The drive to Fred's house was quiet and uneventful. When they arrived, Armin parked as close to the house as he could, then got out to walk the rest of the way over to it. Ryder was loafing outside in dragon form, lazily keeping watch.

{Dianne approached the house, holding Esme.}

Dianne: "Hello, Ryder. How are you today?"

'Very well, thank you,' the purple dragon replied. Esme chirped at him, and in return, he lowered his head to nudge her with his snout. 'You came to see Pythia, didn't you?'

Dianne: "Yes. Just a bit of business we need to discuss."

{Walking up to the door, she knocks.}

There was a short pause before Fred answered the door. He briefly looked Dianne up and down.

'Ah, Dianne, Armin... Esme,' he greeted them. 'Come in. You seem to have recovered from the last incident.'

Dianne: "Thank you, Frederick. Yes, I've made a full recovery."

{Walking in, Dianne looks over at Pythia, who was standing by her chair, looking nervous.}

Pythia: "Hello, everyone. I'm ready to go when you are."

Dianne: "Hold on, Armin has something to give to Frederick first."

'Yeah.' Armin held out the bag to Fred, who took it with a raised-eyebrow look.

'Wait, that's--'

'Yes, it's the scarf,' said Armin. 'Keep it. I don't need or want it. It's one of the only things you have from your mum, so keep it, even if you don't think you want it.'

'I don't care about keepsakes as much as you do,' said Fred bluntly. 'The memories I have of her are enough. I don't need this to remember her by.'

'Still, just... hold onto it, will you? Who knows, maybe /you'll/ want to talk to her in person someday.'

Leaving Fred holding the bag, Armin turned back to face the others.

'OK, let's go... And why does Pythia look so nervous, by the way?'

{Dianne quietly watched the exchange before looking at Pythia.}

Dianne: "Yeah, Pythia, are you feeling alright?"

Pythia: "I'm fine, it's just...every single time I've gone out, Crowley's attacked me..."

Dianne: "Oh, you don't need to worry about that, if he shows up, I'll reach down his throat and pull out his spine."

{Dianne states cheerfully.}

'If he stays still long enough...' Armin muttered.

'Speaking of that, Pythia... I believe you were considering asking Dianne for help with something else?' said Frederick pointedly.

Pythia: "Oh yes, we spoke about it over the phone. Dianne wanted to see my new house before she decides, however."

Dianne: "Yes. I think we should get going in that case. I have some other questions about exactly what you want me to make for you."

//That's not what I was talking about,// said Fred telepathically, speaking exclusively to Pythia. //I thought you said you were going to ask her for some self-defence advice? You can't always expect others to protect you when you go outside.//

Armin, unaware of this, started to head back outside to the truck.

Pythia: "Oh, right. Um, Dianne?"

{She says, walking after Dianne.}

Dianne: "Hmm?"

Pythia: "I, uh...I want you to teach me how to defend myself."

'I think it would benefit her to learn at least some basic fighting skills,' added Frederick. 'One day, she might be facing someone worse than Crowley, with no assistance.'

Armin glanced over his shoulder, looking surprised. 'Did I hear that right? Well, I guess you're not in the order anymore...'

{Dianne blinks in surprise at that.}

Dianne: "Oh...ok. Yeah, I'd be happy to teach you."

Pythia: "But, you know, just...normal self defense stuff...I don't want to rip out any spines..."

Armin chuckled as he kept walking. 'Yeah, don't traumatise her.'

He climbed into the driver's seat of the truck and waited. Ryder lazily eyed them from a short distance away.

{Dianne and Pythia continued their conversation as they climbed into the truck.}

Dianne: "Of course not. I'll just show her general things, like how to throw a punch, where to target to end the fight quickly, submission holds, and stuff like that."

Pythia: "Ok, but let's just focus on the possibility of us working together first..."

Armin addressed Dianne as he started to drive out.

'According to Fred, Pythia gets hundreds of patients every day. Can you - one person - even make enough treatments to keep up with that?'

Dianne: "Well that depends on what curative brew I'm making. I can't imagine that all 100 need the same thing."

Pythia: "The only thing I need you to make in an overly excessive amount is a natural antiseptic for cleaning the work space. The other things I would need would be very specific, such as cures for Rat Boils. That seems to be unusually common in this city..."

Dianne: "Hmm...Yes, I think I could manage that...I'd have to go out into the wilderness to collect the components, but I think I could do it..."

'I can help with collecting things,' said Armin. 'As long as I know what you need.'

Esme sat quietly with Dianne, watching the scenery fly past out of the window.

Dianne: "That would be a big help, as some of the components are the scales of certain fish."

Pythia: "In any case, Dianne, I would appreciate it greatly if you agreed to do this with me."

'So, how is this going to work, exactly?' said Armin. 'I mean, you do all of this voluntarily. Nobody's paying you to treat these people. Without coming off as unnecessarily blunt, how are you going to pay /us/ for making supplies for you?'

Pythia: "Well...I was thinking that after I made sure they weren't dying, I'd send them over to you in a type of...pharmacy set up in the other room. There, they'd pay for the medicine."

Dianne: "Pythia, these types of cures aren't exactly enough to pay for my home expenses and your living. I know you don't want to hear this, but you either need to get paid by your patients or you need to ask for some significant donations."

'That is true,' said Armin reluctantly. He took one hand off the wheel and briefly glanced around at Pythia. 'I mean, I was happy to give you money to pay for the house, but you'll still need money to live on. How are you going to get enough for yourself, let alone to pay us, unless you make a business out of your treatments? Or have some other way of getting money?'

Pythia: "Well...I...I honestly don't know... I was hoping you selling remedies would be enough, but...I guess it's not..."

{Pythia's expression starts to turn forlorn and depressed, like a child who just heard they wouldn't be able to go to their favorite amusement park.}

'Not unless we make the remedies /really/ expensive...' Armin muttered. He then said more clearly, 'Have you ever actually... had any kind of job, besides being in the Order, before?'

Pythia: "I...I used to help my mother with her gardening store when I was young but....no...."

{At this point, Pythia looked like she was about to cry. Looking concerned, Dianne spoke up.}

Dianne: "Well, hey, maybe you can get the monarchy to fund it? This city kinda sucks at controlling infections, so...maybe they would be willing to?"

'That's an idea,' said Armin. 'Your healing abilities are worth a lot, and I'm sure the king would be happy to have someone like you looking after his citizens. You're better than any hospital in this city.'

Pythia: "That's...not a bad idea....yeah...I'll just need to make a presentation to make my case.."

Dianne: "Don't bother. I'll go for you. He's so afraid of me that he's likely to agree with anything I ask of him."

'I'm not sure if that's the best way to...' Armin began, then reconsidered. 'Actually, yeah, just go and talk to him. It's by far the quickest way to get things done around here. Besides, it's funny to see how terrified he is of you.'

Dianne: "Yes, it is. I wonder if he's heard of the Springland Coup, and if he knows that I did that? It would explain why he's so terrified of me."

Pythia: "Um...What was that?"

Armin tried to remember if Dianne had ever mentioned that before. //It sounds familiar, but...// 'Let me guess, you brutally wiped out a monarchy somewhere?'

Dianne: "Yeah, pretty much...Well, they were corrupt as hell. They were in cahoots with a people trafficking ring. Selling people to the upper class as....personal slaves and the like. I caught wind of it, discovered the whole thing, and slaughtered everyone involved. They called it a coup, but I called it justice."

'Sounds reasonable to me. If there's one thing life has taught me... it's that sometimes killing people really is the best solution. With people like that, they can't be redeemed, and they don't deserve anything. Just get rid of them so the rest of the world can live in peace.'

Armin spoke nonchalantly, not considering that their conversation might disturb Pythia.

{Dianne nods in agreement, while Pythia just looks between them, slightly appalled.}

Pythia: "If you say so...I for one am a big supporter of second chances..."

'Depends who it is...' Armin muttered. 'I'll give someone a second chance if I think they deserve it, but some people will always be jerks no matter how many chances you offer them...'

Dianne: "For me, it's also the severity of the crime. What they did was unforgivable."

Armin nodded silently in agreement, his eyes on the road. A moment later, they arrived at the street of Pythia's house-to-be. Pulling up outside the house, Armin gazed up at it curiously.

'Huh, it's pretty big. I guess you need a lot of space for what you'll be doing here - living in it as well as using it for treating patients.'

Pythia: "Well that is the plan."

{Getting out, Dianne surveys the gardens.}

Dianne: "Hmm...I could cultivate some of the ingredients I need here..."

'The garden is pretty nice,' Armin commented, looking it over. 'It's overgrown, but I like that.'

Dianne: "Yes. It does have a simple charm to it."

Pythia: "Let me show you the inside."

{Pythia then walks for the front doors.}

Armin jumped out of the car, taking Esme with him. She perched on his shoulder as he followed the others into the house, gazing around at everything.

//I never thought houses were very interesting,// he mused. //I guess it's nice, though. And spacious. Not much in it, though. I guess she's going to furnish it later.//

Dianne: "Well, it certainly is spacious. Plenty of room for patients."

Pythia: "Yes. And these adjacent rooms can be used for your remedy creation."

Dianne: "It will need to be furnished."

Pythia: "I know. Ryder offered me some of his unwanted furniture, but I think I will still need beds and operating tables."

Armin absently explored the house with Esme, examining each room and hallway. He wasn't paying much attention to the conversation. At one point, Esme jumped off his shoulder and started climbing up the stairs; Armin followed to make sure she didn't get into trouble.

Dianne: "We'll figure that out. Let's see the upstairs."

{Following Armin and Esme, Dianne and Pythia head upstairs.}

Pythia: "Last time I came up here, Crowley attacked me..."

'He'd be an idiot to show up again,' said Armin. 'Actually, he is an idiot, so I wouldn't put it past him...'

He glanced over at Pythia, grinning slightly with amusement about something.

'I heard you drove off Crowley last time by bursting an underground water mains pipe - is that true?'

Pythia: "...Yes... And I think the king is still mad about that..."

Dianne: "Screw the king. What's important is that you're ok, and you drove him off all by yourself."

'Just be careful; there might not always be a convenient water pipe nearby when someone attacks you,' Armin commented.

Esme jumped up onto a windowsill, gazing down at the street far below as people and cars went past.

{Seeing Esme hop up on the window sill, Dianne approaches her. She picks Esme up and carries her away from the window, wrapping her tail around her hand.}

Pythia: "Yes, well...that's why I asked Dianne to teach me how to defend myself."

Dianne: "Yes, we can start that whenever you'd like."

Esme made a squeaky noise of protest and bit down on Dianne's hand.

'What will be your preferred way of fighting to defend yourself?' Armin asked curiously. 'As a dragon, or are you going to take up a weapon or something?'

Pythia: "I'm not sure... I guess I'd like to stay in human form and rely on my magic?"

{Dianne winces when Esme bites her hand.}

Dianne: "Ow. Hey, no biting! Bad Esme!...Well, I think a bit of hand-to-hand will do you good."

'Well, if you ever feel like trying some bladework, you can always fight me for practice,' Armin offered, grinning. 'I'm not as scary as Dianne.'

Esme folded her ears back, stubbornly trying to squirm out of Dianne's grasp to get back to the windowsill.

Pythia: "Thank you, Armin. I'll consider that."

{Dianne was keeping a firm grip on Esme, despite her squirming.}

Dianne: "Esme, what are you doing? I won't have you jumping through the window and into the street."

Armin went over to look out of the window himself. '...Huh. I guess /that's/ what she was so interested in...'

He nodded towards the street below. Standing there, gazing up at the house, was a familiar dark-winged, skinny dragon. He was just sitting there, as if waiting for something.

'Looks like he's thinking of doing something really idiotic, like ambushing us when we step outside...'

{Dianne walks to the window, glaring down at Crowley darkly.}

Dianne: "I can send Barnabas to drive him off. Maybe even pull his head off."

Pythia: "Oooh....why can't he just leave me alone?"

Crowley narrowed his eyes and flipped Dianne and Armin off through the window. Armin seemed unconcerned by his presence.

'He's just picking on you because he doesn't have anything better to do with his time. Anyway, have we seen everything we need to see here?'

Pythia: "Yes, we have. Let's go home now..."

{Pythia then headed for the stairs. Glaring at Crowley for a few moments more, she then turns and follows.}

Armin followed Pythia down the stairs, with Dianne behind him. Esme continued to whine and fidget in Dianne's grasp as they headed for the front door, seeming unsettled by the presence of Crowley outside.

'If he comes over to us, can I punch him?' said Armin.

Dianne: "Babe, if he comes over, you can rip his guts out and feed them to him for all I care. Just keep him from hurting Esme."

{She then turns her attention to Esme.}

Dianne: "Shhh, it's ok. The big mean crow man can't do anything."

Esme just whined more loudly. She was normally happy to meet other people, but she could sense something wrong with the strange crowdragon. She sensed his malice.

As they stepped outside, Crowley slunk around the side of the house. Stopping twenty feet away, he regarded the group with a slight sneer.

'Hey, look, it's the resident crybaby. What a surprise, she's got bodyguards now. Awww, too scared to go out alone?'

Pythia: "No, they're just visiting. Who are you calling crybaby, anyway? Y-you're the one who ran from a little water..."

{Said Pythia, in a faltering attempt to be intimidating.}

Dianne: "Beat it, birdbrain! This is your one chance to leave before something bad happens to you."

Crowley sneered at Dianne. 'Yeah, great threat. You know I can teleport, right?'

He then turned to Pythia. 'One day, I'm going to catch you when you're alone. None of these guys, or that stupid purple dragon... Just you and me... And when that happens, I won't be playing around.'

He bared his teeth in a nasty grin.

{Pythia just shuffles nervously at that. Dianne, however, is not amused.}

Dianne: "That's it, I've run out of patience. Barnabas."

{All at once, Barnabas appears behind Crowley, wraps his chains around his neck, and starts to strangle him.}

Barnabas: "Hey there, bird boi!"

'Wha - hey!'

Crowley tried to twist around to see who was behind him, straining against the chain. Letting out a spluttering noise as he found himself unable to draw breath, he teleported, reappearing on the top of Armin and Dianne's truck.

'Yeah, sorry, but you can't do that...'

Barnabas: "Yes I caaaaan!" >:D

{Barnabas blinks right with him, wrapping his chains around his neck again.}

Barnabas: "You can't get away from me."

Dianne: "Teleporting enemies are a pain, aren't they, Crowley?"

{She says smugly.}

Crowley let out a howl of rage, teleporting again. This time, he reappeared right behind Pythia. He shoved her in the back, hard, then promptly disappeared again, laughing maniacally.

{Pythia yelped, stumbling forward and falling.}

Dianne: "Hey!"

Crowley reappeared close to Armin, who reflexively took a swing at him. However, Crowley vanished again before Armin's fist could make contact. Moments later, the crowdragon once again materialised, this time in the bough of a nearby tree.

'Aww, relax, I'm just messing around... If I actually wanted to kill the wimpy healer girl, she'd be dog food by now. She's just fun to play with! Can't I have a bit of fun?'

{Once again blinking with Crowley, Barnabas gets his chains around Crowley's throat and kicks him off the branch, looking to hang the bird.}

Barnabas: " Stop ignoring me!"

Dianne: "Given that your idea of fun is to hurt my friends, no you can't."

Crowley was sensible enough to blink away before his neck was broken. He once again appeared beside Armin, who managed to punch him in the nose this time.

'Wha - hey!'

Crowley shook his head agitatedly. Looking murderous, he lashed out with lightning reflexes, scoring deep claw wounds in Armin's chest. Armin stumbled backwards, nearly falling.

{Dianne's expression shifted to alarm when Armin was slashed.}

Dianne: "Armin!"

{Pythia, who had gotten up at this point, went over to him.}

Pythia: "Armin, hold still!"

Dianne: "Barnabas!"

{Barnabas attacks Crowley again, this time from below the ground. He stabs him in the pectoral muscles with his two blades, laughing.}

Crowley yelped, more out of surprise than pain. He rapidly backed away, leaving a trail of blood along the street. 'That's cheating, dirtbag!' he snapped, looking around warily for Barnabas.

Armin grimaced, swaying slightly. The claw wounds hadn't hit anything vital, but they were still fairly deep and bleeding through his sweater. Despite that, he tried to shrug it off and continue pursuing Crowley.

Barnabas: "Cheating? Since when do you have morals?"

{Barnabas sneered. Despite not being visible, his voice was right in his ear. As Crowley looked around, Barnabas appeared behind him, slashing his back legs with a lash of his chain. Pythia grabs a hold on Armin, closing her eyes and beginning to heal him.}

Crowley stumbled, his back legs giving out underneath him. Flaring out his wings in anger, he lifted off the ground and started to rapidly ascend into the sky. It was unclear whether he was trying to escape, or simply looking to get a better vantage point.

Armin jerked to a halt when Pythia grabbed him, frustration crossing his face as he watched Crowley take off.

{As Crowley flew, Barnabas appeared on his back. He proceeded to stab him in the base of his wings.}

Barnabas: "Where you going? Is the mean old ghoul too much for the widdle birdy?"

'You're /dead./ I don't fight ghosts. You're not even a /real person,'/ Crowley sneered. He twisted his neck around and spat a short jet of blue flame in Barnabas's face.

{Barnabas just phased out of existence. However, his voice could still be heard.}

Barnabas: "Of course I'm a real person. So, just because you can't bully me, you're running back to mommy?"

{Seeing that Crowley was flying, Dianne went over to Armin. Pythia had just about finished mending him.}

Dianne: "Armin, are you ok?"

'No way. I'm never going anywhere near her again. I hate her as much as she hates me,' said Crowley scornfully. He continued flying, towards the city outskirts, dripping blood through the air behind him.

Armin grimaced, lightly touching the blood on his sweater. 'I think so.'

Barnabas: "Oh, but she loooooves, little Lucifer, doesn't she? More than a loser like you. You're a lot like a pancake. The first one always comes out bad! Ahahahaha!"

{Holding Esme in one arm, she pats Armin, looking for any more wounds.}

Dianne: "Good. At least you didn't ruin another sweater."

'Yeah, she does love him, cuz she's an idiot!' Crowley retorted. 'She's a simpleton who thinks it's better to have a /nice/ kid than a /cool/ kid. Ickle baby /Lucifer/ will never be as great as me, no matter what my parents think.'

Armin shrugged, glancing up at the sky. 'That was worth it. Punching him was pretty satisfying.'

{Barnabas appears once again, this time, wrapping his chain around the base of his neck and hangs off of him. Dangling from Crowley, Barnabas puts his hands behind his head in a relaxed manner.}

Barnabas: "You? Cool? Don't make me laugh. You're the biggest loser I've ever met! And believe me, I've met some losers."

Dianne: "Sure...Next time, you hold Esme, and I'll do the punching."

Crowley tried to look down at Barnabas as he flew. 'Yeah? Least I'm free to do what I want. You're stuck slaving away for Dianne like a dog,' he said, grinning nastily. 'Oh, wait, you /are/ a dog.'

Armin gave Dianne a look. 'Why?'

Barnabas: "The world at your fingertips, and you choose the life of a bum. And I have enough freedom to keep me happy. I have free reign with very few exceptions. I'm here pestering you, aren't I?"

Dianne: "Because I punch a lot harder. I bet I could knock him out."

(posting new room)