Armin didn't answer. Slowly, he pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. Then he just stared at the opposite wall, breathing raggedly, eyes wide and glassy, replaying the last things he'd seen on a loop. He was vaguely aware of Dianne's presence, but couldn't quite speak.

{Dianne, not at all liking Armin's behavior, gently puts Esme down and cautiously approaches Armin.}

Dianne: "Hey, Armin. Say something, buddy. You're kind of scaring me here."

Armin opened his mouth, then closed it again. He shook his head very slightly, trying to indicate that he'd heard her, but wasn't able to say anything just yet.

Esme blinked sleepily and stayed on Dianne's bed where she'd been left, observing the scene. She was so used to seeing people have nightmares by now that it hardly concerned her.

(WiFi's back.)

{Dianne proceeds to sit on Armin's bed, just behind him. She then very slowly and gently rub his shoulders.}

Dianne: "Take your time. Everything's ok."

Armin didn't really react when Dianne sat behind him, or when she touched him. Deep down, beneath the clinging fear and horror, he felt a bit of gratitude that she was trying to help. But scenes from the nightmare hung persistently in front of him, refusing to fade. Fred's lifeless, mutilated body slumping to the ground while Armin did nothing. The reason it horrified him so much was because he could easily see this vision becoming a reality.

{Dianne, remembering what Praetorus said, wrapped one of her arms around him. With her other hand, she starts to gently stroke his hair.}

Armin's tense posture almost immediately eased, and he slumped slightly, dropping his head to rest on Dianne's shoulder. His ragged breathing slowly began to level out. He still didn't say anything yet, but the horrifying images were becoming more distant.

{Dianne continued to stroke his hair. She leans back with him in her arm, leaning against the headboard in order to let him recline a bit. She says nothing, content to just sit there with him.}

The longer Armin leaned against her without speaking, the more he began to feel sleepy. He forced his eyes open, trying to keep himself awake. He wanted to give her an explanation for all of this.

'...Sorry...' he muttered at last, voice low and drowsy. 'That was... really frickin' vivid... We were on a battlefield... I think fighting the hunter clan... And Fred was with us. I saw him get shot by a sniper. There was blood everywhere... I think he died... And it all felt /real.'/

Dianne: "It's ok."

{She says softly.}

Dianne: 'You have nothing to feel sorry for. It's over. Everything's fine."

Armin didn't move from his position, content to just recline against her.

'It could happen though...' he murmured. 'He could get killed. So could any of the others. The hunters are coming to Vallis, where they all are...'

{Dianne continues to slowly stroke his hair as she replies calmly.}

Dianne: "We won't let it come to that. We'll get home before he does, we'll prepare, and we'll beat them all. We're going to be ok. All of us."

Armin wasn't entirely convinced, but he was so drowsy and relaxed that he couldn't dwell on it even if he tried. He knew the thoughts would return eventually, but it didn't matter right now.

'Alright... if you believe that... then I trust you...'

{Dianne, seeing how quickly Armin was falling back asleep, lets out a quiet sigh.}

//Well...what's the worst that can happen?//

{She then gently slides down the headboard and lies down completely, with Armin still resting in her arms}

Armin's eyes opened briefly when he felt Dianne shift to lie down. Then he let them slide shut again, letting out a long breath and seemingly drifting off into sleep.

Esme yawned, hopped off Dianne's bed and onto the end of Armin's, a little puzzled as to why everyone had migrated here, but accepting it readily.

{Dianne smiles at Esme before closing her eyes and drifting off as well.}

(Skip?)

(Yup, you want to go first or I?)

(You go.)

----

Dawn came, though it was so early that the room was barely beginning to get light.

Armin slowly awoke, vaguely aware that he felt warmer than usual. A moment later, he realised that he was lying snuggled against someone - that definitely wasn't something he was used to waking up to. Catching their scent, he didn't have to puzzle over who it was.

//...This is nice... but how did it happen?// The events of last night were slowly trickling back. //Oh, so that's how...//

He decided not to move, and just wait for Dianne to wake up. He was too comfortable to go anywhere.

{After a while, once the light came through, Dianne started to wake. Once she realized that she was holding someone, her eyes shot open. She didn't move until she remembered exactly how it happened.}

//Right. He was having nightmares, and I didn't want to disturb him by leaving...Well, let come what may...//

{She then sits up, letting go of Armin. She pats him gently while speaking.}

Dianne: "Time to go, Armin. We need to get home."

Armin groaned at being disturbed. The air felt a lot cooler after she let go of him. He slowly pulled himself up into a sitting position, rubbing his face as he tried to wake up properly.

'Yeah... I almost forgot today's when we're leaving...'

{Dianne stands up and begins putting on her armor.}

Dianne: "Yup. Let's get out there."

Armin briefly contemplated how nice it would be to go back to sleep. Then he reluctantly dragged himself out of bed and started putting on his shoes and coat. Esme just watched quietly.

'How are you always this awake so early in the morning?' he grumbled as he laced up his shoes.

Dianne: "I'm used to it, that's all. Besides, once we get into the car, and Titan starts flying, I'm going back to sleep. We're not stopping for the first two days anyway."

{Picking up her helmet in one hand, and Esme in the other, she walks for the door.}

Yawning, now fully dressed, Armin gave pursuit. //I'm not looking forward to stepping out in the cold... And I might follow her lead and go back to sleep, too.// He'd slept very peacefully while Dianne had been with him, but getting up early left him tired no matter what.

{Dianne walks out to the main area, where Triticum, Praetorus, and Billingsly were waiting.}

Triticum: "Ok, so, I loaded the barrels onto Titan, I cleaned the blood out of the back of the car, I freshly laundered all of your bedding, I packed extra rations for you, including the blood and fruit for Esme, and I fixed the car back to working condition. You guys are good to go."

Armin looked impressed. 'Wow, you really did a lot. Well, I guess it probably wasn't much effort for someone like you, but still... thanks.'

Triticum: "You're welcome!" :D

Dr. Billingsly: "Thank you, Dianne, for helping me. You're both great people."

Dianne: "No, Doc, thank you. If you're ever in Vallis, my door is always open."

'Yeah, you're all amazing. Thanks... for everything,' said Armin, slightly ruining the sincerity of his words by letting out another huge yawn. 'I hope we'll all meet again someday.'

Triticum: "I'm sure we will. I'll come to visit as soon as I can."

{Dianne steps forward and briefly hugs Triticum. Once she lets go, Praetorus steps forward.}

Praetorus: "So, ready to go? I'm escorting y'all to the edge of the tundra."

Armin nodded. 'Let's go.' He glanced at Triticum and Billingsly. 'See you guys around... And thanks again.' He then turned and began to head for the front doors, eager to see how their truck looked now that Triticum was done with it.

{Outside, Titan was waiting next to the car. The car itself seemed restored to its original condition, except for the wheel that came off. The wheel looked fancier and more expensive, with what appeared to be a gold hubcap. Not wasting any time, Dianne climbs into the back. Inside, there was a metal box of supplies behind the driver and passenger seats, and their bedding was neatly made on the floor, and smelled of lavender.}

Armin glanced at Titan, then followed Dianne into the back of the truck, blinking at the scent of lavender. 'Huh, he really thought of everything, didn't he...' He sat down on one of the makeshift beds, stretching and leaning against the wall.

In Dianne's grasp, Esme was gazing around alertly, ears pricked. She could tell from the feeling in the atmosphere that something unusual was happening. She sniffed curiously as they entered the truck.

{Dianne turns in the back of the truck, waving to Triticum and Billingsly as they sttod in the doorway. She then closes up the back.}

Dianne: "Ok, Titan, let's go."

{With that, Titan picks up the car and takes off. Dianne then sits down, puts Esme on the blankets, and begins to undo her armor.}

Esme did not stay on the blankets, but began to walk cautiously around the truck's interior, scouting out her new 'home'.

Armin kicked his shoes off, looking forward to a nap while Titan flew across the tundra. Before settling down, he glanced over at Dianne.

'So...' He scratched the back of his head. 'Don't let Ivy find out what happened back there, will you?'

{Dianne chuckles at this.}

Dianne: "Of course not. I don't want to hear her nonsense any more than you do."

{After successfully removing her armor, Dianne settles down on her bedding.}

Dianne: "But...It's ok that I did that, right? I didn't cross any lines, did I?"

'Of course it's OK,' he said quickly. Sitting on top of his blankets, he watched Esme exploring the truck. 'I'm grateful that you did it. Though, I guess I'm a bit surprised that you did. Considering... well, how many times you've mentioned that you don't like sleeping near people...'

{Dianne takes a moment to consider this.}

Dianne: "...That's more true for people I don't feel I can trust. But...I know you're more of a...social person than I am. If sleeping next to someone keeps you from losing sleep from a nightmare, then I'm happy to do it."

Armin slowly scratched his head, gazing pensively into the distance. '...Alright,' he said after a moment. 'Though, I'm sorry for falling asleep on you in the first place. That wasn't planned. I just couldn't help it, I was pretty tired.'

Dianne: "Don't worry about it. You seemed exhausted anyway, so, I really can't blame you."

{She squints when she notices his pensive gaze.}

Dianne: "Something else bothering you?"

Armin blinked, snapping back to reality, and shook his head. '...No, nothing,' he said. With a yawn, he climbed into his blankets. As he did this, Esme - done with inspecting the truck - came padding back over and settled on a section of Dianne's bedding.

Dianne: "Alright..."

{With that, she lies on her side, facing the wall, settling down to sleep.}

Armin settled down as well, trying to ignore how odd it felt to be alone again after the way he'd woken up less than an hour ago. He quickly drifted into a light sleep, aided by the rolling movement of the truck.

Esme didn't sleep, but lay with her head up, contemplating her situation. They were flying in a big metal box. To where, she wondered?

(You wanna skip?)

(Actually, I was considering cutting back to Vallis for a short bit concerning Vitis and the spreading of the news and the 10,000,000 Squall bounty. Would that be alright?)

(Alrighty, let's do that.)

(Ok, I'll start.)

{...

A few hours later, the sun was rising in Vallis. Through the streets, walked a very odd individual, with yellow, snakelike eyes and an orange mohawk. It was Vitis, the thieving serpent. He was waking around, ignoring the fearful looks the passerbys gave him, inquiring with shop owners on the whereabouts of Pythia. So far, he was either ignored, or people just didn't know who he was talking about.}

(Feel free to have someone notice him.)

On a wall outside a small shop, Fred was sitting quietly, a steaming mug of tea in one hand and his phone in the other. He didn't seem to be doing anything especially important. As Vitis walked by, Fred lifted his head and saw him. His eyes narrowed slightly.

'Hello, Vitis,' he said coolly, jumping down from the wall to approach the man. He recognised Vitis from the time he and Crowley had been captured here.

{Vitis stops and sighs, turning to look at Frederick.}

Vitis: "...Fabio, was it?"

{He says, clearly not remembering Fred's name.}

Vitis: "Look, I'm not here to make trouble. I just need to talk to a woman named Pythia. You know her? Tall, kinda hot, blue dress, brown hair, worships some goody-two shoes godess? Ring any bells?"

Fred briefly entertained the idea of having Vitis imprisoned again - after all, he had /killed/ guards the last time he'd been here - but doubted he could apprehend Vitis on his own.

'Of course I know who Pythia is,' he replied. 'But I'd like to know why you're looking for her, before I even consider telling you where she lives.'

{Vitis looked Fred over mistrustfully.}

Vitis: "Well, that's my business, now isn't it? I just need to speak with her. Never you mind why."

'If you only want to talk, then I'm sure you won't mind if I accompany you.'

Fred began to head off in the direction of Pythia's temple, expecting Vitis to follow.

{Vitis frowns, following Frederick}

//He'd better not be leading me into a trap. I can't warn her if I have to make a mess of things...//

(Posting a new room)