perihelliion:

<sub>✦ ✧ Days off are few and far between. Even fewer and further are days off spent truly aimless. Tasks accomplished, tests taken, the cycle of effort sitting idle. Just waiting to begin again. 

     She likes to spend those days in the grass. There’s a high hill to the west, high enough to overlook the Bridge and near enough to her quarters to walk. This is where she goes on days like today. Days when the sun shines, the clouds are scarce, and a gentle breeze stirs her hair, worn loose about her shoulders.</sub> 

     <sub>And on days like this, she doesn’t expect company. 

           ❛ Commander. Something wrong? ❜

     She’s alerted by footsteps, purposeful and sure, but she isn’t anticipating the sight that greets her on looking. Why else would he have come if not to assign her some task? Why else would he have come so far if not for it being a pressing need? 

                   @cogentum</sub>

                          _{HE   HESITATES    ONLY     briefly.   a    multitude    of    reasons   ,   (   of   excuses   )    ——-    to    pursue    one    of    his    brightest    students    flashes    through    a    calculating    mind.      he    knows    how    UNBECOMING    it    may   seem   ;    his    pursuits    were    admittedly   separate    from    his     teaching.    he    tries    to    keep    from    dwelling    ,    from   dissecting    the    MEANING    of     his     occupation   ,    though    to   ignore   something   so   blatantly    AFFECTIONATE   was    unwise.     his    father    would    advise    the    LOGICALITY    of    such   ,   however.    would    WARN    of   emotion    (    as   he    always   did.   )}   

                     _{and     despite    this    ,    a    gaze    softens    as    it    settles    on    her.        ‘    lieutenant    ,    if    i    may    borrow   your    time  ?    ‘     an    INNOCENT   inquiry.    ‘    as   my    assistant   ,    i   would    like    to    hear    your    thoughts    on    a    future    lecture.    ‘}