== CSO's Quarters: enroute to Trill ==
Ameen stepped inside as Amila invited him in, the door hissing closed behind him, sealing them in the privacy of her quarters. He offered a small, appreciative smile for her congratulations.
"Thank you, Lieutenant," he said, his voice a bit softer than it was on the bridge. "It's... been a rather eventful day for all of us."
He took in her appearance. She was dressed for comfort, a stark contrast to her usual on-duty precision: a light gray heather Academy sweatshirt, its blue lettering faded with age – likely a relic from her science department studies – paired with, very short, shorts that looked equally soft and well-worn.
Definitely off-duty attire, Ameen thought. She looks... relaxed. Beautiful. A world away from the crisp uniform and the composed Chief Science Officer on the bridge, or even how she presented herself on our date. It's... disarmingly real.
A sight that made the carefully constructed walls around 'Commander Ameen' feel a little less solid for that moment. He held up the bottle of blue Romulan Ale.
"I, ah, managed to save this from my DS9 stash. Thought a familiar drink might be welcome after a day like today." He found a small, clear spot on a side table and set it down. "Though, to be honest," he added, turning back to her, his gaze a little more direct, "a drink wasn't the only thing I had in mind when I came by."
He met her eyes, a slight, almost nervous energy about him now. "Computer," Ameen said, his voice clear but pitched for the room's systems, "Execute order Ameen sixty-six."
For a moment, nothing happened, then on the counter to her side something materialized, not a food item, but a single, perfectly formed Andorian blue rose, its petals tinged with a faint, silvery luminescence.
Ameen gave a small, almost sheepish shrug, a hint of a hopeful smile playing on his lips. "For the new Chief Science Officer. And... for a promising start that got rather complicated, rather quickly."
Hopefully, that wasn't too much. Just a small gesture...
The smile faded a bit as his expression grew more serious, the purpose of his visit returning to the forefront.
"Amila," he began, using her first name now that they were alone and the ice, perhaps, was slightly broken. "We need to talk. About... us. About where this is going, or if it can go anywhere, now that things have changed so dramatically."
He took a shallow breath as he took another step closer to her.
"As per Starfleet regulations, I've already informed Commander Keir, as my acting First Officer, about our... previous social engagement. The single date. S/he needed to be aware, given my new command responsibilities and you serving as a department head on this ship."
He wanted to be clear about the procedural aspect.
"What I also told Keir, and what I needed to tell you directly, is that despite all this upheaval, my personal hope was, and still is, to see if there's a possibility for that connection we felt to... continue. To be explored further. Obviously, with the utmost discretion, respecting all professional boundaries and regulations, especially while on duty." He ran a hand through his hair, as he continued. "It's a complicated situation, no doubt. Probably the worst timing imaginable. But I wanted you to know where I stood, and to see... if you felt there was any way forward for us, under these new circumstances."
There it was. Ball in her court now...
He waited, the quiet hum of the ship the only sound for a moment, suddenly very aware of how much her answer mattered.
== Tag ==
Ameen stepped inside as Amila invited him in, the door hissing closed behind him, sealing them in the privacy of her quarters. He offered a small, appreciative smile for her congratulations.
"Thank you, Lieutenant," he said, his voice a bit softer than it was on the bridge. "It's... been a rather eventful day for all of us."
He took in her appearance. She was dressed for comfort, a stark contrast to her usual on-duty precision: a light gray heather Academy sweatshirt, its blue lettering faded with age – likely a relic from her science department studies – paired with, very short, shorts that looked equally soft and well-worn.
Definitely off-duty attire, Ameen thought. She looks... relaxed. Beautiful. A world away from the crisp uniform and the composed Chief Science Officer on the bridge, or even how she presented herself on our date. It's... disarmingly real.
A sight that made the carefully constructed walls around 'Commander Ameen' feel a little less solid for that moment. He held up the bottle of blue Romulan Ale.
"I, ah, managed to save this from my DS9 stash. Thought a familiar drink might be welcome after a day like today." He found a small, clear spot on a side table and set it down. "Though, to be honest," he added, turning back to her, his gaze a little more direct, "a drink wasn't the only thing I had in mind when I came by."
He met her eyes, a slight, almost nervous energy about him now. "Computer," Ameen said, his voice clear but pitched for the room's systems, "Execute order Ameen sixty-six."
For a moment, nothing happened, then on the counter to her side something materialized, not a food item, but a single, perfectly formed Andorian blue rose, its petals tinged with a faint, silvery luminescence.
Ameen gave a small, almost sheepish shrug, a hint of a hopeful smile playing on his lips. "For the new Chief Science Officer. And... for a promising start that got rather complicated, rather quickly."
Hopefully, that wasn't too much. Just a small gesture...
The smile faded a bit as his expression grew more serious, the purpose of his visit returning to the forefront.
"Amila," he began, using her first name now that they were alone and the ice, perhaps, was slightly broken. "We need to talk. About... us. About where this is going, or if it can go anywhere, now that things have changed so dramatically."
He took a shallow breath as he took another step closer to her.
"As per Starfleet regulations, I've already informed Commander Keir, as my acting First Officer, about our... previous social engagement. The single date. S/he needed to be aware, given my new command responsibilities and you serving as a department head on this ship."
He wanted to be clear about the procedural aspect.
"What I also told Keir, and what I needed to tell you directly, is that despite all this upheaval, my personal hope was, and still is, to see if there's a possibility for that connection we felt to... continue. To be explored further. Obviously, with the utmost discretion, respecting all professional boundaries and regulations, especially while on duty." He ran a hand through his hair, as he continued. "It's a complicated situation, no doubt. Probably the worst timing imaginable. But I wanted you to know where I stood, and to see... if you felt there was any way forward for us, under these new circumstances."
There it was. Ball in her court now...
He waited, the quiet hum of the ship the only sound for a moment, suddenly very aware of how much her answer mattered.
== Tag ==