'So am I,' he said. 'We're going to make the best of it - even if you complain about the cold the whole time.'

Buckling in, he drove off at a leisurely pace to the same breakfast diner they'd visited yesterday.

Dianne: "Hey, you were in my body for a brief time. You know full well how the cold feels to me. Can't I get some sympathy?"

{She ask, chuckling.}

'I do sympathise. That was unpleasant. But still, it's a /little/ bit funny. How did you deal with the cold before you had me to leech body warmth from?' he said humorously.

Dianne: "Thick jackets, fluffy blankets, and warm baths. That, and my last place had a fireplace I stuffed with logs. I kept that fire roaring well into spring."

'Having a fireplace is always nice... My cabin in the woods had one of those. And the house I had with Janet. Nothing like having a fire crackling on a cold winter day. But, an electric heater should keep our room warm enough.'

Dianne: "True. Not to mention the warmth I'll be borrowing from you."

{She adds, smiling flirtatiously}

Dianne: "With how much you enjoy physical affection, I think you'll be having a very enjoyable winter."

'Of course. I'm looking forward to it,' he said with amusement. 'You always comment on how much I like physical contact as if it's unique to me. I'm pretty sure you like it too. You're reeeally snuggly sometimes - especially at night and in the morning.'

{Dianne smiles sweetly in response.}

Dianne: "You got me. I do enjoy physical affection. It's been a very long time since I had someone I could do this with. It's....almost freeing, in a way..."

'It's sweet. I'm glad you like it. I'd gone too long without getting that close to anyone...'

Armin parked outside the diner, which was quieter this morning. Unbuckling himself, he leaned over to Dianne's side and gave her a brief, affectionate hug.

{Dianne returns the hug, squeezing him tightly.}

Dianne: "I love you."

'Love you too.'

Drawing back, Armin jumped out of the car and started heading into the diner. He spotted their previous table vacant again, so he went over there.

{Unbuckling and picking up Esme, Dianne heads inside, sitting next to Armin and setting Esme next to them.}

Dianne: "Now, what to get Esme this time?"

Armin glanced at the menu. 'Well, they have plenty of choice. Pancakes, waffles, porridge, crossiants, eggs, bacon, fruit...' He stopped and passed her the menu. 'I'm just getting hot chocolate again. You and Esme can have anything you like.'

Dianne: "Hmmm....I'm going to get the waffles....I'll order Esme the sausage omlette and a side of fruit. A growing dragon needs her protein."

'Yeah, good idea.'

Armin settled back in his seat while he gazed around the room, trying to catch the eye of a passing waiter to come and take their order.

{While Armin was occupied trying to get the attention of a waiter, Dianne turned to Esme, looking her over.}

Dianne: "You're getting big. You'll be flying about in no time."

Esme tilted her head and squeaked in what sounded like agreement.

Just then, a vampire waiter noticed them and came over. Armin told him everyone's food requests, handed over some money, then sat back in his seat.

'So... you and Ardens... were you actually a /couple?'/ He scratched his jaw. 'I promise I'm not gonna pull a Biceras and get jealous. Just curious.'

Dianne: "Not even. We just had a mutual, intimate relationship. Every so often, we'd get together and...destress...We were both working in an isolated cult, so it wasn't like we could date. Sure, we were kind of fond of each other, but we weren't very open about it. Why?"

'Like I said, just curious,' said Armin, shrugging as he settled back in his seat. 'Considering the harsh circumstances you both lived in, I was just wondering what kind of relationship you could have had.'

Dianne: "It was....any port in a storm. He struck me as the only member who wasn't a complete piece of crap, not to mention the best looking one. A thousand years of abstinence coupled with heavy drinking and the right time of season and....your deeply held morals concerning unbecoming unions might crack a bit."

'I don't see anything wrong with it. He seems like a very decent guy. And you probably both needed the 'destress' by that point, so I'm glad he was there, and you found each other.'

Dianne: "Yeah, we did. And thank you, for understanding. Glad you're not the jealous type."

'Yeah. Whatever you did before we got together doesn't involve me. I don't care what you did with other people, especially not a few thousand years ago.'

Dianne: "The same goes for your previous relationships. I don't care who you were involved with. You're here with me now, and that's all that matters."

'That's good. That you're not jealous of whoever I was with. It might be a stereotype, but I know dragons can be very protective of their partners. I'm glad you don't act like Biceras.'

Dianne: "Yeah, most dragons are. Since you asked me something personal, mind if I ask you something personal as well?"

'Sure, fire away,' said Armin unconcernedly.

Dianne: "You and Rex. Were you two...ever together romantically?"

Armin didn't answer immediately, seeming to think about it.

'Eh, it's complicated. We were never officially together. We only called ourselves best friends. But we were very... affectionate, lived together most of the time, and slept together... on occasion... We were often mistaken for a couple, even if it wasn't official.'

Dianne: "Makes sense. You two seem very close. To the point where Ivy believed that you two were a couple in the past."

'Well, she's not far off the mark. We were close enough that we actually had one or two conversations about whether or not we should be a couple. We ultimately decided not to label our relationship. To just let it be whatever it was.'

Dianne: "Understandable. Better to not give Sargon one more person to blackmail you with. I may not be jealous but...was Rex when we first came back?"

'He wasn't jealous, so much as concerned that you'd treat me badly. I mean, he saw you physically attack me in the park that day, so the idea of us being together - especially intimately - worried him. But he wasn't really jealous. The last time we slept together was during our Shacklestone days, over 150 years ago.'

Dianne: "Yeah...I get that. But, I'm glad he and I were able to come to an understanding. Hey, Ivy thought I'd flip out when I heard. What a silly girl."

Armin smirked. 'She seems to like spreading gossip and discourse, so I wouldn't be surprised if she hoped to cause some drama with that. I'm just grateful that you can share a house with Rex and not see him as a potential threat.'

Dianne: "Yeah, he's important to you. I couldn't destroy my amateotl's bestest friend."

{She says in an amused tone, leaning forward and kissing his cheek.}

Armin's smirk softened into a more genuine smile at this.

'Again, I'm glad for that. I love you both. Just not in the same way.'

The waiter came back to deliver their food and Armin's hot chocolate. Esme, who had been fidgeting boredly, immediately began to investigate her omelette.

{Dianne begins to eat, happily sitting with her family.}

Dianne: "These are pretty good..."

Armin was content to sit quietly, sipping his hot chocolate, alternating between looking out the window and watching Esme's ravenous eating.

'If only Biceras could be as mature about relationships as the rest of us...'

Dianne: "If only...She's always been temperamental..."

{As she ate, she looked out through the window.}

Dianne: "They're still in the city. I think they might be actively avoiding us."

'That wouldn't be surprising. It's a shame Ardens has to avoid you just because of his wife's attitude. He probably doesn't want any trouble. Can you sense how far away they are?'

Dianne: "Oh....other side of the city I think...It is a shame. If she wasn't so much of a b!tch, we could even double date. I'm willing to move on from the past, but she needs to decide when she's willing to move on."

'If she's still clinging to this ridiculous grudge after two thousand years, I don't think she's moving on anytime soon. It's a bit odd that she can look past Ardens /choosing/ to sleep with you, but can't look past what you did.'

Dianne: "She's in denial. She thinks I took advantage of him."

Armin scoffed. 'She really is in denial. Shame. It might have been interesting to meet her, and see what she's really like as a person.'

Dianne: "There's hope for you. It's me she hates. She might reason with you."

'Well, it's all irrelevant right now anyway, if they're doing their best to avoid us,' Armin remarked.

He continued gazing out the window while everyone ate. //Shopping today... We have a few things to pick up...//

{Dianne continues to eat in silence. She finishes her meal after a few minutes, leaning back to stretch.}

Dianne: "Something on your mind?"

'Not really. Just thinking about what we're doing today.'

Armin put his empty mug down as he turned to look at her.

'And thinking about how much I like it when you wear things like that,' he added mischievously.

Esme had finished her food by then, having relished the side fruit most of all.

{Dianne smirks flirtatiously at that.}

Dianne: "Is that so? I don't have too many of these outfits. Maybe I should shop for that today as well."

'Go ahead if you want,' said Armin humorously. 'I'm not even sure what I like about it. Maybe it's just because it's different. Or because it makes you look more relaxed. Anyway, it's nice.'

He slowly stood up, stretching.

Dianne: "Interesting. Maybe it exposes my form moreso than a dress? It doesn't matter."

{Standing as well, she picks up Esme.}

Dianne: "Ready?"

'Yeah...' Armin started to head back outside, just as a waiter showed up to clear their table. He climbed into the truck and buckled himself in, looking around.

'So, shopping district first?'

Dianne: "Yeah. We need a baby dragon seat, a room heater, and we might as well look around for anything that catches your eye."

{She climbs in and fastens her seat belt, holding onto Esme.}

'Any idea what stores we might find those first two things in?' he asked, as he set off down the familiar route to the shopping district.

Dianne: "Yeah, look for a store called, Pepperton Goods. They have all sorts of products. It's pretty big, so it's hard to miss."

Armin continued driving, until the hustle and bustle of the massive shopping district came into view. As usual, it was quite crowded, with stores selling everything imaginable. His eye caught a car sales yard and the shiny cars within. //Mhm... I need a better car... I wonder if they can ship to Vallis.//

Up ahead, he spotted a large building with a sign over the front that read Pepperton Goods. 'I guess that's it.'

Dianne: "Yep. They sell a bit of everything there. Groceries, home goods, pet supplies, hardware....all sorts of stuff..."

'That's useful. Maybe I'll find some stuff for Christmas gifts too.'

Finding a place to park, Armin hopped out and waited for Dianne to exit with Esme, so he could follow her in.

{Dianne exited the vehicle and headed inside. Once in, they were greeted with a massive, crowded store. Signs hanging from the ceiling indicated the sections.}

Dianne: "There, home and living. All the way in the back of the store."

As they began to make their way towards the home department, Armin gazed around at all of the other things they were selling.

'You think they might have glass terrariums in here?' he wondered.

Dianne: "I think they would. Try Pets or Gardening."

{As they walked, Dianne was looking around attentively.}

Dianne: "I'll have to check Automotive for the car seat..."

'Yes, it's probably there... Hey, do you want to split up temporarily? It'll be faster that way. You look for the car seat, I'll find a terrarium, then we'll meet up.'

Dianne: "Alright, let's do that. Meet me in Home and living."

Armin swiftly headed off, using the overhead signs to find his way to the Pets section. Even from a distance, he could see an impressive array of items, from pet foods, to tanks, cages, toys, and beds. He began to browse the selection.

{Dianne made her way to Automotive. Looking at the selection of car seats, she picks one that seems to be the right size. Meanwhile, as Armin was browsing the selection, a few off duty police officers passed by. Alexandria's police were a far cry fron Soveriegn soldiers. They had much thicker, kevlar armor and handguns of high caliber. They looked more like military than police.}

Armin paused and glanced over, briefly distracted by the passing police officers. //Damn. Not to be messed with, those.// Neither Sovereign nor Shacklestone had had police who looked that tough or well-equipped. //Quite reassuring - if you're on their side.//

He resumed his search, finding a medium-sized circular terrarium that he thought looked pretty. Carrying it carefully, he made his way over to Home and Living in search of Dianne.

{Armin would find Dianne looking at a shelf stocked with room heaters. The one she was inspecting was called Denwarmer and seemed to be marketed specifically for dragons who hated the cold.}

Dianne wasn't hard to miss. Spotting her, Armin immediately went over.

'Found a good enough heater?'

Dianne: "Yeah, this seems like the best one. Here."

{Putting Esme onto Armin's shoulder, She picks up the box.}

Dianne: "I think we got what we need here, what do you think?"

Armin nodded. 'I found a tank that looks quite nice,' he said, tilting his head towards the circular terrarium in his arms. 'It'll be interesting to see what Pythia does with it. If you've got everything, let's go and pay.'

{Nodding, Dianne heads for the front.}

Dianne: "After this, let's walk around the district for a bit. I want to see what else there is."

'There's a seemingly endless array of shops out there. Plenty to look at.'

Heading for the checkout area, he let Dianne go first.

'Go ahead and pay for your stuff. I'm paying for the terrarium, since it's a gift.'

Dianne: "Alright."

{Going first, she pays for her things, then waits for Armin at the door.}

Armin paid for the terrarium, fishing about forty squalls out of his pocket. Once done, he carried the terrarium out to Dianne in a bag.

'Let's put all of this in the car, then we'll see what else is around here...'

Dianne: "Let's."

{Walking with Armin to the car, Dianne waits for him to unlock it before loading all of her stuff in.}

Dianne: "Let's go check out that store over there. They seem like an interesting clothing store."

{The store was called Casual Outfitters. Like their name suggested, they offered more casual and comfortable garments.}

Armin followed her in, Esme balancing quite comfortably on his shoulder. Glancing up at the name of the store before they entered, he raised his eyebrows with a slight smirk.

'You thinking of buying something from here?'

Dianne: "If something strikes my fancy."

{She states, smirking back. She began to browse the canvas pants. As she was looking, there was someone in the back corner of the store who Armin would recognize. Inspector Fleur. He was dressed in employee garb, creepily watching the customers as they browsed. He did not see Armin and Dianne yet.}

Armin chuckled quietly, letting Dianne browse whatever she wanted. His gaze travelled the store, inspecting the array of clothes. As he was looking around, he spotted the figure in the corner and squinted a bit.

//Hold on, I recognise him from somewhere...//

Without looking away from the man, he nudged Dianne. 'Hey. Don't look too openly - but doesn't that guy in the back corner seem familiar? I think it's that Fleur guy, who was with Sargon's lot... the creepy ice dragon guy.'

{Dianne glances up, narrowing her eyes.}

Dianne: "Hey, it is. Should we kill him?"

'I... don't know. We can't just slaughter him right here.' Armin ducked behind a clothing rack to get out of Fleur's line of sight. 'I want to scare him.'

Moving with near-silence, he crept past the shelves to get to the back corner without being seen. He then stepped out in front of Inspector Fleur.

'Hey, creepy guy.'

{In response, Fleur jolted back, cursing quietly.}

Fleur: "Ay! Wait, Armin? What are you doing here?! How did you find me?"

'Don't worry, you're not so important that I was /looking/ for you. I just happened to be in town, and here you were.' Armin's tone and demeanour were casual, but he was smiling in a way that showed a hint of fangs.

Fleur: "Well...what do you want? Can't you see I'm working?"

{He snaps, trying to make himself look busy. With Esme in her arms, Dianne begins to approach slowly.}

'You don't /look/ like you're working. It looks like you're lurking in a corner, creepily eyeballing everyone who goes past, but maybe that's just me.' He eyed Fleur's outfit. 'So, are you really working here? Decided to take a break from killing and stalking people?'

Fleur: "For your information, I'm just trying to make an honest living now. Lay low so no hunters come after me like they did with that necromancer b!tch."

Dianne: "Hey, I'm right here, jackass."

Fleur: "/She's/ here too?! Oh, can this day get any worse?"

'I kind of doubt that any hunters would waste their time on you. You're less of a real threat and more of a creepy loser,' said Armin, deliberately taunting him. 'Made unwanted advances on any girls lately? I remember you trying to force yourself on Eliza.'

Fleur: "Yeah, your mom."

{He says, taunting him back.}

Fleur: "What about you? You two here on honeymoon or something?"

'No, we're here to shop. Though I'm not sure I want to buy from a shop where you've been rubbing your hands on everything.'

Fleur: "I haven't been rubbing anything on anything!"

Dianne: "I certainly hope not."

Fleur: "Is that your kid, or is Armin up to his creepy antics again, with the youngins?"

'That's her kid. Not that it's any of your business,' said Armin. 'And what are you talking about? You're the only one here with creepy antics.'

Fleur: "You know very well what I mean. You're a bigger wierdo than me, like that Mordekai guy."

Dianne: "I don't follow."

Fleur: "You know, he's...Oh, nevermind...Are you two going to buy anything or are just going to continue to harrass me?"

'Well... I've got better things to do than talk to you, so yes, let's get whatever we want and leave,' said Armin, glancing sideways at Dianne.

Dianne: "Actually, I'm not quite done looking."

'Oh, well, keep looking then. This creep being here shouldn't stop us.'

Dianne: "Of course. I won't be long."

Fleur: "And, since I work here, I'm obligated to help, should you need it."

{After she walks off, Fleur huffs.}

Fleur: "Seriously, what is the deal with you two? Last I heard, she was like a bag of snakes to approach, and now you're friends?"

Armin stayed where he was as Dianne left. 'What's it to you?' he said. 'Maybe /you'd/ be able to form actual relationships if you weren't so creepy. Anyway, I took the time to get to know her, so I know she's not a bad person.'

Fleur: "I'm not creepy, I'm romantic. Took the time to get to know her? In what way? Are you two....y'know..."

{Despite his previous statement, he donned a creepy smile.}

Armin just raised his eyebrows and folded his arms, with an unimpressed look.

'If you're trying to ask if we're together, then yes,' he replied. 'We're not exactly trying to keep it secret. And wipe that weird look off your face, would you?'

{Fleur did not oblige.}

Fleur: "Ooh la la! Do tell, Armin, do tell. How did you seduce her?"

'I didn't 'seduce' anyone,' said Armin shortly. 'And why are you interested?'

Fleur: "What's not to be interested in? You went from hating each other to...sharing a bed, hmm? That's quite a leap."

//He's as bad as Ivy,// Armin thought, slightly exasperated. 'I'm not going to tell you the story of how we fell in love. It's none of your business, and you wouldn't understand anyway.'

Fleur: "Oh, don't want to tell me, do you? Alright, I get it, you don't know me like that. She have a sister? Any hot relatives?"

Armin's expression shifted to disbelief. 'Not that I know of. Why? Not had any luck finding women to pester lately?'

Fleur: "Oh no, I'm always looking for new...prospects..."

{He says, creepily flexing his eyebrows. Right after, Dianne walks up with some clothes under her arm.}

Dianne: "Ok, Armin, I'm ready."

Fleur: "I'll ring you up."

(Posting new room)