'I don' wanna ge'up...' Armin mumbled, his voice muffled in her shoulder. 'It's comfortable. This would be much more convenient if you were a vampire and didn't need to eat...'

{Dianne just laughs, gently prodding his side.}

Dianne: "Oh, come now, darling, would you rather have waited for Rex to come drag you out of bed?"

'No. He would let me sleep.' Armin wrapped his arms around her snugly, despite knowing he wasn't strong enough to keep her in the bed. 'Because he's a much nicer and more understanding person than you are,' he said jokingly.

Dianne: "Is that so? Sounds to me like he spoils you rotten."

{She says amused.}

Dianne: It would be simpler if I was a vampire, but I'm not. So, I'm going to go eat, and you're coming with me."

{With that, she gets up, hefting him off the bed with her.}

Armin groaned in protest, not liking the sudden wash of cool air as he was pulled off the bed. He let go of her and stood up on his own, rubbing his eyes.

'Oh, just you wait. Once winter comes and it's freezing cold in the mornings, I'm going to be the one fighting to get /you/ up.'

{Dianne smile mischieviously as she gets her clothes.}

Dianne: "Right you are, and it won't be so simple as picking me up, either."

'Eh, I'll find a way somehow...' Scratching his jaw, still half-asleep, he dug out some clothes. 'I'm gonna go shower. You can go ahead and get breakfast.'

Dianne: "Alright. I'll see you down there."

{She proceeds to get dressed in the bedroom, then heads downstairs to make breakfast.}

In the kitchen, Esme was snuffling around curiously, watched warily by Frederick. Fred was standing upright, hands wrapped around a mug of tea. There was only a trace of unsteadiness in his movements.

{Seeing Frederick, Dianne smiles as she gathers what she needs to cook.}

Dianne: "Good morning, Frederick."

'Good morning,' said Fred, taking a sip of his tea and watching her. 'I take it you're bringing those cures over to Pythia today?'

Dianne: "Yes. Will you be joining us for the ride home?"

'I believe so. But if it looks too crowded with people over there, I'm taking a car to one of my associates' houses. I've had quite enough of that.'

Esme jumped onto the counter to watch Dianne cook.

Dianne: "Alright. I'm sure Pythia will relocate soon enough."

{Smiling at Esme, Dianne starts to cook the eggs.}

Fred eyed Esme with slight concern. //They let the dragon climb on the work counters? Doesn't seem very hygienic...// He pushed the thought away, content to just stand there and finish his tea while observing her work.

Oblivious to Fred's concern, Dianne finished cooking and took her and Esme's food into the living room.}

Dianne: "Here, Esme. Breakfast."

(G o t o s l e e p)

Esme started devouring her food as soon as it was placed down. Shortly after they sat down to eat, Rex wandered past, heading to the kitchen to get some coffee. He looked like he hadn't slept well.

{Glancing over, Dianne sees Rex's rough state.}

Dianne: "Rex? You ok?"

'Fine,' Rex grunted as he headed into the kitchen. 'Just the usual crap.' He started to make himself coffee. Esme hadn't even glanced up from her food when he'd walked past.

{Giving a worried look, she looks around to see if Armin was downstairs yet.}

Dianne: //Where's Armin? He's usually pretty good about making Rex feel better...//

The sound of the shower running had switched off. A minute later, Armin came downstairs into the living room, with a fresh shirt and jeans, and damp hair. He glanced around, catching the scent of eggs, tea, and coffee.

'OK, I guess we'll go to Fred's place once you two are done eating...'

Dianne: "Yes, but, before we go, you might want to talk to Rex. He looks like he had a rough night."

Armin rubbed the back of his head. 'Yeeaah...' His expression concerned, he went into the kitchen to see Rex. As he did so, Fred walked out, presumably to give them some privacy.

'Well, then... I'm going to get ready to leave. Were you planning on taking Esme with us? I think she should come. I'm sure she would appreciate the trip.'

Dianne: "Of course I am. I'm not just going to leave her here."

{She then looks towards the kitchen, seeing if she can hear Armin and Rex talking.}

Fred moved off to get ready. From the kitchen, snippets of Rex and Armin's conversation were audible, though they were talking very quietly, almost whispering.

'...Would help if you weren't keeping a massive stash of alcohol in the basement. I know it's down there, and I have to resist the urge...'

'Well, where else am I supposed to put it? Come on, I know your self-control has gotten better than that. Or you'd have broken in more than once already.'

'Believe me, I nearly have. Just last night, I nearly went down there... It was too damn tempting...'

'Rex--'

'Can anything else stop the /nightmares,/ Ar? Anything? Nothing can, nothing ever has, I just have to drown it.'

{Frowning at what she was hearing, Dianne finishes her meal, but decides to wait for them to finish before clearing the plates.}

'It's better than it used to be. I mean, when you're not being forced to slaughter people three times a week...'

'It's not all about that. Your life prior to Sargon's genocide squad was rather pleasant. Mine sucked from the beginning. I've got considerably more nightmare fuel than you do.'

Armin said something too quiet to hear, and Rex grunted.

'You being here helps. Having distractions helps. But it'll never go away entirely.'

'If I could make it happen, I would. Just... be careful, OK? Stay away from the basement. Come see me if you need to talk. I'll always be there. Always. And whatever you think, I believe it'll get better eventually, just like things got better for me.'

There was a rustle of clothing that sounded like Armin hugging Rex, and the conversation seemed to subside.

{Before getting up, Dianne whispers to Barnabas.}

Dianne: "Barnabas. Tell the guardians in the basement to prevent Rex from ever getting any ale, unauthorized. Tell them that they must prevent this, but they cannot hurt him. Understand?"

{With that, she gathers the plates and heads into the kitchen.}

When Dianne walked in, Rex quickly shifted away from Armin, trying to look nonchalant. He obviously hoped she hadn't heard anything. He turned away to throw the dregs of his coffee down the sink, while Armin just gazed at him, still looking concerned.

{Despite what she heard, Dianne just smiled and put her plates down.}

Dianne: "Everything ok in here?"

Armin blinked, shifting his gaze away from Rex and also trying to look nonchalant. 'Yeah, I think so. So, shall we grab Pythia's cures and get going?'

Rex started to leave the kitchen, not saying any more.

Dianne: "Yeah. I put them in a bag, in that cupboard. Grab them while I get Esme and meet us outside."

Armin glanced after Rex, then went to the cupboard and retrieved the bag. He then went outside to the truck, finding Fred waiting beside it. Once he unlocked the truck, Fred swiftly climbed in and made his way to the back, where he'd be further away from everyone.

{Dianne proceeds to scoop up esme and head outside. Sitting in the passenger's seat, she waits for Armin to get going.}

Armin started them off on their way, his expression preoccupied.

'...You've got people guarding that basement, right?' he said in a low voice.

{Dianne's expression switches to concern.}

Dianne: "Why do you ask? Do you think he'll go for the booze?"

Armin shot her a glance. 'Isn't it obvious he might? He knows he shouldn't, but I know what he might do in an impulsive moment.'

{Dianne closes her eyes and sighs.}

Dianne: "I already ordered the guardians to prevent unauthorized use of the ales. If he tries, they will stop him. And before you ask, they won't hurt him in the process."

Armin continued driving without saying anything else. //This is normal. When has it ever not been?// He had long since gotten used to Rex's issues, but that didn't make them any more fun to deal with. He hoped that if he could just keep Rex busy, keep him out of the alcohol, and try to make sure he was content, then the nightmares would eventually ease, just like his and Dianne's had.

{Dianne said nothing as well, simply waiting to arrive at Fred's house, occasionally glancing at Armin with concern.}

When they got there, Ryder was outside, guarding the house as usual. Armin got out of the car and began to walk over, followed more slowly by Fred, who was looking to see how busy it was.

{Outside the house were two lines. One had the usual patients with minor ailments and injuries, and the other had only Rat Boil afflicted. Dianne walks past both, straight inside, where Pythia was treating a man with burns.}

Pythia: "Oh, you're finally here. Did you bring those cures with you?"

Armin followed Dianne inside, glancing curiously at the various patients along the way. 'Yeah, I've got them here,' he said, holding up the bag he'd retrieved from the cupboard back home. 'I have no idea if it's enough...'

Fred hung back with the truck, refusing to go anywhere near his house. 'I'll need to have the place deep-cleaned before I move back in...' he muttered with disgust. Ryder grinned.

'Yeah, it's not very pretty.'

{Pythia takes the bag from Armin, looking into it.}

Pythia: "Hmmm...This should do for today, but I may need more..."

Dianne: "No problem. I'll make as many as are needed."

{As they spoke inside, a woman in a blue dress was approaching from the outside. She wore a gilded headdress and had bejeweled necklaces and bracelets. She was barefoot, but wherever she walked, the grass sprang up in vibrant health.}

'Yeah, we'll make more,' Armin assured her. 'It wasn't really any trouble.' //Except for making our house smell like death...//

Fred glanced over at the approaching stranger, narrowing his eyes critically. He did not talk to her, but instead told Ryder to halt her at the entrance. The dragon shifted slightly to block the door with his wing.

'Hold on a second, please. I need to know your name and business,' he said.

{The woman simply looked Ryder over condescendingly.}

Woman: "I am Tabitha, Grand Seer of the Order of Symponia. Kindly move aside. I must speak with Pythia."

{Unaware of the visitor, Dianne looks around, then down at Esme.}

Dianne: "I don't want Esme near the rat boils. I'm going to put her in your quarters, then I have something to ask."

Pythia: "Alright, that should be fine."

Armin leaned against the wall, leaving Dianne to take Esme away. He didn't seem overly concerned about germs or infected people, unlike Fred.

'Grand Seer, huh? I thought you might be someone high-up.' Ryder considered for a moment, then pulled open the front door and shouted inside. 'Hey, Pythia, the Grand Seer of the Order of whoever-their-name-is wants to talk to you. Are you busy?'

{Pythia just looks dumbfounded.}

Pythia: "Th-the....Grand Seer?....Uuhhhh.....L-let them in, please...."

Ryder backed off from the door to allow her to go in. 'Don't cause any trouble, OK?'

Once the Grand Seer entered, Fred shifted into his dove form and flew off to perched outside a window, to try and eavesdrop on whatever happened.

{Without another word, Tabitha walks inside. Looking around, she gives a displeased look at her surroundings.}

Tabitha: "Whoever decorated in here has no taste...Pythia."

Pythia: "Y-yes? Why are you here?"

Tabitha: "I have come with news regarding your excommunication. The Order may have been a bit....brash...We discovered that Prefect Murphy had been bribed by the Bloodrazor Clan to excommunicate you, in order to make you an easier target...As a result, he forewent protocol and did not consult the counsel...Therefore, your excommunication was...invalid."

Armin eyed Tabitha up and down as she spoke. //Geez, she kinda went overboard on the bejewelled decorations.//

'Wait, so the Bloodrazors bribed that Murphy guy to fire Pythia? Wow, really good, honest, and professional people you've got there...'

{Tabitha looks at Armin, annoyed.}

Pythia: "What? So....what does this mean?"

Tabitha: "It means you can rejoin the order. Take back your place as caretaker of this city."

{Pythia just stands there, unsure of what to say.}

Armin folded his arms, looking torn between amused and unimpressed.

'I mean, I'm not going to tell you what you should or shouldn't do... but look at these people. You're better than them. You don't need them. They can go screw themselves as far as I'm concerned.'

{While Pythia was struggling with what to think, Dianne steps in from the other room.}

Dianne: "Armin's right, I'm afraid. Their order did nothing but hold you back. You couldn't even defend ypourself from Crowley, and if they had their way, you would have been barred from helping me at any point, and I would likely be dead."

Tabitha: "Hold your tongues, insolent whelps! You don't understand the scope of our mission, to help all peoples!"

Dianne: "Right, all peoples except me. A necromancer. An acolyte of death. Because it doesn't matter to you how I got here, or what suffering drove me to this decision, just that my existence offends your delicate sensibilities."

'Yeah, if you actually cared about helping everyone, you wouldn't discriminate against people you personally don't like,' said Armin, raising his eyebrows. 'And the fact that you wouldn't let Pythia use self-defence against hooligans like Crowley is just... weird.'

{Tabitha just looks angered by everyone criticizing her order.}

Tabitha: "Pythia, the decision is ultimately yours. Don't let these nay-sayers sway your mind. You can help people again, with our full support and blessing.}

Armin just remained against the wall, arms folded, waiting for Pythia to say something. He wouldn't tell her what to do, but his opinion was clear.

{After remaining quiet for a bit, Pythia speaks up.}

Pythia: "My answer is no."

Tabitha: "What?!"

Pythia: "They're right. If I rejoin the order, I'll never be able to stand up for myself. I relied on you people for everything, to feed me, to house me, to keep me safe. How can I grow and better myself if everything is decided for me? Besides, there's still that rule that prevents me from being friends with Dianne because of a decision she made eons ago. One she can't undo. If I rejoin you, you'll just force me to abandon her, or be excommunicated again."

Tabitha: "But, /she's/ evil! She's not called Blightmother for nothing!"

Dianne: "Hey, I'm right here!"

Armin watched the exchange quietly. He was honestly surprised that Pythia would stand up for herself and say no. Deep down, he'd fully expected her to jump at the chance to return to the order and have money and stability again.

'She's not evil. You people need to relax and stop judging so quickly.'

Tabitha: "Look, the order needs you. You're one of the best healers we have, and Murphy made a huge blunder in excommunicating you. You can't just abandon this city!"

Pythia: "I'm not abandoning anyone! I'm still helping those who need it, just not with your rules. And Dianne's not evil. She just needs a /lot/ of therapy, and friends to support her. She's different from the stories you've read. If she's as evil as you say, why would she help Sovereign City when Sargon and attacked? Why would she defend me from Crowley? Why would she have made all these rat boil cures for me, for free?"

'Also, Pythia helped plenty of people who did bad things while in your order. She helped Crowley, and he's straight-up a psycho murderer. Did anyone threaten to fire Pythia over that? No, because you help /everyone.'/ Armin raised his eyebrows, looking almost amused. 'Oh, except people who don't fit into your narrow-minded views.'

{Tabitha scowls at all of this. Raising her hand at Dianne, she casts a narrow focus light spell, causing Dianne to scream and scramble backwards against the the wall.}

Pythia: "What are you doing?!"

Tabitha: "You see this spell? Against anything else, it would be useless. She has this reaction because she is something dark. /That/ is why we should shun her."

Armin reflexively reached for his sword, before realising he didn't have it on him. He stepped in between Dianne and Tabitha, snarling at the Grand Seer and shoving her backwards.

'What, darkness automatically makes someone bad? That shows how narrow-minded you are. Get out of here before I make you.'

{Tabitha gasped when Armin shoved her, as she wasn't expecting that.}

Tabitha: "Of course it does, have you all gone mad!?"

Pythia: "I think you should leave."

{Dianne, in the other hand, didn't seem fit to voice her opinion, slumped against the wall with a grimace.}

Armin threw Dianne a brief glance, then turned back to Tabitha. 'Out,' he said, simply and firmly. Behind Tabitha, Ryder had entered the house, wearing a stern expression as he prepared to drag her out if necessary.

{Tabitha looks around at all the scowling faces, then sighs.}

Tabitha: "Alright, I'll leave. Pythia, my offer still stands. You know where to find me."
{Without another word, she walks out. Pythia then immediately goes to Dianne.}

Pythia: "Dianne? Are you ok?"

Dianne: "...Yeah....I think so....but, that hurt like hell..."

Ryder followed Tabitha out to make sure she didn't try anything, and to resume his guard post outside afterwards.

Armin quickly went over to Dianne, bending slightly and checking to make sure her eyes hadn't turned green. 'Well, Pythia, your former boss is a pyscho. That was one hell of an unprovoked attack.'

Pythia: "I would apologize, but I'm not associated with her anymore..."

{Dianne opens her eyes. They have not changed color.}

Dianne: "...Yeah...Armin, sweetheart, help me up?"

'You don't need to apologise,' said Armin shortly. 'I'm proud of you for splitting off from them.'

He wrapped an arm around Dianne and pulled her upright, keeping his arm there to steady her. He looked concerned, but his demeanour relaxed somewhat on seeing her eyes hadn't changed colour.

{She stood up, wobbling slightly, but able to stand on her own.}

Dianne: "Yeah, Pythia, you did good..."

'Yeah, it's great... Now that we've delivered those cures, shall we head on home?' said Armin. 'I mean, Pythia's got several dozen patients waiting outside to be dealt with, anyway.'

Dianne: "Yeah, let's...I think I need to lie down for a bit..."

{Holding her head slightly, she walks to Pythia's quarters to retrieve Esme}

Pythia: "Yes, I should help them..."

Esme came trotting out of Pythia's room as soon as the door was opened, jumping easily onto Dianne's shoulder.

'OK, let's get going. Pythia, call us again if you need anything, alright? Though, preferably not today,' said Armin. Keeping close to Dianne and Esme, he turned towards the exit.

Pythia: "Of course. Have a safe trip home, you two."

Dianne: "Goodbye Pythia. I'll have the next batch for you in a few days..."

{With that, she walks out to the car.}

As they left, Ryder was once again guarding the outside in dragon form. Fred was climbing into a car driven by one of his other associates; he nodded at Armin and Dianne before he left.

Once they were inside the truck, Armin spoke. 'Well, that was... interesting...'

{Dianne rubs her face in an agitated manner.}

Dianne: "Yeah, if you call getting flashed in the face, interesting....What a crazy b!tch...."

Armin shrugged as he pulled them out onto the main road. 'Seems like that whole order is crazy. Glad we don't have anything to do with them anymore.' He gave Dianne a side glance. 'How're you feeling? Gonna be alright?'

Dianne: "I'll be fine...Just a little light headed....A short nap and I'll be right as rain....."

{She was blinking kind of hard, sunken into her seat. Despite not having been exposed too long, she seemed lethargic.}

Armin continued to eye her sideways for a second, then looked back at the road. 'Well, at least your eyes aren't green...' he muttered. //If that had been any worse, I might've just punched the Grand Seer of Symponia's Order in the face.//

When they arrived at their house, he parked and swiftly climbed out, walking around to the passenger side and opening Dianne's door for her.

{Dianne gets out of the car and walks into the house, heaving Esme onto her shoulder.}

Dianne: "Thanks, sweetie. Rex, we're home!"

As they walked in, the sound of a slow, mournful guitar tune cut off. Rex then came stumbling out of his room before enveloping Armin in a forceful embrace and nuzzling into his shoulder.

'You were gone ages. I was about to call.'

Armin grimaced. 'Sorry. Had a less-than-pleasant encounter with Pythia's old boss. I wasn't trying to worry you.'

Dianne: "Yeah, but we're ok...mostly...If you'll excuse me, I'm going to lie down for a little bit..."

{With a wave, she starts to climb the stairs.}

Esme jumped off Dianne's shoulder as she went up to the bedroom, having no interest in sleeping. Armin watched Dianne leave, then gently extracted himself from Rex's death grip.

'C'mon, let's all go and play some videogames while she's resting. I want to see if Esme's old enough to play yet,' he said, wanting to keep them both occupied.

{Dianne climbed the stairs, changed into her sleepwear, and flopped face down on the bed.}

Dianne: "...should have asked for a back rub...."

(Should we skip?)

(Yeah, should we skip to evening?
And who starts?)

(I'll start, get Dianne out of bed.)

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

{Later that evening, Dianne came down the stairs, still in her sleepwear.}

Dianne: "I'm hungry now...Armin?"

Armin, Rex and Esme had been doing various things to keep themselves entertained all afternoon, from playing videogames to blasting music. However, when Dianne came down, things had quieted down again with Rex having returned to his room.

Armin was lounging on the couch, watching a movie with Esme. He looked up. 'Oh, welcome to the land of the living,' he said with amusement. 'You want dinner now?'

Dianne: ".....Yeah.....I don't feel like cooking though..."

{She said, yawning widely and rubbing her eyes.}

'That's fine, I'll ask Rex to make something. He doesn't mind cooking, and it'll give him something to do.'

Armin sent a telepathic message to Rex, then eyed Dianne and nodded at the seat beside him. 'Come sit down, if you want.'

Dianne: "Yeah..."

{Sitting on the couch next to him, she sinks into her seat.}

Dianne: "...I heard music earlier...Have fun down here?"

'Oh, yeah. Sorry if it was too loud,' said Armin. 'I was bored and thought I'd play through some CDs.'

As he spoke, Rex ambled past, into the kitchen, to see what food they had.

Dianne: "It's fine. I didn't mind too much. Sorry I kind of slept the day away, but I really wasn't feeling well after that light attack. I'm feeling considerably better now that I did sleep."

'Eh, I'm just glad it wasn't worse. That psycho could've had you incapacitated for a week if she'd wanted to.'

Dianne: "I know, and that troubles me... I hope she doesn't stay in the city...The last thing I need is her flying off the handle, trying to kill me."

'Then I'll do to her what I did to Alicia,' said Armin darkly. 'I don't care if she's the Grand Seer of some ridiculous order.'

(Posting new room)