(Replied on last one)

Dianne: "I hope that's not the case. I'd rather she not do life threatening activities because she has no sense of self preservation..."

Ardens: "Well, if she's adventurous, just be there with her. Just don't let her do ill advised things."

'We're not going to just let her run off and get into trouble,' said Armin. 'When she's older, sure, we can't stop her. But until then, if she wants to do anything risky, she has to do it with us.'

Ardens: "She's already curious. Just keep her close and she'll be fine."

{Just then, the food arrives.}

Ardens: "Ah, splendid."

Armin looked over the various dishes, eyeing the piles of meat that the dragons had ordered. He then tugged his plate of salmon and potatoes closer and tried some.

//Hmm, that's pretty good. I think the stuff from that fish restaurant was better, though.//

{Here, the portions were large. Dianne had a large boar leg on her plate, Biceras was working on an entire half a deer, gutted and decapitated, and Ardens had a stack of ribs so high, he could hide behind it. Armin's fish was the biggest Salmon they could buy at the fish market. Ardens first began to pour the wine.}

Biceras: "Huh...they weren't lying about the portions..."

'It is... impressive,' said Armin. He started sawing his fish in half, already deciding that he wasn't going to eat more than a part of it. 'Guess I shouldn't have expected anything else from a dragon restaurant.'

Esme began working on her meal without paying much attention to anyone else.

Dianne: "Yeah...I think we're going to have leftovers for weeks..."

Ardens: "Would you believe many patrons here actually finish in a single sitting?"

Dianne: "They must stuff themselves..."

'Maybe some types of dragon naturally eat a lot more than others,' said Armin contemplatively.

He continued eating his selected half of fish, occasionally pausing the sip the wine he'd been given.

Everyone began to eat in silence. Dianne seemed to be enjoying her food. Roast hog was her favorite.}

A few minutes into dinner, Armin's phone chimed. He checked it briefly, then put it away again and resumed eating without comment.

Esme, meanwhile, decided to try one of Ardens's ribs when she thought he wasn't looking. She snatched it up in her jaws and dragged it onto her plate.

{Ardens looks up in surprise, then smiles.}

Ardens: "Oh, help yourself, little one. Just mind the bones."

{Dianne looks up from her meal at the chime.}

Dianne: "Who's that?"

Esme grunted, holding the rib down with one paw like she would a prey animal and tearing the meat off the bone.

'Just Rex,' said Armin. 'Making sure everything's OK, I hadn't texted him in a few hours...'

Dianne: "Is he so paranoid that he demands hourly texts now?"

Biceras: "Makes sense. I don't know what else you'd expect from Armin's side chick."

{She says, chuckling.}

'I think he's mostly just doing it to bother me, as payback for not talking to him in two days.' Armin hadn't replied to the text, deciding he'd do it after dinner. 'And he isn't that,' he added, to Biceras, as he continued eating.

Biceras: "I don't know, the way he fusses over you...Sounds like an over possessive "something something on the side" to me."

Dianne: "Well, you would be the authority on over possessive..."

'We've known each other a long time. Through some very bad times. Yes, he's overprotective, but he's just a friend. Anything else ended long before Dianne came onto the scene...'

{Biceras glared at Dianne a moment before turning to Armin.}

Biceras: "But you two /were/ involved. Feels to me like he doesn't trust you with her, so he's feeling insecure about your safety."

I think it's more that he doesn't trust the two of us combined not to get into trouble. Which we do. Often.'

Privately, Armin was pretty sure that Rex also didn't /entirely/ trust Dianne not to harm him, especially considering past events. But he didn't plan on saying that.

Dianne: "Yeah, that's true."

Ardens: "Honestly, you two deserve some peace and quiet. These Hunter clans are getting kind of problematic. You're not the only ones being targeted. Indigenous settlements of dragons, werewolves, and elves have been attacked in recent months."

'Yeah, Esme's old tribe was attacked by hunters too,' said Armin. 'And the Mayor here basically said the same thing you just did; the hunter groups are becoming more and more disruptive.'

Biceras: "Who do they think they are? We have lives and loved ones too. What gives them the right to call open season on us?"

Dianne: "Arrogance. Insanity. Who knows for sure?"

'I can't say I understand it myself,' said Armin, nonchalantly cutting up fish. 'Maybe they genuinely believe they're doing the right thing. Maybe it's fear. Maybe they're just psychos and sadists.'

Dianne: "I just wish more provinces would condemn them."

Biceras: "Well, if you ever feel like going on any more rampages, maybe you could target them?"

Dianne: "No, no rampages. I've got a family now. They're the most important thing to me right now, and that might put them in danger."

'I don't know, I wouldn't mind helping to deal with unruly hunters,' said Armin. 'If we hear about any attacking innocent people, and it's within our power to stop them, then maybe we could...'

Dianne: "If they come around Sovereign, we won't have a choice, but I'm not going to go gallavanting about, looking for clans to wipe."

Ardens: "Hmm. Maybe one of us should. Either one of us has the means, and it would go a long way for all the others..."

Armin remained quiet as he ate his food. A part of him thought it would be exciting to chase down hunters, saving innocents from their prejudice. //The hunters becoming the hunted.// But the other part of him didn't want to risk Dianne getting killed by taking on hunters, so he thought it was probably best if they only did it in self-defence.

Dianne: "You'd make a lot of enemies doing that. I think we have enough as it is."

Ardens: "Then we create an organization in league with any province willing to help get this organized rather than vigilante."

Dianne: "It would be easier to just outlaw it. Make it the police's problem."

'Outlaw it /everywhere?'/ said Armin. 'That's unlikely. And even where it is outlawed, they'll still be hunters. You've seen how blindly the Bloodrazors and Sam Garvey pursued us. It seemed like they were willing to risk everything to get us.'

Ardens: "He's right. Most local law enforcement is useless."

Dianne: "Why can't Lucci send someone to handle it then? Praetorus, or The Bulwark? Just so long as I don't have to do it."

'Maybe Lucci's not supposed to intervene like that,' said Armin. 'From what I've seen, he doesn't really get involved except in special circumstances.'

Dianne: "Yeah, I know he's not...Guess we'll just have to see how this goes..."

Ardens: "Well, There's nothing stopping us from doing something ourselves. Perhaps we should consider it.l

'I don't want to risk my friends or family,' said Armin, with a side glance at Dianne and Esme. 'But if I ever see hunters attacking some other innocent people, I don't know if I can just ignore it. I won't run around looking for hunters, but if it happens near us...'

Dianne: "Well yeah. I doubt any of us would just let it happen."

{Having eaten all she could, Dianne leans back and starts sipping her wine.}

Armin had also stopped by then, having eaten less than half of the enormous salmon. He picked up his own wine and focused on that instead.

'So, how long are you two planning to stay in this city?' he asked, changing the subject.

Ardens: "Maybe a half week more. You?"

Dianne: "A few days at most. We might leave day after next. I want to beat the snow home."

'At least if we take a plane home, we won't have to worry about snow while travelling,' said Armin. 'But, yes, I don't think we'll be staying much longer.'

Dianne: "Also, the plane will be much quicker."

Ardens: "Well, then I'm glad we could spend one last evening here as friends. Not sure if we'll see each other again for a while. "

'Maybe not. But you've got our contacts. If you ever want to talk, or meet up, you can. Don't go another two thousand years without talking to each other.'

Dianne: "That's true. We should definitely keep in touch. I don't want to lose track of you again."

Ardens: "Likewise. I'd like to visit from time to time."

{While this was going on, Biceras didn't look very happy about the conversation. However, she seemed to just focus on her deer.}

'It'd be nice to have you visit. Or we could meet up somewhere again, like what we did here.'

Armin had a feeling Biceras wasn't too thrilled, but he didn't say anything. //She ought to know by now that Dianne's not after Ardens. Maybe there's another reason she doesn't want to be around us.//

Ardens: We could. Got something somewhere in mind?"

Dianne: "Somewhere warm. Maybe the beaches of south Aether?"

'Yeah, sounds good. We've been on too many cold trips lately. Wait for spring, and maybe we'll go there.'

Dianne: Alright then. Looking forward to it."

Ardens: " As am I."

Biceras: "Yeah, I bet...looking forward to watching her frolick about in a bathing suit..."

Ardens: "Huh?"

Biceras: "Nothing..."

{Ardens didn't catch that, but Armin might have.}

Armin gave Biceras a subtle warning glance over the top of his wine glass. //I heard that,// he said telepathically, only to her. //Either keep your thoughts to yourself, or speak up so everyone can hear you. Or are you too scared to do that?//

{Biceras just glares at him, saying nothing.}

Ardens: "What's it like in Sovereign? Is it nice?"

Dianne: "Nice enough. Lot of racist people though. And the king is terrified of me."

'I think the residents in general are getting better,' said Armin, calmly looking away from Biceras. 'The more non-humans move in, the more they have to get used to it... It's kind of uneventful back home, but it's nice enough.'

Ardens: "Sounds like a charming little city. We'll have to visit sometime."

Dianne: "Where are you living these days?"

Ardens: "Oh, a secluded house in the middle of a pine forest, pretty close to the east coast of the continent. A two day journey from here."

'Isn't it a bit boring living in the middle of a forest by yourselves?' Armin questioned.

Biceras: "Boring but safe. This was the first time in a while anyone's attacked us."

Ardens: "It's pretty peaceful out there. I can't complain."

Armin shrugged slightly and put his empty wine glass down.

'There is something nice about the idea. Personally, I think I'd rather live in a place where... other people exist. And there's things to do.'

Ardens: "To each their own, I guess."

Biceras: "We go into town every now and then. It's not like we're hermits or something."

Armin glanced sideways at Esme, who had finished her food and was now boredly nibbling on a rib bone.

'Well... I guess we should think about heading off.'

Dianne: "Yeah...I'm going to need a to-go box."

Ardens: "Well, this was nice. I'm very happy that we can all get together as friends and enjoy a nice meal."

//I don't think Biceras is so happy about it,// Armin thought. 'Yes, it was nice. Thanks for inviting us here.'

Ardens: "Of course."

{After the bill was paid and the boxes packed, they all left together.}

Ardens: "Well, I guess this is goodbye..."

Armin stood out on the sidewalk, breathing in the frosty night air. Esme had clambered up Dianne's back to escape the cold on her paws.

'Thanks again. It's been quite interesting, meeting an old friend of Dianne's.'

Ardens: "And it's been interesting meeting you. Honestly, I thought Dianne was way too grumpy to attract suitors."

{He chuckled. Dianne just rools her eyes, amused.}

Dianne: "Har-de-har, Ardens. Anyway, it has been good to talk to you again. Don't drop off the map again, ok?"

{After exchanging a brief hug, Ardens begins to walk away.}

Ardens: "See you all later, hopefully soon."

Dianne: "Bye, Ardens! Be safe!"

Esme growled what was possibly supposed to be a farewell, watching Ardens and Dianne exchange farewells.

'See you around,' said Armin briefly. He hadn't said anything to Biceras and didn't really expect her to say goodbye either.

{Biceras just kind of nods through the exchange, taking a moment to glare at Dianne when they hugged. When Ardens started to walk away, she started to talk.}

Biceras: "Yeah....It wasn't the worst to see you again...Can't say I really enjoyed it though...Well, until next time.."

{She then turns to leave.}

Armin raised his eyebrows. He hadn't missed her glaring when she saw the hug.

//Maybe you'd have more fun if you let go of this stupid grudge,// he said telepathically as she walked away. //I thought we were past that now? Based on your earlier comment, you still think Ardens is interested in Dianne. Relax, would you? He's allowed to have friends.//

{Biceras walks away without responding. Once they've left, Dianne walks for the truck.}

Dianne: "Hey, I thought I heard her mutter when we were having dinner. Did you hear what she said?"

Armin hopped up into the truck. Despite Biceras's behaviour, he was feeling quite content. It had been a pleasant day for him.

'Oh yeah. She said that Ardens probably only wanted to come to the beach with us so he could see you in a bathing suit.'

{Dianne gives a loud, surprised snort, almost choking in the process.}

Dianne: "(Cough, cough).......What!? First of all, I don't even own a bathing suit. What good is one to someone who can't physically swim? Second:, Ardens isn't creepy like that. As someone who's spent two thousand years with him, she should know that."

Armin absently patted her on the back as she coughed.

'Well, yeah. I doubt you're going to go within twenty feet of the ocean. But I think we both know Biceras's mind runs on a different track to everyone else's,' he said, starting the engine.

Dianne: "That's true. She's a stubborn old woman, she is."

{Dianne leaned back, petting Esme as she sat on her lap.}

'I thought she might be getting better, after that fiasco the other day,' said Armin as he drove off into the night. 'Thought she might have realised you and Ardens... aren't a thing anymore. She really is obstinate.'

Dianne: "Well, she wasn't insulting me with every breath anymore, so...technically an improvement."

'I suppose. We'll just give her more time. Maybe when we next go on a trip with them, she'll warm up a bit more.'

Dianne: "Here's hoping. Though, I don't know if she will ever warm up to me. I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

With a contemplative expression, Armin continued driving back to the hotel. It was fully dark and very cold. Any stagnant water outside was probably frozen. He parked up and hopped out of the car, rubbing his hands together vigorously, his breath a white vapour.

{Dianne hopped out, cradling Esme in her arms.}

Dianne: "It sure got cold. Glad I got this jacket."

'Winter's definitely in the air now.'

Armin slipped into the warmer interior of the hotel and walked briskly up to their room. Once inside, he took off his shoes and jacket and dumped them in a corner.

{Dianne took off her jacket and kicked off her shoes, putting Esme down. She then lies on the bed comfortably, reaching for the remote.}

Dianne: "Well, that was a nice dinner. Ardens is always pleasant company."

Armin chose to change into his sleepwear before returning to flop on the bed beside her, lying back and putting his arms behind his head.

'Yes, he seems like a nice guy. It's easy to see why you two were drawn to each other, out of all the other people in the cult.'

Dianne: "Yeah, deep down, he was a nice guy. It's funny, suddenly, my old friends are popping out of the woodwork. I wonder if I'll meet anyone else I know in the coming months or years. I met a lot of people over time, even if we didn't always see eye to eye."

'Depends if they're still alive... Ardens and Biceras might be immortal, but not everyone is. But it would be interesting to meet other people you knew, if it happens.'

Dianne: "To be honest, most of them are probably dead. I only met a handful of vampires. Once, I assasinated a king for trying to organize a manhunt to kill me. On my way out, I ran into a group of assassins who were also after the king, only I got him first. Leader was a vampire named Gunstaab. He said he wasn't happy about losing their mark to me, but he did nothing but smile at me. They tried attacking me, but I got away. He tried to track me down over the years and we met a few more times. Each time, he tried to recruit me, and every time I refused, he'd fight me. Every time, I'd beat him and his goons would have to save him. He'd congratulate me on the fight and ask I consider his offer. I just kept running. Haven't seen him in a while, I think he's dead."

(posting new room)