"You've finally left your room," Aranea said, noticing the stubble around his mouth.

He glanced over at Amara, "It's about time… I figured."

"And I figure you should shave that thing off your face," she cocked an eyebrow and took a sip of her drink.

Amara tilted her head to the side, only just noticing his facial hair, "It looks different on you..."

"Do you like it? I'd always gotten rid of it before," he said.

"It's… whatever you want it to be!" She offered a small smile, in an attempt to hide her confusion.

A small hint of a smile formed on Ravus' face, "Right." He leaned up against the roof's railing, throwing his head back. "What future lies for us, I wonder. The world is changing, seems we have to change as well."

Amara shrugged, "Come what may."

Aranea nodded, "I'm not sure what'll happen, but we'll be prepared. Eh, at least I will." A light chuckle was heard from her.

"We're not so easily counted out, remember that." Amara looked up at the murky black sky. "You think the sun will ever show again?"

Aranea played with a strand of her hair, "I dunno, but if it doesn't at least we're safe." She gripped the glass tighter, generating a crack in it's structure. "I can't help but feel sorry for those who aren't as lucky as..." the dragoon grew silent, her eyes swimming through the dark liquor.

"It is sad," Amara mumbled. "Maybe we could do something… since it's sounds like you're thinking about it."

Grinning, she said, "Already ahead of you. Me and Titus plan to gather up people for a daemon hunting team… and since I'm pretty good at it, we'll dabble in recovery efforts too!"

Ravus regarded her, "That's quite entrepreneurial of you."

"Right? To think, I'd be leading something..." she swished the liquid around in the glass. "You two've got a place too, if you're up for it."

He shrugged, "Hm, I think I'll take a break first before I sign on to anything else."

"I'll help too," Amara tore her eyes away from the black clouds, turning towards Amara. "Tell me when you plan to head out! It doesn't seem like it'd be too much of a hassle."

"Have you dealt with daemons before, Amara?" Ravus asked.

"No… but I'm sure I could learn while..." she eyed Aranea cutely, "taking over all administrative roles?"

Ravus laughed, "Multitasking was always your strong suit."

"Nice try," Aranea grinned. "But, I'll make sure to tell you when."

xx

"I'm glad you brought these," Ravus said, admiring the locked books Amara retrieved from his condo. "I'd almost completely forgotten about them."

They'd moved to the common room of the home, joined by Aranea's mercenary friends and the drinking dragoon herself. The latter were off in their own world, prepping dinner or talking amongst themselves, while Amara and Ravus hung around the respite area.

Amara stood off to the side, flipping listlessly through a magazine, "What are they?"

"Er, writings… nothing special."

She looked over at him, "Wait, like… poetry?"

"I didn't say that," he mumbled, locking the book. "I just thought you should know… since you brought i—"

"You make it a habit of drawing pretty ladies, Ramus?" The boisterous blond yelled. He held a canvas in his hands, the back of which was all Amara could see and paraded into the room as if he'd found a treasure.

The silver-haired man sighed, "Ramus…?"

"Look!" He exclaimed, displaying it to the mercenaries in the kitchen. He glanced over at Amara and doubled back to the painting, "Wait, it looks just like you!"

"Titus, quiet down!" The dragoon growled. "You're giving me a headache."

Ravus glared at him, "Why were you in my room?"

"'Cause I'd already been in everybody elses," Titus chuckled.

Aranea signaled to another one of her friends, "He still hasn't lost that habit has he?"

Amara had previously wondered what was on the canvas, but decided not to press the matter. "So, it's me?"

"I said it looks like you," Titus corrected, walking towards her. "I didn't say it was you…. the girl in the painting's actually much prettier."

Amara looked at him flatly, "Never mind."

"Give me that." Ravus snatched the painting from a retreating Titus and hid it against his torso. He glanced at Amara, "I'll show you another time."

Amara tried not to laugh at the red tinge that formed on his face, as his private works had been thrust into the spotlight. "Um… that's fine. Anyway, I'm going to help with dinner… or something."

"Sure," he nodded.

Amara started off towards the kitchen, but turned around and embraced the former high commander. "I forgot to say, I'm really glad you're back."

"It's good to be back…" resting his chin on her head, "even if the world's gone to hell."