Olivia manages to make it out of the old underground warehouse Gunther has been using for his makeshift test room, dungeon, and the Gods know what else. As she's marching through the Kettenrad area and grumbling about crazy Kadies … she sees the lights are lit in Zahn's shop and the windows cracked for ventilation. And as she passes the building, she hears Zahn say, "I know the shaft is really large, Parsley. But I'm certain a Lapi can manage it. Just insert it slowly… "

As annoyed as Olivia is with Gunther right now, the words that come floating to her from the window still make her pause. She blinks, shakes her head, and mutters, "This can't be what I'm thinking, even if Zahn is alone with a Lapi. But I'd better make sure… " So she creeps over to the window and tries to peer inside without being seen.

"Wow Zahn, I haven't had a workout in a kitchen like that in a long time. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and we don't get in trouble for the mess. The caramel can really stick in your fur if you aren't careful." This second voice is easily recognizable to Olivia as belonging to Parsley Chalk. "I really needed that after dealing with today's weirdness."

"Oh, my brother and I have made worse messes than that. My mother is probably relieved I was in the kitchen with a girl," Zahnrad comments cheerily. "I never thought it could be that much fun. The way you handled those nuts was amazing."

It takes a bit to creep up to the window and peer in without being seen. But, sure enough, Zahnrad and Parsley are inside. Parsley is holding a large, oddly shaped shaft of some sort and is inserting into what looks like a ceramic bowl. Zahnrad is currently helping her to guide it in.

"Milking Rughrats builds up some surprising skills," the Lapi replies.

"I would say so," Zahnrad comments. "You shelled the nut bare handed!"

Olivia puts both hands over her mouth to stifle the laugh she knows must be coming. Thank the gods it's me and not Emmett passing by right now or he'd be breaking down the door to join them! she thinks.

"So, how is Clover doing? Should I go visit her today?" Zahnrad asks as the pair gets the shaft finally seated into the device. "I'm glad she stopped muttering about blood once that ritual ended."

"She was pretty zonked before I came here," Parsley says. "She might still be asleep. I'll have to go and fix her some dinner eventually."

"Want help? I feel kinda bad she's cooped up in that castle along with Stumpy and the Bean," Zahn notes as he looks over his machine.

"She'll need to start exercising soon to get her strength back," Clover notes. "I could certainly use help then. But you are kind of busy, aren't you? Didn't you tear up Olivia's floor or something?"

Okay, now I need to see what this new device is for… and if I hang around the window much longer, some other Wingnut is gonna pounce me for eavesdropping, Olivia thinks to herself. So she backtracks to the door of Zahn's workshop and knocks politely.

"Oh, yeah, she wanted me to. She's strange," Zahn starts to say, then looks back towards the door. "It's not locked. Just roll it and come in!"

Olivia puts her shoulder to the huge gear-door and rolls it away just enough to slip inside the workshop. "Hello, you two," she says cheerfully. "I thought I heard my name as I was passing by! What're you up to?"

"Putting my engine back together after I dismantled it to make sure my should-be-a-rat brother didn't mess it up. Other than poor fuel dispersion, it seems okay," Zahnrad explains and waves to Olivia. "Parsley was just keeping me company since Amy is too busy."

"I'm not entirely sure," Parsley admits as she waves to the Skeek. "But it involves lubrication."

Olivia fights down another laugh at this. "Yeah, I heard that Gunther stole the new airship-engine you've been working on and put it into some sort of powered boat?" she asks.

"Great, that means the whole town must know by now," Zahnrad grumbles, then thumps his head against the top of the engine housing. Repeatedly.

"Hey, if you wanna toss your brother into the dam, get in line… he just had the otter twins help him to kidnap me so he could interrogate me about Liliana's disappearance!" Olivia tells the Kadie. "He thinks this battle is over, but believe me, it's not."

"Liliana disappeared?" Parsley asks.

Zahnrad rolls his head to the side and comments, "You two act like a married couple."

Olivia nods to Parsley's question, but to Zahn she says, "Somehow, I don't think married couples kidnap one another just to ask each other questions! Gunther is such a loon."

Zahn rubs the side of his head for a moment. "Were you and Liliana friends, Parsley?" he asks. "I don't remember seeing you and her together, well, ever."

"No, but I borrowed her wagon once to throw an endurance test for two of the gypsy bucks," Parsley says offhandedly.

"What happened to them?" Zahnrad has to ask.

"And it's good to know, I guess, that the bat didn't get you to be her, uh, girlfriend. I guess that honor is kept for Olivia," Zahn adds, then grins towards Olivia. "I would think you would be glad she's gone!"

"Otters," Parsley notes. "Oh, and they had to clean it all up I think. Lili made them.

"Did they pass the test?" Zahn asks.

"They didn't die, so yes," Parsley notes. "Gotta see if we can get a good price for them next."

"Going to try to get some new blood for the chalks, then," Zahnrad says with a nod as he starts tightening some bolts on the engine. "I guess you have to talk to Natasha on that since she's their leader. What do bucks go for these days?"

"I like Liliana!" the Skeek protests. "I just don't want her lips on me, that's all. Anyway, I checked her wagon to see if I could find any clue as to where she might've gone, but all I found was Djivan. He was lying in wait for when she came back. They're still having a practical-joke war, it seems."

"And you're sure Djivan didn't do something with her?" Zahn asks, "Being in her wagon is a little suspicious."

"I have no idea. Hopefully they'll take chalk in trade, or wool… cheese maybe. Skreeks like cheese, don't they?" Parsley asks Olivia.

"I certainly hope not!" Olivia says to Zahn. "Anyway, he told me that he'd go looking for Lili at all her usual hangouts but I haven't heard back from him yet. I suppose the gypsy camp will be my next stop after I've worked my next shift." To Parsley, she comments, "I think they do! Djivan always eats some if I bring him any from the Weaver's kitchens."

"I think Skreeks eat anything," Zahnrad mumbles. As he is setting aside his tools, he looks to Olivia and asks, "Is there anything I can help you with since you're here? You know, what with Parsley visiting and now you, I feel like I'm popular with the town women, or … something. Probably something. Unlikely that I would ever be popular."

"Of course we only come by if we need help or need something fixed… if we came by for anything else, Amy would beat us up!" Olivia replies, grinning. "Really, though, I just dropped in because your crazy brother brought me here in the first place. So this is just a social call… unless you know anything about bleeding stones, which I don't see any reason why you would."

"She doesn't beat Parsley up and she's living with us, sort of," Zahnrad comments and puts his arm around the Lapi's shoulders, then adds as a tease, "Though … she won't invite me into the warren!" The Kadie then gets serious, adding, "A bleeding stone? I've heard that phrase before, actually. Clover said something about 'no blood from a stone' once when she was hurt. There were also these odd markings on some crates I found that had a fist and a stone. The contents of the crates, uh… wow. I wish I didn't remember the contents."

"Stones don't bleed," Parsley notes. "That's impossible!"

"I would have to agree. Though … I suspect the phrase is linked to well, the trolls," Zahnrad notes.

Parsley bites her fist, and then whispers, "Do you think Liliana was taken by trolls, like Clover was?"

"I doubt it. What would they want with a bat with no hormone control?" Zahn asks.

"Maybe the need to get rid of a lot of blood," the Lapi suggests, looking as if she just managed to scare herself.

"Waitaminnit, waitaminnit – you've heard about something like this before?" Olivia asks, amazed. "Wow, and I thought… well, that I'd never get a clue as to the identity of such a thing. But what are these crates you're talking about, Zahn?"

"Uh. Well," Zahnrad begins and rubs at the back of his neck, "They were crates of crushed, uh … bones."

The Lapi's eyes go wide, and she pulls her ears down as if she doesn't want to hear more.

Olivia blinks for a second, amazed again, but carries on, regardless. "And you found these crates where, exactly?"

"Well, that old lab we found underground," Zahnrad says quietly.

Olivia taps her forehead with her knuckles. "Oh, right! With all the cool stuff you nearly locked yourself in to examine." She grins briefly at the Kadie before continuing, "I guess I need to go back there again, too, and see if there are any other references to this bleeding stone I heard about."

"L-Lab?" Parsley mutters. "You mean, Dr. Pike's lab?"

"No way! It belongs to me and I'm not about to let go of the key," Zahnrad says and crosses his arms. "You can't go unless I'm there too."

Olivia's smile gets wider now as she exclaims, "Well, that was easy! I was wondering how to ask if you'd come with me and you just solved my problem for me. I mean, c'mon Zahn – d'you think I want to go into that weird place all by myself?"

"Given who you date? I would think you would go into a demon's lair all alone!" Zahnrad claims, grinning widely. "I can't go today, though. I need to look after Parsley."

"Uhh… " Parsley whimpers. "You don't need me to go do you? I mean… this isn't about Buffy, right? You don't have to have a Chalk with you?"

"No, you don't have to go," Zahnrad reassures the Lapi. "It has nothing to do with the chalk and isn't remotely close to the warren."

"Oh, thank goodness," Parsley says, relaxing a little.

Olivia nods at this. "That's okay, I can't make it back there until after my next shift at the Weaver's is over, anyhow. And I would only go into a demon's lair alone if one of my friends needed me," she replies, smiling to show that Zahn is included in this. "Can you go early tomorrow morning, then?" Zahn asks, "Parsley should be working then and I think Amy is also busy. But if not Amy can go too."

"Yup, I can do that!" Olivia says. "It's a good thing I'm getting used to all these early mornings now, or I'd never figure anything out anymore! All of our adventuring seems to take place then, have you noticed this?"

"It avoids otter trouble. They don't get up before noon," Zahnrad explains with a grin.

Olivia laughs and replies, "Oh, so that's the reason! I was beginning to wonder. Anyway, if I hurry, I can swing by the gypsy camp and talk to Djivan before I have to work again. So I'll leave you to take care of Parsley! And thanks again for going with us to talk to Buffy," she tells the Lapi girl kindly.

"Oh, sure, Olivia," Parsley says, forcing a smile. "Please, don't hesitate to never ask me to do something like that again!"

"I think half the town would be lost without Parsley," Zahnrad says, "She's great."

Olivia smiles and gives Parsley a quick side-armed hug. "You very very brave and I appreciate that!"

"Brave enough for some free dressmaking?" Parsley asks timidly.

Olivia's ears perk up at this. "Oooo, what kind of dress?" she asks. "A fancy one? Got a date with someone special?" she teases next.

"Yes, what's the occasion for the new dress?" Zahn asks too.

"My dresses tend to wear out quickly is all," Parsley notes.

"Why? You aren't that rough on them, are you?" Zahn asks.

"Okay… well, you'll just have to let me know exactly what you want the dress to look like," Olivia says. "And you'll have to come by the Weaver's so I can take your measurements."

"I could take the measurements," Zahn offers, "I have the most accurate tapes in town, you know."

"But do you know which measurements I need?" Olivia prods Zahn, her tone light.

"I just measure everything to be sure!" Zahnrad declares, grinning.

"What, even my ears?" Parsley asks.

"Sure. Why not? She could make you ear-mittens," Zahnrad points out. "Or save them to have jewelry made later."

Olivia just shakes her head. "It's up to you, Parsley. I have no doubt that Zahn's measurements will be accurate, but he may keep you here for an hour or more just to take them all!"

"Oh, that's okay!" Parsley says, perking up. "He can do them while we take a bath or something."

Zahnrad blinks. "A bath?" he squeaks. "I … guess we could, yes."

Olivia hides her smile behind her hand. "Then I'd better leave you to it. Have fun! I'll see you in the morning, Zahn."

"I'll make sure he gets up early, Olivia," Parsley promises.

"I might not sleep," Zahnrad mutters to himself. Forcing a grin back, he says to Olivia, "I'll see you tomorrow, bright and early. Hopefully we won't get eaten!"

"If you're there to protect me, we'd better not!" Olivia says as she heads for the door. "See you then!"

Zahnrad waves after Olivia, calling out, "Have fun with the rat. Don't let him seduce you!"

"Too late!" Olivia calls back as she disappears.

Zahn's ears splay out and he looks to Parsley. "Does that mean they, uhm. They, er … " he babbles.

"They're what?" Parsley asks, wondering what Zahn is stuttering about.

"Uhm, I just hope she doesn't get pregnant," Zahnrad comments as he tries to not think about it. The Kadie then goes about straightening the workshop up. "Say, Parsley, it's been a lot of fun having you around today. You know, you're the only Lapi I know really well?"

"Really?" Parsley says, then asks, "How well do you know me?"

"Enough that you're a friend. You've even been staying with me, remember," Zahnrad points out. "But I do hope to get to know you better over time too. I don't even know if I've met your parents."

"They run the dairy," Parsley notes. "They don't get into town all that often though."

"I guess there's no chance I'd ever get to stay at your home?" Zahn asks next, "I'm curious to see a Lapi family and what goes on. But, I don't think the warren rules allow a non-Lapi inside, right?"

"That's right," Parsley notes, then adds, "I have to wonder now if that's because of Buffy… "

"Could be, but I guess best not to think about it. I guess your parents know you're hanging out with the town crazy? Are they okay with it?" Zahn asks next as he fiddles with a tool. He actually looks like he's trying to remember what the tool was for.

"Zahn, it's part of my job to look after the crazies, remember?" Parsley notes with a grin.

"Yes, well," Zahnrad comments, "You never visited me much before."

"Well, you didn't seem about to implode from loneliness," Parsley explains. "You never even appeared to notice girls… or other people in general for that matter."

"Well, I guess that's true. I always had stuff to do," Zahnrad admits, "Still do, in fact. I really can't complain, it's been great to have people around now. I never thought, well, cuddling someone felt so good."

"I'd have gotten to you eventually, if Amy hadn't grabbed you up and made it unnecessary," Parsley says.

"That makes me feel rather unimportant," Zahnrad teases, not sounding hurt in the slightest. "So, about Clover and exercise … what's the best thing she should be doing to get her strength back?"

"Well, walking for a start," Parsley says, tapping her chin. "Then running and stuff. She's been in bed so her legs might be a bit weak, especially since she's lost some weight."

"Really? How much has she lost?" Zahn asks as he stops cleaning and leans back against one of his desks. His fingers tap against its surface as he seemingly thinks.

"I don't know yet, but enough to make a difference," the Lapi says. "It can't be helped until she starts eating more solid food."

"I'll build some sort of leg exerciser for her to help before she starts walking and running a lot, then," Zahnrad says. "Think she would use it?"

"Errr, what would it be like?" Parsley asks, rubbing at an ear. "I can't even imagine what it would be."

"Ever see a pedal boat?" Zahnrad asks.

"I've… uh… only seen otter boats," the doe admits, looking confused.

"Well, basically just a thing to pedal with your legs in a circle. Adjustable tension so it provides varying levels of resistance to your legs. You can start off light and progressively make it harder so your legs gets stronger," Zahnrad explains. He taps his chin, then asks, "Uhm, it doesn't bother you I'm talking about Clover, does it? I feel like I ought to be talking about you … but I can't do anything for you." He frowns a bit.

"Why would I be bothered?" Parsley asks, tilting her head. "Does Amy get bothered when you talk about other girls?"

"I don't talk about other girls," Zahnrad says with a shrug, "Except you two. And … she doesn't seem worried about me being friends with a pair of Lapis."

"Well, you don't have to worry about stuff like that with me, Zahn," Parsley says. "I mean, I'll even help you with Amy if I can!"

"Then what was she doing earlier zipping through the trees? She didn't even answer when I called out to her," Zahnrad notes. "I feel like she's … hiding something from me."

"Oh… well, she's probably hiding something," Parsley agrees, nodding so that her ears bob back and forth. "That doesn't mean it's something bad though! It could be a surprise for you!"

"I … guess so. Now I'm going to be nervous till I find out what!" Zahnrad declares. "So, right, a few more things to do here then … when did you need to go make Clover dinner? Did you want help?"

"I can calm you down," Parsley offers, leaning against Zahn's chest. "But I should fix her something soon. Have you ever cooked anything before?"

"Nothing like what you can cook," Zahnrad admits, looking more nervous when Parsley presses close and that funny warm feeling intensifies, "But I can do small things."

"Well, those will help then," Parsley says, and taps Zahn on the nose. "Clover will like them because you made them for her! So it will help cheer her up."

Zahn rubs his nosetip. "Does she actually ask about … me?" he asks.

"Sometimes!" Parsley says.

"Er, what does she ask?" Zahn inquires nervously.

"Just how you're doing, mostly," Parsley notes.

Zahnrad rubs at the back of his neck again. "It still seems so odd that … well. Twins. And me," he babbles. "But we've been over that. Should I try to visit her again soon? I could see about maybe freeing an evening and spending it up at the castle. Only if Amelia approves, of course."

"Sure! When can you have your leg-pedaling-thing ready?" Parsley asks.

"It's a pretty simple device I'm imagining. I can part down a wheelbarrow and such for most of what I need. Then it's a matter of just assembling it. A few days. No later than the end of the week," Zahnrad says after some thought. "And oh, how is her, uhm, hair doing?"

"Her scalp itches a lot, which Igor says is good, because it means she can still feel it," Parsley says. "He did something to make the 'bumps' go away, and says her hair should grow back by itself."

"I kinda wish I could hook my head up to whatever she was hooked to. It had a lot of technical information," Zahnrad says, sounding a bit wistful.

"You… " Parsley starts to say, and then just shakes her head. "You need to think about other stuff! Besides, didn't you… take all of that stuff with you? The little books… I figured you remembered it when you picked them up."

"I wrote down what I could remember," Zahnrad says sadly, "I couldn't take it outside that … place. And why do I need to think about other stuff, I like technical stuff!"

"I mean… stuff that won't get you hurt!" Parsley says. "That junk really messed up Clover, and not just because she couldn't understand it! There was a lot of trauma. I mean… you could melt your brain or something!"

"Well … it might be worth the risk," Zahnrad mutters, then decides not to push it. "You know, you and Clover sometimes melt my brain," he teases.

"But that's natural melting!" Parsley insists with a grin. "It's healthy. Are you ready to come help in the kitchen now?"

"Maaaybe. There's just one more thing I need to do," Zahnrad says and arches his brows.

"What's that?" the Lapi asks.

Zahnrad hooks his hand around the back of Parsley's neck. He draws her to him and places a buck-toothed (and soon thereafter, involved) kiss squarely on her lips. "I needed to practice up for Amelia if I get a chance to corner her tonight," he says when he releases after almost a full minute. "Now we can go to the kitchen." He playfully ruffles her ears, then heads towards the door.

"OOoooo," Parsley croons after the kiss. "I can't wait for the measurements to be taken… "