For me, desk work is closely connected to drinking coffee. Too much coffee.

Malik is more or less confined to the bureau and his maps.

Arabian coffee + lots of desk work + grumpy Malik = extreme caffeine overdose

This can actually lead to anything. I just want to see Malik on a caffeine high! Interaction with Altair would be great as well (friendshippy, slash-shippy, not!shippy - whatever you want!).