Armin nodded thoughtfully. 'Nice to have a supply of money saved up.'

He then subsided into silence, leaning back against the wall.

{Dianne falls silent as well, enjoying her meal. Once she finishes, she settles into the couch.}

Dianne: "I wonder if there's anything good on tv..."

'You can look if you want... But if that Sargon and Ana movie is on, don't watch it, please,' he said jokingly.

{Dianne chuckles and turns on the tv. Blindly flipping through the channels, she comes across a cartoon. More specifically, an anime. An anime of what appears to be a magical girl in black armor, with red and black eyes. In response, Dianne quickly changes it and cooly keeps looking.}

Armin caught a glimpse just before she flipped the channels, and snorted out a laugh. 'Are you sure we didn't need to see that? It looks interesting,' he said teasingly.

Dianne: "Nope. We don't need to see that. No one /ever/ needs to see that..."

Armin suppressed another laugh. 'Fair enough...'

He eyed the couch for a moment, then walked over and gently shifted Esme along a few inches so that he could sit in the space between her and Dianne. The dragonet huffed quietly, but otherwise didn't react.

{Dianne eyes Armin, smiling. She leaves it on a movie and leand back.}

Catching her smile, Armin shifted sideways and let himself lean against her. He rested his head on her shoulder, watching the TV lazily. Esme continued to doze, seeming unconcerned by the noise and light.

{Dianne sits still with Armin and watches the tv. After a short while, Dianne starts to doze as well.}

Armin let the movie play out until its end, which was about an hour later. As the credits rolled on the screen, he fumbled for the remote and switched the TV off. Yawning, he nudged Dianne. 'You want to go up to bed?'

{Dianne stirs and rubs her face.}

Dianne: "Yeah...Let's go..."

{Standing, she picks up Esme and climbs the stairs. Putting her down on the bed, Dianne walks into the bath.}

Esme crawled to the end of the bed, curled up and seemed to immediately fall asleep again.

As he followed them, Armin grabbed Esme's ball and brought it up to the bedroom, so she'd have something to play with if she woke up early. Not waiting for Dianne to get out of the bathroom, he swiftly changed and flopped into the bed.

{Walking out of the bath, Dianne lies down to the left of Armin. She gets under the covers and settles down to sleep.}

Armin had a question on his mind, but he resisted the urge to ask, deciding to let her sleep instead. //It's not important. I'll just ask in the morning.//

He got into a more comfortable position and settled down to sleep.

{Moving to snuggle against Armin, Dianne dozed off almost immediately}

Dianne: "Goodnight..."

'Night,' said Armin quietly, so not to disturb her. He quickly drifted off into a deep sleep, feeling at ease.

(You want to skip?)

(Yeah, you can go first.)

----

Armin awoke somewhere around 9AM, opening his eyes and blinking blearily. Esme was still asleep at the end of the bed. It seemed that, as she grew rapidly, she needed to sleep and eat a lot.

He continued to lie back comfortably with Dianne, letting his mind wander. //Second day since we got home. Probably won't be long before the hunters start sneaking up on us...//

{After a little while, Dianne stirs, shifting closer to Armin.}

Dianne: "Mmm....'Morning..."

{She says, eyes still closed.}

Armin wrapped one arm around her and pulled her closer against him, rubbing her back affectionately.

'Morning,' he said with a slight yawn. 'Do we have more errands to run today?'

{Dianne sighs contentedly before responding, feeling soothed by the back rub.}

Dianne: "Nothing so important...I need to get some things from my house...get the draugr....set up some perimeter defenses...

'Alright. Maybe we can take Esme with us when we go to your house. She could probably use the fresh air.'

He closed his eyes, continuing to slowly and absent-mindedly rub her back with one hand.

Dianne: "Yeah...Good idea....Also, I need to talk with Ivy....See about her looking after Esme when we fight....Unless Rex wants to do it..."

'Mhm... I'll have to ask Rex sometime. He might not like me being in danger while he stays out of it, but I'm more used to fighting than he is... You should ask Ivy too, just as a backup plan.'

Dianne: "I will...."

{She seems to have fallen back asleep, feeling quite at ease in his arms.}

Armin smirked slightly. //And here I thought /I/ was the one who couldn't wake up in the mornings...// He remained still and settled, willing to stay there and let her sleep.

{Dianne continues to sleep for about an hour and a half more. After this time, she stirs again.}

Dianne: " Hmm...I guess I should get up now...kinda fell asleep on you earlier..."

Armin jolted out of the slight doze he'd fallen into. 'Hrm? ...Oh, yeah. We should probably get up.'.. He contempleted for a moment, not moving. 'Actually, if you don't mind staying a bit longer, I was gonna ask you something.'

{Dianne looks up curiously.}

Dianne: "Sure, what's on your mind."

Armin mulled over his words before continuing. 'I was just curious, but do you know... when you realised... that you loved me?' There was a note of hesitation in the way he said 'love', as if he were still getting used to the idea.

{Dianne smiles at the question.}

Dianne: "I can't pinpoint exactly when. It was kind of a gradual thing. I was starting to feel it at the tavern, and it only got stronger from there. But, once I realized that I found your touch...comforting....something I haven't felt in so long....I knew then that I was in love with you."

Armin listened; when she finished, a faint smile curled up one side of his mouth.

'Hmm. I guess I can say I had a similar experience. I'd been fond of you for a while, but I thought it was just... some kind of strong friendship. It was at Triticum's place that I realised it wasn't quite the same feeling. And it was in the truck, after I had that creepy dream and woke up to find you... holding... me, that I became sure.'

{Dianne smiles back.}

Dianne: "I could tell you liked me. But, until you told me outright, I wasn't sure, and I didn't want to jump to conclusions..."

{Dianne hugs Armin and pulls him close.}

Dianne: "I was happy to hear you felt the same way."

'Mhm...' Armin relaxed into the hug, enjoying it. 'I never truly thought you liked me, until you said so. That's why I wasn't particularly keen on telling you. Either you're very good at hiding it, or I'm more oblivious than I realised.'

Dianne: "No, I purposefully hid it....Thought we had a good thing going and I didn't want to ruin it..."

{She decides to lie there for a little, just hugging Armin.}

'Well, as unnerving as it was, I'm glad you asked me how I felt. Otherwise, I don't think either or us would have ever known for certain.'

He snuggled gratefully into the hug, nestling his head between her neck and shoulder. Getting comfortable there, he didn't move again.

Esme had awoken in the meantime, and upon spotting her ball on the floor, jumped down off the bed to make sure it was OK.

{Dianne chuckles a little at that.}

Dianne: "Well, after a while, I just had to know. Heh...If Ivy saw us now...actually, I don't think I even care what she would say. We're actually happy for once, and that's all that matters."

'I don't care what Ivy thinks. Now that I think about it, she probably doesn't know about this - not for certain. Nor does anyone else, except Rex. Oh well, I'm sure they'll figure it out eventually.'

Dianne: "Yeah...They'll figure it out...As much as I would like to stay here with you.... We do have things to do today...We should really get up..."

On the floor, Esme squeaked loudly as if in agreement. She was hungry.

'I suppose we do have errands to run,' said Armin reluctantly. On a whim, he kissed her on the cheek before pulling himself away and beginning to climb out of bed.

{Dianne blinked a bit at the kiss. She seemed momentarily stunned, before slowly getting out of bed, blushing.}

Dianne: //He kissed me....Been a long time since I felt that...I still can't believe someone actually likes me enough to show me affection...//

Armin reached down to pet Esme, stealing a subtle glance at Dianne out of the corner of his eye to gauge her reaction. He was a bit relieved to see it wasn't a bad one. //Impulse move... It's been a long time since I did that.//

He retrieved his clothes and headed into the bathroom.

{Getting up, Dianne gathers her own clothes, then sits by Esme to pet her and wait for Armin.}

Esme rubbed her head against Dianne's arm, giving a purring growl. A few minutes later, Armin emerged from the bathroom, wearing his usual jeans, shirt and jacket, and began to go downstairs. Esme immediately followed him under the belief that he'd give her food.

{After getting dressed, Dianne goes down the stairs and into the kitchen, looking to fix herself breakfast.}

Armin gathered some fruit for Esme. He gave her another pear, along with a peach, which he cut in half and de-stoned so she wouldn't choke on it.

'Are we gonna go to your house right after this?' he asked Dianne, going into the kitchen and retrieving a blood bottle from a high cupboard.

Dianne: "Yeah. But, breakfast first."

{She starts cooking eggs, humming musically to herself.}

Armin leaned against the fridge, casually sipping blood, while Dianne made herself food. He said nothing, just gazing out the kitchen window and appreciating the homely morning atmosphere.

{With her food made, Dianne sits at the table and starts eating.}

Dianne: "This is a nice place...It's homely."

'It is. I'm quite happy with this place.' Armin deposited the blood bottle back into the cupboard. 'I didn't think much of it when the king offered it to me, but now it feels like home. More than anywhere I lived for the last two centuries.'

Dianne: "Now, don't get me wrong, I like my house on the plains, but it was...lonely...I'm very much enjoying this company."

{She falls silent, contemplatively eating her eggs.}

Armin smiled slightly as he gazed out of the kitchen window. 'I'm glad. It does seem like it'd be kinda lonely in that big house, away from the city, on your own.'

Dianne: "Yeah, but...I've been lonley just about my whole life. It's almost...surreal to have this kind of company...."

'It might take some getting used to. But I'm glad you don't have to be alone anymore. And I'm happy to be in your company, too. As long as you don't get sick of having me around all the time,' he added jokingly.

{Dianne smirks at that.}

Dianne: "Trust me, you'll get sick of me before I get sick of you. The moment I start building draugr in your basement, you'll probably want me out."

Armin wrinkled his nose. 'Well, as long as you keep it in the basement and only do it when necessary, I think I can tolerate that. I don't want this whole house smelling of dead bodies, alright?'

{Dianne pulls a mischievous smile.}

Dianne: "Hey, love me, love my minions. Don't worry, I'll only do that back at my place. I don't want to gross you out."

'Good. It's bad enough having Barnabas lurking around.'

Armin continued to look out the window, watching a couple of pigeons sitting together on a fence out the back.

{Dianne finishes eating. Standing, Dianne starts to pack some things.}

Dianne: "Alright, let's get ready."

(Speaking of Barnabas, how mad would Ivy get if he drove off a potential partner by telling him what she's like.)

(Pretty annoyed... I can imagine her going to Dianne and demanding that she controls the ghoul better.)

'How are we going to get over there?' Armin inquired. 'In the truck? It'd take a long time to walk.'

Esme had finished her fruit, and was now just watching them curiously.

(Lol, he should do that. XD)

Dianne: "We'll drive. Well, you will. I don't know how."

(He should interrupt her on a date or something.)

'If you want, I could teach you - once everything settles down. But not in a military truck in the middle of a busy city.'

Armin headed towards the front door, tossing a telepathic message to Rex, who was in his room, to explain that they were going out.

Dianne: "Yeah, that would be appreciated."

{Grabbing the bag where she packed some lunch, Dianne heads for the door.

(Lol

Barnabas: "Hey there, young man. Did you know? This little lady right here just likes you for your money. She has no interest in anything long term.". :D

(Ivy: *indignant noises*)

Armin paused to scoop up Esme, carrying her out with them. He then climbed into the driver's side of the truck, putting Esme on the floor by Dianne's side. He started up the engine and waited for Dianne to be in and settled.

{Dianne gets in and puts her seat belt on. She then reaches down and puts Esme on her lap, waiting for departure.}

Armin set off. Like before, the armoured truck attracted quite a few curious glances as they drove through the city.

'I'm a bit surprised you never learned to drive, actually,' Armin mused. 'You were living in Shacklestone for quite a while. You can't have flown everywhere there, could you?'

Dianne: "Most of where I had to go was in walking distance. Yeah, for the further areas, I flew. When cars were invented, I thought they were to most poinless thing man has ever created. A rickety frame of metal and wood that I could literally outrun? I'll stick with my wings, thank you. I know the technology's come a long way, but I just never gpot around to it."

'Fair enough. I didn't think much of them at first, either - especially since I could shift and fly around without even attracting attention. When I first tried driving - about fifty years ago - it was more out of curiosity than necessity. I found it kind of fun.'

Dianne: "Hmm....I just don't see the appeal, but to each their own, I guess. Still, I can't fly freely here, so I'll need to learn nevertheless."

After a short while, they left the city. They were now driving down the wide, empty road that ran through the plains and farmland. No longer having to navigate the busy streets, Armin accelerated to about 70MPH.

'If you go outside the king's territory, there are no speed limits,' he said, grinning slightly. 'That's when it gets fun. But we're not going that far.'

{Dianne grips Esme out of nervousness.}

Dianne: "Armin, if we crash.....I will be very displeased...Please slow down."

'There's nothing to crash into,' Armin protested. However, he dropped their speed to about 55, and continued driving in silence. Esme just stared out the window, puzzling over why the truck wasn't flying.

{Dianne calmed a bit, stroking Esme.}

Dianne: "Yes there are. Cattle herds, tractors, threshers, just to name a few. Also, you could lose control on a slippery part of the road and flip us."

Armin considered. 'Yes, I suppose so... these country roads /can/ be hazardous sometimes.' He dropped his speed a little more, now trundling down the road at a sedate pace.

Dianne: "Thank you."

{She quiets down, waiting for her house to come into view.}

After a few minutes, they spotted Dianne's house around a turn in the road. Armin slowly approached it, parking the truck in the front yard and stopping the engine. He opened the door and jumped out, looking up at the large house.

{Dianne opens the door to let Esme off before departing herself.}

Dianne: "Let's go inside, this might be a while."

Esme shook herself and walked in a circle, surveying the new landscape. Armin locked the truck and turned to follow Dianne.

'I always wanted to see the inside of this place.'

Dianne: "Oh? You could have just asked..."

{She gets her keys and opens the door. Walking into the foyer, She heads for the grand staircase. On either side were empty sets of armor from different timeframes and regions, standing on pedistals. Up the stairs were doors leading to different wings. Dianne takes the door on the left.}

(Posting new room)