Fred, Rex, and Ivy all wore similar expressions of veiled relief mixed with doubt.

'Well... thank you,' said Fred. 'Are you going to stay, so you can tell Armin and Dianne, or would you like me to pass on the news for you?'

Lucci: "I'll stay. They'll want to hear it from me."

{Jerry, having woken up, rubs his eyes and sits up.}

Jerry: "Hey, Lucci...Is it finally over?"

Lucci: "Yup."

'Apparently,' Fred added, giving Lucci a sideways glance. 'The bounty is revoked, but we can't be entirely certain that we're safe yet.'

In the other room, Armin had stirred slightly. Upon recognising Lucci's voice, he opened his eyes. //Did he just say 'it's over'? Does that mean...// However, he decided to stay where he was, since Dianne was still asleep and he didn't like to disturb her.

{Dianne was deeply asleep. She was too comfortable and tired.}

Lucci: "You're safe enough to go back to your individual homes now, if you wish. After everyone is properly awake, I will repair everyone's homes."

'I'm sure we'd all appreciate that,' said Fred. He was quite relieved by the thought of not having half a dozen guests anymore. 'Though, I'm not sure where Pythia is going to live.'

Armin glanced fondly at Dianne, then settled down more comfortably, listening to the conversation as best as he could.

Lucci: "We'll work something out."

Pythia: "Yeah....I don't know.....I don't have much money."

Lucci: "Well, Armin was planning to share his gold with everyone. You could use your cut of that."

Pythia: "...I don't know....I don't want to be a bother to him..."

'There is... /so/ much gold in his basement...' said Ivy drowsily. 'I've seen it... I'm pretty sure he can afford to give you some...'

'After everything you've done, I see no reason for him to consider helping you a burden,' said Fred. 'Accept the gold when he offers it, and get yourself a house. You can stay here until you have one.'

Pythia: "Thank you, Fred. You're too kind..."

Lucci: "Don't understate your contribution, Pythia. You've helped everyone so much that they'd be happy to help you back. You've been through a lot in the past week, and everyone here is ready and willing to help you. Including Rex, despite his soul crushing pessimism."

//...I suppose so. You're too useful to lose,// said Rex, not protesting Lucci's description.

Frederick went to make a cup of tea, faintly troubled. He might not have Rex-level pessimism, but he didn't believe everything was over. It just seemed too easy. 'Honestly, Pythia,' he said from the kitchen. 'I'm aware that I'm not the most reassuring person, but you don't really think I'd throw you out on the streets.'

Pythia: "I suppose so....I'm just....There's been so much uncertainty as of late....."

Lucci: "I know, dear, I know, but I promise, everything is going to be ok."

{Dianne began to stir. Perhaps it was the conversation, but she seemed to be getting restless. Her grip on Armin tightened and she started mumbling in Ferrosian.}

Ivy pulled her blankets over her head, seemingly going back to sleep. Fred remained in the kitchen, making his tea. 'You'll be repairing everyone's houses after this? How long does it take you to do that?' he asked curiously.

Armin cracked his eyes open at Dianne's growing restlessness. He didn't try to wake her, but just waited to see if she would wake up on her own.

Lucci: "Oh, a few minutes at most. Not long at all."

{Dianne continued to squirm, her muttering getting louder. She finally wakes, attempting to sit up through Armin's grip, pulling him along in the process. Breathing heavily, she scans the room.}

Dianne: "What? Where....I.....where'd they go? The Owl dragons?"

'Oh, good,' said Fred. 'It'll be nice to have everyone out of here. No offence meant, of course.'

Armin grunted slightly as he was dragged upright, and loosened his grasp on her. '...What? Hey, you were dreaming. Also, I've never heard of an Owl Dragon.' //Well, at least it wasn't about me and Sargon this time...//

(Lmao, she dreamed about an army of Euterpes.)

{Dianne continues to look around, seeming confused.}

Dianne: "Huh....that was weird....they were sassily talking back to me....and the screeching....the damn screeching....."

(Almost as bad as an army of Marcos.)

Armin just started snickering uncontrollably as he tried to visualise what she'd been dreaming about. 'Owl Dragons screeching... Well, that's... an interesting thing to dream about...'

Lucci: "Yes, you dislike close proximity with people. Understandable. "

{Squinting, she playfully shoves Armin and smirks.}

Dianne: "Hey, don't laugh at me. Sometimes I have weird dreams."

Armin's response to her shoving him was to laugh harder. 'Yes, and it's very funny watching you wake up from them.'

Stifling his laughter, he leaned forwards and kissed her cheek.

{Smiling, Dianne pulls Armin in, kisses him, and hugs him. Getting up, Lucci walks over to the bedroom, knocking on the doorframe.}

Lucci: "Hey there, lovebirds. Got a second?"

Armin turned his head to look towards the door, not looking particularly surprised that Lucci interrupted. 'Yeah. I guess. What is it?' he said, though he thought he already knew.

Lucci: "I've successfully rescinded the bounty. You're ok to walks around outside now."

Dianne: "Thank the divines. So, this is finally over?"

Lucci: "Yes. No more hunters."

Dianne: "Good, thank you, Lucci."

{Turning back to Armin, she snuggles into him, pulling him back down onto the bed.}

Dianne: "Now, leave please....it's too early to get up."

'Yeah, thanks. And please go fix our house so we can go back there later today,' said Armin, as he let himself be pulled back down, wrapping an arm around Dianne.

{Lucci just chuckles at that as he leaves the room.}

Lucci: "Ok, but don't get /too/ frisky. You are not at home here."

Dianne: "Lucci, shut up...."

{Sighing, she settles in with Armin.}

Dianne: "Sometimes I wish he'd keep his mouth shut...."

'Lucci seems to only keep his mouth shut when people are trying to get information from him.' Letting out a long breath, he leaned his head against her shoulder. 'So, the hunters can't hunt us anymore... that's nice. Still disappointed that we never got our revenge on Paxton, though.'

When Lucci walked back out, Fred was in the living room, drinking a cup of tea. 'So, are you leaving now?'

Dianne: "Yup. He's extremely annoying like that.....but at least he's helpful at times...And I wouldn't worry about that....dead is dead....doesn't matter that Pugna killed him..."

Lucci: "Yes. I'm going to repair the properties now.

'I guess... at least I got to hit him.' Armin paused momentarily, then changed the subject. 'So, how're you feeling today? You seem like you're doing better.'

Fred nodded. 'Alright. I'd better tell the telepathic relay that they don't need to keep constant watch for hunters anymore... give them a break...'

Dianne: "I'm feeling much better. A little dizzy, but not enough to stop me from doing normal things."
Lucci: "Of course. I'll be back later to let you know when I'm done."

'That's good,' said Armin. He briefly nuzzled at the base of her neck in an affectionate manner. 'I'm looking forward to getting home.'

'Alright. I'll expect to see you later, then,' said Frederick.

'Can you all keep your voices down?' said Ivy grumpily. 'Some of us are still trying to sleep!'

{Dianne smiles and nuzzles him back.}

Dianne: "So am I....Now that it's safe, Ivy can move out, and we can get some proper privacy."

Lucci: "Sorry, Ivy, I'll leave now."

'Yeah. It'll be back to how things were before. Just us and Rex - no Ivy lurking in the basement.' He shifted a bit to kiss her jawline before snuggling happily against her.
'Yes, please do,' Ivy muttered. //I need to get back to my place... Maybe that Ryder guy will give me a lift...//

Dianne: "Yeah....Rex is the best roomate....He's quiet, and respectful..."

{She then proceeds to settie in, closing her eyes to sleep. Lucci walks out the front door, headed for Armin's house first.}

'He is...' Armin agreed. He yawned a little, embracing her more firmly and closing his eyes.

With Lucci gone, Ivy settled back down, and Fred returned to the kitchen to drink his tea, gazing thoughtfully out the window.

(Should we skip to something?)

(Yes, but I'm unsure to what...)

(Evening maybe? I don't know when Lucci is supposed to be coming back to say he's done with the houses, but after he does, everyone can begin to travel home.)

(I'll skip to when he returns in the afternoon. Everyone should be up then. Sound good?)

(OK, go ahead.)

----

{Later that afternoon, Lucci appears at the front door once again. Pythia is napping in her bed, Jerry is sitting up, watching tv, and Dianne is sitting at a table, sipping tea.}

Lucci: "Hello again. May I come in?"

Armin was sitting back on the couch, boredly watching the TV with Jerry. Ivy was in the kitchen, and Rex was entertaining Esme by hiding small rocks around the house for her to find.

'I'll get it...' said Ivy when she heard the door knock. Hurrying over, she opened the door to admit Lucci. 'Hi.'

Lucci: "Hello there."

{Lucci walks inside, looking around at everyone.}

Lucci: "Alright, your houses are fixed. You can go back whenever you want."

Dianne: "Thank you, Lucci. Armin, whe do you want to go back?"

Armin sat up straighter. 'It's done? Well, we can go back right now, if you're ready. I'm definitely not planning to spend another night here.'

'None of your cars are here, so I can arrange people to give you all lifts back home, if you like,' offered Frederick.

Dianne: "Yes, Frederick, I'd appreciate that. Let's leave as soon as the vehicles are ready."

'Give me ten minutes, and I'll have cars and drivers ready for all of you,' said Fred.

Armin stood up, looking around. 'OK... I don't think we have any belongings to pack. Except my sword. I need to go get that.' He went off to Fred's room to retrieve the Witchslayer.

Dianne: "Yeah...I asked Barnabas to bring the pike and Shrouded Bastion...I'll get them..."

{She then walks off and retrieves them from a closet.}

Armin collected his sword, then glanced at Dianne, eyeing the pike with clear distaste.

'I still think that thing's a liability. Paxton got ahold of it for just two seconds, and nearly killed you.'

Meanwhile, Ivy and Rex were standing ready to leave. Neither had any possessions except for Ivy's phone and Rex's pistol.

Dianne: "Yeah.....I got sloppy...It won't happen again...."

{Dianne wraps her weapons in a cloth, getting them ready to go.}

After a minute or so, Fred cleared his throat. 'A car just arrived for all of you.' He nodded at Armin, Dianne, Esme and Rex. 'You're free to leave. Stay safe. I know Lucci says everything's fine now, but still... stay vigilant.'

Dianne: "Of course, Fred. We'll be careful."

{She proceeds to load her weapons into the trunk.}

Dianne: "Ready, Armin?"

Armin nodded, tossing his sword in with her weapons.

'Ah, wait a moment,' said Frederick. 'Here, Ar - I mean, Dad.' He pressed a small wooden box into Armin's hand. It was about a foot long, with a hinged lid. 'You can use anything you find in here. And whatever you don't use, feel free to keep.'

He then walked away. Armin just looked confused, but climbed into the back seat, holding the box.

{Dianne eyed the box curiously as she sat next to him.}

Dianne: "Are those....Janet's affects?"

Rex got into the front seat beside the vampire driver, while Esme climbed in between Dianne and Armin.

'...I guess so...' said Armin quietly, gazing down at the box in his lap. 'I did ask him to see if he had anything that once belonged to her. I just thought he'd forgotten. I'll look in it when we get home...'

{Dianne looks him over with slight worry. She then wraps one arm around him and kisses his forehead.}

Dianne: "It's going to be ok...."

A bit of gratitude flashed through Armin's face, and he leaned into her slightly. Saying nothing, he just gazed out of the window as they drove off, his expression miles away.

{Dianne sits there, gently caressing him and rubbing his hair, waiting to arrive at the house.}

Back at Fred's house, a second car arrived for Jerry and Ivy. 'This one will stop by Jerry's place first, then continue on to Ivy's apartment,' said Fred. 'Go and take it.'

Ivy immediately headed out the door to get in the waiting vehicle.

They pulled up outside Armin's house a short while later, and everyone started to get out of the car. Armin, still clutching his box, slowly climbed up and glanced up at the house, to make sure everything was back to normal.

*climbed out

{Jerry nods to Fred, getting ready.}

Jerry: "Thank you, Fred. I appreciate you letting me stay here."

{He then begins to walk out towards the car.}

{Armin's house looked exactly the way it was before it was destroyed, down to the last brick. Dianne gathers her things out of the car and walks for the front door.}

Ivy climbed into the waiting car, which then drove off. Fred watched the pair go, then retreated back into his house. Even though Pythia was still there, it was much quieter now, for which he was the thankful.

Armin got his sword out of the car and went inside, whistling appreciatively. 'It looks like nothing ever happened. That's nice.' He began to head upstairs to put his sword away.

{Pythia was still asleep, unaware that anyone had left. Dianne walks upstairs with Armin and deposits her weapons under the bed.}

Dianne: "So...What now?"

Armin put his sword into the closet. 'Now... I guess I'd better go see what's in this box...' he muttered, starting back downstairs and heading for the living room.

While they'd been upstairs, Rex had slipped away into his own room, while Esme was off playing somewhere.

{Dianne follows him, looking mildly worried. However, she says nothing, simply waiting to watch him open the box.}

(Will post new room in a minute, then reply)