( nsfw open )

[skittys]

.

Comments

[unas]

( he did the strawberries purposely. when you know someone so well it's easy to do something they'll enjoy and una makes no secret of her love of strawberries. it's not the first time he's gotten them just for her either )

Your dinners are usually pretty good no matter what they are.

( pretty good is an understatement. wait until she comes over for breakfast or stays over... god she's going to be lost.

she's a sucker for food, it's a way to her heart, though when he's already also in it-- )

Though you should have left dessert a surprise before I try and sneak off with it. ( kidding )

[failed_astrophysics]

[Of course he did. Someday he'll try other desserts, maybe.]

It's almost done, just waiting for the timer.

[Then he goes to sit on his sofa, his wine glass is already on the table and half empty. At least his quarters were in better shape this time than the last time she visited.]

[unas]

( she's used to sitting on the chair across from him which is where una parks herself again now. maybe next time she'll scoot across next to him. or distract him from dinner entirely.

baby steps. and this baby step was dinner. a normal step but getting back to them )

You might have to find ways to shut me up about work.

( because she's used to that often with their dinners )

[failed_astrophysics]

If there is something work related that we need to talk about, we can.

[He didn't want to make his 'leave the padd by the door' comment to be taken as an order. It wasn't.]

But if it's not pressing, I'll be sure to come up with enough distractions. We do have to eat after all.

[And he hopes he's going to get to kiss her sometime tonight, as it's been almost six weeks since he'd had that opportunity.]

[unas]

You told me this was a date which I'm pretty sure shouldn't have work conversation in it.

( the 'leave the padd by the door' wasn't why she'd commented, that had been a visible excuse for anyone in the corridor, but she didn't want work on the date really. she wanted something separate )

And I think I'm going to enjoy seeing what you come up with.

[failed_astrophysics]

Probably not, but I don't think we're going to be able to avoid it completely all the time.

[Though he was going to do his best to make sure tonight was as work free as possible.]

I can always tell you how it went with my Step-mother.

[He hadn't talked about it too much when he got back from his visit during leave.]

[unas]

Now that sounds like a dangerous topic.

( though by her smile she's teasing, a sip of her wine before following with-- )

How was it?

[failed_astrophysics]

[So dangerous, he takes a rather large sip from his own wine glass.]

She was very upset that you weren't with me. Since she said, and this is a quote, "Chris, this might be the only time we get to meet her since you're off in space so much." And she didn't believe me at all when I said you were just my first officer.

[Another large sip]

I am never telling her she was right. Even if I'm happy she was right.

[unas]

Well, at the time I was just your First Officer.

( that he'd then spent two weeks sleeping with and una had definitely dodged his step-mother because of said sex )

But telling her could take some time.

( if only because this is a) the first date, b) she's definitely very nervous about all of this and c) oh god those regulations she's trying to ignore )

[failed_astrophysics]

That is completely fine with me.

[Because if he told her now it would be an endless string of "You should have done this years ago"]

My father wants to meet you too, but that's because I told him you were the best XO in the fleet. Then he asked me if you were better than me. I was honest, and I said at least a hundred times better. He's impressed.

[And there's that timer.]

[unas]

You'd be lost without me.

( and though there's confidence in her tone una is absolutely kidding. they're too good of a team, each with their own skills that makes them what they are. and currently they'd both be lost without the other, though that wasn't duty related )

From the little bits I've heard about him he sounds like a good man.

( she gets up with him, leaning on his counter as he gets the food, used to doing something in the kitchen with him on their usual dinners )

[failed_astrophysics]

You're right.

[He he fills & takes the bowls over to the table, then gets their glasses and the bottle. Everything's set up just a little nicer than his Captain's Table set ups, even though it was only for the two of them.]

My dad's pretty great, he'll like you. You don't let me get away with anything, unless you think it's a good idea too.

[Partners in staging mutinies and all of that.]

[unas]

I'm not sure I want to know what you've told either of them about me.

( his step-mom being so insistent to meet her and his dad... maybe that one wouldn't be so odd. but she was definitely going to delay that as long as she could politely get away with it )

This looks great.

[failed_astrophysics]

Mostly that you're my best friend, I admire you, and you don't do downtime well, which is why you didn't come with me. You needed to go do something and explore.

[Which wasn't a lie, not really.]

I hope it's as good as it looks.

[unas]

( most of that una might already know but it doesn't stop her from blushing ever so slightly at hearing it again.

especially that he admires her.

which is definitely why she eats something instead of having to respond. and oh, for being just pasta, for not having any spice to it, it's good. she doesn't need words to let him know that either, the melt in her expression probably did it enough )

[failed_astrophysics]

[Is that a blush he sees? Oh, he is going to take some measure of pride in doing that. Una's always so composed, and now this? This is a moment he's going to remember forever. Then he tries his own dinner.]

Better than I thought. Might have to make it for the next party.

[unas]

You do spoil them.

( though she isn't complaining, it means that the crew has a very good relationship, that they've got a bond that she's not seen in another crew before )

I've never seen another Captain like you.

[failed_astrophysics]

[She gets a grin when she says that, a real 'light up the room' kind of grin.]

Thank you.

[Then it was his turn to eat, instead of saying anything further.]

[unas]

Oh, that wasn't really a compliment.

( she teases. she hasn't seen another captain like him in entirely the best way, though he also does have a habit of spoiling the crew. sometimes she wondered if he was a little too nice to them, though she was someone who kept many barriers between herself and people and not just because of rank )

Though they don't get a look in on strawberry desserts. I'm not risking the supply.

( very kidding. but never get in the way of una chin-riley and her strawberries )

[failed_astrophysics]

[Maybe he does spoil them, as he's fairly sure no other captains cook for their crews. But, he's found that the easiest way to get people comfortable around one another is to share a meal. It helps for collaboration in other areas of their lives.]

The strawberries are always just for you.

[unas]

If I didnt know you better I might be worried about that.

( as if he was trying to bribe her with something )

Good job I do. Though I won't say no.

[failed_astrophysics]

[He used to look at at it as keeping his first officer happy. Now he looks at it as keeping his girlfriend happy.]

It's something I can do for you that makes you happy.

[unas]

There's a lot you do that makes me happy.

( and he didn't need strawberries for that. though it definitely didn't hurt.

and really now with him and their truths revealed she was happier than she'd probably ever been. he'd made her that happy )

I don't think you really need to try for that.

[failed_astrophysics]

[She gets a shy smile in return for that complement, he wasn't expecting that at all really.]

You do the same thing, you know. It's why I never want to be on a planet for too long.

[unas]

I do?

( the woman speaking from relationship inexperience, who's never been someone's source of happiness other than an occasional night.

which is also absolutely why she's turning his compliment into a slight joke. she's still figuring out the feelings side of it (how it feels to know she's making someone happy) )

Is that why you keep going to the planets, to have a reason to come back?

( sir, she'd like some planet action too. gosh )