Playing in the dirt [Paula/Sulu]

[lt_paula]

It had slipped up quietly on Paula, that moment when everything shifted away from the nervous tension of a new mission and became comfortable, with new routines established. She had settled into her new job and her quarters with relative ease, for the most part enjoying just being back out here, working instead of sitting idle

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[flying_katana]

The voice behind him surprised him, but the sight made him smile wide. "You can't imagine how fast these things grow here, in these perfect conditions." Wiping his face, Hikaru could feel the smudge of dirt on his cheek, but both his hands were dirty, so it would have to stay there for a while.

"How have you been, Lieutenant?" he asked, his eyes dancing at the idea that she had come to see him. "Busy much?"

[lt_paula]

"Busy enough," she agreed, looking around. "But it looks like you've been busy, too. I'm impressed." Paula knew the lab could adapt for any sort of plant life they needed to grow, but this was the first time she'd really had the leisure to look closely and just admire. Her smile widened as she studied him, his hands and face dirty, looking completely at home. She liked that he wasn't worried about cleaning up right then just for her benefit.

Paula bit her lip, indicating the basket over her arm. "I came to see if you'd like to join me for a picnic. But will you show me your plants?"

[flying_katana]

"Not much to do other than fly right now, until we get to our next mission destination." But that was coming up soon, he knew. "Things have been quiet for a few days, coincidentally just in time for me to work out here."

Hikaru loved that she seemed interested in his plants. "I've got the vegetables over here," he said, reaching for a stray weed that somehow managed to survive the process of preparing the dirt for the ship's botany labs. "Other in that little plot are my flowering plants," he added, pointing at some cuttings that were cordoned off in their own area. "Those are not all safe to be around, if you're not careful." His dangerous babies.

His smile grew even wider at the basket. "Food? Really?" he asked, kneeling up and wiping his hands on his pants. "Yeah, I mean, let me clean up a little. There's a sink over here, somewhere..."

[lt_paula]

Paula paid attention while he pointed out the plots, her eyebrows raising when he cautioned her about the cordoned-off section. "What sorts of things do you have there?" She couldn't help being interested, especially with that hint of danger.

"Really," she told him. "Some sandwiches, and a few things from home." She smiled, going a little pink when he said yes. "You're sure it's a good time? I can wait if you need to finish anything up."