I'm seeking your (time-limited) advice on a matter where my emotional judgement may be impaired.
Random Fact: I used to visit these forums years ago, back when the background was yellow!
THE SITUATION
I'm interested in a guy (lets call him Chris) at work. I was able to start chatting with him (casually - we work in totally different areas) on a couple of occasions (perhaps 2-3 chats), and get a feel that he is a friendly guy. For various logistical reasons (he was moved to a different building) I now see him very rarely, and there is almost no opportunity for to have a serendipitous kitchen or elevator chat.
However, he came in for a meeting today, and I "happened" to take the elevator down for lunch at the same time as he headed back to his building with his team. We had a brief chat, in the elevator (in front of his team) that I'm only cringing a little at in retrospect, and then he was gone.
THE DILEMMA
I want to get to know him better, and ask him out to coffee.
I'm planning on sending a message to him on the internal company chat tomorrow along the lines of "Great to bump into you yesterday, would be awesome to chat more some time. Lets grab a coffee when you have time".
I can only send him a message is because a mutual colleague happened to mention his full name (we haven't exchanged full names in our brief chats).
I think this message would come across *much* better if I were to ask him in person. However, this requires an appropriate opportunity (which is definitely not "in an elevator, in front of his team") that I don't know will present itself anytime in the near future (IE, next 2-3 months).
THE ADVICE
Is this a good idea?
Yes. Carpe Diem! Your dating life isn't going to fix itself.
No. This reeks of desperation! Wait for the right opportunity to ask without looking like a total creep.
Other: Let me know.
Also, I'm aware that it is almost Christmas, and this poses additional complications (Will any coffee shops be open? Is he about to go on leave? I *am* about to go on leave!).
I will check in tomorrow morning (in about 8 hours), and hope to see an overwhelming consensus that either this is a great idea, or that I need to immediately discard this plan to avert a Christmas catastrophe.