(Alrighty! Take your time.)

Armin shrugged slightly, his gaze fixed on Crowley. 'I was expecting this,' he said. 'We all know the guy is insane. I'll bet he's never going to go with his parents peacefully.'

Crowley snarled. 'No, but that doesn't matter! I KNOW they don't care about me. If they REALLY loved me, then why did they need to have another kid?! The only reason they had Lucifer was 'cuz they didn't like me enough!'

'That's nonsense!' Whitney protested. 'We had Lucifer because we were worried you might be lonely. We just wanted you to have someone else to play with.'

'I didn't ask for him! I never wanted him!'

Rook gave a rumbling growl, silencing Crowley. 'I don't care what you think,' he said. 'You've got two choices. Either you leave this city and stop bothering these people, OR I'm going to let them deal with you. You can talk like a big, tough guy all you want, but you're trapped and helpless.'

'Please, Crowley,' said Whitney. 'Just come home with us. I promise I still love you.'

Crowley just sat there in silence, glowering at his parents, apparently not knowing what to say.

"Crowley."
{Lucci began.}
"Your parents love you more than you know. They had your brother, not to replace you, but to enrich your experience of life. To have someone to talk to, play with, and to share an understanding of life from someone with a similar perspective. Why not give your brother another chance? Get to know him, and who knows, maybe you'll like him?"

Lucifer blinked, gazing at his brother hopefully. But Crowley was refusing to even look at him.

'I don't need that whiny little runt in my life!' Crowley snapped. 'I didn't ask for him! And he's NOTHING like me! I can't like someone who's nothing like me!'

'Crowley,' said Armin, 'if you don't agree to this, then Lucci's probably just going to kill you. Would you prefer that?'

'You can't kill me! I'm freakin' UNKILLABLE!'

Armin leaned in to mutter to Jerry, 'Wow, he's completely delusional.'

'Crowley,' Whitney tried, in one last desperate attempt, 'I won't make you come home with us if you don't want to. I won't make you spend time with Lucifer. You don't even have to talk to him. But you MUST promise to leave this place and never come back. I won't have you harassing innocent people anymore.'

Crowley glared at her, while Lucifer watched the proceedings anxiously from behind his father's wing.

'...Fine,' he growled at last. 'I'll never come back to this stupid city, but I'm not going home with YOU. I want freedom to go wherever I like. Is that good enough for you?' He snapped the last part directly at Lucci.

(Novel post)

(I like novels tho.)

{Lucci sighs and shakes his head.}

“No.”
{He says simply.}
“Leaving one group of people alone isn’t good enough. Who’s to say that you won’t immediately go harass the people in Riverside, or attack people coming into the region? Besides, we both know you’ll break that promise within a week. You need professional help and supervision. You either go home with your parents, or you’re not leaving at all.

{Jerry just nods in response to Armin, wanting to listen to the conversation.}

'Supervision?! I'm not a freaking baby!' Crowley snapped. 'What if I leave the country completely? I'll never come back to Vallis and bother any of you stupid weaklings ever again. You won't have to worry about me.' A nasty grin curled his jaws. 'I know you're all terrified of me.'

'Crowley, can we make a deal?' said Rook. 'Come home with us, just for a little while. If you decide later on that you want to go somewhere else, you can. But stay with us for a few days.' //Maybe if we can convince him to come home, just for a while, he'll realise that there's more to life than stealing and hurting people.//

Crowley sneered. 'Why? Do you miss me?'

'Yes,' said Whitney simply, and the sneer dropped off Crowley's face. 'I miss having you around. I've missed you since you ran away. I'm your mother, and nothing will ever change that. All I want is the chance to form a relationship with you again.'

The young dragon paused for a moment, lost in thought.

'...Fine,' he said at last. 'I'll come home with you. But I can't promise that nothing will happen will happen to ickle baby Lucifer...'

'We won't let you harm him,' growled Rook. 'We'll be keeping a very careful eye on both of you.'

Whitney turned to look at Lucci. 'Lucci, can you let him out now, please? I don't think he's going to try anything.'

'Don't be so sure,' Crowley muttered, shifting restlessly in his cell.

{Lucci doesn’t look convinced, but walks into the cell anyway. Before setting Crowley free, however, he touches Crowley’s head, sending a telepathic vision. In the vision, Lucci grabs a hold of Crowley’s head, and pulls it off. Crowley feels all of this, as if it were real, followed by the empty, silent numbness of death. Lucci then releases Crowley from the vision, undoing the chains and sending him a telepathic message.}
//Not even you are beyond death. Try anything stupid, and that will be your future.//

Crowley's body gave a jerk, and he looked momentarily shaken before quickly pulling himself together, setting his face into a scornful glare. 'I'm not scared of you, freak,' he hissed, before stepping out of the cell and stretching his wings. His yellow eyes immediately sought out Lucifer. 'Hey there, little baby,' he said, grinning. 'Look, your big bro's all grown-up now and a hundred times more powerful than you'll ever be...'

Lucifer shrank back, but held Crowley's gaze. 'I know,' he murmured. 'I don't care, though.'

Whitney glanced back and forth between her two children, then sighed and turned to Lucci's group. 'Well, I suppose we'll be leaving now,' she said. 'Thank you for reuniting us with Crowley. Even if things turn out badly... I'm glad for the opportunity to see him again.'

Lucci: “Of course. He’s run rampant long enough. Do keep an eye on him. I can’t guarantee that he won’t try something. However, the best hands for him to be in are still your own.”

Jerry: “I’m glad you were able to see him again. Just...keep him off the streets.”

'We'll all try our best,' promised Whitney. 'I don't want him running wild and hurting people any more than you do.'

'You can't change me,' Crowley scoffed. 'I'll be the person /I/ want to be, not the person /you/ want me to be.'

Rook gave him a severe look. 'But as long as you're under our watch, you'll stop trying to kill people,' he said. 'Or we'll hand you back over to Lucci.'

'Yeah, yeah, /dad.'/

With that, the family began to walk back out of the dungeon. Lucifer kept close to his parents while Crowley hung back a little, casting evil looks at his younger brother.

'I wonder what'll happen,' Armin mused. 'I'll bet that Crowley will get bored of living with them after three days, and come back here to bother us.'

Lucci: "That's a very likely scenario. If that happens, kill him on sight. He won't be here in peace."

Jerry: "Alright. If that's what you think is the best thing for us to do..."

'I won't let him show his face here again,' said Armin. 'He's caused enough trouble for enough people.'

'I'm sure he's learned not to come here again,' said Frederick. 'He acts like he can't be killed, but deep down he must know that's not true.' He turned to leave the dungeon, Armin following close behind. In the distance, the sound of feathered wingbeats could be heard as the Lockwood family took flight into the sky, ready to leave the city behind.

(Hmm, should we jump to a new scene now, if we don't have anything else to finish up here?)

(Sure, what do you have in mind?)

(I don't have anything planned, so maybe we should just jump to Dianne's return? I think that could be interesting, with Lucci being here and all that.)

(Ok, she won’t be happy about that lol. I’ll write something as soon as I can. )

(Sure, take your time!)

(Twelve days later...)
{It was the early morning, most of the city was asleep. On the outskirts of the city, the shadow of a large dragon swoops overhead. Dianne lands heavily in the street, causing a few of the more skittish citizens in the area to scatter. Shifting back, she gives them a sideways glance before heading up the street. She was still dressed in her armor from the Shacklestone war, but the breastplate was rent and sheared in places. She looked a little more bedraggled and exhausted, but the sharpness in her eyes has not wavered.}

//Now, where is that weasel of a king? He promised me shelter...//

{Meanwhile, a telepathic call came through to everyone. (Armin, Ivy, ect.)}

Lucci: //Heads up, everyone! Dianne's back in town! Oh, and Frederick, you might want to intercept her before she gets to the palace. When the king sees a cranky, battle damaged, and exhausted dragoness demanding a place to live, well...That might not end well...//

Frederick was patrolling the castle courtyard, looking alert despite the earliness of the hour. When Lucci's telepathic call came in, he responded with: //Of course. I believe the King is already aware of her arrival. The guards saw her approaching.// Leaving his post, he walked swiftly out of the courtyard and down the street until he spotted Dianne up ahead, making her way towards the palace.

'Dianne!' he called out. 'How are you?'

Meanwhile, Lucci's call had also reached every other member of the group who had fought against Sargon.

Ivy rolled over in bed, mumbled, 'Five more minutes, mum,' and immediately went back to sleep, unaware of what was going on.

Armin woke and glanced at the digital clock in his room. //Lucci,// he groaned, //it's the crack of dawn. Couldn't you have told me later?//

{Dianne looks up at Frederick’s call, smiles and chuckles.}
Dianne: “Frederick? I must say, I’m glad to see a friendly fa-“

{She stops abruptly observe his attire.}

Dianne: “Frederick...what the hell are you wearing?”

*to observe

Startled, Frederick glanced down at his guard's uniform. 'The outfit of the palace guards, of course. That's my job. I needed /something/ to do around here.'

Dianne: "Oh, Frederick..."
{Dianne look of confusion quickly formed into a cruel and mischievous smile.}
Dianne: "You sold out? Decided to be another lowly cog in the machine?"
{She begins to chuckle.}
Dianne: "You look like a total tool. Heheheh."

{Lucci replies to only Armin.}
Lucci: //Hehheheheheheheheh, It's just an fyi. Go back to sleep, everything will be fine.//

{Meanwhile, Jerry was just getting ready when the call came in. Putting on his jacket, he heads out the door.}

{Pythia was fast asleep and didn't even hear it.}

Frederick raised his eyebrows, his expression shifting from surprise to disapproval. 'I just needed a job,' he said coolly. 'And you're fortunate that I'm a royal guard. I can escort you into the palace so that the other guards won't get nervous and try to shoot you. You were going there, right?'

----

Armin sighed. //I'm already awake - thanks to you. I can't go back to sleep now.// He rolled out of bed and started getting ready to leave the house.

{Dianne just continues to chuckle.}
Dianne: “Alright, alright. Yeah, I was. His royal highness promised me a place to live, so I’m coming to collect. And if anyone shoots at me...”
{She grips Frederick’s shoulder, ire flashing in her eyes momentarily.}

“I will burn the entire palace to the ground, and no one can stop me.”

{Patting Fred on the shoulder, Dianne’s face suddenly returns to her normal demeanor.}

“Anyway, let’s go see your monarch, shall we?”

{Smiling sweetly, she continues up the road.}

Frederick just stood and stared after Dianne for a moment. Then he sighed and hurried ahead of her so that he could lead the way to the palace. 'I don't doubt that,' he muttered. Then, more loudly, he said: 'No-one will try to shoot you as long as you're accompanied by a guard, so there's no need to worry.'

----

Across the city, Armin left his house, looking slightly more alert, though not wearing his usual dark jacket or carrying his sword. //Where even are you?// he said telepathically to Lucci. //Hiding somewhere, watching us all?//

{Dianne glances back at Frederick, smiling.}
Dianne: "Good. Seems like a waste to have it all end like that, after all this effort to save it. Lead the way. You know this city better than I do."

----

Lucci: //I haven't even materialized my form yet. Technically, I am both nowhere and everywhere at once.//

Frederick didn't answer, but continued walking towards the palace. Two guards flanked the main doors, but after a reassuring nod from Fred, they stepped aside and opened the doors to let him and Dianne pass through. As soon as they were inside, another guard approached them and spoke directly to Fred.

'I saw a huge dragon flying towards the city a little while ago! What's going on? Nobody seems to know where it went, and the King is frantic; he thinks we're under attack again.'

'We are not under attack,' said Frederick shortly, sounding exasperated. 'Where is the King? I have a visitor who needs to see him.'

'In his private quarters, as usual, but... what about the dragon--?'

Ignoring the guard, Fred turned away and started to head towards the King's room.

----

Armin paused. //Oh, really? That... sounds a little disturbing, actually.//

{As Dianne walked past, she couldn't help but smirk at the mention, as she knew that it was her they were talking about.}
//Yeesh, if I caused that much commotion, it's a good thing I didn't bring Titan in with me...//

----

Lucci: //Oh, it's not that bad. But, if it would make you feel better, I could materialize for you. How about that?//

Frederick approached the King's door and knocked sharply. A timid voice from within called out, 'Your name and business?'

'Frederick Alscher of the Royal Guards. I bring a visitor, Dianne, who wishes to speak to you. I believe you remember her, Your Highness?'

There was a long pause. Then the King's voice replied, 'Yes. Of course, of course. You may enter.'

Frederick pulled open the door and stepped aside, holding it open and nodding at Dianne, inviting her to enter first.

----

//Well, I WOULD prefer to actually see you while I'm talking to you,// Armin responded.

{Dianne gives Frederick a look of, "Seriously? You work for this idiot?" before walking into the room. Bowing courteously to the King, she speaks.}
Dianne: "Your Highness, I'm sure you remember me. I've returned from my month long journey to settle a bit of business with you."

----

Lucci: "Wish granted."

{From behind Armin, Lucci walks forth.}

Lucci: "I'm here. You may ask of me what you will."

'Yes, of course. I remember you well. What is it you wish to speak to me about?' The King sounded calm, though there was a hint of nervousness in his voice and body language, which he was clearly trying to hide. Frederick stayed outside to guard the door and eavesdrop.

----

Armin turned to eye Lucci. 'Did you wake everybody else up, or just me? And is Dianne alright?'

{Dianne looks the King over, picking up on his nervous stance.}
Dianne: “Before I left, you promised me a place to stay in the city. I’m here to discuss the terms of that agreement.”

——

Lucci: “I spoke to everyone, but not everyone woke up. Ivy and Pythia are still sleeping. And you’ll have to be more specific. What would constitute ‘not alright?’”

'A-ah, yes. I stand by my promise,' the King replied. 'We have plenty of available accommodation in all areas of the city. Everything from apartments to manor houses. Do you have any specific place in mind...? You won't be charged, of course,' he added quickly. 'I have offered free housing to everyone in your group who helped rid us of Sargon. It's the least I could do.'

----

'I suppose I meant 'physically alright',' said Armin. 'Meaning, 'in one piece and not bleeding to death or anything'.'

{Dianne takes a moment to consider.}
Dianne: “I don’t suppose there’s a place out on the plains with a lot of room? I brought Titan back with me, and he’s not going to fit in a garage.”

——

{Lucci smiles at Armin.}
Lucci: “Oh, then by that definition, she’s perfectly fine. Why do you ask?”

The King paled at the mention of Titan. 'W-well... there /are/ some old Roman-style villas out on the plains, about half a mile north from the main city. They're quite large, though I'm not certain how large you need them to be. Would you perhaps be interested in taking a look at them? If you find one suitable, then I'll give it to you.'

----

'Do I need a reason to want to make sure my friends and allies aren't dead?' said Armin dryly.

Dianne: “That might do. I’ll probably need to build a barn for him, I just need the land to do so. I’ll go take a look at that now. Also, I left all of my things here, in a trailer, I’m going to send Titan to pick them up, so please don’t attack him.”

————

Lucci: “No, you don’t. I just thought that the state of her wellbeing was obvious, given the provided information. She came back, so she’s clearly well enough to fly. I didn’t wake up Pythia, so she has no serious injuries, etc, etc. why would you think she’d be harmed at all?”

'Of course,' said the King hurriedly. 'Nobody will harm him. And please do feel free to take a look at the accommodations whenever you like. Just let me know which one you choose.'

----

'I don't know,' said Armin with a small shrug. 'I know that wherever she went was pretty dangerous, so I guess I just wanted to be sure. Cut me some slack. I've only been awake for ten minutes.'

Dianne: "Thank you, your highness. I'll be back once I've made my decision.
{She then courteously bows and walks for the door.}

----

{Lucci just chuckles warmly.}
Lucci: "Alright. Honestly I'm just glad she actually has people who care about her."
{Lucci looks down in thought.}
"Well, I ought to go see her now. Let her know that I'm here and stuff..."

As Dianne walked out, Frederick closed the door behind her, bowing to the King as he did so. 'The villas on the plains? I've never seen them myself, but I've heard they're quite nice. And quite large as well.'

----

'I'll come with you,' said Armin. 'I feel like this might be interesting.'

Dianne: "Yes, I think I saw them on my way in. I'll have to see them up close, however."
{As they left, Jerry appeared, walking up the steps.}

Dianne: "Jerry! How've you been?

Jerry: "Hey, Dianne! It's good to see you again! How was your trip?

{Dianne waves a dismissal hand in the air}
"Oh, you know, long, tiring. Ferros is a very long way from here, even when flying."

----

{Lucci nods and begins to walk for the palace. Once Dianne comes into view, he doesn't approach her right away, not waning to interrupt her conversation}

Frederick, who had been following behind Dianne, stayed politely quiet while she spoke to Jerry. He spotted Armin and Lucci standing a short distance away, and sent them a short telepathic message. //Hey, dad. And hello, Lucci. I'm guessing you're here to talk to Dianne?//

Lucci: //That I am. And she’s going to notice me in 3, 2, 1...//

{Dianne happens to look up towards Armin and Lucci. Upon noticing them, her happy expression falls right off her face, and in replaced with on of surprise and bewilderment. After a few seconds, she abruptly turns and starts to walk away.}

Lucci: //Uh oh...That wasn’t suppose to happen.//

{Lucci then begins to hurriedly walk after her.}

Lucci: “Dianne! I’m not here for the reason you think!”

//Seriously? Aren't you supposed to know everything that's about to happen?// Armin complained telepathically to Lucci. He then began to follow Lucci and Dianne so that he could watch events unfold, though kept a safe distance back.

Frederick just stood stock-still, surprised to see Dianne walk away abruptly upon noticing Lucci's arrival. Then he sighed deeply. He would have pursued them, but knew he wasn't really meant to abandon his post at the palace.

Lucci: //I can see /possible/ futures. The future is not set, Armin. There are an infinite amount of possibilities, but some are more likely than others.//

{As Lucci caught up to Dianne, she whipped around to face him. She seemed very upset to see him.}
Dianne: "Lucci, I just got back from a month long journey to a long dead kingdom to give back my little girl's locket. I'm exhausted, I'm trying to figure out some difficult things right now, and a freaking beetle tried to tear me in half!"

{She frantically gestures to her damaged armor. As Lucci tries to say something, Dianne cut him off.}

Dianne: "I just ended an entire war! And now you want what? Is there another lunatic I have to kill to save these people?! Again?! Why can't I just rest now?! Get Ardens to do it, or something!"

Lucci: "Diane, there's no threat. I-"

Dianne: "What, are you going to tell me you're just here to visit? To make sure everyone's still alive?"

Lucci: "Yes, precisely."

{Dianne stops, looking confused. Clearly, that was not the response she expected.}

Armin cautiously approached the pair, stopping a few feet behind Lucci. //But is that the truth?// he said telepathically in response to Lucci's last statement. //Or are you here for some other reason? Seems a little odd that you'd come to check on us when you know everything that's happened anyway.//

Lucci: //Armin, do I really need a reason to want to make sure that my friends and allies aren’t dead?//

Dianne: “...What the hell?! Every other time you’ve shown up, it’s been to give me some other task!”

Lucci: “But not this time. I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but your mental state over the last two months has varied dangerously. I’m here to make sure you’re ok, and not about to burn the city down because a guy threw a rock and a few choice words at you.”

Dianne: “What are you talking about, no one’s done that!”

Lucci: “Not yet.”

//We aren't your friends and allies,// Armin replied. //We barely know you. And you didn't do much to help us when we were fighting Sargon. Friends are meant to help each other.//

He then glanced back and forth between Lucci and Dianne. 'Give her /some/ credit, Lucci. There have been plenty of moments in the last few weeks where she might have burned a city down, and she didn't. Hell, I once had an argument with her and she didn't try to murder me.'

Lucci: //Hey, Mr. 'had so many chances to kill Sargon but didn't', stfu.//

{Dianne just facepalms while Lucci puts his hands up in a 'everybody just relax' gesture.}

Lucci: "I said, I was just making sure everything's ok, and it appears to be. I'm not making any accusations here."

Dianne: "You know what, I'm tired of everyone treating me like some kind of wild animal! I /know/ I have anger issues, but I'm really trying here!"

Armin glanced at Dianne. 'I'm not treating you like a wild animal,' he said. 'Sure, a few weeks ago I might've thought that, but I stopped seeing you that way because I knew you were trying to be better.'

He then turned to eye Lucci. 'I still don't believe you're only here to check on us,' he said, ignoring Lucci's telepathic insult. 'It doesn't make any sense. With how powerful you are, you probably didn't need to visit us in person to make sure everything was OK.'

{Lucci looks at Armin, confused.}

Lucci: "Armin, my very being here has affected the potential futures that may propagate from this moment. I came in person to try to get the best possible outcomes. Sure, I could have checked on you all without appearing, but I wanted to meet you all anyway. Also, I wanted to reassure Dianne in person that everything's going to be fine now, and that I want her to take it easy for a while."

Dianne: "Then why didn't you start with saying that?"

Lucci: "I tried, but then you walked away from me and started yelling at me."

Armin looked back and forth between the pair as they spoke, obviously unsure whether or not to accept that Lucci was telling the truth. Eventually he decided that he didn't know Lucci well enough to make a judgement, and that if Dianne thought he was being honest, then he probably was.

'Alright. I don't entirely trust you, but I'll believe you unless you give me a good reason not to.' He then fell silent, to give the pair space to talk if they wanted.

(Oh, btw, where’s Rex?)

(Still sleeping, probably at Armin's house. I forgot about him for a bit. XD)

(Ok. I guess he can meet the angry lady a bit later. XD)

(Yeah, I'll wake him up soon so he can join the chaos. XD)

{Lucci just smiles and looks at Armin.}

Lucci: "It doesn't matter if you trust me or not. Dianne knows I mean well."

Dianne: "And yet, you still manage to stress me out every time we meet. Anyway, So, I'm done for now, right? I can rest now?"

Lucci: There are no major threats coming in the near future, so yeah, just take it easy for now."

{Dianne just sighs and rubs her eyes.}

Dianne: "Alright...I'm going to go pick a house on the plains now. How long are you going to be here for?"

Lucci: "Oh, maybe a couple weeks, just to make sure things go well."

(I'll post a new room tomorrow and reply then, this one's getting a bit full.)

(Alrighty.)