Armin looked momentarily surprised, but recovered quickly. 'Of course. I'd be happy to have you and Esme stay with me. My place is big enough for all of us, and I'd appreciate the company.'

Esme gave a decisive squeak, as if she thought she were participating in the conversation.

Dianne: "if you're sure we won't be an inconvenience. Wait, does Rex or Fred live with you?"

'Fred doesn't. Rex does, but he was already planning to get his own house... When we get back, I'll give him some of the gold I got from that crypt, to help him with getting someplace.'

Dianne: "Alright. I hope he doesn't think you're replacing him with me...In fact, why does he need to leave at all?"

{She looks down at Esme, amused. }

Dianne: "So, you want to stay at Armin's?"

Armin shrugged. 'It's for the best. We don't need to depend on each other the way we did in Shacklestone. We live in peace now. And Rex was living away from me for decades. I think he kinda misses having his own space.' He looked up. 'Would you not want to stay if he was still there?'

Esme chirped quietly, seemingly in affirmative.

Dianne: "No, no, I'd still want to stay. I'm just concerned what he might think about this, given everything that's happened."

'I don't know. Talking on the phone is a bit different to talking in person, so I don't know what he thinks of everything.' Armin stared pensively into space. 'What are you expecting him to think? That I'm replacing him with you? I care about both of you. I'm hoping that Rex sees that, and knows I don't value him any less just because I have another friend besides him.'

Dianne: "Oh, no. It's not that. He's very protective of you, and I'm likely going to have a huge target on my back. I don't want him to think my presence will be putting you in danger."

'Oh, that...' Armin slowly rubbed the back of his head, lost in thought. 'I guess that's true, but your presence has advantages, too. If I didn't know you, then I would still go off doing reckless things and getting myself in trouble, with no-one to help me. You might attract danger, but you're also a very powerful ally to have. Maybe that will reassure him somewhat...'

Dianne: "Perhaps so. Well, we'll just have to see once we get back..."

'Yes. We can't really know for sure what he thinks until we get home and I can talk to him properly. But don't worry too much - I'm sure it'll be fine in the end, even if he's not happy at first.'

He fell silent, gazing pensively out of the window.

{Dianne gives Armin a sideways glance.}

Dianne: "...Your pensive expression doesn't reassure me."

'I wasn't thinking about anything /bad./ I was just... thinking. Mostly about how everyone's going to react when we get home. They'll probably be happy to see us both in one piece.'

Dianne: "Yeah...They're probably very worried."

{She subsides into silence, absently stroking Esme.}

'I imagine so, especially as we can't really talk to them right now. But we're OK, and they'll see us eventually.'

Armin then stood up, stretching.

'I'm gonna head outside for a little while to stretch my wings. I'll be back when it gets dark.'

Dianne: "Ok, be careful out there."

{She holds on to Esme so she won't jump out the back when Armin opens it.}

Armin opened the back doors, letting in a rush of cool wind. He then leapt out, shifting to hawk form as he fell. Esme watched, ears pricked curiously, but stayed put.

(Skip to nightfall?)

(Yes)

(I guess I'll go first--)

----

Night had fallen. The landscape was blanketed in darkness, and a light drizzle of rain was pattering on the top of the truck. Thankfully, not a storm this time.

Armin flew back to the truck, latching onto the back door and using his talons to pull it open. He let himself inside, quickly shifting back and shutting the door behind him.

{Dianne looks up at him, sitting on her bedding and wrapped in a blanket, with Esme. The radio was playing a soft tune.}

Dianne: "Ah, you're back. How bad is the weather?"

Armin glanced around, taking in the scene. The quiet sound of the radio combined with the pattering rain overhead made it feel oddly cosy inside the truck.

'Not bad,' he replied. 'Just a little bit of rain, and a breeze. We shouldn't get delayed.' He went over to sit with her, briefly petting Esme's head in greeting.

Dianne: "That's good. I'm just sitting here with Esme, staying warm and listening to the radio."

{She just leans back, relaxing and enjoying the ambiance.}

'It is nice in here. Having the radio kind of makes it feel... homely.' Armin gazed around the truck for a moment, listening to the music and the rain. Esme seemed content to sit quietly as well. 'You still want a back rub?'

Dianne: "Yes. Do you want to do that now?"

'Sure, why not.' Armin yawned slightly and turned towards her, grabbing another blanket and wrapping it around himself for warmth. 'Lie down, if you want.'

{Dianne puts Esme down, then proceeds to lie on her front.}

Dianne: "Go for it."

Armin shifted closer and wordlessly began to massage her back, with a slow, gentle motion. Esme lay on the blankets nearby, half-dozing. He said nothing, just focusing on his task and listening to the radio behind him.

{Dianne closes her eyes, breathing a contented sigh. Her back relaxes completely as she lies there, enjoying the massage.}

Armin continued slowly rubbing her back, still remaining quiet, letting the peaceful sounds in the truck take precedence. He had decided he wouldn't speak unless she did.

{Dianne remained silent for the entire duration of the back rub. after around fifteen minutes, she finally speaks up.}

Dianne: "Mmmm.....Ok, Armin, that's enough...any more and I'll fall asleep...."

At this, Armin drew his hands back. He glanced at Esme to find her still dozing. 'Well, what's wrong with that?' he said, pitching his voice low to avoid breaking the calm atmosphere. 'It /is/ nighttime.'

{Dianne take a moment to think.}

Dianne: "Huh...I guess you're right...Massage away, then....If you're ready to sleep..."

Armin smiled faintly. 'Yeah, I'll sleep in a minute.' He continued soothingly rubbing her back. 'After you do.'

{Dianne stopped talking, falling asleep very soon after. She lay there asleep with a slight smile on her face.}

Quietly, Armin reached out and turned the radio off. The rain continued to patter on the roof of the truck. With a yawn, he settled down close beside her, pulled the blanket over them both, and started to drift off.

...

{At some point, Dianne rolls over in the night and ends up partially on top of Armin. If he didn't notice her higher body density before, he would now.}

Armin was deeply asleep, but stirred slightly when he felt a weight settle on him. Opening his eyes a crack, he observed Dianne for a long moment. He would've happily let her stay there undisturbed, but he was having slight difficulty breathing.

Tentatively, he nudged at her, hoping she might shift off of him without waking up.

Dianne: "Mmmmnnngghhh...."

{Frowning, but still asleep, she tosses again, ending up in a position where she has her left arm across him, palm down, but his arm was pinned underneath her.}

Armin gave up on trying to shift her any more, as he didn't want her to wake up. //Well, at least I can actually breathe now. I'll have a very numb arm in the morning, but oh well...//

He settled down to sleep again, not minding her close proximity, and doing his best to ignore the discomfort in his arm.

{Despite Armin ceasing to nudge her, she seemed to feel his arm under her, and judging by her face, wasn't very comfortable. Tightening her grip in discomfort, she rolls back, pulling Armin with her, causing him to end up on top of her.}

(...She thinks he's a blanket. XD)

(TFW you become a blanket instead of a person)

Armin grunted as she rolled them over, but at least he wasn't trapped under a weight anymore. He stayed very still, hoping she'd settle in a comfortable position and stop moving. He didn't really care about her grabbing onto him, as long as he wasn't being crushed to death in the process. On the other side of the bed, Esme stirred and shifted a little further away.

{She begins to settle down again, seeming comfortable enough and staying put. She didn't seem to mind having someone lying ontop of her.}

Armin kept still, waiting to see if she'd move again. //...We settled now? Good... Just don't punch me in the morning, thinking I'm responsible for this.// He then closed his eyes, hoping to actually sleep this time.

{Dianne seemed to be settled now, her breathing deep and slow, and her heart beating powerfully.}

(You can start the morning if you want.)

(Are we starting the morning for these two first, then doing the Vallis interlude later in the day?)

(Yes)

----

When Armin started to wake up, the first thing he became aware of was the sound of a heartbeat. To his sensitive hearing, it was very noticeable. Then the memories from last night trickled back.

He stayed motionless, contemplating the situation. //Do I stay here and wait for her to wake up, or try moving? Well... if I move, she'll probably wake up anyway.// In the end, he decided to stay where he was and let her wake up naturally.

{After a little while, Dianne stirred a bit and opens her eyes. After blinking a bit, she realizes what the weight on her chest is. She gives a bewildered look, then laughs a little.}

Dianne: "...Heheh...getting awfully familiar, aren't we?..."

'I had nothing to do with this,' said Armin immediately. 'I was sleeping normally.' A slight smirk curled up his face as he spoke. 'Then you decided to kidnap me in the middle of the night.'

{Dianne gets a quizzical look.}

Dianne: "How did I kidnap you? Wait....I pulled you on top of me like a blanket, didn't I...."

'Yep. Well, actually, I woke up to find you lying on /me./ When I tried to shift you, you rolled over with me into this position.' Armin stifled a yawn as he lay there.

{Dianne sighs.}

Dianne: "Yup, that's what I thought...sorry about that...You can get off of me now..."

Armin pushed himself sideways and slowly rolled off of her, lying on his back beside her. 'No need to apologise; I don't see any harm done.'

Dianne: "Ok....So long as it didn't make you feel uncomfortable..."

'Relax. If it had, then I would've woken you up and told you to get the hell off. It's fine,' said Armin lightly. 'I can't say I enjoyed waking up to find myself unable to breathe, but other than that, it's fine.'

Esme was still dozing on the blankets a short distance away.

{Dianne sits up, surveying the room.}

Dianne: "Alright...No harm, no foul, I guess..."

Armin pushed himself up a little, supporting himself on his elbows. He gazed around the truck, noting that it seemed to be early afternoon, based on the look of the sky. 'Just curious, but is there any particular reason /why/ you did that? It's never happened before.'

{Dianne just shrugs.}

Dianne: "I dunno. I did that with Ardens too. Y'know, after...Maybe I just like the extra warmth?"

Armin tilted his head slightly, gazing out the window, and took a moment to answer.

'That's understandable, I guess. I honestly don't mind, as long as you're not crushing me to death. Don't worry about it if it happens again.'

Dianne: "Alright, thanks for understanding."

{Standing up, she goes to rummage through the crate.}

Esme stirred slightly when Dianne went to the crate, opening her eyes and yawning. She blinked drowsily as she observed her surroundings. Armin remained on the bed in a half-reclined position. 'Could you pass me some blood, while you're in that crate?'

Dianne: "Yeah, here..."

{She sits back down, handing the blood to Armin and sitting next to him with food and some apples.}

Armin accepted the bottle with a grunt of thanks, taking the cap off and sipping from it slowly. Esme pricked her ears at the sight of the apples and sat up, looking at Dianne expectantly.

{Dianne smiles and beckons Esme over.}

Dianne: "Here, sweetie. Are you hungry?"

Esme growled and dipped her head in something resembling a nod. Eyes fixed on the apples, she came closer and stretched out her jaws to take one.

Armin continued to recline there, sipping from his blood bottle, his expression miles away.

{Dianne hands Esme the apple, all while snacking on a package of trail mix.}

Dianne: "...I sure hope everything is going well back home..."

(Speaking of which, do ypou want to cut back there?)

'...Mhm, I hope so too. But I'm sure they're fine...'

(Sure thing, we can do the Valis interlude and then skip back to the truck squad in the evening.)

(Yeah, let's. I'll start it off.

Lol, truck aquad.)

...

{Meanwhile, back in Soverign City, Jerry was sitting in front of the palace, smoking a cigarette and watching the crowd. Not but a few moments earlier did he text Frederick that he had recieved a tip that the Bloodrazors were sending an emmisary to talk to the king.}

(Need to post new room)

Ok