InsaneJournal

Between the arrival of George's lookalike - Thor, Chris reminded himself for what seemed like the twentieth time - and the upcoming mission, Chris had been keeping busy - organizing the Captains advisor council and other projects. He'd nearly forgotten about the state dinner until Jim's yeoman had asked if he would be bringing someone and reminded him to have his dress whites cleaned. Which meant that he should ask Leia sooner rather than later. For all he knew, she might have alternate plans with her family.

He came into his quarters, not surprised to see her there - it seemed she was there more often than not and he had no problem with that. He went over to where she was on the sofa and gave her a kiss before taking a seat next to her. "I'm glad you're here. I had something I wanted to ask you."

Leia didn't look up from the PADD on her lap when Chris walked in, but she did when he bent down to kiss her. The greeting had become so natural for them, though she chose not to read into it. It would do neither of them any good to have that discussion all over again. Her attention moved fully to him when he joined her,on the couch. "Oh you do?" she asked. "I hope it's not asking me to leave. Your sofa is more,comfortable than the one in my quarters."

Christopher chuckled as he ran a hand over his hair. "No nothing like that. You're welcome here whenever you like." She'd become a familiar presence in his life and Christopher had no intention of putting a stop to that. "I assume you've read up on our shore leave destination?"

She did spend more time in his quarters than in her own, even when he wasn't there. She enjoyed the quiet, not having a roommate. She also liked that it was on a different deck, one where she didn't have to worry about running into anyone she didn't want to run in to. If there was one thing Leia Organa was good at, it was avoidance.

Nodding, she waved her PADD at him. "At least what's available to me," she said, "though I'm sure there's a lot more to the story than some casinos and museums and pod races."

Chris had sent her more than the standard briefing, nothing classified, of course, but plenty of background info that she could peruse at her heart's content. "Diplomatic negotiations are the main reason for our visit, which will keep me fairly occupied. The usual meetings and tours and politely calling them out on their bullshit when necessary." It was all things christopher was exceptionally good at. Between him and Kirk, this would hopefully go smoothly. "There's also a formal state dinner and I was wondering if you'd want to go with me?"

"I don't miss all of that at all," she said. The Resistance had been a different beast altogether from the Senate. There were times in her life when she would have missed all of that and then times when she couldn't get far enough away from it all. Leia was about to ask him about the negotiations, to clarify something she had read, when he asked her about the dinner.

Leia tipped her head to the side for a moment and searched his face. "Go with you," she repeated, nearly smiling. "As your date?"

He was inviting her as his guest, so… "Yes, as my date. Though I'm going to warn you know, it's going to be a shitty date. And truth be told, it's as much to get your eyes and ears on the place as anything. It just happens to also mean I'll have the most beautiful person in the room on my arm."

"Flatterer," she muttered, but she was grinning. Leia considered it for a moment. "You know, it would be an interesting role reversal, really, cosmic payback maybe for all of the state dinners I dragged Han to that he hated." She set the PADD aside and touched his arm. "I'll tell you what, you find me the dress you want me to wear, since otherwise I'll wear this," she joked. "And I'm all yours for the evening."

"You trust me to pick out a dress for you?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow at Leia. He wasn't sure that was the best idea but hopefully he wouldn't muck it up too badly. "Understanding that I will be a crappy date and that I'll want a full report from you after?"

"If you want to," she said, "or else you can just tell me what color you want me in." Leia leaned back against the sofa cushions and rubbed the side of her neck. "I'm sure I can handle that. It won't be much different than what I'm used to, and since I won't be the one who's working the room, I'll have more of a chance to consider what to put in that report you're requesting."

It was a challenge. Perhaps it was even a test or the next step in their relationship-that-they-weren't-calling-a-relationship. He gave her a smile as he reached over to rub the tension out of her neck. "I'll find you something. It'll probably be white since I'll be in full admiral's regalia - dress whites with all the bells and whistles." It would be a change from the gold shirts he normally wore on the ship. "You will just get to be the absolutely delicious eye candy on my arm."

Her eyes fluttered shut as his hands began to ease the muscles of her neck, and she shrugged lightly. "I grew up wearing white," she told him, "so if there's a little splash of color, it would be much appreciated." Leia didn't elaborate about the white, just moved along past the subject. "I'm sure I can manage looking good on your arm, admiral."

"I'll see what I can do." He'd have to talk to Nyota. Maybe Carol and Annie. He knew Leia would look stunning in anything. "The challenge will be making me look like I'm worthy of you."

She gave him a look that said, plainly, you're full of shit. Then she kissed him slowly. "If you're in uniform, you'll look fantastic. You always do."

"Now that is just pure flattery," Christopher said as he deepened the kiss.