulette wheel shall I?

Nathaniel (to Victor): Yeah. Cuz that's your damn job. Go.

Liesel (to Victor & Nathaniel): Oooh, so you're Victor. If I had known you were such a looker I would have stuck around a bit longer. ;-)

Victor (to Liesel & Nathaniel): Who the hell are you?

Liesel (to Victor): Oh right, we never did get a chance to spend any time together. What a shame... Do you have a minute to talk in private?

Nathaniel (to Victor & Liesel): Victor! She's the chick who was hiding in your room. What the hell do you want?

Liesel (to Nathaniel): Don't you have someone to threaten with your redneck colonist ways?

Nathaniel (to Liesel): ...Yeah. I kinda do. On the clock an' all. (to Victor) So are you. Watch your ass, Vic.

Victor (to Nathaniel): I know. I will. (to Liesel) What can I do you for, miss?

Liesel (to Victor & Nathaniel): Not to worry, I have no interest in Victor's ass... for the moment anyway. Here. This is from Ms. Sato.

Victor (to Liesel): Oh! Thank you! ...Thank you very much.

Liesel (to Victor): You are very welcome... I'll be at Cora Pearl's for the next two days if you would like me to bring Ms Sato a reply.

Victor (to Liesel): Heh. I will keep that in mind. ...I most likely will. Until then, cheers, miss.

Nathaniel (to Victor): Liesel... My name is Liesel, handsome.

Victor (to Liesel): Heh. Thanks then, Liesel. ...Oh hell. She wrote this in Nipponese.

Nathaniel (to Victor): ... Would you like me to translate it for you?

Victor (to Liesel): Heh. Absolutely not! Who knows what it might say? I can translate it... Heh. It just might take me some time.

Nathaniel (to Victor): Very well... Good luck and good night.

Victor (to Liesel): Heh heh. Thanks. I might need it.

A moment later:

Luc (to Victor): ... Was that really Liesel Rotmensen? She is not to be trusted.

Victor (to Luc): Huh? Oh. Yeah. Guess so. She used to work with Mr. Park. She was droppin' off a letter. Why? What do you know about her?

Luc (to Victor): She's a Rotmensen... You know, of the Dutch Rotmensens... The Dutch Crime family... She was sent to train at Bleak House. Her older sister was something else... She managed to hold her own against Carver for a surprisingly long time... Until Starling stepped in.

Victor (to Luc): ...Yeah. I can guess how that ended. Well, shit. Not exactly the secretary and workin' girl she pretends to be, is she?

Luc (to Victor): Not in the slightest... Is there a reason why cousin Nate is glaring at us?

Victor (to Luc): No idea. Let's wave!

Luc (to Victor): ... That didn't seem to help.

Nathaniel (to Victor & Luc): Weren't you supposed to be at the roulette tables?

Victor (to Nathaniel): Was I?

Luc (to Nathaniel & Victor): You told me to stay away from Roulette... or was that just the dancer named Roulette I was supposed to stay away from?

Victor (to Nathaniel & Luc): Wait... Which one of us was supposed to stay away from the roulette tables, again? Is it just me, or does he look like a monkey when he glares like that?

Luc (to Nathaniel & Victor): Does monkey need a banana? Are you feeling hungry? Low potassium?

Nathaniel (to Victor & Luc): ...Yeah, yeah. And y'all both look like your dad when you act that smug.

Luc (to Victor): I believe this is what Zoe would say was an opportunity for a "fist bump".

Victor (to Luc): Ha ha ha! Yeah. I would concur.

Nathaniel (to Victor): Yeah. Yeah. Jus' get where you're supposed ta be. Please. (to Luc) Hold up a second, Luc.

Luc (to Victor): Stop smirking... (to Nathaniel) Yes, of course.

Nathaniel (to Luc): Calm down. I just wanted to know... Before you got the fuck away from her, did you mention to Hiiri that I was in CLANNG?

Luc (to Nathaniel): ... You were in CLANNG!?! Why the hell were you in CLANNG!?! If it was ever mentioned to me, I certainly wouldn't believe it.

Nathaniel (to Luc): Yeah. Which you already knew, cuz I mentioned it the first time we met. So... That a yes? Look. I don't care, man. I just wanna know.

Luc (to Nathaniel): No, I didn't mention it to her. And, I really didn't believe you... You were serious?

Nathaniel (to Luc): Oh. Yeah. For 'bout three or four years. Well, shit... I was hoping that answered one question. Thanks for not tellin' her.

Luc (to Nathaniel): Heh. Don't thank me. If I had thought that the information would have been useful I probably would have told her. What? Don't look at me like that. I was just being honest.

Nathaniel (to Luc): Heh. Yeah. Well... wasn't like I was any better once upon a time.

A short time later:

Bianca (to Nathaniel & Zoe): Mister Jones, I believe this... Zoe belongs to you... Would you please keep her out of the dressing rooms?

Nathaniel (to Zoe): Oh Jesus fucking Christ! What the hell were you doing? I swear to damn God... (to Bianca) Sorry, Mrs. Rodchenko.

Zoe (to Nathaniel & Bianca): ... I wasn't doing anything that bad. I just really liked the headdresses.

Bianca (to Nathaniel & Zoe): Yes, of the dancers about to go on stage. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to show you at a later date. It's alright, Mister Jones. Zoe, if you want to see the dancers costumes, come back during the day. Alright?

Zoe (to Nathaniel): Calm down, Grumpasaurus... (to Bianca) Alright. I'm very sorry. Please give the girls my apologies.

Bianca (to Nathaniel & Zoe): I will. Good evening, you two.

Nathaniel (to Bianca): I will. Thank you. (to Zoe) I'll grumpasaurus you... What the fuck is going on with y'all tonight? Full moon? Did someone move a rock?

Zoe (to Nathaniel): God, Nate! I remember when you used to be fun... Oh wait, no I don't. You were always a fuddy duddy. Just now you're not as whiny about it... Heh.

Nathaniel (to Zoe): I was wondering what the hell you were talking about. C'mon. You can help me keep an eye on your brothers.

Zoe (to Nathaniel): Oh? Fric & Frac giving you trouble? They've been bonding... It's terrifying.

Nathaniel (to Zoe): Yeah. I noticed.

When Strange Worlds Collide, Day 44

At Bleak House; secret location:

Ji Yong: That was unpleasant. (to Yukiko) Are you well, Ms Sato?

Yukiko (to Ji Yong): I believe so. Pardon my French, but what the hell was that all about? I'm never going to get that blood out of this shirt… Kuso! It was a present from Victor. He's going to be livid.

Ji Yong (to Yukiko): Hydrogen peroxide. I believe that was an attempt on my life.

Yukiko (to Ji Yong): Heh. Good to know… Someone clearly doesn't like you being here.

Ji Yong (to Yukiko): Considering your prior work, I'm surprised you don't know this already. There are a number of people who don't want me here.

Yukiko (to Ji Yong): I was joking, Mister Park. I have a tendency of making jokes after I dispatch people. A habit I picked up from Fi-- my former partner. Heh. Just be glad I didn't use the explosives… Another joke… I don't have the explosives set up here. They're at the three escape routes I plotted out. You know, just in case. I could use a drink.

Ji Yong (to Yukiko): Oh. Yes. Of course. I should have realized. My apologies.

Yukiko (to Ji Yong): I do actually know what I'm doing, Mister Park. I know the few times we came across each other I was a little green, but trust me, I've had more than enough experience with this type of thing. Not that I still don't make mistakes now and again. No one's perfect.

Ji Yong (to Yukiko): Here you are. Don't worry. I brought it myself.

Yukiko (to Ji Yong): Thank you… I didn't think you drank.

Ji Yong (to Yukiko): I don't. I used to when I was with the Bleak House... I suppose I am with them again, aren't I? Hari insisted I bring it. She thought you might appreciate it... And I have every confidence in your abilities, Ms Sato. I would have never asked you to accompany me if I didn't.

Yukiko (to Ji Yong): Well, score one for Missus Park… Or is she keeping her maiden name? I hear that's very common on the other side.

Ji Yong (to Yukiko): Oh. Is it? I'm not sure. We haven't discussed it. I will have to ask her when I see her again.

Yukiko (to Ji Yong): I think I should just kill Yuri, then you give the position to the cranky lady and we go home. Whatcha think?

Ji Yong (to Yukiko): ... I wish it were as simple as that.

Yukiko (to Ji Yong): … It could be. Look, you're miserable, I'm miserable. I'm sure our significant others are miserable. Just point me in the right direction & I'll deal with the problem.

Ji Yong (to Yukiko): No. I didn't bring you here as a personal assassin. Besides, I have no intention to start a war within the Bleak House. Yuri has his supporters. I do not. Neither of us would survive the encounter.