3/13/99

Niko lopes into the room, a box tucked under one arm. "Hiya, love. That last hour really dragged -horribly-."

Elasia looks up from her piles of paperwork, offering you a beamed grin of greeting. "Those last hours often do. How was your day?"

Niko drops off the box on a table and moves to claim a seat near you. "Not too bad. The puppy got a new ball, so we had to try it out--didn't even hit anybody with it." Reaching for the box, he starts to open it, adding thoughtfully, "Riley was a little weird. Probably more evil from Lexington or something. Got a box from Hellas, though," he adds, with a nod to the box in question.

Elasia lifts a stack of papers off the couch, so none of the sitting space is impeded. "Now that he's Chairman and all, yeah." She lifts her brows at the box, "Ooh, anything interesting?"

Niko agreeably shifts to the couch, balancing the box on his lap. "Well, let's see." The box is opened, and Niko snorts quietly as he sees the gray paper of the letter. "I swear, I'm going to strangle that child..." Said letter is put aside for later, and a carefully-wrapped parcel is removed. "Baklava," he decides. "Ships better than the cookies. And... huh, something for Riley. Wonder why they sent it here? Annnd, hey. Something for you." That something is a small wrapped package, which, when opened, turns out to be a wooden box, inside which are quite a few recipe cards, with room for more.

Elasia blinks several times, looking a bit startled, "For me?" She carefully unwraps the package and looks quite delighted. "Oh how wonderful, oh wow..."

Niko peers at the topmost recipe, and grins broadly. "We'll have to see if we can scrounge the stuff for that one--one of my favorites. I think it's Gigia's subtle way of reminding me that she told me to eat more." He dives into the box once more, and groans, though he still looks amused. The t-shirt is a vibrant, neon shade of hot pink, with an airbrushed picture of a pair of kittens. "If she thinks I'm going to -wear- this..."

Elasia flips through the various recipes, chuckling quietly. "She has impecable taste." This is in regards to the recipes rather than the shirts. The shirt gets a quiet laugh, "That really is -awful-..."

Niko holds the shirt against his chest, then shakes his head. "Horrible, unless you're two and female, in which case it'd be a little big. But that's Losi's idea of a joke. Aspasia or Cip must be giving her money to do this."

Elasia stifles a series of snickers, pulling a card from the box. "Some of the others have been -cute- though. That one's just scary."

Niko hmphs softly as he pulls the gray paper from its envelope. "It's the pink that makes it so horrible. And the kittens. But the others? Cute? I shouldn't be wearing clothing that's -cute-." He grins at you, before scanning the letter. "Everybody's fine, and they say hello. Cip wants to know if we want to adopt a three year-old boy. Losi wants to visit--so do Zoey and Aspasia. The older folks, on the other hand, want -us- to visit."

"All of that sounds good," Elasia pauses, "Except the three year old boy, I think we can pass on that just now."

Niko offers up a flat photo of the boy in question, apparently enclosed in the letter. He's with a girl of the same age, and looks rather like one might imagine Niko looked at the same age, though his hair isn't quite as insane. "He'd be a little too much, yeah. Really too cute, though. That's him and Syntyche, of course."

Elasia can't quite resist a soft awww. She has a biological clock after all. "Adorable indeed. But you imagine him and the Sectasslets together?"

Niko acks very quietly as he spares your clock and tucks away the picture. "That would be evil. He gets into more than enough trouble on his own." With a wicked grin, he adds, "He really had -fun- with the paints, though."

Elasia rolls her eyes at that, she can't help it. "Niko, you are an evil person and are lucky you are getting away with mere scary shirts after giving a three year old paint."

Niko admits, with a grin, "Stavros found it a lot less funny than, say, Losi did. But, see, that's part of being an uncle. At least I didn't give them the Sectassian rhythm set. Though I think Stavros would have come here and -hurt- me if I had."

And you would have -deserved- it." Elasia stifles another spate of laughter. "Giving children noisy toys is one thing, but paint? and drums??"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko points out, returning the shirt to the box, then dropping the box to the ground, "They're a really long way away. But, uh, you should be warned that all four of the sisters back on Hellas are likely to be very keen on doing their duty as aunts if -we- have kids. Losi promised she wouldn't send anything alive, but that's the only limit she's mentioned."

"-See-, hence why you ought to behave. Revenge will be enacted elsewise." Elasia shifts closer to you. "At this rate we're doomed."

Niko mumbles good-naturedly, as he moves closer as well and slips an arm around you, "We're already doomed. They're already going to be evil. We might as well have fun. 'sides, they don't have access to as much stuff--except Aspasia, as she doesn't live in Mathraki any more."

Elasia hmphs softly, amused. "I would not be saying such things if I were you. Of all people you should know sisters are to be feared."

Niko lifts a finger. "But you don't have any brothers, do you? -Brothers-," he adds, with emphasis, "Can be -really- evil."

Elasia regards you in obvious disbelief, "Uh-huh, yeah, see me believing you?"

Niko waggles that finger towards you, then lightly pokes at your ribs. "O ye of little faith, I can't demonstrate, as I'm not--thank goodness--your brother, but I could ask Riley if he'd volunteer..."

Elasia squirms at the poke, laughing softly. "Riley? Be evil? Somehow I do not think we will see this occuring."

Niko grins and tugs you gently in the general direction of his lap. Had to happen sometime. "Maybe you're right. We're all mature enough that we're past that, now, after all." No, don't laugh.

Elasia is more than content slide into your lap, snuggling in close. She does laugh however. "That was not quite what I was thinking."

Niko's arms curl around you, and he kisses your temple before inquiring, with a grin, "So what -were- you thinking? Or is that something I'd be better off not asking?"

Elasia shifts to rest her head against your shoulder. "Simply that he tends to be awfully formal, yes? Hence not very evil it would seem."

Niko nods, after a brief moment of consideration. "Yeah. But he's got his moments--like when he threw the pudding at me. I'd say," he adds, with a grin, "That that was pretty informal."

Elasia chokes on a snicker, nodding. "And appreciated too. I -like- butterscotch."

Niko blinks several times. "You -do-?" he inquires, tone patently false. "Wow. I didn't know -that-. I'll have to get something butterscotch for you, then."

See, there's a problem. Elasia's sitting on you, you can't get away. So tickling is made terribly easy, "Goof."

Niko makes a rather undignified squawking sound as he attempts to stifle his laughter. "Hey! Them's fightin' words!" He makes his best attempt to get away from the tickling, though said best attempt isn't very successful as, as was mentioned, he's got an Ela in his lap.

Elasia continues tickling for a moment before being kind and instead reaching to hug you. "My goof however."

Niko apparently thinks that trading the tickling for a hug is a good deal, as he returns in kind. "Your goof," he agrees. "Nobody else'd put up with me."

Elasia hmphs softly, "I don't know about -that-. I'm just lucky I snagged you."

Niko suggests, giving you a gentle squeeze, "It was kind of a mutual luckiness, I think. But, really," he adds, "I think that a lot of other people would've kicked me out, back when I was getting over the plasma burns and all. But you didn't."

Elasia shakes her head slightly, "But I love you, very much so. I'd never run you out, no matter what."

Niko pauses a beat at that, then offers a kiss as a silent thankyou. Amazing what you can say without talking. "I'm glad," he says, with a smile that reflects that gladness. "I love you, too, after all. I think I'll stick with not annoying you, though. That seems safer."

Elasia chuckles quietly, "You're never annoying, love. Many things, but not annoying. I very much enjoy having you around."

Niko blinks. "Never? Hey," he quips, "Can I get that in writing, to show my sisters?" With a roguish grin, he adds, "And I enjoy being around. Hey! Just remembered, what do you want to do for your birthday?"

Niko is not the king of segues.

Obviously not, as Ela seems a bit startled by the question. She shakes her head, "Uh, I'd not thought about it I'm afraid." She glances at her comm unit, checking the date presumably. "Things have been so busy lately."

Niko nods his agreement to that, with a wry grin. "Chaos and busy-ness, yeah. But you'll be able to take a couple hours on your -birthday-, right? I've got that evening off. We could go out, or stay in, or whatever you like." Yes, he's evil. He's making you decide.

Elasia makes a quietly acked noise, which seems to imply she realizes just how evil you are. "I'll have to see about the time off. I didn't think to ask, I didn't think it would come up you see."

Niko blinks at that. "Well... if you don't -want- to do anything, we don't have to, of course, I just assumed you'd want to."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Elasia looks rather sheepish, "It's not that I don't want to, it's just I hadn't thought about it. Until you'd pointed it out, I hadn't even rememebered it was up shortly."

Niko shakes his head at that, fingers rubbing lightly against your back. "You've been working too hard, hon, if you forgot -that-. Makes it tempting to steal you away somewhere for a while, except we'd both come back to a lot of trouble if I did."

Elasia sighs in quiet contentment. "It sounds like a terribly lovely idea actually. But your schedule's even trickier than mine, yes?"

Niko nods an affirmative to that, then pauses. "Well, which shift I work each day is kind of flexible, but I wouldn't be able to take off for longer than a couple hours. Everything's still weird, with Lexington and all."

Elasia nods to that, "I can get more time off at a time, I just have to do the work before or after is all. Unless something's time specific. But it's the same thing with us. With the new Chairman, things are a little hectic."

Niko shakes his head very slowly. "Interregnum," he decides, "is looking more and more appealing." He mumbles something about the Underground and taking out a hit on Lexington, but it's a halfhearted suggestion.

"But in a few days it'll all settle down, hopefully." Elasia shakes her head, "If it had been -anybody- else..."

Niko nods his agreement, with a quietly derogatory sniff. "I just hope he keeps on with stuff like the renovations. Sure, it's inconvenient, but it seems like he could do a lot -worse- if he wanted.

Elasia nods emphaticly, "Very much so, he has an obscene amount of power now. Hopefully he won't last more than a term."

Niko nods as well, fingers still tracing gently along your back. Their pressure is not hard enough to count as rubbing or scratching, just enough to make their presence known. "Well," he says slowly, "He seems to have annoyed all the Edreeni, and the other taller delegates. That'll help in not getting him elected again, yeah?"

Elasia's eyes sink shut, more than content to be in your arms. "And the Zaeltans...all that -dust-... It should be a trick indeed."

"Good." Niko isn't pleased at all, he just sounds that way. Really. "Be nicer if he'd not been elected in the first place, but that's almost as good. If we can just get through -this- term..."

Elasia nods thoughtfully, one hand tracing up your chest to rest there. "If y'all all just lay low for a bit, maybe it can be snuck through."

Niko nods firmly at that. "Far as I can tell, most of the folks in Security seem to think that's the way to go, yeah. Excepting Kath, who seems to enjoy life on the edge." He snorts softly, then adds, "I'm definitely going to try to avoid attracting attention, though. Already got enough of that."

"Kath is...Kath. Speaking of Kath, has anything been heard about her and Shan?" Elasia nods, "Sounds like a good idea, love. Keeping a low profile, waiting until this is over."

Niko is vague. "I've not stood a shift with either of them recently. Shan came in as I was leaving this evening, though, and he -looked- happy enough."

"Which means little of course," Elasia says with a quiet chuckle, not shifting from her comfortable position. "Shan's always on stage."

Niko nods his agreement to that. "Probably why it's taken Kathlyn so long to pick up on stuff. I mean, I know I'm not the most clueful person, but -I- sure didn't know he really did have a thing for her."

"I probably see him more than you do," Elasia offers by way of explanation. "Seeing as he's usually stationed down near the embassies."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko nods his agreement to that. "Should ask him to switch with me," he says, with a grin, "Only I'd likely be too distracting. Or distracted. Or something."

Elasia chuckles softly, "And likely you'd be driven nuts as well. That many fluffies in one place?"

Niko considers that for a moment, then shrugs. "You're not all bad, of course. Just the ones that are -really- make up for the rest."

Elasia toys idly with one of the buttons on your jacket. "I think that's true for just about any group. Diplomats are just noisier in their annoyingness."

Niko notes the button-toying and inquires, "Want me to get rid of that? If the buttons are in the way and all, I can." And the scary thing is that he's serious in his reasons for taking off the jacket. "And you're right, of course. Y'all can be scary," he adds, with a grin.

Elasia grins up at you, "If you'd like to take it off, sure. I'm just fiddling though. Enjoying the fact that you're this close." She chuckles, "Boo?"

Niko eeks quietly, then considers his jacket for a moment. "Nah. You'd have to move, and I like you where you are. I can take it off later, when it's bedtime and all."

Elasia mmmms quietly in agreement, "Moving would certainly be bad. You're terribly comfortable and I'm still making up for years of wishing to be exactly where I am now."

Niko's smile at that is still a bit sheepish. "Well... now you've got years to be here, right? I mean... not constantly, of course; nice as that'd be, it might make work tough on both of us."

Elasia stifles a laugh, "Years and years and years. But I did an awful -lot- of wishing. So there'll be plenty of making up to do. Very pleasant."

Niko grins at that, then considers for a moment. "I don't know, though. We almost ended up like this, that one evening when we all squeezed into Mira's room to watch holos, what with the lack of seating and all. If I'd not had to leave to study for that exam..."

Elasia sighs softly at the memory, looking pleased. "A very fine night that was indeed. Well, up until you left of course, but -still-..."

Niko's grin turns rather crooked. "I thought it was fun, too, yeah. I -really- didn't want to leave, too; if it hadn't been quantum chem, I would've stayed." With a muffled snicker, he adds, "Now, I'd really like to see the reactions of some of the folks from Evinast when they hear we're getting married. Mira said we should get together." There's a brief pause, then he asks, "She didn't know that's what you wanted, did she?"

Elasia laugsh quietly, "I think a lot of people probably knew, Niko. Not that I told, but it seemed to be pretty well understood."

Niko blinks at that. "And nobody told -me-? Huh. Blindness on my part, I guess--not looking in the right places."

Elasia settles her head down against your shoulder again. "I'm not surprised nobody mentioned it, it's hardly an easy conversation to begin."

Niko mumbles, "Oh, by the way, Nick..." He muffles a laugh, then, nodding. "Yeah. Mira probably did about as much as anybody could. I never thought she was -serious-, though."

"All for the best," Elasia points out, "Considering the situation with us both moving on..."

Niko nods to that, leaning around to kiss your cheek. "I know," he murmurs. "It was the right thing to do. Just... hindsight and all. If I'd known then what I know now..."

"Everything turned out all right though," Elasia murmurs, "You and me, together, here... and engaged and all..."

Niko beams at that. "Married," he intones. "That'll be great--then you'll be mine officially, forever and ever."

Elasia nods in emphatic delight, "And then they -can't- make us move all over and apart from each other."

Niko nods as well, arms tightening around you for a moment. His. "No way. But even now, that'd be kind of tough. I'm not going to ask for a transfer, after all, unless you get moved somewhere else. And Riley could probably help me out, if some Powers that Be wanted me somewhere else."

Elasia nods at that, quite content indeed to be yours. "Still, I know it's silly, but I was worried before."

Niko nods to that, though his smile is reassuring. "You're allowed to worry, a'course. Just not -too- much. Besides, it's okay now, right?"

Elasia nods, offering you a smile in return. "Yeah, it is. Everything will be perfect. And I'm not overworried anymore. I wasn't worried either of us would be tranferred soon, but years down the line and all..."

Niko reaches up to brush lightly at your hair with his fingertips. "Won't have to worry about that, though. So this whole marriage thing will be practical, too."

Elasia doesn't bother to stifle a soft laugh, "'Hearts will not be practical until they make one that cannot be broken.' Well now we can prove the old man different."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko grins at that. "If anybody could," he decides, "It'd be us." He grins, then, adding, "I was told today, by the way, that we're disgustingly sweet. Talk about a compliment."

Elasia grins up at that, obviously pleased. "It's good to know we're improving the sugar content of the world to the point of causing pain to passerby. Who so informed you?"

Niko, expression decidedly amused, supplies, "Kaycen. He saw us out skating the other day, though he didn't actually say it til today, of course. He wouldn't've interrupted."

"Speaking of people we ought to pair up," Elasia murmurs. "He needs somebody to tak care of him, he's always taking care of everybody else after all."

Niko considers that for a moment. "I don't know. I mean, if you know of anybody that might work... but he seems really, I don't know, self-sufficient. Like he doesn't really -need- anybody."

"But those are the types that need somebody the most," Okay, Ela's been watching Oprah too much maybe. Or perhaps she's just a romantic at heart.

Niko, after a moment of pondering, decides, "I'll leave the matchmaking to you, maybe? It's not really one of my strong points. I mean, if you want me to introduce him to somebody, sure, I can do that." He pauses. "Maybe Corian, though he's kind of old for her."

"How old is Kaycen," Elasia asks thoughtfully.

Niko's eyes squint as he tries to remember. "Uh... early forties. He's five or six years older than Riley, I think."

Elasia ahhs softly, still looking thoughtful. "Well, it bears keeping an eye out for. He seems rather lonely. Maybe he needs a cat instead."

Niko, with a gesture towards the letter from his family, offers impishly, "Or a three year-old boy?" Expression going serious, he nods. "You're right, though. He doesn't do a lot outside work, for that matter--I had to talk fast to get him to go to the rec facility with me." He shakes his head. "Of course, -that- worked out really well."

Elasia chokes back a snicker, "-Not- a three year old boy." She shakes her head, "Ah well, still, it was a good idea at the time." She muses a while, "Or a ferret."

Niko's bushy brows arch sharply at that. "You trying to drive him crazy, hon?" he inquires, with a grin. "Ferrets are evil, sneaky critters."

"But they're cute, and take time and all. Something for him to -do-." Elasia pauses to consider, "Although a cat might be better. To curl up in his lap and all."

Niko inquires curiously, "Why not a dog? He likes Pen, I think--takes him out to play sometimes, though not as often as some of the others."

"Dogs need more..well time. If things get chaotic a cat can handle itself without company a bit more than a dog." Elasia muses, thinking aloud more than answering.

Niko mumbles, "Oh, nothing ever gets chaotic -here-." With a faint grin, he nods. "You're right. I think maybe you fall into the Anya category, where that's concerned. But what if Kayce doesn't -want- a pet or a woman or a three year-old boy--though why -everybody- doesn't want a three year-old boy..."

Elasia considers this a long moment, "That would be bad, yes. Still though, he seems so alone."

Niko nods his agreement to that. "He does. He keeps an eye on us all, but then we all go off to our own lives. Be nice if he had something for himself."

Elasia nods, thoughtful but content and a hair drowsy. "It would be, something to keep an eye out for."

Niko's head bobs in another brief nod. "Sure. We can keep an eye out. And I'll ask him if he likes cats, or something."

Elasia grins at that, "Do would you? I can get two birds with one stone if he does. I told Dania I'd help her look for people who wanted a kitten."

Niko ahas very quietly. "The ulterior motive comes clear," he teases gently. "But I'll ask him, sure. If he doesn't, like as not somebody else in Security will. Maybe Kath, or Shan... though I don't think I'll ask Anya, with Addie and all."

"She's only got a couple, it's not a big deal. But well, I think Kaycen could love one." Elasia explains.

Niko nods his agreement to that. "Kayce is a good guy. If he likes cats, that'd likely work out really well."

Elasia mmhmms, drowsily comfortable. "One of those potentially perfect matchups. That and it cures me of the desire hopefully, the one to try and swipe one of said kittens."

Niko blinks at that. "You want a cat, hon?" he inquires, sounding a bit thoughtful. "We could do that, I guess."

Elasia shakes her head at that, chuckling. "That's okay, love. I haven't had a cat since I still lived at home with Mom and Dad. I can continue to manage quite well without."

Niko shakes his head. "If you'd -like- a cat," he murmurs, a hint of a yawn in his tone, "We could get one. I like cats, as long as they don't randomly decide I'm a scratching post."

Elasia stifles a less hint-like yawn. "Sleepy?" She shakes her head, "That's okay love." There's a hint of wistfulness in her tone however.

Niko mumbles a vague agreement, then nods. "Sleepy, yeah. I was up early this morning--trying to get in the habit of exercising every day again, now that my work schedule is back to sanity."

Elasia slides off your lap with drowsy grace, offering a hand up. "Want to curl up in bed then?"

Niko takes the precaution of tugging off his jacket first--buttons in bed, however, are bad. "That sounds like heaven," he says, with a smile, getting up and taking your hand. "Bed, you... doesn't get any better than that." Well, no, there's the addition of butterscotch...

Elasia heads towards the bed, releasing your hand to rummage in the closet. She changes into an oversized t-shirt, moving to crawl into the bed. "Nice and warm and cozy, it sounds perfect."

Niko, after a moment to exchange the rest of his uniform for something more comfortable, follows you into bed. "Perfect," he echoes softly, curling up next to you. "Best thing in the world, being here. Love you."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Elasia snuggles up close to you beneath the blankets, murmuring a drowsy agreement. "And I love you too. Very much in fact. My goof."

Niko grins brightly at that. "Your goof. Sleep well, ladylove."

"You too," Elasia murmurs sleepily, "You too." And at that she settles in.

Niko leans over to claim a quick kiss, then settles against his pillow, drifting off to sleep fairly quickly. Even though he doesn't have a massively oversized gun, he can go to sleep.

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