{Dianne opens her eyes to look at Esme.}

Dianne: "Hey, you hungry? You want to go downstairs now?"

Esme chirped as if to say 'I guess so'. She opened her wings out to their fullest width, then half-jumped, half-glided off the bed.

Armin shifted drowsily, but continued holding onto Dianne. Apparently he'd decided to be stubborn about getting up again.

{Dianne, finding herself barred from sitting up, chuckles in response.}

Dianne: "Oh, come now, Armin. Is this really the path you want to take again?"

In response, he tightened his arms around her, snuggled closer and tucked his head against her neck, smirking slightly. 'Well, maybe if I look adorable enough, you won't be able to find it in yourself to pull me off the bed like last time,' he said humorously.

Dianne: "Oh, my sweet..."

{She returns the embrace momentarily.}

Dianne: "I may not pull you off the bed, but when I leave, the cold will motivate you to follow me."

Grumbling lightheartedly, Armin reluctantly let go and pushed himself upright. 'Alright, I'll go. There's no point in staying up here on my own.'

{Smiling, Dianne sits up.}

Dianne: "You're adorable, you know that?"

{Grabbing his face, she pulls him in and kisses him. Gently patting his cheek, she hops off the bed.}

Dianne: "Meet you down there."

Armin smiled softly after her as she left, then stood up and shooed Esme out of the room. He got changed, then wandered downstairs. Rex, who had received the news of Ivy's attack like everyone else, wasn't around right now.

{Dianne appeared shortly after, in a blue dress. Walking into the kitchen, she starts cooking.}

Armin stood behind her, casually sipping from a blood bottle and watching her cook. All of a sudden, Dianne's phone rang. It turned out Frederick was calling them. Esme pricked up her ears at the sound.

{Hearing the phone, Dianne picks up the phone and puts it on speaker.}

Dianne: "Hello, Frederick, is everything alright?"

'Yes, everything's fine,' Fred replied. 'I just thought I'd give you an update on the situation, and I'd prefer to phone than use the relay. I told the king about the incident last night, where five hunters tried to kidnap Ivy and murdered her partner, Kale.'

Dianne: "Yeah, we heard about that...What did he say?"

'Well, it's complicated. We suggested to the king that he should simply ban the entire Bloodrazor clan from the city borders. However, we don't know how we would actually /enforce/ such a ban, since we can't identify who's a clan member and who isn't. Until they're actually caught attacking someone, like what happened with Ivy.'

Dianne: "Makes sense. So, what does he plan on doing about this?"

'In short, nothing is changing,' said Fred. 'The king is, essentially, leaving this conflict up to us and Lucci to resolve. He can offer soldiers from his army to guard everyone's homes, but beyond that, he doesn't know how to help. I'd advise everyone to continue staying at home as usual. We were all doing fine until Ivy slipped up.'

Dianne: "I suppose that's all any of us can do....I mean, he could help by ordering the guard to treat hunters, once identified, as extremely dangerous criminals and apprehend them."

'He plans to give that order too, but it might be hard to apprehend them. Last night, I and a patrol of guards chased the ones who attacked Ivy into an alleyway. But they created a portal and disappeared almost instantly. However, we know what they look like, so if any of those particular hunters are spotted again, we will attempt to capture or kill them on sight.'

Dianne: "That's troublesome..."

{She sighs and rubs her face.}

Dianne: "Maybe I should send Barnabas out there to eavesdrop on them and betray their location. To be honest, I have the tools to wage a war against them, but I doubt the king would appreciate me giving draugr free reign over the city...."

'No, I doubt it. Not while his citizens live here. I think he'd prefer that, if you decide to take the fight directly to the hunters, you do it outside the city. However, he might still be willing to use his army to help you in that instance.'

Dianne: "I get that....but, I'd need to know where they're coming from before I could attack them....If he could back us up, we could pretty much strong arm them out of the province."

'Yes, but he won't let you turn the city into a battlefield if he can help it. We can't endanger the lives of other people to drive the hunters out.'

{Dianne gives a long sigh at that...}

Dianne: "Then we have no choice. We have to just wait it out..."

'If the bounty is revoked and the hunters don't leave, then the king may change his mind,' said Fred. 'He doesn't want them here either, but he also doesn't want his city and people destroyed by war. In truth, I think he might resent you slightly for bringing the hunters here.'

{Dianne's face shifts to a half exasperated, half sad expression.}

Dianne: "Yeah, well, what else is new...We'll just have to play it by ear."

'I'll be going then. You'll know if anything of importance happens.' With that, Fred hung up.

{Dianne puts the phone down, rubbing her face out of stress.}

Dianne: "Jeeze....can't I stay settled for more two minutes? This is why I hate royalty, and why I'm always hiding..."

'He's probably just upset because he expected the hunters to leave us alone if he didn't honour the bounty, but they came anyway and killed one of his citizens.' Armin leaned against the kitchen doorway, looking contemplative. 'Everything will settle down in time.'

Dianne: "It'd better..."

{Dianne continues to cook, wearing a pensive expression.}

Armin tossed the half-empty blood bottle back into the cupboard and went to sit on the couch. He gazed contemplatively out of the living room window, wondering how this was all going to end. //One way or another, it's going to end with Paxton's death. Once the bounty is revoked and he doesn't have a reason to hunt us anymore, we're going to find him, and rip his damn head off.//

{With food in hand, Dianne walks over to the couch. Putting a plate down for Esme, she sits with her own food and starts eating.}

Esme started gnawing at her food, while Armin just continued to watch the view of the sky outside.

'Are there any other big hunter organisations besides the Bloodrazor clan?' he asked curiously.

Dianne: "Yeah, there are a few, but most are a bit smaller, not insane, or on other continents...Jerry would know more about it..."

'Hm. Well, at least it seems like none of the others will be a major threat to us.'

Armin lapsed into silence, staring out the window and thinking back on the last few days, as well as what might come in the next few.

{Dianne silently continues eating. She just stares off into space, contemplating what was to come.}

(So, do we skip to something)

(I'm thinking so. Any suggestions?)

(I'm not sure. Like I said before, I don't know if you have anything specific planned for the next few days.
We could have the hunters target someone else, but unlike Ivy, most of them won't leave home without good reason.)

(Hmmm...I'll set something up when I wake up later. It's off to bed for me for now.)

(Alrighty.)

(I remember what I wanted to do now. Reply inbound.)

...

{It was the middle of the day, when a man in blue robes and a garish gold necklace of bejeweled peaches entered the city. He was a wood elf Druid of sorts, and he held himself with an air of arrogance and self importance. He headed right for Pythia's temple, not even paying attention to all the guards.}

The guards surrounding Pythia's temple were a mixture of vampires and dragonshifters. As the elf approached, four of them stepped closer together to block the temple doors. 'Halt, and state your business,' said a purple-haired dragonshifter man, who was holding a shining longsword.

{The man looks at the dragon shifter as if he were a bug.}

Man: "Step aside, peon, I am Prefect Murphy, of the Order of Symponia. I must discuss urgent matters with Priestess Pythia about her...activities in the name of our Matron."

The dragonshifter mirrored the man's look, taking an immediate dislike to him. 'You'll wait for us to announce your presence.'

A young vampire guard stepped inside the temple, seeking out Pythia. '...Miss Pythia? An elf guy is outside, saying he wants to talk to you... Said his name was Prefect Murphy, or something, from the... Order of Symphonia... I dunno. He looks important.'

{Pythia looks up from examining a patient.}

Pythia: "Oh, yes, let him in. He my superior."

The vampire returned to the door, leaving it open and stepping aside. 'You can go in.'

The dragonshifter didn't look too pleased about this, but he moved aside as well.

//We'll eavesdrop,// said the vampire telepathically to the other guards. //This might be important.//

{With a smug look, Murphy saunters past the guards. He approaches Pythia and her patient.}

Pythia: "Hello, Prefect. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Murphy: "I'm afraid I do not come with good news, priestess. We must discuss matters concerning your recent actions..."

{He takes a moment to eye the patient, who was suffering from a broken arm.}

Murphy: "Privately..."

The guards remained outside the temple, but the vampires, with their superior hearing, tried to listen in on what the pair were saying, relaying it back to the dragonshifters.

Pythia: "Ok. Just let me...."

Murphy: "Now, priestess, this matter cannot wait."

(Whoops, hold on...)

{Pythia looks up startled at his sterness.}

Pythia: "O-ok..."

Patient: "W-wait, what about me? I need to get back to work ASAP."

Pythia: "I'll be back soon, sir,"

{With that, she and Murphy walk into Pythia's private quarters.}

The vampire guards began to relay news of this meeting through Frederick's telepathic system, and via them, to Frederick himself. Once Murphy and Pythia walked further away, they had a harder time eavesdropping, but tried their best to pick up the occasional word.

{With the doors closed, the two start to converse.}

Murphy: "I'll get right to the business. Have you ever, in the past, helped a woman named Dianne?"

Pythia: "What? What does she have to do with this?"

Murphy: "Answer the question, priestess!"

Pythia: "I....I....Yes, I helped her, when she came before us in need, as I am meant to do."

Murphy: "Were you aware that she was an acolyte of a dark power?"

Pythia: "Well,.....yes, but...she.."

Murphy: "Then you have betrayed our most sacred rule!"

Pythia: "I...No! There are no rules saying we can refuse those in need-"

Murphy: "I'm sorry Pythia. I hereby expel you from the order. Please pack your things and leave. I will take over your duties here."

(Pythia got canned :(. )

(Elf guy: You're fired
Pythia: D:)

The vampires outside looked mildly alarmed at this, and immediately relayed the news back to Frederick. Fred, who was sitting at home a few miles away, lifted his head with a concerned expression.

//If Pythia leaves the temple, follow her. She must be guarded, no matter where she goes. Outside, she'll be a massive target for the hunters.//

{Pythia just looks appalled, scared, and grief stricken, all at once. She wordlessly walks outside, looking on the verge of tears. Fumbling with her phone, she goes to call someone, but falters, not even knowing who she would call.}

When Pythia came outside, a few of the guards started to approach her. 'Hey, try to stay calm, OK?' said the purple-haired dragonshifter gruffly. 'Do you need anything? Or a place to stay? We're under orders to help you with anything you need.'

{Pythia nods her head, still looking like she's about to cry.}

Pythia: "I....I....I don't have anywhere to go....I need to get my things......I....I......I don't know what to do......"

The dragonshifter patted her on the back. 'Look, let's go back inside and get your belongings. We'll help you carry everything, if necessary. And we can find you somewhere to stay for the time being. You don't need to worry about that.'

Pythia: "O...ok...."

{She mournfully walks back inside. The patient looks over at everyone, looking very confused.}

Patient: "H-hey, what's going on here? Isn't she going to help me?"

Murphy: "No, she's not a part of our order anymore. I will be the one to help you."

{Going back into her chambers, she looks at all of her books and furniture, coming to a realization.}

Pythia: "I....I need boxes to pack..."

The dragonshifter gave Murphy a dark look as he walked past, following Pythia to her chambers.

'Boxes? Not a problem. We can bring a van over too, to carry everything. Give me a minute.'

He signalled to a vampire who had been lingering nearby.

'Contact the relay - tell them we need a transport vehicle and as many cardboard boxes as possible outside the temple, quickly.'

As the vampire called the telepathic relay, the dragonshifter turned back to Pythia. 'Are you going to be OK? I guess this is quite a shock, even if I don't entirely understand what's going on...'

{Pythia just shakes her head.}

Pythia: "No. No, I'm not going to be ok....This was all I had, and now-"

Murphy: "Could you have your existential crisis a bit more quietly? I don't like hearing weepy sob stories. Quite unbecoming of you, my dear."

The dragonshifter's face twitched. 'Excuse me.' He then stuck his head out of the room and looked towards Murphy. 'Hey, could you be an asshole a bit more quietly? I don't like listening to arrogant snobs in girly robes while I'm trying to talk to people.'

Meanwhile, two members of Fred's telepathic relay banded together and began to drive over to the temple with a small van.

{At that, Murphy just makes an unamused expression.}

Murphy: "Really, my appearance? Now you're just being childish..."

'Hey, I'll insult people however I like.' The dragonshifter then ducked back into Pythia's room, eyeing it up and down. 'You have quite the impressive book collection,' he said, trying to take her mind off the proceedings.

{Pythia looks up, wiping her eyes.}

Pythia: "Y-yes, thank you. I've collected them over the years....They're mostly medical books....."

'Medical stuff, huh? That sounds useful. You know, you can still help people, even if you're not a part of this... Order thing. You obviously have a lot of medical knowledge.'

Pythia: "Yeah....I know.....I.....I just.....I need time to think...."

(Going back on DS and posting new room)

(Ok)