[center][h3]Date Night: The Big Game[/h3][/center]
[center]A collab between [@Crossfire] and myself[/center]

As soon as the Revenant had set down in it's berth and Stryker gave his blessing for the crew to wander off, Grayson and Amy slipped away to locate a clinic that could do some DNA testing. As luck would have it, one such clinic existed on this very station, and within an hour, the couple were walking out the door, leaving the vial of blood and a sample of Amy's in the hands of a respectable-looking lab technician, who told them told them to return in 3 or 4 hours for the results. As they strolled down a crowded thoroughfare hand in hand, Grayson could sense that Amy had a lot on her mind. This whole experience had to be pretty taxing on her, and he decided to find a way to get her mind off it for a while. He nodded in the direction of a small pub.

[color=39b54a]"Fancy a drink to bury the nerves?"[/color] he asked.

[color=ec008c]"Consider me sold,"[/color] Amy looked up at Grayson, suddenly realizing she had subconsciously ignored him for who knows how long. [color=ec008c]"But you have to get me food as well.... I'm starving even though I ate a while back, and if I drink on an empty stomach I'm pretty sure I could end up getting alcohol poisoning."[/color]

She gave his hand a little squeeze, pulling him into the pub as curiosity got the best of her.

[color=39b54a]"Oh absolutely lass, I could go for some grub myself"[/color] Grayson said, letting her lead him through the crowd towards the bar. It was pretty packed for this time of day and all eyes in the place seemed drawn to the large vid screens up on the walls. Taking a glance up, Grayson saw a panel of (mostly human) broadcasters, but he couldn't hear what they were saying over the din of the pub. News or a pre-game show for sports perhaps? They found a couple of stools and Grayson waved over a bartender.

[color=39b54a]"How're ya mate? I'll have a pint and whatever the lady's having. Could ya grab us a menu as well?"[/color]

[color=ec008c]"Mai Tai for me!"[/color] Amy quickly added just as the bartender was starting to walking away. He gave her a thumbs up even though his back was turned to her. She got comfortable, sitting down and leaning on the bar top as her attention suddenly turned to one of the closest screens out of the many scattered throughout the bar. [color=ec008c]"Hey, hockey's on,"[/color] she leaned in so Grayson could hear her as she recognized the logo, [color=ec008c]"and my team's playing!"[/color]

The bartender then came back with the menus, letting them know their drinks would shortly follow. Amy tapped her ear as she turned to the bartender, [color=ec008c]"Can I get an ear piece, please? Thank you."[/color]

Grayson quickly signaled for an ear piece as well and turned back to Amy.

[color=39b54a]"You're a fan of holo? Can't believe this has never come up before- I've been watchin' the Toronin Supernovas for as long as I can remember. Holo's the only thing I'd ever thank the Alliance for."
[/color]
The bartender was coming back with their drinks already, so Grayson slipped the menu over to quickly peruse it. Given that it was a pub, there wasn't all that much to choose from. The bartender set down their drinks in front of them, the heavy mug of Grayson's pint emitting a satisfying clunk.
[color=39b54a]"Thanks lad, listen start us up a tab will ya? Seems like we'll be here a while."[/color] he said as he shot a grin over to Amy. His plan to keep her mind off the looming test results had taken off beautifully.

[color=ec008c]"Oh, so you do know your holo..."[/color] Amy pushed the earpiece into place, the game's broadcast suddenly giving life to what was going on behind the screen. The match between the Rezvani Blackholes and the Toronin Supernovas had started recently, the score being tied at 1-1. [color=ec008c]"I bet we'll wipe the deck with you guys,"[/color] she smiled, her mind far from anything the slightest bit stressful. No missions, no ship, no family drama...just a good time about to get better. [color=ec008c]"Given their recent streak, I'm sure we'll win by a landslide. So, what do you say?"[/color]

She held up her glass for a toast.

[color=39b54a]"You're on love"[/color] Grayson said with a mischievous grin as he raised his pint to meet her toast [color=39b54a]"What do ya think... loser pays the tab?"[/color]

The bartender was looping around to them again so Grayson waved him over and pointed down at the menu [color=39b54a]"We'll have the wing platter and nachos..... anything else ya wanna add on to that Ames?"[/color]

While she scanned down through the meager offerings, Grayson took a drink and looked up at the screen, the Supernovas' goalie had just covered up the puck for a stoppage of play and they were cutting to advertisements before the next puck drop. He noticed during a quick cut of the bench as the image faded out into advertisements that the players had a patch sewn to the upper torso of their jerseys. He nudged the man next to him and quickly asked.

[color=39b54a]"'Scuse me mate, I been out of the loop for a while on a job, is this a playoff or somethin'?"[/color]
"Yeah, Game 7 of the division final, winner tonight should take the championship with ease."

Grayson nodded in thanks and turned back to Amy, this could get very, very interesting indeed.

[color=ec008c]"Loser pays the tab it is..."[/color] Amy made the toast before taking a long sip of her drink, seeing the bartender just about ready to take their order. She grabbed the menu and quickly looked it over, deciding on chicken strips and fries. She let him know what she wanted as she overheard the conversation Grayson had with his neighbor.

[color=ec008c]"So this game is definitely a big deal. I almost feel bad for you..."[/color] she smirked, taking another sip of her drink.

[color=39b54a]"Gettin' a little cocky are we? Well lass, I wouldn't count the chickens 'fore they hatched, haven't seen much of 'em this season, but the Novas have youth and speed on their side."[/color] He took a sip and nearly spat it back out as the game was gettin' ready to resume, chuckling and coughing as he pointed up at the screen. [color=39b54a]"Look at Marner there, number 16, poor boy couldn't grow a playoff beard even if he transplanted every hair on his head."[/color]

Grayson hastily picked up the earpiece and dialed it in to the game's audio feed.
[i]"...Matthews ready to take the face-off, Barkov for the Blackholes. He's 3 for 4 on face-offs so far this game, make that 3 for 5 as he loses that one. Ozi with the puck now moving up, passes to Marner, intercepted at the blue line, moving back up now, that's Barkov with Dadonov joining the rush, passes to Dadonov, shooting.... great save by Andersen! Dermott now collecting the puck in the corner, feeds it up ice... holy mackinaw! Connects with Kapanen! He's off to the races! Breakaway chance! Rezvani was on a change and they got caught! Alone in front, shooting! Stopped by Reimer and the whistle blows!"[/i]

[color=39b54a]"What a play boys, what a play!"[/color] Grayson clinked his mug off the bar counter-top a few times in celebration [color=39b54a]"Almost had em Ames, what do ya think? Reconsidering the bet?"[/color]

[color=ec008c]"Wow, they had one good play so far. Good for you!"[/color] 

Her tone was sarcastic, but playful, although she was slowly slipping into the competitive spirit. After all, it had been a while since she last was able to enjoy herself in a similar matter. [color=ec008c]"You may have youth and speed, but we have brains and experience. It's a pretty even match if you ask me--"[/color]

Amy suddenly looked at the screen, a penalty was being called out against her team for instigating a fight, and they were just at the face-off. 

[color=ec008c]"Oh come on, what the hell is this?!"[/color]

[color=39b54a]"Well lass, in the words of a great man from a bygone era, 'you can't do that, 2 minutes in the box'"[/color]

Grayson finished off his beer and called for another, smiling at how into it Amy was. He figured it was a good idea to keep up the teasing during the commercial break, just to keep her mind from wandering off.

[color=39b54a]"I wasn't plannin' on drinkin' much more than a pint or two, but since we've got this bet goin' I figure I may as well run the tab a little eh?"[/color]

[color=ec008c]"Trust me, I'm not holding back myself..."[/color] she replied, sipping a bit more of her drink, not wanting to even look at the disaster currently playing on the screen. It had been a while since Amy had caught a game, but quite often she knew when it was going to end badly. And she was right again, unfortunately. 

[color=ec008c]"This is unbelievable!"[/color] She suddenly slapped the bar top with both hands when she heard the broadcast. They'd been scored on, and she wasn't happy.

[color=39b54a]"Not quite so confident now are ya lass?"[/color] Grayson prodded with a shit-eating grin [color=39b54a]"Cut ya a deal, we call off the bet now, I'll pay for the lot, but...."[/color] he added on a sly wink [color=39b54a]"Ya owe me one."[/color]
The look on her face was all Grayson needed to know she was shooting down the offer. He nodded in a 'fair enough' and slipped a handful of credit chips across to the bartender, who had just arrived with their food.
[color=39b54a]"Compliments to yourself and the chef mate"[/color] he said when the young man shot him a glance [color=39b54a]"Can ya get us another round too? Thanks."[/color]

They ate in relative silence, cheering and teasing along with the crowd when their respective teams scored or made a good play. Several hours and many more drinks later, the game was winding down to the final minutes of the 3rd period. The score was 4-3 for the Supernovas, and play was picking up in the Blackholes zone.
[i]"With just shy of two minutes remaining in the game, the Supernovas hold a 1-goal lead." The play-by-play commentator began "Puck about to drop now, I'd like to think there's not a person watching this who isn't on the edge of their seats. If they hold the fort, the Supernovas will punch their ticket to a franchise-first visit to the finals. If the Blackholes score, we go into overtime until we have a winner. Either way, shuld be an entertaining end to this fantastic playoff series. Hoffman taking this faceoff, wins it back for Petrovich, he wheels around the net and the Blackholes will begin a rush, goalie heading to the bench behind them, Barkov as the extra attacker hopping over the boards. Receives the puck from Huberdeau, passes to Hoffman, no shot, back to Barkov, dropping back to Yandle, one timer attempt from Hoffman! Shot is off the mark, the puck now gathered up by Hainsey, passes to Reilly, stretch pass up to Connor Brown at center, shooting, and into the empty net he scores! With thirty seconds remaining on the clock, the Supernovas have locked up this win! They're goin to the finals!"[/i]

[color=ec008c]“This is fucking unbelievable!”[/color] Amy cried out, drawing the attention of various patrons sitting within their immediate vicinity. She buried her head in her hands momentarily, being a bit overdramatic about the whole situation but she was drunk, her judgment not really being the best at the moment. [color=ec008c]"They've let me down yet again..."[/color] she whined, reaching within her coat pocket to pay for the drinks and food. Looking over at Grayson, she noticed he was still being quite smug about his win.

[color=ec008c]"I don't want to hear a word from you, ya heard?"[/color] she warned, giving him an evil eye but not meaning it deep inside. Maybe he'd see right through her, or maybe he wouldn't. Who really knew. 

A few moments later, after parting ways with the bartender, Amy got off the barstool, hopping down but nearly losing her footing. She immediately reached for Grayson's arm, using him for leverage. The drinks had hit her all at once, but she was small, and not even the food had helped. 

[color=ec008c]"Let's stop by the DNA place real quick, shall we?"[/color]

[color=39b54a]"Hey, I'm not sayin' nothin' love."[/color] Grayson chuckled as he high-fived a fellow Novas fan. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and began to lead her out of the pub. With how much he drank, Grayson really shouldn't have been leading anyone anywhere, but they got on alright. Soon enough they were stumbling through the door of the DNA clinic and Grayson paid the man for their package- a small envelope containing the results- and off they went again.
[color=39b54a]"I'm jus' sayin'"[/color] Grayson had been trying to get this point across since they left the bar [color=39b54a]"The Novas... you know? It could happen. No listen, one of these days, we're goin'. When all of this settles down, we're goin' to see 'em live, the Blackholes too. Hell, while we're at it, let's go to Earth an' see a real live ice game, what'd ya say to that?"[/color]

[color=ec008c]"If that's a promise, then I'm willing to forgive you for cheering on the heathen team."[/color]

As they walked, Amy held the small envelope in her free hand. She was finding it hard to decide whether she should take a look at the results once they got back to the ship, or the following day, when they were both sober and able to think clearly. That was probably the better choice, but on the other hand, her not knowing would bug her well into the night. Unless she managed to push the nagging thoughts aside somehow.

Back in the ship, Amy dragged Grayson to their room. She immediately headed for the bed--jacket, pants, and shoes all still on--and she face-planted on her pillow as exhaustion left little room for her to do anything else. She could easily fall asleep in less than a minute, but she wasn't sure whether Grayson would bring up the results, the envelope now sitting on the table. That thought alone seemed to keep her her mind awake.

Grayson returned to the room after a short detour to the restroom and chuckled under his breath at the sight before him.
[color=39b54a]"You really went over the limit eh Ames?"[/color] he said [color=39b54a]"Alright, hold on."[/color]

Struggling to stay on his own feet, he quickly undressed and sat on the edge of the bed. It was never a pleasant feeling to wake up still fully-dressed after a night out, so Grayson did what he could to help Amy out before flopping over on his side of the bunk and pulled the covers up over them.
[color=39b54a]"I know that look, you're still thinkin' about it, but listen to me, leave it 'til the mornin'. No need to end off the night with something this heavy an' complicated. It'll still be right there when we get up, ok? Sweet dreams love"[/color]

He leaned his head over and planted a kiss on her cheek before turning out the lights. After a few seconds, he sighed dramatically.
[color=39b54a]"Ah dammit. I've just realized we should've bet for sex."[/color]

The elbow strike to his ribs told him she didn't love the joke. All the same Grayson chuckled involuntarily as he started to drift off.
[color=39b54a]"Love you too Ames, good night."[/color]