Armin yelped with surprise, but didn't struggle. He looked up at her, head tilted slightly as he grinned toothily.

//Well, I guess I'm the prey now,// he said jokingly.

Dianne: "Yes, it certainly seems that way."

{Chuckling a little, she lets him go.}

Dianne: "Come on, let's go back to the truck. I want to take Esme outside for a bit before we leave."

//Alright.// Armin set off at a fast lope towards the edge of the forest, opting to run rather than fly.

{Dianne takes to the skies and heads back to the truck. Landing outside of it, she orders Barnabas to let Esme outside.}

Once released, Esme bounded outside without any fear or hesitation, sniffing the forest floor. She then walked up to Dianne and chirped in greeting, flapping her wings.

{Dianne lowers her head and nuzzles Esme.}

Dianne: "Hey, sweetie. Let's go for a walk."

Esme cocked her head, seeming puzzled. She had not been allowed to walk outside in a long time. Then Armin bounded off through the trees, and she slowly followed him, keeping close to Dianne and sniffing at everything along the way.

{Dianne leisurely walked along with Esme, keeping a careful eye on both her and her surroundings.}

Dianne: "Hmm...This is a nice forest...kinda different from the ones we camped in."

Esme quietly looked up at Dianne, not saying anything, but absorbing every word. Suddenly, she gave an excited squeak and grabbed a small rock off the ground. It was grey, smooth, and shiny, but otherwise very ordinary. However, Esme seemed very pleased with her find.

Dianne: "What do you have there, Esme? A shiny grey rock? It's pretty."

Esme chirped, in a slightly muffled tone, still holding her new rock. She then resumed walking alongside Dianne, exploring the forest. Rex was flying a short way behind them, while Armin seemed to have disappeared again.

(I'm gonna have them attacked by angry farmers. XD)

(Oh noooo XD)

Dianne: "Now, where did Armin go? Armin?"

It wasn't visible from Dianne's position, but there was a ranch or farm near the edge of the forest. Suddenly, a gunshot ran out, causing several birds to erupt out of the trees in a panic. The shot was accompanied by a surprised dog yelp.

'Damn wolves! Always after my chickens! Take one more, I dare ya!' an angry male voice shouted.

{Dianne tenses when she hears the shot.}

Dianne: "Armin?! Barnabas, stay withg Esme!"
{Shifting back to human form, she runs through the trees toward the sounds.}

Esme pressed her ears back, whining and attempting to follow Dianne, unknowing of any danger.

When Dianne got within sight of the farm, she would see a middle-aged man with a shotgun standing there, looking around suspiciously. There was no sign of Armin.

'Damn wolf... where'd it go...' the farmer was muttering. He sounded like he'd had a few drinks.

{Dianne's eyes narrowed when she saw the farmer.}

Dianne: \\If he hurt Armin, I'm going to fold him in half...//

Dianne: "Hey! That wasn't a wolf you were shooting at! Stand down!"

{She calls out to the farmer, approaching him.}

{Barnabas scoops up Esme, preventing her from following.}

Barnabas: "No, sweetie, it's dangerous."

The farmer turned to Dianne, holding his shotgun threateningly.

''Course it was a wolf! There's always wolves in these parts, stealing my livestock! Mind yer own business, woman!'

Esme growled frustratedly, opening her jaws to emit a short flame. However, she couldn't do anything except watch Dianne run off.

{Dianne glares at the man, putting her hands up in a cautious gesture.}

Dianne: "Maybe before, but today, I'm pretty sure you just shot at a shifter. Armin? Are you out there?"

'A shifter? What, like a non-human? They're just as bad as wolves! Pretty damn sure I've had animals taken by passing dragons,' the farmer spat angrily.

In response to Dianne's words, something rustled in the undergrowth. Armin emerged in wolf form, hackles raised. There was a stain of blood visible on his side, but it didn't look serious. He inched closer to Dianne, afraid that the farmer might shoot her.

{Dianne eyed Armin with concern, before turning back to the farmer.}

Dianne: "Armin, can you shift back? Sir, this is just a misunderstanding. How about you put the gun down, and we'll just be on our way."

Armin shifted back to human form, wincing as the transformation aggravated his wound. The farmer watched him darkly, then turned back to Dianne.

'I don't want non-humans near my ranch! We were living happily among ourselves, safe from you monsters, till the king started letting you in,' he growled resentfully, waving his gun around.

Dianne: "Regardless of how you see things, let's just remain calm and not make this situation any worse than it already is. My friend and I are leaving now, ok?"

{Grabbing Armin by the sleeve, she starts to slowly back away with him, eyes fixed on the rancher.}

The farmer looked at his gun, then squinted at them as they backed up. Armin put himself between Dianne and the farmer, not trusting him not to try and shoot her.

The man certainly seemed to be considering it, but he was hesitating - mostly because he thought he'd get into trouble with the law.

{Still backing away, Dianne mutters in Armin's ear.}

Dianne: "Armin, let's not bunch up here...if he shoots, I can avoid the shot with my magic, you can't..."

'You sure about that? I've never seen you avoid a bullet before. And it'd be less likely to kill me than you,' said Armin stubbornly.

The farmer clearly wanted them to go away. He fired a warning shot that passed a few feet to the left of them.

{Dianne tensed at the warning shot, backing up quicker and dragging Armin with her.}

Dianne: "This guy doesn't have a light weapon, so I can actually use magic now..."

'OK, we're leaving, you trigger-happy drunkard!' Armin shouted mockingly at the farmer. He continued to retreat backwards with Dianne. 'Think we should just turn around and run?' he muttered.

Dianne: "Yeah, let's go."

{Turning, she begins to run through the woods, back towards Esme and Barnabas.}

The farmer fired another warning shot as they left, which passed less than a foot away from Dianne. Armin ran after her; despite her insistence that she could evade the shots, he continued to guard her back as they went. The farmer seemingly did not pursue them.

{Dianne gives an annoyed look at the passing shot.}

Dianne: "Oh, I'm /so/ going to curse that guy and his land..."

{Getting back to Esme, she takes her from Barnabas and keeps briskly walking for the truck.}

Once the truck was in sight, Armin climbed into the driver's seat. 'Well, that was interesting...' he said mildly, seeming unfazed in the aftermath of the experience. Esme nudged at Dianne's face, pleased to see them both again.

{Smiling briefly at Esme, Dianne then turns to Armin.}

Dianne: "Wait, before we go, come here. Are you alright? Do you need to see Pythia?"

Armin took his jacket off and pulled up his shirt, to reveal a shallow slice across his left ribs where the bullet had passed him.

'Glancing blow. It's OK,' he said. 'Pythia's too busy for me to bother her over something this small. It'll heal fast enough.'

Dianne: "Alright, if you're sure...Let's just go."

{Buckling in, she starts to pet Esme absently, a tense expression on her face.}

Dianne: "...I should have ripped out his spine...."

'Well, I would have liked to punch him,' said Armin, starting the engine and slowly pulling away from the woods. 'But it's probably best to just walk away from people like that, not make things worse...'

Dianne: "Well, it's not over. As soon as we get home, I'm cursing him with a vile enchantment..."

{Sighing, she pulls Esme closer.}

Dianne: "On the bright side, I didn't immediately murder him...So, that's an improvement..."

Armin seemed to accept her words about cursing the man with a resigned expression. 'So, are you still alright with us stopping by the guitar shop on our way back?' he asked. Rex, who had been very quiet, ruffled his feathers and peered at Armin in a puzzled manner.

Dianne: "Of course. But, will that be before or after the phone shop? I still need to replace my broken one."

'Depends what's closer...' said Armin, entering the city. 'I think the phone place is closer if we go this way.'

After a bit of navigating through the busy traffic, he stopped in the parking lot outside an electronics store. 'You going in on your own, or shall I come?' he asked.

Dianne: "Whatever you prefer. Getting a new phone is a pretty boring process."
{Getting out of the truck, she heads for the store.}

'I'll wait here. Just don't die.' This should have been said in a joking tone, but Dianne got into trouble so often, that Armin made it sound serious.

Once she left, he turned the truck radio on and leaned back, listening to a rock station.

//So, what's this about guitars?// Rex asked. //I keep hearing you two mumbling about getting one.//

'Yeah, for you,' said Armin. 'I wanted to give you something to do, and it's been a while since you played... And Dianne offered to pay for it.'

{Rolling her eyes, she heads into the store. Walking to the phone department, she looks for a similar model to what she had before.}

(I might just skip to her coming back, getting a phone is boring irl, let alone in an RP.)

(Yes it is. :')
Go ahead and skip.)

------------

{After an unreasonably long time, Dianne walks back to the truck. Getting in, she starts to buckle in.}

Dianne: "Well, that was drab...at least I got my new phone."

Armin was leaning far back in his seat, staring out the windshield and looking very bored. Esme was dozing, and Rex was just sitting quietly. When Dianne came in, Armin pulled himself up straighter.

'Why the hell did it take that long?' he grumbled.

Dianne: "Oh, you know, 15 people ahead of me, they had to transfer stuff from my old phone, a twenty minute infomercial about some useless phone thing, usual boring cr.ap. Anyway, let's get on with it."

Looking exasperated, Armin drove back out into the city. 'Honestly, sometimes I miss life 100 years ago when we didn't have to deal with things like this,' he grumbled, heading off towards the music store.

Dianne: "It was a simpler time,,,"

{Reaching back, she grabs the lunch she packed for Esme and opens it.}

Dianne: "Esme, you hungry?"

Esme pricked up her ears and moved closer, trying to see what Dianne had packed. They weren't far from the music store, but a traffic jam filled the road leading there, forcing Armin to wait.

{Dianne had packed an assortment of fruit and some of last night's dinner.}

Dianne: "Here, have a pear."

Esme happily accepted everything she was offered. While she ate, Armin reached the music shop and managed to park outside.

'OK, let's go. We're all going this time, since you agreed to pay,' said Armin with a quick grin.

Dianne: "Yes, I know."

{She says, chuckling. With Esme in hand, she steps out of the truck and heads towards the music store.}

Inside, the music store was relatively quiet. Only a few customers were milling about. In different sections of the shop, there were guitars, keyboards, brass and woodwind instruments, drum sets, microphones, and various sorts of recording equipment.

Armin nudged Rex, who started slowly walking for the guitar section, looking slightly awestruck. Esme stayed put in Dianne's grasp, gazing around attentively.

{Dianne looked around curiously at all the musical equipment. It had been a long time since she took any interest in music, and didn't recognize most of the equipment. Looking to the guitar section, she follows the group.}

Dianne: "So, Rex...Are you an electric or acoustic kind of guy?"

'Oh, acoustic,' Rex replied, gazing up at all the guitars displayed on the wall. 'I played electric when Armin and I were in a terrible band. But I much prefer the acoustic sound.'

Dianne: "Ok. Well, take your time and pick one you like."

Rex said nothing, already engrossed in looking over the choice of guitars. Armin just gazed around with vague interest.

'You don't play any instruments, do you?' he said.

{Dianne was distracted by looking at all the guitars, replying slightly surprised.}

Dianne: "Who, me? Naw, I never learned an instrument. Used to sing, but...well, you know the story behind all that..."

'Mhmm...' Armin simply gave a thoughtful hum in response, gazing contemplatively at Rex and the guitars. //Wonder if Lucci was right, that she could ever start singing again... Seems kinda hard to believe. But it would be nice to hear it again someday.//

{Sitting down with Esme, Dianne waits in the guitar section. Reaching up, she plucks the strings on one of the instruments.}

Dianne: "Hmm....Pretty..."

Esme pricked up her ears with an odd expression, staring at the instrument. As she did so, Rex came over, carrying another guitar.

'Found one. I think.'

Armin eyed it. 'Huh, looks quite similar to the one you used to have. OK, if you're sure, let's pay for it and get out of here.'

Dianne: "Alright, so long as you're sure..."

{Getting up, she heads for the counter to pay."}

The cashier looked the guitar over. 'You play a lot?' he asked Rex cheerily.

'I used to. Not anymore. I'm picking it up again.'

'Well, I wish you luck. That'll be... 250 squalls. Extra 20 for the guitar case.'

'I'll have that too. Thanks.'

{Dianne first passes Esme off to Armin. She then reaches into her purse and produces some rather high value bills and pays the man.}

Dianne: "Here you are. It is a nice guitar."

'It is, isn't it? Good quality range, those ones,' said the cashier. He looked like he was considering going on a spiel about guitars, but suppressed the urge. 'Alright, here's your receipt and have a nice day.'

Armin looked down at Esme as he held her. She was lightly chewing on his arm. //Aww. Cute.//

Dianne: "Thank you, you too."

{Dianne hands the guitar and case to Rex, then takes Esme from Armin and begins to walk back towards the truck.}

Rex followed them back to the truck, cradling the guitar like a baby. When they got there, he chose to stay in human form and ride in the back of the truck so he could keep hold of it.

As Armin began to drive for home, he addressed Dianne. 'So, you must be pretty short on money after buying that,' he said jokingly.

{Dianne chuckles at that.}

Dianne: "Oh, yeah. We're going to be eating paste for weeks after this splurge."

Armin grinned a little. 'Thank the gods that we probably have more money than the king himself does.'

(I was thinking about skipping to evening, unless you have something to do before then? It's probably quite late now anyway.)

(Nope. Skip away. The next day, I have to do something with Pythia tho.)

(Alrighty!)

----

Night was falling. Esme was watching a new movie, completely fascinated as usual. Rex was sitting at the dining table across the room, absently tuning his new guitar; he hadn't been heard to play any actual music yet. Armin was settled on the couch, eyes half-closed.

(I left it ambiguous whether they've had dinner or not, since I wasn't sure if Dianne /would/ have dinner, after murdering three deer earlier. XD)

(Lol, well, she probably would have made something for Esme At least.)

{Dianne was sitting comfortably next to Armin, quietly watching the movie. Every now and then, she would glance curiously at Rex.}

'So,' said Rex as he plucked at the guitar strings. 'Why did you want to pay for this for me?'

He played a single chord, frowning slightly.

{Dianne shrugs at the question.}

Dianne: "Well, Armin said it might make you happy, and that he wanted to get you one. I figured it would be a good investment."

'I suppose that's a good enough reason...' He continued to tune the guitar, occasionally pausing to play a chord or short riff. 'I appreciate the gesture.'

Armin gave a yawn, slumping down further into the couch. 'I'm guessing you thought she was trying to put you in her debt...' he said dryly.

'Well, the thought did cross my mind.'

Dianne: "Heh, no. That guitar is a gift, no strings attached. Please, enjoy it."

{Dianne then eyes Armin's slumped posture.}

Dianne: "Tired, Armin?"

'I hope it has strings attached...' muttered Rex with dry amusement.

Armin gave a tiny shrug. 'Only a little bit more than usual. Maybe because of the flying and hunting. And healing the bullet scratch.'

Dianne: "Makes sense. Would you like to go to bed now?"

'Mhm. I guess so.'

Armin stood up, glancing at Esme. She was still engrossed in the movie they'd put on. Leaving her alone, he started on his way upstairs. Rex remained in the living-room, playing with his guitar.

{Dianne looks to Esme, then to Armin.}

Dianne: "I'll stick around with Esme for a little bit. I'll be up in a bit."

Armin looked slightly puzzled. 'Oh. Alright. See you later, then...'

He then retreated up the stairs to get changed and get into bed.

{Dianne picked up Esme and sat her down on her lap to to watch the movie. Silently summoning Barnabas, she tells him to do something. He returns a few minutes later with a boulder and a knife. Taking them from Barnabas, Dianne begins to carve something into it.}

Esme glanced at Dianne curiously, but her attention was quickly taken by the movie again. Rex, however, kept one eye on Dianne as he fiddled with the guitar, watching her progress carefully. He was really only watching because she hadn't started this until Armin left, which made him irrationally suspicious about what she was doing.

{After about a half hour, she had completed an intricate circle of runes on the face of the stone. Summoning Barnabas once more, she hands him the stone and the knife and speaks to him in Ferrosian. He then disappears, taking the stone with him. Dianne then absently pets Esme, waiting for something.}

By the time Dianne had carved the runes, Rex had entirely stopped playing his guitar. He was now just watching from across the room with an openly suspicious look on his face. He said nothing, but was clearly tensed for whatever might happen next.

{After a short while, Barnabas reappeared, whispered something in her ear, then disappeared. Dianne then stands, puts Esme down so she could see the end of the film, then heads for the stairs, passing Rex on the way.}

Dianne: "I'm going to bed now, Rex. Make sure you turn off the tv when Esme comes up, won't you?"

'Now hold on just a moment,' said Rex, eyeing her mistrustfully. 'What was that all about?'

{Dianne stops, looking puzzled.}

Dianne: "Huh? What was all what about?"

Rex stood up, looking even more mistrustful, thinking she was trying to evade the question.

'Don't pretend you don't know what I'm referring to. Carving runes into a rock, sending Barnabas off with it, then he whispers something to you so nobody else can hear it. What are you up to?' he growled.

Dianne: "Oh, right, that. Yeah, that was just a little 'gift' for our little farmer friend. You don't need to worry about that. Heh, sometimes I forget that most people don't know what the carving's about. Sorry if I seemed suspicious."

{She says, laughing a little.}

Rex barely looked mollified by this explanation.

'Why were you being so secretive about it? First you address the ghoul in another language, then he whispers something to you. You obviously didn't want anyone to know what you were doing.'

{Dianne just shrugs.}

Dianne: "All the ancient curses are in Ferrosian. I didn't mean to seem wierd, it was just second nature to keep speaking in it. All I said was take this rock, put it somewhere on the farmer's property where he wouldn't find it, and complete the last rune, that's all. Barnabas whispered to me because I told him never to engage with you, and loudly saying, "I did it" might have prompted you to ask him something."

Rex eyed her for a moment longer, then sat back down with his guitar. 'Fine. You can go. I'll keep an eye on Esme.'

Dianne: "Ok...I assure you, I'm not keeping any secrets."

{With that, she heads upstairs to change.}

After she left, Rex started to softly play something on his guitar. The tune was calming, with a faintly mournful note to it.

Upstairs, Armin was lying on his front in the bed, still very awake. He was too used to sleeping with Dianne to be able to easily drift off without her there.

{After a few minutes, Dianne enters the room in her sleepwear, lying down on the bed. She wasn't sure if Armin was awake or not so she tried to be as quiet as possible.}

(posting new room)