(Replied on last one)

{Dianne simply watched the streets go by as they drove. Eyeing Armin, she smiles slightly.}

Dianne: "Tired?"

'A little bit. I do like my sleep.'

Parking up outside the fish restaurant on the lakeside, he started to climb out of the car.

Dianne: "Ok, we'll just go sleep after this. I could use some rest too."

{Hopping out with Esme, she follows Armin inside.}

Dianne: "What are you going to order today?"

'Well... I had fishcakes last time, so something a bit different, I suppose. Maybe fish pie. That's pretty good.'

Once they were inside, he saw that their table from last time was occupied. There was a vacant table next to a large werewolf family, but he ignored that one and picked a more secluded table instead.

Dianne: "I think I just want a whole fish."

{She follows him to the table, eyeing the werewolf family with amusement.}

Dianne: "They bug you that much, huh?"

'Eh, they smell better than the Shacklestone ones. And they look better-mannered, too. I kind of just avoid them by habit now.'

Sitting down, he briefly inspected the menu before putting it aside. He'd already decided what he was getting.

{Dianne selected something mentally, then placed her menu down.}

Dianne: "So, what should we get Esme?"

'I wouldn't recommend a whole fish,' said Armin. 'We don't need her choking on any small bones. Anything else should be alright.'

Dianne: "Then let's just order her fish cakes again. Simple and easy to eat."

Just then, a waitress came over to them.

'Hello, are you ready to order?'

Armin glanced at the menu again. 'I'll have the fish pie, and a glass of white wine. And fishcakes for the little dragon.'

Dianne: "I'll take the whole trout, and a glass of red wine. And a bowl of lemonade for the little one."

'Fish pie, fishcakes, whole trout, lemonade, red wine, and white wine,' the waitress reeled off from her notepad. 'OK, I'll have your meal out to you shortly.'

After she left, Armin settled back and looked around the restaurant. Not far away, there was a dragonshifter family. They had a child, a red-and-yellow dragon who looked about Esme's age, and was gazing curiously at Esme.

{Dianne glances over at the other baby dragon, then to Esme.}

Dianne: "Hmm..that one seems curious about Esme."

{She states lowly.}

Armin followed her gaze.

'Hey!' the red dragon suddenly squawked. 'Hey! Hey!'

'Be quiet, Wolf,' said his mother in a long-suffering tone.

'Green dragon!' said Wolf excitedly. 'Tiny green dragon!'

Esme creased her muzzle and tried to give him an indignant look, not saying anything in return.

Dianne: "It's ok, Esme. He's just excited."

{She puts a hand on Esme, just in case she tries to bolt.}

'Sorry about him,' said Wolf's mother. 'He hasn't quite learned to behave in public yet.'

Esme stood her ground, staring Wolf down until he eventually looked away.

//Funny that he talks, and I've never heard Esme say a word,// Armin mused.

Dianne: "It's quite alright. He's still quite young."

{Petting Esme, she tries to calm her down.}

Wolf looked a little puzzled by Esme's lack of speech, and decided to ignore her, turning his bored attention to some other family.

A moment later, the waitress came back with their dinner and drinks, setting it all on the table.

Dianne: "Thank you."

{With everything brought to the table, Dianne began to eat.}

Armin started eating his food slowly and contemplatively.

'Hmm... that's pretty good. But it's nothing compared to what my mum used to make at home...'

Esme drank some of her lemonade first before ravenously tearing into her fishcakes.

Dianne: "What was it like? To actually have a home and a mom growing up? Not having to fight for every meal on the daily? I would have traded my situation for yours in a heartbeat, given the chance."

'It's hard to say what it was like. For me, it was normal. I didn't have any awareness of how harsh some peoples' childhoods could be, so I couldn't really be grateful for mine... Looking back, I'm very glad that I /did/ have a happy childhood, and parents who - while not the best - actually cared about me.'

Dianne: "Some people would say that my childhood, despite being hard, helped me to become the great person I am today. Those people are full of it, my childhood /sucked/ and I think I'd have been much better off without it."

'If your parents were like mine, you might've gotten into trouble,' said Armin. 'They loved me, but they weren't quite up to the responsibility of being parents. So they let me get away with a lot. Didn't care what I was doing, as long as I didn't badly hurt myself. Turned a blind eye to the recklessness and bullying. In your society, that could have gotten you killed.'

Dianne: "Probably would have. Not much room for recklessness where I'm from. Wonder what kind of kid I would have been, if I grew up in a town like you."

'Hard to say. You might have been rowdy, or you might have been that kid who just sits in a corner reading. I think you'd have been quite nice, though.'

Dianne: "Well, when I'm calm and happy, I'm pretty amiable. I probably would have been something like Frederick. Quiet, neat, likes to read."

{Taking a moment to enjoy her fish, she nods.}

Dianne: "This is tasty..."

'Maybe not quite as germaphobic, though,' said Armin in between bites of food. He paused to consider. 'It's kind of weird to think that if I'd met you when you were a kid, you probably would have eaten me.'

Dianne: "Yeah, it is weird. But, I was starving half the time, and you probably would have looked very edible. But, if I had actual parents and never went hungry, maybe we would have gotten along."

'Maybe. I have told you that I was... kind of mean when I was a kid. If you met me when I was over thirteen, I think it would've been fine.'

Having eaten as much as he wanted, he sat back and sipped his wine.

Dianne: "Well, you wouldn't exactly have been able to bully me. I was still a strong kid. But yeah, if we did meet in our teens, we probably would have gotten along."

{Dianne finished her meal shortly after, slowly drinking her wine.}

Armin kept a peaceful silence as he drank his wine, gazing around the restaurant, watching people coming and going. Esme had finished around the same time as Dianne and was starting to look drowsy.

{Dianne looks down at Esme, chuckling. She starts to pet her as she finishes her wine.}

Dianne: "Esme looks about ready for bed. Time to head back?"

'Yeah, let's go...'

Armin stood up and led the way back outside. By then, it was fully dark and very cold. Unlocking the truck, he hopped inside.

{Dianne picked up Esme, cradling her gently. Once they got to the car, Dianne leaned her seat back so Esme could somewhat be laying down on her.}

Esme settled down against her mother, watching the scenery through the window as her eyes drifted shut, trying not to nod off.

After a short drive, they arrived outside their hotel. Armin shut off the engine and jumped out, waiting for Dianne and Esme to join him before continuing inside.

{Dianne gently sat up, picking up Esme. Getting out of the car, she follows Armin in.}

Getting up to the hotel room, Armin immediately went into the bathroom to change into his sleepwear so he could be more comfortable. Esme stirred and lifted her head, blinking, before trying to hop out of Dianne's grasp and jump onto her bed.

{Dianne lets Esme down on her bed, then gathers her sleepwear and waits for Armin.}

Dianne: "I'm going to shower first."

'Alright.' Armin lay back on their bed, yawning. 'I'll wait.'

{Dianne walks into the bath. A few minutes later, she emerges in her sleepwear and lies down with him.}

Dianne: "Come 'ere..."

Armin rolled over and burrowed into her, snuggling in with a contented growl.

{Dianne held him tightly, nuzzling him affectionately.}

Dianne: "Mmm...Goodnight..."

(Skip?)

(Yes, do you want to go first, or me?)

(You go)

----

Armin awoke around midmorning. Hearing the familiar quiet rumble of traffic outside, he was quite relieved to not have had any more nightmares. Carefully, so not to wake Dianne, he reached over to the nightstand where he'd left his phone charging. He messaged Rex to let him know that everything was fine, and ask him how he was doing. Armin then put the phone aside and snuggled up to Dianne again.

{Dianne stirred slightly, cracking open her eyes.}

Dianne: "....Jerry, you can do better....besides, she's no good for you..."

{She then immediately fell back asleep.}

Armin quietly considered this. //Wonder if she saw Jerry with Ivy? Yeah, if that ever happens, I'm taking Jerry aside and having a word with him.//

Both amused and disturbed by the thought, he draped an arm across her and continued to doze.

{She snuggles up to him, still asleep, muttering incoherently. After another hour, she stirs again.}

Dianne: "...Touch her again and your dead....I don't care she ruined your date...."

Armin glanced at her curiously, unsure what that was supposed to be about. He started nudging her gently and repetitively, to see if she might wake up.

{She frowns at this, involuntarily grabbing his hand and squeezing.}

Dianne: "Mmmmm......stop it...."

Armin grinned, despite wincing slightly at her grip.

'Why?' he said. Rather than trying to free his hand, he just used the other hand to continue poking her.

Dianne: "Mmmmmm...that's it....no more sweets for you..."

{Finally waking up, she sits up, looking around the room.}

Dianne: "What?....What's wrong?...."

'Nothing...' he said drowsily, draping one arm across her legs, as if to stop her from getting up. 'You remember having any weird dreams?'

Dianne: "...Yeah...Ivy doing all kinds of questionable things....I was sleep talking again, wasn't I?"

'Yep. I had a feeling that at least some of that was about Ivy.'

Dianne: "...Is that why you woke me up? To ask what I was going on about?"

{She starts to get up as she speaks, finding his arm blocking her.}

'Eh, partly. But I thought you were close to waking up anyway. Besides, it's not like I could sleep through your rambling.'

When she moved, Armin shifted, wrapping his arms around her waist and trying to pull her back down with him.

'Hey,' he objected.

Dianne: "Hey, what? I was lying down with you until you roused me from my slumber, and now you want me to lie back down? Make up your mind."

{She states, sounding amused and maintaining her sitting position.}

'You were complaining about being woken, but now you want to get up?' Armin countered. With a grunt, he pulled himself up a little, still holding onto her. He then kissed her neck. 'C'mon, it's comfortable here. We don't have to get up just because we're awake.'

Dianne: "Very well, I'll stay."

{She says, chuckling and tensing slightly at the kiss. Lying back down, she wraps her arms around him.}

Dianne: "I suppose you want to know what trouble Ivy was causing?"

'Go ahead,' said Armin. 'I'm guessing Jerry was involved in some of it?'

He relaxed into her arms, tucking his head against her shoulder.

Dianne: "Yeah...Somehow, she convinced him to date her, and it apparently went well. I told him she wasn't good for him and she got huffy with me. Then, when they were getting ready for their date, Esme jumped up on her and tracked mud on her dress. She tried to punish Esme so I threatened her life, told her if she ever tried to touch Esme again, I'd disembowel her. That didn't go over well. She tried to have Fred arrest me, and I just told him that he knew that wasn't a good idea. Then you woke me up."

Armin snickered slightly.

'The sad thing is, Ivy would probably react just like that. I can't see Jerry wanting to date her, though. He's too intelligent to not realise it would be a terrible idea. At least, I hope he is.'

Dianne: "I think he'll be alright. Although...it might not hurt to introduce him to someone...if only we knew anyone....."

'So, you're saying you want to play matchmaker with Jerry?' Armin just sounded amused. 'I thought that was Ivy's job... Well, I can't think of anyone who might work. Not off the top of my head.'

Dianne: "For the sake of keeping a nightmare from becoming reality, I'm considering it."

{Dianne simply rolls her eyes at Armin's tone.}

Dianne: "How about Owel? Too old? She seems a sweet girl."

'She looks at least ten years older than him. Not sure how old she actually is, though I guess we're proof that age isn't so important... Though, do you think Jerry could handle a vampire?' he said with amusement.

Dianne: "Well, I don't know...honestly, what is there to handle? It's not like she's a dragon."

{She says mischievously.}

'Hey, just because I'm good at controlling my biting instinct, doesn't mean all are. In the heat of the moment, some can't resist... We might not be as rough as some dragons, but you gotta be prepared for anything,' he said with a smirk.

Dianne: "Hmm, I suppose that is a concern...We don't want him to die from a love bite gone wrong. Still, thanks for not biting into me with everything you have. Being bit is hot, but not to the point of dying..."

'Vampires killing people that way is rare, but it has happened. With humans, it's a much bigger concern. You get excited, bite a little too deep, and suddenly you've got major blood loss to deal with. Owel doesn't strike me as the rough type, but there are other reasons for them to not be together. Like one being immortal and the other not...'

Dianne: "True, true...We don't know any other humans though, do we? Or elves for that matter."

'Mhm... yeah, apart from Ivy, I can't think of anyone who has a similar lifespan. Dam.n, does that make it even more likely than your dream will come true?' he said half-jokingly.

Dianne: "I hope not...You know, if he does fall in love with a vampire, he could just let her turn him. Then lifespan won't be an issue."

'Yeah, I thought of that. If he's willing to become a vampire, it would work. It's odd to think of Jerry as a vampire, but I'd be fine with it as long as it's his choice.'

Dianne: "Yeah...I wonder if Pythia is interested in him. She's certaintly a sweet girl. Hasn't mentioned liking anyone, though."

'I've never seen any indication that Pythia likes him, or vice versa,' Armin mused. 'I can't really picture them together. I feel like if anything happened with Pythia, it would be more likely to involve Ryder than Jerry.'

Dianne: "Yeah, I think you might be right. However, Ryder doesn't strike me as the type to want a long term relationship. Pythia's outright told me she'd like to start a family one day. I guess we'll have to see..."

'Yes, Ryder's pretty young, so I don't think he'd be ready for committment. Or kids. But in any case, it's going to be fun to see what happens with everyone in years to come.'

Dianne: "Yeah. I'm sure Jerry will find someone that isn't Ivy. Or a crazed hunter. Or someone that might accidentally kill him. We'll just have to wait and see..."

'If he wants a relationship, he'll find someone eventually.'

Armin adjusted his position slightly and gave a gentle, affectionate bite to the base of her neck.

'And thanks for trusting me not to go too far. Can't be easy, knowing how much damage I could cause if I didn't control the instinct...'

{Dianne smiles, tensing slightly.}

Dianne: "Any meaningful relationship is based on trust. I admit, it was a concern at first, given how I reacted the first time you bit me. But, that concern melted away from the sheer sensation of us...doing stuff... I waited a long time since doing anything like that."

'I still consider that trust a bit of an honour. That, after two thousand years, you made the decision to do that with /me./ You chose to break that very long abstinence, because of me. Nice feeling, that.'

Dianne: "Well, you took the time to know me, didn't run or turn on me after you knew about my past, somehow forgave me for assaulting you and insulting you during the Shacklestone war, and risked your life saving mine at my most vulnerable moment. I didn't pick you at random."

'True, I suppose. I did want to get to know you. I felt like you needed a friend, and I wanted to be that friend. Can't say I expected things to turn out like this, though.' He nuzzled under her jaw for emphasis as he spoke.

{Dianne's grip on him tightens.}

Dianne: "Neither did I. Yet now, I can't imagine being away from you and Esme. How I've missed having a family..."

'I've missed it, too. Well, I've mostly missed being close to people. Now, I'm quite happy to spend the rest of my chaotic, danger-filled, hopefully exciting life with you, Dianne.'

Dianne: "As am I, Armin."

{She tucks her head against his neck and begins to affectionately kiss him there.}

Dianne: "I haven't had a nightmare in a good long while. I have you to thank for that."

'Well, I'm glad I can help a little with that. You were overdue for some decent sleep.'

His muscles tensing up slightly, he leaned his head back and wrapped his arms around her fondly.

Dianne: "Yeah...So were you."

{Working her way up his neck, she pulls him into a long, passionate kiss.}

Armin tightened his embrace and pulled her slightly closer as he returned the kiss, beginning to lightly dig his fingers into her shoulders.

//Mhmm... you're good at this...//

Dianne: "Mmm...yeah? Well, so are you..."

{Pulling back, she rests her head against his neck, just enjoying his close proximity.}

Dianne: "Although sometimes I feel bad about forcing Rex out of the room so we can enjoy each other's company."

'Rex spends most of his time in his own room, anyway. I don't think it bothers him that much, as long as we aren't loud...'

He slipped his hands under her shirt to caress her sides and back, seemingly just enjoying the physical touch.

Dianne: "True enough. I'm not very loud when we get into it, am I?"

{She tenses up, feeling his touch. She squeezes him slightly in response.}

'No, you're not. I actually expected a dragon to be louder, but I suppose it's for the best.'

Moving slowly and languidly, he gently scraped his nails down her stomach, recalling she seemed to like that last time.

Dianne: "Oh? Have you ever been with a dragon before this?"

{Feeling his nails, she tenses, sucking in a quick breath.}

Dianne: "...Ok, now you're just being a tease."

'Twice, or so. It's not like I stuck with just vampires over the years. Haven't ever been with a werewolf, though.'

He ignored her last comment, only smirking slightly in response.

Dianne: "So, did they like, throw their heads back and howl when you finished or something? Is that why you thought dragons were loud? And no werewolves, huh? Are you racist or were they just bad people?"

Armin raised his eyebrows. 'I'm aware that not all werewolves are bad people. But their scent would probably put me off. Besides, a lot of werewolves prefer to stick with their own kind. I've never met one who would screw around with a vampire.'

Dianne: "Relax, I'm just messing with you. I know werewolves stink."

{She says, chuckling. Pulling him closer, she playfully nips his neck.}

Armin gently dug his nails into her sides in response, breathing deeply.

'Don't stop. Keep doing that, please.'

Dianne: "As you wish, but we can't go very far with Esme in the room."

{Per his request, she continued biting his neck.}

'True... we'd have to go to the shower... but you showered only last night... so I'm not sure if you want to continue this...'

Dianne: "If you want to go the whole way, I don't mind taking another shower. It's just a little water."

'Mhm... alright, let's go do that. We'll make it quick. Esme probably wants food.'

He started to pull himself up off the bed with the intention of heading to the bathroom.

{Dianne gets up with him, heading into the bath. After setting the water, she starts to disrobe.}

Armin disrobed quickly, checked the water, then stepped into the warm cubicle. He stood and waited, leaning slightly against the wall and gazing at her fondly.

{Dianne soon joined him, smiling at him.}

Dianne: "Well, let's make this quick."

{She then pushes him against the wall, kissing him deeply.}

Armin gave a satisfied hum and let her push him back. His hands roamed along her sides and back as they kissed, sometimes tightening or scratching in a particular spot. He clawed down her abdomen with both hands, a little rougher than before.

{She sucked in a quick breath, giving a quiet groan. Grabbing his arms, she pins them above his head, then proceeds to sharply bite the muscle between his neck and shoulder.}

Armin remained silent, but he sunk his teeth into his lip, tensing and curling his fists. He tilted his head slightly to give her better reach to his neck.

{With her free hand, she carresses and claws at him, kissing and biting his neck.}

Dianne: "Mmm....just let me know when you're ready."

He let her continue for a while, obviously enjoying it. Eventually, though, he started to fidget impatiently, his arms tensing where she held them.

'...If you're ready... I wouldn't mind...'

{By this point, her own breathing is uneven and her heart rate is elevated. She releases his arms and pulls him into a kiss, one hand wandering down his side.}

Dianne: "Alright...let's move this along..."

(Skip?)

(I'll post a new room first.)