Armin just settled back into the couch, closing his eyes.

'Well, like I said, I just don't want you to murder her. If you really think she needs to go to a home, for everyone's safety, then I won't argue.'

Dianne: "I know."

{She then pulls him close, kissing him on the cheek.}

Dianne: "We'll just have to see how this goes."

Without opening his eyes, Armin wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

'Mhm... I'll be very glad when we go away to Alexandria for a few days... I love this city, but honestly, it's insane sometimes.'

Dianne: "Yeah...It'll be nice to get a break..."

{Returning his hug, she settles in with him and snuggles into his neck.}

Armin contentedly relaxed with her, feeling quite at ease with everything, despite their conversation. //Let's just get the Luxia situation dealt with so we can put her out of our minds.//

About half an hour later, there came a sharp knock at the door. Opening it would reveal Gail shuffling awkwardly from foot to foot. She was not thrilled about having to come here on her mentor's behalf and smooth things over.

{Dianne opens her eyes at the knock. Getting up and stretching, she heads to the door. Opening it, she looks Gail over quizzically.}

Dianne: "...Gail, I presume?"

Armin remained on the couch, though pulled himself up into a more presentable, less slouched position.

'Uh, yeah. It's Gail. Gail Finch,' said the apprentice uncertainly. 'Look, you obviously knew I was coming, so, uh, shall I come in or something? I have to talk about Luxia. My boss, that is.'

Dianne: "Of course. Lucci said you'd be coming. Please, come in..."

{She then stands aside to let her in.}

Gail walked in, looking rather uncomfortable with the situation. She didn't sit down, but stood near the dining table, glancing around, observing the house.

'OK, so... Obviously, I know Luxia attacked you with some stupid magic spell. I guess I'm here to apologise on her behalf, since... well, she's pretty cracked up. Doubt you'd get a sensible word out of her. She didn't do it to be malicious.'

Dianne: "So, you're saying she's too feeble minded to act like a responsible adult? Why not put her in a home, then? She can't be allowed to be casting spells on whoever she wants."

'Cuz Luxia's too valuable to toss in some crazy old peoples' home. That guy who showed up this morning bought like, 200 rat boil cures from us. And I've seen her bring people back from the brink of death with her healing magic. She's /really good/ at what she does. She can help people.'

Dianne: "True as that may be, it does not excuse her actions. I'm not even the one who's hurting you two, it's Death. What if she cast a spell on Kynigos' acolyte, and you had all manner of beasts harrassing you? She can't be allowed to run rampant, regardless of how much good she's capable of."

'Casting spells on random people isn't a /habit/ of hers,' said Gail irritably. 'She usually only spells willing people; I dunno why she targeted you two. But, I think she knows not to do that again. When that weird monster showed up last night, the next-door neigbour died. I don't even know how, they just dropped dead.'

{At that, Dianne looked alarmed.}

Dianne: "...Yeah...That's a thing that might happen...Its presence makes the very fabric of reality...unstable...So it might inadvertantly claim innocent bystanders...But, you /think/ she knows not to do it again? Does she understand the implications of what she's done or not?"

'Well... yeah, it's kinda hard to interpret her sometimes. But when I told her the neighbour died, I saw something in her... change. She didn't want it to happen.'

Armin looked slightly alarmed. 'Wait, so the Aspect can kill unintended people just by being there? Great. That's great.'

Dianne: "What did you expect, Armin? It's literally Death. Alright Gail, get her to apologize to us, and promise to never do that again, then I'll perform the Ritual of Forgiveness, and, hopefully, the Aspect will leave you two alone.."

Gail shuffled from foot to foot. 'Uh, alright. I'm warning you, whatever apology you get is probably gonna be weird. So, shall I bring her over, or do you wanna come to our place?'

Armin was hardly paying attention to Gail. He was still highly disturbed by what he'd just heard.

Dianne: "Uh...We'll go to her...Just give us the address."

'21 Ferris Street,' said Gail. 'She runs an apothecary shop... of sorts... up there. You can't miss it.'

Dianne: "Alright, we'll go there, and give you a ride. Armin, let's go. Armin? You ok?"

Armin blinked and turned to her, losing his vacant expression. Gail gave him an odd look.

'...Yeah, let's go.' He stood and began to make his way to the door. 'Do you want to leave Esme here with Rex? I'm not sure it's a great idea to take her in the witch's place.'

Dianne: "Yeah, just let Rex know we're going to be out."

{Getting her purse and putting on her shoes, she heads out the door.}

Armin sent a distracted telepathic message to Rex, then headed out to the truck, followed by Gail.

'So this thing's actually yours?' she said, eyeing up the truck.

'Yup. Get in the back, there aren't enough seats in the front.'

Once Gail had climbed into the back, and Dianne was in, Armin set off towards the street they had been told to go to.

{Dianne sat in silence, quietly wondering what Luxia might say, or if she'd just hex them again.}

When they arrived on Ferris Street, Luxia's magic shop immediately became apparent. An old-fashioned-looking place, with arched windows in the front, and a thatched roof. Beside the door was a handwritten sign saying 'Luxia's Shop, here for all your potions, cures, & magic services. Potted cacti free every Thursday.'

Armin parked up as best as he could on the road outside, then jumped out, eyeing the shop with a mixture of wariness and curiosity.

{Looking the place over, she approaches the doors.}

Dianne: "Ok, let's go..."

{She thought the place looked nice, but was too preoccupied to comment on it.}

As soon as Dianne and Armin stepped inside, a shower of confetti and small flowers rained down from the ceiling. In front of them, behind the counter, sat Luxia in a rocking-chair. She smiled at them through the falling confetti.

'How splendiforous to see you both again on this pleasant afternoon!'

{Caught off guard by the flowers and confetti, Dianne jolted backwards.}

Dianne: "Uhhh....Yeah, nice to see you too..."

Gail pushed past them and stepped behind the counter, seeming unfazed by Luxia's 'welcome'.

'OK, so, here's the deal. You need to apologise for what you did to these two, and promise you won't do it again. Got that? Then, apparently, they can make the death monster leave us alone.'

{Dianne watched Luxia with interest, to see what she would decide.}

Dianne: "Do you understand why what you did was wrong?"

Luxia just smiled, resting her hands on the counter.

'Well, what's that supposed to mean? Is it important to understand 'why'? Goodness, the world would be boring if we understood the 'why' of everything,' she rambled. 'However... It has come to my attention that my little joke may have been more harmful than I intended.'

Dianne: "Yeah, you broke an ancient pact I have with that thing, and now it's really pissed. That thing is extremely volatile, and others might get hurt if we don't handle this."

'Yes, yes, of course. The situation must be handled. But, I must say, I couldn't have /known/ there would be ancient pacts broken and strange creatures awoken due to my prank. Despite how exceedingly intelligent and wonderful I am.'

Dianne: "That's why you don't hex people without their consent. I warned you this might happen, didn't I? But, no one wants to listen to the acolyte until /after/ the divine wrath comes down..."

Luxia huffed.

'I come from a far, faraway land. In my hometown, everyone was a spellcaster. All of us, great magic users! And since everyone used magic, using magic to prank each other was extremely commonplace. Sometimes, I suppose I forget that customs are different here...'

Dianne: "I understand that. Where I come from, to be changed against one's will is a great insult. Differing customs don't always mesh well. I know you meant us no harm, but you really should be careful about strangers. You never know of their past."

'Of course, of course, good sir and lady,' said Luxia brightly, clapping her hands. 'So where were we? What's next?'

'We need to get rid of the Aspect thing,' said Gail boredly.

'Yes, Bob. The messy houseguest from last night.'

'The 'houseguest' who killed the next-door neighbour, you mean!'

Dianne: "Well, after that pseudo apology, I need to perform a ritual to....forgive the Aspect or something....hold on, did you just call it Bob?"

Luxia gave a cackle, rocking back and forth in her chair. 'Bob! That's his name! Ahh, Bob. Bless him, and bless the lingering odours he left in my shop.'

Gail rested her head on her hands. '...Can we just do this before she completely cracks up?'

Dianne: "The ritual is no small thing."

{She says, turning to Gail.}

Dianne: "It requires some preparation, and a body water. I've never done this ritual before, so I need to see exactly what I'll need. It may take a few days of preparation for all I know."

'Oh, well, that's fine by me. Maybe Bob will come over again and I can invite him for tea and crumpets. I regret not doing that last time. Terribly rude I must have seemed,' mumbled Luxia.

Gail ignored her. 'Do what you have to do, I guess...'

Dianne: "Give me your number and we'll stay in touch. I'll do this as soon as I can. Armin, you ready?"

Gail passed her a slip of paper with her number on it. 'Call me. There's no point in trying to phone Luxia.'

'Yeah, I'm ready... let's go.' Still looking faintly troubled, Armin headed out to the truck.

{Dianne waves goodbye, following Armin out. Noticing his troubled look, she buckles in and looks at him.}

Dianne: "Are you ok?"

Armin didn't speak for a moment, focusing on driving out of the street.

'So, if the Aspect can kill people just by being there, does that mean that every time it shows up at our house, there's a chance of me, Rex, or Esme dropping dead?'

Dianne: "....Yeah....That's partly why I reacted so badly last time...I...I was terrified he'd take one of you from me..."

Armin didn't say anything in response to that, but his expression became grim, and his hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. The Aspect showing up had been scary enough before, but he hadn't known this. And it made things so much worse.

{Dianne sat in silence until she remembered something.}

Dianne: "Oh, the book with the ritual is at my house on the plains. We need to go there."

Armin silently turned the car towards the northern edge of the city and began to head towards the rural outskirts, where Dianne's house was located.

//If it shows up again, I'm going to have to worry about that happening... And if it shows up enough times, eventually one of us will end up dead...//

{Dianne was progressively getting more worried at Armin's silence.}

Dianne: "Hey, look...We're going to be ok...I don't think it would let one of us die..."

'You said it happens inadvertently,' said Armin shortly. 'And you just said you were afraid it would happen last time.'

Reaching Dianne's house, he parked in the large yard outside, though made no move to get out,

Dianne: "I know...But...I don't think I could live with myself if it took any of you...It must know that....If it wants me alive, then it wouldn't dare..."

Armin gazed out of the windshield, holding the wheel, not quite believing it. He thought the Aspect was too strange and unpredictable to know what it wouldn't do.

'Go in and get your ritual book thing so we can go home.'

{With a defeated sigh, she wordlessly gets out, heading inside to get the book. Coming out a few minutes later, she gets back into the passenger's seat.}

Once she returned with the book, Armin started to drive back to the main city. Arriving outside their house, he parked up and climbed out. Inside, Esme was watching a movie on the TV, and Rex was drinking coffee in the kitchen, where he could keep an eye on her.

{Dianne immediately heads upstairs, going into the bedroom. She says nothing to anyone on her way. She simply sits on the bed and opens the book.}

Armin glanced at her as she left, and after a moment's consideration, decided not to follow. He just went into the living room, seemingly checking that Esme and Rex were both there, before slumping on the couch to watch the movie. Rex eyed him quizzically, but seemed to sense that Armin didn't want to talk about it.

{Upstairs, Dianne found the proper page and read what was needed for the ritual. Afterwards, she sat there for a while, holding her head in her hands. Once again, she felt like everthing that had transpired was her fault, and she feared that Armin was having second thoughts about her, now that he was aware of the Aspect's unnatural side affects.}

Shortly after Dianne finished reading, the door cracked open to reveal Esme creeping inside. She curiously eyed Dianne, then jumped up beside her, nudging at her inquisitively.

Downstairs, Rex had moved to sit beside Armin. He had managed to get Armin to explain, at least a little, of what was bothering him.

'Well, it hasn't happened yet. I suppose that should give you some hope.'

'That doesn't mean it /won't/ happen. Rex, that thing /inadvertently/ causes people to die when it appears. Every time it comes here, which it does regularly, there's a chance of you, me, or Esme dropping dead. Maybe you really should move out...'

{Dianne looks up when she feels Esme, pulling her closer.}

Dianne: "Heh...Always seem to sense when I'm feeling down, huh?"

Esme chirped, tilting her head. She continued to watch Dianne with a deceptively intelligent gaze. Despite her youth, and not understanding what had happened, she really did seem to sense peoples' feelings.

'I'm not leaving,' said Rex. 'Well, I will if you want me to.'

'I don't /want/ you to. But if staying here puts your life at risk...' Armin trailed off. 'I don't know... I don't want you to be alone. But if you die because of that thing... I don't think I can deal with that.'

Helpless to respond verbally, Rex just pulled him into a quiet hug.

{Dianne just hugs Esme tightly, just wanting to sit there with her for a little bit. She was silently dreading what Armin might think of all this.}

(Not sure what else to do here, so should we skip to dinner time or something?)

(Yeah probably. I'll start that in a minute.)

-----------------------

{An hour later, Dianne had come downstairs and made dinner. She sat on the couch, quietly eating her pasta and squash, absently watching the movie on TV.}

Armin was tastelessly eating his meal, trying to focus on the movie. He felt slightly calmer than before, but still afraid. Losing his loved ones was his biggest fear, after losing so many before, and he was utterly helpless to protect them from the Aspect.

'So... will you be able to do the ritual? To help Luxia?'

{Dianne looks up, seeming to snap from a distracted conscience.}

Dianne: "Huh? Oh, yeah....I just need to gather a few items...a specific incense, a ceremonial pitcher and bowl...I have most of it, but I'll need a personal item from the one who incurred the Aspect's wrath..."

'Mhm. I guess we'll have to ask Gail to get us some personal item of Luxia's tomorrow...'

Esme paused in her meal to glance at him, then Dianne. Then she returned to eating. In his room, Rex could be heard softly playing his guitar.

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

{After finishing her meal, she takes her plate away, then slumps back down on the couch, continuing to troubledly muse the situation.}

Armin continued to watch the movie, not knowing what else to do. Eventually, he spoke up.

'Look... I don't blame you for the Aspect stalking us. I'm just scared. I don't trust that thing as far as I can throw it. It can't be fought... It could kill Rex, or Esme, or me without even intending to... And I don't think I can deal with losing another person. Not one more damn time.'

(Posted new room)