"Thank you. Well, hello, I'm Aydanci."

"Aly. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too. Feel free to ask if you have questions about something. I don't guarantee that I'll know the answer, but it couldn't hurt to ask."

"Thanks. You're awfully helpful to random strangers with secret golem projects, aren't you?"

"Well, you're likely to figure out whatever you need for your secret golem project anyway, it might just take longer, and if I'm helpful and it turns out that your secret golem project is 'construct an army to take over the world' I have a much better chance of convincing you to not do that," says Aydanci lightly.

Aly giggles. "I'm not trying to take over the world with a golem army. If I were going to take over the world I'd prefer nonviolent means."

"That narrows it down a bit. Though, if it's 'construct a series of mind-control golems and take over the world' I will also try very hard to convince you to not do that, either. I do hope you're not heartbroken."

"Mind-control g-? How would that even...? I don't think that works, which is good, because if I thought that was possible I would never have a good night's sleep again."

"I'm pretty sure that doesn't work at all. And yes, that would be awful."

"So no, that's not my secret golem project either, you're not even close."

"Good, I'm glad, if I were close I would be extremely worried."

"And you'd send your little medical golems after me?" she teases.

"Yes. Yes I would. Beware, your injuries would soon be covered in gauze, and you'd given helpful medicine for any sicknesses you have. Fear me and my medical golems of terror."

Aly laughs again. "And I could be imprisoned for my mind-control crimes - I mean, quarantined - in the comfort of my own home and therefore have much less temptation to break quarantine and infect people with my sinister ideals, since little self-cleaning golems would bring me groceries through the window?"

"Mhmm. And local authorities could be informed of the quarantine and warned that no other actions are necessary."

"How -" She shudders dramatically. "Humane. I'll have to be very sure that you don't find out what I'm really up to."

"Darn. And my sales pitch was so great, too. 'I'll help with whatever this is if you don't tell me, but if you do there's a chance I might try to convince you not to do it if it's particularly nasty, thus giving you an incentive to not tell me whatever it is.'"

"You're an immensely skilled negotiator. I'm just too stubborn, apparently."

"You are. Alas. That's okay, I try not to be judgmental. You can be stubborn."

"I can? Oh joy. Thank you ever so. Kind sir. I will treasure this moment forever."

"I'm glad, I'm sure no one ever told you that it's perfectly all right to have a personality. Please, take a minute, it's all right."

"I was badly failed by my creche and teachers."

"You poor soul. Would you like me to say it again? Would that help?"

"It might take up truly unreasonable amounts of your time to really get through to me. I can't impose like that. You have little medical golems to invent."

"That's very nice of you. Thank you. But it's really rather easy to say, 'You're allowed to have a personality. Along with preferences about things.'"