'We didn't need to get clay from Alexandria. There's a toy and craft store near Fred's house. I've seen it before. We'll go there.'

Rex continued to quietly drink his coffee. He seemed much calmer than last night.

Dianne: "Ok, we'll go after breakfast."

{As she cooked, a telepathic message came to only Armin.}

Lucci: //Hey, come up to the store room. Don't make it too obvious.//

Armin glanced at Rex and they had a brief, silent exchange.

'...So,' said Rex casually to Dianne. 'I'm guessing you don't approve of this house's lack of central heating.'

As he spoke, Armin silently slipped out of the room and headed upstairs.

//No warning as usual, Lucci?// he said as he pushed open the storeroom door.

Dianne: "No, I don't. It's freezing in here. If it gets too cold, my body can force hibernation. I could sleep for months until it gets much warmer."

{In the store room, Lucci was standing in front of the altar with a brightly colored Christmas box.}

Lucci: //I told you I'd be here when you arrived, that was a warning. Now here.//

{Opening the top, Lucci produces the requested item. A small gold statue depicting Mira and Esme together. Their eyes and horns were made of precious stones, and the craftsmanship was superb.}

'Well, that's concerning. Don't do that. Armin will become unbearable if he has to be without you for the entire winter,' said Rex.

Armin walked up to the box and carefully lifted out the gold sculpture, turning it in his hands and examining it from all angles.

'Wow, that's beautiful. It really captures Esme's character - and Mira's, too, I guess, though I don't know her. Thanks for this.'

Dianne: "Might not be up to me. If it gets too cold, it'll be an involuntary reaction. If it does happen, just raise the room temp to above 90F for a few hours and I'll wake back up. It will only happen if it gets too cold while I'm sleeping."

{Lucci puts a finger to his lips, replying telepathically.}

Lucci: //She was a sweet child. Loved to explore. Anyway, I hope you have a place to hide that.//

'Good to hear. I wasn't looking forward to having to deal with his moodiness for the next two months if you didn't wake up.'

Armin nodded, closing the lid of the box. //I have. It should be safe there until Christmas.//

Taking the box, he quietly and cautiously went downstairs. Hearing Dianne and Rex still talking, he quickly slipped into Rex's bedroom, where he proceeded to hide the box underneath the bed.

//She's got no reason to look under there, even if she comes in this room, which is unlikely.//

Dianne: "Heheh, yeah. Don't worry. It's a simple thing to deal with if it does happen. Just....if it does, please wake me up. Don't let me sleep until spring. I hate the feeling of lost time, y'know?"

{When Armin turns around, he sees Barnabas, giving him a mischievous grin and petting his tarantula.}

'Of course I wouldn't let you sleep until spring. Like I said, Armin would be a massive pain to live with, and I've lived with him during some pretty bad times.'

Armin stopped dead, staring darkly across the room. 'What do /you/ want?'

Dianne: "Yeah, he does tend to get...testy when he's not happy."

Barnabas: "Nice gift you got there. Looks like you might need help hiding it."

{He says, chuckling mischievously.}

'You haven't seen anything close to the worst.' Rex gazed contemplatively into space, thinking back. 'The first few months after he heard about Janet's passing, he was like a different person.'

Armin raised his eyebrows. 'Actually... no. And I think you should keep your hands away from it, unless you want me to combine your pet spider with my shoe.'

Dianne: "I can imagine. He was probably devastated. Grieving...Wondering what supposedly benevolent divine could allow for such suffering..."

{Seemingly becoming distant for a moment, she shakes herself off, walking into the room with her food.}

Barnabas: "Good luck finding my pet spider. I'm waaaay better at hiding things than you are. She'll never find /my/ gift for her."

Rex walked into the kitchen to wash up his coffee mug, while Esme continued to work on her tower. She seemed completely focused on the building.

'Really?' said Armin doubtfully. 'What kind of gift could you possibly give someone? A jar of drool? A dried-up araneo head?'

Barnabas: "Ah, ah, ah! You'll just have to wait till Christmas. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to see what I got her. And you. ;)"

{Dianne began to eat in silence, reminiscing about Mira.}

'If you say so,' said Armin dubiously. 'And, sorry, but I never bought you anything. I have no idea what you'd even have a use for.'

Barnabas: "That's ok. Your delicious fear is a gift enough."

{With that, he disappears.}

Armin checked the gift box under the bed once more, then quietly left the room, shutting the door.

'You know,' he said absently when he returned, 'I'm wondering if we should order another heater sometime. One for the upstairs, one for down. I mean, you're walking around the house in a /coat.'/

Dianne: "Yeah. The room one is most important, so I don't go into hibernation. This house really doesn't have a fireplace?"

'Nope, sorry. I would have liked a house with a fireplace, but I really liked the look of this place, even though it was lacking some features... Maybe we could get an electric fireplace someday.'

Dianne: "My house has a fireplace and central heating. Maybe we should just live over there for the winter."

'I will if it's safer for you. I don't want to abandon my house, but it's more important that you don't freeze to death over winter.'

Dianne: "Oh, it won't kill me. I'll just fall asleep and not wake up for three months. And don't think of it as "abandoning your house." Think of it as having a winter home to spend the holidays in."

'Well, yes... but I don't like your house as much as I like mine. Yours is full of creepy statues.'

Dianne: "And if we stay here, you get to spend the winter season with me asleep until spring. Besides, I like my house. I want to live in it sometimes."

'Fair... Well, l'd like to at least spend Christmas here. Because everyone else is here, and the town looks pretty with all the decorations up. It'll get even colder afterwards, and then maybe we can spend some time at your place.'

Dianne: "That's fair."

{Having finished with her food, she stands and takes her plate to the kitchen.}

Dianne: "Rex, do we need anything from the store?"

'We probably need eggs, milk, meat... the kinds of things that don't last long. Had to throw out some expired stuff while you were away.'

Armin stood and began to gather his shoes and jacket.

Dianne: "Ok. The way I see it, we go visit Pythia first, then we go to the craft store, then the market last. should we bring Esme?"

Armin glanced at Esme, who was building her tower.

'Depends. We don't have the car, so we'll have to walk everywhere. And we don't know if the hunters are out there and whether Fred's managed to track them...'

Dianne: "True. Let's leave her here, I think she's having a good time anyway."

Armin pulled his shoes and jacket on. He paused long enough to pet Esme's head and sling an arm around Rex's neck in an affectionate embrace, then headed for the door.

'I got my sword, too. Just in case...'

{Dianne grabbed her purse, kissed Esme's head, then stopped at the door, considering something.}

Dianne: "Actually...I want to be sure."

{Pulling out her phone, she dials Frederick.}

Fred picked up within moments.

'Dianne. Good afternoon, I hope.'

Dianne: "Hello, Frederick. Did your people happen to find any hunters in the city? Armin and I are about to go out, but we're concerned about ambushes."

'Ah, I was going to come over later and tell you. Yes, this morning, Sam Garvey and some other relatives came over to Jerry's house, demanding entry. Presumably for weapons or files they could use against you. Jerry refused, and one of my people managed to keep them talking long enough for the guard to show up. They've been apprehended and are probably sitting in cells at this moment.'

{Dianne gives a surprised look.}

Dianne: "Really? They've all been apprehended? Well, that's...great news. So, it's safe for us all to go out?"

'The Tussock brothers were harder to pin down. They ran into the sewers and used them to escape the city. Ryder gave chase for a last-ditch attempt to subdue them, and managed to injure one, but by that point, he'd been shot multiple times and I told him to pull back before he risked his life. So we drove them away, but they're still out there.'

Dianne: "Oh, is Ryder ok? "

{She says, deeply concerned.}

'He's fine. He went straight to Pythia's house and was healed, although he's a little tired from the blood loss, so he's sleeping it off. A vampire was also injured, but we had Pythia heal him too. There were no casualties on either side.'

Dianne: "Ok, good. And...Jerry. How's he holding up with all this?"

'I'm not sure. I haven't seen him, or sent anyone else to. I thought it might be preferable if you and Armin check on him at some point.'

Dianne: "Alright, we'll pass by his place today, see how he's doing. Is there anything else we should know before we leave?"

'Not at the moment. I'll call you if anything comes up, or if the Tussock brothers are seen trying to re-enter the city. By the way, you don't have a car currently, do you?'

Dianne: "No, we don't. Alexandria says it'll be a week at least before we get it."

'If you're planning to go all the way to Jerry's house, I'll send someone with a car to transport you. There's no need to walk there for nothing.'

'Can you send the car to Pythia's house?' Armin interrupted. 'We'll meet them there.'

'Yes, if you want.'

Dianne: "Yeah, that's where we're headed first. Have them meet us there, ok?"

'That shouldn't be a problem.'

Fred then hung up. Armin opened the front door and promptly headed out. He kept his sword with him, even though they'd been told it was safe. //Eh, I like carrying it anyway...//

{Dianne put her phone away, then followed him out.}

Dianne: "Alright, let's go to Pythia's then."

'Heh, I told him to bring the car to her house so that we'd have to walk there first. It's nice to walk sometimes.'

He zipped up the front of his jacket to ward off the chill and set off at a brisk pace down the pavement. It was cold enough for their breath to become visible in the air.

{Dianne shivered slightly as she walked, fastening her coat a bit more tightly.}

Dianne: "Walking is nice. Just not when there's ten feet of snow."

{Meanwhile, Jerry had made his way to the Soveriegn prison. He had some things to discuss with his father. Walking in, he makes his way down to the cells.}

'Hey, if it does snow, we'll have to go out in it at least once. It doesn't happen often. It's an experience.'

A prison guard looked Jerry over as he approached.

'Mr Garvey, I believe? Are you here to see the prisoners? Go on ahead. They're all in the last three cells at the end.'

Dianne: "Very well. I'll just put on two jackets and suffer in silence. Then, I'll never set foot outside again for the whole winter."

{She says jokingly.}

Jerry: "Thanks."

{Jerry walks in, looking at his family through the bars. None of them looked very happy. Least of all, his father. Sam Garvey sat against the back wall, glaring into his son's eyes.}

Sam: "Why did you come?"

Jerry: "...Why did you do this?"

Sam: "Why didn't you? Your so called friends are criminals, Jerry. Monsters from another age. Why would you turn your back on your family for this riff raff?"

Jerry: "I didn't. You turned your back on me. They were our allies in the war, and you sold them out. Whatever happened to loyalty, Dad? Protecting the innocent? You taught me to differenciate between the real monsters and the less fortunate."

Sam: "You misinterpreted that lesson, son. The lesson was, they're all monsters."

Armin playfully shoved her with his shoulder as they walked. 'I guess you're not going to be happy until summer, are you?'

{Dianne playfully smiles and shoves him back.}

Dianne: "Yeah, and until it gets warmer, you'll need to work extra hard to get me up in the morning."

{Jerry just rubs his face.}

Jerry: "Dad, I don't know why you're acting like this. Look at what you're doing! You've torn our family apart! Why? Why can't you leave these two alone? They don't even have official bounties!"

Sarah: "He's a vampire, Jerry! He's evil! They all are!"

Jerry: "Sarah, I'm sorry about what happened to you, I really am, but you can't blatantly generalize an entire species!"

Sam: "You don't get it, do you, boy? It's our duty to punish these creatures that think themselves above the law. It doesn't matter how long ago they did it, They don't deserve to have happiness after what they did. They have done terrible, atrocious things, and just because they said they're sorry, they get to go scott free? There needs to be consequences."

'I'm sure I'll find a way. We'll get an extra blanket today, to help keep the bed a bit warmer, too. I'd rather not deal with you going into hibernation.'

Down the hallway, the prison guard just listened with mild curiosity. He had a feeling that whatever Jerry was hoping for when he'd come in here, he was going to be disappointed.

Dianne: "Better make it a very thick flannel. Those thin quilts aren't cutting it. Maybe even two."

'I'm starting to think I should just light the room on fire and be done with it,' said Armin jokingly. 'That's the only way you'll be warm enough.'

{Jerry just sighs, shaking his head.}

Jerry: "You won't listen to Lucci, you won't like listen to me. You really are stubborn."

Sam: "This isn't over. When we get out-"

Jerry: "I don't think you are getting out of this, Dad! I can't help you, Mom can't help you, you're on your own now. You keep going on about the law, but you're the one who's broken it this time."

Sam: "Jerry. After everything I taught you, do you honestly think we're the ones in the wrong? They're responsible for the Windglen Slaughter, the Necromancer War, and countless other atrocities. Why do they deserve a second chance?"

Jerry: "Because they didn't do it willingly. Armin was forced against his will and Dianne was clinically insane. They got the help they needed and now, they're some of the best people I know."

{Dianne playfully pushes him in response.}

Dianne: "Hey, I'm from a much warmer climate. Why that would be comfortable, It would destroy all our stuff."

Armin smirked. 'OK, let's emulate your home climate. We'll make it warmer, fill the room with ash and volcanic rock, and I'll find some big snails to let loose in there. Sound good?'

{Dianne just laughs.}

Dianne: "Yeah, you'll want a handful a Lesser Creeping Araneos too, if you want to make it really authentic. Maybe Barnabas can get them for us? He seems to really like the spiders"

'There were giant spiders there too? Then why did you only eat snails?' he said, amused. 'Were the spiders worse? I mean, I'd never eat one...'

Dianne: "They were much worse and wildly toxic. If I ate one, I'd have died. You're lucky. By the time you were born, Araneos were eradicated from Vallis. Can you imagine having to contend with giant spiders as a kid?"

Armin shuddered slightly. 'Well... maybe if /they/ were commonplace, then normal spiders wouldn't bother me as much. But still, I'm glad I didn't grow up in a world where cellar spiders the size of draft horses might crawl into my room.'

Dianne: "Yeah, that would be terrifying. Good thing they're gone."

{As she continues to walk along, Pythia's house comes into view.}

Armin lifted his gaze to observe the house. Unlike when Pythia had been staying at Fred's, there was no purple dragon guarding the entrance.

'She got quite lucky with this,' he said as they approached the gate. 'It's a big house.'

Sam: "...It doesn't matter, Jerry. Their crimes are too great. It doesn't -"

Jerry: "That's not for you to decide, Dad! You aren't an authority on anything!"

Sam: "It's an injustice, Jerry! The people they killed deserve justice!"

Jerry: "And who are you to try to collect it? You're not even law enforcement."

{Sam just sighs and shakes his head.}

Sam: "Have you forgotten why we do this?"

Jerry: "No. But I think you have."

Dianne: "Yes, it's quite nice. I only hope she isn't lonely."

{As they approach the front door, there is a line of minorly injured people, waiting for treatment.}

Armin eyed the queue. 'Looks like she's got a bit of work. Are we supposed to stand in the line or just go to the front? We're not injured.'

Dianne: "We're visitors, not patients. We don't need to wait in line."

{Walking past everyone, Dianne enters through the front door.}

Dianne: "Pythia?"

Pythia: "Over here."

{Pythia was in the foyer, treating a little girl for dog bites. It seems she was rather viciously attacked.}

Pythia: "Just a moment, I need to finish up here..."

Armin glanced briefly at Pythia and the injured girl. 'Is this the usual case of someone's untrained dog going berserk and attacking people?'

He looked around the room, taking in the general appearance and smell of the place.

Pythia: "I'm afraid so. Animal control is handling the dog."

Mother: "By handling, she means putting that wretched thing down."

{The inside was much cleaner this time around, and smelled faintly of limes. There was mismatched furniture in a makeshift waiting room, compliments of Ryder, but the rest of the ground floor was empty.}

'I'm surprised. It doesn't smell bad in here,' Armin observed. 'I guess you don't have much furniture yet? You do at least have a bed upstairs, right?'

Pythia: "Yes, I have a bed, Armin. I don't sleep on a rag on the floor."

{She says, amused.}

Dianne: "It's a very nice house. Lots of room."

'It is spacious. Good kind of house for parties,' said Armin, although he didn't expect her to be hosting any. 'You like everything about it, then?'

Pythia: "I do. I could host a Christmas party here, if you'd all like."

Dianne: "I think the king is still going to host their yearly party. Maybe just a small get together here with all our friends."

{With the girl healed, she shakily gets up and hugs her mother.}

Pythia: "All done."

Mother: "Thank you so much, Pythia. You're a blessing to us all."

'I don't know any details about the Christmas party yet, but I'm sure there will be one,' said Armin. 'But yes, we should all come over here for dinner sometime.'

He watched with a slightly fond look as the girl's mother thanked Pythia. //People really appreciate her for her powers. Good thing, that. She seems to enjoy helping others.//

Pythia: "Be safe you two!"

{After they left, Pythia turns to Dianne and Armin.}

Pythia: "Oh, sure, if you'd like. I'm not a great cook, however. Maybe we should make it a pizza party instead?"

Dianne: "That sounds like fun. Just a fun little get together."

'I'd be up for that. I think we could all use a fun get-together after everything lately.'

Armin leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets.

'So, how've you been doing?'

Pythia: "Oh. I've been doing well. The govenment's first check has come through, so I have all the supplies I need. No Crowley, that's always a plus."

Dianne: "Does Fred still have guards come by?"

Pythia: "On occasion. Ryder comes over sometimes."

{After a long and frustrating conversation with his father, Jerry leaves the jail. He headed back to his office, went into a cabinet, and pulled out a bottle of jack. Pouring himself a glass, he sits back in his chair, rubbing his face.}

'He probably still wants you to have some protection. You're not exactly the most... experienced at defending yourself. Though I'm glad to hear Crowley hasn't been around recently. Maybe he's found something better to do than harass you.'

(RIP Jerry)

(Imagine if Ivy walks in.)

Pythia: "I hope so. The day I found out he followed me here...It was one of the worst days of my life..."

Dianne: "I do need to teach you how to defend yourself. When are your days off?"

Pythia: "The weekend. Let's arrange something Saturday."

Dianne: "Ok, we'll find a nice gym with padded floors to practice in."

(Posting new room)