2/13/99

You say "Testing, testing. Are you still in that evil meeting or wherever you were earlier? If you are, flee it, it's lasted too long. I can come break down a door if necessary." into the communit. [To Ela.]

Your communit crackles to life and says "Niko!" Elasia sounds delighted, "You're back! How was home, how are you feeling, are you okay?" And then rather uneccesarily she adds, "I missed you." in Elasia's voice.

You say "*muffled snicker* Hi. Uh... interesting, tired, yes, and I missed you, too. Been a long couple days." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and announces "Feeling up to a visit maybe? Clara left a box for you, and I have something for you as well..." in Elasia's voice.

Your communit crackles to life and blares "Whichever's better for you. I can go there or you can come here, I don't mind." in Elasia's voice.

You say "Why don't I come up? Your place being more comfortable and all." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and blares "Sounds good to me. *chuckle* I'll be waiting." in Elasia's voice.

[Travelspam deleted. Scene resumes in the fourth floor lounge.]

Ela's Room> A knock sounds at the door. Actually, sounds more like someone is rapping at a door with a stockinged toe.

There's a muffled reply, "Come in!"

You unlock the door and go into room E16.

Room E16

This oasis of practical comfort may not be as large as other suites on this floor, but it is organized to make the most of the available space. The furnishings are tastefully bland, but they are standard equipment. A long sofa wraps around the bulk of the small living room, and a low pine colored coffee table is perched in front of it. The floor is of a substance that looks just like hardwood, but does not quite make the same echoing sound underfoot. A rug of rich royal blue covers the floor in front of the comm and holounit, and is a decided splash of color amidst the sea of tans and creams. The walls are a soft cream, but they've been liberally littered with bright photographs of friends and family, as well as the occasional framed print of Hellenic scenery. A nearly non-descript screen of taupe cloth conceals the exceedingly comfortable sleeping area, and a small door leads off into a bathroom of creams and tans. The one point of size in the room is the dining unit, it would appear more at home in one of the larger suites down the hall.

Contents:

Elasia

Obvious exits:

Out

You come in from the Elevator Lounge.

Niko's knocking sounded as it did because he forgot to put on shoes. And he didn't knock with a hand because he's carefully balancing a pair of boxes. Of course, he promptly puts them down, the better to hug you. Ooh. He put on some of that butterscotch cologne.

Elasia is rummaging in the kitchen, she turns as you enter, licking frosting from her fingers. "Happy birthday Niko." She all but bounds over to get a hug and swipe chocolate frosting onto your nose. Pause, sniff... "Oooooh, Niko, you smell -goooood-."

Niko makes a muffled noise of not-quite-protest at the nose-frosting--he's not a brown-noser, after all. "Thanks, hon. The good-smelling is Anya's gift. Well... part of it." He pauses to claim another hug, quite an enthusiastic one. "It's -really- good to see you again."

Elasia is all too thrilled with returning the hugs, having obviously missed you quite a bit. She rests her head against your shoulder. "Remind me to thank Anya... Oh wow..." Eyes glaze a bit. "I missed you an awful lot. Want to snag a seat though? There's a couple boxes for you. And I made a cake. Sort of. Let me just say getting frosting onto the cake is harder than it looked in the pictures."

Niko teases, as he moves to sit, "Oh, but frosting -me- is easy, huh? Cake is good, though. Very good. So're boxes." He gestures towards the ones he brought. "Gigia sent some cookies and stuff. I swear, she must've baked for two days straight before I got there."

Elasia settles a dark green box and a box wrapped in bright red with silver ribbon next to you. Planting a kiss on top of your head as she swooshes through she heads to the kitchen, "Well, the frosting's not as sweet as you are, so it sticks better to you."

Niko peers after you with a laugh. "If you say so, hon. Hey, what kind of cake is it?"

There's an innocent pause and then a chuckle, "I'm -tempted- to say butterscotch, but it isn't. It's a yellow poke cake with fudge icing." And Elasia brings the cake, a smaller one, into the living area. It reads in wobbly text, "Hap B-day Ni" See, it's a small cake, the letters didn't fit. Elasia can cook, and likely the cake tastes great, but decorating isn't her knack. Settling it on the coffee table she looks a bit sheepish.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko grins brightly, reaching for your hand. "It's great," he says brightly. "Looks like it tastes marvelous. They didn't make a cake for me at Mathraki--I was kind of bummed. Not any more, though. Not by a long shot."

Elasia squeezes your hand gently, "I'm afraid it looks like it lost some sort of cake argument." She chuckles quietly, edging up close to you so she can sniff some more. Yuuuumm. She edges the packagaes towards you, "Open these maybe? The green one's from Clara."

Niko, as the green one is mentioned, opens it first. Pulling out the skate-related padding, he grins brightly, but likely because of the reminder of the skates. He's too macho to wear padding, after all. The tea earns a more genuine grin. "Good stuff for making chai," he murmurs. His eyes light at the recording, and he notes, "You've got to hear these guys, hon. We'll have to go to the Fruvous or something." He claims the card from the Nerf bat and offers it with a grin. "I think this might be more for you than for me."

Elasia takes the card, looking puzzled. Reading it she snickers quietly and edges up to kiss you. This is -not- the kind of kiss usually reserved for supposedly chaste and pure knights. This is in fact some pretty serious peril, "I think," she says softly when it's reached a conclusion, "I can handle that."

Oh, dear, but you -stopped-, and it's been ever so much longer than six minutes. Niko blinks at you for a moment, then lets a slow smile cross his face. "I think," he agrees quietly, "That you most definitely can." Who needs Zoot?

Elasia offers you a look. It's innocence so calculated that nothing but deviousness remains despite the theoretical appearance of guilelessness. "Yep, spoiling I can manage." She grins a little less deviously, handing you the second box. "And this is from me. Just some odds and ends that made me think of you."

Niko's grin actually -is- guileless, and he leans over to steal a markedly more chaste kiss before opening your package. "Thanks, hon.'

There's a collection of stuff in the small box, collected odds and ends. A handful of noveltapes, the Callahan's series, is tucked in next to several boxes of butterscotch pudding. A t-shirt with the bizarre little pocket dragon with the puffin on its head that says, 'He ain't heavy, he's my puffin'. Funny, the puffin looks an awful lot like a penguin. A button that reads, "My other uniform is a suit of armor', and on top of the other objects rests a single keycard.

Elasia is innocent, really. Okay, she isn't, but she can try.

Niko looks utterly thrilled by the gifts. Rummaging through the noveltapes, he says, "Y'know, I never got around to reading this one." The pudding gets a snicker. "You going to throw this at me, then? Anya's stuff might be easier to manage." He gestures towards the three bottles, in the box. The t-shirt gets another snicker, and a murmur about showing it to Riley. Of course, Niko's grin nearly splits his face at the button. "Oh, that's perfect." And, despite the fact that the keycard was on top of everything else, he takes it last. He turns it over in his hands for a moment, then asks softly, grin shifting to a gentle smile, "This is to here?"

Elasia is suddenly shy again, nodding to the last, "Uh, yeah. Unless it was all the drugs when you said you'd stay even after they stopped making you?"

Niko shakes his head, setting aside the card. Resting his hands lightly on your shoulders, he says softly, "Love, I thought it was the drugs that made me remember you asking. But... are you sure? I mean... it's a little different now that I'm back to myself and all."

Elasia peers up at you at length, toying with the edge of her shirt idly. "I would really love to have you here. There's room and all, and... Well it's different yes, but there's nothing wrong with that. I don't want you to leave..."

Niko says softly, leaning closer for a moment, "Then I won't." He pauses a beat. "Well... no, I've got to leave -eventually-, work and all, and I should change clothes at some point. But I'll always come back, how's that?"

Elasia does not sigh, although the sound is a softly released breath very close to one. "I...I'd like that very much Niko." She eases up to kiss you again, although she manages to behave this time in deference to your earlier chaste kissery. "Happy birthday."

Niko is Galahad, he's chaste, but sometimes you just need a little peril. He slips his arms around you, holding you close. "Thanks, hon. It's been a good day. Much better, now. Much, much better."

Elasia eases into the embrace, leaning carefully into you. "How was the trip?"

Niko shakes his head slowly. "Whirlwind," he murmurs, a hint of regret to his tone. "Tiring. The whole family came over for dinner the first night--aunts and uncles and everything. I got things straightened out with Mom and Dad, though. I think." Tone lightening, he adds, "I'm supposed to bring you back for a visit when we've got a little more time. You and Riley--but I was instructed to make them separate visits, so they can fuss over you individually." He chuckles softly. "Well, that and they get another visit out of the bargain."

Hey, that's a good sign, he told his parents about her. Ela brightens at that, "A visit would be nice. Especially a longer one, so they don't wear you out." She peers up at you, "Maybe you should get some sleep?"

Niko shakes his head. "I, uh, slept most of the trip back," he says, with a bit of chagrin. "Then a few hours more after that. If I sleep any more, I'll not be able to sleep tonight. Besides," he adds, with a smile, "I'd rather pester you. Maybe have some of that cake?"

Elasia looks a bit sheepish and ducks free and climbs to her feet, "The cake, let me snag some plates and forks. Want something to drink?"

Niko nods agreeably. "Got anything in a blue can? If not, anything'll do." And he'll have to snag something in a blue can at a later date, if you don't have it.

Elasia returns briefly with a pair of plates, a couple of forks, a blue can for you, and a glass of milk for herself. Settling the stuff on the table, she offers you a knife.

Niko casts a look of mostly-feigned relief at the blue can, then takes the knife. "I get to carve?" he asks, with a grin. "He makes the first cut, a bit off-center, then inquires, "How large a slice d'you want?"

"Little one please," Elasia settles in close to you, "Miss the evil blue soda while you were gone?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko agreeably cuts a small wedge, transferring it to one of the plates with a minimum of difficulty, then a larger one for himself. "Not as much as you, but rather a lot. Would have helped me stay awake." He shakes his head, popping the can and taking a sip before reaching for a fork. "Much better."

Elasia nods her thanks, using the fork to scoop up the pudding of the cake's poked filling and starts with that. "You don't need to stay awake now though, sleeping's good for you."

Niko takes a moment to take a bite of his cake, murmuring his approval. "I'll sleep later," he says agreeably. "So I'll be able to sleep through the night without waking up and all. Mm. This really is good." He munches a bit more, then inquires, "I miss anything really exciting?"

Elasia munches on her cake absently a moment, shaking her head. "Not really. Some silly meetings, lots of normal everyday stuff. Some consternation in the Grand Hall about the standard state of the Complex address being put off, but beyond that..."

Niko's head bobs in a brief nod. "Nothing -too- disturbing, then. Good. I'll check in with Anya tomorrow, see if there was anything a little more quiet that didn't make it up to the fourth floor or something." A sudden, wicked grin crosses his face. "And, of course, to see when I can bring Addie her fingerpaints."

Elasia nearly chokes on a sip of milk, snickering, "You got a two year old fingerpaints? Niko, you're -evil-..."

Niko nods serenely. "Yes," he decides. "I am." He grins, then. "Got some for the twins, too. Cip was ready to strangle me, it was great." With a low chuckle, he adds, "Here, check out what she got me." He fumbles in a box for a moment, taking out one of the skates, then replacing it after locating the three bottles.

Elasia spots the skates and knows fear, "Niko on wheels... Oh dear..." She spots the bottles and begins to laugh quietly, "No -wonder- you smell so good."

Niko replaces the bottles, exchanging them for a skate. "Riley got 'em for me," he says, with a broad grin. "Look... see the name brand? That and the button you got... perfect combination."

Elasia spots the script and laughs quietly, "Oh Niko, that's scary..." She pauses, "Do you know how to use those things?"

Niko pauses a beat. "Put 'em on your feet, right?" he asks, deadpan.

Elasia sighs and flops back onto the couch, snickering. "How many bones are you going to break I wonder..."

Niko lightly spins one of the wheels, before putting back the skate. "Not too many, I'd guess. I mean... kids do it all the time. How hard can it be?" Famous last words.

"Why doncha' get Riley to show you how maybe?" Elasia suggests with a quiet laugh, "Or at least warn me so I can take pictures."

Niko casts a rather puppydog-esque look at you. "But Ellllla, Riley's not going to be able to do that for two weeks and then some. I can't wait -that- long. I can warn you, though. Pictures are easy. Just don't give 'em to Anya, okay? She's got enough scary pictures of me."

Elasia continues to remain flopped back on the couch, still snickering. "Pictures, and then if you break anything, I turn them over to ANya... That should keep you intact."

Niko protests, "Elllla! That's not fair. I can walk down a hall on my -feet- and break a bone." He leans over to poke at your ribs, adding with a laugh, "I've just got to encourage you to be discreet, huh?"

Elasia squirms back from the poking, still snickering. "Well see you'll hafta' be extra careful..."

Niko shakes his head, reaching to pull you into his lap, assuming you agree to that. "Careful doesn't make a difference, though. Heck, I'm -more- likely to hurt myself if I'm careful."

Elasia is easily tugged into your lap, although she's still snickering. "I can't believe he got you something you're going to break half your bones on." She shifts her arms around you, "I want your parts intact so I can torment you, see."

Niko pokes you again, though gently. "Half? Give me a little credit, huh?" His grin softens, then. "And I appreciate the sentiment, hon. I'd generally prefer to be in the appropriate number of pieces."

Elasia squirms away from the poke, although she comes right back, chuckling. "Hey, I know your record."

Niko lifts his shoulders in a small shrug, though his lips quirk. "Exactly my point. I was thinking sixty, sixty-five percent of 'em." With a soft laugh, he adds, "I'll try to avoid too much damage, though, hon. I've been down with injuries and such too much as it is."

Elasia's fingers squirm in at your sides in an attempt to tickle, "No breaking that many bones, I'll have my revenge."

Niko is, alas, extremely ticklish. He manages not to drop you on the floor. "Hey, now," he says, with a laugh. "No fair getting revenge before I break -anything-." With a pause, he adds, "What sort of revenge?"

Elasia leaves off on the cruelty, snuggling up closer. "I'll sic Anya on you." This is said with a rather smug tone as she rests one hand lightly on your chest.

Niko shakes his head slowly back and forth. "In that case," he says, with a grin, "Maybe I'll hold off on giving the kiddo her fingerpaints."

Elasia chuckles quietly a moment more before just sighing in contentment, "I do not think it's possible to be any happier than this." She pauses, "Even if you are old and decrepit now."

Niko hmphs softly, though he bends down to give you a kiss. "Old and decrepit. Hah. Tell that to the folks downstairs who call me Junior."

Elasia returns the kiss with interest, and spare change she found in the sofa. "Yeah but you're older than -me-..."

Niko muses, "Maybe I should go away more often, if you're going to give me a welcome-home like this." His tone is only partly jesting. Then, with a quiet chuckle, he adds, "Yes, but I've -always- been older. I've never been decrepit before, have I?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

"Oh you've always been decrepit," Elasia notes with a grin, "Now you're just decrepit-er." She looks innocent, "If you stay though, I'm sure we can come up with something suitable to convince you."

Niko's bushy brows lift fractionally. "Oh, really?" he inquires, with a grin. "That sounds promising." He shakes his head, then, and adds, "You don't need to do that, though, hon. You're enough. I came back for you. It'll be a while before I go anywhere again, if I can help it."

Elasia looks almost dissapointed, she'd rather been looking forward to convincing you. She chuckles quietly, "It's awfully nice to have you here again. I missed you something awful."

Niko pauses a beat at your expression, brows lifting. He looks for a moment like he's going to pursue that line of thought, then says instead, "I missed you, too, hon." With a faint grin, he adds, "Aspasia really is itching to meet you, now, by the way."

"Should I be afraid?" Elasia asks, the hand she has resting on your chest proscribing gentle circle.

Niko shakes his head. "Not at all," he assures you. "She's got her eye on studying politics is all. I'm hoping she opts for teaching, as she doesn't really seem like she's got the patience for diplomacy, but I guess we'll see."

Elasia ahhs quietly, considering this a moment. "Politics is a chancy field, although it's very rewarding. It does take patience though, hordes of it." She pauses, peering up at you a moment, "Sometimes a tricky thing to maintain."

Niko's arms tighten briefly around you. "Could you tell -her- that?" he inquires softly. "I don't think she's got a very accurate view of it all. I tried to tell her some, but she's not going to listen to -me-."

Elasia sighs in contentment at the embrace. "I sure can. Maybe give her some of the uncut feed from the Grand Hall. If it doesn't bore her to tears, she might have a shot at it."

Niko settles against the back of the couch, though he doesn't release you, no way. "Good," he says, with a smile. "Thanks. Sisters... yeesh." He blinks, then. "Oh. I've got six of them, now. Well... six that I know of."

Elasia blinks at that, looking a bit confused, "-Six-?" She pauses, "Niko, you're doomed. I have just two and they're scary -enough-. You need to stop acquiring sisters."

Niko grins at that. "Tell Terrence," he murmurs. Then, catching a hint of that confusion, he adds, "There's the four original once--Cip, Aspasia, Zosima, and Losi. Then there's Riley's sister, Evvy. Then there's Talaxi Veruzac. I knew her when I was a kid, but she's not on Hellas any more." With a muffled laugh, he adds, "That really is a name and a half, isn't it?"

Elasia has to consider that a moment, "To be honest," she offers, "Not much really pairs well with 'Veruzac'. It's a mouth filling nominative in its own right."

Niko ponders, then nods. "You're right. It really is a bizarre name, and I am grateful every day that it's not mine." He shakes his head, murmuring, "Iolytus Nikolaos Veruzac. Yech."

Elasia makes a face at that, rather as if she's eaten something very bitter. "Not nice at all, no I like your name as it is. It's a lovely name."

Niko smiles fondly at that. "I'm glad you approve," he murmurs, leaning in to kiss your cheek. "I rather like it, myself. Told Dad so, too."

"A good thing to tell him, under the circumstances and all." Elasia's eyes close, entirely content. "Must have been hard."

Niko's head bobs in a brief nod. "Yeah," he agrees softly. "That'd be a good word for it. It's going to be a little weird for a while, but at least they know I know, y'know?" His shoulders lift just a bit. "That was the hardest part, -starting- the conversation." With a soft chuckle, he adds, "It didn't help that Syntyche was using me for a pillow at the time."

Elasia continues the tracing of geometric patterns on your chest. "In the long run it will help though, yes?"

Niko nods firmly at that, settling a little more comfortably against the back of the couch. "Definitely. Now we all know where we all stand. Knowledge is power--or a good start, at least."

Elasia's fingers work their way up to your collarbone, idly drawing random shapes with a featherlight touch. "Time fixes everything, y'all will sort it out. You love each other too much not to."

Niko nods his agreement. "You're exactly right," he murmurs. "Time. Well, that and a trip that lasts a bit longer--and -you- should come, next time. Have you ever been that far in the exurb?"

Elasia works her fingers up your neck and into the hair at the nape of your neck. "I'd love to go, I miss home. And I'd enjoy meeting your family." She nods, "A couple of times. Visits to relatives and such."

Niko pauses a moment, his thoughts of the trip home distracted by your finger-working. "Hm? Oh... yeah. They'll love you. Just don't listen to the stories that Losi tells you. I was nine when she was born, so she wasn't -around- for most of the time I was home."

Elasia's fingers continue their careful trek, moving back down and brushing along your jaw. "Oooh, evil stories? I'm up for evil stories..."

Niko shakes his head very slowly, not wanting ot dislodge your fingers. "No, no, she'll make them -up-, see." He's more murmuring than anything else, though. "Cip knows the real ones, but she likely won't tell you. Maybe one of the cousins."

Elasia's fingers trace ever so gently down your neck, to your collarbone. She stretches up to brush several featherlight kisses along the trail her fingers have taken. "Is Cip bribeable perhaps? I can ask -really- nicely."

Cip? Cip who? At this point, Niko'll tell you the stories -himself-. He closes his eyes for a moment, saying softly, "I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something, hon."

Elasia gently nuzzles your neck before settling back down into your lap, her fingers once again making patterns on your chest. "I'll have to figure something out. I can use all the evil stories I can get."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko's low chuckle is very quiet. "Should I ask -why- you can use all these evil stories, or should I just fear?"

Elasia's hand brushes back up your neck at that, chuckling, "General amusement factor. Not to mention, it'll keep you from telling the ones about me."

Niko shakes his head back and forth, eyes a little too wide for his innocence to be believed. "But, love, why would I ever tell evil stories about you? I -love- you."

Elasia regards you, the hand coming down so that she can regard you with wry amusement, "Uh-huh, I'm buying that. See me buying that?"

Niko's head bobs in a quick nod. "I can get you a receipt, if you like?" he offers, with a boyish grin. He laughs, then, and adds, voice softening. "I -do- love you, though, hon. You believe that, right?"

Elasia nods simply, her face lighting brightly. "Yes, yes I do." She regards you at length and then stops herself from her first comment. "It's late, you're probably tired, hmm?"

Niko considers that for a moment, then nods. "I am, yeah," he says, "But this is comfortable. Should sleep or something... but, well, that involves getting up."

Elasia slides from your lap and offers a hand up, "Come on, I'll tuck you in and crawl in after. Sleep's good for you, you've had a stressful few days."

Niko gets to his feet, then takes your hand. "Yes. Sleep's good. Or a reasonable approximation of sleep. With you. That'll be good." He wanders towards the bed, then pauses, murmuring, "Deja vu, all over again."

Elasia starts to say something about 'reasonable approximation' but just follows afterwards, shedding her shoes. "Besides, snuggling's easier on the bed."

Niko crawls onto the bed and slides under the covers, nodding his agreement. "Were you going to say something else?" he inquires, still sounding reasonably awake. "Didn't quite catch it."

Elasia offers you a rather devious, but resigned look. "No O Galahad the chaste, I wasn't." She worms her way under the covers after you, tabbing the lights down as she does so. "ohh, this is nice. I missed this."

Niko nods his agreement. "Very nice," he murmurs. "And you've already got me, hon. No need for any more chasing, I'd think. So you can drop that bit off my title, eh?"

Elasia leans up to brush a kiss against your ear, and then another down your neck, and a third at your collar, "Is that so?"

Niko pauses at that. "I... yes. Yes, that's definitely so." His voice is very quiet, hinting at emotions he's not quite expressing. And, yes, he's thrown away the six-minute rule for now.

Elasia is at something of a loss, not quite sure what to do. In the end she sighs almost inaudibly and settles down next to you, her hand on your chest. With a quietly murmured apology she tugs the blanket up.

Niko shifts up on one elbow, reaching to touch your cheek. "Why apologize?" he asks softly. "I..." He shakes his head, waiting for your answer.

Elasia shakes her head slightly, looking abashed. "For um..." When in doubt, be honest, "Trying to seduce you."

Whomp-thwack. Yes, folks, it's the clue brick. "Ela," he says softly, "Love... don't apologize for -that-. I just... I wasn't sure how much you were offering--didn't want to push." He pauses a beat, then adds, a bit sheepishly, "It's, uh, been a while since I've had a serious relationship, and even then it wasn't like this."

Elasia's fingers maintain their careful patterns on your chest. "It's okay, I understand, I was being pushy anyhow..."

Niko shakes his head. He considers for a moment, then says slowly, "You weren't offering anything I wouldn't gladly accept, love." He shifts a little closer to you. "I just..." A very low, somewhat nervous chuckle escapes him. "Didn't want to push." Well, that and it's been a long day, but he's not going to say that.

Elasia curls up closer, quiet for a long moment. "You sound tired, hon. And it's late, why don't you get some sleep?"

Niko eases himself around you with a murmured apology. "If it hadn't been such a rough couple days, love, trust me, I'd jump on the offer." He pauses a beat. "Uh, maybe I should rephrase that." Another pause. "But... once I catch up on sleep a little more..."

Elasia chuckles quietly, too much the diplomat to do anything else. "Sleep love, I'll see you in the morning."

Niko asks softly, "Are you sure?" One would assume that he doesn't mean about the seeing in the morning bit.

Elasia mmhmms quietly, "I'm sure...sleep love." She reaches her arms around you. "It'll do you good."

Niko kisses you lightly, and murmurs, "I'm going to kick myself for this, later... just too tired. I'm sorry, hon."

Elasia shakes her head, "There's no need to apologize Niko." She tucks you in carefully. "Sleep."

Niko mumbles, "Doesn't matter if there's a need... s'just what y'-do-." The repetition has got to him, though, and he lets his eyes close. "Love you," he murmurs. "Love you a lot."

"And I love you too, Niko." Elasia fall quiet, still gently rubbing your chest in a comforting fashion, hoping to coax you into sleep.

Niko, as he really is quite tired, doesn't take a lot of coaxing to get to sleep. It takes maybe fifteen minutes, but eventually his breathing slows, and he drops off to sleep, with a mumbled something that isn't quite coherent enough for you to catch.

Elasia remains awake long into the night, gently rubbing and quiet.

Niko wakes after a few hours of hard sleep, for a moment looking confused by his surroundings. Squinting towards you, he asks, very softly, "Still awake?" Ooh, yeah, he's perceptive.

Elasia hmms half sleepily, "Sort of, g'back to sleep love."

Niko murmurs something that might be "In a minute", and shifts away from you before getting out of the bed and padding into the bathroom. He returns after a suitable interval. "Sorry," he murmurs, as he climbs back into bed. "'m not keeping you up, am I?"

Elasia shakes her head slightly, "No, I was just enjoying being here with you in the nice warm bed, s'all."

Niko nods at that, a slow smile crossing his face. "Yeah. S'a good bed. Good company. Good evening. Very... good. Very glad 'm here. Thanks, love."

Elasia curls back up to you, "S'your bed now too," she chuckles, "S'go back t'sleep."

Niko puts an arm around you with a muffled yawn. "Our bed. How weird. You gonna sleep, too? So y'don't fall asleep during evil meetings?"

Elasia looks a bit chagrined, "Yeah, prolly a good idea. G'night."

Niko kisses you gently, murmuring, "Night, love. Sleep well. See y'in the morning." He closes his eyes, though he doesn't drop off just yet.

Elasia curls up close to you, her eyes sagging shut and her hand stilling.

Niko drifts off after a bit as well, one arm still draped over you.

As you drift off, Elasia does as well at last.


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