It was one of Roman’s days off, and normally, he spent those working anyway, but not today. Today he had surprise plans, because it was Rand’s day off, too. Roman had spent the morning planning, setting it up. In the observation lounge, he set up a seat by the window, where he and Rand would be able to see the stars of space while they ate. And that needed preparations, too. He had the cook make Rand’s favorite food, to be ready and warm by lunch. He’d owe the cook big for that, Rand loved shepherd’s pie. Everything had to be perfect. It was going to be their first public date, the first time they were together away from the privacy of one of their quarters, usually his. He was… a little nervous about it, but more because he was worried about how Rand would feel about a public date than how he felt about it. After he’d gone to sickbay with Rand for the check-up for her ankle, he was sure most if not everyone aboard knew anyway. Randy knew. It was time for this. And it was time to go and get Rand herself.

And so, dressed in one of his button-downs and a pair of black slacks, his appearance neat and tidy as usual, he stopped in front of the door to her quarters at 11:50. Hesitating just a moment, as he wondered if Randy had the day off as well, he knocked on the door. Not his usual nighttime soft knock but a harder, louder knock, to be sure she heard, she wouldn’t have been expecting him. Then he waited for one of them, preferably Rand, to open the door.

~ Roman