Ivy just smirked. 'Of course you do...' She then wandered off into another part of the house, still staring at her phone.

(Should we skip a bit to something?)

(Yeah, but to where, and when?)

(Depends what the hunters are up to. If they won't be doing anything specific today, we could just skip to evening. Armin might have something to talk about around that time.

On a side note, if we decide to have the hunters target Ivy, she'll probably get bored of sitting around Jerry's place by the 2nd or 3rd day. XD)

(Ok, let's stage an attack on Ivy in two or three days. We can go back to Dianne and Armin for now.)

(Alrighty.)

----

Back home, dusk was falling. Armin was reclining on the couch, eyes focused on the TV as he played a racing game. Esme was sitting on the floor with her ball, watching curiously. Rex had spent most of the day in his room.

{Dianne was sitting on the couch, lazily watching Armin play, with an open book on her lap.}

Dianne: "At least you drive better in real cars then you do in this game."

'Hey,' Armin objected. 'I'm doing fine.' Right as he said that, his racecar was smashed into by one of his opponents and fell to pieces. 'It's not like you could play any better.'

{Dianne snickers at his misfortune.}

Dianne: "You're absolutely right about that. But, it is fun to watch you smash into other people."

'I'm glad you're getting enjoyment from my misfortune,' Armin said as his car respawned and continued driving. He crossed the finish line, in fourth place, and leaned back wearily. 'Well, it's been pretty quiet today. I haven't heard about anyone being attacked, and no-one's blown up the house. I guess the hunters are still figuring out what to do.'

Dianne: "Yup. I bet they're just scoping the place out and making plans. We need to watch out, they might try to overwhelm us..."

Armin got up to switch off the TV and game console. 'I think we'll all be on edge until something happens. I don't like this silence.' He scratched his head thoughtfully. 'I'm going to have a drink before bed. We've got no shortage of ale.'

Dianne: "Pour me a glass too, please. I want some as well."

{Dianne turns back to her book, waiting for her drink.}

Armin retrieved some glasses from the kitchen and ventured down into the basement to get the ale. He returned a minute later with two almost-full glasses, equivalent to about four shots.

'Here,' he said, sitting beside Dianne and handing one to her. Esme had gone back to playing with her toys on the floor, not paying them much attention.

{Dianne takes the glass, thanking Armin. Smirking, she eyes the amount.}

Dianne: "That's quite a bit. Are you trying to ease me before revealing a hard truth?"

Armin chuckled. 'Like what? I just wanted a drink. We don't have much to do since we can't go out. Why not take the opportunity to relax at home?'

He sat down beside her, taking a sip of his drink and lazily watching Esme play.

Dianne: "True enough."
{Taking a sip, she looks back to her book.}

Armin was quiet for a while, enjoying his ale. After he'd drunk about half of it, he finally spoke up again.

'Actually, I had something I wanted to talk about. Nothing bad, I promise. It just came into my mind earlier.'

{Dianne looks up with a quizzical expression.}

Dianne: "Alright, what's on your mind?"

'Well... I mentioned before that I wanted to speak to Janet one last time. Since we're going to be stuck indoors for a while, maybe we could do that while we're here? Assuming, of course, that we can obtain all the materials for the ritual thing...'

Dianne: "Oh, yes, of course. Just bring me some personal items of hers, or a lock of her hair, and I can do it. Just tell me when."

'Personal items I can probably get. Fred might have something,' said Armin thoughtfully. 'But, I don't want him to risk his safety bringing it over here... We'll just see how it goes.' He shrugged. 'It's not like this is something I need to do urgently.'

Dianne: "Well, Barnabas can move about unseen. If you tell him what to get, he can probably find it and bring it here."

'True... that's true. I don't trust him though. He'd probably steal or destroy the item for a joke.'

Dianne: "Not if I give him strict instructions. He has to do as I say. I promise you, the items will not be stolen or damaged."

'Alright,' said Armin. 'I'll text Fred tomorrow and ask him if he has anything we can use.'

Seeming satisfied, he leaned back more comfortably and continued drinking his ale. He was starting to feel pleasantly tipsy, although he knew he didn't have enough ale to actually get drunk.

{About three fourths through her drink, Dianne starts to blink a little harder and closes her book.}

Dianne: "Yeeeaaahh, I can't conmcentrate enough to read right now..."

Armin snickered. 'Amazing how quickly this stuff affects non-humans. If this were regular ale, or even whiskey, I'd barely be feeling anything right now.'

Dianne: "That's Triticum's ale for you. He wanted to make something we could feel, so we didn't have to chug hard liquor."

'Well, he did a good thing. I appreciate him.'

Finishing off his drink, Armin put the glass down a little unsteadily before leaning sideways against Dianne.

{Dianne eyes Armin fondly.}

Dianne: "Hey, you feeling ok, or are you just leaning into me because you want some affection?"

'The second one,' said Armin. 'I feel fine. Mostly. I didn't have enough to get drunk. I just like being near you.'

{Smiling, she puts her empty glass down and pulls Armin into her embrace.}

Dianne: "Well, wish granted. We'll stay here for a bit, then go to bed, I guess..."

Armin hummed in acknowledgement. He shifted slightly to kiss her on the cheek, then settled back in her embrace and observed the room lazily through half-closed eyes.

{Chuckling, Dianne leans into the couch and starts to stroke his hair. She was quite content to sit there with him, but had to be careful not to fall asleep herself.}

Between the effects of the alcohol, and how comfortable he was, it was impossible for Armin to stay awake long once she started stroking his hair. He quickly drifted into a light snooze, leaning heavily against her.

{Dianne sat there with him as long as she could, trying to stave off the drowsiness. After about thirty minutes, she pats Armin's shoulder.}

Dianne: "Ok, we should probably go to bed now. We're both falling asleep."

Armin awoke quickly, looking around with an odd expression before he remembered where he was. 'Oh... yeah. Let's go up.'

He clambered off of her and started to go up the stairs. Esme had already gone up there to sleep while they'd been sitting on the couch.

{Dianne follows him up and walks for the bath to change. Once she changes, she proceeds to lie on the bed.}

Armin had gotten changed while waiting in the bedroom. When Dianne came in, he lazily wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close against him with a contented hum.

{Dianne snuggles up to him, breathing a contented sigh.}

Dianne: "Goodnight...."

'Night...' Armin mumbled as he held her in his arms. //Love you,// he added telepathically, his mental voice indistinct from drowsiness.

(If we skip here, you can go first.)

(Ok.)

....

{The next morning, Dianne opens her eyes to find herself in Armin's arms. Settling in more comfortably, she waits for him to wake up on his own.}

Dianne: //No reason to get up. Might as well enjoy each other's company.//

Armin stirred a short while later, blinking as he looked at her. A faint smile appeared on his face. He rubbed her shoulder affectionately, tilting his head away and letting out a yawn.

'Still not quite used to waking up like this...'

Dianne: "Neither am I....but, I find it pleasant nonetheless. Good morning to you...."

{Yawning herself, she hugs him tightly and puts her head against his chest, settling in more comfortably.}

Dianne: "Let's not get up yet.....stay here with me...."

'Trust me, I'm not going anywhere without a dam.n good reason...' Armin muttered. He closed his eyes, slowly and absently rubbing her back. 'I think I'm infecting you with my sleeping habits. You seem to hate getting up as much as I do now,' he added teasingly.

{She just chuckles at that.}

Dianne: "Before this point, I never slept well. Now that I can get a good night's sleep, I'm happy to take advantage of that..."

'Yeah, it's nice to get a decent night's sleep.'

He contemplated for a while, his movements stilling.

'Hmm. I'm curious about something... and it might be slightly awkward to talk about, but I have to ask. It's been chewing at me since we spoke to Ivy the other day.'

Dianne: "Yeah? What's on your mind?"

'Well, Ivy was questioning whether we had an 'intimate' relationship. And you told her no. I guess that made me wonder... if you even like me in /that/ way, or if you'd ever want to do that with me. It's perfectly fine if you don't, I'm just curious.'

{Dianne opens her eyes, quietly contemplating the question.}

Dianne: "....Well.....That depends.......Is that something you want out of this relationship?"

'Yes,' said Armin cautiously, 'but only if you want to. I think I'd like to, but it's not of utmost importance to me, compared to what we already have.'

Dianne: "Ok.....I am open to it, but....the timing will be important...I don't want Paxton busting in here and catching us with our pants down....Both figuratively and literally....Also, not in front of Esme....."

'Well, I wasn't going to suggest we do it in front of Esme,' he said dryly. 'I don't know how we'd find an opportunity, given that she's always here, but that's alright. I'll wait.'

Dianne: "Well...once we're ready...we could always share the bath....The doors lock, so we'll at least have privacy."

'Hm. I guess that could work.' Armin tilted his head away and yawned. '...I'll leave it up to you, as to when we do it. If we do at all. I'm not going to do anything if you're not completely happy with it.'

Dianne: "....Yeah.....I have a hard time getting into the mood when I don't feel safe......Probably once Paxton's dead and gone.....I'll have to see then..."

{She then squirms up to eye level and kisses him on the lips.}

Dianne: "But, I do love you, and you're the one I want to be with."

Armin briefly closed his eyes when she kissed him, then opened them. He returned the kiss, then readjusted his arms around her and pulled her closer in a hug.

'...Yeah, let's eliminate Paxton first, then we'll see how it goes later.'

{Dianne happily settles into his grasp.}

Dianne: "Sounds like a plan.....Heh....If you want to do me, that means you think I'm pretty....It's a nice thought..."

'Of course. I'm not really the type to compliment peoples' appearances very much... but I can say I do find you attractive... And it's nice that you seem to think the same about me.'

Dianne: "I do....you're very easy on the eyes...."

{Closing her eyes, she hugs him tightly and begins to doze.}

Armin remained awake for a while, contemplating. Eventually, he started to snooze as well, only to be awoken by Esme nudging at his head around early afternoon.

'Mhm... hello... small dragon...' he murmured drowsily.

{Dianne wakes as well, looking up at Esme.}

Dianne: "Oh, morning, sweetheart. Hungry, I presume?"

Esme didn't make a noise, just pricked her ears and jumped down to sit on the floor, patiently waiting for them.

'I think she's grown a tiny bit more. Makes sense why she eats so much,' said Armin drowsily. He tightened his arms around Dianne and pulled her close, in a final hug before they had to get up.

{Dianne squeezed Armin in response, affectionately snuggling into him.}

Dianne: "Yes, she's growing fast. "

Armin let her snuggle into him for a moment, then reluctantly let go and rolled away onto his back. 'When this is over, we might really have to go out and get her her own bed. She's not staying here if she gets as big as a Great Dane.'

{When Armin rolled away, she kept lying face down for a minute. She turns her head to speak.}

Dianne: "No, but I want to keep her close. We can put her bed in that corner."

'Yeah, that's fine. She can still stay in this room with us. She's getting older; it'll be good for her to have her own bed.'

Armin continued to lie on his back, gazing at the ceiling and lifting a hand to absentmindedly rub his head.

Dianne: "Good....I'll be able to sleep at night knowing she's near me....."

{Picking herself up, Dianne stands and heads to the bath to change.}

Once Dianne got up, Esme padded out of the room and went down the stairs. Armin changed into some old jeans and a black sweater, and wandered after her.

'Morning,' he said briefly to Rex, who was on the couch reading a newspaper. He recieved a non-committal grunt in response. 'Any more telepathic calls?'

'Nothing yet. I assume the hunters haven't made moves on anyone we know.'

{Dianne comes down the stairs in the same green dress as the day before.}

Dianne: "They're likely biding their time. We need to stay vigilant and careful."

'Well, I hope everyone's taking the right precautions. Staying home when possible, and only going out in groups. Preferably armed, too,' said Armin.

'They're not stupid,' said Rex. 'Well, Ivy doesn't seem the sharpest...'

Dianne: "Ivy's with Jerry, so she should be ok. We'll all be ok."

{Dianne walks into the kitchen to start cooking.}

'Probably. It's just a waiting game at this point. Lucci had better hurry up and deal with the bounty,' said Armin.

He looked around uncertainly, then switched on his game console and started racing again.

{Having made food for herself and Esme, Dianne walked into the living room with both plates.}

Dianne: "Esme, here, sweetie."

(Posting new room)