Fight Night [Kali]

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Auditorium]

"How do you know what a targ's rear end smells like?" Mahak asked, but then shook his head. "Never mind. Do not answer that. I do not want to know."

The final round began. In a show of sportsmanship, the Mauler and Foxy hugged for a good five seconds before stepping back and raising their fists. Both fighters were tired.

"Have you decided which shift of mine you would like to take?" The Vulcan asked her.

[Kali Reyes]

"Have you decided which shift of mine you would like to take?" The Vulcan asked her.

[Auditorium]

Kali scoffed at him. "Don't count your hours just yet, crewman. I'm already imagining where I'm putting my sonic generator." She made a barrel motion with arms to show him just how big it is.

Maybe it was ending fatigue or the crowd was emulating the fighters' diminishing stamina. The cheering subdued drastically as the final round commenced. "And you're being too nice," she added randomly. "If you want to give me a late night shift, you can." She placed her chin on his shoulder and gave him her best puppy dog eyes. "Insomnia's one hell of a drug."

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Auditorium]

Her head in his shoulder was stirring something in him. Not only physically, but deeper. Along with her eyes and smile and her teasing Kali was more overwhelming than anyone he had ever met.

But Vulcan discipline is smooth stuff. Mahak did not appear to be out of control at all. A less causal observer might notice how strange it would be for a Vulcan to nuzzle a human woman's hair with his mouth briefly in public, as Mahak had a sudden urge to do. But didn't.

"I would ask that you take the most logical shift that would benefit the entire department." He said, but added, "However, I would only ask that. Your actual assigned shift would be 0500 start time."

[Kali Reyes]

[Auditorium]

"My shift's all over the place." She hid a grin into his shoulder. "Depends on what's needed. Third shift especially." Which was probably what contributed more to her insomnia. "But yeah, first shift is the most important one, so I always have to be up for that too." Hell, she's had days during important missions where she's done all three shifts without a wink of sleep. She's gotten used to it.

His shoulder was really comfortable. If they weren't in such a loud crowded area, she probably would have dozed right there. "But if you insist. 0500 it is. Coffee shift."

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Auditorium]

"We haven't heard who has won." Mahak told her.

The judges were taking a great deal of time to deliberate. The fighters and their respective entourages were crowding the ring, milling about uncertainly.

The Vulcan suddenly realized that it was very late for a human. He himself could go a few days without sleep and feel no or little difference, but such was not the case with her.

"We will have plenty of time to hear who won later, if you require rest." He told her. He again touched her chin so they could lock eyes.

"If we left now we could avoid the rush of two thousand people exiting at once," Mahak told her. He hesitated a bit before continuing. "There might be spare quarters available. We could...watch the main event together there and rest before we return to the Discovery."

[Kali Reyes]

"We will have plenty of time to hear who won later, if you require rest." He told her. He again touched her chin so they could lock eyes.

"If we left now we could avoid the rush of two thousand people exiting at once," Mahak told her. He hesitated a bit before continuing. "There might be spare quarters available. We could...watch the main event together there and rest before we return to the Discovery."

[Auditorium]

"I'm not tired," Kali mumbled, then stifled a yawn when he pulled her up. "It's the fight of the century." The reasoning kind of sucked, but yeah okay it did. The ensuing crowd afterwards didn't sound much fun and the offer of private quarters? When was the last time she slept in a bed that didn't have an impending shift attached to it?

"You just want to stay in a room that doesn't smell like month old targ butt."

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Auditorium]

Mahak wasn't particularly tired, either, and it wasn't as if he was quitting on the stool of his own fight. But he was tired of being surrounded by two thousand sentients and having to police his own affection in public.

"That is so," He said, and the mention of Jurn made him nearly cringe. "Besides, you have had a long day of training, an ordeal with your past, and tonight's excitement. You should rest."

He offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

[Kali Reyes]

[Auditorium]

All valid points and it wasn't like she was going to miss the seats. Kali took one look over her shoulder to the vacant seats where her childhood friends once sat and scowled. "Yeah, not gonna argue with that."

She took his arm and said, "I know you've got a lot of valid points, but it still sucks. I don't usually have bad stamina, I promise." There were nights were she partied way long after the sun (or multiple suns depending on the planet) rose.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Auditorium]

Her reaction confused him, and he said so:

"I do not consider your having to sleep a hinderance or a weakness, Kali," Mahak told her as he led them away. "Nor do I think a proclivity for staying up late is a sound reason for a Chief of the Boat in Starfleet."

"But it is good you still have some energy," He said. "I was not of a mind to sleep just yet, but only wanted to retire to somewhere private."

[Kali Reyes]

"I know," she sighed into his arm. "I'm just trying to sound responsible for some reason." Discretion wasn't exactly being used here and Kali was still debating on whether she'll actually drop dead on the first bed she'll see or get something interesting out of a bit of old fashioned romancing.

Do Vulcans woo? Kali looked up and scrutinized his sharp profile carefully. You'd think no, but she's seen it. What else were those sneaky Vulcans hiding?

"But it is good you still have some energy," He said. "I was not of a mind to sleep just yet, but only wanted to retire to somewhere private."

"Sounds fun," she trilled happily. "I'm at your mercy. Unless it's meditation. I don't think you're capable of holding me down long enough for that."

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Promenade]

It was late for the Columbus and the majority of the crew were asleep or at the fights. With the crowd in the Auditorium only a few security officers were needed, and most of them were bored and tired, not in the mood to question two random enlisted crewmen who were walking arm in arm.

Mahak glanced down at her, feeling again how strange it was to have someone touching him in what to a Vulcan was an extremely intimate manner. But to her it was very normal. Perhaps she was even restraining herself.

"I would not ask you to take in a boxing match and meditate in one night." He said. "I know you better than that. It was either one activity or the other."

[Kali Reyes]

[Promenade]

He had a very good idea retiring early like this. They wouldn't have to deal with a giant mess of people trying to escape into the promenade and, if she didn't know any better, Mahak was on his last bit of patience dealing with crowd control.

And Kali getting all willy-nilly into his personal space certainly didn't help much. That was probably why she kept doing it. Pushing buttons was an art form and Mahak had plenty of them for her to keep busy on.

Her fingers moved down his arm to slide against his wrist and under his palm, completely unaware of the cultural taboo that came with it.

"I would not ask you to take in a boxing match and meditate in one night." He said. "I know you better than that. It was either one activity or the other."

"Tough, reasonable boxing trainer you," Kali chuckled with a little nuzzle into his shoulder. "I may be a clingy mess right now, but I can still take whatever you dish out. I'll drop dead in the lotus position doing it, but I'll still take it."

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Promenade]

Mahak guided them over to an open panel and began to call up the guest quarters registration when he heard a voice behind him.

"No need to do that, crewman. There's plenty of space, just head to the habitant ring and pick an unoccupied room--Mahak?!"

He turned and saw that the sultry, smoky sounding voice came from none other than Ensign Sala, a gorgeous Orion with light green skin offset by midnight black hair and eyes. She smiled warmly at him and looked questioningly at the beautiful human woman at his side.

"Ma'am." Mahak freed himself gently from Kali and stood at attention.

"Oh, at ease, thou old stiffy. Isn't he always like this?!" She asked Kali, and then jabbed out her green hand. "I'm Sala. Mahak is-was-my  crewman here. I'm a Flight Control officer here at the station."

[Kali Reyes]

[Promenade]

Like Anderson's bucket of cold water, it hit Kali good on the head when they were spotted. Mahak untangled from her and stood at attention while leaving Kali to flutter about and find a casual stance. She settled on a little parade rest as the ensign greeted them.

Her smile widened at the stunning Orion woman and shook her hand. "Like clockwork, Sala. I'm Kali Reyes." Her throat caught and she rubbed her throat. "Sorry about that. Too much cheering!" She looked between them in excitement. "Well how about that! I'm sorry I stole your crewman, then. It's not as fun as Flight Control, but Ops keeps him busy - or at least I do."

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Promenade]

"I bet you do. He does need to be kept busy. Idle hands and all that." Sala told the other woman. "I'm afraid there's not much to do here in the Flight department of the station."

"Not true, ma'am," Mahak said. "There were shuttlecraft, fighters, maintenance, drills--"

"Bor-ing." Sala intoned, and then laughed musically. "But Mahak always helped pass the time. I'm so glad that you were able to pick up where I left off with that, Chief. Very glad, indeed."

Mahak wasn't sure what Sala was on about, but he had a good idea, based on her tone of voice and posture. And from her behavior in the past.

"Well," the Vulcan said. "I believe we will get to the habitat ring for the night before we set off back home to the Discovery tomorrow. Goodnight,
Ensign."

"Goodnight, Mahak. Chief."