"You sure this is the best idea?" Bucky eyed the princess ("Call me Toni!") as she dragged armfuls of wire and metal up the front castle stairs.
"What-huh? I mean, sure!" She paused on a step to swipe irritably at a piece of hair escaping the pinned and piled dark mess on her head. "Once I've gotten this all hooked up on the roof, the lightning will just hit it more than the castle; it's basic fire prevention!"
"No," he waved a black scaled paw dismissively, "I mean staying here."
She'd taken over one of the bedrooms in the keep itself and so far showed no compunction in rifling through his hoard for whatever she wanted (fuck gold and jewels; metals and wire were where it was at). So he assumed at this point, she was setting up permanent residence, despite his many hints to the contrary.
"It's cold year round, and I like it that way," he pointed out.
"That's one reason it's perfect!" She grinned down at him. "Once I start building the servers, heat'll be the enemy."
Servers? He narrowed his eyes in suspicion, but stopped himself from asking. He'd made that mistake a few times just on the first day and now he knew all about "coding language," and "computers." Not that it wasn't fascinating, but she had a singular talent for distraction, and he wouldn't be diverted this time.
"You're a missing royal, princess-"
"Toni!" she corrected in a sing-song, as she caught a loop of copper wire that tried to slip from her slim hands.
"-and your father will search for you."
"If he even notices I'm gone." A dark look came over her expression, but was quickly cleared away with a shrug. "Probably not until he sends someone to find me for the betrothal."
Betrothal. Wonderful.
"So you're gonna have knights hunting you down." Bucky grumbled in discontent.
Toni blew out a long, rude, raspberry. "Oh, please. I know all the knights in the kingdom and there's nothing to worry about. Besides, Rhodey's my honeybear; he'll have our backs."
The fact that she was including him as a co-conspirator in all this didn't make him feel any better.
"This place will be so much better once I have it wired for electricity. Elevator! Howard's kingdom for an elevator!" She continued bitching as she started back up the stairs, wires trailing behind her.