[Officer's Lounge]
Ashlynn fiddled with the strap of her dress as she slipped quietly into the room. She always felt rather uncomfortably exposed in it, but her discomfort was overruled by the need to look presentable. If the ceremony had been for anyone else she'd have been tempted to forgo the formal attire, but Luke deserved better than that. She felt another pang in her chest at the thought of him leaving the Athena. He was the only semblance of a friend that she had so far, and she would miss his occasional visits more than he'd probably know.
She milled about the room, occasionally making awkward small talk, and decided rather quickly to make her way over to the bar. She'd feel better back in 'her element,' and she'd been meaning to ask a few questions about bar-tending anyway. Spotting a familiar figure at the bar, however, that was quickly forgotten.
"Luke! I mean - Commander Stafford!" She caught herself, aware of the other officers in the room, and promptly ruined the effect by giving him an overenthusiastic hug that was probably highly inappropriate for an XO. The last time she had seen him he had been lying on a biobed surrounded by a team of medical staff, so despite his new scars and cane Ash was ecstatic to see him. And even happier to see him smiling.
"I'm so glad to see you looking better! I was hoping - Oh!" She cut herself off as she noticed that he already had company - the engineer who had brought him to sickbay, if she remembered correctly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt!"