September 21, 2012: San Francisco, California

[damncompass]

Joshua had just gotten off of the airplane at San Francisco's airport, and grabbed his bag. After getting out of the crowd and off to one side, he pulled out his Farnsworth and buzzed Helena.

Comments

[damncompass]

"Well, it is public information." He smirks, a twinkle in his eyes. "And, even if it wasn't that, I do have access to personnel files."

[timelessinventor]

"It is? I hadn't realised Charles bothered using it." They certainly weren't twins, after all, and it would have made a good deal of sense if he'd used his own birthday (perhaps he cared more than she gave him credit for - not that she thinks him any less of an arse).

[damncompass]

"Yes, he did." Joshua shrugs. "I think, from what you've said, he used the year you were born too. However, as I am a gentleman most of the time, I shan't ask you your age." He puts on a terrible British accent.

[timelessinventor]

Helena laughs. "Oh, but I'm only one hundred and forty-six, darling." She makes a face at his horrid accent. "Well, now you're here, did you have anything else in mind?"

[damncompass]

"Well, I do have a present for you, but I only brought part of it." He reaches in his bag and pulls out a photograph in a frame of a young girl with dark hair. "Happy birthday, my love."

[timelessinventor]

Her breath catches, and her free hand (as the other now has the frame in it) goes to her locket. "I didn't know this... oh, Christina. Mummy misses you."

[damncompass]

"I stopped at the Warehouse on my way here and went to the Escher Vault. There was a note there that you must've missed that says there is a trunk of your things in among your Artifacts. I haven't gotten through it yet, just opened it and found this." He reaches over and puts a hand on her shoulder. "Are... did I make things worse?"

[timelessinventor]

"No, not at all." She'll deny she's tearing up (but she is). "I'm glad to have any piece of her I can."

[damncompass]

He reaches over and wipes a tear off her cheek that is totally not there. "Good." He smiles at her. "It looked like there might've been more things in the trunk, but I decided to wait for you to go through it."

[timelessinventor]

"Probably for the best." Helena sighs, and musters a smile. "Thank you, darling, really."

[damncompass]

"Of course." He leans over and kisses her on the cheek. "How about we go out for dinner? I brought one of your nice dresses with me. It's back at my hotel."

[timelessinventor]

"That sounds lovely. Shall we, then?"

[damncompass]

He offers her an arm with a grin on his face. "I think we shall."

He eyes the displays behind them about leather's use in sex with a bit of a thoughtful expression, but leads Helena out and back to the hotel for a wonderful evening.