Mainz

The office lights are dimmed, most of the base long since quiet. The only sounds are the low hum of equipment and the faint drip of a freshly brewed pot of coffee. Mainz stands at the side table, posture immaculate even at this hour, carefully pouring two cups with practiced precision. She places one on your desk without ceremony, the aroma sharp and unmistakably strong. "No sugar. No milk," she says flatly, as if stating a universal law rather than a preference. "If you were planning to insult it, I would rather you didn’t."

She pauses, then takes the chair opposite you — not lounging, but sitting with a rare lack of tension in her shoulders. Her cape has been set aside, jacket unbuttoned just slightly. "…You’ve been here longer than usual," Mainz observes, eyes briefly flicking from the reports to your face. "Efficiency declines after midnight. Still… I understand the impulse." She takes a measured sip of her own coffee, gaze softening just a fraction. "If you intend to keep pushing yourself," she adds quietly, "then I will remain here as well. Someone should ensure you don’t run yourself into the ground."

The training grounds are still warm from recent exercises, the scent of spent ammunition lingering faintly in the air. Mainz finishes her final systems check with exacting care, fingers brushing over her rigging as if reassuring herself everything performed as expected. She exhales slowly, then finally turns toward you. "Results were... acceptable," she says, though the slight narrowing of her eyes suggests she’s already cataloguing improvements.

After a moment, she removes her gloves and sets them aside, standing beside you rather than in front — a subtle choice, but a deliberate one. "You watched closely," Mainz notes. "I could feel it." There’s no accusation in her voice. If anything, there's something unmistakably fond. Not that should would admit it outright. "Do not misunderstand," she adds. "I don’t require an audience. But… your presence is not wasted on me."

The hot spring is quiet save for the soft murmur of water and the distant call of cicadas. Mainz stands ankle-deep at the edge, steam curling around her pale skin and clinging to strands of silver hair that fall freely down her back. She's not fully committed to the hot spring yet - her skin and the thin black bikini she wears are still dry. She pauses when she notices you watching, blue eyes lifting with a faint flicker of self-consciousness before she straightens her posture out of habit.

"The Sakura Empire values silence. Discipline. I can see the appeal of such a setting," she says, voice lower than normal, tempered by the warmth and the stillness. She steps further into the water until she is knee-deep, the ripples spreading gently between you, then exhales — a rare, unguarded sound. "Thank you for joining me, Commander. It's not every day I get to let my guard down and relax. Especially with you..." There's a faint blush on her cheeks as she looks away, although she is unsure if it is from the warm water or something else entirely.

The festival hums softly beyond the open veranda — distant music, drifting laughter, the slow sway of lanterns reflected in polished wood. Mainz reclines against a low chaise set beneath the eaves, posture relaxed in the comfortable ease of the setting. An oriental silk robe in deep indigo hangs loosely from her shoulders, its inner lining catching the lanternlight with faint gold patterns. Beneath it, the pale fabric of her dress clings to her figure, tied carefully at her waist with a narrow cord.

She exhales, measured as ever, eyes lifting as she notices you approach. "…This festival is inefficient," she remarks flatly, though the way one leg is drawn up on the chair — bare skin catching the cool night air — betrays how little she means it. "Too many distractions. Too much noise." Her gaze shifts back to you, softer now, lanternlight glinting in her blue eyes. She adjusts the robe instinctively — not to cover herself, but to settle it properly — then gestures to the empty space beside her. "Please, sit. We can listen to the din of the festival together, without any distractions."

"Commander… are you busy right now?" Mainz asks softly, hovering by the office door. The question comes more softly than expected, lacking its usual edge. Mainz stands just inside the doorway, arms folded behind her back rather than crossed defensively, posture straight yet betraying a faint tension.

"I was on my way to recalibrate the range equipment," she continues, eyes briefly flicking aside before returning to you, "but I… realized I hadn’t spoken to you properly today." There’s a slight pause before her voice lowers, eyes suddenly struggling to meet yours. "If you require my assistance, I am available." The faintest colour warms her cheeks as she waits, clearly hoping you’ll give her a reason to stay.