For Lily Flach the next few weeks passed quickly because the shop had a lot to catch up on. Rather than taking a month to fill the advance orders, it took half the time due to the Goblins ability to put together the Pictsies from scratch so speedily. 'The Turning of the Cogs' needed reminders not to get too creative however, but thanks to her inventiveness the Pictsie Mark 2 was well on its way to becoming a reality.
Otto popped in each day, "To check in on my investment." but mainly to see Lily. There had been no more action from the Colour Killer case, but that didn't stop the Times on speculating on the identity of the murderer. Otto was working most nights on the off-chance of getting a scoop. A pair of young trolls were caught throwing green paint on a rival gang's patch. Detritus and Bluejohn made them see the light by knocking the lads heads together and ensuring they scrubbed it clean.
Flach and Chriek already had a regular client base, both professionals and keen amateurs who would usually buy something but mainly wanted to talk pictures. They had added a couple of bar stools at Dulling's end of the counter as comfortable customers were happy customers and happy customers kept the till full. Ultimately though, Lily was simply over-the-moon that the Pictsie was making its way out into the world.
Now, this Friday evening, Lily and Otto were making their way to the regular Temperance meeting, her first one. It was a warm end of summer night and they walked and talked.
"Did you cover any interesting stories today?" Lily asked, always keen to know about her partner's day.
"All dead ends," he grumbled, "now zat all is qviet on zer Rainbow case. I saw a zree legged chicken zat had an extra drumstick glued on, an amuzinkly shaped vegetable zat turned out not to be a vegetable..."
"What was it?" Lily interrupted with a bemused look.
"I did not stay to find out. Today vas basically a bit of a clunker, but now ve haff zer night." he grinned, taking her hand and giving it a little squeeze. Vampires were creatures of the dark after all.
"I'm a bit nervous though," she admitted, "I mean, Lady Margolotta? I've heard a few things."
"Vot zings?" he asked, knowing most of what she'd heard was probably true.
"Well, not all bad." although a lot of it put her teeth on edge, "Mr Dulling was sponsored by Mr Nutt, you know him?"
Otto remembered covering the legendary football match very well and nodded.
"And he was sponsored by Lady M."
"Don't call her zat tonight." Otto advised with caution.
"Oh...no," she gave an awkward expression, then, "well anyway that means we have her to thank for Dulling. She's quite the philanthropist and that's admirable."
"I didn't know she collected stamps..."
She nudged him in his skinny ribs, with a sarcastic "So funny..."
Shortly they were at their destination and with Lily holding onto the vampire's arm a little tighter than was necessary they knocked and entered the realm of the black ribboner.
###
It was like stepping into a funeral parlour, but a little more lively. Everyone was in various shades of black and Lily felt like a harlequin in comparison in her mustard yellow outfit. But there were friendly faces, very friendly and from the moment they arrived, hands were shaken, congratulations were given and requests for pictures asked for. As they were doing the rounds Lily noticed the absence of the Lady who had insisted they come along, so she asked Otto about it.
"Trust me, she vill be here but only at zer most dramatic moment. It's a skill." he chuckled.
It became apparent that apart from the regular Temperance business the group were expecting some sort of presentation. Lily, the lady with the lists, found herself without a script and fearful that panic might set in, she gratefully accepted a cup of cocoa and the obligatory bun. Otto was chatting elsewhere so she sat down but then felt eyes staring into the side of her head. Slowly she turned to face the bald-headed, intensely-focussed countenance of Bob.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, slopping cocoa out of her cup. "Um...hello?"
Bob simply nodded. He said not a word the entire time she sat, but Lily found herself gabbling on about the Pictsie just to fill in the silence and she knew that she would have plenty to say to the group if needs be.
Just as the general chatter was starting to get loud there was an even louder rumble of thunder, a flash of lightning and in the centre of the room stood the impressive Lady Margolotta, resplendent in a soft pink twin set and black pearls.
"Good evenink," she said simply and there was a polite round of applause. She got straight onto business, "I believe ve are to haff a presentation?"
Lily's heart sank. Then she raised her hand sheepishly, as if she were back at school.
"Miss Flach, I presume. Vould you?"
The vampires rearranged the seating into rows whilst Lily eventually ended up at the head of the room with an expectant audience watching her. Friendly or no, it was daunting, but when Otto caught her eye and winked, she smiled and then before she knew it Lily had started talking.
"I am an inventor. Inventors see a problem and find a way to solve it. The problem I sought to solve was inspired by the work of Otto Chriek," she looked directly at him and he smiled encouragingly, "even though we hadn't even met. In fact when I first saw his iconographic images in the Ankh-Morpork Times all I knew is that I wanted to do the same. When I later discovered he was a vampire I understood in his pursuit of the perfection of light and dark, he would continually turn to dust. I didn't think it fair that he should have to suffer for his art."
"It took a lot of time, patience, trial and error to perfect the Pictsie Mark I." Lily scanned her audience, "Much like you here have had to employ in your pursuit of remaining B-Total." There were murmurs of approval at this. "I came to Ankh-Morpork because, well, everyone comes here, don't they? The Big Wahoonie where there is a place for all of us. But it's also the place where 'things happen' and when we work together those things are bigger and better than when we're working alone. In the last month or so in our little shop, 'Team Pictsie'; a vampire, a human, an Orc and a family of goblins have proved an efficient and productive unit. One I am very proud of."
She paused, thinking, then, "Right now the Pictsie can take images without light, which means all of you here had better be looking good!" Some laughter from her audience at that, "but in the next few years we could be making iconographs capable of seeing the past, the future, detecting magick even! Tecknologgy that could change the Disc for the better and bring us all closer together." She picked up the Iconograph she had brought with her, "I could go into the minutiae of how this little box works, but really it would be so much better to just show you. Otto?"
He stood up and turned to address the attendees, "Okeydoke lets get movink around eh? Lady Margolotta perhaps in zer centre?" he quickly set about organising the group by size so that everyone would fit into the image. Lily stood to one side until Lady Margolotta insisted she join them, "Zis vould not be possible vizzout you."
Otto set up a timer and less than a minute later the picture did the rounds, vampires marveling at both the tecknologgy and seeing their faces for the first time in an age. All of them would receive a copy at the next meeting.
"I zought your presentation vas short, but nicely put," Lady Margolotta said suddenly standing beside Lily who almost jumped out of her skin, "I hear Mr Dullink is doink vell."
Lily nodded, swallowed and found her voice, "He really is. I'm very glad to have him working with us."
"You are zer daughter of zer late Hieronymous Flach, yes?"
"Yes M'Lady," she found herself fighting the urge to curtsy. "Of Ohulan."
"Zen know zat your current problem can be rectified sviftly. Just ask and it vill be dealt viz."
"Um?" then realising she was referring to Neville, she blurted out a "No!"
Margolotta raised a perfectly arched brow.
"I mean, no...no need M'Lady. We've heard no more from my brother for weeks and we're close to resolving the financial red tape. I'm confident everything will be fine." She turned to find Otto at her side, rescuing her by changing the subject, "Lady Margolotta, how is Ms Von Humpeding?"
As they chatted about the former Ankh-Morpork Watch officer, Lily simply looked on cross with her own nerves, but admiring the ease at which Otto conversed with the intimidating woman. He was so at home here, but she had been made welcome and was pleased her invention had already made such a difference.
The rest of the evening was devoted to the usual group activities. More cocoa, more buns and a lot more singing than Lily was expecting. She discovered that Otto was a tone deaf but very enthusiastic vocalist, not the best combination. Cocoa and confessions rounded off the meeting with lots of supportive encouragement from members to keep cutting the red stuff out of their lives.
Before they left, Margolotta took Otto to one side again. Lily presumed she was finding out as much as she could about the Rainbow Murders or perhaps she had some tips for him? Or maybe she was just politely asking him to keep the volume down when singing the Temperance anthem in future? Lily stifled a giggle at the thought.