'Yeah, it is nice...' said Armin. 'Lost in the mists of time for thousands of years, yet you end up finding each other again. Itls been nice to meet you, and Biceras... and to know what Magnus actually looks like...'

Ardens: "Likewise."

Magnus: "Perhaps it was destined. Still, I am glad we can all be here, in this time."

Biceras: "...I know I haven't been the nicest person to be around....But this is nice..."

'Well, I didn't get the best first impression from you, and I'm still not sure about you, I'll admit,' said Armin. 'Not when I know you've been hostile to Dianne for so long... But coming to look for me was nice.'

Biceras: "Regardless of my feelings, I had to come get you. Maybe it was watching her so broken up over you but I realized...You're her second chance..."

'So is that a second chance you think she deserves?' said Armin quietly, looking at Biceras with half-open eyes. 'Or do you still think she's some kind of iredeemable monster?'

Biceras: "...She deserves it...Ardens got one, why not her?"

Dianne: "And that is all I ask..."

Magnus: "Yes. Underneath all the terrifying magic and angry demeanor, she's a loving and maternal person. Many people forget, before she was a necromancer, she was just like everyone else."

Armin quietly observed the room, his gaze lingering momentarily on Biceras. He was a little surprised to hear her say that. //Maybe she's not a complete as.shole after all.//

He lifted his head and affectionately kissed Dianne on the cheek before settling back down.

{In response, Dianne squeezed him slightly.}

Dianne: "So, we're ok now, right, Armin?"

'Yes... If you really don't think differently of me... And I'm still sorry for leaving...'

Dianne: "I don't. I'm more sorry you were forced to do that. No more secrets, ok? If something's bothering you, tell me. I don't care what it is."

'Alright... Same goes for you, too... It might be hypocritical of me to say at this point, but I don't want you hiding anything important from me, and I wouldn't judge you for anything.'

Dianne: "Deal."

{She then settles down, but shortly after, the pizza arrives.}

Esme immediately jumped to attention, coming over to get herself a slice of pizza. Armin sat up a little and nudged Dianne.

'C'mon, food. We can go and sleep afterwards.'

{Sitting up and rubbing her eyes, Dianne looks over at the pizza.}

Dianne: "Ok..."

{Getting up, she walks over and gets herself some slices and a soda. Magnus happily serves Esme all the pizza she wants.}

Magnus: "Wow, this stuff is great! Man, I wish this existed back when I was alive."

'I'm guessing they don't have pizza in the afterlife,' Armin remarked, getting himself a soda and one slice. He left the rest of the pizza to everyone else, figuring that four dragons and Magnus would eat a lot.

Magnus: "I think I could get it, if I asked the right people..."

Biceras: "Pineapple?! Ok, who's the lame-o that ordered pineapple?"

Dianne: "I did. It's Esme's favorite."

Biceras: "Oh..."

Esme squeaked in agreement as she gnawed on a slice of pineapple pizza.

'Shame we don't have our stash of Akhetian Ale with us...' Armin mused, sipping his drink. 'I'd have liked some right about now.'

Dianne: "I suppose next time we should bring a bottle with us."

Magnus: "You have some? So, Triticum has returned?"

Dianne: "Yeah. His tavern is set up on the Mountain of Frozen Sorrows."

Magnus: "Well...that sucks. How can anyone get to it up there?"

Dianne: "Apparently, he's there to aid the people in the forelands and the valley."

'He won't be there forever, apparently,' said Armin. 'But yes, for now, you have to go up the frozen hell mountain to reach him. It's worth it, though. I think we brought back enough ale to last several years.'

Magnus: "How did you get it all back home?"

Dianne: "We used a hydra."

Magnus: "That's right, Titan. He still in that massive form?"

Dianne: "Yeah, but the hunters took his wing off."

Magnus: "Well that's not very nice."

'He's grounded,' said Armin, finishing his food and drink and settling back into the couch. 'It's going to take us about a week to drive home from here. We had Titan carrying our truck before. Unless we take a plane.'

Dianne: "But if we take a plane, we have to get our car and belongings shipped to us. That means that when we get back, we won't have a car."

Magnus: "Dianne, you've no shortage of wealth. Just buy a new car when you get back."

Dianne: "I suppose we could..."

Armin scratched his head, contemplating. 'I'm not sure I trust shipping. I'm afraid our stuff might get lost or broken in transit.'

Magnus: "I suppose a road trip could be fun."

Dianne: "Not when blood thirsty hunters are chasing you all the way back..."

'I'll just drive fast,' said Armin. 'Unless we can bribe Biceras to carry our truck back home?' he added, clearly jokingly.

Biceras: "Trust me, honey, you couldn't afford me."

Dianne: "And what about when we have to sleep? We can't keep moving then."

Barnabas: "I could drive at night. I don't need to sleep."

'You're not driving my truck,' said Armin firmly. 'You don't even have two actual hands. And you'll probably do something stupid and crash us.'

Barnabas: "You got a better idea? And what do you mean, 'your truck'? Y'all stole this from Billingsly. And Dianne's the one who took some bullets in the process, if anything, it's her truck."

'We didn't steal it, he let us have it. I'm calling it my truck because I'm the only one who drives it. And I don't have any other ideas.' Armin closed his eyes tiredly. 'Anyway, can we decide our method of transport when it's actually time to leave?'

Dianne: "Fair enough."

{Having finished with her food, Dianne sits next to Armin on the couch.}

Biceras: "We have a long way back as well. I think we should deal with the hunters here and now."

Armin slumped against Dianne, eyes still closed.

'Hell, I'd like to deal with them. I'm just not sure how. Even the Alexandria police haven't managed to deal with them yet.'

Dianne: "Give them a minute. If anyone can track them down, it's them."

{With everyone done eating, Magnus stands.}

Magnus: "This was lovely, but my time is nearly up."

Dianne: "Wait..."

{Standing up, she gets out her phone.}

Dianne: "I want a picture of all of us. A momento, if you will."

Ardens: "Ok. Let's huddle together. Have Barnabas take the picture."

Armin stood as well, grabbing Esme and putting her on his shoulders where she'd be in clear view. 'Magnus is gonna have to stand behind everyone else. And maybe bend down a little...'

{Handing her phone to Barnabas, Dianne joins the group.}

Magnus: "I'll get in there, don't worry."

{With them all in frame, Barnabas snaps the picture.}

Ardens: "Message me this picture, will you?"

Once the photo was taken, Armin put Esme down.

'That's going to be an interesting picture. A nice bit of history to look back on. A moment we all thought was impossible.'

Dianne: "Yeah. All of us together again. Even if it was only for a brief moment."

{As Dianne looked over the photo, a hole sprang up in the wall. Through it, was the Aspect of Death.}

Aspect: "It's tImE To gO."

Armin gave a start of surprise at the sight of the Aspect, then took a long, calming breath. //That thing really likes to spring up without warning...//

'OK... I guess this is goodbye, then. It's been nice to spend some time with you. It's certainly one good thing that came out of what happened today.'

{Dianne eyed the Aspect nervously, but approached Magnus.}

Magnus: "Likewise. Being here was a gift."

{He gave Dianne a brief hug before offering Armin a hand to shake.}

Magnus: "You've got a good one, Armin. Take care of each other, alright?"

Armin firmly shook Magnus's offered hand.

'We will. Thanks for everything. Coming here tonight, helping us in the Shacklestone War, and keeping Dianne company all those years.'

Magnus: "Of course."

{He then turns his attention to Ardens and Biceras.}

Magnus: "I'm happy to see you two are still together after all those years."

Ardens: "Thank you, Magnus. May we cross paths again some day."

Biceras: "But, y'know, in a weird situation like this, not us dying."

{Chuckling, he heads for the hole in the wall.}

Magnus: "Goodbye, everyone. Fortunes favor you."

Esme had been staring at the hole with bemusement. When Magnus started to leave, she squeaked in farewell, not knowing that she might never see him again.

'Bye, Magnus,' said Armin quietly.

Dianne: "Goodbye, old friend."

{Once Magnus was through the hole, it disappeared.}

Armin stood and gazed at the spot where the hole had been for a few moments. Then he stirred, looking around.

'Well, if nobody minds, I'm going to go and crash now. It's been a very long day...'

Dianne: "I'm coming with you."

Ardens: "Alright, good night you two."

{Grabbing up her sleepwear, she heads to their bedroom.}

Armin followed her inside and got changed quickly. He then flopped onto the bed, curling up slightly. The day's events had worn him down and all he wanted was to sleep and put everything out of his mind.

{Dianne quickly changed as well, crawling into bed with Armin. She then pulls him close, nuzzling into the base of his neck.}

Dianne: "Goodnight, Armin. I love you."

Armin kissed her head as he snuggled in, feeling the chaos of the day pushed aside as he settled into her arms.

'I love you. Thank you... for being... who you are...' he murmured as he dozed off.

Dianne: "Thank you for loving me...."

{Squeezing him slightly, she begins to drift off.}

----

Most of the night went by peacefully. Then, at around 6AM, Armin began to stir. The stirring turned into tossing and whimpering, a grimace of disgust and horror on his face. Whatever he was dreaming was clearly disturbing.

{Dianne woke up rather quickly at this, sitting up in the bed.}

Dianne: "Armin? Armin, wake up. It's ok. Armin!"

With a sharp intake of breath, Armin sat upright. He looked around the room for a moment, taking in the cold and the faint light of dawn. Then he rolled over and buried his face in the pillow, breathing slowly as if trying not to be sick, and swearing under his breath.

{Leaning over, Dianne starts to rub his back gently.}

Dianne: "Hey, are you ok? Was it a nightmare?"

Armin grunted in confirmation. He didn't move from his position and continued breathing slowly. '...You can probably guess what of...'

{Dianne then runs her hand up his back and begins to comb her fingers through his hair.}

Dianne: "It's ok. You're not there anymore, and I don't see you any differently as a result."

Armin focused on the sensation as he tried to stave off the nausea.

'This one dam.n kid... I found him on the ground in the middle of the carnage. Some other bast.ard had attacked him and just left him there to die slowly... When I got close, he looked at me like he thought I was going to save him... There was nothing I could do... I just had to put him out of his misery...'

{Armin's description of the scene made Dianne's stomach turn. If Armin had not had his face in the pillow, he would have seen her grimace.}

Dianne: "Let's not think about that now. Come here."

{Scooping him up, she hugs him tightly and strokes his hair.}

Armin didn't respond for a moment, full of disgust and hatred over what had happened. Then he buried his face in her shoulder and shuddered slightly.

'Some of the things I saw and heard... They're burned onto my memory forever.'

Dianne: "It's ok. Is there anything I can do to help? Maybe something to take your mind off of it?"

'Just lie with me, and keep messing with my hair. I'll probably feel better if I get a couple hours' more sleep... Then when I wake up, I'll think of something to do to keep my mind off it...'

Dianne: "Ok."

{Along with holding him close and stroking his head, she kissed the top of his head affectionately.}

Dianne: "I'm here for you, Amateotl. Just relax. Focus on me."

Very slowly, Armin relaxed, focusing on her presence, touch, and the sound of her heartbeat. He nuzzled against her, thinking about how lucky he was to have friends and family who accepted him despite everything.

'Mhm... thanks... I love you... forever and always...'

Dianne: "I love you too. Forever and always."

{She continued to lie there with him, stroking his head. She decided that she would wait for him to fall asleep before doing so herself.}

After several minutes, Armin seemed to settle down. He drifted off, focusing on the head rub. Eventually, it was clear from the rhythm of his breathing that he was asleep.

{Once she saw he was asleep, she allowed herself to drift off as well. Kissing his cheek, she settles in, drifting off as well.}

Armin slept, seemingly peacefully, for the next three hours or so. Later in the morning, he started to stir and wake up naturally. Taking a moment to recap what happened earlier as well as last night, he settled into Dianne's hold, contemplating.

//Well, I do feel a bit better now... I think I'll be fine as long as I don't let myself think about it too much...//

{Dianne was still fast asleep. In the other room was the quiet sound of the tv. It sounded like the mayor was giving a speech about the recent attack.}

Mayor Philan: "....their unprovoked attack on our innocent civilians highlights the problem hunter groups pose to non-human communities across the world. They are terrorist organizations, whether they claim to be or not. This is a reality we can no longer tolerate. Other provinces need to be held accountable for the groups they harbor and their actions...."

Armin tilted his head as he recognised the voice on the TV, taking a moment to recognise her voice.

//Huh. This place really is supportive of our kind, aren't they? It's a nice change... I hope someday, our home can be more like this. But I'm not getting my hopes up on that front.//

He remained lying there drowsily, half listening to the TV.

Mayor Philan: "Along these lines, the Northern Valley Province is now posting a bounty on the individuals involved. 50,000 Squalls alive, 30,000 dead. We urge our neighbors to honor this bounty, in the name of justice. This isn't the first time hunters have inflicted violence upon our people, but today, we take a stand..."

//Wait, does that mean they're putting a bounty out on the hunters?// he thought. //Well, that makes a change... Though, I know there are probably plenty of people who support their actions against us...//

Mayor Philan: "Throughout the years, our fine city has been considered a problem by many of the surrounding provinces. From our founding some five hundred years ago, to the resistance we faced in becoming an independent province, to now, with murderers coming and going as they please, treating our citizens as game while the other provinces willingly turn a blind eye..."

Armin remained lying there, content to just relax and listen to the mayor's speech. It was a good distraction from his earlier thoughts if nothing else.

{The mayor's speech concluded after a little while, and the channel was changed to some morning talk show. Around that time, Dianne began to stir a little, squeezing Armin tightly and snuggling into him.}

Dianne: "....Mmmmm.....Ivy, that's gross....get a damn room...."

Armin turned his attention away from the TV once Mayor Philan's speech ended. Shifting his gaze onto Dianne, he smirked. //You sure have some weird dreams...//

'Wake up, little dragon...' he murmured in a singsong voice, figuring she was about to anyway.

{Lifting her head groggily, she looks at him with unfocused eyes.}

Dianne: "...I'm not little...but I guess it's better than being called fat..."

He let out a poorly-suppressed snort of laughter. 'You're definitely not fat, even if you weigh as much as a pile of bricks.'

Dianne: "....Mhmmm....I can hold you down just by lying on top of you."

{Out of sleepy emphasis, she rolls over on top of him.}

Dianne: "See?....."

Armin wheezed as most of the breath was forced out of his lungs.

'Ow, shove off. This doesn't work.'

He pushed against her and nipped sharply at her collarbone, trying to make her wake up properly before she crushed him.

Dianne: "Ow, ow, ow!"

{She woke up, sitting up off of him.}

Dianne: "What? What's going on?"

'Nothing's going on...' Armin replied, yawning and looking up at her innocently. 'You were just trying to crush me to death in your sleep.'

Dianne: "Oh....Sorry..."

{Rubbing her face, she tries to wake up more.}

Dianne: "Well, I am glad to see that you're feeling better."

'Yeah.' He continued to gaze up at her, then reached up to tug her sleeve. 'Lie with me for a few minutes longer?' he requested. 'It's not that late, and I don't want to get up yet...'

Dianne: Oh, sure."

{Lying back down, she snuggles up to him.}

Dianne: "Not like we can go anywhere anyway. Why not enjoy each other's company a bit longer."

Once she lay down, Armin rolled on top of her like she had done to him. He proceeded to kiss the spot he had just bitten, and from there, continued to slowly kiss his way up her neck with intent.

{Dianne raised her eyebrows in surprise at this, then smiles flirtatiously.}

Dianne: "Oh...Who's eager now?"

'Well, I need to keep my mind off things... And express my gratitude to you, I suppose.'

Reaching the underside of her jaw, he started nipping lightly, focusing on spots that he knew were sensitive.

{Each time he nipped her, she tensed slightly. She tightened her grip on him, leaning her head back to give him easier access.}

Dianne: "You're nipping all the best places...I guess you do pay attention..."

'Of course. I pay /some/ attention.'

He quickly asked Esme to leave the room, shutting the door behind her. He then returned to Dianne. Catching hold of her wrists, he made a tentative move to pull her arms above her head.

{Outside, Ardens and Biceras were sitting on the couch, Ardens resting in Biceras' arms}

Ardens: "Parents made you leave, eh, Esme?"

Biceras: "I think we both know what that means." ;)

Ardens: "Come here, sweetheart. You can hang out with us."

{Inside the room, Dianne lets her arms be put above her.}

Dianne: "Heh, looking to hold me down again?"

Esme looked over at the pair contemplatively, not seeming fazed at being kicked out of the room. She then went over to sit beside them.

'Not that I /can,/ but yes...' Armin murmured playfully. He started moving down her neck, biting more roughly, all the while keeping her wrists held down. When he reached the area between her neck and shoulder, he bit down even harder, growling playfully.

{Reaching over, Ardens pets her head.}

Ardens: "Let's see what's on tv...Ah, Blaster Man 5: The Revengening."

{Dianne begins to fidget, smiling and biting her lip. When he bites between her neck and shoulder, she sucks in a quick breath.}

Dianne: "Oh....Rough where I like it, gentle where I don't..."

Esme settled in to watch the TV, seeming instantly fixated.

Armin smirked - a little smugly - and moved to bite the other side as well. Keeping her wrists held with one hand, he slipped his other hand underneath her shirt, roaming and caressing. He then scraped his nails down the length of her abdomen, clawing lightly.

{Dianne gave a quiet, but high pitched noise at Armin's clawing. It sounded halfway between a whimper and a squeak. Dianne's breathing became uneven and her heartrate quickened.}

'Ooh... Haven't heard /that/ one before...'

He dug his teeth into the muscle between her neck and shoulder and bore down harder on her wrists. Keeping a firm grip on her, he clawed at her stomach again.

Dianne: "It....hnngghh....it just slipped out..."

{In response, she arched her back and jolted, causing the interruption to her sentence. She began to fidget restlessly, anticipating what was to come.}

Armin withdrew his teeth from her shoulder and smiled slyly, seeming to enjoy her reactions.

'I could move things along at this point, but... I don't know... this is fun,' he said in a low, teasing voice.

Dianne: "Huff...huff....well, if you do want to move things along....I'm very ready..."

{She looks up at him with an amused expression. However, there was a hint of longing and impatience in her eyes as she lay there, trying to catch her breath.}

Armin eyed her for a moment, then grinned.

'I think I'm sensing some impatience...'

He sunk his fangs between her neck and shoulder again, hard enough to draw a tiny bit of blood. He was deliberately teasing, knowing full well that she just wanted to get a move on.

{Dianne just rolls her eyes, clenching her fists and teeth, arching her back, and stifling a groan as he bit her.}

Dianne: "Fine....Be that way....but if you continue like this, I'm likely to be satisfied far before you decide to move along...."

'Fair enough.'

His grin melting into a more fond look, he kissed her jawline and let go of her wrists.

'Sorry for messing with you so long. I just like your reactions,' he said slyly.

Dianne: "I can't help my reactions...When you don't do this stuff for such a long time as I have, everything gets sensitive...Still, at least they amused you.."

{With her hands free, she grabs him into a passionate kiss.}

Dianne: "Now, how about we move along?"

Armin hummed appreciatively into the kiss.

'It wasn't just that I found it amusing. I genuinely like seeing you enjoying yourself... And yes, let's.'

He leaned down for another, quicker kiss, then sat up and started working to remove his shirt and shorts.

(You can either do one more, or skip there, whichever you like.)

(This time, we skip. I have nothing else to add.)

{As soon as the couple finished and opened the door to leave, they were met with knowing expressions from Ardens and Biceras.}

Ardens: "Hey there. You kids have fun?"

Biceras: "From what I heard, yeah I think they did." ;)

(Posting new room)