#drachen queue

That would be just a hard working girl’s luck. The one time she catches a break before the sun even rose and the Empire decides to drop in. Typical.

Take the night off the boys said, Specs is cooking dinner they said. Best chef from here to Insomnia so the ex Imperial Commodore would be a fool not to accept such a gracious offer even if Aranea would have much rather tackled these rowdy boys to practice rounds with her spear. Nature wasn’t half as bad on a full stomach and the right crowd and besides, they corny stories were pretty entertaining. Great night but the uninvited Magitek cavalry sure knew how to ruin a good morning. Barely had enough time to throw her face on and polish her spear so it’s safe to say she certainly isn’t in the best of moods.

... considering his not-so-charming highness seems about as good at improvising as cooking- a frying pan, really? Looks like spending the night was a bad idea. To make matters worse their happy party of five fell to two when a certain prince just wouldn’t get out of bed on time so everyone else went about their business leaving Noct to pack up by himself as punishment. Oh well. At least their enemies could make up for it provided they were decent enough playmates. Don’t mind if she anchors her spear and steps in front of Noctis Lucis completely powerless over here. Best put the pan down and let the big girl handle things.

Oh well! No pain no gain. Aranea has gotten quite attached to these little training sessions seeing how his highness and the boys were the only ones who could actually keep up with her. Almost. Specs in particular was a special breed. He’s got moves that flow with a practiced elegance she can more than appreciate and get behind. If that wasn’t enough his cooking was good, his company more so but the time away from the front lines has kept her around more often as of late.

“Yeah, maybe. Gonna let that stop you, Prince?”

Hell. He better not. The ex commodore didn’t come all the way out here to give him a beating this early in the morning. Word is a certain Lucian heir and his boys were stranded at a gas station and holing up at the resident cafe for a hearty meal before crashing at the nearest mobile inn for the night. Not exactly charming and Aranea isn’t about flushing her coin out to others unless they desperately needed it, but…

She’s setting a handful down on top of the table between them and nodding towards him expectantly.

So much for a breather.

She’s just gotten back from another quick run in the field, barely fresh off the steaming ramp of her personal carrier and it’s already another mouthful about a certain royal entourage spinning up trouble another city or so over. Too bad night just fell and she doesn’t work after hours. Guess his royal pain in her ass and the crew will have to wait for a beating until tomorrow. Loosening her helmet with an expected sigh she takes in the scenery and only pauses when catching sight of those peculiar little eyes shining like lost stars in the dark.

Just because she doesn’t work after dark doesn’t mean she couldn’t see whatever was laying in wait, unable to keep from smiling almost sheepishly. Fluffy ears and a tail. Now what’s a dog doing out this late?