(Replied on old one)

Biceras: "Well, Dianne has always struck me as the promiscuous type."

Dianne: "For the sake of keeping this a productive, peaceful discussion, I'm going to ignore that..."

Ardens: "Biceras, do you really not trust me, to the point where you'd think I'd be unfaithful?"

Biceras: "No, no, of course not. I just can't get over the fact that she slept with you and you want to be friends with her. Why do you want to be friends with her at all, Ardens?"

Ardens: "Because she saved my life. Multiple times. Because she stuck with me to the end when Dolorus had to be destroyed. She's a friend and a valuable ally. I don't want her around because I'm attracted to her. I want her around because she's a good person."

Armin glanced back and forth between everyone as they spoke.

'The fact that they slept together is irrelevant. You should stop fixating on that one shallow thing, and think of the other reasons they might want to stay allies, as he just said.'

Biceras: "Armin, was it? You know, I have also seen her do some horrendous things. Slaughtering cities and people from my own platoon, right in front of me. Surely you can understand how that might sour my view of her?"

Dianne: "Those were different times..."

Biceras: "Doesn't make the memories any more pleasant..."

'We can't start judging each other over things like that. I don't condone it, but I feel Dolorus was the one truly responsible. Also, Ardens probably did the same things as Dianne, y'know...'

Ardens: "I did..."

Biceras: "He did it for a few decades at most. She continued to do it for a thousand years. Seems their motivation wasn't the same."

Dianne: "You like to rub my face in the fact that my little girl was murdered. Why don't you try it, see how it drives you mad, makes you hate everyone with an unyielding rage. Couple that with Dolorus' emotional manipulation magic and see how long you find yourself going for."

Armin watched Biceras steadily, waiting for a response. 'If Ardens, or this kid you mentioned, was eviscerated in front of you and you couldn't do anything but watch, maybe you'd lose it too.'

{Biceras gives a long suffering sigh.}

Biceras: "I don't like to rub your face in it...I know it was an insensitive thing to say. I just don't like you. At all. And I don't think I ever will."

Ardens: "I'm not saying you need to like her, I just want you two to be civil with each other. Is that too much to ask?"

'None of us want to be your enemy,' said Armin. 'And I don't appreciate the constant aggression and insults at my partner and kid. There's no need for it. Especially right now, when we're all in danger.'

Biceras: "Fine. I'll stop slinging insults. I'm not happy about this, but Ardens seems to be refusing to see things my way."

Ardens: "Because your way is rife with primitive mateguarding behavior. It's frankly, unbecoming of you."

Dianne: "So then it's agreed? We can be civil with each other?"

Biceras: "I guess..."

'That's pretty halfhearted, but I guess it's better than nothing...' said Armin, scratching the back of his head.

{Biceras just snorts and lies back down. In the common area, there was a couch and television. Dianne went over to her belongings brought up for them, picks up the giant plush ferret, wraps it around herself, and sits.}

Not knowing what else to do, Armin slowly stood up and made his way over to the couch, easing himself down beside Dianne. 'Is there enough room for me here, or is the ferret taking all the space?' he joked.

Dianne: "Hahaha, no, there's always room for you."

{Reaching over, she pulls him against her, kissing him on the cheek. Ardens just gives a knowing smile as he sat in the corner.}

Armin smiled faintly, leaning into her and resting his head on her shoulder, eyes half-closed. He seemed content to rest there, not caring that others could see them. Esme was wandering around the quarters, checking out the bathrooms and other rooms, though steered clear of Biceras.

{Dianne settled in, simply enjoying Armin's company. She begins to lightly stroke his hair.}

Armin gave a quiet, satisfied hum, leaning his head into the touch. His weight settled fully against her as he relaxed, closing his eyes.

{Biceras looks the pair over, then yawns and rolls over.}

('m going to skip, but I'm too tired to write it right now. It's long so I'll do it in the morning.)

(Alrighty, get some sleep.)

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

{A few hours later, Dianne was still huddled on the couch, wrapped in her plush. She was quietly dozing when suddenly, the lights went out. Momentarily, red auxiliary lights switched on.}

Ardens: "Woah, what's going on."

(I decided to cut the post down to make it less overwhelming.)

Armin was also on the couch. He sat up straighter, looking around alertly.

'...Well, that's ominous... Did the power just go out or something?'

Esme shot out of the kitchen where she'd been having a snack, looking around in a similar manner. She looked puzzled, but not scared.

{Dianne shook herself awake and Biceras sat up.}

Dianne: "What the hell?"

Biceras: "You'd think a state of the art facility could at least keep the lights on..."

{Outside the door was the muffled sound of the officer's radio.}

"Ksszzk....officers standby...possible 10 13..... be advised, getting reports on armed suspects at Arroyo power station...."

Armin slowly stood up, his posture tense with anticipation of something he didn't even understand.

'What does any of that mean?' he muttered, hearing the voices outside. He couldn't help feeling that something bad was about to happen, but he remained still and continued to listen.

Dianne: "Oh, I don't like this..."

{Getting up, she starts to change into the proper garments to put her armor on.}

Biceras: "Oh, come on, don't do that in front of Ardens!"

Dianne: "I can't put armor on over a dress, Biceras! You are a blacksmith, you should know this..."

Armin didn't pay any attention to this exchange. He thought of his shortsword, which he'd left in their bedroom. Moving quickly, he walked in there to retrieve it. He wasn't sure what might happen, but if Dianne was deciding to put armour on, then he figured he'd be prepared too.

"Ksshhhzzz....Breach, breach! Hunters are in the hq, I repeat, the hunters are inside the building! Code 419!...."

{Just as Dianne was putting her helmet on, the officer opened the door, his pistol ready.}

Officer: "Alright, we gotta go. The hunters are in here, you're not safe. Follow me."

Armin glanced around quickly. //They're here... OK... At least we've got warning.//

'What are we supposed to do with Esme?' he said, looking at Dianne as he spoke. 'Carry her out into the middle of a potential gunfight?'

Dianne: "I'll carry her And cover her. Bullets will have a harder time getting through me than you. Every one of them you kill, I can raise, so focus on that."

{Scooping up Esme, Dianne follows everyone out.}

'Alright.'

Gripping his sword firmly, Armin glanced back at Dianne and Esme, then followed the police officer out.

{The officer led them through the narrow corridors. In the distance was the sound of gunfire and explosions. As they turned a corner, they saw people with guns dressed in trench coats. Hunters.}

Hunter: "Contact right!"

{Diving back around the corner, the officer takes cover as the assailants open fire. Dianne steps back, holding Esme firmly.}

Dianne: "Barnabas!"

{Barnabas appears in their midst, hacking and stabbing whoever he could. As they were distracted, the officer turns the corner and starts firing. Ardens steps out as well, launching fireballs down range.}

Armin shifted restlessly but remained behind the corner, since he didn't have a gun or anything he could projectile down the corridor. He kept himself in front of Dianne and Esme instead.

{In the chaos, one of the hunters, a vampire, threw himself down the corridor at Ardens. Ardens became a smoke like mass and the Vampire went through him and hit the wall.}

As soon as the vampire hit the wall, Armin sprung at them. He pinned the vampire against the wall, stabbed them through the back, then yanked them away from the wall and cut off their head.

Esme, by that point, was trying to hide in Dianne's grasp, unnerved by the loud sounds and blood.

{Dianne holds her close, keeping her from seeing the carnage. Once the hunters were neutralized, the dead rose and joined the group. The officer gets on the radio as they move forward.}

Officer: "This is guardian, en route to the armory. We've encountered resistance and could use back up. Any officers in the area?"

Chief: "This is Chief Alder. We're swamped out here, but I'm sending you Rodgers and Gene. Continue to the armory."

Officer: "Be advised, we have draugr raised from the dead hunters. Tell them to check their fire."

Chief: "Solid copy. Alder out."

Armin looked around, scenting the air and checking for any more hunters. Once he was sure there were only draugr left, he slid closer to Dianne and continued after the officer. 'Why the armoury?' he muttered, not sure what this was leading up to.

Officer: "It's the most secure area in this facility. Twelve meter thick concrete walls, vault doors, not to mention the experimental weaponry..."

Biceras: "How did those losers even get in here?"

Officer: "The sting was probably a diversion premediated by the hunters and after the bulk of our forces went there, they slipped around, attacked the power station, and bum rushed this facility."

'Seriously? I thought you guys were better than the Sovereign guards, and you fell for that?' said Armin. 'Well, it doesn't matter... we'll just kill them all here instead...'

Officer: "Trust me, if we were Soveriegn soldiers, this place would be swarming with them, and all of the other officers would be dead by now. Regardless, we underestimated them..."

{Round the next corridor was the sound of a portal opening. Once it opened, the officer threw a frag grenade at their feet, killing a handfull. The draugr rushed the other hunters as they came out of the portal.}

Armin winced at the sound of the grenade, stepping back a little to let the draugrs rush past. //Hmm, those impact explosives Fred gave us would've been helpful here too...//

{The draugr, Ardens, and the officer made quick work of the invaders. With even more draugr, the group presses forward. They continue until they reach a security gate, guarded by police on a Gatling gun.}

Gunner: "Whiskey!"

Officer: "Dare!"

{With the call sign answered, the gunner lowers his turret.}

Gunner: "Get inside. Rodgers and Gene are already in there."

{The officer leads them into the armory, through the security gate and vault door. Once inside, he gets on his radio.}

Officer: "This is guardian. VIP's secure."

Chief: "Wilco. This siege won't last much longer. We got friendlies inbound. Alder out."

Officer: "Grab whatever you know how to use. This isn't over yet."

{The armory had all kinds of weapons. Blades, guns, explosives, artillery, even some things they didn't recognize. It seems Alexandria's engineers were merging tech and magic experimentally.}

Armin's gaze swept across the armoury. He didn't want to try using anything too experimental, not sure how they might function. He picked up a pistol, dual-wielding it along with his blade so he could attack from a distance. He then shifted in front of Dianne and Esme again, glancing around to see if anyone else was taking weapons.

{Ardens and Biceras started putting on body armor, while the officer grabbed a strange device. It looked like a metal staff built into a rifle stock. The end wasn't a barrel, but the relief of a cobra. Rodgers and Gene both had rifles and were both vampires. As soon as everyone was about ready, another portal was appearing in the ceiling.}

Officer: "Get ready!"

Armin, who had been curiously eyeing the officer's weapon, quickly turned his gaze up to the portal. //Trying to get the drop on us, are they?//

{Dianne hid with Esme behind a weapon dispenser. Hunters started dropping down, right into the draugr. The police opened fire, Ardens used fire magic, and Biceras stayed by Ardens, looking to protect him from anyone who got too close. The officer's weapon didn't fire bullets, but a magical blast, not unlike what Ana would use to blow people up.}

As the hunters dropped down into the chaos, Armin emulated Biceras and stayed near Dianne and Esme to guard them. From this position, he shot into the hunters' midst to injure or kill a few.

{The first wave didn't last long. However, the portal remained open. This time, a ward came down to shelter the people dropping in, and a blast of light magic to push the draugr back. Behind the ward came a light mage in a similar outfit to Alicia, a mage looking type in black robes, some vampires, and Sam and Sarah Garvey, with anti dragon rifles. The officers, Ardens and Biceras fall back behind the weapon racks, anticipating what was to come.}

Armin threw up an arm to shield his eyes from the flash of light magic, jumping backwards. When he looked up and saw Sam and Sarah, and the light mage, he raised his gun to shoot, then realised they were inside a ward. With no other option, he warily stood back and waited. Having a light mage in the room with Dianne made him uneasy.

{The light mage used her light magic to try to destroy the draugr, but they fell back into cover. Dianne kept her head down to avoid being hit. After she ceased, Sam walked up to the ward.}

Sam: "Seems we've found ourselves in a stalemate. How about we make a deal."

Officer: "We don't negotiate with terrorists!"

Sam: "Oh, really? Then why are you protecting a few?"

Armin stayed in front of where Dianne and Esme were hiding.

'Either leave us alone, or get out from behind your ward and fight,' he said. 'You lot are psychos who get enjoyment from killing families. We're not making deals with you.'

Sam: "Your one to talk, Alscher. After what you did. Don't speak to us about killing families."

Officer: "This is our city, Garvey! We have our own laws! You have no jurisdiction here!"

Sam: "Animals can't govern themselves. This city is a disaster waiting to happen."

Officer: "The last 500 years went by just fine. Quit talking out of your a$$!"

'The hell did you just say?' said Armin, momentarily taken aback. 'Did you just refer to non-humans as 'animals'? You're the only animals here. Also, Dianne, Ardens, and I were all manipulated into doing the things we did. Now we just want to live a peaceful life without you interfering.'

He fired his pistol against the ward, as if hoping it would shatter, but it didn't.

Sam: "That excuses nothing. She wiped out entire civilizations, he contributed to a massive genocide, and you were a part of Windglen. You're all beasts."

Officer: "Look, pal, mortals commit crimes, then eventually die. They disappear into the annals of time. These people are 'immortal'. Whether they like it or not, they have to live with what they've done /forever/. If they're willing to change after so long, we have to offer them that chance, or we risk continuing a viscous cycle."

Armin glanced at the officer, nodding in agreement with what he was saying. //At least Alexandria backs us up in all this.// The mention of Windglen made his heart rate pick up with a shot of adrenaline. He could only hope that Sam didn't say any more on it.

'You lot are not associated with Dianne or Ardens's killings, or mine. Our past mistakes have nothing to do with you, so back off.'

(Lmao, I can't spell today.)

Sam: "Tell that to those dead children, Armin. To the families you took them from. Tell that to the people who had their communities wiped, parents killed , and riches stolen."

{At this, Dianne turns her head to look at Sam, over her shoulder. He then walks up to the ward and presses a newspaper against it. It was the one the day after the Windglen attack.}

Sam: "She doesn't know, does she?"

Armin stiffened at that, as sudden raw panic washed over him like a tide. For a moment, he couldn't even think, much less act. Then he sprung forwards and lashed a hand at the ward, as if trying to take the newspaper from Sam.

'GIVE ME THAT!' he exclaimed, his voice about an octave higher and barely sounding like his own.

{At that, Sam just gave a wide, cruel smile.}

Dianne: "Armin, come back!"

Officer: "We can't cover you from over there!"

Sam: "Oh, I don't think we need to do anything else now. The cat's out of the bag."

Armin gave a strangled yell and smacked the ward with his blade. His eyes were wild and he was breathing raggedly. Clearly, he wasn't reacting well. After hitting the ward, he started looking around wildly as if searching for an escape route.

(Oh noooo, Armin. :(. )

{Just then, Chief Alder comes through the security gate with a slew of officers.}

Sam: "We're done here, let's go before we get arrested."

{However, before they could move, Barnabas appears behind the light mage and stabs her in the neck. This prompted her to blast Barnabas to get him off of her, before she collapsed to the floor. In a panick, the mage opened a portal in the floor, causing them all to fall through and escape. As soon as they were gone, Dianne got up and tried to approach Armin.}

Dianne: "Armin, calm down! You're scaring me!"

Armin flinched when Dianne made a move towards him. He wasn't able to think rationally anymore. He was convinced that she was going to leave him, and didn't want to face it. He dropped the pistol on the floor, then turned and made a break for the exit, ignoring the officers and everyone else.

Dianne: "Armin? Armin, where are you going?"

{Dianne began running after him, not understanding why he was running and why he looked so frightened. Meanwhile, Ardens walks over to the newspaper and looks through it. Turning the page, he finds the sketches of the suspects, and sees a sketch of Armin.}

Ardens: "...Oh dear..."

Armin didn't look back. He didn't even seem to be hearing her properly. He somehow managed to find his way to the exit, ignoring or slipping past anyone in the way, and once there, he shifted to hawk form and took off into the sky.

{Dianne stopped when she couldn't follow him anymore. She just stood there, watching him fly away.}

Dianne: "Barnabas, go with him!"

{Barnabas appeared next to her as a flickering mess. He was weak from the light attack.}

Barnabas: "S-s-s-SorRy, Ma'a-a-a-mmmm....I....cAn't f-e-e-ellll....my Le-g-g-G-gsssss....."

{Watching helplessly as Armin disappeared, she felt like her life was falling apart around her. She sank to her knees, clutching Esme close.}

Armin flew mindlessly until he saw a small, deserted park down below. Flying down, he shifted back to human form and slumped down with his back against a tree. The panic was slowly being replaced by a deep depression.

//It's over. All of it's over.//

Considering Dianne's own trauma, he simply didn't believe there was any chance she'd react well to this.

{As Dianne sat there, Ardens came out after her.}

Dianne: "I....I don't understand! You said you wouldn't leave...."

Ardens: "Dianne, please come inside, it's not safe out here. I think we can solve this mystery by examining the clues."

{Ardens got her to her feet and led her inside. Ardens had a pretty good idea what was going on, but he wanted to get to the bottom of this.}

Barnabas: "I-I-I....K-k-knoW wHat's G-g-g-g0InG o-o-o-nnnnnn....I-I-I-I cAn eXp-l-l-l-ainnnnnn..."

Esme just looked confused. She had calmed down from the earlier fight, but didn't understand why everyone was upset, or why Barnabas sounded funny, or why Armin had flown off.

Back in the park, Armin just sat, gazing across the dreary grey lake. It was cold, and the sun was setting, but he didn't want to move.

{Back at the police station, Dianne, Esme, Ardens and Biceras were led back to the secure room. Dianne was rather upset at this point, despite the officers assuring her that Armin would be found. She sat at the table, her head in her hands, in shock and despair, waiting for Barnabas to recover enough to explain to her what was going on.}

(You can just continue if you like. I'm not going to do anything with Armin unless somebody goes out to look for him.)

(Actually, I'd like to know what he plans on doing if:
1: The police find him and try to convince him to come back.
2:Where he might be and what he might do 2-3 days from now.)

(1. If police find him, he'll refuse to go back.
2. I'd assumed that someone would've brought him back by then, but if nobody does, then he'll probably be staying in a hotel somewhere, listening to the news to make sure the hunters don't kill Dianne and Esme.)