'Come in here.' Armin led them down the hall and through the first door on the right.

On the other side was a large living-room. The design was an odd mix of new and old. Some of the furniture looked old enough to be antique. There was a dining table surrounded by six thin, rickety wooden chairs, and a threadbare green couch. The room was only lit by a few candles, which cast a cosy amber glow. Despite the old-fashioned charm, the room also sported a widescreen TV and a shelf covered in CDs, DVDs, and videogame hardware.

Jerry: "Hm...Cozy..."

{Lucci takes a seat on the couch.}

Lucci: "Ok, Armin, why don't you start with introducing everyone to Esme, formally."

Armin sat down on the floor - which was thickly carpeted - beside the TV.

'Alright, well... Esme is the baby dragon. I found her while we were staying at Triticum's tavern. She was freezing to death outside in the snow. It turned out that her tribe was wiped out by Paxton's hunters, and she didn't really have any family left, so we took her with us.'

While Armin spoke, Esme was gazing around the room, sniffing curiously and not paying much attention to any specific person.

Dianne: "She's my responsibility now, so I suppose I am effectively adopting her."

Jerry: "Oh. Ok. Well, we'll all need to work to keep her safe. as long as Paxton's out there, she's in danger."

Dianne: "Which reminds me, Ivy, I'll need to discuss something with you later."

Ivy narrowed her eyes in a half-curious, half-suspicious expression. Then she just shrugged and looked away. 'Yeah, alright.'

'We'll do everything we can to keep her away from danger,' said Fred. 'It wouldn't be good for Paxton to find out you have her. Aside from Esme, what else do we need to discuss?'

Lucci: "We need to discuss why I can't stay. I need to go to Agamidae and get the bounty revoked. Until that happens, Dianne is in danger, and so are all of you. As I get closer to that, Paxton is going to get more and more desperate, so be ready for some underhanded tactics. None of his people will arrive here until four days from now, so, Dianne, make sure you get full custody of Esme before they catch on to her existence."

Armin nodded slightly in response to everything. 'So, you actually can get the bounty revoked?' he said.

Lucci: "Yes. By proving that it was issued on false grounds, I can get it nullified. However, the human law system is broken, difficult, full of loopholes, and subject to the whim of the ignorant wastes of carbon known as a jury."

'Geez...' Ivy muttered under her breath.

'Well, as long as you can actually do it,' said Armin. 'So, you said the hunters won't reach here for four days, right? So we have some breathing room?'

Lucci: "Yes, that is correct. Unfortunately, the laws only permit that hunting Dianne is illegal, therefore, Paxton's hunters cannot legally be barred from entering the city until after they make an attempt to kill Dianne. That is why you must all be vigilant, and Dianne should stay indoors as much as possible."

Dianne: "Figures..."

'Eventually, they'll get desperate and try something. And when they fail, hopefully they'll never get another opportunity,' said Armin.

'So, I /can't/ just shoot them on the spot if I see them?' said Ivy innocently.

'No. Not unless they're attacking Dianne. Don't get us into trouble.'

Lucci: "If they attack any of you, defend yourselves. They will consider all of you threats."

Pythia: "If anyone gets hurt in the defense, come get me. I can't take sides in any conflicts, but I'm not about to let any of my friends die."

Armin nodded. 'Yeah, they could target any of us. HeII, they could even try taking people hostage.'

Fred glanced at Pythia as she spoke. 'There's a good chance we might need you. I'll also post guards around your place, too, in case they try anything,' he said, not mentioning that he'd been doing this already.

Pythia: "Thank you, Fred. That's a great comfort to me."

Lucci: "Well, that's all I had to say. Anyone have any questions regarding our situation?"

'Not that I can think of,' said Fred. 'We just have to be cautious. I'd recommend that none of us goes outside alone, especially not to the outskirts of the city or outside it.'

Rex looked slightly unhappy about the proceedings, but held his tongue.

Lucci: "Yes, Fred, that would be best. Have something to add, Rex?"

{Lucci asks, noticing Rex's unhappy demeanor. Pythia, on the other hand, approaches Esme as she sat on Dianne's lap.}

Pythia: "Hi there. Esme, was it?"

Rex shook his head. 'No. Nothing important.'

'He won't say it in front of everyone,' said Armin. 'I'll ask him later.'

Esme squeaked and turned to look at Pythia, sniffing curiously before realising that this was also a type of dragon.

Fred glanced at the door. 'If we're done, I'll be taking my leave, then. I have things to do...'

Lucci: "Of course. Stay safe Fred."

Jerry: "I'm heading home too. If you all need anything, don't hesitate to call me."

Pythia: "I should go as well. It was nice to meet you, Esme."

{Pythia gives esme a farewell pat and walks for the door.}

Antonio: "I'll be around. If you require anything of me, please, do not hesitate to ask."

Fred waited for Pythia, so they could leave together. 'I'll go back with you, if you don't mind,' he said. 'The hunters might be four days away, but just as a precaution.'

Esme watched everyone getting up to leave, her ears pricked curiously. Rex remained in the house, sitting down on one of the chairs.

Pythia: "Sure. Thank you, Frederick."

{While everyone left, Lucci lingered.}

Lucci: "One last order of business. Armin, might I have a private word?"

Armin raised his eyebrows, then stood up. 'Alright, let's go somewhere else,' he said.

{Lucci stands.}

Lucci: "Lead the way."

Armin headed out of the room, leading Lucci towards the staircase. He climbed up, and waited on the second floor, hands in his jacket pockets. //I can probably guess what he wants to talk about...//

Rex watched them go, before realising that he was now alone in the room with Dianne. Looking faintly awkward, he continued to stare at the door. Esme, however, decided to climb off Dianne's lap to try and get to him.

{Lucci follows Armin up the stairs, then begins.}

Lucci: "Alright. I'm aware that you and Dianne have decided to be a proper couple. So, you understand that she's a very haunted individual with trust issues and anger problems. You saw her nightmares, her rage against Calvin the Icy Scourge, the way she reacted whenever Esme was put in danger, yes?"

{Dianne chuckles as she watches Esme approach Rex, but doesn't comment.}

'Yes...' said Armin slowly, wondering what this was leading up to.

Rex looked down at Esme when she started pawing at his leg to get his attention. 'Hmh. Probably the only good thing to come out of this situation,' he muttered, holding out a hand for her to sniff at.

Lucci: "And after all that, even when she had assaulted you, called you terrible names, shown signs of mental instability, you fell in love with her? I want to know why. What do you see in her?"

{Dianne remains silent. She didn't like the fact that Rex likely loathed her, but there was nothing she could do about it at the moment.}

Armin raised his eyebrows. 'Really, Lucci? You want me to /explain why/ I fell in love with someone?' he said disbelievingly. 'I started to see a different side to her. She's really not as unstable as people seem to think. Most of the time we were travelling, she was... fine. Pleasant company. Not some raving monster. I found out that she could be loyal, caring, laid-back... I don't really know how things progressed from there.'

Esme wandered off a little to explore the living-room. Rex straightened up in his chair. 'I think maybe I need to say some things to you,' he said, watching Dianne out the corner of his eye.

Lucci: "I only ask because I want to make sure you're serious about this. She's a good person and a fine companion, but playing with her feelings after she's finally opened up to someone for the first time in 2000 years is very ill advised. Speak truthfully. Do you love her?"

Dianne: "Oh? Like what, Rex?"

{She asks cautiously. She has an idea what he might have to say, but doesn't want tpo press it too hard.}

'Lucci, I've avoided relationships for most of my life. I don't go into it unless I'm serious. Yes, I love her, and it would take a lot to change that.'

Rex contemplated for a moment. 'Well, I'm not happy about you leading an army of hunters to our doorstep, but there's no purpose in discussing that... You and Armin. Is there something going on between you?'

Lucci: "Ok. I needed to hear that from you. I know that she will be very happy with you. One last thing. Death's Aspect came to you because of your closeness. He sees you as her guardian. Due to the fact that she is one of two remaining acolytes still alive, her life is valuable to him, and he seeks to keep her alive at all costs. He said, "don't fail me", in reference to you not letting her die in the coming conflict. That's what his message meant."

Dianne: "...If there is, would that be a problem?"

'Oh, that's what he wanted? Well, that's alright,' said Armin, slightly relieved. 'Although, out of morbid curiosity... what would he do if I didn't manage to keep her safe?'

Rex turned in his chair to face her. 'Depends on how you look at it. I'm going to assume there is, despite your lack of a straight answer. And I want to know - do you actually care about him, or do you have some hidden motive for getting him close to you? Do you just want him around so he'll risk his life to protect you when trouble like this occurs?'

Lucci: "He'd probably try to enslave your soul, buuuuuut.....let's not worry about that right now. Right now, let's worry about Rex interrogating Dianne downstairs..."

Dianne: "Yes, Rex. There is something between us. Of course I care about him. This is not some...cold, strategic move."

Armin glanced at the floor. 'I knew I could hear Rex... I was expecting him to say something.'

'Really?' said Rex. 'The first day I saw you, you physically assaulted him over a misunderstanding. If you two are going to be together... what's stopping you from losing it and attacking him again? Lucci won't always be there to stop you.'

Lucci: "Let's not waste any time then. "

{With that, he heads down the stairs. Dianne sighs and closes her eyes. She knew this would be brought up sooner or later.}

Dianne: "Rex. I've come a long way since then. I'm a lot better at keeping my anger in check now. Besides...I didn't love him then...I do now."

Armin slowly followed Lucci down the stairs. He wanted to give Rex time to say what he needed, knowing things would be worse if he bottled it up too long.

Rex quieted down at that. He stared into the distance, tugging on his mustache.

'...I'm just warning you,' he said in a low voice. 'I don't care how powerful you are. You don't scare me. And if you harm him, physically or emotionally, not only will I convince him to leave you, I /will/ pay you back somehow.'

(Lucci: //Note to self; May have to "disappear" Rex...//)

{Lucci slows to Armin's pace, understanding why he was doing it.}

Dianne: "I understand. Hurting him is the last thing I want to do. You have nothing to fear from me."

{Barnabas then appears with an annoyed expression.}

Barnabas: "Boi, you're one to talk."

(Lucci no)

Rex lifted his head to observe the ghoul. 'Excuse me?' he said in a monotone. 'Do you think it's acceptable to butt into private conversations?'

Barnabas: "One of my subroutines is defending my ward. Need I remind you that you /abandoned/ Armin to whatever fate Sargon had planned for him. That decision eats at you, even now. You want to talk about hurting Armin and being a bad friend? Try looking in the mirror first."

Dianne: "Barnabas, enough."

Rex just stared at Barnabas, seeming unsure how to respond. At that moment, Armin came into the room, not looking happy.

'I thought we agreed that you were leaving him alone? I don't resent Rex for leaving Shacklestone when he did. I'm just glad he's still here today. Stay the heII out of our personal lives.'

Barnabas: "But the only reason he's even here and not in whatever cesspool you found him in is because of her! If not for her efforts, Sargon would not be dead and Rex would still be-Hgkzz..."

{The ghoul was abruptly cut off when Dianne raised her hand and caused him to dissipate.}

Dianne: "This matter does not concern you, Barnabas. You are to never address Rex again."

(I must sleep now. Will reply in the morning.)

(Alright, goodnight. X) )

Rex blinked, still looking unsure how to react. 'Well... I'll be in my room,' he muttered, before getting up and making a swift exit.

Armin glanced at him as he went past, but didn't stop him. 'Sorry about that,' he said to Dianne. 'But if I didn't let him say what was on his mind, it would've been much worse later. He's not an aggressive person, he just... worries a lot.'

Dianne: "It's ok. He was just worried about you. I honestly didn't mind."

{She then rubs the back of her head nervously.}

Dianne: "I'm going to need to keep a tighter leash on Barnabas..."

Lucci: "In all fairness, what Barnabas wasn't untrue, to a point. If not for Dianne's contribution, he'd still be in hiding."

'Well, yeah. We all know that,' said Armin. 'I always suspected that we wouldn't have been able to beat Sargon's organisation without her. I'm very glad that I was able to find Rex again after the war, and bring him back here...'

Lucci: "And, on that note, I'll need to be going. Have a good night, you two."

{With that, he walks for the door.}

'Huh. Alright, see you.' Armin watched Lucci head out. 'That was slightly abrupt.'

Dianne: "Yeah, he's wierd sometimes...Anyway, about our sleeping arrangements...Can the three of us fit on one bed?"

'Yeah, it should be fine. I have a double bed. We've got the upstairs bedroom; Rex has the downstairs one.' Armin glanced towards the kitchen, which was connected to the living-room. 'Food is another matter. There's probably nothing in here.'

Dianne: "Screw it, order a pizza and we'll go on a shopping run first thing tomorrow."

{She then looks around.}

Dianne: "Now, where did Esme get off to?"

Armin went into the kitchen, which was almost completely dark, and flicked on the light. It revealed Esme, who had figured out how to open a cupboard and was gazing inside, seeming disappointed that it contained no food. Just knives, forks and spoons.

'Hey,' said Armin. 'Get out of here, I don't need you playing with knives.' He nudged Esme out of the kitchen, and she ran back into the other room, diving underneath the table.

Dianne: "Huh...guess we'll have to child-proof this place."

{Taking out her phone, Dianne looks to Armin.}

Dianne: "...I don't suppose you know of any good restaurants nearby? Perhaps some that deliver?"

'Weeeell... I found out that some restaurants around here still won't deliver to houses where non-humans live. But there's a pizza place up the street that should; I've ordered from them before. I could call them if you want, I think I have the number memorised.'

Meanwhile, Esme had slipped out from under the table and was exploring the living-room.

Dianne: "Could you? I'd appreciate that. I'm kinda hungry and tired of fish..."

Armin took the phone and started to input a number. 'You want anything specific?' he asked. 'I'm not sure if they'll have anything Esme will like, but I guess she might eat pizza.'

Dianne: "Meat lovers, I guess. I don't have much of a preference. I guess you could put pineapple on it for her..."

'Got it. Heh, pineapple pizza...'

Someone picked up the phone, and he leaned against the kitchen doorframe as he spoke to them, placing the orders. In the living-room, Esme had climbed onto the couch and sat down, seeming quite at home.

{Seeing that Esme was at home, Dianne walks upstairs with her bag to change.}

Done with ordering the food, Armin left Dianne's phone on the table and gazed around. //This is... odd. Surreal, even. I think it might take me a few days to get used to this...//

The upper floor of the house contained three doors; one leading to a bathroom, one leading to Armin's room, and one leading to a mostly-empty room that seemed like it was being used for storage. It was dusty and full of cardboard boxes.

{Dianne first walks into Armin's room to take off her armor. Then, she walks into the bathroom with her bag. Not seeing any reason to hurry, she decides to shower while she's there.}

Armin spent the next few minutes moving all dangerous objects in the kitchen to spots where Esme couldn't reach them. 'Well, until she learns to fly...' he murmured.

Afterwards, having nothing to do except wait for Dianne and the delivery driver, he kicked off his shoes and settled down on the couch beside Esme, leaning back and closing his eyes. He could hear the shower running upstairs, so he knew where Dianne was. He could also hear the low buzz of Rex's computer from the other room.

{After a few minutes, the shower stops. Dianne reappears comig down the stairs. Her hair was wet and she was dressed in one of her blue dresses.}

Dianne: "Hm. Rather homely atmosphere. I can get used to this.

'It is, isn't it?' Armin commented, absently stroking Esme as he sat there. 'Food should be here in a minute,' he added.

Dianne: "Good. I'm starving."

{She sits opposite of Esme, petting her.}

Dianne: "When it gets here, I'll get some ale from the basement. You think Rex will want some?"

'I'll ask him,' said Armin. 'He'll probably want to try it. I'm not letting him have too much, though. He has no idea how strong that stuff is, and I'd rather not have to deal with him being drunk tonight.'

Dianne: "Good idea. We'll just give him a taste."

{Just then, the doorbell rings.}

Armin pulled himself off the couch and headed off to the front door, pulling it open.

In the hallway, the door to Rex's room opened and Rex stuck his head out suspiciously, not knowing who was ringing the doorbell.

Pizza guy: "Oh! I got pizza over here! Oh!"

{Dianne sees Rex poke his head out.}

Dianne: "We got pizza, Rex. Do you want some?"

'Thanks.' Armin took the pizza boxes, and passed the delivery guy a couple of squalls as a tip. 'And thanks for delivering here. Nobody else will.'

Rex seemed to consider, then shrugged and came out of his room. 'I guess so.'

Pizza guy: "No problemo. Just tell the building manager that their new defense robot is a dick!"

'Uhh, sure...' Armin replied, having no idea what the man was talking about. 'Well, have a nice evening.'

Pizza guy: "You too."

{With that, he leaves. Dianne looks to Armin when he comes through.}

Dianne: "Alright, let's eat."

Armin dropped the pizza boxes onto the table. He'd gotten three of them; one with pineapple, one with meat, and one with ham and mushroom.

'Why's there pineapple pizza in there?' Rex inquired, looking faintly disgusted.

'It's mostly for Esme,' said Armin, as the dragonet jumped off the couch to investigate. 'She likes fruit.'

Dianne: "Yeah. Let's see how she likes it."

{Dianne takes a paper plate and puts one meat and one pineapple on it. She then beckons Esme over.}

Dianne: "Here, Esme, try this..."

Esme followed Dianne, not taking her eyes off the food. She stretched out her neck and grabbed the slice of pineapple pizza off the plate, gnawing on it with a puzzled, but not displeased, expression.

'Shall I go and get some ale, or do you want to get it?' said Armin to Dianne. Behind him, Rex helped himself to some of the mushroom pizza.

{Putting the plate down for Esme, Dianne stands.}

Dianne: "I'll get it."

{Getting some glasses from the kitchen, she heads to the basement.}

'What's this, then?' Rex asked after she left. 'Is this the Akhetian-made stuff you've mentioned before? The stuff that, in your own words, made you think you were dying the next morning?'

'Yeah. It's strong. Don't chug it. We're probably not having too much.'

Esme continued chewing on her share of pizza.

{Dianne returns after a few minutes with the glasses half full. She proceeds to pass them to Armin and Rex.}

Dianne: "Here you are. Enjoy."

{She then starts to eat her own pizza.}

Armin started slowly drinking his ale, knowing what to expect. Rex took a cautious sip, then winced and coughed. '...You weren't exaggerating...'

'Hey, it's not that bad once you get used to it. I had twelve shots of this stuff in the tavern,' said Armin.

Dianne: "Yeah, I'd recommend you take it slow."

{She slowly sips her drink, watching Esme eat and munching on her own slice.}

Rex continued to slowly drain his glass. Armin finished his more quickly, while Esme ate her way through most of the pineapple pizza. After a while, when everyone seemed to be finished eating, Armin took the few remaining slices of pizza and put them in the refrigerator.

Esme yawned and sat on the couch, blinking sleepily.

{Scratching Esme behind the ears, Dianne speaks up.}

Dianne: "I think I'll be retiring now, with Esme."

{She then stands, picking up Esme and heading for the stairs.}

(Going back on my DS now, and will also be posting a new room, since I'm not sure this one will be accessible anymore. XD)

(K)