Armin got up, taking Esme's ball and stuffing it in his pocket. 'We'd better drive you back, then.'

Pythia: "Yeah, I'd appreciate that."

Dianne: "Well, good work today. You did well."

Pythia: "Thanks."

{Dianne, Pythia, and the skeleton follow Armin out to the truck.}

Armin climbed in, handed Esme to Dianne, and waited until everyone was ready before setting off. After a very short drive, he stopped outside Pythia's house.

'Well, here we go,' he said. 'Drop-off point.'

Pythia: "Alright. Thanks. Same time tomorrow?"

Dianne: "Yep. See you then. Have a good afternoon."

{With Pythia off, Dianne waves goodbye.}

'Look after yourself.'

Once Pythia went inside, Armin drove off.

'So, what do you want to do now? It's a little early to pick up Rex. We could go do something else first, or just relax at home...'

Dianne: "Hmmm.....What do you want to do, Esme? Do you want to get some lunch, or maybe look around some shops?"

{She asks the child, picking her up to eye level.}

Esme looked back at her mother, blinked a couple of times, and said nothing. However, she shrugged in a way that seemed to say anything was fine.

'Let's go to the park. I could use a walk after sitting in that gym doing nothing for an hour,' Armin suggested.

{Dianne smiles, hugging Esme and kissing her forehead.}

Dianne: "Ok, let's go. Fresh air would be nice."

Armin hummed in agreement, and started to drive them towards the park.

'This probably doesn't need saying, but Rex might have nightmares while staying at our house. Just a warning. If I hear anything, I might have to get up in the middle of the night to check on him. I'll try not to disturb you.'

Dianne: "That's fine. He can even sleep in our room if he wants. We'll help him through this."

'We'll see how it goes. He'll probably just say he's used to it and doesn't need any sort of help. He often does. I'm not going to just ignore him, though, just like I'd never ignore you.'

Dianne: "Of course. And I would never ignore you. He's a friend. We'll help him in any way we can."

Armin was quiet after that, contemplating the situation. A short while later, they arrived at the park, and he jumped out.

'Mmm, nice, cold fresh air...'

{Dianne shivers slightly, holding Esme.}

Dianne: "Yes...nice..."

Armin grinned, bumping his shoulder against hers as he walked beside her.

'We won't stay out long. I just needed to stretch my legs. Though, we do have to go out to the lake this evening.'

Dianne: "Yeah, but we'll have an open fire then. Also, I think Esme would appreciate this as well."

{Dianne let's her down so she can walk.}

Once she was free, Esme scampered ahead of them, though she never strayed very far, occasionally looking back to make sure they were still behind her.

Armin let his hand slip into Dianne's as they walked together, squeezing her fingers affectionately with what remained of his.

{Dianne smiles at this, squeezing his hand softly. She walks in silence, watching Esme carefully.}

After a short while, they passed a large, very old, sturdy-looking tree, with lots of thick branches all the way around. Armin stopped to eyeball it.

'Hey, you can climb, can't you? Let's go up here.'

With a grin, he started to nimbly ascend the tree.

{Dianne grins back, clambering up.}

Dianne: "How high?"

'As high as we can get!'

Armin was making his way to a large, sturdy branch near the top of the tree. He climbed very easily, showing several times that he was capable of supporting his weight with one arm. Esme circled the tree below them, then started to hop up too.

{Dianne looked down at Esme as she climbed.}

Dianne: "Barnabas, make sure she doesn't fall and hurt herself."

{Dianne continued to head up to the branch Armin was going for.}

With the branch just barely in reach, Armin pulled himself up. Having reached his chosen spot, he sat on the branch and waited for her. It looked strong enough to support their weight and offered a wide view across the park and city.

{Dianne reaches the branch, sitting next to Armin.}

Dianne: "Nice view. I can see your house from here.}

'Yep. Looks like it hasn't burned down or anything.'

He shuffled sideways to get closer and leaned his head on her shoulder, keeping one hand wrapped around the branch for balance.

{Dianne simply smiles, enjoying the view with him.}

Dianne: "Wonder if Rex has had any wild parties since we've been gone."

Armin gave a quiet chuckle. 'I hope not. Knowing what he used to do at parties back in the day, it might not end well. For him or my house.'

Dianne: "I'd just be happy that he has friends. The guy needs more friends. I think he'd be better off with some. And a girlfriend."

'Or a boyfriend. You know he used to sleep with me, right?' said Armin with amusesment. 'Yeah, I hope he finds some friends here. Could be good for him.'

Dianne: "Yeah, I know. I gotta ask, was he...a good partner? "

'Weeell... his mental state wasn't good back then. Not surprising. He was unpredictable, and his substance use was rampant. At his lowest points, he was violent. The rest of the time, he was quite calm and sweet, especially if he thought I needed TLC. But during his worse moments... Let's just say, if you think /we're/ rough, it's nothing compared to him.'

{Dianne gives a slight grimace.}

Dianne: "Ouch. I get it though. He's been through a lot. I'm glad you two aren't there anymore, and I'm willing to help Rex any way I can."

'Yeah. He's doing better nowadays. And, I'm not sure if this needs to be said, but I much prefer the way we do things. I know you won't get high off your as.s and try to maul my neck. Not that I resent Rex for any of that. We both hurt each other.'

{Dianne gives an amused laugh.}

Dianne: "Of course not. I don't like drugs and I always try to be gentle. And for the sake of my own comfort in bed, I won't ask how you hurt him."

'Oh, I always tried to be a considerate partner. I was rough, but I didn't do anything he didn't like. When I really hurt him, it was mostly outside the bedroom stuff, like breaking his nose during an argument.'

Dianne: "Oh...is that why he has a scar on the bridge of his nose?"

Armin chuckled, half amused, half sadly. 'Come on, you know vampires don't scar. That was from when he was human. His granddad did it. Hit him across the face with a broken glass, I was told...'

Dianne: "Well, that's cruel. Kinda wish I was there when he was young, so I could fold the old man in half myself. It would have saved him a lot of suffering."

'That would have been nice. I know you would've helped him, if you saw it.'

Armin glanced at the ground twenty feet below. He knew they had to pick up Rex soon.

'Since you asked about me and Rex... What about you and Ardens? What was that like? Neither of you were quite... stable at the time, so I'm guessing it was rougher than we are.'

{Dianne chuckles, running a hand through her hair.}

Dianne: "Oh yeah. A /lot/ more biting and clawing and being pinned down. Although I did most of the pinning. It was...not a healthy relationship. We were only doing it out of frustration and loneliness....at least I was...I think he has a more...romanticized idea of it...The first time, I basically dragged him into my bed against his will. He was very confused and scared at first, given my reputation for killing my coworkers, but once I kissed him....He seemed totally into it...maybe too much..."

Armin couldn't help smirking throughout the second half of this description.

'Aww. Poor guy, when he thought you were going to kill him, but it sounds like he enjoyed himself... So, what level of awkwardness was the morning after conversation?' he snickered.

Dianne: "It was a little awkward. He was like, "I had no idea you felt that way about me." I just told him to shut up and get out and pushed him out into the hall in his skivvies. At the time, I had no interest in a real relationship. I just needed...something. Some kind of contact after a thousand years of abstinence. He got it after the next few times, and after I publicly rejected his affections..."

'Wait, so, hold on... He wasn't actually in /love/ with you, was he?' said Armin, raising his eyebrows.

Dianne: "Actually, I think he was...He got the message, but...he kept insisting we work together. He saved my life more than once, and I did the same. And, once the necromancer war was reaching a close, and he began to see the...not psycho side of me...he reached out with his affections again...this time, I didn't completely reject him..."

'Huh.' Armin silently digested this. 'I'm guessing he got over it when he found out Biceras was still alive.'

Dianne: "Yyyyyyup. Dropped me like a bag of rocks. Put me off dating for the next two millennia. He still wanted to be friends, but as you know, Biceras ruined that..."

Armin winced slightly. 'Your relationship history sucks... Not your fault, obviously. But, ouch. You're way cooler and more attractive than Biceras.'

Dianne: "Awww, thanks, babe. And you're a much better partner than Ardens ever was. In every sense of the word."

{Dianne kisses him on the cheek in response.}

'I should hope so. And just to make sure you know... If Janet was miraculously resurrected, I would /not/ ditch you to be with her again.'

Dianne: "That means more to me than most could know. Thank you."

{She smiles at him, tears welling up in her eyes.}

Armin gazed back at her fondly. Unable to resist, he leaned over and pulled her into a rather precarious kiss, one hand gripping the branch for balance.

{Dianne's eyes widened, quickly grabbing the branch. Once she felt secure, she leaned into the kiss, wrapping her free arm around him.}

Armin deepened the kiss, a contented growl rumbling in the back of his throat. His hand - the one not gripping the tree - climbed up her spine until it could caress the back of her neck.

{Shuddering and gripping the tree, Dianne squeezes him affectionately, playfully biting his lip.}

Armin smiled into the kiss, pressing closer. Right then, there came an ominous creak from the tree branch, and he drew back with a jolt.

'Maybe we should get out of here...'

{Dianne heard it too and stiffened.}

Dianne: "Yeah...we can always pick this up later..."

{Letting go, she begins the descent.}

Armin swiftly and confidently followed her down. As they neared the ground, he slipped a little and had to grab a jagged, broken branch. He let out a yelp of pain as he dropped to his feet beside her.

'Ow, splinters...' he complained, gingerly examining the two sharp bits of wood stuck in his hand.

Esme hopped to the ground happily.

{Dianne turns to Armin, taking his hand.}

Dianne: "Isn't wood bad for you? Here..."

{She begins to gingerly remove the splinters.}

'It'll be OK as long as you get them out. Hurts more than a splinter would to a normal person, though...'

He kept still, wincing and sucking in a quiet breath when she removed one.

{Dianne removes the last of them, squinting at his hand.}

Dianne: "I think we have first aid in the truck. Let's go."

Armin shot her a brief look of gratitude, shook his hand slightly, and started to walk across the park. Once they got to the truck, he unlocked it and clambered in.

{Dianne hops into the back, retrieving the first aid kit. She then cleans the wounds and binds his hand.}

Dianne: "Better?"

'Much better. Thank you.'

Armin smiled and leaned over to kiss her cheek, before settling into driving position.

'Do you want to get something to eat, or go straight to my house and get Rex first?'

Dianne: "Hmmm...Rex first, and then lunch. That Italian place was pretty good."

'Alright, let's go grab him, then drive to the restaurant...' He headed off towards his own house. 'Thanks for the whole... Conversation up a tree, by the way. It was interesting.'

Dianne: "Of course. It was interesting, and we learned a bit more about each other. I consider that a great and productive conversation."

Armin smiled and fell silent. Arriving outside his house, he jumped out and went for the door. He knocked, and moments later the door opened to show Rex, wearing a dark sweater and holding a small bag of what was probably clothes.

'Oh, hello. Time to go, I suppose?'

{Dianne followed, with Esme.}

Dianne: "Oh? No guitar? There might not be that much to do at our place, considering your computer is here."

'Oh, well, if you don't mind the noise.'

Rex ducked back inside to retrieve his acoustic guitar in its case. Armin eyed the basement door, but ultimately decided not to try getting any ale.

'Is there anything else we need to get while we're here?' he asked Dianne.

Dianne: "Hmm...maybe the constructor set for Esme. And my clay."

Armin went inside to retrieve the building blocks, which had their own carrying case too. He left Dianne to get the clay and headed back out to the truck, stashing the blocks in the back, wherr Rex and his belongings were. Done, he jumped into the front seat and waited.

{Dianne grabbed her clay and walked out, getting into the passenger's seat.}

Dianne: "Ok, ready."

'Alright, let's stop by the restaurant first. Nothing too big; it's only a few hours until dinner.'

'What happened to your hand?' said Rex from the back.

'I was attacked by a tree.'

'Oh. Well done.'

Dianne: "He was climbing a tree and slipped. He grabbed a jagged branch by mistake."

'That sounds like something only you would do,' said Rex.

'Hey, the bark was slippery,' said Armin. 'There was lichen on it.'

They continued to bicker quietly and lightheartedly until the restaurant came into sight.

'Alright, let's go and look for a table,' said Armin, turning off the engine and clambering out. Rex stepped out of the back and closed the doors.

{Dianne smiles fondly at their friendly bickering. She gets off with Esme, heading inside.}

Dianne: "I want a submarine sandwich."

'Mmm, I could go for that,' said Armin. 'Maybe they have a fish one.'

He spotted a table with four vacant seats and swiftly claimed it. Settling down, he gave the menu a cursory examination.

'Tuna salad... that'll do...'

Dianne: "What should we get Esme? More lasagna? Antipasto? Potato salad?"

'Try the potato salad. It shouldn't be too hard for her to eat.'

'Must be nice to be able to taste things,' Rex grumbled.

Dianne: "Potatoes it is. Cheer up, Rex. Food might be tasteless, but we still enjoy your company."

'Well, I guess that's something.'

Rex read his menu just for something to do.

'I've been keeping up with what's been going on lately. Jerry's father escape right under your noses, did he?'

{Dianne sighs and puts her menu down.}

Dianne: "Not exactly. His wife showed up with an entourage of mages and shot me with a tranq dart. They were organized and knew exactly what they were doing."

'We took precautions against it. Having so many people there, being there ourselves - but they rescued him. Easily.' Armin obviously wasn't thrilled by the outcome.

'...You know, if you really wanted the old man dead, couldn't you just send your ghoul to wherever he is and finish him off?' said Rex.

Dianne: "I would need to know where he is first. Barnabas can't just magically find anybody in the world."

{Just then, a waiter stopped by to take their orders. Dianne ordered her 6 inch submarine sandwich, potato salad for Esme, and lemonades for the both of them.}

Armin ordered a tuna salad submarine, and Rex hesitated before simply asking for a lemonade and nothing else.

{With the waiter gone to fetch their orders, Dianne continues.}

Dianne: "In any event, if they ever come back, they won't leave again."

'You can't be sure,' said Rex. 'Not when they were able to slip past you last time.' His tone wasn't accusing. It was more the tone of someone who was used to bad things happening.

Dianne: "I don't know, Rex. I have a pretty successful history of settling scores."

'We'll see, then. I don't have high expectations, but maybe you'll prove me wrong.'

Armin rested his elbows on the table and quietly gazed around the restaurant, watching the people coming and going.

Dianne: "So, how's your new job been? Enjoying it?"

'Well enough. It's nice to have a purpose.'

'You got that job pretty quickly,' Armin observed.

'Apparently they were desperate to fill the position. I also suspect Fred pulled some strings, but I've no proof of that.'

Dianne: "Sounds like something Frederick would do. Kids behaving well, or are they all brats?"

{She asks, chuckling.}

'Some of them are utterly spoilt troublemakers. Others are fine. They aren't as... concerned by my vampirism as I expected. We're not quite past the leech and mosquito jokes, but they don't seem afraid of me.'

Dianne: "Sounds about right. Want me to send ghouls to follow them home if they misbehave?"

{She says, obviously joking.}

'Yes. I'll come and tell you if I get any especially irritating ones.'

Rex was also joking, but it was so dry that he almost didn't appear to be.

{Dianne just laughs, assuming he wasn't serious.}

Dianne: "I'm sure they have their own home problems. No need to make it worse with the undead."

'The undead will be the least of their worries if they bring firecrackers into the school again,' said Rex.

Armin smiled faintly as he gazed across the restaurant with a hint of impatience, waiting for their food.

Dianne: "Those little rascals. They could blow their little fingers off."

{The waiter then returns with their food and drink.}

Armin gave a murmur of thanks, and tentatively bit into his sandwich. Esme started devouring her salad the moment it was placed down, and Rex quietly sipped his lemonade while scrolling through his phone.

{Dianne began eating her sandwich, enjoying the flavor. She ate in silence, silently contemplating various things.}

'Always hungry, that,' said Rex, glancing at Esme.

'Oh, yeah. Unless it's venison, she seems to like everything.'

Armin did not finish the entire six-inch submarine. He made his way through two-thirds and abandoned the rest.

Dianne: "She has a healthy appetite. Which is good for a growing dragon."

{Dianne ate her entire sandwich, leaning back and just sitting.}

'All dragons seem to have a massive appetite, regardless of age,' Armin remarked.

Rex finished his drink and Esme finished her salad a few moments later.

Dianne: "Muscle mass and high metabolism. Makes us ravenous."

Armin squinted as he thought of something.

'If you eat, say, three deer in dragon form, then immediately shift back to human form, where does it all go? Does it just get magically shrunk down or something?'

Dianne: "My other form presides in a pocket dimension when I'm in human form. It's in a state of stasis, and this form is made from matter from my dragon form. The deer I eat is digested by my dragon form and both forms are nourished."

Armin looked as if he didn't 100 percent understand, but he nodded anyway.

'Yeah, magic's weird. Got it.'

He chuckled and started to push his chair back.

'Well, if everyone's ready, should we go?'

Dianne: "Yes, let's go home."

{Picking up Esme, she heads for the truck.}

As before, Rex climbed into the back, seeming relieved that his guitar was still safely there. Armin started on their way back to the plains. This time, the two vampires didn't bicker for the whole drive.

When they finally reached Dianne's house, Rex gathered up his bags and hopped out. 'I hope you have a spare room in this castle of yours. I'd rather not sleep on the sofa.'

Dianne: "Yes, I have several guest bedrooms. Where would you like to be? Upstairs, downstairs, a door down from us?"

Rex looked uncertain as he hefted his belongings up to the house.

'Upstairs, I think. But I don't particularly care where, exactly.'

Armin took Esme's building blocks and the clay and followed them up.

Dianne: "I'll put you down the hall from us."

{Dianne walks inside with Esme, leading Rex to a bedroom upstairs. It had a bed, a nightstand, a small table with a chair and lamp, and an empty dresser.}

Dianne: "Will this do?"

Rex gave the place a once-over.

'Yes, this is more than fine.'

He placed his guitar in the corner, and his bag of clothes on the bed to put away later.

'Now... I'm going to go hunting before this lake expedition.'

Dianne: "We have a few hours. Take your time."

{Dianne places Esme down, walking into the hall.}

Rex nodded and headed back downstairs. Armin reappeared, having just been to put Esme's toys in the rec room.

'You'll be alright?' he said, following Rex to the door.

'Yes. You worry more than I do sometimes. I'll be back soon.'

Armin just chuckled quietly as Rex let himself out.

{Dianne was coming down the stairs as Rex left.}

Dianne: "Ok, what do we do in the meantime?"

Armin turned around. Just as Dianne got off the end of the staircase, he captured her in an eager kiss, in a manner that suggested he'd been waiting to do this for a while.

{Dianne jolted in surprise, the wrapped her arms around him, leaning into it.}

Dianne: "...Ok, this works..."

Armin rested his forehead against hers, smirking faintly.

'We've got a couple of hours to kill before we go fishing. Would you be inclined to spend some of it with me?'

Dianne: "Of course I would. What did you have in mind?"

{She asks, gazing into his eyes. She had a flirtatious smile as she held him, squeezing him slightly.}

Armin just looked at her for a moment, grinning. Then, without warning, he took advantage of their close proximity to scoop her up in his arms and start carrying her up the stairs.

Dianne: "Oop, up I go."

{Chuckling, she kisses his cheek as he carries her away.}

Armin chuckled. It took a lot of effort to carry her up stairs, but he did it anyway. 'Bed or shower?' he asked at the top.

Dianne: "Bed. More comfortable, and Rex won't ask why we have wet hair."

'Alright.'

Armin continued down the hall to their bedroom. Once inside, he pushed the door shut and set her down on the edge of the bed. He then quickly took off his shoes and jacket, which he was still wearing from their outing.

{Dianne did the same, kicking off her shoes and throwing her coat aside. She then lies back onto the bed, smiling at him.}

Dianne: "Come here, Amateotl. I'm waiting for you."

Armin eyed her, then climbed onto the bed, leaning forwards and holding himself just above her. Nudging her head back, he nuzzled and kissed the space under her jaw. His hands absently slipped under her shirt during this, caressing and stroking anything he could reach.

{Dianne smiles, wrapping her arms around him and leaning her head back. Her pulse quickens at the sensation and she begins to move in a slow, restless fidgeting.}

Armin gradually let his touches become rougher, moving down her neck and sinking his teeth into her shoulder. He scraped his nails down her chest and abdomen, giving a low growl.

{Dianne lets out a quiet groan, slipping her hands under his shirt and digging her nails into his back. She begins to squirm a bit more restlessly.}

Armin hissed softly at the sensation of nails in his back, sinking closer. He pulled one of his hands free and curled it around the back of her neck, rubbing there while he continued to bite and claw at her.

{Dianne's breathing becomes unstable as she begins to rake her nails down his back. Flushing and whimpering, she arches her back, slightly lifting him up.}

Dianne: "Hungh....Ok, I'm really ready to move on now..."

'Wait, really? We only just got started. Can't handle it?'
.
He spoke teasingly, pausing for a moment to look her over with a grin on his face.

{Dianne looks back at him, much less amused.}

Dianne: "What, you're not satisfied? Fine, keep going."

Armin paused, seeming a bit startled by her tone. Then he let go of her and pushed himself up.
.
'Alright, if you're sure you're ready, let's move on.'

{Her expression broke into concern. Closing her eyes, she sighs.}

Dianne: "Hold on...if you're not ready, you're not ready. Keep going, I'll be alright."

'No, it's OK, I'm good... I was just surprised you wanted to end it so soon.' An irrational worry seemed to hit him. 'I didn't push you into this unwillingly, did I?'

Dianne: "Oh, no! No, no, no! I did want this. But, you have to remember, I feel it waaay more strongly than you do. I went two millennia without this, so, as frustrating as it can be for me, I likely won't last as long as you can."

'OK, good. I almost panicked for a second. I really didn't want to do anything... Unwanted.'
.
He dropped down to kiss her jaw before sitting up again.
.
'Sorry. I'll make sure I remember that.'

Dianne: "Believe me, this was wanted."

{Smiling up at him, Dianne begins to remove her shirt.}

Armin smirked playfully, pulled off his shirt and shifted over enough to get his jeans off.
.
(Skipping?)

(Yes.)

(Who's starting?)

{After the couple's activity, Dianne was relaxing in the rec room. She opened Esme's block set to see if she wanted to play with them.}

(Me)

Esme was watching the television, but showed interest when she spotted the block set. Padding over, she started scooping all the yellow blocks into a pile first.
.
Armin was settled on the beanbag, eyes closed drowsily.

{Dianne smiles, beginning to build the foundation of a building out of the multicolored bricks.}

Dianne: "Armin, you ok? You didn't tire yourself out, did you?"

(posting new room)