Cute when he's asleep. Like a two year-old

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2/9/99

[The scene opens in Ela's room.]

Elasia has at some point extricated herself from the bed, and is sitting at the table in slightly rumpled diplomatic gear with an array of work in front of her. She's leafing through it quietly.

Niko sleeps. But he doesn't do that for very long, because his player can sustain only so much creativity with that sort of pose. He wakes eventually, and lifts his head to peer rather muzzily about the room. "It's morning," he decides. Maybe this is the sort of statement he has to make -every- morning. That'll get old real fast.

Elasia admires your keen grasp of the obvious, or maybe perhaps just you, as she slides from her chair and over to the side of the bed. "Well, for a little bit longer it is." Hello, have we had this conversation before? She reaches over to brush back your hair gently, "How are you feeling?"

Niko mumbles something about shuttles and license numbers, then chuckles lightly. "Okay, I guess. Tired. Clara's not been up yet, has she? I wouldn't want to miss getting down to see Riley."

Elasia kicks off the coffee colored shoes, pulling her feet up to sit tailor fashion next to you. "You can always go back to sleep," she offers gently. There's a shake of the head, "No, she hasn't. I'd've woken you up for that. And I still will if you want to catch some more shut-eye."

Niko shakes his head. "I'm not sleepy. Just tired. How're -you-?"

Running a hand through curls left to hang loose, Clara shrugs. "Not too bad. I was just sorting through work stuff and watching you sleep." She smiles fondly, not an intentional gesture but one she just can't help.

Niko returns the smile, as he straightens one of the blankets. "I'll try to be more entertaining when I sleep, then. Maybe a cha-cha or something."

Elasia hmphs softly, stretching slowly in a joint popping stretch. "I think you can just give that a miss, you're entertaining enough as it is. Heck, if for no other reason it's good to have you around here, you're so ornamental."

Niko suggests, watching you stretch--purely for aesthetic reasons, mind, "I could put a doily on my head?"

Elasia settles back to her former position, although she eyes the length of bed a moment in a considering fashion. "You could," she accedes, "And you'd look like my grandmother's couch. Somebody might come and sit on you then. You should probably wait til you're better for that."

Niko grins vaguely at that. "Your grandmother's couch has hair like this?" he asks, lifting a hand to tug lightly on his mop. "I need to get it cut." He adds, with a smile, "If you want to lay down and all, you won't hear me complaining."

Elasia doesn't require a second invitation, curling up onto her side on the bed and halfheartedly getting beneath a quilt. "Well not as such, no. But it has the scary doilies." She sighs softly, "I will be very glad when they finally elect a new chairman."

Niko is still flat on his back, despite his frustration with the lack of mobility, but doesn't let that stop him from reaching for your hand. "Yes," he agrees. "Do you have any idea who it'll be?" He grins suddenly. "Stavros, from the Hellenic delegation. That'd be... the reactions would be worth it, almost."

Elasia is more than willing to take your hand in return, squeezing it gently. "Honestly, I don't really know. There are some folks with more of a shot at it than others, but Maosun left a power vaccum. And with the actual staff so non partisan, which I'm given to understand has not always been the norm..."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Okay, this is a little more than Niko can follow at this particular moment in time, but he fakes it, nodding thoughtfully. "Yeah, I guess not. Just hope Lexington doesn't get it. That'd be -bad- for Riley."

Elasia pauses a moment, placing name with and politics, "Oh, the Stilvani from Omenski?"

Niko mumbles an affirmative. "That'd be him. I think he's from Omenski, at least. We've not exactly conversed or anything." And, from his tone, Niko doesn't mind that in the slightest.

Elasia is perhaps a little too sleepy to be circumspect, her tone is puzzled. "Why would that be bad for Riley?"

Niko considers his words before he actually speaks. He's tired enough to -realize- that he's tired. "He and Lexington don't get along."

"Oh," Perhaps deciding that no real further information is forthcoming, or perhaps not wishing to pry, Elasia leaves it at that. "I don't think he's really in the running. He's a very powerful person, but he lacks some of the personal charisma that helps a chairman get elected."

Niko bites back a laugh at that. "Not charismatic? Huh. Imagine that. Riley'll be stunned to hear that." Passing a hand across his face, he adds, "It's good to hear he's not in the running, though. Reassuring."

Elasia is obviously itching to quiz you about the situation, but restrains herself. She leans up to place a careful kiss on the edge of your jaw. "Maybe one of the other Stilvani, but not him. Is there anything I can get you? Something to drink, to eat?"

Niko is oblivious enough that he doesn't notice the obvious itching. He'd likely suggest some calamine lotion if he did. "Uh. Maybe some water, please?"

Elasia murmurs assent and clambers from beneatht the quilt's edge and to her feet. Padding in her besocked feet to the kitchen, she rummages in the fridge for a bottle of water. Snagging a squeeze top from a drawer she affixes it to said bottle, returning and offering it. "Easy peasy. Anything else?"

Niko shakes his head, taking the bottle with a quick smile. "No, this is good, thanks." He peers at it for a moment, then inquires, "It's afternoon, right? Think I could sit up to drink this? Just in the interest of not breathing it and all."

Elasia shakes her head and gestures to the top, akin to those on sports bottles, "That'll have to do you for, unless you'd like to comm Clara and we can ask if you can sit up yet?"

Niko fumbles with the top, with a sigh and a shake of his head. "Don't want to bother her. I can manage." And he also manages to keep from sounding too martyred, which is likely a good thing. And, as he's fairly careful, he manages to drink the water, rather than attempting to prove that humans are land-dwellers.

Elasia offers you a sympathetic smile, easing back down to one elbow beside you, "Poor Niko, it's not easy is it? Being stuck in one spot and all."

A hint of frustration crosses Niko's face, but his voice is light as he says, "It's not that bad, I guess." And his smile is honestly pleased as he adds, "Besides, with the company I've got, I'm not about to complain."

Elasia settles back down, tugging on that edge of quilt. "It's okay to be frustrated, love. I would be if I were in your shoes." There's a pause, "If for no other reason than if I were in your shoes they'd keep falling off my feet. Wnat the remote maybe? A book? Something to do?"

Ooh, she's willing to surrender the remote to a -man-? Niko shakes his head at that offer, if only because his player couldn't convincingly RP channel-flipping. "S'okay, thanks. Unless you've got things you need to do?" He gestures towards wherever those papers went, adding, "I can keep myself occupied for a while, honest."

Elasia shakes her head as she curls down next to you, "Not a thing I can't do later. I already packed the urgent stuff off, and got hauled around to various delegations this morning. Rather an adventure. I'd rather lie here with you and think of cruel and evil torments to inflict upon you."

Niko's brows lift very slowly. "Cruel and evil torments?" Ooh, there's an echo. He looks more amused than anything else. "As long as you keep the chicken story to yourself, hon, I don't much care what else you do to me."

Elasia looks rather amused as well, as she's obviously teasing. "Yup, evil vicious and nasty things I can do to you. I'm creative, be afraid."

Niko stifles a laugh. "I'm trembling. Terrified." He grins, then squints towards a chrono. Those bushy brows lower for a moment, then he makes an approximation of a shrug, turning back towards you. "I know you're creative. Trust me."

Elasia echoes the chronoward glance, looking a bit confused. "What's up? Missing something?"

Niko shakes his head, looking a little abashed. "Just wondering if I'm going to be able to get down to see Riley, that's all. Fidgety. I'm sure you can come up with a way to let me know if I get too annoying, though."

Elasia edges up closer again to kiss you whisper soft along your neck, "Never annoying. Impatient I can understand. You could always leave a message for Clara, if you don't want to comm her..."

Niko closes his eyes for a moment. It's either that, or look at the monitor, and, as he knows dang well what it says, he's not going to call attention to it. "Message," he repeats, once he's focused once more on the present. "Yeah. Good idea, thanks, love. That way, I won't be interrupting or anything, or waking her up if she's asleep."

Elasia is however innocent of monitor knowledge and slides from the bed again, rummaging for a datapad. "Can you manage this with your hand and on your back, or would you like help?"

Niko considers the logistics for a moment. "I don't think I could manage it, no," he admits. "Help would be appreciated."

Elasia slides down onto the bed, keying the datapad on, "Fire away then, of all things I'm used to taking dictation certainly."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko chuckles quietly at that. "Wow, my own secretary. Who'd've guessed?" He takes a moment to compose, then starts--in Hellenic. "No," he mumbles, "That won't work, she doesn't speak Hellenic." He does, however, squint towards your datapad, to see if it's got the modified keypad that will switch between languages. After a moment, though, he manages the shift to Standard. He speaks relatively slowly, perhaps as he comes up with the proper words, perhaps to keep from getting too far ahead of you. "Just wanted to check on the possibility of visiting Riley. If he's not up to it, though, I can certainly wait. Please let me know, though? I don't want to make poor Ela too annoyed with me."

Elasia hmphs softly, typing away. "You can speak in Hellenic," she offers quietly, "I can shift back and forth pretty easily if you don't try and engage in poetry or literary criticism or anything. Anything else?"

Niko shakes his head. "I think that covers it, thanks. Unless you can think of anything else to put? Feel free to add, or correct grammar, or anything like that. The poetry and literary criticism will have to wait, I'm afraid."

Elasia chuckles softly as she keys the message off to send, "I think you're fine. The gist of it's there and all."

Niko settles a little more comfortably against his pillow--though not, still, sitting up. "Thanks, Ela," he murmurs, with a smile. "I appreciate it."

Elasia offers you the datapad as it chimes with a response, "There you go, easy as it gets."

==============================================================================

Message 3 Date Received: Tue Feb 9 13:16:35 1999

From: Clara

To: Elasia, Niko

Subject: Response message

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Riley's still asleep right now, and I'm on subspace with Kashid. But both situations should be remedied shortly. I'll comm you as soon as he wakes up. And...thank you? He'll appreciate the visit, I'm certain of it.

--Clara

Options: +delete, +forward, +reply, +replyall, +mark

Niko peers at the datapad for a few moments, a quick smile crossing his face at the last statement. "Kashid, huh?" he murmurs. "Wonder who she's talking to, there."

Elasia's brows furrow a moment as she tries to place the planet, but comes up with little more than the memory of the sector. "Your guess is as good as mine. Still, it's good news, right? A visit will be a good thing. It'll give you a chance to get around some and all."

Niko nods once, firmly. "And to see Riley, which will be good." He ponders for a moment, then ahhs. "Honalee, maybe. That'd make sense. And getting out and about a little will be very good. Not that this room isn't grand and all, it just... well, are the walls shrinking?"

"Oh, I didn't think you'd notice. Yeah, maintenance decided the room was too big so last ngith while you were asleep they snucks in and moved everything about two feet in." Elasia's tone is almost serious, only the hint of sleepy amusement ruins the sober effect. "Honalee?"

Niko waves a finger at you, with an amused grin. "Evil," he murmurs, before clarifying, "Riley's... grandmother, I think? Maybe one farther out, I was kind of floored when Riley told me. She used to be CMO here. Nice lady, from what I saw of her."

"Hey, I said I was evil," Elasia chuckles softly, once again stretching out beneath the quilt. "Grandmother, CMO, Check..."

Niko edges closer to you, with a quick smile. "She called him 'Greggykins'," he notes, looking decidedly amused. "Something like that, at least. Riley threatened dire things if -I- called him that, though."

Elasia can't quite stifle a soft laugh, "Well," she notes in an amused fashion, "There's nothing he can really do to you -now-, if you were to inflict that on him."

Niko grins at that, looking for a moment like he's seriously considering it. "Yeah, true. But I don't want to harass him -too- much. I do that, and Clara won't let me visit again."

Elasia awws quietly, edging over to rest as close to you as possible without actually interfering. Her reply is soft, which is good considering she's next to your ear and all. "Behaving is important I suppose. Not harassing people. Maybe when you're both feeling a little better but he's still mobility impaired."

Niko nods agreeably to that. "It'd provide him motivation for getting better," he says innocently. "-That's- a good thing, isn't it?"

Elasia chuckles very softly, murmuring agreement, "Hey, what was it last night about carrots? You'd be offering him one. HE'd need to get better so he could chase you down."

Niko nods at that, with a quick grin. "Exactly." He shifts to rest his head against yours, with a soft, contented sigh. "'course, he could just order something evil. But it'd be worth it. Greggykins." He snorts back a laugh.

Elasia sighs softly in contentment, curling up a bit closer for warmth. "Besides, he can't inflict -too- much evil on you, even by order. You're all broken too."

Niko, being a guy, is inherently warmer. He eases an arm around you, murmuring, "Not -all- broken. There are bits of me that aren't, promise. Lots of 'em."

There's a pause at that, as Elasia struggles -not- to make the remark that she would have made a couple of weeks ago. But see, that was before all this, and this being that time period when such remarks can be taken vastly awry. SHe's also trying not to snicker, which she's managing with admirable restraint. "We'll just have to make an index or something of the safe parts."

Niko suggests, voice starting to get a bit drowsy, "We can use paint. Green for the safe parts, red for the unsafe parts. And yellow for the ones we're not sure about. It'd be festive."

That does get a giggle, there's no way Elasia can repress it. "We'd better not do that, love, Anya'd manage to get a picture somehow." She edges down to rest her head on your shoulder, gently brushing another kiss onto your neck as she does so. "Why don't you get some rest, hmm?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko shakes his head. "Want to be awake when Clara comms. I don't want to miss it. And Anya can get a picture. She's already got one of me covered in paint anyway. I don't mind."

Elasia hmms quietly, "I can always just wake you up when she does?"

Niko shakes his head. "S'okay. I'm not that sleepy. And if I fall asleep, it'll take me a while to get coherent again."

"If you're sure," Elasia sounds somewhat dubious, but then she's more than a bit drowsy as well. "But if she doesn't comm relatively soon, maybe just a small nap, hmm?"

Niko nods agreeably. "Okay, hon. A small one." Of course, as he's more sleepy than he's letting on, he's likely going to nap soon whether he likes it or not.

Elasia murmurs quiet acknowledgement, but does not speak beyond that, she simply stays curled up alongside you, being warm and comfortable and trying to think of ways to get you to drift off.

Niko nestles against you, as much as he can without actually moving from the flat-on-the-back position that seems to be required. "Love you," he murmurs. "Maybe just a little nap. You'll wake me if she comms?"

Elasia mmhmms softly, snaking a hand over you and carefully easing it over undamaged flesh. "I sure will, get some sleep. If you're this tired when she comms, she might not want you to visit."

Niko can't really argue with that. He lets his eyes close, murmuring, "Can't have that. Want to see Riley." He nuzzles against you, kissing your hair, then apparently drops off to sleep. Aww.

Elasia just lies there, with her arm gently around you, listening to the soft sounds of them room and trying not to disturb you. That and to stay awake to hear when Clara comms.

Niko sleeps. And he doesn't snore. After a bit of drowsing, he shifts closer to you, still clearly asleep. "Mine," he mumbles indistinctly.

Hello? Melting Pot? Elasia's well nigh unto ready to work there. With a repressed sniffle, as that half-awake mumble causes her to melt, Ela replies ever so softly. "Yours."

Niko is cuddled up to a fondue restaurant? Ouch. After that one word, he lapses fully into sleep, not even mumbling anything cute any more. Too bad.

[Time passes, but not much.]

Your communit crackles to life and blares "Niko? Niko, it's Clara. Do you have your comm on? If not, I'll comm Ela in sixty seconds, starting...mark." in Clara's voice.

Elasia notices the comm and gently attemots to rouse you, "Niko, Niko, Clara's calling."

Niko blinks a few times. "Whuh? Oh... Clara. Riley. Kay, thanks." He extracts himself from you, fumbling for his comm.

You say "M'here. Hi." Oh, yeah, he sounds alert. "Riley's awake?" into the communit.

Elasia's communit crackles to life and blares "... It's... I... comm... he... a... want... down... Riley?" in Clara's voice.

Your communit crackles to life and announces "Yeah, he is. You don't sound like you are, though. How're you feeling?" in Clara's voice.

You say "Okay. Just woke up. Gimme a minute. I'll sound better." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and says "*chuckle* Take your time, hmm? I need to run some lab work, but I'll leave word with the guard to let you and Ela in, if you like?" in Clara's voice.

You say "Sounds good, yeah." And he does sound more alert. "Thanks, Clara. I appreciate this a lot." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and says "Will do then. I'll catch you all later, and be back in a bit to check up on you as well. Aleron out." in Clara's voice.

Niko sets aside his comm-unit and rubs carefully at his eyes. "Mm. Guess I should get looking presentable, then."

Elasia edges from beneath the quilt, although not without a hint of reluctance. "Define presentable?" She cl,ibs from the bed, heading to the living area to unfold the wheelchair.

Niko carefully sits up, casting a look of distaste at the wheelchair. "I don't know," he says, with a crooked grin. "I just don't want Riley worrying or anything."

Elasia wheels the conveyance over to the edge of the bed, snagging her jacket on the way. "Everything will be fine. You were shot, he's hardly likely to expect you to look boot polished normal." He offers an arm by way of potential support should it be needed to get from the bed to the chair.

Niko looks for a moment like he's going to object to the use of the wheelchair, but then stands up on his own. "Good point," he murmurs, trying not to drop into the chair. "Besides, he'll probably be out of it, too."

Elasia snags a quilt, folding it and tucking it lightly over your legs. "Very likely," she agrees, as she moves to adjust all the wires and atatchments that need adjusting. "Everything will be fine. Just relax."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko's head bobs in a short nod. "Just fine," he agrees. "I'm relaxed," he adds, lifting his head to grin over his shoulder at you. "Maybe I can harass a maintenance person about pushing the walls back, while we're on the outside."

Elasia adjusts the last of the cords, then moving to provide the chair with motive power. She chuckles softly, "Or I can do it, while you're chatting." She reaches over to tousle your hair lightly before wheeling the chair towards, and out, the door.

[Travelspam deleted.]

Room S4

Evidently along one of the outer walls of the Complex, this room is bright an airy given the picture window overlooking the Pavilion, although the glass is polarized to be mirrored from the outside. Despite the window, the room is warmly comfortable, and furnished to match. The floor unfortunately is that unrelieved white tile, but covered in the center with a carpet of swirled shades of blue. In the center of the room is an oversized hospital bed, rails and monitors in place, but a double and long enough for an Edreeni. A rocking chair is in a far corner next to a vidscreen and a small table, opposite a dark brown easy chair that folds out to be slept on. The door to the necessary, immaculate and decorated in soothing sand colors, is in easy walking distance from the bed for the ease of the patient. Plants are scattered here and there to soften the effect of the room further, as well do quietly tasteful Chinese landscape silk screen prints on the walls.

Contents:

Elasia

Riley

Obvious exits:

Out

You come in from the Housing Hub.

Elasia wheels Niko in quietly, leaning down to murmur to him in Hellenic and turning to go.

Elasia whispers "I'll let the two of you alone, gimme a yell when you need to head up again. Don't stay too long and get overtired."

Niko flickers a fond smile to Ela, responding to her in Hellenic before turning to offer a tentative greeting to Riley, downshifting to Standard. "Heya."

You whisper "Of course, hon. I'll be good. Thanks." to Elasia.

Elasia leave the room.

Elasia has left.

Riley is still hooked up to all the pinging monitors and tubes and all. He has that befuzzed look that speaks of a swirl of drugs in his system, his bloodstream a veritable cocktail. "Hey' Nick," his speech is quiet, but his diction is clear unlike before. "Good to see you. Behaving up there?"

Niko makes a vague, soso kind of gesture. "Mostly, yeah. I haven't annoyed Ela too much yet, at least." He peers about the room. "Nice place you've got here. Sunny and all. That's good."

Riley actually gets a good look around for the first time, not having managed to do so before. "It is," he half-chuckles a bit ruefully, "Hadn't really noticed. I was just so thrilled to get out of short term. Folks kept wandering in and wandering through and being loud and all." He regards you at length, as best he can without moving too much. "Hell Nick, you look rough, like somebody'd shot you or something." There's a faint tone of teasing to the comment.

Niko grins rather crookedly at that. "It's not that bad. Speaking of looking rough, though..." He shakes his head, inquiring, "How y'feeling? Lots of drugs?"

"Kinda rough," Riley admits, "But better than I have any right to be feeling under the circumstances. Not that many drugs I guess, something for the pain, something for the coughing, whatever all it is I'm not about to complain. I got a taste of what it was like without it yesterday. Not an experience I'm in any hurry to repeat." He pauses a moment, almost nervous at how you're likely to take his next comment. "I uh, had Guido taken out of the AF ranks. Last night, soon as I was coherant enough to sign the papers legally."

Niko mulls that over for a moment or two. "Good," he says finally. "Very good. Can't be court-martialed now, can he?" That's clearly a point of some worry with him.

Niko also had a little self-preservation in mind, as he's fairly sure Guido wouldn't mind taking him down as well, Guido not being the only one on whom a 9080 could be pinned. "Yeah," he murmurs. "Just have to -find- him, now. Did you hear that Valentine and DeMario are hunting him? Valentine and DeMario. Sounds like some bizarre kind of law firm. Personal injury law, maybe.

"Yeah," Riley says quietly, his eyes sagging shut. "They came into short term, looking to ask questions and all. I guess they deemed me not coherant enough, and Clara wouldn't tell them where you were." There's a pause, "Someone will find him." Funny, he sounds as if he wishes they wouldn't.

Niko is quiet for a few moments, as if judging whether you're falling asleep or just resting your eyes. He carefully jockeys his wheelchair a bit closer, saying lightly, "It's necessary, Riley. He's not likely to come after either of us again, but... well, he's shown that he's dangerous, and that he's got really lousy judgement." He shakes his head a bit. "I just don't want him doing anything to anybody -else-."

Riley isn't really falling asleep, but he's drugged enough that he's not exactly awake either, hence the closed eyes. "I know, I know... Vital, important, all of that. It's still a bit of a shock though. That and I worry about having him cornered like this. Scared he'll be more dangerous. We need lock down gates on the Underground, like we have on the building." He semi-muses, meandering from one thought to the next, but at least they're related.

Niko nods affably at that. "Yeah," he agrees, meandering along with the segue, "It'd be nice. They'd not like it down there, though."

"No, they wouldn't," Riley agrees very quietly, "And th'Council would probably never agree to it. But I can try anyhow. That and ask for more folks. We needed backup, but folks were spread out so much that we were in trouble before they got headed down there."

Niko nods his agreement, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. "Yeah," he murmurs. "More people would've helped. But it's not likely that you're going to get them." He rubs lightly at his eyes, adding quietly, "Asking might not hurt, though."

Riley makes a quiet sound of rueful amusement that's not quite a chuckle, "Oh they never listen, but it's always something to try for. The guy had a bolter, we were outclassed and a half." He's quiet a moment, catching his breath. "Guess talking about work's pretty ridiculous though. Enjoying yourself upstairs?"

Niko nods at that, practically leaping on the topic change. "Yeah. As much as I can while confined to--" Okay, redirect. "Ela's taking good care of me. She keeps talking about feeding me. -Real- food. Hellenic cooking."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Riley is very slow right now, most of his energy is being used for breathing and remaining coherant, but even he catches that pause and edited comment. Kindly he doesn't say anything, he doesn't even smirk, but he does sound mildly amused as he replies, "Feeding you, eh? That's a good thing, the stuff you eat normally would make a cat laugh anyhow." His tone with the last is teasing, after all, who is he to pick on eating habits? "A taste of home then?"

Niko wrinkles his nose and mumbles something good-natured about a steady diet of chocolate and evil beverages in red cans. "A taste of home," he agrees. "You should try it sometime. Good stuff." He grins suddenly, adding, "You need to learn Hellenic, too, by the way."

Riley pauses a long moment, and then replies, in rather badly accented Hellenic, "Hello, can I speak to an operator that speaks Standard?" He pauses to snicker softly before reverting to Standard, "What, that's not enough? I think I can sort of remember how to ask where the spaceport is too. But I am never certain. I get the strangest looks." Probably because he's asking where the rabbit is, but hey, he's allowed not to know. "Why do I need to learn Hellenic?"

Niko manages not to wince too much at the accent. "Because you're part Hellenic," he says cheerfully. "That'll do for -now-, I guess. But you really do need to learn more." And, yes, he's joking. "Oh... speaking of, Clara used the oddest word the other day. I -think- it was Edrilac, but I'm not sure. I don't speak enough of it to tell."

"Well, I've plenty of spare time ahead of me," Riley murmurs, mostly to himself. He's having to fight the urge to ramble, as he's still rather sozzled. "Which word?"

Niko enunciates very carefully. "Nerf. I wouldn't ask, except that she and Ela were talking about hitting me with baseball bats and all, and I was a little disturbed."

And it's Riley's sozzled state that keeps him from remembering he knows what that means in standard, instead translating it into the suggested Edrilac. "They wanted to hit you wit an aroused cucumber?" There's another pause, "And how did the cucumber -get- aroused? It saw a squash with good gourds?" Oooh, yeah, he's a little tired.

Niko makes a decidedly odd, strangled choking noise that suggests he's keeping a laugh back by throttling it. "Ouch," he mumbles, likely at the joke. "Riley, that was awful. Clara's rubbing off on you. People've been shot for less than a pun like that." He pauses a beat, remembering that you -have- been shot. "Never mind."

Riley sort of snickers a moment, "Didn't mean to make too bad a pun, but it is a really weird thing for them to want to hit you...-ohhhh-..." Cluefullness hits, "Not nerf, nerf...I get it now."

Niko asks hopefully, "Enlighten me? Maybe? 'cause... well, aroused cucumbers are bad enough, let alone getting hit by one."

Riley stifles a vague coughing fit, quiet a moment while he regains composure and sets about breathing normally again. His reply is quiet when it at last occurs, "This foam stuff they make toys out of on Terra. Balls, swords, arrows, so nobody gets hurt."

Niko looks a bit concerned by the coughing. "Y'okay, there? And that makes more sense, getting hit with something foam. Much happier than food or wood or anything like that."

"Fine," Riley murmurs, "Clara explained it, I just don't remember what the explanation was. One of the drugs keeps it from happening mostly." He murmurs a sound of agreement, "Although in Edrilac it's -funnier- mind..."

Niko nods his agreement as well, a quick grin crossing his face. "Much. You'll have to tell Clara; she'll be amused." He pauses a beat, then says, "If you're tired, I can call Ela and head back upstairs. She told me not to stay too long."

"Hey, no, I'm okay. I'm afraid this is as coherant as I've been lately. Peesh help poor Clara trying to make sense of anything I said yesterday." Riley hauls open his eyes and straightens up, trying to look coherant and alert. "Although goodness knows, you don't look real awake either."

Niko is doing his best to look together as well, it's that whole macho thing. "Nah, I just took a nap before I came down here. Ela's been making me eat and sleep and listen to Clara," he adds, with an amused little grin. "I'm fine."

"Sounds like a good sort then, Ela." Riley offers a grin, "Eating, sleeping, and listening to Clara all being good and important things." That last is said a bit louder, then he drops back down to his quiet tone of before. "Just in case she has the room bugged."

Niko stifles another snicker. "Nah, she wouldn't do that. She can't hear us." She's not in the room, she's in medbay! "At least, I don't think so. Still don't know if she's keeping an eye on my monitors." He squints about the room, as if looking for some way that Clara could keep track of said monitors.

"Probably is," Riley says as his eyes sag shut again, "Or at least has an alert or someone watching. Clare doesn't seem the kind t'leave anything to chance really, eh?"

Niko nods his agreement to that, with a puzzled pause for 'Clare'. "She doesn't, no." He can't help but add, "They're not really necessary any more, though."

Riley doesn't notice the pause, or in fact much else in the way of expressional nuance. He's wavering between semi coherant and vaguely coherant, and neither state is much help. He doesn't move, so as to conserve energy for use in conversation. "You can try running that past her, but she's stubborn and all. Not that I blame her. We sort of dumped a mess in her lap."

Niko shakes his head. "'m not going to suggest it, no. I wouldn't blame her if she were still a little annoyed at me. And you're not even kidding about the mess." He shakes his head fractionally, again looking a little guilty. "Next time," he murmurs, very quietly, "I'll be quicker."

"Annoyed at you?" Riley questions softly, "Why's she mad?" There's another pause, "Quicker?"

Niko says vaguely, "I was being stupid, that's all." He grimaces a bit as you catch that last statement; clearly, that wasn't intended. With a determined little segue, he inquires, "Anya been to see you?"

"Stupid?" Riley's quite the echo, but then as tired as he is, it's an easy form of question asking. "She brought Guido's papers. And I think Clara said she was by. I don't remember it though. I was asleep I think."

Niko is experiencing selective hearing, apparently. "I'm sure she'll be back now that you're a little more yourself," he says lightly, leaning against the back of his chair.

Riley sighs very quietly with amused exasperation, "I swear, when I can get up I'm going to track down half a dozen people and just shake them. Keep saying things, but never wanting to explain, and half the time I don't even really know if I heard what I thought I heard." He chuckles again, "Revenge I guess, for all the times I made folks nuts."

Niko hunches his shoulders, looking decidedly sheepish at that. "Sorry, Riley. As annoyed as I was at Ela and Clara doing that to me, I should know better." He shakes his head, asking, "What do you want to know?"

Riley looks more than a bit relieved, "Why d'ya think Clara's annoyed at you?"

Niko still sounds rather sheepish, but now embarrassment colors his tone as well. "I was being obnoxious the other day, that's all." He pauses a moment, clearly debating whether or not to tell the rest, then says, "The burn... cut... whatever the heck you want to call it. The one on my abdomen, it got infected, and I didn't tell her. I didn't -know- that's what happened, mind. But Ela commed her upstairs to see me. And then I was sitting up when she told me not to." He pauses, then adds, with wry humor, "Of course, -that- was because she wasn't telling me things. I knew it'd make her listen, if only so she could tell me to stop."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

There's a pause as Riley sorts through and assimilates all of this information. "Oh." Click, twitch, whir, that's his brain trying to work. "Know how frustrating things can be. Still though, y'gotta listen to Clara. I don't want anything happenin' to you."

Niko nods agreeably to that. "I will. Promised Ela I would. Besides, she knows what she's talking about, and I don't know enough about doctoring or anything to even being to judge. Makes sense to listen to her.

"Good." This seems to be the extent of Riley's reply for a while, as he has to stifle another coughing fit. "What'd it have to do with being quicker though?"

Niko's brows lower a bit at the coughing. "Nothing," he says honestly. "Nothing at all."

Riley just looks confused, but he's not entirely sure if he heard you right the first time anyhow. Things are just a bit hazy and all. "Oh." There's a pause, "I think." There's another pause. "Sorry."

Niko looks a bit confused, too, now. "Huh?" he inquires. Brilliant man. "What? Why?" There's a pause as he collects himself. "Why're you sorry?"

"For being confusing, and confused, and for not waiting." Riley's reply is very quiet indeed, he's looking less and less coherant, but is trying to hang onto it with teeth and toenails.

Niko doesn't look enlightened by the response. He peers at you for a moment, then says lightly, "I should head back upstairs."

Riley mutters more or less to himself, "Should've waited..." Coherancy is going downhill fast, he'd held onto it far longer than it wanted to be held onto anyhow, and he's all but unconscious.

Niko carefully edges his wheelchair away from the bed, then fumbles with his comm-unit.

You say "Hon, I think I should be heading back upstairs." into the communit. [To Ela.]

Your communit crackles to life and blares "I'll be right there." in Elasia's voice.

Elasia comes in from the Housing Hub.

Elasia has arrived.

Elasia must not have been too far off, as it doesn't take her long to get here, paperwork in hand.

Niko says quietly, "I'll come see you again, Riley. Take it easy, huh?" He offers Ela a quick smile.

Riley is all but gone, but he manages a reply, "You too. Take care of him, eh?" This last is presumably directed to Ela, although it's hard to tell as Riley's pretty much out cold now, the quiet rasping of his breathing evening out.

Elasia replies, as it was presumably to her, "Of course." Quietly she snags the back of the chair, gently easing it out of the room.

Elasia leave the room.

Elasia has left.

You leave the room, pulling the door shut behind you.

[Travelspam deleted. The scene resumes in Ela's room.]

You say "Just to let you know, I'm headed back upstairs. Riley's asleep, looks like. I hope I didn't stay too long." into the communit. [To Clara.]

Elasia wheels the chair back over to the bed's side, navigating through the room's furniture. "There we go." She leans over to offer a hand once again.

Niko takes your hand with a murmur of thanks, getting carefully to his feet and easing back to the bed. "Whew," he murmurs, settling against the pillow. "It was good to see him, though."

Your communit crackles to life and blares "Hmm? Oh, thanks, Niko. I've nearly got his new meds done anyhow. How're you feeling?" in Clara's voice.

Elasia adjusts pillows and quilts, attempting to re-settle you into the nest of bedding. "That's good, love..." She offers you a grin, "Visiting's a good thing, you just hafta be careful not to tire yourself out too much."

You say "Tired, of course." And he sounds it, but there's a hint of humor to his tone. "It was good to see him." into the communit.

Niko nods his agreement to that. "Riley's likely to get tired a lot more quickly than I will, though." He closes his eyes, though he's obviously still awake. "Just moving and all. Got to get used to that again."

Your communit crackles to life and blares "Good...I'm glad you enjoyed it. You realize you and Ela are welcome to come visit at anytime, right? The guard has orders, but I trust y'all completely." in Clara's voice.

You say "Thanks, Clara. I really appreciate that. We'll be sure not to overdo it." into the communit.

Elasia tucks the blankets up around you before shedding her shoes and jacket and crawling into the nest of sorts with you. This time she had enough sense to make the arrangement with snuggling in mind. "Yeah, but not too much at once. One thing at a time. Don't want you to have any trouble."

Your communit crackles to life and says "No problem. And Niko? Put the heart rate monitor back on, please. It really should be a little higher than zero if you're talking to me." in Clara's voice.

Niko looks decidedly confused for a moment, and leans to peer at his monitor. "Not too much at once," he agrees, leaning over to kiss your cheek before reaching for his comm-unit once more.

You say "It doesn't say zero here. I'm not dead yet." A pause. "Hey, does that mean you can't see what it is?" into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and says "*pause* *sigh* No, wrong monitor. Sorry. A nice steady 67, which is a good thing. Okay, looks good to me. Give Ela my best and sleep or rest a bit, hey?" in Clara's voice.

Niko drats very quietly at whatever the message was. "Clara sends you her best," he murmurs, before lifting the comm-unit for one last message.

You say "I'm resting, and I did. I'm being good, Clara. Promise. Casymed out." into the communit.

Elasia looks a bit confused, a bit amused and chuckles softly as she curls in a bit closer. "I think you're due for another nap maybe?"

Niko nods his agreement with that. "Yeah," he murmurs, insinuating closer. "I'm tired. Again. Time to sleep. I'll be glad when I'm not tired all the time."

Elasia adjusts the quilts as best she can, "It just takes time, love. Just give it time."

Niko nods as he drifts off to sleep. "Time heals all wounds," he mumbles. "Night, hon. Love you."

"And I love you too, Niko, more than anything." She leans up to kiss you on the cheek before settling back down beside you to watch you sleep.

Niko obliges, and sleeps. And doesn't he look cute when he sleeps, too? Awwwww.

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