'Did you ever ask? I suppose I could have gotten Rex to make something and then I could've brought it upstairs to you. Myself, I'm not much of a cook. But yes, next time that happens, just ask.'

Dianne: "Ok, I will. I didn't know it was as simple as asking."

{When the house came into view, there was a guy getting the truck down off a flatbed.}

Quickening his pace, Armin picked up Esme to make sure she didn't run off and get crushed under anything. 'Well, it looks alright...' he murmured, watching the truck coming down.

{As they approached, the man took notice.}

Delivery guy: "Dianne?"

Dianne: "Yes, that's me."

Delivery guy: "Here, I need you to sign this. Confirmation that this arrived, intact."

'Shouldn't I sign it? It's my truck, really,' said Armin.

Delivery guy: "Hmmm...Nope. The paperwork says it's hers. She has to sign."

Dianne: "Very well."

{Dianne signs the paper, then the delivery guy hands her the keys.}

Armin watched all of this with a puzzled expression. //Hers? She can't even drive it. Eh, never mind.//

{The delivery guy goes back to getting it off the flat bed. Dianne pats Armin on the cheek, handing him the keys.}

Dianne: "Billingsly put my name in the title. That's all."

Armin pocketed the keys with a half-amused, half-exasperated look.

'That's silly. It's not yours.'

Dianne: "Legally, it is. Even if I can't drive it."

{Once it was down, Dianne opens the back, revealing all of their goods, still safe and intact.}

Armin stepped over to examine the contents of the truck, still holding Esme to make sure she didn't jump in.

'Well, I guess everything's OK. Let's drive it over to your place and unload it there. Less chance of anyone accidentally finding their Christmas presents.'

Dianne: "Sure."

{Closing up the back, Dianne takes Esme and walks around to the passenger's side.}

Armin pulled out the keys, unlocked the doors and jumped in. Starting the engine, he drove off confidently.

'Do you remember when we first arrived back here after our tavern adventure, and you said you were going to drive the truck to my place? Then Pythia intervened and told me to drive it for you... ha...'

Dianne: "Heh, yeah...And ever since then, you've had an unhealthy attachment to this truck."

{She says teasingly.}

'I find driving fun. But mostly, it's the memories attached to this truck. We slept here together for days while flying back from Triticum's tavern. Listened to the rain hitting the roof while the radio played. This is where I first found out you liked me.'

Dianne: "Yeah, you're right. We had some good times in the back of this truck. I see now why you're so attached."

'We did. It's funny, really. Back then, when you made me admit I loved you... It seemed so unlikely that you'd feel for me in return. All kinds of unpleasant possibilities were running through my head. I was afraid you'd freak out, or think I'd only been travelling with you in hopes that we'd hook up. Ahh, pessimism.'

{Dianne chuckles at that.}

Dianne: "Sorry to have made you nervous. You may have already told me this, but...Why did you want to come with me?"

Armin shrugged. 'Partly for the opportunity to adventure. Partly to get to know you better. You might have been unpleasant during the Shacklestone War, but... Once it was over and I started to get to know you better, I felt sure there was more to you than that.'

{Dianne Dianne's expression melts into a soft smile at that.}

Dianne: "Thank you. For believing that I could be more than just a murderous old crone."

'You're welcome. It wasn't all me, you know. You decided to trust me - to tell me about your past and let me see the different side of you. Nothing would have happened if you'd chosen to keep me at arms' length.'

Dianne: "Yeah. It wasn't easy, opening up. You were very understanding. You didn't hate me for it, or call me stupid. I'm happy I did open up to you. It was freeing, to talk about it openly."

'I can imagine - after so long.'
Pulling up outside Dianne's house, he put the back of the truck as close to the doors as possible.

Dianne: "Regardless, I'm glad I did. You're wonderful."

{Leaning over, she kisses his cheek, then hops out with Esme to unload.}

Armin walked around to the back and opened the doors. Seeing the paper bag that contained Esme's present, he picked it up and tucked it in his jacket, just to make sure she wouldn't see it.

'Maybe you could ask Barnabas to help. We've got quite a lot to unload. As long as he doesn't break anything, of course.'

Dianne: "Barnabas?"

Barnabas: "Yeah, yeah..."

{Barnabas appears and starts to unload what he can. Dianne picks up the boxes and bags and places them in the foyer.}

Dianne: "Stack the stuff here. Bufo will put it all in an empty room for us."

Armin gathered up what remained, and carried it into the foyer, setting it all down carefully. Some of the boxes were quite big, such as Rex's pool table and Esme's car seat.

'That's everything,' he said, briefly stepping back outside to lock up the car.

Dianne: "Hold on. Help me put the automaton into the back before you lock it. I need to bring it when I go see the king."

Armin backtracked into the foyer and went over to where the strange mechanical device was sitting. //Wonder what the king will think of this... Hopefully, he thinks it's a great idea for defending his city. Gods know his guards don't do a good enough job of that.//

He gingerly got a grip on one part of the automaton. 'OK, you grab the other side, and we'll carry it out.'

{Dianne grabs the other side and hefts it with Armin, carrying it out to the truck.}

Dianne: "Easy does it. It's not delicate, but I'd hate to drop it on my foot..."

'Yeeeah... something this big and chunky... is /not/ something you want to drop on your foot...'

When they reached the truck, he carefully climbed the small step into the back, manouevering the automaton through the doors with him.

Dianne: "Agreed."

{Dianne began to turn the construct, so it was sitting against the wall.}

Dianne: "Ok, set it down gently."

Armin slowly lowered his half of the machine down to the floor, trying his best to keep it far away from his feet.

Dianne: "Alright, good."

{Dianne put her side down, then stepped out of the truck.}

Dianne: "I think when I show the king, I'll have it walk itself up..."

'That might be for the best. You can let him see it animated, so he'll know you actually can do this, and it's not just a strange plot to get money from him,' said Armin with a flicker of amusement. He jumped out of the truck and securely locked it all up.

Dianne: "Yup, it's legitimate. I can actually contribute to the province's security."

'Once you have the money and the materials, you should definitely make a hydra. That would be awesome - a giant, mechanical hydra to fight off hunter clans and carry us when we want to go on trips,' said Armin, grinning.

Dianne: "Yes, it would be. However, it would be no easy feat. Making it fly will be quite tricky, but I think I can do it, with the right team and materials."

'Hopefully, yes. I'd rather not have you go out and slaughter a few dragons to make organic hydras,' said Armin, albeit jokingly.

Dianne: "Yeah, neither would I...Unless Viridi pi$$es me off."

{She says, seeming serious. She really does not like that guy.}

'Well, if you killed him... you'd probably have to massacre his entire tribe along with him... so, that would be a huge supply of hydras, but... still, please don't. Unless you don't have a choice.'

Dianne: "Ok. I won't. But, my homocidal tendencies have gotten a lot better since we've been together. That's always good."

'Yes. I've seen that. The fact that you agreed not to murder Luxia just because I asked you not to, after she'd screwed with both of us, surprised me... but I was proud of you. You're not what you were during the Shacklestone War.'

He affectionately slung an arm around her shoulders.

{Dianne smiles, sidling closer to him.}

Dianne: "Thanks. That....means a lot..."

He squeezed his arm around her, just enjoying the moment of contact. After a few seconds, he spoke up again.

'So, do you want to go and visit the king now, or wait a bit?'

Dianne: "I say we go now, then get some lunch on our way back. Sound good?"

'That works. I guess I'd better unlock this again then...'

He got the truck open and made to climb into the driver's side.

'Grab Esme and let's go.'

{Dianne gets Esme and hops in.}

Dianne: "Ready!"

Armin turned the truck around and headed off for the main city.

'Back to terrorise the king again... He probably hopes you'll never visit him again, you know,' he said, amused.

Dianne: "Oh, I know. But too many hunters and ne'er do wells have come on my account. This is how I take responsibility for this."

'Not all of them,' said Armin, feeling he had to mention it. 'One guy came specifically for Fred, and the Garveys and Tussocks came for me - though, that's not to say they wouldn't have enjoyed killing you, too. Lucci just told them not to.'

Dianne: "Regardless, you're all my friends. And I feel like Agamidae shed some unwanted attention on us all. This way, we all get a little extra protection."

'True...'

After a quiet drive, the palace came into view. He wasn't allowed to park too close, so he stopped on a nearby street.

'I'll stay here with Esme. Maybe we'll go look in the shops or something.'

Dianne: "Ok, have fun. I'll call you when I'm done."

{Leaning forward, she kisses his cheek, then hops off and heads to the back, raising the automaton so she wouldn't have to heft it.}

Armin climbed out too, bringing Esme with him. He paused to watch the automaton come to life, waiting for it to leave so he could lock the car.

{The construct hops out, closing the doors behind it. It then follows Dianne into the palace.}

Once she left, Armin called Esme, and they set off down the street to look in the windows of all the little shops.

As Dianne and the automaton walked through the palace courtyard, passers-by reacted in different ways. Some looked curious, some nervous, some actually amused. When she got near the main doors, the guards flanking them looked her over.

'Dianne, aren't you? Do you have further business to conduct with the King?' one asked boredly.

Dianne: "Yes, guard, I do. Is the king accepting walk ins, or do i need an appointment?"

'You can come on in. The king is very generous with his time. If you need to see him, you may.'

'Which is fancy talk for 'he's too scared to refuse',' the other guard muttered almost inaudibly.

Ignoring him, the first guard turned around and headed inside. 'Follow me, please.'

{Dianne eyes the second guard, puzzled, as she follows the first. The automaton follows wordlessly.}

Dianne: "Thank you."

The guard escorting her paid no attention to the automaton except for a brief sideways glance. When they reached the door to the king's quarters, he knocked and called out, 'Your majesty, Dianne requests an audience.'

'She may enter,' the king replied.

The guard opened the door wordlessly and gestured Dianne in.

{Dianne walks in with her automaton.}

Dianne: "Hello, your Highness. Doing well, I hope?"

The king was sat behind the table, as he normally did when meeting guests.

'Ah, Dianne...'

His gaze flickered towards the automaton and his face paled slightly, as if he thought she was planning to use it to kill him.

'Yes, very well. Thank you for asking. Now, I assume you've come to discuss something? The Garvey family's sentences, perhaps...? Or Mr Tussock's...?'

Dianne: "Oh, nothing so depressing."

{Dianne sits, but her automaton continues to stare blankly.}

Dianne: "I've come to ask for something. It has come to my attention that my presence here has...attracted some unwanted attention from hunter groups such as the Bloodrazors, and as a result, innocnet civillians have suffered. I have come before you today to ask a favor. I have a defense project proposal."

'A defence project, you say?'

The king's tone remained wary, but his eyes slid towards the automaton with a hint of curiosity.

'I would hazard a guess that the project you speak of involves this... robot?'

Dianne: "Yes. Allow me to elaborate."

{Dianne stands and approaches the automaton.}

Dianne: "Your Highness, I am a necromancer. I create constructs by binding souls to dead bodies. While I won't bore you with the specifics, it is possible for me to create constructs from inorganic frames, such as this automaton. Look here."

{Dianne lifts its arm, revealing a row of runes.}

Dianne: "With the correct preparation, I can animate even metal."

The king shifted with discomfort when she mentioned animating dead bodies, but sat up straighter, with a look of wary interest, when she showed the runes on the automaton.

'So, you can control these things just like you control the... corpses? Then why use dead bodies at all? Why have you not used these before? I am certain the townsfolk would be... more... accepting of them.'

Dianne: "Because they are neither easy nor cheap to make. This is a very old prototype. When I made this, certain alloys had not been created. All that was available was heavy steel and soft bronze and iron. Not exactly feasible in the long run. Now, with the help of metalurgists and engineers, I'm sure I can create functioning centaur automatons within three months and functioning Hydras withing half a year."

The king rubbed his chin in thought.

'Well, I-I won't deny that these machines would surely be of use protecting this city and its people... And it's better than having the place overrun by zombies... I suppose you're here to request funding for your... project, then?'

Dianne: "Yes. I need funding to hire the engineers and speciallists, along with the materials."

(My internet's gone to shi.t, everything is slow, and this is one of the few sites that's fully functional. Might not be on Discord for a while. :( )

The king nodded. 'Yes, of course. I'll have that arranged as soon as possible. I do hope your project is successful.'

(Ok, no worries.)

Dianne: "As do I. Have a secretary send me the paperwork and I'll give you updates on my progress weekly once it starts. I'll begin work after Christmas."

'Of course, yes. No need to start anything right now, with Christmas right around the corner... Well, now, is there anything else you wished to discuss?'

Dianne: "No, that is all. Thank you for your time, your highness."

The king nodded his head. 'Very well. Thank you. You may go.'

When Dianne left the room, the same guard from before would silently escort her to the exit.

{With a courteous bow, Dianne leaves with her construct. Once she gets outside, she dials Armin.}

Armin picked up quite quickly.

'Hey there. Did everything go well?'

Dianne: "Very. I start work after Christmas. This will be an interesting project."

'Nice job. You must have gotten him convinced. By the way, Esme and I are currently in the toy store - Clouds & Rainbows - on the same street we parked on.'

Dianne: "Ok. I'll stay on the line until I find you."

{Dianne begins to walk down the street, looking for the store.}

The street was lined with small shops along both sides. Food takeouts, cafes, a baker, a butcher... Eventually, a small toy shop would come into view. It looked cosy and old-fashioned, selling mostly wooden toys and puzzles.

Dianne: "Found it."

{Hanging up, she enters.}

There were only a few people in the shop. As Dianne walked in, Armin emerged from a corner to meet her. Esme skipped behind him, carrying a small, wooden toy train in her jaws.

'I had to buy her that; she picked it up and wouldn't let it go,' Armin explained. 'We should probably leave before she claims anything else.'

Dianne: "That's alright, so long as she doesn't chew it into pieces and choke on it."

{Dianne kneels to Esme's level.}

Dianne: "Hey, baby. You like that?"

Esme gave a slightly distorted chirp around the train in her mouth. It was quite chunky and sturdy-looking. It was intended for very young children.

'Do you two want to get something for lunch, then?' said Armin. 'There's a few food places up here...'

Dianne: "Yes. Let's pay for this and look around."

{Standing, she walks for the counter.}

'Already paid for the train,' said Armin. 'I did it quick once I noticed her carrying it around in her mouth... didn't want anyone to throw a fit over it...'

Beckoning Esme, he headed out of the shop.

Dianne: "Makes sense. So, what do you feel like eating?"

'I don't know, really. You two can get anything you want. I'll just go along with it.'

{Dianne walks around the street, looking about. She spots a restaurant called Mama Luigi's}

Dianne: "Oooh, Italian? I'd like to get some lasagna."

Armin looked over at the place curiously.

'Yeah, let's try that. I wouldn't mind the same. Hopefully they don't mind the baby dragon.'

Dianne: "Or an automaton... Should we put that back?"

Armin glanced back at the automaton with a vague look of surprise.

'I almost forgot about that... We could just leave it outside the restaurant, maybe. Who's going to steal something that took both of us to carry?' He shrugged. 'Or we can take it back to the car if you like.'

Dianne: "Hmmm....Let's leave it at the door. No one's going to care."

{Ordering it to stay outside, Dianne walks in. The restaurant looks like a nice, homely italian restaurant. They were greeted by a waiter.}

Waiter: "Table for three?"

'Yes, thank you,' said Armin. Esme trotted quietly at his heels, still clutching her wooden train. She seemed very interested in all these new food smells.

{The waiter leads them to a table, putting down three menus. Sitting, Dianne pulls Esme onto her lap.}

Dianne: "Esme, sweetie you don't want to get pasta sauce all over your new train, do you? Here, give it to me for a little bit."

Esme pressed her ears back rebelliously, before dropping the train into Dianne's hand with a grudging air.

Armin was idly running through his menu. He'd already decided he was getting the same as Dianne.

{Dianne puts the train into her purse. Chuckling, she scratches under her chin and kisses her forehead.}

Dianne: "Don't worry, I'll give it back after lunch."

Esme just gave a quiet grumbling noise.

'You are adorable,' said Armin, absently reaching over to scratch her muzzle as he continued reading the menu. 'Wonder what you'll look like when you learn to shift.'

Dianne: "I think she'll be just as adorable."

{Dianne begins looking at the menu, but she already decided what she wanted to get.}

'Eh, probably.'

Armin tossed his menu back onto the table. Just then, a waiter came over, seeming to sense that they were ready.

'Good afternoon, can I take your order?'

Dianne: "Two personal lasagnas, a lemonade, and a lemon soda, please."

'I'll have the same... the lasagna and lemon soda, please,' said Armin.

The waiter noted down their orders and left. Once they were gone, Dianne's phone started ringing. It seemed that Fred was calling.

{With a quizzical look, she picks up.}

Dianne: "Hello?"

'Hello,' Fred replied. 'I just thought I'd let you know. The king has fixed a time and date for the executions. They will be at 6 o' clock tomorrow evening, in a room off the side of the prison. Not a public execution like what they attempted to give Sargon.'

Armin was clearly listening, able to hear Fred's voice down the line, but he didn't interrupt.

Dianne: "Ok, I'll definitely be there. I doubt the Tussock will willingly let his brother go to the chopping block."

'Yes, that's what I was going to warn you about. Also, if you wished to change their sentences, you could speak to the king before 6PM tomorrow - however, I don't want them left alive and I doubt you do either.'

Dianne: "No, I will not interfere with their sentences. This was a long time coming."

'Yes. This is the best outcome for everyone... I need to go and inform Jerry of the time and date. I suppose he has a right to know, too.'

Dianne: "Yes...Being the only non banished family in the region, he probably needs to make the funeral arrangements."

'Well, I'll be going then. I will inform Jerry. If we see Carl Tussock or hear anything about him, I will let you know. So far, there hasn't been a trace of him.'

Dianne: "Alright, keep me posted. Have a good day, Frederick."

Fred proceeded to hang up without saying goodbye.

'Well, then,' Armin remarked, leaning back, 'hopefully this particular chapter will be closed by the end of tomorrow.'

{Dianne puts her phone away, sighing.}

Dianne: "I sure hope so. I don't like the thought of you having a bounty and people showing up to collect it. This execution should send a message."

'Yeah,' he said, a little pensively. 'I'd rather those girl's parents just drop the bounty, rather than forcing us to kill them. I don't really want to do that.'

Dianne: "If it comes to that...I'll be the one to do it...not that I really want to either."

Armin shook his head slightly. 'They're victims. They lost their daughter because of me and Sargon, and they don't know I didn't kill her willingly. If they keep sending hunters, I'd like to at least talk to them before you kill them.'

Dianne: "Let's cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, let's just enjoy a nice luncheon."

Armin didn't reply, seeming a bit lost in thought. The waiter came back with all of their food and drinks.

'Enjoy,' they said before walking away to serve someone else. Esme started to investigate her lasanga, unsure what to do with it.

{Dianne starts eating, then eyes Esme with concern.}

Dianne: "Oh, right, you can't use a fork yet. Here..."

{Dianne cuts a piece of lasagna and offers it to her on a fork.}

Esme eyed the fork, then snapped up the offered food with a quick movement. She seemed to find it acceptable. Armin started quietly eating his own meal.

Meanwhile, Frederick dialled Jerry.

{Jerry picks up immediately.}

Jerry: "Yeah?"

'Good afternoon,' said Fred briskly. 'The arranged time for Sam, Sarah, and Jack's executions is 6PM tomorrow. If you wish to speak to your family one last time, that is how long you have to do so.'

Jerry: "Yeah... I figured the king would want to make this quick...Alright, anything else you need to tell me?"

{Jerry didn't sound upbeat in the slightest. He sounded drained and tired.}

'It will be done in a private room of the prison building. There's no need to worry about your family being brought on display for a public execution. Other than that, just be aware that Carl Tussock is expected to try and save his brother, any time between now and the execution. Whether he'll try to save the others too, I don't know.'

Jerry: "I understand. I won't be attending...I trust you'll take the necessary precautions..."

(Posting new room)