Duca degli Abruzzi

As always, Abruzzi is up at the crack of dawn and ready for the day ahead, not wasting any time on idling or being unproductive. Waiting outside the office door with her arms folded beneath her chest, she taps the toe of her high heel against the floor while she waits for you to arrive. A quick check of her watch confirms that you're late, although only by a few minutes. If only she had a key herself, then she could have made a start instead of wasting time lingering outside the door.

"Good morning, Commander," she greets you somewhat flatly, clearly a little irritated about your delayed arrival. Since it's only a couple of minutes though, she decides to let you off the hook. Her eyes lock onto your tie which sits slightly to one side, irking her. "Tsk. Commander, your collar is askew," she comments, reaching out to adjust it without a second thought. "Must I be the one to maintain your appearance as well as your schedule?" she adds, a hint of a tease in her voice as she flattens out your collar.

Even though the work day has come to and end, Abruzzi is once again lingering in the office, sharing some idle conversation with you and just generally enjoying your presence. It's become something of a habit of hers of late, a big departure from how she used to be - her first days as your secretary she was out of the door as soon as the clock hit the hour.

During a moment of comfortable silence, Abruzzi wheels back and forth slightly on her chair, looking down at the floor as she too thinks about how unusual it is for her to be staying after hours like this. "... I seem to find myself lingering here more often as of late," she remarks softly, watching her high heel graze the wooden floor. "Perhaps... perhaps it is because I value these moments with you, Commander..." she murmurs, an incredibly rare blush dusting her cheeks. As if realising what she has just let on, she quickly tries to play it off. "But you will not hear me admit that again. Ahem..."

Abruzzi stands before her mirror, arms crossed, tapping her foot in frustration. A selection of elegant outfits are laid out on her bed, but for once her usual decisiveness eludes her. She exhales sharply, trying to make her mind up on what to wear. The knock on her front door surprises her, making her realise how long she had been pondering over her date outfit.

"Commander, you are early. Or perhaps I am merely... running late. Hmph. Unacceptable," she sighs sharply as she answers the door, still not changed yet. Realising she may have come across as a little too sharp, she apologies as best she can. "Sorry, I'm just... tch. I can't decide on what to wear." She invites you inside, offering a seat on her sofa, a little embarrassed that she, of all people, is running late.

It's been a slow day in the office without many pressing tasks or challenges - a rare respite indeed. Without the pressure of tight schedules and heavy workloads, Abruzzi has been able to enjoy the day a lot more than usual with you, although not having pressing tasks felt a little odd at first. Over lunch, a light storm has blown into port, bringing with it somewhat heavy rain. It patters against the office windows, creating a soothing and cosy atmosphere within.

Without work to do and lulled by the relaxing sounds, Abruzzi has allowed her guard to come down much more than usual. She sits on the office sofa, her eyelids drooping slightly. "Even I grow tired, Commander. I simply do not often allow myself to show it," she remarks softly. "Your presence eases burdens I did not even realize I carried. Tell me, does mine do the same for you?" Her eyes meet yours, her gaze much warmer than usual.

Even though they have their differences, Abruzzi always enjoys being in the company of her sister, Garibaldi. When it comes to the Commander, however... Abruzzi is not exactly fond of Garibaldi's tendency to tease her openly in front of him. After all, her sister knows how she really feels about him...

Sitting together at a fine Sardegnian restaurant at port, Abruzzi methodically taps one and a quarter packets of sugar into her tea, her eyes keenly watching her sister. She notices Garibaldi trying to get you to order one of the more daring alcoholic drinks on the menu and can't help but comment. "Must you always encourage reckless indulgence, Giuseppe?" she asks with a small sigh as she stirs her tea. Commander, you would do well to remember that moderation is key. Besides, it is merely past midday."

Seeming unusually flustered, Abruzzi hurried into your office earlier in the day to leave a box of Valentines chocolates on your desk. You could tell she was expecting you to be out of the office, so actually presenting it to you caught her by surprise a little, bringing a rare blush to her cheeks. She left swiftly, her only words being: "Don't open this until after work."

With the workday finished and your curiosity getting the better of you, you open up the Valentines box. Inside is an array of chocolates for you, but a note has been placed on top. It reads: "Bring this note to my place tonight. Don't make any further plans for the evening, either." The note is signed '- Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi', sealed with a few kisses to make her intentions crystal clear.