'Mhm. You sure?' said Armin. 'Well, I'd be happy to. Besides, we should probably go before it gets any colder... Don't wanna get held up by snow.'

Dianne: "....Yeah...that's what I was thinking...We'll go then..."

{As she was drifting off again, there was a knock at the front door.}

Armin tensed slightly in surprise at the knock, but decided he was /not/ going to get up and answer it. //We're not expecting anyone, so it's probably just an annoying salesman or something...//

Downstairs, Rex had made some eggs for Esme, having noticed that Dianne wasn't getting up. As she ate, he glanced warily at the door, before walking over to open it.

{Behind the door was Lucci.}

Lucci: "Hello, Rex. May I come in?"

Rex looked like he wasn't sure what to think of this. 'I suppose so. If you're here to see Armin or Dianne, they're not up yet.'

Lucci: "That's quite alright, I'll simply wait for them."

{With that, he proceeds to walk inside and sit on the couch.}

Rex stayed in the hallway, leaving Lucci to wait in the living room. He sent a telepathic message to Armin and Dianne. //Lucci's here. He wants to see you.// It was rather short and awkward; he didn't really know what they thought of him after the events of last night.

{Dianne sure woke up at that.}

Dianne: "What?"

{She says, sitting bolt upright.}

Armin groaned as she pulled away from him, throwing an arm across his face.

'Great, it's just like him to be inconvenient...'

{Sighing, Dianne gets up and quickly gets dressed. Coming down the stairs, she speaks a little annoyed.}

Dianne: "Ok, what is it this time?"

Armin followed Dianne, not even bothering to get dressed properly, but heading downstairs in his baggy t-shirt and shorts, eyeing Lucci with distaste.

'Yeah, is it important? I was sleeping.'

Lucci: "I'm sorry, I thought you would be interested in why the Aspect won't leave you alone."

Dianne: "...Oh. Yeah..."

'Go on then,' said Armin.

Lucci: "Well, let's start with when it showed up in Fred's room. It was honestly just curious about him. he almost died earlier that day, so he inadvertantly caught it's attention. It really didn't mean anything by it. As for last night, however, it simply wasn't pleased with Rex acting the fool. Like, at all."

'Yeah, I could guess that much. But, first of all, what Rex does is none of its business. Secondly, he wasn't acting like a fool. Well, he was, but he's got issues, alright? He does it to cope because he doesn't know what else to do.'

He glanced around to make sure Rex wasn't there before speaking, and lowered his voice considerably.

Lucci: "Armin."

{Lucci states in a serious tone.}

Lucci: "It doesn't care. It considers all of existence its concern, when it comes to its acolytes. And, it's partially correct...Look, it percieves him as a potential threat to Esme. If he doesn't seek help, It might take matters into its own hands."

'Well, what do you want me to do?' said Armin, slightly frustrated. 'I'm concerned about him, too. It's not all about the damn Aspect. But he won't go to therapy, he doesn't trust anyone, and even if he could cure his alcohol problem, it doesn't fix the traumas that made him drink in the first place.'

Lucci: "He doesn't necessarily need therapy. He just needs to come to terms with his past, and get something in his life to give him fulfillment. Something to make him care about his self image again. For you, that's Dianne and Esme, thus your major improvement. Same thing for her."

Armin rubbed his head. 'That's what I've been hoping for all along. I think seeing us all happy together makes things worse for him, because he doesn't have that. But I don't know how long it'll take him to find fulfilment of his own.'

Lucci: "Tell him to look for a teaching job, like he used to have. Having some responsibility might give him the push he needs. Also, I want to talk to him. About his grandfather, and Jade. There's something I need to know."

'Alright, that sounds like a good idea... You want to talk to him now?' said Armin, privately thinking that Lucci would be lucky to get much out of Rex in regards to those particular subjects, but not saying so.

Lucci: "Yes. Please call him in"

Armin glanced up at the ceiling, guessing Rex was hiding upstairs. //Hey, can you come down? Lucci said he wants to talk to you. Knowing what he's like, it's better if you just do what he wants.//

A moment later, Rex shuffled in, looking on edge and slightly guilty. He avoided Dianne and Armin's gazes. 'What is it?'

Lucci: "Hello, Rex. I just have a few questions. You're trying to drink your pain away because of nightmares and past guilt and fears, yes? Because of your grandfather, and having to abandon Jade?"

Rex looked slightly taken aback, and not very happy.

'Rather blunt to ask, don't you think?' he said. 'And yes, isn't that obvious?'

Lucci: "Quite. Your grandfather was a cruel man, but he's powerless over you now. He's dead. No one here is going to hurt you anymore, or say unspeakable things to you, or take you from the ones you love. You're safe now."

'...I'm fully aware that he'd dead and gone. The old bast.ard has been dead for over half my lifetime. I don't mean to be rude, but why are you stating the obvious?'

Lucci: "Because, despite the fact that it's obvious, you don't seem to accept it. It's been decades, and yet he still torments you. Would it help if you could talk to him again?"

'No!' said Rex sharply, drawing back a little. He took a moment to compose himself. 'I suppose that, being what you are, you don't understand how /normal/ people are affected by experiences. Of course I know he's dead. But if you lived in constant /fear/ your entire childhood, you wouldn't just forget it all.'

Lucci: "I'm well aware how this works. However, I am also aware of many others similar to you, who have gotten better. Which means, you can get better as well. Everyone in this room is willing and ready to help you. Everyone here would be willing to do whatever it takes."

'Oh, I'm sure Armin is. He's been trying to get me out of this pit for almost a century. But none of the rest of you have any reason to care what happens to me, and I'd prefer if you don't pretend you do.'

Lucci: "Not true. Dianne cares because you're important to Armin. Also, she knows a thing or two about abandonment and abuse. Esme cares because she looks up to you. And as she grows up, she'll think of you as an uncle of sorts. And I care because I sympathize with your situation. As an oracle, I see all things of the world, the joys and the pain. I legally can't help them all, but I can help you. And I intend to."

//Hmm,// Armin mused. //I always thought that Esme might grow up to see him as an uncle of sorts. I'd like that; it'd make him closer to our family.//

'Yeah,' he said. 'We /all/ want to help. Especially me. Doesn't matter what you say or do; I'll always love you, and I'm not kicking you out, no matter how many times you attack me.'

Rex looked around awkwardly at them all, internally grateful, but not quite sure how to respond.

Dianne: "He's right. We all want you to feel better. To be able to be at ease in your own house. To be able to sleep peacefully at night."

Lucci: "Rex, I know you've had a rough life. But, the world is a bit more compassionate then you might think. There will be people on your path to help you. All you need to do, is look ahead, and take the first steps."

Rex sighed, and tugged on his mustache. 'I understand what you're saying. I just don't know what to do. Or where to go from here.'

'Check out the local schools, see if any are hiring,' Armin suggested. 'You always wanted to take up teaching again, didn't you? It'll help.'

'I'm pretty sure that no schools around here would hire me. I mean, this city doesn't have a history of tolerance with non-humans. Who would want a vampire near their children?'

Lucci: "You may be surprised. And if that doesn't pan out, try one of the more southern settlements, or perhaps a private tutor. I think teaching children again would help you out immensely."

'Alright... I guess I'll start looking around...'

Although Rex's reply sounded unenthusiastic, Armin could tell that he was really going to try it, and smiled slightly.

'Yeah, go for it. Fred can look around too, see if there are any schools accepting non-human applicants. He likes research and crap.'

Lucci: "Good. This is a good start. One last thing, Rex. When you're finding yourself feeling bad, go to one of these two. They'll be happy to talk and help you with your feelings. No more trying to get wasted or attacking people, ok?"

Rex rubbed his face. 'Alright. I promise I'll try my best. The last thing I want is for anyone to see me as a violent drunkard, like /him...'/

Lucci: "Alright then. I'm going to hold you to that."

{Standing up, Lucci looks about the room.}

Lucci: "if there are no other questions, I'll take my leave now."

'No, not really. Thanks for stopping by,' said Armin. 'Even if I don't appreciate being dragged out of bed.'

Rex just looked contemplative, musing over what he was going to do next.

Dianne: "Yes, thank you, Lucci."

Lucci: "Alright then, have a pleasant afternoon."

{And with that, he leaves.}

Armin yawned. 'OK, I'm going to get dressed...' He started to head upstairs, giving Rex a brief one-armed hug in passing.

Dianne: "I'll make myself breakfast, seeing as you already fed Esme."

{With that, she walks into the kitchen to make herself food.}

(Shall we skip to when they're about to go out?)

(Yeah, go ahead.)

A while later, once Dianne had eaten, Armin was in the front hallway putting his shoes on in preparation to leave. Esme was circling around him excitedly, wanting to go outside despite the chilly weather and threat of rain.

'You going to make more of those strange cures?' asked Rex.

Armin nodded. 'Yeah, which means the kitchen will smell again, but... can't be helped...'

{Dianne was in her armor, getting her supplies ready.}

Dianne: "Well, Pythia needs those cures. We need to do this, even if it does reek."

Armin picked up Esme and opened the front door. 'Rex, you wanna come with us?'

'No, go on your own. I might use the time to look into some jobs,' said Rex contemplatively.

Smiling slightly, Armin headed out to the truck with Esme.

{Dianne followed them out, climbing into the passenger's seat.}

Dianne: "Awfully nice of the doc to let us have this truck."

'Who?' said Armin, before remembering who she was talking about. 'Oh, him. Well, I guess he didn't have much choice. But I hope he never comes and asks for it back. I'm kinda fond of this truck.'

He started the engine and headed off in the same direction as before.

{At that, Dianne chuckles.}

Dianne: "How could you forget him? We only had him as a roommate for a week."

'I didn't /completely/ forget him. I just forgot that this truck was his. Either way... my truck now.' He patted the steering wheel. 'I hope he never got into any trouble. For being associated with us, and helping us escape the hunters.'

Dianne: "I'm sure he's ok. I mailed him the Iron-Sun Accords, but I haven't heard back. Wow, you really like this truck now, don't you? Didn't know you were an automobile enthusiast."

Armin shrugged a bit. 'I didn't often have a car back in Shacklestone, and driving is pleasant. It might not be as efficient as flying, but it's got its merits.'

Dianne: "If you say so. I always preferred my wings over the mechanations of man."

They continued to drive peacefully for a while, until they were out of the city. Armin parked up in the same spot as before, at the lakeside by the forest edge.

'You go get the herbs, and I'll grab some fish. Then we'll both go into the woods to find those rancid fruits.'

{Dianne puts her helmet on, scoops up Esme, and heads outside.}

Dianne: "Alright. See you in a bit."

Armin glanced at her as she walked off. //I hope there's no hikers in the woods today. That helmet might... unnerve people.//

He then shifted to hawk form and set to work catching fish, laying them out on the grass in the shadow of the truck. As he worked, it started to rain gently.

{Dianne walked through the trees, looking for the herbs. Finding quite a few of them spread about the moss, she starts gathering them.}

Dianne: "Huh, it's starting to rain..."

Esme tilted her head curiously at the rain. She hadn't seen it since they'd been flying in the truck over the wilderness. She started to run around in the rain, never straying too far from Dianne.

{Once she was done gathering the herbs, Dianne stands and calls to Esme.}
Dianne: "Esme, let's keep looking for more, ok, sweetheart? This way."

Esme squeaked in response and obediently bounded after Dianne, seeming to enjoy the rain. She ran ahead a little, spotting another patch of the herbs they were looking for, and excitedly pointed them out.

Dianne: "Very good, Esme. My, you're learning fast."

{Stopping momentarily to pet Esme, Dianne walks over to the patch and begins to gather the ingredients.}

Esme sat down to watch Dianne pick the herbs. As she did so, Armin came towards them, having tracked their scent through the woods. He didn't say anything, but just fondly observed the pair as he approached.

{Dianne turned her head to look at Armin, smiling under her helmet.}

Dianne: "Finished gathering the fish, did you?"

'Yup. I got eight of them, which should be enough. Terrorised any unsuspecting bystanders yet?' he said with amusement.

Dianne: "No. There's no one out here to terrorize us. People already don't seem to like hiking these woods, let alone in the rain."

'I don't see why so many people hate the rain.' He gazed around, inhaling the scent of damp trees and earth. 'Let's go and find that horrible fruit tree again.'

Dianne: "Ok, let's do it."

{Standing with her gathered ingredients and beckoning Esme to follow, Dianne sets off through the trees.}

Esme scampered merrily around them as they walked, occasionally jumping and flapping her wings to strengthen them.

'Aww, she likes the outdoors. She's going to grow up to be an adventurer, I think.' //I just hope she can avoid trouble better than us.//

Dianne: "Yes, I think you're right. I'll have to teach her accordingly. How to bring the world to heel using only your wits and hands...It will probably be part of her afterschool activities."

'Mhm. She'll have to be taught that, and how to fight, too, when she's old enough...' Armin mused. 'Don't want her getting picked on, and not knowing how to defend herself.'

Dianne: "I agree. I can handle that. I'll teach her how to break them, in body and spirit..."

{As they walked, the rancid smell of the Goomboogly tree wafted over.}

Armin's expression shifted to disgust as they approached the tree. When it came into sight, however, there was a surprise. Beneath the tree stood the strange old lady they had encountered before. She had a shopping cart, into which she was piling all of the rancid-smelling fruits. The tree was almost bare; she seemed intent on taking every last one.

{Dianne looked at the stranger with surprise, disgust, and annoyance, all at once.}

Dianne: "You've got to be kidding me. What could she possibly need all of those fruits for?"

'I don't know. Maybe she bathes in them,' Armin muttered. He eyed the old woman with narrowed eyes. 'We could always just go and ask her if we can have some. There's no way she can need them all...'

Dianne: "Might as well..."

{Approaching the old woman, Dianne speaks.}

Dianne: "Excuse me, miss? Sorry to bother you, but we were wondering if we could get some of that Goomboogly fruit?"

Armin approached as well, holding Esme so she wouldn't run off. When the old lady saw them coming, she beamed widely and clapped her hands.

'Ahh, Dracula and Diagonal! A pleasure to see you again on this fine summer day! ...What, the fruits? /These/ fruits? Well, whatever could you need them for?

{Dianne blinks a few times. needing a moment to process what she just said.}

Dianne: "Umm...We....We need them for Rat Boil cures. There's a bit of an outbreak in Soveriegn City. If it's no trouble, I'd like to request that you share some with us, for the betterment of those people's lives."

The woman absently scratched her nose in a 'thinking' gesture.

'Hmmmm. Yes, yes. Cures. I'm sure that's terribly important and all that. But, /I/ need them for something, too. So, I must ask... if I shared some of these delightful little nuggets with you... would you be willing to do something in return?'

{Dianne shifts her stance. crossing her arms.}

Dianne: "That wholly depends on what you ask of me."

(psting new room)