In his not very comfortable quarters sat the Ambassador Gackt and talked to his quiet servant. He could have as well been talking to the wall, it would have been as responsive as the cute man.
"This Commander is really a sight to look at, isn't he? I just can see that he is the right one für my little Camui. Don't you think so, Emiru-chan?"
The silent servant just shrugged indifferently.
"I just knew you would see it that way." Ambassador Gackt lifted one elgant eyebrow. "Anyway. We got to think of a way to bring those two little love-birds together, only the two of them. Understood?"
No remarkable response from the pink-dressed man.
"I just know. They've got to be alone togehter for some time."
The man bowed his head with the long, shimmering golden curls considering some thoughts.

"What is more romantic than a private Dinner? Nice food, nice conversation...long looks into the eyes of your counterpart..."
He sighed dreamily.
"Alright, Emiru-chan. There is work to do."

The First Officer woke up with reluctance.
Little dancing men clad in pink-skirts were entertaining him just greatly in his dreams
He opened his eyes and took a look around.
These were supposed his quarters on board the Enterprise, weren't they? He still wasn't used to them though.
He sat up, dizzily, still seeing little pink men jumping around.
Scratching his head he tried to recollect the day before.
What had happened?
The Captain had arrived and Camui's Father...
Both strange in their own right
And this silent and fragile yet strong man in his pink-dress.

Were there only lunatics assigned to this ship?

He sighed and remembred giving command to Lt Commander Levin when his shift was over, without ever seeing the Captain again.

Leaving the comfort of his bed, he walked over to his pets on unsteady legs.
His stag-beetles seemed ignorant towards the steady gaze of their owner.
They were beetles after all.
But the First Officer smiled at them with affection and care.
He stretched a little before entering the shower.

He wondered if the Captain ever got to his quarters the day before.
Maybe he had just slept in his chair, head on his desk, nose stuck in a puddle of Green Tea.
The Commander chuckled to himself.

The warm water woke him a little more and he managed to rub himself off and put on his uniform without much tripping over his own legs.
Then he sat down to get his normal breakfast, as someone rang on his door.

"Come!" he called, surprised who might disturb him in this ungodly hour,.

"Thank you for having me at such an early hour, Commander Hakuei." the elegant figure of the Ambassador rushed in. This time he was clad in a deep blue tuxedo-like outfit, making him look more like a man. "I'm sorry too disturb at such an early hour, dear Commander, but I got urgent an question."
Unnerved the poor, still sleep-plagued First Officer sighed and asked "So how may I be of service to you, Ambassador?"
"You know, tonight I'll have a little Dinner at my, unfortunately very scanty, quarters. And I would be honoured endlessly if you could attend."
Dinner with the mind-reading father of his ex-lover?
What did he do to deserve that?
Should he deny the request?
After all, this man was a important diplomat, and his duties as a commander of Starfleet required him to act very polite towards him.
"I would be honoured." the First Officer stuttered out.
The Ambassador smiled politely and maybe even a little slyly at the First Officer, grabbing his hand and squeezed it. Then he gazed into the eyes of the Starfleet Commander meltingly, his thumb rubbing over the hand of the bewildered man.
The First Officer pulled it back in a flash. "Duty begins in a few minutes. Please excuse me for now, Ambassador." he managed to keep his voice well-behaved.
The diplomat got the hint, not very suprisingly since he was a telepath, said his goodbyes in a very cultivated voice and manner.
Then he left to prepare everything for an evening for two.

When Commander Hakuei entered the bridge, the first thing he noticed was laughter. The atmosphere was truly relaxed, everyone's attention was drawn to the figure of the captain, flashing a warm smiles at his bridge-crew.
Even the small Lt Commander Levin listened to the expositions of the Commander of the Enterprise. The alert eyes of the Captain settled on his First Officer.
"Morning Number One." came the prompt but casual greeting from his superior.
"Good morning, Sir." The hungry man replied. He had missed his already poor breakfast thanks to the visit of Camui's father. His stomach gave a firm reminder of this event, growling like a hungry tiger. The First Officer blushed, but no one seemed irritated.
Only the Captain rose an eyebrow and Lt Commander Levin smiled cutely, making the First Officer blush deeper.
Then he got a grip on himself and took his place on the right side of the Captain's seat on the bridge.
He checked the reports of the night-shifts, while the bridge-crew returned to their different tasks.

A very familiar voice startled him out of his reading.
"Where is the Captain?" the Counsellor asked, after entering the bridge, while holding his reports to Commander Hakuei.
Looking around, the First Officer only just noticed the absence of his superior. Irritated he looked at the blonde before him.
"In his Ready-Room."
At least he hoped so. He took the reports and took a short glance at them. Then his look returned to the face of his ex-lover. "Thank you, Counsellor." he released the Counsellor in a business-like manner. When Counsellor Gackt turned to leave, he called him again.
"Camui...?"

"Yes, Commander?"

"Have you been invited to a Dinner tonight?"

"No, not really. Why?"

"Uhm...nothing..."

"Is that all, Sir?"

"Hn? Yes..."

The Counsellor nodded and left the bridge to attend to his duties, while the Commander pondered his invitation for the evening.
He remembered the enticing looks of the telepath with a certain dismay. Above all, being the father of his ex, he also didn't feel the slightest attraction.
This dinner could prove very unpleasant.
But the thought of food reminded him on his empty stomach again. At least there would be food this evening.

Counsellor Gackt strolled down the corridors, greeting people from time to time, thinking of his reunion with his father.
And sighed deeply.
After escaping the iron hug of his father, he had to listen to endless complaints.
The quarters were too small and scanty. The light was too dark. The windows too small.
The poor son had to bear all those complaints, only the get to hear, what his father always preached him: "You should get married, son!"
How often did he have to hear that again?
"Wouldn't that Commander make a excellent husband?"
"Oh, Kamijo, not again..." he had sighed. Seeing himself with his former lover as his life-partner was beyond him. Even if seeing the tall blonde had brought back some feelings.

"My little Camui!" he heard a loud call from behind, closing his eyes in despair. "Wait up!"
Rolling his eyes the Counsellor halted, turning around to face his father and his silent servant, trying to look as neutral and friendly as possible.
"What is it you want; Kamijo? I've got to attend to my duties" Only the Counsellor was allowed to talk to the Ambassador this way. It was their usual tone of conversation, whenever they met.
One of the reasons why Camui Gackt had preferred to live apart and joined Starfleet after the Academy.
"Dinner tonight in my quarters. At 2000...Don't be late." The blonde Ambassador informed his son short and in an ordering tone. "No buts. See you there."

Captain's Personal Log Stardate 49487.9:
Everything on this new ship is making me wonder. But my crew is very competent and able.
Everyone seems to be thrilled to be on this ship.
Why can't I share this feeling?

Captain's Personal Log Stardate 49487.9 Supplemental:
My First Officer is a very headstrong and smart man. I'm thankful for that, even though I don't know how far I can trust him.
But he really is in need of a coffee now.

The First Officer looked at the screen with concentration, trying to pull his thought from his empty stomach, following the explanations of Lt Commander Levin as he pointed out on certain stars they would be passing.
Lt Commander Wayama entered the bridge and handed over some reports on the progress of the
still necessary construction of the ship.
He noticed, that without the other Chief Engineer around the young blonde seemed much more calm. He looked over the report-pad, feeling his blood-sugar level falling and falling...finding it hard to concentrate.

"The guest-quarters are still under massive construction. We cannot fulfil the request of the Ambassador to move into better quarters."

"Still under construction?" The First Officer smirked a little. The Chief of Engineering nodded and rose an eyebrow. "He will have to do with the normal quarters then." the First Officer straightened his face.
"If you excuse me, Commander?"

"Sure Lt. Wayama."

Commander Hakuei sighed and backed in his seat. With little concentration he read the reports handed to him, trying to excerpt information relevant for the benefit of the whole ship.
He felt hungry and the prospect of a dinner with the father of his ex-lover didn't help to brighten his day much.

The soft aroma of coffee suddenly tickled his nose.
He considered that an illusion due to his crave of a nice hot cup of the dark liquid. But the smell lingered on and when he looked up, right before his nose hung a silver mug in the air.
Actually it didn't hang in the air, but was firmly hold by his superior.
The First Officer blinked in real surprise.

"Here you go, Number One." The Captain pushed the coffee in his one hand and a small plate with two croissants on it in the other. Before he could even return from his shock and utter some thanks, the Captain had turned and was chatting away with Lt: Kyo, asking carefully about his traditional Klingon upbringing.
The small yet frightening Chief of Security seemed glad to speak about the traditions, because of the agitated yet proud way he talked.
Wonderingly he stared at the sort-of-breakfast in his hands.
Than he sipped the coffee, enjoying taste and temperature, a soft smile graced his lips.
Then he placed the mug on the table-like arm beside him. Eating his croissants in silence, he earned amused looks. He didn't care much, was just relieved to finally have his stomach filled.
Then his eyes sought out the figure of the Captain, now studying some reports passed to him by Lt. Kyo.
What a strange man.

The day passed without any deeper insight into the peculiar character of the Captain for the First Officer.

The Counsellor watched his own reflection in the mirror, trying to decide if he should change to a more official or more casual outfit.
Then he settled for his uniform, to stress his professionalism and create a distance.
The tall blonde let out a prolonged unnerved sigh, before he braced himself for a long evening with his father.

He strolled down the long corridor towards the quarters of his father, feeling reluctant towards the whole idea of dinner together.

When he pushed the door-bell, the door opened at once.
He stepped in, ready to confront his father but that man looking at him expectantly was certainly not his father.
Both men stared at each other for some long moments, wide eyed.
The Ambassador's servant, Emiru-chan, appeared seemingly out of nowhere and handed a message to the still paralysed Counsellor.

'My dear little Camui,
I have to attend to inevitable duties.
Please go ahead and start Dinner without your father, I will join you two later.
Please enjoy, what Emiru-chan will serve you.
Your loving father Kamijo'

The Counsellor had a hard time maintaining his countenance, as he forced a smile at his ex-lover.
"The Ambassador will not be here with us yet." he stated after a short clearing of his throat.
The First Officer's lips grew thin.
"That means...it will be only us two?"
"He will join us later." the blonde man added, at least hoping his father really would come later.
The silent servant pulled two chairs for the guests and started to serve excellent wine, pouring it in elegant glasses, standing before them.

Sipping the wine thoughtfully, the First Officer searched desperately for a conversation-topic, when he heard the soft voice of the man facing him.

"We don't need to talk, if you don't want to."

"I didn't know your father was inviting you too..." the First Officer stated truthfully, while he discovered a small smile on the face of his former lover.

"He likes you...maybe even wants you..." the Counsellor smiled.
The Commander blushed a little and stared into his scarlet wine.
Yes, this handsome man in front of him still liked to speak his mind openly.

"Well...how's life been for you?" he asked carefully. The man facing him shrugged.

"I've lived on." the Counsellor paused. "But you seem to have made it, Hakuei. First Officer on a Galaxy-class Prototype Ship. And a top secret one too."

Hakuei paled a little.
True, he had left him for a position like this.
He really felt uncomfortable and wanted to get out of the room, which seemed to get smaller and hotter every second.

He fidgeted a little.

"No need to be down, Hakuei. I'm through with that."
The Counsellor smiled a little more.
"At last we can work together now because of your decision, right?"

Hakuei nodded a little lamely. His former lover grinned:
"Let's eat then."

Emiru-chan served some Hyangnu salad, which was notorious for it's aphrodisiac-like effect. Sceptically both men looked at the purple leafs on their plates, then looking at each other, looking back to the salad and both beginning to smile a little more freely.

"Remember the time I served you Hyangnu to get you into bed?" the First Officer asked.
"I knew you planned something and get you into tasting it first...you were so...very funny afterwards."
The Counsellor laughed softly at the memory of the other man, sitting in front of him, pupils wide and eyes shining, asking him to be his for all eternity.
"I couldn't remember one thing the next morning." the Commander smiled.
"Luckily I've been such a sweet person to bring you into your quarters and not some sex-ridden jerk."
Both laughed and ignored the purple salad.

The door opened after the soft "Come in." from the inside.
The Captain sat on his couch, reading a book and blinked at his late guest with almost curiosity.
In a polite yet somehow cool voice he asked his visitor:
"How may I help you, Ambassador Gackt?"

"My quarters are sort of occupied at the moment, and I thought you might want to offer shelter and amenities to someone homeless like I am in the moment."

The Captain blinked again.
"You may stay here, Ambassador." he offered without visible hesitation.

The tall blonde-curled man wore a long blue flowing velvet-gown, gracing his slender figure, his golden curls were glowing and shining.
He sat beside the smaller figure of the Captain almost coy, throwing bashful looks at him under long lashes.

Captain Kirito pulled away, stood straight and hasted to the replicator.
"Do you like anything to drink?"

"Anything you take is fine with me." The long lashes winked again.

After the dark-haired Captain had served the tea, he sat down again, not knowing what else to do, at a far end of the couch. Which was not very far away at all.
Nursing his tea in silence, he tried to ignore the man beside him, bathing him with hot glances.
"How do you like your new ship, Captain?" the sweet voice was so close, the lips must have spoken them close to his ear.
He gulped and answered calmly: "It's very unique."
The Ambassador chuckled huskily. "How much like you, Kirito... always so smart." Trying to get away from the following blonde, the Captain almost fell off the couch.

"Is something wrong, Kirito?"

"No, everything is just fine." Kirito tried to get back on the couch, but still the Ambassador was occupying most of it, lying there.
"Don't you want to sit down? You must be tired after a long day's work..."
The Ambassador sat up and offered the Commanding Officer of the Enterprise some space on his own couch.
More hesitantly the Captain sat down again, only to feel the long finger's of the other man gracing his biceps.
His face stoic as ever, the Captain tried to remain calm. He silently wished for a miracle to happen, even though he didn't even believe in them.
Concentrating on the stars flying by outside his window, he snapped and sprng on his feet with a jump, as the hand of the blinde man creep onto his thigh.

"Ambassador Gackt, I have to attend to duty tomorrow morning. Please feel free to stay as long as your quarters are unavailable. If you would excuse me for now?"
He rushed out of his own quarters and was gone when the blonde man hurried to look for him.

A little depressed, Ambassador Gackt entered his own quarters a little later, greeted only by his silent servant, Emiru-chan.
He blinked surprised.

"They're gone?" he coughed, looking at the clean table, now set only for one person, himself, because he had never joined lunch.

Emiru-chan just shrugged and passed a note to his master.

'Dearest Kamijo,
since the Commander and I have to attend to duty tomorrow, we have to excuse ourselves for tonight. Enjoy your Dinner.
Your loving son, Camui'
Staring at the note, the diplomat shook his head slowly.

"Duty? Is that all young people nowadays can think about?"

Shaking his glorious curls in disbelief he sat down at the table and let Emiru-chan pour him some of the expensive wine, he had brought all the way with him from home.