----
.
When the morning of Christmas Day arrived, it was cold, the sky awash with thick clouds. A generous layer of snow covered every exposed surface. The city eas remarkably quiet; every store was shut, and the citizens seemed to all be at home.
.
Armin slept, peacefully curled up againat Dianne.

{Dianne was sleeping peacefully as well, too warm and comfortable to stir. The heater hummed gently as it warmed the room. Late in the morning, she began to move. She sleepily snuggles into Armin, muttering unintelligibly.}

Armin awoke slowly, blinking. He snuggled into her in return, rubbing hee back gently with one hand, waiting to see if she would wake or say anything.
.
//Hmm... Christmas...//

{Dianne gIves a deep purr, seemingly enjoying the hand on her back.}

Dianne: "....Gimme some deer...I know Esme hates it, but I like it..."

Armin snickered. 'No venison today, sorry.' He continued rubbing her back.

Dianne: "Aaawww....It was Mira's favorite too..."

{In response to the back rub, she snuggles in and lightly nips him.}

Armin affectionately nipped her in return. 'That's cute... So, are you gonna wake up properly yet?'

{Finally, she opens her eyes, stirred by the nip.}

Dianne: "...Hmmmmm?...Oh...Merr' C'rim'as...."

{She looked him in the eyes, then her eyes drifted back shut as the winter lethargy took hold again.}

'Come on, stay awake. I need to give you and Esme your presents. And I'll bring you food up here if you wake up?'
.
He lightly dug his nails into her back and nipped at her neck.

{Dianne squirmed a bit at that, her eyes opening as she abruptly sat up.}

Dianne: "What's happening? Oh, right...Christmas..."

'Yep. It's Christmas. We've got nice things to do today.'
.
Armin sat up beside her and leaned against the headboard, grinning.

{Dianne returned his grin, leaning up against the headboard, her eyes half open.}

Dianne: "Other than gift giving, what nice things have we to do?"

'Well, we could try out some of our gifts' functions... like those telepathic stones you got, and Rex's pool table... And, if the snow settled, we could go outside. Not for long, of course, but I think Esme would like to see the snow.'

Dianne: "Oh, yeah...Yeah, I want to try those rings out. And the snow won't be too bad."

Barnabas: "Yeah, that's great and all, but I want to give you guys my gifts first."

{The ghouls says, suddenly appearing.}

Armin looked up at Barnabas from the bed, hiding his surprise. 'What, you actually got us something? I almost thought that was a joke.'

By then, Esme had awoken as well. She stretched her neck, yawned, and observed Barnabas curiously.

Barnabas: "Of course I did! I think you'll really appreciate what I got."

{Barnabas disappears, returning through the door with an envelope and a box with holes. There was something scratching around in the box. He hands them to the both of them.}

Dianne: "Is there something...alive in there?"

Barnabas: "Yeah, just open it. The envelope is for Armin."

'I bet it's an araneo,' Armin murmured. He swiftly tore off the top of the envelope, pulling out whatever was inside.

{Armin's gift was another old photo. It was him as a boy, sitting on horseback, grinning from under his unkempt hair. Dianne gingerly opened hers. As soon as there was an opening, a white ferret poked its head through. It was the same scorpion turned ferret from when Luxia came over and watched the Ritual of Forgiveness.}

Dianne: "Oh, hello there! Hey, little buddy!"

Armin's momentary surprise quickly melted into a relieved smile. 'Ohh... I don't think even Fred's album has any pictures of me from that early on. That's cool.'

He glanced over at Dianne as she unveiled the contents of her box. His eyebrows went up. //I guess we have a new family pet...//

'Well... that's definitely not an araneo...'

{Dianne picks up the ferret, cuddling it affectionately.}

Dianne: "No, it's adorable. What's the photo of?"

Armin showed her the picture while he reached his other hand out to tentatively pet the ferret. 'Me on a horse. Probably at nine or ten years old.'
.
Esme was watching the ferret's every move with a mildly unnerving intensity.

{The ferret sniffs his hand, nibbling it lightly. Leaning over, Dianne looks at the photo, then smiles.}

Dianne: "Aww, you're adorable. Look how happy you are, on that horse."

{The ferret sniffs the air, then starts extending towards Esme, examining her curiously}

'I was pretty cute. That might be part of the reason why my parents let me get away with so much.'
.
Esme slowly lowered her head, tilting from side to side whilst staring at the animal. She bared her teeth slightly, wondering if it might possibly taste good.

Dianne: "Yeah, I can see that. No one would have ever..."

{She stops when she notices Esme. She quickly pulls the ferret to herself in a protective manner.}

Dianne: "Esme, no. Do /not/ eat Reginald."

Esme whined and swung her tail like an agitated cat. Armin, on the other hand, was struggling to restrain his laughter.
.
'You're going to call a ferret /Reginald?/'

{Dianne frowns at Armin, petting her ferret.}

Dianne: "Yes, his name is Reginald II. Reginald I was eaten by a hawk in ancient Ferros."

'Oh, he's named after the one that got eaten? Alright, that makes sense,' said Armin, though he still smirked a little. 'Are you going to keep it in a cage or let it roam around the house? I don't know much about ferrets.'

Dianne: "I need a cage. Otherwise Esme might eat him. She's looking at him like he's an apple."

'Well, I don't think we can get one today. We'll just have to make sure Esme isn't left alone with him.'

Dianne: "Yeah. I'll just keep him with me."

Barnabas: "I wouldn't keep him in the attic anymore. He doesn't like it up there."

Dianne: "Why not?"

Barnabas: "He doesn't like my pet spiders."

Armin snapped his head up. 'Um, sorry, did you just say you're keeping spiders in my attic? How big are they and are they loose?'

Barnabas: "Oh, relax. Most are in Dianne's attic and they are /all/ secure. I just have a handful of tarantulas in your attic."

Armin grimaced, not liking the thought of tarantulas crawling around above his head. 'Just make sure they don't escape down here... I'm not really OK with this, but I can't stop you.'

Barnabas: "Hey, they've been up there the greater half of the year, with no jail breaks."

Dianne: "Barnabas, if I build you a shed for your...hobby, will you remove all your spiders?"

Barnabas: "Of course."

'I think I'd prefer that. But, either way, thanks for the gifts.'
.
Armin then started to get out of bed, glancing at Dianne.
.
'Alright, now I just need to get your present, and Esme's. Yours was hidden in Rex's room.'

{Dianne starts to get up as well, ferret in hand}

Dianne: "Makes sense. Rex never lets me in there."

{She says, chucking.}

'You don't need to get up yet,' Armin offered. 'Stay here if you want. I can bring it up here.'

Dianne: "No, no, when I'm up, I'm up."

{Throwing On a robe and putting on her slippers, she follows him out.}

Dianne: "Come, Esme."

Armin shrugged. He retrieved Esme's gift from inside the closet, then headed downstairs. He went into Rex's room first, finding the man on his computer.
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'Aren't you coming for presents?' Armin asked.
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'Soon.'
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Armin dug out a heavy, cuboid package from under Rex's bed. Carrying both gifts, he headed into the living room.

{Dianne was sitting on the couch, ferret in one hand and Esme in the other.}

Dianne: "Who goes first?"

'Esme.' Armin put the roughly-shaped package on the floor. He tapped Esme to get her attention, and tore off a small bit of the paper while she watched. Then he sat back.
.
Esme seemed to get it after a moment, jumping down and beginning to claw the paper off the package. When the amethyst geode was revealed, she circled it cautiously, sniffing and nudging it.

{Dianne watched as she opened her gift, snickering when she circled it.}

Dianne: "It's a geode, sweetheart. It's for your hoard."

Esme gently put a paw on the rock. Then she picked it up in her jaws and promptly scurried upstairs with it. Armin chuckled. 'Well, I guess she accepts the offering.'

Dianne: "Heheheh, yeah. The baby approves. So, can I open mine?"

'Yes.' Armin moved to sit on the couch beside her, handing her the other present. He couldn't help feeling slightly anxious. 'Open it.'

{Smiling, she opens her gift. Pulling out the statue, her smile disappears as she inspects it. Her expression shifts to recognition, then surprise. She turns to Armin, almost looking baffled.}

Dianne: "This is Mira and Esme....playing....but how did you get her likeness so...realistic?"

'I asked Lucci for help with it,' said Armin. 'It was my idea. He just offered to craft it. I wouldn't have been able to find anyone else who could get it that accurate.'

{Tears began to well up in her eyes as she looked at the statue.}

Dianne: "She's just how I remember her...It's almost like having a photo of her...Thank you..."

{Dianne pulls Armin into a hug, shedding happy tears.}

'Aww.' Armin smiled faintly and hugged her back. He had tensed slightly upon seeing her tears, but now allowed himself to relax. 'I'm glad you like it. I was afraid it would come off as... Insensitive, somehow.'

Dianne: "Not at all...I have a way to see her face again...and Esme is so cute by her..."

{Dianne continues to hug him tightly, statue in hand. The ferret jumped off the couch and began exploring the room.}

Armin held her for a while, then gave a squeeze and gently drew back. He gazed at the statue, running his finger along Mira's snout.
.
'She's adorable.'

Dianne: "She was..."

{She says, wiping her tears away.}

Dianne: "Thank you. This was the best gift."

'You're welcome.'
.
Just then, Esme came back into the room, followed by Rex. They both eyed the ferret.
.
'I'm not going to ask why there's a ferret down there,' said Rex. He sat on the floor near the couch, holding three wrapped gifts; two rather large, and one quite small.

Dianne: "Oh, it was Barnabas' gift to me. His name is Reginald."

{Dianne eyes the gifts curiously, then looks to Armin.}

Dianne: "Should we go get Rex's gift?"

'I'll grab it. It's still in the car.'
.
Armin hurried outside, only stopping long enough to put his boots on, due to the snow. He returned moments later with the huge rectangular box.
.
'There's at least three inches of snow out there,' he reported.
.
Rex accepted his present, handing a gift to each of them in return. 'Merry Christmas then, I suppose.'

Dianne: "Merry Christmas."

{Accepting her gift, Dianne opens it curiously.}

Dianne's present contained a pair of soft black gloves, designed for cold weather.
.
'I wasn't sure if you had any,' said Rex, 'and you seem to hate cold. So, there.' He was still tearing the paper off his box.

{Dianne smiles, feeling the soft fabric.}

Dianne: "I didn't have any. Thank you, Rex, these are great."

{Dianne puts them on, liking the feel of them.}

'You're welcome.' Rex finally realised what his present was. He looked at the image of the pool table on the box, then looked between Armin and Dianne. 'This can't have been cheap...'
.
'Well, we're rich, aren't we?' said Armin nonchalantly. 'And I knew you wanted one for years.'

Dianne: "Yeah, don't worry about it. Merry Christmas, Rex."

{Taking off her gloves, she beckons her ferret over.}

Rex set the box aside, looking a bit surprised. Armin patted his arm,then resumed opening his own gift. It turned out to be a pair of fishing rods.
.
'Oh, this is good... Now I don't have to get wet every time I fish...'
.
Esme's gift was a wooden chest containing another set of building blocks. They were coloured differently to her other ones: pink, purple and white. She chirped happily and began to pull them out.

Dianne: "Yeah, and now I can fish too."

{Dianne moves to sit next to Esme.}

Dianne: "Hey, sweetheart. Like your gifts?"

Esme glanced at Dianne, then at Rex. She said nothing, but immediately started to construct what looked like a castle's outer wall.
.
'That's all presents done for this year,' said Armin. Suddenly, there was a thump outside the front door, and he cocked his head towards it. 'What was that?'

{Dianne tensed when she heard it, pulling Esme closer.}

Dianne: "Barnabas, investigate."

Armin slowly stood, looking towards the front hall and waiting, poised. When Barnabas checked outside, he would find no sign of any people, but a large cardboard box sitting on the porch, with 'Merry Christmas, lots of love from Luxia' written on the top.

Barnabas: "Oh, sh!t..."

{Barnabas returns in the living room.}

Barnabas: "That crazy witch, Luxia's sent us a gift."

Armin scratched his head, then walked out and opened the door. There seemed to be nothing outwardly unusual about the box.
.
'No sound coming from it, and it doesn't smell of much.' He began to push the box into the house with his foot, keeping it far away from everyone else. 'Should I open it?'

Dianne: "Let Barnabas open it."

{She says, putting herself between Esme and the doorway. It was as if she expected it to explode.}

Armin put himself back a few steps. 'If spiders come pouring out, you'd better get rid of them,' he said ominously. The box seemed innocuous, but he didn't know what to expect from Luxia.

Barnabas: "Deal."
{Barnabas leans over the box, opening it carefully.}

Inside the box was... Socks. At least fifty pairs of socks, in every colour and style imaginable, from plain white socks to chunky knitted ones. Some had pictures of dragons, cartoon vampires and spiders on them. Some were coloured to look like they were stained with blood. And on top of them all was a note reading:
.
"These are for you two. Some are not quite new, but fear not, they have all been cleaned. Enjoy! :)"

Barnabas: "It's....socks?! Old socks?!"

Dianne: "What? Are they enchanted or something? There has to be a twist."

'What are they going to do, spit acid? Even Luxia couldn't be that sadistic.'
.
Armin gingerly picked up one of the white socks. Nothing happened.
.
'I think they're just normal socks, but I'm not a magic expert...'

Dianne: "You'd probably have to put them on, but...screw that, I say we take them out back and burn them. I don't trust a thing she sends us."

Armin rubbed his chin. 'I don't entirely disagree, but what if she finds out we rejected it, and sends us something horrible as payback? Maybe we should at the very least keep them in the house.'

{Dianne sighs.}

Dianne: "Alright. Just...put it in the closet or the attic."

Armin carefully put the sock away. 'Barnabas, toss this in the attic. I'm not going up there, with your spiders in it...'
.
He walked back and sat down to help Esme with her block fortress.

{Barnabas did as he was asked. Easing, Dianne began to help with the structure.}

Dianne: "Cute structure..."

Armin hummed quietly. 'Let's finish this, then go outside,' he suggested.'
.
Esme had built the outer wall entirely purple. She now started working on the keep, making it mostly white.

Dianne: "In that case, I better get dressed..."

{Patting Esme on the head, she goes upstairs to change.}

Rex departed with his box, likely intending to assemble the pool table in his room. Armin stayed with Esme, helping her to construct the keep.
.
//Bring those rings, if you like,// he said telepathically to Dianne. //We could test them while we're out.//

{Dianne comes down, dressed warmly and with the rings.}

Dianne: "Should we...eat breakfast first?"

'Oh, yeah. I forgot about that.' Esme growled reproachfully at him. 'You two should eat, then.'

{Chuckling, Dianne heads to the kitchen, returning minutes later with their food.}

Dianne: "Think she'll like the snow?"

Esme abandoned her castle, which was pretty much complete, and started devouring her food.
.
'Well, she was hatched - and partially grew up - in a cold and snowy place,' Armin observed. 'She'll probably like it. You might not, though,' he added with amusement.

Dianne: "See all these layers? I will be fine. Also, my new gloves will be helpful."

{She says, grinning with amusement.}

'I hope so. We won't stay out too long, anyway.'

Armin entertained himself by playing with Esme's building blocks while they ate.

{Upon finishing, Dianne stands and stretches.}

Dianne: "Ok, let's go fling around some frozen water."

Armin stood up and promptly went to get his coat and boots. Once ready, he headed outside to the truck. As he'd said before, a generous layer of snow coated the ground; however, it wasn't enough to hinder driving.

'Want to put those rings on?' he suggested. 'Might be interesting.'

{Dianne hops in with Esme, handing a ring to Armin.}

Dianne: "Yeah, here. Let's see if these work."

{She puts hers on, watching it curiously.}

Armin slipped the ring onto his left hand. He half-expected them to glow, but nothing visual happened. He sent a cautious, questing telepathic thought towards her.

//Think something, and... sort of imagine it going to me.//

{Dianne squints at Armin.}

Dianne: //When we first met, I did think you were handsome.//

Armin blinked, a smirk curling up one side of his face.

//Really? Even as far back as then?//

{Dianne blinks in surprise.}

Dianne: //...Ok, they do work. I mean, it was immediately repressed by unyielding rage, but...yeah..."

Armin grinned slyly. //I suspected as much. Well, not at first. But you admitted you thought I was handsome when we got drunk together that first time. I wasn't sure if it was just intoxicated rambling or not.//

Dianne: //Yeah, sometimes alcohol loosens the tongue. Perhaps too much at times.//

//It was funny at the time. But now, of course, I'm very glad that you think I'm attractive. You're very good yourself.//

{Dianne chuckles at that.}

Dianne: //Yes, you make that very clear every time we...do stuff.\\

Armin raised his eyebrows suggestively, grinning.

//And I'll happily continue to do so.//

'Well, let's get going,' he said out loud, and started up the engine.

Dianne: "Ok. Let's go."

{She returns his grin as the start moving.}

Dianne: //Well, now we have a means of private communication. We can talk about whatever we want, wherever we want.//

Armin responded easily as he drove down the deserted, snow-coated road to the park.

//Yes. It'll be quite useful. We can communicate when one of us decides to run off and do something dangerous. Although, it might not stop me from worrying about you when you're in danger.//

Dianne: //True. Also, I don't think this will scale up to my dragon form, so we can only communicate when I'm in human form. But, the tactical advantage is huge.//

//Even if it only works in human form, it's still very useful. Also, I could use it to whisper filthy things to you without anyone hearing, but that's besides the point,// he said mischievously.

{Dianne laughs, shoving him playfully.}

Dianne: //Such vulgar thoughts. Maybe I should take that ring from you, if you'll just use it for that.//

Armin snickered, unfazed as he continued to drive. //I could do that without the ring. It's just more fun when I can hear your response. Alright, I won't do that - unless I really feel like it.//

Dianne: //If you really want to whisper filthy things to me, let's keep the rings on the next time we're feeling frisky. Then you can tell me whatever you like.//

//Hmm, maybe I will. Could be fun.//
.
They drove into the park. Like the streets, it was largely empty, though a few people still wandered around with their winter coats and their dogs.

{Dianne looks to the park, waiting for the car to stop.}

Dianne: "We're here. Let's see how Esme likes the snow and ice."

Armin parked up near a patch of trees and jumped out, his boots crunching in the snow. He took a few steps along, surveying their surroundings as his breath turned to a white mist in front of him.
.
'I think the lake is still liquid. Must not be cold enough to freeze that much water yet.'

Dianne: "Huh. I'm still not getting near it."

{Getting out, she walks to where the grass would be, then sets Esme dow.}

Esme looked down at the white ground, lifting one paw and then the other, before nuzzling into the snow and pushing some up with her snout.
.
'I think she likes it.'

Dianne: "I think so too."

{Sitting next to her, Dianne picks some snow up in her hand and starts rolling it into a ball.}

Esme whipped her head around to observe Dianne's actions. Armin watched briefly, then quietly bent down to scoop up a bundle of snow. He took aim, then lobbed it at Dianne's back with a mischievous look.

{Dianne flinched a bit upon being hit, turning with an annoyed and amused look.}

Dianne: "Oh, you'll pay for that."

{Standing, she throws her snowball at him at great speed.}

Armin shifted sideways, so the snowball grazed his shoulder instead of hitting him head-on. He then dove behind a tree and, using it as cover, started to construct another snowball.
.
Esme scrambles over the snowy grass with a chirp, staying on Dianne's side.

{Dianne quickly formed another, rushing the tree he was hiding behind, grinning from ear to ear.}

Dianne: "Hiding won't save you from my icy wrath!"

Armin snorted. 'Icy wrath from someone who can't even get up if the weather is mildly cold?'
.
As she rushed the tree, he flung the snowball he'd been holding at her. Esme ran after Dianne excitedly.

{Dianne put her arm up to block the incoming projectile, then chucks hers at him as she rounded the tree.}

Dianne: "Dodge this!"

Armin tried, but it was too close range, and he was laughing too much to dodge properly. The snowball splattered across his chest. In response, he reached up, grabbed a branch and shook it, causing snow to fall out of the tree above Dianne.

{Dianne tried to cover her head when the snow came down. Shaking the snow off herself, she lunges forward, trying to grab him.}

Dianne: "Come here, you."

Armin scrambled back, confident in his ability to outmanoeuvre her. As he did so, he stepped on a tree root that was slippery with ice, and fell backwards into the snow with a startled yelp.

Dianne: "I have you now!"

{Leaning down, she grabs him by the front of his collar, easily hoisting him into the air. Grinning mischievously, she grabs some snow off the ground.}

Armin fruitlessly tried to loosen her grip on him, looking down at her with playful amusement. 'I'm pretty sure this is illegal in a snowball fight... Hey, what are you planning to do with that?'

Dianne: "This."

{Tilting her wrist back, she puts the snow down his shirt .}

Armin let out a strangled exclamation and writhed in her grip. 'Hey, hey, hey, that's /cold!/ I am so pushing you out of bed tomorrow morning.'

{Dianne bursts out in hysterical laughter, gently putting him down.}

Dianne: "Ahahahahahahahahaha! I told you I was bringing icy wrath."

'You are terrible.' Armin shook out his shirt to make sure there was no melting snow still under it. 'The worst.'
.
Esme raced past, breathing a jet of flame that melted the snow in a trail where she ran.

Dianne: "Heheheh, c'mon, don't be like that. Oh, careful with that fire, Esme. Don't burn the park down."

{Still laughing quietly, she pats Armin on the back.}

Dianne: "No hard feelings?"

Armin gazed at her, trying to keep up a serious look, but it quickly disintegrated. He leaned over and kissed the side of her face. 'Of course not.'
.
Esme skidded around in a circle, ending up making a path of snowmelt shaped roughly like a figure eight.

{Dianne smiles at the kiss, watching Esme.}

Dianne: "Yep, I think it's safe to say she loves snow."

Armin started to gather together snow. At first it looked like he was making another snowball, but it quickly got too big for that. Once he had a large enough ball, he began to make another, smaller one, putting it on top.
.
'Going to leave a snowman here for the next people to stumble across.'

Dianne: "Oooh, I've never made one of those."

{Dianne began to roll a ball of snow so she could make one as well.}

Esme sat down to catch her breath and watch the proceedings. Armin walked into a patch of trees nearby, coming back with several twigs and stones, which he used to fashion the snowman's limbs and features. He gave it a ':o' face.

{Dianne completed her snowman's body, then retrieved sticks for the arms. She begins looking about for stones.}

Dianne: "Now, where did you get those stones?"

'I found them around the roots of the trees. I did have to push some snow out the way to uncover them.'
.
Armin surveyed his handiwork, then turned to watch Dianne.

{Dianne walks up to a tree and starts digging around the roots. Coming away with a few good stones, she gives her snowman a >:] face. Smiling, she takes a few steps back to appreciate her handiwork.}

Dianne: "...Too bad I can't animate snow..."

'That's a shame. If you could, then you could make them come alive and wave at everyone walking past. That would have been funny.' Armin gazed at the two snowmen standing together, pleased with their creations.

Dianne: "Yes. Everyone would have screamed and ran. Oh, the missed opportunities."

{Snickering, she turns to observe Esme.}

After melting a twenty-foot path through the snowfield, Esme had quieted down, stretching her wings. Abruptly, she leapt into the air. Her flying strength had only improved over the past month. With a few quick flaps, she had risen above the tree line and was still climbing.

{Dianne watched her with a hint of concern as she climbed above the trees.}

Dianne: "Barnabas, watch her, please. Don't let her hit any power lines or fall into the lake."

'I'll go up, too. I could use a quick wing stretch...'
.
With that, Armin shifted into hawk form and soared into the wintery sky after Esme.

{Finding herself alone, she walks after them from the ground.}

Dianne: "Don't let her go too far."

//She'll be OK,// Armin replied. //Are you staying down there?//

Dianne: "Armin, My dragon form scares everyone around and it's too big to fit on the streets. Are you sure that would be a good idea?"

//Well, alright...//
.
Armin kept his eye on Esme as she drifted around. The dragon knew how to take off, but hadn't figured out how to get down. She looked down, then wobbled dangerously as a puff of wind struck her. Armin flew closer, but couldn't do much in his small bird form.
.
//Uh, Barnabas?//

Barnabas: "I got her."

{Appearing under her, he picks her up and starts to leisurely float to the ground.}

Esme seemed happy to be carried back to earth. Armin dove past them, swooping and landing on Dianne's shoulder.

{Dianne reaches up to pet Armin under his beak, walking for Esme and Barnabas.}

Dianne: "Should we head back?"

Armin tilted his head back, gently gripping her shoulder with his talons as she walked. //Yes, let's go. I don't want you getting cold. Or Esme, but at least she isn't a volcano dragon.//

Dianne: "Alright."

{Taking Esme from Barnabas, Dianne walks for the truck.}

Armin jumped down, shifted back and climbed into the truck once they were close.
.
'So, what do you want to do after this?'

Dianne: "Well, everything is closed, so all we can really do right now is go home and relax for the rest of the day. Unless you have an idea?"

Armin shook his head slightly. 'Not really. Let's go home and see if there are any cheesy Christmas movies on the TV.' He started the engine and reversed out of the park.

Dianne: "That sounds nice."

{Dianne watches in silence as they made their way back home.}

(Should we skip to evening or something)

(Sure, who starts?)

(Mm, you go.)

(Alrighty)

{Later that evening, Dianne was cooking dinner. Pan fried fish with fries and sautéed squash. She still had her thoughtstone ring on}

Dianne: //Food's almost ready. You want a plate, Armin?//

Armin was slumped back on the couch, looking content and comfortable. Even though Dianne was only a room away, he responded in kind: //Sure. That fish smells good.//

{With his and Esme's plates in hand, she sets them on the table, then goes back for her own. Sitting next to Armin, she begins to eat.}

Dianne: "What's on tv?"

Armin accepted his food with a murmur of thanks. He started to dig into the fish.
.
'This is about aliens that come to take over the world, but just end up wanting to join in Christmas. Silly, wholesome Christmas movie.'

Dianne: "Just about what I expected."

{Chuckling, she continues to watch and eat.}

Armin slowly worked his way through his plate, eating all the fish, but leaving some of the fries and squash. Once done, he got up to take his plate into the kitchen, picking up Esme's along the way. He returned after washing them up, slumping back onto the couch.

{After finishing her plate and washing it, Dianne comes back to the couch. Sittin down, she pulls Armin into her arms, leaning back.}

Dianne: "I'm cold. C'mere."

Armin let her pull him in, looking away from the TV to snuggle and nuzzle at her. A warm flicker of something that wasn't words seeped through the Thoughtstone connection. It seemed to be nothing more than a wave of fondness and affection.

{Dianne gave a quick exhale at the flicker of affection, then moved a hand up to stroke his hair.}

Dianne: "You're adorable..."

Armin chuckled softly. 'Thank you.'
.
Leaning his head into the touch, he settled back against her and lazily watched the TV.

{Dianne was content to lie there with him, stroking his hair and wordlessly watching the television. She was very comfortable with his added warmth.}

They remained in peaceful silence for almost an hour, until the movie reached its conclusion. As the credits rolled down the screen, Armin shifted slightly and stretched to uncramp his muscles.
.
'Are you tired?'

{Dianne was lightly dozing by that time. Slightly opening her eyes, she smiles at him.}

Dianne: "A little...want to go up?"

'Yeah. I don't think we have anything else to do today. But I'll say it's been a very nice Christmas. I've got everything I need here. You, Rex, Esme, Fred - friends - and a wonderful present. So, thank you for being a part of it.'

Dianne: "Yes. And thank you...for being a part of the best Christmas I've ever had. I'm just happy I'm not alone anymore."

{Pulling him closer, she kisses his cheek.}

Armin smiled faintly, then lightly nipped her neck with his fangs in a symbol of affection.
.
'How about you carry me upstairs? Getting up sounds far too much like hard work.'

{Chuckling, Dianne sits up, stands with him in his arms, then begins to carry him upstairs.}

Dianne:"You're lucky you're so cute. And that I'm so strong."

{As they climb, she returns is symbol of affection by lightly nipping his neck.}

Armin smirked up at her as she climbed the stairs.
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'Well, it's not often that I have someone who I can just /ask/ to carry me around. I have to take full advantage of that. Besides, it's kind of hot to see how easily you do it.'

Dianne: "Really? Rex wasn't strong enough? Yeah, you've mentioned my strength was a major turn on for you. Using that to my advantage is kind of tricky though."

{Getting to the bedroom, she sets him down on the bed.}

'Rex can carry me. But nowhere near as effortlessly as you do. It wasn't something I'd ask him to do just for kicks.'
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Armin grabbed his sleepwear and started to change while sitting on the edge of the bed.
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'I think you use it to your advantage pretty well. Feeling that strength against me when you decide to take charge in our... Activities, is quite exciting.'

Dianne: "Oh? I had a feeling you liked that. However, I do still need to be careful. I don't want to hurt you accidentally in the heat of the moment."

{Gathering her sleepwear, she stands by the door, not quite wanting to end the conversation by walking to the bath.}

'I'll always tell you if you go too far. Just as I'd expect you to tell me if I ever do anything you don't like.'
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He settled on his back, leaning on the headboard and yawning.

Dianne: "Yes, I would. But so far, you've been great."

{Smiling flirtatiously, she walks out to the bath.}

Armin threw a smirk after her departing form. Quietly waiting for her to return, he let himself mull over the events of the last three days, the possibilities of days to come, and what adventures lay ahead. //Oh, they'll be bloodshed, certainly. Fights, and danger... But that's our lives. And I don't think I could live without the occasional excitement.//

(Yes, Armin. Bloodshed lies ahead. Lots of bloodshed. >:) )

{She returns some fifteen minutes later, with damp hair and smelling of soap. Putting the heater on a higher setting, she climbs into bed.}

(Blooooood)
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'Heater hot enough?' Armin enquired, stretching and turning his head to observe her. 'No danger of spontaneous hibernation?'

Dianne: "No, this is good."

{Climbing under the covers, she snuggles up to him.}

Armin nuzzled her briefly. 'Goodnight, then. Love you, and merry Christmas.'

Dianne: "Goodnight. I love you too...and Merry Christmas..."

{With that, she very quickly drifts off.}

(So, what should we do now?)

(Well, I didn't have anything specific planned between Christmas and you starting your next event. But if you're not quite ready for that, we could just do other random stuff in the meantime.)

(No, it's all ready to go. If you're ready, I can start the introductory paragraph for that arc.)

(Alright, just give me a bit to post a new room.,)

(Ok.)