Starling (to Hiiri): Miss Hiiri, is something wrong?
Hiiri (to Starling): We just had a report that Mister Jones' body was discovered on a ship sailing to Rome. Go find out if it's true.
Starling (to Hiiri): Yes, ma'am.
A short time later:
Carver (to Hiiri): Yes, Mistress? How may we help you, miss?
Hiiri (to Carver): It would appear that Mister Jones is dead. I've sent Starling along to confirm & collect the body. If it's true, I'll need to go to the other side to inform his family.
Carver (to Hiiri): We weren't aware you stayed in contact with his family, Miss. We're sorry your pet is dead. Will you pick up another, Miss?
Hiiri (to Carver): Yes, his parents believe that I have him at a special institution attempting to fix all of his issues. And, as for another pet, it's quite tricky to find those with the spark that the Jones' family seems to breed. It's a shame, really.
Carver (to Hiiri): Yes, miss. Perhaps it's for the best. Mr. Jones was most troublesome lately, miss. Other Carver was quite perturbed.
Hiiri (to Carver): Yes, well, Other Carver lacks imagination.
Carver (to Hiiri): Of course, mistress. We never saw the point, miss.
Hiiri (to Carver): Then you will never understand why Mister Jones was so important, Mister Carver... Let me know when Starling has returned. I'll be in the archives.
Carver (to Hiiri): Yes, mistress. Please call on us if you have the need, miss. Good day.
Delphine (to Carver): I've never liked the way she talks to you, mon chere.
Carver (to Delphine): No? Why would it bother you, miss?
Delphine (to Carver): You're quite gifted with a knife, Director, I appreciate that quality. I just find it sad that Miss Hiiri doesn't. Besides, imagination is overrated.
Carver (to Delphine): Thank you, miss. Is there something with which we can help you, Miss Delacroix?
Delphine (to Carver): Sadly, I doubt it, Mister Carver. I'm here simply to get my next assignment. I was told by the duty sergeant that I had a day off. Lucky me, all alone.... Unless, you're interested in some R&R with yours truly. Are you, chere?
Carver (to Delphine): Why would we take an R&R day, miss? We're not currently injured.
Delphine (to Carver): Heehee, it's not only for injury. But, you clearly have no interest, which is a bit of a shame. I have ample imagination for both of us... I'll leave you to your work, Monsieur Director.
Carver (to Delphine): Good day, miss.
A couple hours later, at the Longfellow Inn; New London, Britannia:
Victor (to Persephone): Hello, Ms. Longfellow. We heard you've been harboring less than reputable elements here at the inn. :-P
Persephone (to Victor): Victor, you're back! You look good. All safe & in one piece. That's good.
Victor (to Persephone): ...Of course. Why wouldn't I be? Has something happened?
Persephone (to Victor): There was a CLANNG officer here chatting with Zoe the other day & she just kept telling me not to worry about it. I was just worried.
Victor (to Persephone): There was a CLANNG officer talking to Zoe? It wasn't the one who was always hanging around here, is it?
Persephone (to Victor): No, it was a new guy. He had come by a few days ago asking about you, had said he wanted to ask you some questions. This time he just straight away asked to speak to Zoe... Are we sure we can trust her? We hardly know anything about her.
Victor (to Persephone): Yes. I think so. It's alright, Seph. She's moo. Besides, if she wanted to sell me out to CLANNG, I'd be in irons already.
Persephone (to Victor): I'm sorry. You're absolutely right. Gimme a hug.
Victor (to Persephone): Thanks for always watching my back, Seph. Shall I go collect my "stray?"
Persephone (to Victor): That's what I'm here for... Last I saw the boys had her up a tree. Supposedly, they were picking apples. :-p
Victor (to Persephone): Heh. Uh oh...
A short time later:
Victor (to Zoe): Are you hiding or are you stuck up there?
Zoe (to Victor): Heh. A little of both... I seem to have ripped my bloomers climbing up here.
Victor (to Zoe): Do you need a hand?
Zoe (to Victor): Yes, please... I'm not used to wearing skirts.
Victor (to Zoe): Alright. Come on. Jump. I'll catch you.
Zoe (to Victor): Ok... Oof... Heehee. My savior!
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. You're lucky that you're tiny... You know, you kinda scared Seph. She saw you talking to some CLANNG officer.
Zoe (to Victor): Oh?OH! That's no CLANNG officer, that's Nate, our cousin. He was asking my help to get out of there. I was showing him a trick. I can't believe I haven't introduced you two... Well, a lot has been going on.
Victor (to Zoe): Wait. Our cousin works for CLANNG?!
Zoe (to Victor): Yeah, but not for long. He's one of the reasons Hiiri did this whole thing... I think. It's a long story.
Victor (to Zoe): ... Do you know where he is now?
Zoe (to Victor): Probably, still at Aiden's house... Getting to know each other better, if you know what I mean.
Victor (to Zoe): A concept which still seems damn near impossible, if you ask me. I'd like to meet him.
Zoe (to Victor): Okay. We should head over there, then. Mrs. Esterly said she'd have a few ideas how to proceed by now, anyway.
Victor (to Zoe): ...Alright. Let's go.
A couple hours later, at Aiden's house; New London, Britannia:
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Nate, dear, I understand you're anxious, but you can't leave. Your "body" was discovered at the docks today. It wouldn't do to have you spotted wandering the streets of New London. Do you want to go back to CLANNG?
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): No.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel): Then plant your bottom, young man.
A few minutes later:
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly): Hi! I hope we're not interrupting. Victor wanted to meet our cousin
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe & Victor): Not at all, dear! Come inside. What can I get you to eat? Have you had supper?
Victor (to Mrs. Esterly): No, not yet. We wouldn't want to trouble you.
Mrs. Esterly (to Victor & Zoe): It's no trouble at all. Make yourselves comfortable. (to Nathaniel) You have company, Nate.
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly): Thank you, Mrs. Esterly.
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Oh yeah? (to Zoe & Victor) Hey, Shortcake. Oh. You, uh, you're Victor, right? Hi, I... I'm your cousin, I guess.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Gimme a hug. (to Victor) Victor, this Nathaniel Jones. He's our dad's biological brother's son.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Nathaniel? After my grandfather?
Nathaniel (to Victor): Yeah. Don't get me started on how fucked up that is. Just Nate's fine.
Victor (to Nathaniel): So, you're with CLANNG, and are one of the reasons my parents were murdered, are you?
Zoe (to Victor): Shit... Victor!
Nathaniel (to Zoe): It's alright. (to Victor) I was with CLANNG, past tense, and... Yeah. I guess I kinda was. I'm really fucking sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I've spent the past three years with Hiiri and...and Director Carver.
Victor (to Nathaniel): ... That couldn't have been easy.
Nathaniel (to Victor): No shit. It wasn't. Look, I'm not trying to, you know, fucking pass blame, but I didn't have a choice.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Does your family know you like men?
Nathaniel (to Victor): Heh. Yeah. And lemme tell you, I'm their fucking pride and joy.
Victor (to Nathaniel): Heh. I'll bet. Alright... Nice to meet you, Nate.
Mrs. Esterly (to Nathaniel, Zoe & Victor): Here we are. I also made a pot of tea. (to Zoe) What's going on in here, dear?
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly): I think it's family bonding.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): Oh dear. Best keep them away from the weapons and wine then.
Victor (to Zoe): Very funny. (to Mrs. Esterly) Thank you very much for the food, Mrs. Esterly.
Zoe (to Victor): Heehee. I'm sorry. (to Mrs. Esterly) Ooooh, can I have some wine?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): That seems like a fucking awful idea.
Victor (to Zoe): That seems like an awful idea.
Zoe (to Nathaniel & Victor): Why do you hate me?
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe, Victor & Nathaniel): Hee hee. Well, they certainly ARE related, aren't they?
Nathaniel (to Mrs. Esterly): Didn't things get weird last time you got drunk around me? You... Shit. No. Wait. That's not fucking right.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Oh... Um... You wish. Heh. Sorry. Original Recipe Nate would have thought that was funny. (to Mrs. Esterly) Mrs. Esterly, may I have one small glass of wine? I promise I won't drink any more than that.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Oh. Yeah. Heh. Sorry. (to Mrs. Esterly) I dunno about these two teetotalers, but I could use some wine, please.
Mrs. Esterly (to Zoe): I suppose, dear. (to Victor) How about you, Mr. Potter?
Victor (to Mrs. Esterly): I would be most grateful, Mrs. Esterly.
Zoe (to Mrs. Esterly): Thank you. Dinner was delicious. I haven't had Lamb with Rosemary & baby red potatoes in quite a long time.
Mrs. Esterly (to Victor & Zoe): You're both quite welcome. I'll be right back with the wine. (to Nathaniel) Eat some more, dear.
Nathaniel (to Victor & Zoe): So... This is awkward as fucking hell, isn't it?
Zoe (to Nathaniel & Victor): Heehee. I don't think it's awkward. Reminds me of home… I really like this wine. (to Nathaniel) How are you doing? I mean, really. None of this stiff upper lip crap, please. I get enough of that from Victor.
Nathaniel (to Zoe & Victor): Heh. So I see. Honestly, I don't know how the fuck I'm doing. Half the time, I don't know if I'm remembering MY life or the other fucking Nate's life... Mrs. Esterly's friend Ms Dvorak thinks she's got my shit sorted with CLANNG, but... I'm kinda freaked.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): And well, you should be... Nate? I'm here to dispose of your uniform & communicator. Ms. Dvorak asked me to dispose of them... And, Aiden asked me to check on you.
Zoe (to Yukiko): Yoyo! You are seriously full blown ninja in this timeline... Oh, um, ignore me. I've had some wine.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Yoyo? Oh... Shit. Uh, sorry. We don't know one another, do we? Um, I'll go get them.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): I believe I held you at sword point a few days ago, but we weren't properly introduced. (to Zoe) Heh. I can see that.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Heh. Oh. Yeah. You did. Should say something when that ain't even the weirdest thing that happened to me this week. Here they are. Is, um... Aiden's alright, right?
Yukiko (to Nathaniel): He's fine. He's just on a boring security run, should be back in a day or so. Unless, the Empress wants him to stay for the whole exchange than who knows how long he'll be.
Zoe (to Yukiko): Wow... I knew you guys were spies, but I don't think it had completely sunk in until right this second.
Nathaniel (to Yukiko): Oh. Yeah... That makes sense. Thanks. Oh! This is Victor and Zoe...
Victor (to Nathaniel & Yukiko): Heh. We've met. It's very nice to see you again Yuki.
Yukiko (to Nathaniel, Zoe & Victor): We've actually met before. Hello, Miss Zoe. Nice to see you again, Victor... You boys may want to get Zoe to bed. She looks a bit knackered. I should probably go and dispose of these things before Mrs. Esterly chides me.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh. I was hoping I could walk you out...
Yukiko (to Victor): I would like that very much.
Zoe (to Yukiko, Nathaniel & Victor): I'm not knackered... I don't even know what that means.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): It means you're drunk. (to Yukiko & Victor) Go ahead. I'll keep an eye on Zoe.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): ... I'm not... Okay. Maybe a little, but I'm not going to do anything stupid or anything.
Victor (to Yukiko): I would too... (to Nathaniel & Zoe) I'll be right back to collect my drunken little sister.
Zoe (to Nathaniel & Victor): I'm not drunk... Tipsy, maybe. But not drunk.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Lightweight.
Victor (to Zoe & Nathaniel): Well then, I'll be right back to collect my TIPSY little sister. :-P
Zoe (to Nathaniel): So, are you really okay? I mean, I know everything is different here & you included, but you're still my Nate, right?
Nathaniel (to Zoe): ... I don't know. We used to be close, huh? Here... Don't fucking tell anyone, but have another glass.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Heehee, thanks... And yes, we used to be close. You were my best friend. Hell, you were the first boy I ever kissed... Which now that I say it out loud sounds really fucking pitiful.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Yeah. No fucking shit. I think I remember that. You were drunk, right? You're not gonna try to kiss me NOW are you?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Dear god, no! The idea of that now is just gross... Oh sorry, I didn't mean that you're a bad kisser or anything... I'm just going to stop talking right now.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Ha ha ha! Somehow, I think that my ego will survive.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Wow... Way to make a girl feel special... Jerk.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Did you just slap me? Is that what that was supposed to be? Besides, you were the one who said I was a bad kisser.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): ... Is it too late to take it all back? I should go back to the point in time when I realized you were here & leave you. :-p
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Go ahead. Director Carver'll be thrilled to get a chance to finally slit my throat.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Way to make it depressing, Nate... I was just teasing.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Oh. Uh, believe it or not, I was too. Sorry. Didn't mean to make it all heavy and shit... Heh. You gotta kinda develop a black ass sense of humor with CLANNG, you know? If you wanna keep sane, that is.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): ... I'm so sorry I didn't stop her in time... This is all my fault.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Whoa, whoa, whoa! Are you crying? Don't fucking do that! What are you talking about? How the fuck is this YOUR fault? You're a fucking kid! How the fuck were you supposed to stop Hiiri. Goddamn HIIRI. She's... She's crazy fucking smart, OK? Her fucking backup plans have backup plans. TRUST ME. There's nothing you could've done, OK?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): But, I had figured out her plan a bit too late. If I had known sooner, I could have stopped her.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): How? No one else has been able to figure her out or do a whole lot to stop her so far. She's been fucking with me since before you met me, right? Don't be so fucking hard on yourself.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): ... But we were crossing over together. I think let go of your hand too soon & now you don't remember everything... I guess I just feel guilty. I'm sorry. You say that I shouldn't but I can't help it when I see that everything is all fucked up now.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): I remember a lot, OK? The more time I spend around you and Aiden, the more I remember. Fuck, even Victor looked familiar. We'll figure out a way to make this right, OK? Hell, we're kinda making it right now, aren't we?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Yeah, I guess so... Thanks for saying that stuff.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): S'alright. I'm not bullshitting you, you know. Heh. Seriously, if I COULD blame someone for all this shit, I would… Holy shit! You got a hug like a vice grip, you know that?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): ... You'll learn to like it. Don't fight, it'll only make it weird. Don't make it weird, Nate. Don't make it weird. :-p
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Heh heh. It's already weird. YOU'RE involved.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): You're such a sweet talker.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Must've been why you were so desperate to kiss me. Heh... Thanks. For worrying about me, I mean. It's, uh... It ain't bad. :-P
Meanwhile, in the back garden:
Yukiko (to Victor): I was a bit sad that I hadn't seen you for a few days, Victor.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. I was going to try to stop by this evening. I was helping a friend run cargo to Aberdeen.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh well, I hope you still do. I should be done with my errand shortly.
Victor (to Yukiko): I would like that quite a bit.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh, good. Care to meet me at my place in an hour?
Victor (to Yukiko): I'll be there. Woe be to the man, woman or child who tries to stop me.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heehee. I'll see you soon, then.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. Yeah. See you soon.
