It took several seconds of heavy silence for Griffin Mackey to realize he had been shouting.
"I'm sorry," he said before forcing himself to take a deep breath. "Stressful week."
"That's understandable," Commander Sisko said quietly yet deeply. "But let's make sure that never happens again."
"Still, that's an impressive command of Bajoran curses for someone new to the station," offered Commander Dax.
The tension cut, they each allowed themselves a moment of levity before continuing.
"I'm confident I can find a way to situate the Ferengi delegation far enough from the Dopterians so that extracurricular activities are kept to the minimum. Maybe if we move the Orions over to-"
"Mr. Mackey," the calm commanding officer interrupted. "I don't think we're going to solve the underlying nature of multiple species with room accommodations. We can play out every possible scenario 26 hours a day, but no matter what, what I've learned is-"
"A Ferengi's gonna Ferengi," said Dax, her sly smile and effervescent blue eyes the perfect tonic of playfulness and deviousness.
"Why don't we cut this meeting short and take a day away from the plans tomorrow." Sisko held up a hand as Mackey began to interject. "Your preparation is commendable, but I think we could all use a day away from this. I'll communicate what we have here to make sure the Starfleet and Bajoran Militia side of things are handled. You get some R and R and then we can come at things fresh in a couple of days."
It wasn't quite a question, and as Mackey role in the Federation Diplomatic Corps kept him out of the Yes-sir nature of Starfleet's chain of command, it wasn't quite an order, either. Instinctively, though, Mackey knew his protests would fall on deaf ears.
"I guess a day off would be nice," Mackey said after this moment of consideration. "Are there any holosuite programs you recommend?"
"Before Benjamin suggests a three-and-a-half-hour simulation of the 1927 Yankees against the 2030 Knights, might I offer the chance to get out and socialize with, y'know, real people," Dax said.
"I'll admit that sounds nice."
"Great! Meet me outside the conference hall at 2200."
"What type of dress do you recommend?"
Dax's slight smile spread wider. "It's a formal event, but let's just say that dress doesn't really matter."
* * * * *
Griffin Mackey wore fresh slacks and a light blue tunic that flatteringly fit his physique as he stood outside the sliding conference hall entrance. Though Dax had suggested he go inside to wait for her, he preferred the solitude of waiting to the potential of forced small talk with strangers. Diplomatic skills aside, he was off-the-clock and wanted to save his small talk abilities for when his profession required them.
"Griffin!" Dax yelled from down the corridor. "Are you waiting for me? What a gentleman."
As she approached, Griffin couldn't help but notice her lithe figure under a simple, casual jumpsuit. The truth was, the diplomat was immediately attracted to Dax upon their first meeting. While she was immensely attractive in her Starfleet uniform, he found himself swallowing hard upon the soft jiggle of her breasts under her off-work attire.
"You've been so coy with what we're attending, I figured you'd want to see my face when the surprise is revealed."
"Right you are," she said coyly, wrapping her left arm around his right. She pressed her body tightly against his for a brief moment to speak softly into his ear. "Now, how about we get to the unveiling?"
They turned and faced the sliding doors of the conference hall, which soon spread open and granted access to a tapestry of bright colors, welcoming scents, and a significant gathering of individuals. Together, Dax and Mackey stepped through the threshold and Mackey immediately realized the surprise: everyone was naked.
"Nothing like a Betazoid wedding for a nice reset," Dax said.
Mackey smiled and turned to Dax, "And I thought that my short sleeves were going to be too casual."
Dax laughed and Mackey immediately relaxed. They approached the host, a naked Bajoran woman with a short haircut and ample bosom. On both the left and right sides of the trio stood a series of small, square rooms that Mackey noticed people entering clothed and exiting nude.
"Leeta!" Dax squealed. "I didn't know you were hosting."
"Dax! I didn't know you were attending."
"Roxany is a friend of a friend, but I guess we're close enough for me to garner a plus-one."
"Yes," Leeta said as she turned to Mackey. He noticed her give a quick glance up and down. "What a nice plus-one he is. Let me see what room is available for you to undress and start the festivities."
Leeta looked down at her PADD, scrolling through it until she an unreserved room. She had them press their thumbs on the sensor at the bottom of the PADD, then pointed to the room further down the hall.
Dax kept her arm wrapped around Mackey's as they walked towards the undressing space. Mackey, ever the diplomat, kept his eyes up and focused on the destination. Any time he matched someone's glance, he never wavered from keeping his eye line professional.
He knew he had a decorum he must keep. He also knew that as someone going through a dry spell as work duties kept him in a state of self-preservation, he had to be careful to not become overexcited. As far as he knew, very few of the Federation's Senior Ambassadors, a position he hoped to achieve, sported erections at public functions.
They approached the room Leeta directed them to and placed their thumbs on the dual sensors on either side of the door. As the doors whooshed open, Mackey noticed the room's functional Federation style meant it was built after Starfleet began to command the station. There were several open closets on the wall facing the entrance door. A worn though comfortable-looking couch sat along the left wall. The right wall contained a small cubby of a sonic shower.
"Shall we?" Dax said and motioned to the lockers.
