Armin shifted closer to the glass and watched the giant snake for a moment. Then he looked over his shoulder at Dianne.
'Hey, you told me Dolorus was dead,' he said jokingly.

{At that, Dianne couldn't help but laugh.}

Dianne: "Hahaha, no, that's not him. Dolorus had wings and unspeakable evil. This is just a fat snake."

'I can see that.' He quickly moved away before Esme started pawing at the glass.

In another tank nearby was a creature that resembled a lizard, except it had brown fur and was moving around quite actively. The info sign read: 'Arcanzard - Known for their venom, which has the curious ability to temporarily hinder a being's magic powers. They will eat almost anything, but are believed to naturally prey on small magical creatures.'

{Dianne inspected the furry tetrapod curiously.}

Dianne: "Huh. I had heard of these things, but I have never seen one up close. Kind of like a fuzzy reptile..."

{The next enclosure down was quite large, and housed a massive arachnid that resembled a cellar spider. The plaque read, "Greater Ogre Faced Araneo. Indigenous to the mysterious White Forest."}

When Armin looked away from the arcanzard enclosure and spotted the giant cellar spider, he made a small involuntary noise and tried to give it a wide berth, shuddering slightly.

'Gods, that's ugly.'

Dianne: "Yeah, all those legs...quite unsightly."

{Dianne gently takes his arm and leads him to the next enclosure. Inside was a massive snail with a dull grey shell. The plaque read, "Ferrosian Sulphur Snail. Indigenous to the fumarole ridden valleys west of the Great Forest."}

Dianne: "Ugh...You would not believe how repulsive those taste...I'm getting nauseous just looking at it..."

Armin relaxed a little once they were further away from the spider, and curiously looked up at the snail's enclosure.

'I don't mind snails, it's kind of cute.' He threw a grin back at Dianne. 'Well, it can't have been so bad that you couldn't eat them.'

Dianne: "When it's eat them of starve, you don't find much incentive to complain..."

{While she averted her eyes, looking a little sick, the snail began to climb up the glass, showing its underside and locomotion.}

Armin moved closer to the glass, both he and Esme watching the snail clambering up. Esme seemed particularly fixated by its movement and eyes.

'There must've been /something/ other than snails to eat back there,' said Armin, seeming amused.

Dianne: "Unless you fancied rats or cannibalism, no, there wasn't..."

'Really? So where did you find that ferret you mentioned having as a pet once?' Pulling Esme's attention off the snail, he started to continue onwards.

Dianne: "I ventured to the edge of that region, found it bordering the forest. There wasn't much out there, but there was that ferret."

{The next enclosure showed a giant, predatory flightless bird. The plaque read, "Tetragalli. The monster from the past. This Terror Bird was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in the eastern regions.}

Armin inspected the creature with a slight chuckle.

'Terror Bird? It doesn't look /that/ scary to me.'

Dianne: "Perhaps not to you. Some people find a twelve foot, hooked beaked avian creature terrifying. Although, I just see a chicken dinner."

{She says humorously.}

'Well, I'm sure it tastes better than the snail.'

He looked over at the next tank. This one was mostly water, with an island in one corner. Playing in the water was a blue, smooth-bodied, vaguely whale-like creature, that had bioluminescent antennae on its head. The plaque read: 'Glowpod - Rare amphibious magical creatures. Little is known about them yet, but they are very friendly and seem to have similar intelligence to a dolphin.'

(Oh my god. Tod has graced this world with his presence)

{Dianne walked to the next tank, scrutinizing the being contained within.}

Dianne: "What is this thing? I've never seen anything like it."

(He is perfection)

Armin approached as well, lightly tapping on the glass. 'I never have, either. Must be something very recently discovered.'

When they all got close, the glowpod swam up to the glass, clearly looking at them, as it began to do little loops and spins under the water.

{Dianne smiles at its display.}

Dianne: "Cute, isn't it? A glowpod, is it? They must have been recently discovered."

{Dianne watched the glowpod as it swam about behind the glass.}

Armin ran a finger along the glass and the creature followed it.

'It is cute. I wonder where they come from. That sign doesn't say...'

He watched the glowpod play for a moment longer, then turned to continue.

'Is there anything else?'

{Dianne looks in the direction. There was one last enclosure. Inside was a dog sized scorpion. It was sitting motionless in the corner of the enclosure, absently fiddling with its claws.}

Dianne: "I think just that scorpion."

{The plaque read, "Kingslayer Scorpion. Native to multiple continents in their southern regions. While posesing mild venom, they are ravenous predators and deceptively fast."}

Armin eyed the massive scorpion.

'Hmm. I wouldn't want to be on the recieving end of that. It looks nasty.' Esme tried to scratch the glass. 'What are /you/ so interested for, that thing could eat you.'

Dianne: "She's too young to understand danger. She's just curious about it."

Armin watched the scorpion for a little longer, then stepped back.

'Well, if that's all of them... You think we should be heading back now?'

Dianne: "Yeah. Unless you want to try any more carnival games?"

{She says, shrugging. With everything seen, she starts to walk out.}

'No, let's head back. I feel like relaxing. I guess we'll have to find somewhere for dinner too...'

He started to make his way back to the truck.

{Dianne followed him, admiring the evening.}

Dianne: "Well, maybe we'll find something on the way back? We could get it to go, then eat it in the room?"

'Yeah, I was thinking that. Maybe there's some nice takeout places on the way back.'

The air was getting cold by then. As Armin got into the truck, he glanced over with amusement at the enormous plush ferret in the back.

'That thing's gonna take up a lot of space in our room back home...'

Dianne: "Oh, I'll just use it as an additional pillow. It's big and soft enough to be one. Not to mention adorable."

{She says, smiling. Buckling in, she puts Esme on her lap.}

Armin chuckled slightly and set off into the darkening city. Esme yawned and settled down in a sphinx position, blinking slowly.

'So, feel like any particular kind of food?' he asked, scanning the various restaurants and takeout joints they passed.

Dianne: "Hmmm...Pizza would be nice. Let's see if we find any on the way."

'I don't think we'll have any trouble finding pizza... This area's packed with food places...'

Armin drove more slowly as he spotted a pizza restaurant up ahead. It had inviting, neon red signs, one proudly proclaiming that they had a drive-thru and did takeouts.

'OK, let's go in here. What shall we order?' he said as he squeezed the truck into the drive-thru lane.

Dianne: "Just get a large deluxe pizza. I'm not too picky on the toppings, so long as it's not pineapple. Ew."

Armin obligingly drove up to the window.

'Good evening. What would you like to order?' said the cashier.

'I'll have a large pizza, chicken and mushroom...' Armin paused to consider, glancing at Esme. 'And also a small pizza with chicken and pineapple.'

He passed the money through the window, then continued onwards to the next window. There were several cars in front of them.

{Dianne nods at the choice of toppings.}

Dianne: "Wait, does Esme like pineapple?"

'I think so. We ordered pizza the first night you came to my house. She had pineapple, and she ate it fine. It's not surprising; she likes fruit.'

Dianne: "Yeah, it makes sense. I don't think it's good, however. But, if she likes it, that's all that matters."

After a few minutes, Armin stopped and leaned out of his window to collect the two pizza boxes handed to him by the server.

'Have a nice evening, sir and madam.'

'You too.'

Putting the boxes on his lap, Armin left the drive-thru and started heading back to the hotel.

{Smelling the pizza, Dianne smiles, eyeing the boxes.}

Dianne: "Smells good. We have a lot to unload when we get back. You take the pizzas and Esme, I'll handle the bags and the ferret. Sound good?"

'Yep.'

Armin glanced sideways at Esme as he drove.

'Aww, she looks like she's dozing off. I guess the carnival was pretty exciting to her.'

Dianne: "She did seem a little overstimulated. I hope she can stay awake long enough to eat."

{She gently scratches Esme under her chin as she dozes.}

Armin got back as quickly as he could. After parking up outside the Canopy and opening his door, he reached over and carefully picked up Esme, holding her securely under one arm while carrying the pizza boxes with the other.

'Alright, grab the demonic ferret and let's go.'

{Dianne wrapped the ferret around herself, then picked up the bags.}

Dianne: "It's not demonic. It's an adorable thing."

{She says, chuckling. She follows him up, watching Esme.}

'As long as you're sure it's not going to turn sentient and strangle us in the night,' he said jokingly.

Taking the elevator up to their hotel room, he set Esme down on her own bed and placed the opened pineapple pizza box beside her. Esme blinked in surprise, but once she smelled the food, she woke up enough to eat.

Armin then sat on his and Dianne's bed with the larger pizza box, helping himself to a slice.

{Putting their stuff down in the corner of the room, Dianne sits next to Armin and begins to eat.}

Dianne: "Hmm. For take out pizza, it's not bad."

'It's alright,' he said, although he could barely taste it. He continued eating quietly, enjoying the cosy atmosphere.

{Dianne turned the tv on low, finding an action movie for them to watch as they ate. She leaned back against the headboard, enjoying her meal.}

When he'd eaten as much as he wanted to, Armin got up to take Esme's empty box away. The dragonet was half watching the TV as she dozed. Armin then setlled back onto the bed, leaning against the headboard with a contented grunt.

{Once Dianne had finished, she disposed of the box, then went to her bag.}

Dianne: "I'm going to shower before settling down for the night."

'Mhm... I could actually use a shower, too... Haven't had one since the day before we left. I guess I'll take one right after you.'

Dianne: "Alright, I'll make it quick."

{With her garments in hand, she heads to the bath.}

Armin dozed contentedly on the bed while he waited, eyes closed as he listened to the TV and the quiet sound of the shower running. Esme had gone to sleep by then.

{A few minutes later, Dianne emerges in her sleepwear.}

Dianne: "Your turn."

'Mrhm...?' Armin stirred awake, looking up at her. 'Oh, yeah... I'll just be a minute.'

He climbed to his feet and trudged off to the bathroom.

{Dianne settled into the bed, dozing lightly as she waited for Armin.}

Armin returned about ten minutes later, in his sleepwear and with slightly damp hair. He proceeded to flop onto the bed and snuggle up to her without preamble, nuzzling into her shoulder.

{Dianne welcomes his affection, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him close. She nuzzles into his neck, settling down to sleep.}

Armin mumbled a 'goodnight' as he settled down. It seemed like all the events of the day had left him eager to sleep.

(You can skip if you like.)

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

{The next morning, Dianne began to stir in her sleep. She seemed to become very distressed, gripping Armin extremely tightly and breathing heavily, as if out of fear.}

Armin jolted awake, face screwing up with pain at her vicelike grip. Slightly alarmed, he tried to rouse her telepathically, since he couldn't breathe.

//Hey, wake up! Everything's fine, wake up, we're alright.//

{Waking with a yelp, she lets him go, then starts looking around the room frantically.}

Dianne: "Esme? Where is she? I can't.....I...."

Armin glanced over at the other bed in momentary concern, then eased when he saw Esme sleeping, stretched out across the bed.

'She's fine. Look, she's just over there. Same place she was last night.'

{Dianne looks over at the bed, then makes a relieved expression and flops back down.}

Dianne: "Sorry. Nightmare..."

'What, about something happening to her?' Armin guessed. He settled down on his back, turning his head to watch Dianne.

Dianne: "Not even...I just...couldn't find her... I was alone in a dark forest...yet I had this sinking feeling that I needed to find Esme...that she was lost in there somewhere."

'...Well, that's... disturbing.' He mulled over this for a moment. 'Maybe it's the fact that she's sleeping in the other bed, that brought that on. You subconsciously didn't know where she was. I don't see what else could have caused it.'

Dianne: "...I think you're right....from here, I can't smell her and I can't feel her. Perhaps tonight, we'll push the beds together, so she'll be closer to us."

'Alright, we'll try that,' Armin agreed. 'She went to the other bed of her own accord, so I guess she likes the extra room. She is pretty big now. But if we push them up together, you might still be able to sense her presence.'

Dianne: "It's worth a shot."

{Edging closer, she drapes an arm across him and rests her head on his chest.}

Dianne: "What should we do today?"

Armin hummed in thought, absentmindedly rubbing her upper back with one hand.

'Mhm... I hadn't thought about today, yet. Do you have any ideas? You might know more about this place than I do.'

Dianne: "Well, we could go shopping again. Esme needs a car seat, and we need a room heater for winter. This city has museums we could visit. Or, we could just keep exploring."

'Not sure I want to go to a museum after what happened last time we were in one...' he said humorously. 'But yes, shopping would be fine. I want to pick up a couple of Christmas presents, too. At least for the people I know what to get for.'

Dianne: "Alright, we'll do that today, after breakfast. Sounds like a plan."

{Stretching up, she kisses his chin, then settles back down with him.}

'Yeah, later. I'm not getting up yet, it's too early...'

Armin wrapped both arms around her and pulled her in tightly, snuggling and nuzzling at her.

{Smiling, Dianne welcomes the embrace, snuggling into him as well.}

Dianne: "Yeah....Give it a few more hours..."

Armin gave a long breath of drowsy contentment.

'You are adorable... and I don't care if I'm the only person who will ever say that...'

Dianne: "Thank you...you're adorable too..."

{Squeezing him affectionately, she starts to doze off again.}

Armin smiled faintly, then let himself drift off slightly as well. //Nice and comfortable... I'm not moving from here until I have to...//

{A few hours later, Dianne began to stir again, roused by hunger.}

Dianne: "Mmm...Armin? Frederick didn't do his homework again...."

{She states, clearly in a half asleep ramble.}

Armin, unusually, responded to this in a similar state.

'What? No, he always does his homework...'

He then opened his eyes, blinking as he woke up more. Yawning quietly, he tugged her closer and drowsily nuzzled into her neck.

{Dianne tensed slightly, grinning sleepily and holding him close. However, she didn't open her eyes.}

Dianne: "Armin, stooooppp.....Not in front of everyone...."

Armin smirked slightly, guessing she still wasn't fully awake. 'There's no-one here... Well, mostly...' he stated, very gently biting her neck to see if that would wake her up properly.

{She stirs a bit more in response before opening her eyes.}

Dianne: "Mmmmhmhmhmmmhm.....What?......Wha'shappening?..."

'Nothing much. Are you hungry?' he said, since that was usually the reason for her waking up halfway and rambling nonsense.

Dianne: "Oh....Yeah...."

{Sitting up, she looks around the room.}

Dianne: "I guess we should start getting up."

When Dianne sat up, Armin simply repositioned to rest his head on her lap, then continued drowsing comfortably.

'Mhm... Suppose so...'

{Looking down at him, she smiles fondly and starts to stroke his hair.}

Dianne: "Comfortably down there?"

Armin gave a faint smile, his body relaxing completely. He didn't seem able to say anything, responding with a non-committal drowsy grunt instead.

{Dianne simply chuckles at his lazy display.}

Dianne: "And here I thought we were actually going to get breakfast. Perhaps I shouldn't encourage this behaivior by stroking your hair."

'Yeah, I don't know why you're doing that... when you know it always puts me to sleep... It feels nice, though.'

Dianne: "Good point."

{She ceases, gently slipping out from under him and standing. She then starts to gather her clothes.}

Dianne: "Let's go find some grub."

Armin grumbled quietly before pulling himself up as well. On the other bed, Esme had raised her head and was now lying in a sphinx position, gazing around attentively.

'Alright, where should we eat this time?' he asked. 'That breakfast diner yesterday was pretty good, but we could check out other places if you want.'

Dianne: "I liked the diner. I wouldn't mind going again."

{Heading into the bath, she emerges minutes later in a t shirt and jeans.}

Dianne: "Unless you want something else..."

'No, it doesn't matter that much to me. We'll go to the same one.'

Armin went into the bathroom himself to get changed, coming out in a white shirt, jeans, and one of his new leather jackets.

{While Armin was in there, Dianne had put on one of her large jackets they had just bought, then sat next to Esme.}

Dianne: "Hey, sweetie. Enjoying having a bed to yourself?"

Esme cocked her head, then stood up on the bed and bumped her head against Dianne's arm in a friendly way.

'Alright, let's head out...' said Armin. He then looked at Dianne properly for the first time since she changed. 'Hey, casual clothes. You look good,' he said with a grin.

Dianne: "Heh, yeah, thought you might notice that. Thanks. You look good too, in that new leather jacket."

{Standing, she scoops up Esme and heads for the door.}

'Thanks. Hopefully it won't get ruined too quickly.'

He kissed her on the cheek, then accompanied her down the elevator to get outside.

Dianne: "Here's hoping."

{She says, smiling at the kiss, Once outside, she breathes in the cool morning air.}

Dianne: "It's getting colder. Good thing I have this."

'I like it,' Armin remarked, also lifting his head to draw in a few deep breaths. 'There's something oddly comforting about the colder months. Can't really put my finger on why. Maybe it's because of Christmas, or just the cosiness of staying at home in the warmth. Or the snow. I don't know.'

He unlocked the truck so everyone could get in.

Dianne: "A good association, no doubt."

{Dianne gets into the car, putting Esme on her lap.}

Dianne: "All I know is that I'm looking forward to spending this wintertime with you."

(posting new room)