Armin followed her, carrying his jackets and looking around the store as they went.

Ivy: <how could u know?? u dont have my supreme ability 2 deduce ppls' relationships! did he tell u??>

{Going down a few floors, Dianne finds the ladies' section and starts to peruse the coats while texting Ivy.}

Dianne: <It was obvious. I didn't need "supreme relationship deduction skills", the fact was pretty plain.>

Armin patiently explored the area while he waited for Dianne.

Ivy seemed dismayed that her revelation hadn't gotten more of a reaction. <well... arent u jealous or anythin? i thought dragons were like, super possessive.>

{Dianne looks at the text, amused.}

Dianne: <No. I care not for his past partners, as he doesn't care for mine. He's with me, and that's all that matters.>

{Dianne picks out a long black coat with a fur trim. Putting Esme down momentarily, she tries it on.}

Ivy went silent after that, seeming too disappointed to keep texting and going off to sulk instead.

Armin kept half his attention on Esme as he glanced at Dianne. 'Hey, that doesn't look too different from your old coat. The one that Paxton's goons ruined.'

Dianne: "Yeah, I know. I really liked that jacket. This time, I'm getting two."

{She then walks over to the leather jackets.}

Dianne: "Now for something to wear over my dresses..."

'Try not to destroy everything so fast this time,' said Armin with amusement. He followed her, letting Esme stay on the ground, but making sure she didn't wander off.

Dianne: "It'll only get destroyed if more psychos come after us."

{As she was fumbling to hold everything, a clerk approached her. He was a shifter dragon, with red hair and blue eyes.}

Clerk: "Oh, do you need a cart, m'am?"

Esme craned her neck to look up, and squeaked at the clerk.

'I think we might...' said Armin.

Dianne: "Yes, thank you."

{The clerk leaves, coming back momentarily with a rolling cart.}

Clerk: "Here you are. Could I be of any further assistance?"

'Actually, could you point me to where the mens' shoe section is?' said Armin, thinking of something else he needed.

Clerk: "Of course. This floor, west side."

{Dianne places her coats in the cart, looking to Armin.}

Dianne: "Looking for new shoes, are you?"

'I want something more sturdy than these old sneakers. Especially for when it gets cold and snowy...'

He put his own jackets in the cart, then headed to the west side to examine the range of shoes and boots.

Dianne: "Alright. I'll be in the dresses if you need me. Esme's here with me."

{Walking over to that section, she starts to look them over. She pulls a colorful one out of the rack. It was blue with a red floral print.}

Dianne: "Hmm...This is pretty..."

Armin didn't browse for long. Finding a pair of sturdy black boots that seemed like they'd serve his purposes, he tried them on. //Fits well enough.//

While Dianne was looking at the dresses, there was a family shopping about twenty feet away. A young boy was having a whispered argument with his father over whether or not the strange lady was really Dianne.

'I know it, dad. She was on the news.'

'Don't be silly, I'm sure that's not who it is.'

'It is, dad! Those hunter guys were after her, and she beat them! I heard all about it!'

{Dianne was unaware of the conversation, taking her selection of dresses over to the dressing rooms to try them on. She put Esme on her shoulder as she walked.}

Esme gazed around happily from her new vantage point. The conversation outside continued after she went in the dressing rooms, but she wouldn't hear it.

After selecting his boots, along with a new pair of white sneakers, Armin made his way over to wait for Dianne.

{Dianne was waiting for Armin, as she couldn't leave Esme unattended.}

Dianne: "Good, you're here. Watch Esme while I try these on?"

'Yup.'

Armin put his shoes into the cart, then grabbed Esme and put her on his shoulder.

'Go ahead.'

{Dianne then takes her dresses into the dressing room, emerging minutes later in the blue dress with the red flowers.}

Dianne: "Hmm...fits well...it's comfortable...Yes, I think I like it..."

Armin looked her over, Esme still on his shoulder.

'It looks nice. If you like it, you should get it.'

With his vampiric hearing, he'd been aware of the family's whispered discussion. However, they didn't seem alarmed or angered by the possibility that Dianne might be here, so he ignored them.

Dianne: "Yes, Ithink I will."

{Going back into the room, she emerges in a white dress adorned with birds.}

Dianne: "Hmmm...Not sure white is my color..."

'Yeah, it looks a little bit... odd on you,' said Armin. 'I think you suit darker colours better.'

Dianne: "Agreed..."

{Once more returning to the dressing room, she emerges once again in a plain black dress. It was a bit higher cut than what she normally wears, with it ending just a above the knees, but she seemed pleased with the way it looked.}

Dianne: "Hmm...this should be professional enough for when I have to talk to the king..."

'I guess so. Looks pretty good to me. You need to get anything else, while we're in here?'

Dianne: "No, I'm good. If you're done shopping, let's go pay for this and explore the city some more."

Armin led the way down to the checkouts. Their cart was laden down with coats, jackets, shoes and dresses. //Hopefully, this stuff lasts a good while...//

'Have you got any specific places you want to visit today?' he asked while the cashier scanned everything. 'Or should we just head out and explore?'

Dianne: "Let's just explore, maybe we'll find something cool or fun. You never know."

{Once they got to the checkout, Dianne began to unload their cart.}

Clerk: "Hello, find everything ok today?"

Dianne: "Yes, quite splendid."

Armin eyed everything they had. //Yep, that's going to be a hefty cost.// He wasn't too concerned, though. They weren't likely to run out of money.

{Dianne proceeds to pay for their goods. Grabbing up the bags, she heads out to the truck.}

Dianne: "When we get back to the hotel, you can pay me for your share."

'Sure, I've got plenty.'

Once everyone was in, with the bags stashed in the back, he started to head back to the hotel.

{Dianne watched the mid afternoon crowds go by as they drove along.}

Dianne: "Such happy people...So, where should we go next, after we drop this off at the hotel?"

'We'll drive up and explore some places we haven't seen yet,' said Armin. 'Last time we were here, we didn't go further than the shopping district. There might be a nice park, or a fairground, or... anything. We could look for a restaurant up there when it gets late, too.'

Dianne: "Alright. I think there's a carnival in town right now. That sounds like fun."

'We'd better go and look for it, then. I want to see how Esme reacts to a carnival. I always liked the atmosphere of those places.'

Dianne: "Sounds good, so long as she doesn't develop a fear of clowns..."

'She'll be OK. She doesn't seem to be afraid of much.' He gave her a sideways glance, grinning slightly. /'You're/ not scared of clowns, are you?'

{Dianne returns his amused glance.}

Dianne: "Me? Of course not. Things I'm afraid of, I tend to kill on sight. A poor fellow trying to make me laugh? Not scary and not worthy of death."

'That's good. I don't want to start a clown slaughter with you,' said Armin, amused. 'I doubt you have any irrational fears. You seem to only be concerned about stuff that's scary for a good reason. Like psychos trying to kill us.'

Dianne: "Yes, the only thing that really scares me is the thought of losing you two."

{She says, kissing Esme on the forehead.}

When they arrived outside the hotel a few minutes later, Armin jumped out first, and retrieved their bags from the back of the truck.

'If you want, you can just wait here while I take these into our room,' he offered. 'Unless you want to come in.'

Dianne: "I'm coming too. You can pay me inside."

{With that, she scoops up Esme and heads inside with him.}

Armin locked the truck and headed inside with all the bags. After taking the elevator up to their room, he carefully placed the bags in the corner next to what had become Esme's bed.

'My stuff was about... 200 squalls altogether, wasn't it?'

He opened the drawer on the nightstand and starting fishing out paper money. It seemed like he'd been keeping all his squalls in there.

Dianne: "Yup, that's about right."

{She says, accepting the money.}

Dianne: "Alright, let's go find a carnival."

Armin stuffed a few loose squalls and haars into his pocket before heading back down the elevator. Once they were all back in the truck, he set off, going towards the shopping district again, but this time driving past it to explore the city beyond.

{Dianne sat, enjoying the sights of the city as they drove. Eventually, the tents and booths of a carnival became plainly visible in a large, vacant lot.}

Dianne: "I think that's the one..."

'Looks like it.' Armin slowly drove closer, surveying the area. 'It's big. Alright, let's find somewhere to park...'

There were quite a lot of people milling about, and plenty of cars parked up near the carnival. Eventually, he managed to find a spot large enough for the truck, and stopped there.

{Dianne hops out with Esme on her shoulder.}

Dianne: "Alright, let's take a look."

As they walked forwards, the crowds thickened, although nobody paid them any attention. Rows of carnival stands and games lined the field. A bit further away, there was a rollercoaster, a Ferris wheel, and a climbeable play structure. There was also a massive outdoor swimming pool complete with water slides, and a large field with a sign outside that read 'Dragonback rides - Experience the thrill of flight. Run by a small family tribe of Shifter Dragons.'

Esme was blinking and inhaling quietly, taking in the sensory overload of the place.

{Keeping an eye on Esme, Dianne walks through the crowd, gently wrapping her tail around her hand.}

Dianne: "Sweetie? You ok?"

Esme blinked a little more, then squeaked.

'I'm not going on the rollercoaster, that's not my kind of thrill,' Armin remarked. 'See anything interesting?'

Dianne: "Hmmm...the Ferris wheel might be fun...I'm not getting near the water park, however...Really? You don't like roller coasters?"

'Not really... I've ridden a coaster once before. It was OK, but it gave me motion sickness, and nothing else has ever given me motion sickness.'

He looked up at the giant wheel.

'Let's go on that first. I bet there's a nice view from the top.'

Dianne: "I see. I don't like roller coasters anyway...Yeah, let's go check out the wheel. Esme might like that, we just need to make sure she doesn't try to fly off it."

'It'll be fine. Those carriages... or gondolas, or whatever they're called... are closed up. Windows and doors.'

Armin headed closer to the Ferris wheel, where a rather long line of people were waiting to get on. He looked over the people in front of him to see the price sign.

'Fifteen squalls per ride... I'll pay.'

Dianne: "Alright..."

'{As they stood in line, Dianne surveyed their surroundings. Spotting a specific carnival game, she chuckles.}

Dianne: "Hey, look, it's one of the strength test games, where you hit the pressure plate with a hammer. Afterwards, let's see if I can break it."

Armin smirked when he noticed the game she was looking at.

'Yeah, I want to see that. It might be designed with non-human strength in mind, but I bet you could still break the thing.'

Dianne: "Heheheheh, I'll give it my best shot."

The line was long, and the Ferris wheel moved slowly, so it ended up being about fifteen minutes before Armin and Dianne had a chance to get on. Armin stepped up to the counter and slid a couple of banknotes across.

'Please watch your step getting into the carriage,' said the ride operator.

{Dianne steps in, sitting down and putting Esme on her lap.}

Dianne: "Hmm. Haven't been on one of these in a long time."

'I'm surprised you have at all. Not to be rude, but I can't imagine you just hanging out in fairgrounds, before... all of this.'

Once Armin was in, the doors to the carriage closed by themselves. The wheel hadn't begun to move just yet.

Dianne: "Sometimes you get bored when you're lonely. I've gone to places like this to try to have fun before. Or just to get air."

'Oh, yeah... That's understandable. I used to explore Shacklestone a lot while I was still there, back when I didn't really have any friends or anything else to do. I must've seen everything the place had to offer.'

With a slight lurch, the Ferris wheel slowly eased into motion. Esme pricked her ears, gazing out of the window with a startled look.

Dianne: "Yeah, I explored it as well. The Stone District was a dump. Still, the city didn't deserve what it got."

'Yeah, that was where Sargon's old base was, before he took over that office building before the war... That's where Rex grew up, too, with his grandfather. Grimy place.'

Armin followed Esme's gaze out of the window, enjoying the Ferris wheel's gentle motion.

Dianne: "Perhaps so..."

{She subsides into silence, watching the view get higher.}

As the wheel reached its peak, Esme stood up on her back legs, on Dianne's lap, to get a better view out the window. They could see a good way across the city from this high up. Buildings and traffic-filled streets stretched on for miles. There were even a few dragons flying freely above the city.

Dianne: "Pretty view..."

{Taking a picture, she sends it to everyone back home.}

Armin fished out his phone to take a few pictures as well. //For the memories. Because I don't know if my own will always be reliable...//

He said nothing as the wheel began to descend. Esme was also quiet, captivated by the view. After a minute, the wheel ground to a halt and the doors opened themselves.

'Well,' said Armin, 'guess we'd better go and check out that hammer game next.'

Dianne: "Let's."

{Hoisting Esme onto her shoulder, she heads for the game.}

When they got there, Armin took Esme and transferred her to his shoulder. There weren't many people coming to this game. In front of them, a vampire was looking disappointed after only managing to hit the plate with half enough force. As he walked away, Armin spoke.

'Go on ahead. See how you do with it.'

Dianne: "Alright, let see what I can do."

Attendant: "Step right up, step right up! Test your strength right here, ladies and gentlemen, on the Carnival King Strength Test! Step right up, m'am, give it a go."

{Dianne takes the hammer, rolling her shoulders as she approaches the plate. Hoisting the hammer over her head, she brings it down with everything she has. The metal plate gave a loud clang, followed by the bell at the top ringing loudly.}

Attendant: "Whoowee! I think you dented the pressure plate! Impressive, m'am, most impressive! Your prize!"

{The attendant takes the hammer and presents Dianne with a giant, plush ferret. It's length was twice her height.}

Armin had stood back a little to watch, looking impressed. He couldn't help snickering a little when he saw the prize.
'That's the biggest plush toy I've ever seen in my life...'

Dianne: "Isn't it though? And it's a Flunser. My favorite."

{With a smug, happy grin, she rejoins the pair with her prize.}

Vampire: "Man, I tried so hard to win that for my girlfriend...."

Dragonshifter: "Yikes, what breed is she? So much strength carried over..."

Armin petted the flunser's head, just to see how soft it was, before giving Dianne a quick affectionate kiss.

'Maybe we should be getting back to the truck. Or we'll have to carry this huge thing around everywhere.'

Esme waa staring fixedly at the ferret as if unsure whether it was alive or not.

Dianne: "Good idea. Then, we can try some more games and see some attracions. I think they had a mini zoo. We'll skip the freak show, however."

{Dianne smiles happily at the kiss, walking back with Armin to the truck.}

{The stuffed Flunser was extremely soft to the touch. Being a top prize, it seemed to be of high quality.}

Armin kept Esme on his shoulder as they made their way back to the truck, holding her tail so she wouldn't jump off.

'Heh, all of those people at the hammer game looked like they were in shock. That poor vampire, he didn't have a chance,' he chuckled.

Dianne: "Heheheh, yeah. It was calibrated with dragons in mind, but I think it didn't account for species other than shifter. Too bad for them, this prize is mine."

'You and your liking for ferrets,' he said, grinning with fond amusement. As they approached the truck, he unlocked it for her. 'Put it inside, then we'll go and see what other attractions they have.'

{Dianne coils all twelve feet of it into the back of the truck.}

Dianne: "Alright. Any carnival games you dominate at?"

'I was always pretty good at the hand-eye coordination games. Like ring toss, or darts,' he said. 'But since this is Alexandria... maybe there are games made specially for non-humans, too. Let's just walk around and see what we find.'

Dianne: "Ok, let's have a look."

{Linking her arm with his, she happily walks back to the carnival with him.}

Esme remained on Armin's shoulder as they walked back into the crowds.

'Hey, there...' said Armin, pointing towards a specific carnival stand. It was a dart game where you had to throw darts at several small balloons in the back. If you hit at least four, you got a small prize, and if you hit all eight, you got a big prize. 'Why don't we both try that?'

Dianne: "Sure. Looks like fun."

{Heading over, she looks at the booth attendant. A werewolf with shaggy, unkempt hair.}

Attendant: "'Sup, dudes? Care to try this totally tubular dart game?"

Armin's nose wrinkled slightly, in reaction to the werewolf's scent. However, he spoke in a friendly enough tone.

'Sure thing. I'll go first.'

He slid the required number of squalls across the counter and waited for the attendant to hand him his darts.

{The attendant hands Armin his darts, then steps back.}

Attendant: "Ok bro. Hit the balloons to win a prize."

Armin eyed the target balloons, shifting his weight and gauging the distance. He held the dart in his right hand, seeming unhindered by the missing fingers as he confidently took aim.

A series of pops rang out as he threw at each balloon in turn. He hit every single one except the last, which he missed by a small margin, cursing under his breath.

'Seven out of eight. Not bad.'

Attendant: "Whoa, radical bro! Here's your prize!"

{The attendant hands him the smaller prize. A little plush of a purple dragon. It bears some resemblance to Ana.}

Dianne: "Ok, my turn."

{Handing the attendant the squalls, Dianne takes the darts. Squinting at the balloons, she winds up a throw. Tossing the darts in slow succession, she manages to hit five of the balloons.}

Dianne: "Tch....Rats..."

Attendant: "Hey, it's good enough for a prize. Here you go."

{The attendant hands her a plush of a colorful frog.}

Armin was eyeing the purple dragon in his hand, looking torn between amusement and exasperation at what it reminded him of. He watched Dianne throw, then clapped her on the shoulder.

'You only hit two less than me. That's pretty good.'

{Dianne gives him a small smile, despite her disgruntled attitude.}

Dianne: "That's true...I'm not a marksman, but I did pretty good."

'You did great. It's a fun little game.'

He stuffed the small dragon into the pocket of his jeans. It didn't quite fit, so its head and front paws stuck out the top.

'Alright, anything else you want to check out?'

Dianne: "Let's walk around, see what we find. Maybe check out the small zoo?"

'Yeah, let's do that. We'll see how badly I can disturb the animals with my unsettling, bloodthirsty predator presence,' he said jokingly. He began to head across the field with her, towards the described zoo.

Dianne: "Heh, if they're not already in blind panic."

{Once they got to the small structure, there was a line to get in and move through the attractions.}

Dianne: "Huh...The poster says they have an araneo on display from the White Forest."

'What?' said Armin quickly. He stared at the poster. 'Oh, that's just great.' //The White Forest? I remember hearing that name, but... eh, can't remember anything, except that there's araneos there.//

Dianne: "Relax, it'll be behind glass."

{Reaching the entrance, she pays for their entry.}

Armin stayed by her side as they walked in, keeping a light hold on Esme's tail. He gazed around curiously, to see what animals would be on display.

{Walking in, they would be greeted with the sight of a large snake. It was almost as long as Dianne's dragon form and was clearly well fed.}

Dianne: "Yikes. That's big."

(Posting new room)