Armin raised his eyebrows at the pair. He didn't seem particularly fazed that they knew. He'd guessed all along that they'd find out, from the marks on Dianne's neck if nothing else.

'You weren't eavesdropping, were you?' he said.

Biceras: "Didn't have to, what with these thin walls?"

Ardens: "She's joking. we didn't hear much other than the occasional bed springs."

{Dianne looked a little embarrassed, but she just walked to the kitchen to get the breakfast the officers provided.}

'Eh... could be worse,' said Armin. 'Also, just as a warning, if /you two/ ever do anything while we're here... I /will/ hear it. Vampire senses.'

Esme had already eaten her share of breakfast, as soon as it had been brought in.

Biceras: "Then you might want to get some headphones because we tend to get loud."

Ardens: "I don't think we're going to do anything of that sort here. I'd rather not disturb you with our lovemaking."

Biceras: "Yeah, it might be too grown for you."

Armin opened one of the kitchen cabinets to get a blood bottle, sipping it slowly while glancing over at them.

'Too grown? I'm not an inexperienced teenage boy. I doubt anything you do would unsettle me. Though, I still appreciate not having to hear you.'

Biceras: "Relax, I'm just messing with you. Although..."

{She drops her tone as if she didn't want Dianne to hear.}

Biceras: "She really let's you bite her to the point of bleeding? That's kind of archaic. Kinda clues you in on the fact that she's old."

Armin stepped out of the kitchen with his blood bottle to get further away from Dianne. 'Archaic? What's so archaic about that?' he said, keeping his voice low too.

Biceras: "It's like a known thing in dragon culture. Things were a lot more savage that long ago. Mating pairs of ancient nontransmogrofying dragons are known for their...more painful mating habits. Nowadays, most dragons won't go that far."

'Oh. Well, she's from those times, and I'm a vampire, so...' He shrugged. 'It's kind of bound to get rough.'

Biceras: "Yes, but she likes it. I doubt many other partners would."

{She falls silent as Dianne walks back into the room with a plate of breakfast sandwiches.}

Dianne: "Yes, Biceras, I like it rough, but only to a point. I don't mind a little bleeding, but he doesn't go overboard. Now if you're done discussing my intimate preferences, I'd like to know when we might get out of here."

Armin continued to drink slowly from his blood bottle.

'Well, the enemy's still at large. I heard the mayor giving a speech on the TV earlier, saying they've put a bounty on the hunters. But, that might not help us much.'

Dianne: "Well that's something. See how they like it."

Biceras: "I'm sure we'll get an update soon. They can't keep us here forever."

{Just as she said that, Chief Alder walks through the door.}

Chief: "Good morning. I have some news."

'Yeah?' said Armin expectantly, looking over at the chief as he put his bottle back in the cabinet.

Chief: "We tracked down the hunters who escaped and staged another sting this morning. We captured their sorcerer and light mage, so no more portals. The only ones left are a few members of the Garvey family and the Tussock brothers. If you all would like, you may return to your hotels and resume your vacations in peace, or, we can arrange to send you home ASAP. Your call."

'Oh.' Armin scratched his head and glanced sideways at Dianne. 'Any ideas on what you want to do? I'd gladly stay a little bit longer, but...'

Dianne: "I'd like to stay, finish our shopping, and enjoy what's left of our time here. Will we still have the option of taking a plane if we decide to stay?"

Chief: "Yes, of course. The mayor is quite insistent on facilitating anything you want to do."

'We appreciate the hospitality,' said Armin. 'It's nice that the problem got sorted out so quickly. Definitely a far cry from Agamidae or Sovereign.'

Chiaf: "We aim to please."

Biceras: "Alright, we'll stay too. There's some other things we wanted to do."

Ardens: "We should go out, all of us. Maybe dinner, or a movie?"

'That'd be fun,' said Armin agreeably. Though, his gaze flickered between Dianne and Biceras, half-expecting them to not want to spend any more time in each others' presence than forced to.

At the same time, a thought crossed his mind of something he should have taken care of, but completely forgotten about. //Well, sh.it. He's not going to be happy...//

(He forgot to call Rex, didn't he? XDD)

Biceras: "Ok, we can do that. But, I certainly do want to have some alone time with you, Ardens."

Dianne: "Ok, well, you have our numbers. Call us when you want to arrange something."

Ardens: "Very well. Let's pack our things and get on with it!"

{Biceras and Dianne were exchanging subtle glances while Ardens gleefully began to pack.}

(Yup.)

Armin eyed Biceras and Dianne for a moment longer, then distractedly pulled out his phone. With everything that had happened, he hadn't even remembered to charge it. He set about finding a charger so he could check it before they left.

'You seem pretty enthusiastic, Ardens,' he commented.

Esme was watching everyone was atop the couch, ears pricked.

Ardens: "Yes, well, I was really looking forward to this vacation, so I'm quite happy to have the opportunity to continue it."

{Dianne looks over at Armin as she begins packing their belongings.}

Dianne: "Phone ran out of charge?"

'I think it did a while ago...'

After plugging the phone into the wall, Armin turned it on and checked it with a grim expression.

'Yep, three missed calls and twelve texts... from the last two days... I think Rex is going to rip me apart when we get home.'

Dianne: "Why wait? Call him now."

{She says, chuckling mischievously.}

Armin groaned and dialled a number, holding the phone gingerly. It barely rang before someone picked up.

Armin: 'Hey, Rex.'

Rex: 'You. ASSHOLE.'

Armin: 'Now, hold on just a minute--'

Rex: 'The /only/ reason I didn't think you were dead is because Fred's been keeping up with the news in Alexandria and knew what was going on! How dare you not answer your phone for two days! I'm trying to do my job here, and you thought it'd be funny to run in with hunters again, I suppose?'

Armin pulled the phone slightly away from his ear. 'Come on, we didn't /ask/ them to attack us! We did nothing to provoke this, except exist! Besides, everything's fine now.'

{Dianne couldn't help but snicker at Rex's outburst. Biceras just gives a bewildered look, leaning in towards Ardens.}

Biceras: "Yeesh, you think having one girl is hard, Armin over there has two. Heheheheh."

Ardens: "I don't think that's a girl..."

Biceras: "Well, he certaintly acts the part."

Armin: 'They've killed or captured most of the hunters, and I don't think the few that are left can bother us. Look, we're fine, I'm sorry I didn't call, but to be fair, I've had a lot on my mind.'

Rex: '...Well, I suppose it wasn't your fault. Or hers. Though, can't guarantee I won't punch you when you get home.'

Armin: 'Sure... Listen, we're going to stay here for a few more days, enjoy the rest of our vacation. I'll make sure to keep in contact, OK?'

Rex: 'Yes, you do that.'

Armin: 'Alright. Love you.'

Armin then hung up, shaking his head as he put his phone away.

Dianne: "OOOooooh, you're in trouuuubblleee."

{She says in a singsong voice.}

Biceras: "Who was that? Your side chick? Hmmm?"

'No, that was just my friend, Rex. He gets like that sometimes,' said Armin. He started helping to pack their belongings. 'Come on, it's not my fault I forgot to call him...'

Biceras: "I dunno, it kind of sounds like it is...."

Dianne: "He's had a rough two days, leave him alone."

{With all their stuff packed and the ferret plush wrapped around herself, Dianne scoops up Esme and heads for the door.}

Armin followed Dianne out, carrying whatever belongings she couldn't take. He was quite eager to leave the police station, having been stuck there for some time, except for when he'd fled last night.

{Some officers led Dianne and Armin to their car in the garage, While Ardens and Biceras were led to a police car to be taken to their hotel.}

Ardens: "Alright, we'll be in touch. Be safe, you three."

Dianne: "We will. Thank you."

'We'll see you soon. Don't get attacked by anyone again.'

Armin unlocked the car and climbed into the driver's seat, glancing around to make sure all of their possessions were still in the back. //I don't think we have much Christmas shopping left to do... Though I still need to decide exactly what I'm getting Dianne...//

{Dianne sat in the passenger's seat, putting Esme on her lap.}

Dianne: "Alright, let's put our luggage back into the hotel, then decide what we want to do?"

'Yeah...'

The truck rumbled into life. Smiling contentedly at the familiar sound, Armin set off, out of the police station.

'How much more time do we have, to spend here? I kind of lost track of the days.'

Dianne: "Two, if we want to stick with the original plan, but there's no harm in staying a few more."

'Alright, let's just see how things go.'

They continued onwards until they reached the hotel. Armin stopped the car, grabbed what he could of their belongings, and started taking it up to their room. He left all the gifts in the car, as before.

{Before they could get to the elevator, they were stopped by the clerk behind the desk.}

Clerk: "Sir, m'am, a moment?"

{The clerk runs up to them,. Being the short satyr he was, it looked a little comical.}

Clerk: "The owner of the hotel wanted me to inform you that, due to the difficulties you experienced in this city, your stay is now completely free, and you may extend it as long as you like."

Armin blinked. 'Oh. Well, that's really not necessary, but... that's nice, I suppose. Thanks.'

Dianne: "How generous. Do pass on our gratitude to the owner for us."

Clerk: "My pleasure."

{With that, the clerk ran back to his post.}

Clerk: "Have a nice stay!"

Armin continued on to the elevator with a slightly bemused expression.

'I'm starting to think everyone's terrified that we'll burn down their city,' he said once they were out of earshot. 'Because we got attacked here.'

Dianne: "That might be part of it. It also might be because they can't pride themselves on being a nonhuman safe haven if they don't support us."

{Getting to the room, she puts down her luggage.}

'Maybe. I'm just grateful that they were so quick to deal with the hunters, or most of them, at least. I don't really care if they offer us free hotel stays.'

Armin set down the things he'd been carrying as well, looking around the familiar hotel room.

'So, some of the Garveys are still alive out there... Wonder what they'll do now.'

{Dianne sighs, placing Esme down on her lap.}

Dianne: "Not sure...but, it's only a matter of time before Jerry hears...Maybe has to go out of province for a funeral..."

Armin was plugging his phone back into its charger.

'His family are as.sholes, but I still feel sorry for him, in a way. I hope they all get what they deserve, but I'm not sure how he's going to deal with losing half his family..'

Dianne: "...He's my friend. I don't want to hurt him, but his family isn't giving me a choice. I only hope this doesn't drive us apart..."

'I don't like it, but we have to do what we have to do... Sam Garvey isn't going to change, and he's sealed his own fate. I feel bad that Jerry's caught in the middle of this, but... it can't be helped...'

Dianne: "I guess not...none of this would have happened if they just let us be. We didn't ask for this, and yet, there they go, chasing us like rabid dogs."

Armin looked quietly out the window for a moment, then turned away.

'We're still on vacation. Let's put this aside for now, and think of something else we could go do.'

Dianne: "Very well. Any suggestions?"

'I wouldn't mind a walk. Some fresh air after being stuck in that police station. There's some nice, big parks in this city. Then maybe we could go watch a movie or something before dinner.'

Dianne: "That sounds nice. Let's do that. I think Commando Man 3 is in the theaters, Esme might like that."

With this settled, Armin got ready and headed back out to the car. He took his shortsword with him, strapped onto his belt. After everything that happened recently, he wasn't taking any chances of being caught without a weapon.

{Dianne changed into a t-shirt and jeans, put on her armor's breastplate, then a coat over all of it. It seems she wasn't taking chances either. Scooping up Esme, she follows Armin out to the car.}

Jumping into the car with them, Armin set off through the city. He was heading for a park several miles away that connected to a short woodland trail for hikers.

'We need a Christmas present for Esme too...' he said a few minutes after setting off. 'But we can't get her anything in front of her.'

Dianne: "Yeah. She's so small still, what could we get her? More pebbles?"

'I was thinking, an especially nice rock. Like a geode or something,' said Armin. 'I might not even have to get that here. Besides that, I guess food or simple toys would work.'

Dianne: "Alright, let's keep an eye out for a rock store.We'll get her something nice, and I'll also get her some other toys. Ooh, I should get her clay, so I can populate her block kingdom with little subjects."

'Yes, I heard you mentioning that when we built the block castle in Rex's room. That's going to be interesting. Hey, what are you getting me for Christmas?' he added slyly.

{Dianne returns his sly look.}

Dianne: "You'll just need to wait and see. But, rest assured, it has already been purchased and is simply waiting for the day when you can open it."

'Oh, really? I'll be looking forward to that, then...'

He kept driving while wondering what she could have possibly bought him. They began to leave the bustling streets behind as they moved into a quieter part of the city, with houses spaced further apart and trees lining the roads.

Dianne: "I think you'll really like it."

{She watched the scenery go by as Armin drove, smiling pleasantly.}

Armin eventually arrived at the park after a pleasant drive. Beyond where they'd parked, there lay an open green and a small lake with a few people walking dogs. A little further away was a peaceful-looking woodland trail, with trees on either side of the path, and the sound of a stream bubbling in the distance.

Armin hopped out of the car and immediately headed for the trail.

{Dianne jumped out with Esme, ushering her along to keep up with Armin.}

Dianne: "Huh. This is a nice little area."

(Posting new room)