3/10/99

Niko traipses into the room, a skate in each hand. "No major injuries," he announces, by way of greeting. He heads over to drop the skates in the closet. "No minor ones, either. I'm getting better, I think."

Elasia has obviously been out and returned as well, as she's writing a letter while eating a butterscotch cupcake. "Better enough to set about teaching me how?" There's a grin, "Hello love."

Niko looks decidedly thrilled at that suggestion. "You want to learn?" he inquires. "It'd really be a lot more fun if you were there. Skating alone is kind of boring, unless I try to do things that would likely get me killed if I messed 'em up. So most of the time it's boring." He settles to a seat near you, with a quick grin.

Elasia stifles a snicker, "That 'most of the time' should worry me, yes?" She nods amiably, "It certainly would make errand running easier. And spending time with you is always something to be desired."

Niko's expression is one of practised innocence, and then he grins. "I have to try new things -sometimes-, hon. I mean, I can't really take the time to go hang-gliding--even if I had a glider--so I have to do -something-." Ooh, bungie-jumping from the elevator lounges... "But if you come, too, then you can keep me from doing anything -too- stupid. Maybe we could go get the skates tomorrow?" Aw, he really is cute when he's eager.

Elasia can't resist a resigned sigh and a headshake, "Niko, I swear you must have been dropped when you were born and caught at the last minute. And you've been trying to replicate the effect ever since." She nods, "After session? Will you be on duty then?"

Niko mumbles something about trying that with his sister's kids, though he's clearly not serious. After a moment of squinted thought, he shakes his head. "I'm on early tomorrow, so I should be out by the time you're finished, unless something bizarre happens."

Elasia nods cheerfully, "It's a date then. We'll see if they have something that'll work for me."

Niko looks like a kid on Christmas morning, leaning closer to snag a delighted kiss. "Great. This'll be a blast." Of course, as he ends up closer to you, he figures he might as well stay there, though he's polite and doesn't snoop over the letter. That cupcake, however, gets a brief look.

Elasia notes the look and looks from the cupcake to you, to the cupcake, to you again. And then, "Would you like a bite?" -That's- true love.

Niko apparently knows what he's being offered, and blinks, then shakes his head. "S'okay, love. I was just wondering if you were enjoying it. Should we maybe snag some more when we go to get your skates?"

Elasia instead swipes a measure of icing off the pastry with one finger. "More cupcakes cannot hurt." Then she inflicts the icing on your neck and carefully kisses it off. Sharing is fun. Hello? Devious look?

A slow grin crosses Niko's face at that. "If you eat them all like that, we should definitely get more cupcakes. Couple dozen, at least." Sharing is a goodness, a growing-closer. It beats the hell out of card games.

Elasia laughs brightly at that, taking another bite of her cupcake. "They're wonderful things, sweet without being too much so, with a good icing."

Niko nods his agreement, brows twitching briefly. "Wonderful icing." He mumbles something about getting just icing from the bakery, then coughs, drumming his fingers on the nearest convenient surface--unless, of course, said surface is you. That, after all, would be kinda rude.

Elasia just flashes you another impish grin, finishing off the pastry with obvious relish. Not the green kind. "Have fun skating?"

Niko nods cheerfully. "Sure did. It was good to get out and about for a bit--nice to have enough time to be able to do that. 'course, there were a few kids there, too--a million times better than I was, natch. But I was bigger. I could loom."

"You're a very talented loomer, yes dear." Elasia grins, "And you really seem to have learned quickly as well. You'll just have to be careful in the halls soon."

Niko grins at the praise, but shakes his head fractionally. "I, uh, think I might stick to skating outside of the Complex for a while yet, at least til we get an idea of how obnoxious Lexington's going to be. Kind of hard to watch my step if I'm on skates, after all."

Elasia nods and gestures to a datapad with one toe, "Not to mention they're announcing all kinds of construction stuffs. This place will be a hazard zone soon."

Niko's brows lift. "Construction? What's up? We're not falling apart here, are we?"

Elasia shakes her head, carefully licking the icing from her fingers. She really likes these cupcake things. "Uh, redecoration. It's scary."

Those brows lift further. "Courtesy of our new Chairman? Lovely." He rolls his eyes, resisting the urge to assist in that icing-removal. Of course, he does look distracted by that thought for a moment. "Uh, what's he going to do?"

Elasia just leans over to scoop up the pad and offer it to you. "Learning to duck will be important." There's a pause, "For us both for that matter."

Niko makes an exasperated little noise as he skims the information. "That's just petty. I wasn't expecting anything different, but I thought maybe he'd wait a little longer. The--" Ooh, bet you didn't know -that- about Lexington. Or his mother. Or lime-green jello.

Elasia's brows lift up in an amused expression. She chokes back a snicker, "Niko, I don't think that last bit's anatomically possible, love."

Niko sprawls back in his seat, expression holding irritation and sheepishness and maybe a little amusement. "Sorry, hon. I wouldn't put it past him, though." He mumbles another choice phrase. He really can't help himself.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Elasia curls up against you, snuggling in an attempt to be consoling. "Nor would I, but then nor would much of anybody. Exactly how he got all those votes... I'd heard rumblings, but that was wild."

Niko has a somewhat more difficult time being annoyed with you snuggling against him. Slipping an arm around you, he inquires, attention caught by that last phrase, "Think he rigged it?"

Elasia nods, there's no question. It's a simple emphatic nod. "He must have been currying favor and setting up folks for weeks, months even."

Niko takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, with a small shake of his head. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised by that," he mutters. "Politics. That sort of thing. But it still seems wrong."

Elasia nods after a pause, "It is wrong, terribly so. But sometimes folks get away with it."

Niko gives you a gentle squeeze. "Is there anything we can do?" Impeach him! (Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar?)

Elasia considers this a moment, but just shakes her head. "Not really, currying favor isn't precisely -illegal- after all."

Niko exhales a sigh that holds a note of exasperation. "Should be," he decides. "By all that's holy... if he's starting something as petty as that 'redecoration' -now-, imagine what he'll have this time next week." He shakes his head slowly back and forth. "Not going to be any fun at all."

Elasia sighs softly, shaking her head. "No way of knowing, and no point to worrying over it just now. It's time to relax. Maybe curl up and get some sleep?"

Niko shakes his head, though his smile is half-apology. "Not sleepy. I'm sorry, hon. If you want to get some rest, though, go ahead."

Elasia pauses, but she shakes her head. "Nah, I don't get enough time to spend with you as it is, I'll just stay right here."

Niko doesn't seem to mind that, as he shifts somewhat closer to you. "Good," he decides. "And I'll be around more, of course, now that all the new folks are standing shifts and all. Assuming Lexington doesn't mess -that- up, too."

Elasia does however snuggle into a comfortable position and close her eyes. "I wouldn't think he would, he'll probably be busy moving and redecorating and having people pay attention to him."

Niko drops a kiss on the top of your head, nodding his agreement. "Hope so. That would make life a little easier, not having to stand extra shifts. It was necessary, but it got old pretty quickly. Rather be with you."

"And I'd rather have you here," Elasia agrees quietly, her words quiet. "There's nothing quite as nice as a Niko of one's own."

[Simple ate a pose.]

Elasia notes the yawn, asking quietly, "Not sleepy?" She mmhmms, "Forever and ever."

Niko says, after a moment, "Maybe a -little- sleepy. Enough to go to bed, even if not to sleep right now."

Elasia hugs you close a moment before climbing from the couch. "Bed sounds nice. Warm, comfortable, a nice place to relax."

Niko nods, a fond smile crossing his face as he, too, gets to his feet. There's a stretch, and then he tugs off boots and other things that, unlike him, don't belong in the bed. "You've got a way with words, love," he observes, a quick grin crossing his face.

Elasia rummages in the closet for pajamas. They have ducks on them. Does this surprise you? Ela is a fluffy after all. She changes into them quickly before climbing into the bed with a sigh of relief. "Ooh, nice bed."

Niko's own bedwear consists of battered AF sweatshorts and yet another of the T-shirts that surely must be a gift from a sister. As this particular one has small-child handprints all over it, it's likely that the sister with the spawnlings gave this shirt. "Very nice," Niko agrees, burrowing under the covers, then shifting to offer himself up as a pillow. He's cool that way. Or, rather, he's warm that way. Personal heater and all. "Much better than the one in my old place."

Elasia curls up to you with alacrity, proving that the duckie pajamas are also soft and fuzzy. She likes Niko-pillows. "We probably ought to re-arrange it some, now that you're here all the time. Bring your pictures up and such. The place, not the bed."

Niko doesn't ask who alacrity is, and what (s)he is doing in the bed with us, but instead nods. "Pictures--yeah, good idea. Only got the three of them. The rest're in the album, and that's..." He pauses. "Somewhere. I remember you brought it up here."

Elasia gestures to a low bookshelf off in a corner, "Over there. I put it up when Ansil came up to discuss treaty differences. He's a nosy old guy, I didn't think you'd appreciate him pawing through your pictures."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko nods his agreement to that, absently wrapping an arm around you. "Good thought, hon. Losi put some really obnoxious pictures in there. I'd rather keep track of who's seen 'em. Thanks."

Elasia curls into the arm, relaxing pretty quickly. "Obnoxious is good though. Losi needs commendation."

Niko shakes his head. "I'm really doomed when I get all you women in the same room, aren't I? Maybe I'll just find some room and hide there with Dad and Stavros and Sochos. And lock the door." Of course, he sounds more amused than anything else.

Elasia laughs sleepily, although she still sounds mostly awake. "Lock yourself into a room with Stavros and Sochos? Of your own free will?"

Niko mumbles, "Sochos is okay. Just got a lot of energy, like I did when I was a kid. And Stavros is just stuffy. Or maybe Dad and I will go fishing. That sounds good. And you women can say scary things and plan evil things to do to me, only I'll be somewhere else and safe and won't have to wear whatever scary shirts Losi finds and that'll be really good." He finally does get a handle on that disturbing run-on sentence, adding, "Just not -pink-."

Elasia seems a bit confused, do you blame her? "Pink?"

Niko nods, with a muffled yawn. "What happens when you mix red and white? Losi thinks I look good in pink. My sister," he adds, with feeling, "is evil."

Elasia laughs again, this one more sleepy than the last. She and the ducks seem to have found a nice position as she does not budge. Maybe her parents bought these pajamas. They're scary. "Evil is a key thing in sisters. Both of mine are."

Niko muffes a massive yawn. "Yeah. You've only got two. I've got..." He mumbles numbers under his breath, "Seven. More'n three times the evil. Even if only five're related to me."

Elasia hmphs softly in amusement. "I don't think I'll take anymore. Two are bad enough. I'll just conspire with yours. Much nicer."

Niko shakes his head, manner one of drowsy resignation. "Kay, love. As long as you don't make me wear pink, you can conspire all y'want. Even got a sister here for you t'conspire with. Though Corian might not. She seems too nice."

"No pink." Elasia agrees. She's gonna like those kilts though. "I'll hafta' ask her if she's too nice." Yep, Ela's sleepy.

Niko shifts enough to claim a kiss, and mumbles, "Sleep, hon. It's morning, might as well sleep. Love you. Sleep well."

Elasia returns the kiss with the fumbled care of the tired. "Sorry love, tired. Sweet dreams."

Niko mumbles something about sleep being a good idea for the tired, his own eyes closing. "Don't have to apologize. Just sleep."

Elasia does just that, sleeping quite effectively. Her ducks however are wide awake and peering about in a duckly fashion.

Niko would guess that sewing the ducks' eyes closed is right out, so he just goes to sleep. Or, at least, he tries. -You- ever try to sleep when that many ducks are watching you?

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