When Strange Worlds Collide, Day 109

At the Longfellow bunker, The Tombs; New London, Britannia:

Winchester (to Yukiko): … Yuki, leave me the bloody hell alone.

Yukiko (to Winchester): I would love to. However, your foul mood has been noticed by Wilkes and I'm here to find out what's going on. And, since we both know you can't take me in a fight. Why don't you tell me so I can get back to more important things?

Winchester (to Yukiko): Bugger off, ninja girl. I don't feel like traipsing down memory lane with you.

Yukiko (to Winchester): … Look, we've got enough moody asshole around here. So, either come to terms with whatever's on your mind or get the hell out of here until you do. You choose. Cuz if you don't handle this, I will. Get me?

Winchester (to Yukiko): Fine… I'll be in my room.

A couple hours later:

Fiona: Ha ha ha! Oh bloody Christ! Whose idea was it to dress me in this fluff? I look like a bull going to a ball.

Winchester (to Fiona): What the ruddy hell are you wearing, firebug!?!

Fiona (to Winchester): Heh heh... I believe this is what would be called a "dress," Fox. Seems that wherever it is the Magpie is taking me, my usual kit isn't going to do.

Winchester (to Fiona): Yes, I know but why are you wearing it?

Fiona (to Winchester): Ha ha! From your face, I'm guessing this is a bit terrifying looking. Of course, knowing the Missus, that may be the point.

Winchester (to Fiona): … Where on earth is she taking you, firebug? The idea that you have to be wearing a dress seems odd. Why wouldn't she take someone who could blend in a bit more easily?

Fiona (to Winchester): Think, lovely! I look an over-muscled terror in this frock. If I'm the one she's asked along, and asked along looking like THIS, then she needs someone along who looks like an unspoken threat. The rest of you lot are FAR too pretty for this work... What's the matter with you, Chess?

Winchester (to Fiona): … I'm just on edge a bit, I suppose. I'm wondering if the Magpie realizes what she's inviting into this place. I realize that we're not the nicest of people but the O'Malleys, Rotmensens & now who knows who else… Is she starting a school or preparing for a war?

Fiona (to Winchester): Could be a bit of both, if you were to ask my opinion. The O'Malley lad seems more decent than you'd think. Heh... I think he's got a soft streak a kilometer wide for the Potters, which explains why he's the only member of his clan to make an appearance. Of course, I don't think he's the one who has you picking at your nails & ruining that fine manicure of yours. What is it, Chess? The Magpie is as fallible as all of us. If you know something, speak up!

Winchester (to Fiona): It's nothing… Just the past making an appearance and ruining my generally good mood… There's was a time when I was a kid that the three Rotmensen brothers were working as muscle for the Markham Street gang... We lived in their territory.

Fiona (to Winchester): Ah. And I'm guessing you had the kind of interactions one could expect a local brothel would have with rented thugs.

Winchester (to Fiona): That & the fact that Ma & my sisters were very vocal in their unhappiness about them being around.

Fiona (to Winchester): After what you've told me about your Mam and sisters, I can imagine. What is it that happened? The Rotmensens aren't slap-on-the-wrist types.

Winchester (to Fiona): … They killed them. Not my family. The girls at the brothel they were protecting. To make a point.

Fiona (to Winchester): Bloody Christ... 

Winchester (to Fiona): I saw the whole thing. That's why they strung me up. Mam had to cut me down… I couldn't speak for days. I don't know for certain that Spin was involved with the murders, but he was there for the stringing me up bit.

Fiona (to Winchester): ... Have you spoken to the missus about this, Chess?

Winchester (to Fiona): She has to have known what kind of people they are… What would be the point?

Fiona (to Winchester): Don't be daft! Of course she knows what kind they are. That's not what I'm asking. Does she know of YOUR connection to them? It's not as though our ISS files are a comprehensive biography of our lives now, are they?

Winchester (to Fiona): … Fine. I'll go tell her.

Fiona (to Winchester): Good. I'm not suggesting this just to be a pain in your arse, Fox. With the kind of work we're trying to do, we don't need the sort that will take advantage of those that are the most vulnerable, do we? That being said, if Rotmensen says he's trying to do better with his life, I suppose we ought to give him a chance.

Winchester (to Fiona): … He steps out of line, I will kill him.

Fiona (to Winchester): I wouldn't expect anything less. If needs be, I'll help you hide the body. I have a special kind of loathing saved up for the kind of man who tries to prove his "might" with working girls. I had to make bread for my sisters and I somehow when the unexpected arrival of my tits more or less ended my pugilist career. I had to remind quite a few gents of their place.

Winchester (to Fiona): Heh. I hope you never feel the need to put me in my place, firebug.

Fiona (to Winchester): Heh heh. Not yet. Both your arms are still in the socket aren't they? Come with me.

Winchester (to Fiona): ... I'm very much hoping you're going to show me the benefits of that dress, firebug. ;-)

Fiona (to Winchester): Benefits? Ha! If there are, I can't imagine what they are. I look more like a bloke in this folderol than I do in trousers. Not to mention I'm certain there are more layers between me and your manhood than are needed or necessary.

Winchester (to Fiona): Oh? My mistake... I must just have a vivid imagination.

Fiona (to Winchester): Heh. You don't like me in all this fluff, do you, Fox?

Winchester (to Fiona): Not one bit. It's unnatural. I'd much prefer you out of it.

Fiona (to Winchester): Good, because I'm ready to be out of it. Help get me out of this frock, and reset balance to the universe.

Winchester (to Fiona): It would be my pleasure, my fiery minx.

When Strange Worlds Collide, Day 108

At the Longfellow bunker, The Tombs; New London, Britannia:

Victor (to Nathaniel): Hey, mate. Where's my... Ha ha! Ruddy 'ell! WHAT is that you're wearing? Where in the blazes did you get a CLANNG uniform? ...Wait. This is a sexy thing, innit? In a school full of CHILDREN, cousin o' mine? I didn't think Aiden had it in him.

Nathaniel (to Victor): Stop trying to high five me, you dick! This is all your mom's doing.

Victor (to Nathaniel): Ohhh! Thought you needed a bit more military fierceness to look like you'd been in CLANNG, eh? Heh. She's not wrong. You were strung pretty tight when I first met you. Had a bit of hardness to the eyes. Heh heh. When this version of me met that version of you, that is. At any rate, it's mostly gone now.

Nathaniel (to Victor): ...Yeah. It's amazing what happiness, personal fulfillment & not getting the shit beat outta ya once a week can do for a guy.

Victor (to Nathaniel): Awww! Don't make that face! I didn't mean anything by it. It's nice to see. I'm glad you and Wilkes are doing well. Say... What are you doing right now?

Nathaniel (to Victor): Nothing. Just waiting for your mom to put me on the goddamn tour for... Are you trying to fucking pick my pockets? <smack>

Victor (to Nathaniel): Trying and barely succeeding. -Here's your gum back.- You've been learning, haven't you? Excellent! Come along, Cousin Nate!

Nathaniel (to Victor): Why?

Victor (to Nathaniel): I'm supposed to be evaluating how sticky some of these kids' fingers are, and you'll be the perfect scary, hyper-aware mark.

Nathaniel (to Victor): Heh... Alright. Fine. Lead the way.

Victor (to Nathaniel): Cuz we don't want to make it too easy on them, do we? Come on. Let's go scare some kids. You KNOW you want to...

An hour or so later:

Zoe (to Antony): I swear, Tony, if you pinch my ass one more time, I'm going to punch you in the head...What are you trying to prove, anyway?

Antony (to Zoe): Heh. Only that you've got a fine arse, miss.

Zoe (to Antony): ... Yeah, I'm sure that's what it is. I think you're acting all manly & brutish because you're trying to impress somebody. Anyone in particular catching your eye?

Antony (to Zoe): ... Says who? You can't trust these gossips, ya know.

Zoe (to Antony): What gossip? I only just got here.

Antony (to Zoe): ...Yeah, well... Ya still can't trust it.

Zoe (to Antony): ... So, um, do you like people thinking you're a boy, Tony? Or do you honestly like girls?

Antony (to Zoe): Wot? Heh... Who says I'm not a boy?

Zoe (to Antony): You're lack of an Adam's apple, for one. Heh. In another life, I hung around with a ton of drag queens. And, for two, your pants are just a tad too tight which would be pretty uncomfortable if you had any tackle.

Antony (to Zoe): ...I dunno. Why's it matter anyway? Don't change who I am, do it? An' yeah. I like girls awright. They're better'n boys by a long stretch, ain't they?

Zoe (to Antony): Heh. Can't really fault your logic there... But why not just be a girl named Tony? I mean, this group of folks wouldn't care. And, you're safe here. Besides, look at Miss McGillivray. She's very much a lady and you don't see her prancing around in dresses and acting all lady-like. Actually, I think that might be one of the signs of the Apocalypse.

Antony (to Zoe): I never said I was one fing or th' other. People jus' don' suppose girls get named Antony... Might be an odd name fer a girl. I dunno. Mum called me brothers an' me same as the lot she 'ad afore us. Said she didn't see the point t'learnin' new names.

Zoe (to Antony): Oh. Heh. My mistake. I thought you were pretending to be a boy because it's a bit safer on the streets like that... It happens quite a bit, I hear. Now, would you like to meet one of the best airship mechanics in the world?

Antony (to Zoe): Yeah. There's that too. Was usually smarter if they didn't know you was a girl. Sometimes is... Now what was you saying 'bout an airship mechanic, miss? You innit lyin' t'me to keep me quiet, are you?

Zoe (to Antony): Heh. Not at all. She's about to install some new whatchamacallit that Mister Tesla made for the Wicked Sister. I'm sure she could use a clever assistant like yourself… Just don't ask her too many questions or babble too much. She really hates that.

Antony (to Zoe): ... I dunno if I can promise that, if I were t'say th' truth. But I bet I can try like the dickens.

Zoe (to Antony): Heehee. I think that'll be fine. C'mon.

Antony (to Zoe): Right after you, miss.

At Tesla's Monastery; Colorado Springs, Colorado, American Colonies:

Eva (to Felix): I don't understand you, Mr. Baldwin! You've been here making a nuisance of yourself by hovering for weeks. And now that your sister is out of danger, you don't want to see her. I'm confused.

Una (to Felix): It is quite exasperating.

Felix (to Eva): I just wanted to make sure she's well, Miss Eva. I'm not looking to make things more complicated for her. (to Eva & Una) I'm sorry if my presence has been an inconvenience for you.

Una (to Felix): … How does Zoe put up with you and your kicked puppy routine?

Eva (to Una): I was just thinking the same thing, sister dear.

Felix (to Eva & Una): ... If you don't want me here, ladies, just say so.

Una (to Felix & Eva): I don't believe we said any such thing. Did we, sister dear? 

Eva (to Una): Not in the slightest. (to Felix) Believe me, Mr. Baldwin, if we wished you to leave, you would know it. We are not ones to mince words. What is the real reason you don't want to see Miss Wells?

Una (to Eva & Felix): I promised to bring Josette some pudding for dessert. I'll leave you two to duke it out.

Felix (to Eva & Una): ... You said she wasn't sure she remembered who I was. It was bad enough thinking that... that other woman killed her... Being forgotten feels worse. I'm sorry I don't want to be slapped in the face with that feeling.

Eva (to Felix): Oh. Well, um, yes... I can see how that would be rather upsetting. Uh... There there... You should see her, Mr. Baldwin. Even if it's painful, it will be better than dithering about wondering.

Felix (to Eva): ... I'll think on that.