Shoot to Thrill (Open)

[Lennox Ainsley]

"Automotive engineering? Oh god..." she teased and dramatically pressed a palm to her chest. "Are you married? No, doesn't matter - let's get hitched anyways." The Orion bristled in annoyance when she hopped on the side of the pool table and put the game on pause. "I'm easy maintenance. Very clean - err, sometimes. Put me in a garage with engines and frames and I'll be just peachy. Like a pet rock, really."

She had half a mind to ice the simulation completely, but decided that would be cheating. Instead, she turned to the ominous Orions and said, "Take five for the lowly humans, guys. And two extra shots on me. Something tells me you won't be able to catch up even with the extra help."

Lennox couldn't help as surprise encased his face as the woman, Kali, had suggested that they got married, even if it was all dramatics. Since a long time, Lennox's cheeks turned red as he scratched idly at the back of his neck. "More useful and talented t'an a pet rock, lassie."

He watched as the Orions grunted before turning to Kali, "Yer tryin' te get 'em drunk?" At any point, he was an Ainsley and a proud Scotsman at heart, he would easily drink them under the table if they so wanted a new challenge, he grinned. "Why don't we give our Orion friends somethin' else to challenge us on?"

[Kali Reyes]

Lennox couldn't help as surprise encased his face as the woman, Kali, had suggested that they got married, even if it was all dramatics. Since a long time, Lennox's cheeks turned red as he scratched idly at the back of his neck. "More useful and talented t'an a pet rock, lassie."

Kali smiled and pointed her pint of beer at him. "Now that is the nicest thing ever said to me." He was starting to look flustered but, let's be honest, it was kind of a talent of her's to trip the more stout gender with words if not physical strength. Though she did try to arm wrestle a Klingon Lieutenant - try being the choice word there.

And she wasn't lying. Compliments were hard to come by for crazy specimens like her. She took any she could possibly get and more.

He watched as the Orions grunted before turning to Kali, "Yer tryin' te get 'em drunk?" At any point, he was an Ainsley and a proud Scotsman at heart, he would easily drink them under the table if they so wanted a new challenge, he grinned. "Why don't we give our Orion friends somethin' else to challenge us on?"

"Ever heard of a Cardassian Nespah? It's pretty popular in party circuits. They're these tiny cocktails with a non-existent kick for lightweights and dainty humans. Even comes with a tiny hologram umbrella for a festive look." Her grin slowly turned patronizing. "Where am I getting at? One of those would probably knock these Orions out."

That sure did it. The Orion leader roared with insult and literally flipped the pool table onto its side. Kali hopped up on her stool to avoid the billiard balls rolling around the floor. "WE'LL SEE WHO IS THE DAINTY HUMAN!" he roared and slammed his fists on the counter.

"I think the Jolly Green Giant here likes that idea," she winked at Ainsley. "Pick your poison, Mr. Security. And from what I gather from your accent, do make it good."

[Lennox Ainsley]

Kali smiled and pointed her pint of beer at him. "Now that is the nicest thing ever said to me." He was starting to look flustered but, let's be honest, it was kind of a talent of her's to trip the more stout gender with words if not physical strength. Though she did try to arm wrestle a Klingon Lieutenant - try being the choice word there.

And she wasn't lying. Compliments were hard to come by for crazy specimens like her. She took any she could possibly get and more.

"Ever heard of a Cardassian Nespah? It's pretty popular in party circuits. They're these tiny cocktails with a non-existent kick for lightweights and dainty humans. Even comes with a tiny hologram umbrella for a festive look." Her grin slowly turned patronizing. "Where am I getting at? One of those would probably knock these Orions out."

That sure did it. The Orion leader roared with insult and literally flipped the pool table onto its side. Kali hopped up on her stool to avoid the billiard balls rolling around the floor. "WE'LL SEE WHO IS THE DAINTY HUMAN!" he roared and slammed his fists on the counter.

"I think the Jolly Green Giant here likes that idea," she winked at Ainsley. "Pick your poison, Mr. Security. And from what I gather from your accent, do make it good."

He watched as the Orion flip the pool table with mild amusement. It really did just remind himself of an angrier version of his uncle, who had started the entire tradition of fights within his family.

Turning his attention to Kali, he grinned, a boyish grin. Lennox then walked over to the counter, ordering a round of scotch. He was going to enjoy seeing a drunk Orion stumbling around. His preferred poison was Chivas Regal, for this particular situation.

"Drink up, lads. I challenge ye to a couple rounds of drink," Lennox nodded, taking a sip, keeping his eyes glued on the Orion in front of him. "Do ye accept?"

[Kali Reyes]

He watched as the Orion flip the pool table with mild amusement. It really did just remind himself of an angrier version of his uncle, who had started the entire tradition of fights within his family.

Turning his attention to Kali, he grinned, a boyish grin. Lennox then walked over to the counter, ordering a round of scotch. He was going to enjoy seeing a drunk Orion stumbling around. His preferred poison was Chivas Regal, for this particular situation.

"Drink up, lads. I challenge ye to a couple rounds of drink," Lennox nodded, taking a sip, keeping his eyes glued on the Orion in front of him. "Do ye accept?"

The Orion let out a rough bark of laughter. "This will be child's play! We accept your challenge, foolish human!"

Kali leaned forward on the counter and rested her cheek on her palm. She tried not to look too smitten at the boyish grin thrown at her. And here she thought she would get more amusement from brutish Orions. Life was full of pleasant surprises.

At least until the Orion slapped himself in the open area between the two of them, whether intentional or not. Mildly disappointed that her line-of-sight was interrupted, she sighed and admired the hologram's open bar before her. She really missed her father's collection of intergalactic liquor.

Drinks slid across the counter and presented themselves in a way that reminded Kali of an old-fashioned train stopping at every stop. She took the glass and let the scent whiff around as the amber liquid swirled between her fingers. "Mmm... scotch," she purred happily. "Only a true Scotsman orders scotch." Grateful for liquor made for human consumption (for now), she downed the tumbler in two gulps.

The Orion impulsively downed it in one, but hey, she was a small girl. She bet she could hold it better.

[Lennox Ainsley]

The Orion let out a rough bark of laughter. "This will be child's play! We accept your challenge, foolish human!"

Kali leaned forward on the counter and rested her cheek on her palm. She tried not to look too smitten at the boyish grin thrown at her. And here she thought she would get more amusement from brutish Orions. Life was full of pleasant surprises.

At least until the Orion slapped himself in the open area between the two of them, whether intentional or not. Mildly disappointed that her line-of-sight was interrupted, she sighed and admired the hologram's open bar before her. She really missed her father's collection of intergalactic liquor.

Drinks slid across the counter and presented themselves in a way that reminded Kali of an old-fashioned train stopping at every stop. She took the glass and let the scent whiff around as the amber liquid swirled between her fingers. "Mmm... scotch," she purred happily. "Only a true Scotsman orders scotch." Grateful for liquor made for human consumption (for now), she downed the tumbler in two gulps.

The Orion impulsively downed it in one, but hey, she was a small girl. She bet she could hold it better.

Lennox raised a brow at the Orion's need to beat him, "Probably wanna take t'at slowly big fella, migh' end up losin' tis bet." He was upping the challenge, hoping that it would end up with him drinking more whiskey and the Orion comatose on the floor.

"Wonder what they make o' vodka mixed wit' an energy drink?" it was supposed to speed up and slow down the system at the exact same time, meaning the body went through a panic attack. Lennox glanced at the Orion before jerking his head at Kali. "Come wit' me, lass."

He wandered up to the bartender, pulling him up close. Perhaps this was going to work, maybe the Orions were not as stupid as they looked. "Mix strongest vodka with an energy drink fer te Orion fella, make it look like we've got the same drink."

[Kali Reyes]

Lennox raised a brow at the Orion's need to beat him, "Probably wanna take t'at slowly big fella, migh' end up losin' tis bet." He was upping the challenge, hoping that it would end up with him drinking more whiskey and the Orion comatose on the floor.

"Wonder what they make o' vodka mixed wit' an energy drink?" it was supposed to speed up and slow down the system at the exact same time, meaning the body went through a panic attack. Lennox glanced at the Orion before jerking his head at Kali. "Come wit' me, lass."

He wandered up to the bartender, pulling him up close. Perhaps this was going to work, maybe the Orions were not as stupid as they looked. "Mix strongest vodka with an energy drink fer te Orion fella, make it look like we've got the same drink."

Lennox gestured for her. How could she resist? She shrugged at the peeved Orion before sliding off the stool, having a wonderful excuse to ditch the ogre for more pleasing company.

"Are you looking to neuter the poor fella?" she teased as she saddled up beside him.

Weird things happened when people tried to mix a depressant with a stimulant. Humans especially. "Two Dirty Steves then. One without the stim." The last part she carried on a whisper because one, she was all for a bit of sabotage to lighten her night, and two, she really couldn't deny a man giving orders.

The bartender had no moral problems with it. He was only programmed to mix drinks. After a minute or so, the Orion chugged down a very dangerous concoction for humans.

"You call this a drink?!" he laughed, inciting the others to follow. She watched him sway little by little until the Orion found himself feeling the ups and downs of the Dirty Steve. He staggered off the barstool.

"What did you do to him?!" His XO bellowed before advancing on Kali. She leaned back and shrugged.

"Like I told you. Cardassian Nespah." And well, it wasn't exactly smart of her to taunt a group of agitated Orions.

She really should have expected the XO to angrily lunge at her. And he did.

[Lennox Ainsley]

Lennox gestured for her. How could she resist? She shrugged at the peeved Orion before sliding off the stool, having a wonderful excuse to ditch the ogre for more pleasing company.

"Are you looking to neuter the poor fella?" she teased as she saddled up beside him.

Weird things happened when people tried to mix a depressant with a stimulant. Humans especially. "Two Dirty Steves then. One without the stim." The last part she carried on a whisper because one, she was all for a bit of sabotage to lighten her night, and two, she really couldn't deny a man giving orders.

The bartender had no moral problems with it. He was only programmed to mix drinks. After a minute or so, the Orion chugged down a very dangerous concoction for humans.

"You call this a drink?!" he laughed, inciting the others to follow. She watched him sway little by little until the Orion found himself feeling the ups and downs of the Dirty Steve. He staggered off the barstool.

"What did you do to him?!" His XO bellowed before advancing on Kali. She leaned back and shrugged.

"Like I told you. Cardassian Nespah." And well, it wasn't exactly smart of her to taunt a group of agitated Orions.

She really should have expected the XO to angrily lunge at her. And he did.

He watched as the Orion drank, laughing before attempting to get off his high horse. In this case, barstool. Lennox stood by smirking. But, the smirk quickly faded once the XO got involved, making his advances towards Kali. He could not let it happen, neither could he get involved if it were to make the atmosphere worse.

And, of course, Kali just had to agitate him. Lennox watched in slow motion as the XO lunged for Kali, and like instinct, his heels pushing him to his balls of his feet and soon, he found himself flying towards the Orion with the intent of taking him down with him.

"Why don't we leave the pretty lass alone and sort it out between men, yeah?" Lennox asked, sneering.

[Kali Reyes]

He watched as the Orion drank, laughing before attempting to get off his high horse. In this case, barstool. Lennox stood by smirking. But, the smirk quickly faded once the XO got involved, making his advances towards Kali. He could not let it happen, neither could he get involved if it were to make the atmosphere worse.

And, of course, Kali just had to agitate him. Lennox watched in slow motion as the XO lunged for Kali, and like instinct, his heels pushing him to his balls of his feet and soon, he found himself flying towards the Orion with the intent of taking him down with him.

"Why don't we leave the pretty lass alone and sort it out between men, yeah?" Lennox asked, sneering.

Kali recoiled with a cringe. It wasn't the first nor the last time she'd suffer a bar brawl, but the reflex remained. The first punch always hurt. When a rush of air zipped past her, she opened her eyes and her mouth dropped a bit in surprise.

Lennox had interjected. Kali couldn't help but egg it on. "Woo!" she cupped her hands around her mouth and jeered. "Get him in the throat, not-husband!" She nudged one of the Orions in the ribs. "He called me pretty, Lettuce!" He wasn't amused.

The Orion in Lennox's sight stepped back before snarling, "Men? Disgusting human! We fight like Orions!" One of the Orions behind Lennox raised one of the vacant chairs just as the XO lunged in front.

"Two on one?! Party foul!" Kali exclaimed and kicked one of the stools at the Orion from behind. He tripped and crashed with his weapon just inches from its target.

Before she could laugh at the sight, Lettuce plopped her off of her seat by her underarms and raised her up. "Lettuce! Stop flirting with me! I'm an almost-married woman!" She managed to kick him hard enough on the thighs to drop her.

Bar brawl!

[Lennox Ainsley]

Kali recoiled with a cringe. It wasn't the first nor the last time she'd suffer a bar brawl, but the reflex remained. The first punch always hurt. When a rush of air zipped past her, she opened her eyes and her mouth dropped a bit in surprise.

Lennox had interjected. Kali couldn't help but egg it on. "Woo!" she cupped her hands around her mouth and jeered. "Get him in the throat, not-husband!" She nudged one of the Orions in the ribs. "He called me pretty, Lettuce!" He wasn't amused.

The Orion in Lennox's sight stepped back before snarling, "Men? Disgusting human! We fight like Orions!" One of the Orions behind Lennox raised one of the vacant chairs just as the XO lunged in front.

"Two on one?! Party foul!" Kali exclaimed and kicked one of the stools at the Orion from behind. He tripped and crashed with his weapon just inches from its target.

Before she could laugh at the sight, Lettuce plopped her off of her seat by her underarms and raised her up. "Lettuce! Stop flirting with me! I'm an almost-married woman!" She managed to kick him hard enough on the thighs to drop her.

Bar brawl!

He smirked as he slowly got up to his feet, eyes locked onto the Orion. Lennox heard Kali cheering him on in the background. "Well, if yer fightin' like a bunch o' animals, then I'll figh' like a true Scotsman, ye green-skinned bastards." That was when it all seemed to kick off, two Orions to one human, though he was glad that the second behind him had gone down with Kali's help.

Lennox needed to deal with the threat that he faced in front of them, his body positioned low to the ground as he went into another tackle. The Orion grabbed him, Lennox relaxed for a brief moment before throwing his head backwards, head hitting into the Orion's jaw. The Orion growled as Lennox grinned.

"Are ye alrigh', Kali?" Lennox shouted, as he soon found a fist hurtling towards his face, even sooner finding himself on the floor with a busted lip.

[Kali Reyes]

He smirked as he slowly got up to his feet, eyes locked onto the Orion. Lennox heard Kali cheering him on in the background. "Well, if yer fightin' like a bunch o' animals, then I'll figh' like a true Scotsman, ye green-skinned bastards." That was when it all seemed to kick off, two Orions to one human, though he was glad that the second behind him had gone down with Kali's help.

Lennox needed to deal with the threat that he faced in front of them, his body positioned low to the ground as he went into another tackle. The Orion grabbed him, Lennox relaxed for a brief moment before throwing his head backwards, head hitting into the Orion's jaw. The Orion growled as Lennox grinned.

"Are ye alrigh', Kali?" Lennox shouted, as he soon found a fist hurtling towards his face, even sooner finding himself on the floor with a busted lip.

Let it be known that she wasn't the most confrontational opponent ever. Kali was in the middle of inelegantly sticking her palm up on Lettuce's ugly mug when he reached for her again. "This... isn't even on my top 10 - worst dilemmas...!" she puffed out with all her strength.

Lettuce let her go and she tumbled to the floor. Lennox came down with her from a punch to the face. Rubbing her sore lower back, she let out a tiny wince of sympathy when she saw blood.

The Orion XO barked in laughter and turned around to arrogantly raise his arms to his fellow soldiers for applause. She took the cheap advantage and launched herself onto the Orion's back.

"Ack! Cease NPC's! End it!" she shouted as the Orion twisted and slammed all over the place like a bull trying to buck its rider off. The cheering Orions paused into place and the XO flickered away.

Kali fell hard again onto the floor with a loud oof. Her bottom was going to be sore in the morning for sure. The bar fell blissfully silent.

"Well," she panted. "That was fun." Her head tilted up to look at his face. "Well... except for that." Kali pulled a bit of hair from her mouth and lazily gestured him over with her fingers. "May I?"

[Lennox Ainsley]

Let it be known that she wasn't the most confrontational opponent ever. Kali was in the middle of inelegantly sticking her palm up on Lettuce's ugly mug when he reached for her again. "This... isn't even on my top 10 - worst dilemmas...!" she puffed out with all her strength.

Lettuce let her go and she tumbled to the floor. Lennox came down with her from a punch to the face. Rubbing her sore lower back, she let out a tiny wince of sympathy when she saw blood.

The Orion XO barked in laughter and turned around to arrogantly raise his arms to his fellow soldiers for applause. She took the cheap advantage and launched herself onto the Orion's back.

"Ack! Cease NPC's! End it!" she shouted as the Orion twisted and slammed all over the place like a bull trying to buck its rider off. The cheering Orions paused into place and the XO flickered away.

Kali fell hard again onto the floor with a loud oof. Her bottom was going to be sore in the morning for sure. The bar fell blissfully silent.

"Well," she panted. "That was fun." Her head tilted up to look at his face. "Well... except for that." Kali pulled a bit of hair from her mouth and lazily gestured him over with her fingers. "May I?"

He heard Kali shouting, looking up just in time to see that the NPCs had frozen where they were. The Orion towering over him before they all slowly flickered away before the bar went rather silent. It was a nice change from egotistical Orions who had too much to drink.

Lennox did not notice that he had a grin on his face until he went to close his mouth, the sides of his cheeks aching, chuckling. "'Hat was so much feckin' fun! 'Aven't done 'hat in years!"

He slowly made his way to his feet.

Once Kali indicated to his busted lip, Lennox grimaced before nodding. "Only if ye don't mind, lass."

[Kali Reyes]

He heard Kali shouting, looking up just in time to see that the NPCs had frozen where they were. The Orion towering over him before they all slowly flickered away before the bar went rather silent. It was a nice change from egotistical Orions who had too much to drink.

Lennox did not notice that he had a grin on his face until he went to close his mouth, the sides of his cheeks aching, chuckling. "'Hat was so much feckin' fun! 'Aven't done 'hat in years!"

He slowly made his way to his feet.

Once Kali indicated to his busted lip, Lennox grimaced before nodding. "Only if ye don't mind, lass."

"So long as you don't have a pulmonary embolism, I think my nursing knowledge is up to par for this," she teased and slid back up. With a tad of an expert touch, Kali gently took his chin and tilted it to the side. "Ooh," she hissed with sympathy. "I bet that smarts." She patted him playfully on the jaw and gestured to the bar. "A side of ice and some whiskey would do you good, Mr. Ainsley. Not-doctor's orders."

A cup of ice, a thin rag, and a generous bottle of Jack appeared on the counter. Maybe she felt a tad sheepish. Her getting beat up by Orions was fine since she started the simulation in the first place, but she supposed he wasn't too put out about the split lip if his smile meant anything.

[Lennox Ainsley]

"So long as you don't have a pulmonary embolism, I think my nursing knowledge is up to par for this," she teased and slid back up. With a tad of an expert touch, Kali gently took his chin and tilted it to the side. "Ooh," she hissed with sympathy. "I bet that smarts." She patted him playfully on the jaw and gestured to the bar. "A side of ice and some whiskey would do you good, Mr. Ainsley. Not-doctor's orders."

A cup of ice, a thin rag, and a generous bottle of Jack appeared on the counter. Maybe she felt a tad sheepish. Her getting beat up by Orions was fine since she started the simulation in the first place, but she supposed he wasn't too put out about the split lip if his smile meant anything.

Lennox grinned as he listened to Kali speak. He relaxed, allowing Kali to take his chin, tilting it to one side. It was a strange feeling, as the last time was by his wife. The only other time. "Cannae argue wit' t'at, Doc."

"T'ank ye kindly, lass. Shouldn't make a fuss ov'r a busted lip, 'ad much worse as a private." Lennox said, pulling the Jack closer to him as he pried the lid off. "Shoulda gone fer the second round of pool."

[Kali Reyes]

Lennox grinned as he listened to Kali speak. He relaxed, allowing Kali to take his chin, tilting it to one side. It was a strange feeling, as the last time was by his wife. The only other time. "Cannae argue wit' t'at, Doc."

"T'ank ye kindly, lass. Shouldn't make a fuss ov'r a busted lip, 'ad much worse as a private." Lennox said, pulling the Jack closer to him as he pried the lid off. "Shoulda gone fer the second round of pool."

Kali found herself busily unfolding the towel and putting the ice cubes down in twos. "I'm uh..." Her bottom lip jutted out a bit. "Well, I guess you're right. A busted lip. Not a big deal. But I wanna make it a big deal." She started to fold the towel over the ice. "Sure it's funny watching some random civilian get a couple shiners, but you're a fellow crewman. We're supposed to take care of each other and..." An internal cringe made her lips press tight together. "Sorry, I'm still so bad at this nurturing thing. And sharing emotions. I kind of like to keep that under wraps." Operations meant taking care of the crew, something Yates kept stressing to her, but this was just all still pig latin to her.

She offered the towel bundle to him instead of taking the initiative to play flirt and nursemaid. It made her seem less like a shady bar wench and more like a Starfleet officer for some reason. "And, err... the whole flirting thing - you don't have to stomach it. And please don't file a complaint. I can't handle another earful from my superior." She tried to look pained about that, but with mixed results. "Just box my ears or something if I go out of bounce. Wouldn't hold it against you."

[Lennox Ainsley]

Kali found herself busily unfolding the towel and putting the ice cubes down in twos. "I'm uh..." Her bottom lip jutted out a bit. "Well, I guess you're right. A busted lip. Not a big deal. But I wanna make it a big deal." She started to fold the towel over the ice. "Sure it's funny watching some random civilian get a couple shiners, but you're a fellow crewman. We're supposed to take care of each other and..." An internal cringe made her lips press tight together. "Sorry, I'm still so bad at this nurturing thing. And sharing emotions. I kind of like to keep that under wraps." Operations meant taking care of the crew, something Yates kept stressing to her, but this was just all still pig latin to her.

She offered the towel bundle to him instead of taking the initiative to play flirt and nursemaid. It made her seem less like a shady bar wench and more like a Starfleet officer for some reason. "And, err... the whole flirting thing - you don't have to stomach it. And please don't file a complaint. I can't handle another earful from my superior." She tried to look pained about that, but with mixed results. "Just box my ears or something if I go out of bounce. Wouldn't hold it against you."

Lennox smiled as much as his busted lip would allow. The cooling on his lips felt a welcome relief, reminding himself much of the days when he would do the same to his relatives.

He chuckled slightly at Kali's admission that she was not good with the nurturing scenario. "Ye shoulda seen our family dinners, us wee kids used te 'ave te take care of our parents after the brawl 'hey used te get inte." He knew about the hiding emotions, something he had learned the hard way in life, both as a civvie and as a military personnel.

"Ack, it was a lil' 'armless banter, lass. Ye don't think I can't stomach a couple o' flirtatious lines?" Lennox said, giving her another smile. "Besides, yer patchin' me up. So, why would I want te stab ye in te back?"