{Several hours passed since the hunter attack. Despite them successfully getting into the police HQ, an astounding number of hunters were either captured or killed, with minimal law enforcement casulties. In the safe room, Dianne was speaking to Ardens about what they knew.}

Ardens: "....I think, given this newspaper, he was hiding from you the fact that he participated in this attack. An attack that primarily targeted children..."

Dianne: "....Why wouldn't he tell me?...He didn't do this willingly....he couldn't have....Sargon made him do things he never wanted to do...."

{She just buries her face into her hands. Ardens pats her back in an attempt to comfort her.}

Ardens: "Don't worry, they'll find him. And once Barnabas reconstitutes, he'll shed light on this."

(Cont)

{Right as he said that, Barnabas appeared, back together.}

Barnabas: "Phew, I'm back! That light magic is nasty stuff..."

Dianne: "Barnabas? Barnabas, tell me everything, now!"

{Barnabas proceeds to tell Dianne everything Armin told him over the course of the trip. Why he couldn't sleep in a tent, why he was afraid of her finding out, is emotional state when he recounted the tale. Everything.}

Barnabas: "So, he didn't tell you because he thought you'd kill him or worse, if you knew. Despite not doing it on his own accord."

Ardens: "Well, that explains a lot, and confirms my theory."

Dianne: "...He doesn't trust me....He didn't trust me to listen to him....He thought I would just revert right back to that /animalistic rage/..."

{Putting her head down, she starts to cry, despite Ardens' attempts to reason with her. All the while, Biceras was watching from the corner of the room with an expression of pity. She may not have liked Dianne, but watching her suffer through this made her reconsider her stance: The idea that she was still after Ardens was called into question when she was here, bawling her eyes out over someone else.}

(Cont)

{After a few minutes of watching Dianne weep, Biceras sighs heavily, stands, and begins to inspect Dianne's armor, seeing if it would fit her.}

Biceras: "Barnabas, can you find Armin?"

Barnabas: "Probably very easily. He's likely afraid that his relationship is over."

Biceras: "Good. I'm going out with you to find him. I just need...to put this on....Jeeze, Dianne, you're a scrawny little thing, aren't you?....Kinda tight...."

{Dianne lifts her head to observe this.}

Dianne: "Wait....Barnabas, when you find him....Tell him I don't care about this....Tell him I just want him back..."

Biceras: "Oh, he's coming back whether he likes it or not. Even if I have to drag him, kicking and screaming."

{With that, the pair departs.}

{Meanwhile, at the park Armin was sitting at, a vampire policeman flies down and shifts back.}

Police: "All units, the duckling has been found. Canterbury park, North side of the city. Armin Alscher? It's not safe here, you need to come with me."

(Done)

Armin lifted his head, blinking blearily. He was still sitting under the same tree. It was dark and freezing cold by then, and he was shivering despite being a vampire. However, he hadn't possessed the mental energy to move somewhere else. He stared at the policeman blankly for a moment.

'...Go away,' he said hoarsely. 'I'm not going back, I've got nothing to go back to, and I honestly don't give a shit if it's not safe here.'

Police: "Come on, man. Don't be that way. Your girl you left? She's all kinds of upset about you leaving. Just come back with me, we'll sort it all out. If you stay out here, those hunters will get you for sure."

'I don't want your help. I didn't ask for your help. She's upset? Not surprised, she just found out that someone she trusted is a child murderer. That's not something you can overlook. Go away. I kept myself alive for 280 years; I don't need your help.'

He said this entire speech in a dull monotone, while shifting to find a more comfortable position against the tree.

Officer: "Come on now, enough wallowing. Let's go."

{Grabbing him up by his arm, the officer attempts to get him to his feet.}

Armin let himself be pulled to his feet, then grabbed the officer's arm that was holding his, and forcefully yanked himself free.

'I said, go away.' He then shifted into hawk form and took off into the cold night.

{Sighing, the officer gets on the radio.}

Officer: "Be advised, the duckling is depressed and fleeing...."

{Shifting to hawk form himself, he pursues Armin through the city.}

Armin didn't react much to being followed, other than to speed up. Putting his flying expertise to use, he wove at high speed in and out of tall buildings, seemingly heading for the city edge.

{The officer was keeping up with him very well. It seems pursuits were a part of his training. As they continued towards the outskirts, they were passing large, abandoned apartments in what was known as the old city. They were very old, and the city had plans to remodel them. However, as Armin passed through, for a fractional moment, the Aspect of Death poked its head through a top window as Armin passed.}

Armin saw it out of the corner of his eye, and immediately veered away, passing around another building to avoid that particular one. His alarm at glimpsing the Aspect was dulled slightly by depression.

//Will you stop following me if I leave the city?// he asked the officer behind him. //You don't have any power beyond here.//

Officer: //It's called "jurisdiction", and it extends all the way to the province line.//

{As they flew, a murder of crows appears, seemingly out of nowhere. The crows swarm around them, causing the officer to veer away, momentarily losing sight of Armin.}

Diving lower, Armin sought to lose himself more completely, wanting the officer to not be able to find him again. He weaved around some trees and buildings, before shifting himself into a crow. He hoped that if the officer spotted him now, he'd just think it was one of the crows that appeared.

{The officer didn't appear again. It seems he got turned around and lost his quarry. As Armin continued on his way, there was a cold wind that blew by, carrying with it a mournful tone.}

Once Armin felt he wasn't being pursued, he descended onto the empty street below. Shifting back, he took a moment to contemplate his situation. Out here in the dark outskirts, with that mournful wind blowing, he hadn't felt this alone in a long time.

//Fitting, isn't it? You /are/ alone, now. Screwed up one of the relationships that mattered most, because you let yourself be controlled by an old man 200 years ago.//

{As Armin walked along the street, there was the aura of the Aspect. Armin could see it walking down the street towards him, but who was that with him? It was walking with a tall man in a hoodie. He was tall, a full foot above Armin, and he had long, dark hair.}

Armin looked towards the Aspect, Its aura sent a familiar fear creeping through him, but not as powerfully as usual. He ran his gaze over the creature, and the towering, unfamiliar figure beside it.

'What do you want?'

{Once the pair were close enough to talk, the man's identity was revealed through his voice}

Magnus: "Hey there, Armin. It's been some time."

Armin flinched at that, rocking backwards. He stopped, staring at the man with a new, sharper interest.

'...Magnus...' //So that's what he looked like?//

Magnus: "Yes, it's me. Death here told me you're having some relationship issues and thought I might be able to help."

{Magnus then motions to an empty building.}

Magnus: "Come. Let us talk a while."

'In there?' Armin looked at the building, then slowly started to head towards it. He was still reluctant at the idea of talking about anything. But, he supposed, Magnus had known Dianne for a long time, and been on good terms with Armin too. It sounded easier to talk to him than the police, certainly.

{Magnus walked with him, followed by the Aspect. There was no door, so Magnus walked right in and sat. The place seemed to be an old temple of sorts, with tile floors and walls and abandoned, dry fountains. Magnus invited Armin to sit with him on the edge of one fountain, then turns to the Aspect.}

Magnus: "Can you give us a moment?"

{Wordlessly, the Aspect complies, fading from existence.}

Magnus: "Why don't you tell me what happened? How did all this trouble between you and Dianne start?"

Armin sat on the edge of the fountain. He took a long breath and let it out slowly, as if to settle himself.

'OK... So, a long time ago, when I was still working for Sargon, he sent me on this mission... which involved... slaughtering a bunch of kids...'

He paused, seemingly reflecting.

'...I never wanted Dianne to know, because of the whole 'dead children' thing... I know it's a sensitive topic for her... Today, she found out, and... I ran. There's no way she could just brush it off. She has to resent me, or be disgusted by what I did, or not trust me anymore... She found out I'm a child killer, the kind of person she hates most of all.'

{Magnus nods in understanding, taking a moment to contemplate.}

Magnus: "Tell me, Armin. Did you kill those children on your own accord? Did you enjoy watching the life fade from their faces? Did did doing that disgust you, or did it make you believe in Sargon's mission?"

Armin's expression shifted, his lip curling in disgust and slight anger.

'Is that even a question? Of course I didn't enjoy it; it was one of the most horrifying things I ever saw. The carnage... Thirty-seven dead, and nine killed by me personally... I had no right to take them from their lives, or make their families suffer like that...' He shuddered.

{Magnus motioned for him to calm down.}

Magnus: "Alright, it's ok. My point is, Dianne lost her child to someone who did it intentionally. She murdered the necromancer Balbazar for slaying children in front of her and laughing. Killing those kids disgusted you as much as it would have her. She hates those who do it for pleasure. You apparently have nightmares about it just from sleeping in a tent. She's not going to hate you, not when she knows you were forced to do it, and it wracked you heart with grief."

Armin knotted his hands together on his lap, staring into space. He didn't answer right away.

'...I know Sargon made me do it... but I still chose to follow that order... I decided that my own friends and family were more /important/ than dozens of defenceless children...'

Magnus: "Sargon didn't give you much of a choice. He blackmailed you. He made you choose between your loved ones and this group of children. You never would have done that on your own. Explain that to Dianne, and I know she'll understand."

Armin gave a quiet sigh. 'Maybe... I'm still afraid that it will change things between us. Even if she knows I didn't do it willingly... The act I participated in was still horrific... I'm just afraid that she'll never look at me the same way again. That it'll always be hanging in the air.'

Magnus: "Maybe that's true. Or maybe she won't care. We won't know until you go back. However, there is something I am certain of. She has been miserable and alone for an unfathomable amount of time, and suddenly, she gets you. It's no secret I got you a lot more than just a hug in the long run, if you get my meaning."

{He snickers, elbowing him playfully.}

Magnus: "I'm not so sure she'd be willing to throw it all away over something like this. Go back to her. Talk. The key to any good relationship is open communication."

Armin eyed Magnus sideways, raising his eyebrows at the snicker and remark.

'Well... thanks. I guess I don't really have a choice, do I...' He sat up straighter, glancing at the doorway. 'I can't say I'm looking forward to going back, but I guess I have to know for sure whether I've ruined it or not...'

Magnus: "Yes. You can't just assume things about your partner and run away."

{Suddenly, there was a heavy thud outside as Biceras lands. Her dragon form was massive, twice the size of Dianne. She shifts back and jogs into the building. Barnabas appears behind Armin at the same time.}

Biceras: "Armin, you big baby, quit your b!tch!n' and.....Magnus?! Wha-how.....how are you alive?!"

Magnus: "Ah, Biceras. It's been too long."

Armin's head snapped up at the massive thud, his hand straying to his sword hilt. He'd never seen Biceras in dragon form before. When she shifted, he stared at her with a look of wary surprise.

'Biceras? What the hell are /you/ doing here?'

{Biceras snaps her attention back to Armin.}

Biceras: "What do you think I'm doing here? I'm going to bring you back! Look, Armin, Dianne is heartbroken that you left. You have to go back."

Barnabas: "She sent me with a message. She says she doesn't care about what you did. She just wants you to come back. I told her everything you told me."

Armin's attention flickered from Biceras, to Barnabas, then back again. He scratched the back of his head uncertainly.

'...Well, if you're telling the truth... I was going to come back anyway, after talking to Magnus, but... I'm glad to hear that... I have to ask, though, Biceras, why do /you/ care? You hate Dianne. I'd have thought you'd be happy to see trouble between us.'

{Biceras just sighs.}

Biceras: "Well....it's hard to argue that she's after your man when she's bawling over someone else. Besides, with you out of the picture, who's to say she won't turn her attention to Ardens?"

Armin slowly got to his feet, glancing briefly at Magnus.

'If you say so. Well, I guess we should go back, then...'

Magnus: "Yes, let's."

{He says, getting up.}

Magnus: "Biceras, mind giving us a ride?"

Biceras: "Sure."

{She shifts to dragon form, waiting for everyone.}

Armin climbed tiredly onto Biceras's back, glad that he didn't have to fly. 'You're coming too?' he said to Magnus.

Magnus: "Yes, I am. I'm going to make the absolute most of this temporary resurrection. So, I'd like to visit Dianne before I have to go."

{Once everyone was on, Biceras took flight.}

Armin didn't speak throughout the journey. He was exhausted, mentally drained, and still slightly afraid of what he was returning to. Once they were up, he took advantage of Magnus's tall height to lean forwards against his back, using Magnus as a support while he rested.

{Feeling Armin against his back, Magnus turns to look at him, concerned.}

Magnus: "You ok there, pal?"

'Mhm... Just tired...' Armin muttered. 'Besides the situation with Dianne, I really just don't like being reminded of the Windglen slaughter in general...'

Magnus: "Alright, well...just don't fall asleep and topple off."

{As they flew, Biceras spoke up.}

Biceras: "So, Magnus...You died eons ago. How is it that you're here?"

Magnus: "When Death saw Armin fleeing from Dianne, he wanted me to come talk to him. He's resurrected me temporarily so I could ease his mind. After things settle down, I'll have to go back."

Biceras: "Oh...Well...it is good to see you again."

Magnus: "Likewise, old friend."

'So... you two knew each other?' said Armin, listening to their conversation as he watched the dark city fly by.

Magnus: "Yes. We fought in the necromancer war together. You were in...257th, right?"

Biceras: "Yep. Lightkeeper under the command of Captain William Danse. Divines rest his soul."

Magnus: "I'd say good times, but...we were kind of fighting for our right to live..."

'Eh, I guess you both survived, at least...' said Armin drowsily. 'Lightkeeper? Those are the ones who have light weapons to blast dark monsters, right?' He thought of the weapon the Bloodrazors had used against Dianne in the museum.

Biceras: "Yep. Akhetian light weapons. Some people called them Sacred Lamps but....potato potauto..."

Armin shrugged slightly, forgetting Biceras couldn't see him. 'I've seen one of those before. Bloodrazors must've had at least one. I guess they're pretty rare nowadays...'

Biceras: "After the war, the Akhetians left and took most of the weapons with them. However, a few remained, scattered and hidden."

Magnus: "If an Akhetian finds one, they will confiscate it. It's like an inter dimensional contraband."

'Heh... illegal light weapons...'

Armin fell silent after that, trying to ignore the roiling mixture of emotions he was feeling. Both nervousness, and a desperate wish to be back with the one he loved.

{Arriving back at the police department, Biceras lets everyone get off before shifting back. Officers start to lead Them back inside.}

Officer: "Wait a minute, who's this?"

{He asks, pointing at Magnus.}

Biceras: "He's a friend. He's not a threat."

'Yeah, don't worry about it. We all know him. Dianne does, too,' said Armin, as he followed everyone into the station.

{They were all escorted to the safe room. Inside, Armin would be met with the sight of Dianne slumped over the table with her hands on the back of her head. Ardens was sitting across from her, looking concerned. When they entered, Dianne slowly lifted her head. Her gaze meeting Armin's she gets to her feet.}

Dianne: "Armin, please, don't leave. I know Sargon made you do it, I don't care. I don't resent you for it."

Armin shuffled into the room with a weary demeanour. When he met Dianne's gaze, his eyes flickered away with a look of slight guilt.

'Sorry... I was just scared... I was afraid it would ruin everything we have... That you'd never be able to look at me the same way again, knowing what I did. What I was involved in was horrific...'

{Dianne stepped closer to him, a betrayed look in her eyes. However, it was not for the reason Armin might think.}

Dianne: "Armin, it hurts me to think you were too afraid of me to be open and honest with me. You know I wouldn't hurt you. Why didn't you tell me sooner that this was bothering you?"

'I'm not afraid /of/ you. This isn't about trust, because I do trust you. I wasn't afraid of you attacking or killing me...'

This was true, although it hadn't been true when they first started travelling together.

'...It's about you having a serious trauma that I was afraid of triggering. I wasn't sure if knowing this would change your opinion of me... If you'd see me differently afterwards, despite not meaning to...'

Dianne: "So you ran away from me? What did you think I was going to do when I found out?"

'Call me a horrible person. Leave, maybe. Decide that you couldn't be with someone who did something like that. I ran because I didn't want to face it, alright?'

Dianne: "Armin, what right would I have to do that when I'm so much worse than you? I have much more blood on my hands than you. We've both done atrocious things, how could one possibly point a finger at the other?"

'Yes, but what I did was the one thing you never would. Something you consider /so/ atrocious, you couldn't do it even when you were wiping out entire civilisations.'

Dianne: "Armin, you didn't do it willingly. If you refused, your Family and friends would have been killed. You didn't do any of it willingly. How can I blame you for something you were forced to do?"

'I don't know...' said Armin tiredly. 'I wasn't thinking entirely rationally. I was just scared of losing you. And it's an rather disturbing memory, so I can't say I deal well with people bringing it up and rubbing it in my face like Garvey did.'

{Stepping forward, Dianne pulls him into a tight hug.}

Dianne: "I know it's scary, and the memory hurts... but I'm here for you. I'm /not/ leaving you just because someone throws your past in your face."

Armin let himself lean into the hug, burying his face in her shoulder.

'I'm sorry... I'm sorry...'

Dianne: "Shhhh....It's ok...the important thing is that you came back..."

{With him in her arms, she begins to rock back and forth with him gently.}

Dianne: "...Oh my god, Magnus?!"

'Yes, it's him...' Armin was too drained to laugh at her exclamation, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice. 'It's temporary...'

Magnus: "Hey there, Dianne. Death asked me to come convince Armin to come back here. So, I'm here for a little bit."

Dianne: "...Thank you..."
{She then leads Armin over to the couch and sits with him, never actually letting go.}

Armin willingly let himself be led to the couch. He then leaned his weight into her and rested his head on her shoulder, his demeanour holding a mixture of exhaustion and relief. He didn't seem to want to talk much right now.

{She leaned back, holding him close. She was drained as well, from everything that happened that day and began to fall asleep with him on the couch. Biceras, Ardens, and Magnus sat together and began to quietly converse about things amongst themselves.}

Esme sniffed curiously at Magnus, craning her neck to look at him properly. Armin paid little attention to their conversation, letting it become a comforting background noise. However, he didn't let himself fall asleep completely. He was afraid that, after everything today, he'd be prone to nightmares.

{Magnus looked down at Esme, smiling.}

Magnus: "So, this is the one she adopted? Hello little one. What's your name?"

{He asks, offering a hand for her to smell.}

Esme looked away briefly, then sniffed his hand and let out a soft chirrup. She knew what he was asking, but didn't want to speak.

Magnus: "Ah, too young to speak, I see. That's ok."

Ardens: "Her name is Esme, short for Esmerelda."

Magnus: "Esme. That's a good name."

{He proceeds to scratch her head behind the ears.}

Esme let out a purr-like growl. She then pulled away and went into the kitchen, looking around and sniffing. She was hungry, and sure it must be time for dinner by now.

{Magnus squints at this.}

Magnus: "They haven't brought you dinner yet, have they?"

Ardens: "No. It's been a busy day."

Magnus: "You know, I'd love try that 'pizza' thing that seems so popular. Can we order one?"

Biceras: "Let me go ask those officers..."

Esme, seeming to recognise the word 'pizza', squeaked in eager agreement.

Armin opened his eyes momentarily to observe them, then settled back down with Dianne.

Dianne: "Get a couple...We all know Magnus can put away the food..."

Magnus: "Guilty as charged. Heheheh..."

{Biceras gets up to ask for their order.}

'Well, isn't this normal...' Armin murmured drowsily. 'Four dragons, a vampire, and a dead guy having pizza together...'

Dianne: "Better than dining alone..."

Ardens: "I consider this a gift. Half the people in the room I thought I'd never see again. One of them is dead, and has been given this valuable opportunity. For us all to be here is a rare blessing."

(Posting new room)