[color=00a651]"You know I'm always on my best behaviour... unless it's time to be very [i]naughty.[/i]"[/color] Maki replied with a cheshire grin on her face as she walked with her Captain to the officer's lounge. Even with her reputation as a pilot, the Japanese woman saw no point in starting fights in a neutral zone against other men who had not fired a shot at her. Yet.

Maki could see that Alexis was fatigued. No doubt bureaucracy and dealing with Ardin had severely worn out her patience. A few looks came their way, two women with fearsome reputations and equally intimidating beauty - even if it was tarnished somewhat by battle weariness. The lounge was fancy, and there was a clear divide between the UEE and Coalition, with some other random civilians interspersed throughout. So it was just pure luck that the only free table they had to take was beside a bunch of Coalition officers.

Maki shrugged and took a seat, ignoring the glares. She ordered a beer for each of them, not wanting to take anything harder since they had to get back to their duties soon enough. Besides, she met Alexis because of a bottle of beer. Well, sort of. [color=00a651]"How things have changed."[/color] She began, reminiscing with a wry smile as she regarded the redheaded Captain she was in love with. [color=00a651]"We first met because I took a beer bottle in the head, back when I was a newbie in the Raiders and you had just been given command of the 101st's third team."[/color] Maki couldn't recall if she ever told the captain why she had taken that bottle in the face, even if Alexis had seen the fight that caused it.

She lifted her glass, careful to lower her voice so the Coalition morons beside them wouldn't be too provoked by anything she said. [color=00a651]"Now you're captain of the Lincoln and I'm a member of the 7th, drinking in a lounge in the FEZ. All within the span of the same war. To think both our careers started back on Centauri."[/color] She chuckled. She moved her hand to brush a lock of Alexis' hair, looking in the eyes of the first member of the Lincoln's crew she had met. Truthfully, not that much time had passed, but it felt like a lifetime ago when they had been on Centauri. When things were simpler and she didn't have to worry about flirting with a superior officer.

[color=00a651]"I tease and I rib you constantly, but I wouldn't have anyone else my captain, O captain."[/color] Maki added with a chuckle as the hand brushing Alexis' hair booped her on the nose. [color=00a651]"No one else could have gotten us out of Jehan alive, much less risked coming for Trapp and I. So in response to your earlier comment, I don't think you'd bat for the boys because no man could ever measure up, and their egos are too fragile to handle that."[/color] She joked, finishing her beer as a familiar song came on over the jukebox.

She met her captain's eyes, and a playful smirk cross her lips. [color=00a651]"Dance with me?"[/color] Maki asked, stretching her hand out and inviting Alexis to join her on the floor.