[ Ace was the last person she had to educate on the rougher aspects of a soldier's lifestyle, but he smiled at her sleepy mumbling regardless, letting her have her way, even if at the cost of completely missing his point in the process.

Glancing in the direction of the kitchen, he quickly realized he wasn't at all hungry, despite having replaced his lunch break with a few cups of coffee. The drink would have met with a flat refusal under normal circumstances, but there were reasons why the station had grown to depend upon it so during busier days.

The bitterness still lingering on his tongue he could do without, however, and so he opened one of the cupboards to grab one of the chocolates from the stash of sweets prepared for similar... emergencies. Popping it into his mouth, he then moved to perch on the armrest of the sofa. ]

Well, work is work. [ It would have been unprofessional to complain, and just as dishonest to reply with a yes. Some could also consider talking with one's mouth full rude, something the cadet didn't even realize he was doing. Manners. ] The first warm days of the year usually bring about many absences at the office, or so I've heard. I'm... just glad to finally be home. So is Rem, I bet.

[ He looked down at the chocobo cradled in the girl's hands. ]

She's growing up, and soon it won't be that easy to simply sneak her in. I might have to think of something else.