3/14/99

[Earlier, there were quick coming and going poses from Riley.]

There's an odd choked noise from Anya's desk as she peers at her terminal in some confusion. "Transferred?" She sounds rather puzzled.

Niko looks over from his own paperwork. "Hmm?" he inquires vaguely, gears still turning in an attempt to remember that evil query rate number. Someday he'll just memorize them.

Anya taps at her machine, "I didn't know Clara'd been transferred. Orders came up in the daily business, her shuttle leaves..." There's a pause as she checks the time, "Left rather, half an hour ago."

Niko blinks several times. "What?" There are a few more blinks, and then he repeats, "Transferred? Half an -hour- ago?" And there we have the Casymed Recap. He peers towards Riley's door, then back to Anya. "Where? Why?" We've got who and when, and he'd already asked what.

Anya tappity tap taps away at the machine a while further. "Why I can't seem to pull up, though it doesn't appear to be voluntary from all the protests logged from various sources. Some research station. For three years..." Niko's look towards Riley's door gets echoed, then she turns back to the terminal.

Niko frowns more than a little, turning to tap at his own machine. Nope, amazingly enough, he can't figure out why, either. "That's really -wrong-," he mutters.

Anya nods emphaticly to that, leaning back away from her machine. "I think you have the right of it. Altogether not right."

Niko's frown deepens and he keys to print his screen, before leaning so that he can see Anya. "D'you know -who- ordered it, at least?"

Anya shakes her head, "The Chief signed the orders, but he didn't assign them if you see the difference? It doesn't say anywhere."

Niko rakes a hand through his hair, sending it into frightening disarray. He nods about the aforementioned difference. "The transfer had to start -somewhere-," he mutters. "-Riley- sure wouldn't've done it. Not from these protests."

Anya taps lightly with a pencil at the edge of her desk. "I'd lay money on who did it, but finding -proof-?"

Niko pauses a moment, then... -ding-. The clue-brick is almost an audible thing. "Of course," he mutters, half a growl. "Should've known he wouldn't stop at redecorating."

Anya nods, tapping in something into her terminal. "It certainly does seem less than coincidental that he becomes Chairman, and Clara's transferred."

Niko just shakes his head. Settling back to his terminal, he mutters a few choice phrases about Lexington's ancestry--and his fondness for sheep.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Kyara arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Kyara has arrived.

Niko is very involved in whatever it is he's doing on his terminal. And he looks rather snarly today, too.

Anya's looking less than thrilled, but more thoughtful than snarly.

Kyara takes in the various expressions as she heads toward her desk, and after a moment clears her throat. "Good afternoon?"

Niko looks over and offers a rather brusque nod. He's definitely more snarly than thoughtful, though he's rather thoughtful as well. "Afternoon." He turns back to his work. Chatty today, isn't he?

Anya nods over to Kyara, "Afternoon." She adds a question, "Did -you- know Clara was being transferred?"

Kyara pulls a sheaf of papers out of her desk, and pauses to boggle at Anya. "Say /what/?!?"

Anya just hrrms softly, "That would seem to be a no."

Niko sniffs quietly--it's an annoyed sniff. "Looks like it, yeah." Type type. Mutter. Type. Grumble. Type.

Kyara nods, stunned. "Yeah, it's a no... what... why..."

Anya hmms thoughtfully, "About two hours ago, she left for some research outpost. Three years."

Niko grumbles some more. And mutters. And grouses. And types.

Kyara's jaw drops. "She's gone? Just like that? But she didn't even say... but Riley..." Suddenly her expression hardens, and mutters ensue involving Lexington and a speculum.

Niko looks over with a decidedly bleak expression. "Riley knew. I don't think anybody else did. Maybe some of the folks in medbay."

Anya just nods, "I'm pretty sure he knew, yeah. The way he's been the past couple days." She shakes her head, "This is just..."

Kyara clamps her mouth shut, stabbing at her keyboard viciously, glancing up once to nod at Anya. "It just stinks." Succinct.

Niko nods firmly to that, turning back to his work. "It isn't right."

Kyara shakes her head. "This is just getting to be too much. Anybody could see it's outright harrassment. At least I don't think it could get any worse."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko carefully doesn't comment to that for a moment or two. "It's only the beginning of his term," he murmurs.

Kyara nods slightly. TAP. TAP. TAP. TAP. "Yeah," she lowers her voice instinctively, "But what could be worse for Riley than Clara gone?"

Niko mutters something about Lexington being able to think of something.

Kyara winces. "Don't /say/ that. Gotta think positive." Her worried expression belies her own words.

Niko nods his agreement. "Think positive. Sure." He doesn't sound even remotely positive, though.

Kyara yeahs quietly. After a long bit of silence, she asks quietly, "How's he holding up?"

Niko shakes his head. "He hasn't exactly stayed around to chat, when he's passed through. Can't say as I blame him. -I- wouldn't want to deal with anybody..."

Kyara nods her agreement. "Yeah." She glances upward briefly. "Wish there was something we could do."

Niko murmurs, mostly to himself, "Wonder if Corian knows." Then he blinks, a rather distressed look crossing his face. "Wonder who'll be Chief of Medical now. There aren't all -that- many doctors there..."

Kyara grimaces, muttering something about Vryce.

Niko catches the muttering and acks quietly. "See, that's what I -thought-. That would be really horribly -bad-."

Anya murmurs quietly, "Maybe after shift...a large quantity of alcohol."

Kyara nods fervent agreement with Niko, and glances toward Anya, then toward the office door. "That's probably not a bad idea."

Niko winces fractionally. "Tonight... bad." Looking a bit torn, he explains, "It's Ela's birthday today, see. Whatever she wants to do... I told her..."

Kyara pauses, then nods. "Don't worry about it, Nick. Do the Ela thing, forget about all this," she waves a hand, "For a while."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko murmurs, with a hint of irony, "Thanks, Kya." Hearing the chime, he gets to his feet. "Time to pick up her gifts."

Kyara gives Niko a confused look for the irony. "Well... have fun."

Niko mumbles a vague affirmative, heading for the exit with a wave.

[Travelspam deleted.]

You unlock the door and go into room E16.

Room E16

Contents:

Elasia

Obvious exits:

Out

You come in from the Elevator Lounge.

Elasia is in the process of switching off the comm, "Love you too, Mom. Be careful." The unit goes dead.

Niko pads into the room with a cluster of boxes, kicking the door closed behind him. "Happy birthday," he calls, apparently having regained a modicum of niceness between Security and here. He pauses. Mom? "I've got good timing."

Elasia pads away from the unit, chuckling quietly. "Hello love, yes, wonderful timing. I'd just gotten in when my parents called, and was just cutting off as you came in."

Niko settles the boxes onto the kitchen table, tucking one onto a chair. "How're they doing?" he inquires.

Elasia can't help but regard the boxes a moment before abusing your now packageless state to attempt to steal a hug. "Pretty good, it's an election year, so they're busy. But they send their love."

Niko seems more than willing to be hugged, returning it and snitching a kiss into the bargain. Matter of fact, he doesn't actually release you for several moments. "Love, that's encouraging. How's your day?"

Elasia doesn't appear to want to be released particularly, quite content when and where she is. But she does step back a bit so as to reply. "Pretty hectic. A -huge- mass of orders down from the Chairman's office."

Niko moves to perch on a chair at the kitchen table. "That," he says slowly, "Sounds kind of ominous. Should I worry about 'em?"

Elasia shakes her head, moving behind you to rub at your shoulders. "Not that I know of, mostly stuff regarding trade routes and borders and stuff."

Niko offers a smile over his shoulder, reaching over that same shoulder in an attempt to snag one of your hands. "Why don't you sit down, hm? Open your present, maybe?" He gestures towards one of the boxes--a fairly small one, with a vaguely haphazard wrapping job. Must've done it himself.

Elasia allows her hand to be snagged, and after squeezing gently with her other hand, she moves to slide into the other chair. "You didn't have to do this you know..."

Niko's head bobs in a brief nod. "I know. But, see, I -wanted- to do it. Maybe it's that whole love thing, I don't know." He offers you a quick grin, twitching that box closer to you.

Elasia can't help but grin at that. She moves to take the box that you've twitched closer and goes about unwrapping it carefully. "My goof..."

Inside the box is a bracelet, made of delicate golden links. The links are large enough that one may attach charms to them--and, in fact, that has been done, though there are still many more spaces for more charms. The first appears to be a bucket, hanging by the handle. The second is a baseball bat. The third and final charm--so far--on the bracelet is a kitten.

Elasia absolutely beams at the bracelet, "Oh Niko, it's lovely... She brushes at each of the charms with careful fingers, settling them to making a soft tinkling sound. She chuckles, "I hate to think how long you had to look to find these..."

Niko shakes his head, looking rather thrilled at your reaction. "Wasn't that much looking, hon. And it was worth it, if you like 'em." Finger nudging one charm in particular, he adds, "Said I was going to get you a bucket for your birthday, after all."

Elasia laughs at that, obviously quite thrilled herself. She carefully unhooks the hasp, "A bucket, a bat, and a kitten, it's certainly a good mix." She grins, "A kitten for my birthday after all."

Niko nods his agreement, a devious grin crossing his face for just a moment. Then he tugs another box closer. "There's more." This box is obviously of the bakery-variety, and has no paper on it.

Elasia slips the bracelet on, refastening the hasp with a soft click. She reaches that hand forward to lever up the lid of the bakery box, the charms clinking softly together.

Niko gets lightly to his feet, moving to rummage for plates and forks and such.

The cake is obviously not Niko-made. Small enough for two people, it's apparently butterscotch-flavored, as it's got the same general color scheme as the cupcakes. On the cake, in icing that has the look of butterscotch syrup, is written 'Happy Birthday Ela'. Looks like there's a small container of extra icing in the box as well.

Now it's Ela's turn to look devious a moment before she breaks into quiet laughter. "Yay butterscotch. How perfect love, thank you. You're wonderful..."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko, settling back into his chair and putting down the stuff he got from the cupboard, grins broadly. "I figured you'd like that. The nice lady at the bakery remembers you from the cupcakes."

Elasia blushes, ducking her head. She can't resist the urge to swipe a smear of icing. "I'm not surprised... I'm rather fond of them. And I get sent down that way a lot..."

Niko offers you a knife, handle-first, so you can cut the cake. "She said you'd like this. It's really sweet, though--the cake, I mean. Can't say as I'll mind eating it, either, if you'll let me have a piece."

Elasia sets the knife lightly into the cake, slicing a decisively neat cut into it. She grins at you, "I think I can manage to share, promise." She adds a second cut, forming a slice. She sets about transferring it to a plate, then offering you cake and knife.

Niko murmurs his thanks, then pauses, just about to cut. "Listen," he says quietly. "Shh... do you hear that?" Despite his serious tone, there's a hint of repressed delight in his eyes.

Elasia has a fingerful of icing in her mouth at your question, but obligingly stills, looking confused. Do you blame her? Pulling the finger out, now icing free, she blinks. "Hear what?"

Niko is quiet for a moment. "Sounds like... sounds like somebody saying your name. D'you hear it?" He must really be going off the deep end, as there's no sound. "Yeah. Yeah! That's it. Something's saying your name."

Elasia regards you in skeptical confusion, "Saying my name?" There's a pause as she regards the cake, "Is there something in the icing you didn't mention?"

Niko hasn't touched the cake. He is, however, looking like he's having a difficult time not laughing. "I think... I think it's coming from inside this box." He reaches for the box he'd put on the chair. "From right in here, yeah." Why would a box have little holes poked in the sides?

Elasia regards the box with the same skepticism you were receiving a moment ago, although it's tinged with decided curiosity. She's probably wondering why there are holes in the box too. "The box is saying my name?"

Niko shakes his head. "Boxes can't talk," he explains, with the seriousness of a three year-old. "Maybe it's what's inside the box?" He can't wait any longer, and slices his own piece of cake, transferring it to his plate.

Elasia is now somewhat confused, and obviously altogether amused. "The box cannot talk, but whatever is inside it can? Should I hide behind the couch?"

Niko shakes his head, looking amused himself. "You can if you want, love, but I'd rather you didn't. Can't open the box if you're hiding from it, after all."

"Can I open the box then?" Elasia questions, tone still quite amused. "So that the mystery may be solved?"

Niko nods agreeably. "Sure, hon." After a moment, he cautions, "If you don't like it, I can take it back, but... well, I couldn't help myself."

Elasia shifts her plate aside to dare the box. Although not without snagging another smear of icing. With trepidation she carefully opens it.

A very tiny kitten, this baby is old enough to leave her mother, but not much beyond that. A ginger tabby, she is mostly the color of butterscotch pudding, with the occasional stripe and mottling in the darker shade of butterscotch syrup. Her fur is fairly short, but long enough to ruffle the wrong way, when one wants an irritated kitten. Her eyes are brilliantly blue, a startling contrast to her fur. She's got a blue ribbon around her neck, loose enough that she can't get it caught in something and injure herself, tied in a large, floppy, silly-looking bow.

Niko watches very carefully, murmuring once more, "We can always take her back..."

Hello and welcome to melted Ela. Where's the bucket, it's going to required to get her off the floor. Gently she scoops the tiny feline from the box and cuddles her close in one rossed arm, the other used to trace fingers through the butterscotch colored fur, "So beautiful..." There's a quiet ack, "No, no, the little thing can most assuredly stay, such a gorgeous little kitten, yes you are, aren't you..." Oh dear, even Ela can be turned into an idiot by cute furry things.

Niko grins broadly. "Good," he murmurs. "'cause I didn't want to take her back, not really. I just saw her, and... well, I know you said we didn't have to get one, but with this one, I really think we did."

Elasia sets fingers to gently stroking butterscotch toned fur, obviously entirely delighted by the huge grin on her face. "She's perfect, positively perfect, Niko." The kitten takes this opportunity to yawn, damaging Elasia's melt factor even further. "As perfect as she can possibly be. Thank you love."

Niko reaches over to ruffle the kitten's fur with two fingers. "You're welcome, hon. I'm glad you like her." With a crooked grin, he adds, "That's the last of the gifts, by the way. There aren't any puppies or anything hiding anywhere."

Elasia laughs softly, glancing up at last fromt the tiny kitten to grin at you. "I think she's untoppable. Although with her color, you'd think people'd want to spray whipped cream on her or something. I can't believe you found a butterscotch colored cat. A very resourceful knight."

Niko grins broadly. "And I wasn't even looking, that's the thing. Just happened on her." He ruffles at the fur of the kitten's ear, grinning as it swivels. Looking back to you he adds, "Just so y'know, hon, -you- get to name her. I'm awful at naming things."

Elasia blinks several times at that last, regarding the kitten askance a moment. "Butterscotch would seem perhaps a bit obvious, Scutterbotch? Pudding?"

Niko pokes gently at one teeny paw. "You get to choose. She's your kitten. -I'd- probably name her something like Skippy."

Elasia sets about scratching behind tiny ears, "Scutterbotch then. Pudding would be for a boy kitten, more." Now how on earth Ela has determined that pudding is masculine, we don't want to know. Maybe she flipped it over and looked. "Lot more name than kitten..."

Niko looks more than a little confused by this determination, but nods agreeably. "Scutterbotch. I've got food and stuff, too, by the way, so we don't have to snag it."

A tiny kitten paw ventures forth to tease at a gently tinkling charm danging from the bracelet. Elasia grins at you again, "Resourceful indeed, love. Thank you, I do not think you could have chosen a better birthday present."

Niko muffles a snicker. "And one gift is a toy for the other. Now -that's- luck. And I'm glad you like her, love. She just kept telling me she wanted to come home with you, see."

Elasia disentangles kitten sharp talons from the bracelet, laughing softly. The kitten is transplanted from the crossed arm to her lap so she can attempt to swipe a bite of cake. "I think I can see that, she seems to belong here certainly. Of all the places in the universe... And she'll make it more of a home, you, me, and a kitten."

Niko nods as he munches cake of his own. "Don't need much more than that," he says, with a grin. "Mmm... good cake. We'll have to get more cupcakes or something."

Thankfully the kitten seems relatively content with the lap, staring with those overwide eyes at her new world. So Elasia manages to get a bite as well, one hand still stroking kitten fur. Not the lizard in her lap. "They do amazing things with butterscotch there. The man who owns the place is really nice about it too."

Niko nods his agreement, making short work of his cake. "Yeah, the nice lady was telling me about some of it--was all I could do not to drop half a paycheck there, it sounded so good."

Elasia is not far behind in cake consumption, eyes all but glazed over in delight. "That's really amazing stuff, very rich. Wow..." She mmhmms, "I'm just lucky I usually get sent there -after- lunch. If it were before, I'd be doomed."

Niko suggests, "I think butterscotch cake would make a very nutritious lunch. It's got eggs, and milk, and wheat..."

Elasia does not quite roll her eyes at that, although it is close. "As tempting as that sounds, I think I'll stick to normal lunch food. Besides, lunch is usually a working one, kinda hard to pop out to snag butterscotch."

Niko suggests, with a sudden, wicked grin, "I could bring you butterscotch if you wanted. I mean, normal lunch food is good and all, but this tastes so much better." He absently moves the container of icing from the box.

Elasia allows the kitten to scamper down to the floor, as would seem to be her want. Snickering she shakes her head, "Nikolaus Casymed, if you showed up with a container of icing, work would suddenly be right out the window...Less than efficent it would seem."

Niko pauses in setting aside the container of icing. "What, you mean something like... this?"

Elasia laughs softly, clambering to her feet to lean over and give you a solid kiss. "Yes, like that."

Niko is kissed, and very happy in his bekissed state, returning it with interest. "Mmm. Maybe I'll have to do that, then. That sounds like fun."

"Now see that would be -cruel-, doing that to me at -work-," Elasia's attempt at a sultry look is entirely shot as she snickers. The kitten has found, and pounced upon, some random bit of fluff. "It's much more efficent when I'm -not- at work for you to show up with icing..."

Niko slides his arms around you, after pausing to snicker at the kitten. "Y'know... I think you're right, love. Much more fun this way, too. No random diplomats looking crosseyed at us."

"And nobody to interrupt any earnest discussions on the fundamental nature of butterscotch," Elasia agrees, expression innocent as she leans in to steal another kiss.

Niko's grin widens for just a moment. "Well, no. That's generally a bad thing, having a... discussion interrupted." Jeez, talk about weird euphemisms.

Elasia stifles another snicker, nodding. "Terrible indeed, best to be avoided."

Niko inquires, with an innocent grin, "Gonna finish your cake, love? Cake's always good."

Elasia regards the cake a moment before grinning at you, one brow lifted, "What, can't have my cake and you too?"

Niko laughs at that. "Of course you can. I just want to make sure you get enough of the one before you start on the other."

Elasia laughs softly, one hand brushing lightly at your curls. "The cake can -wait-..."

Niko grins brightly, arms encircling you lightly. "Good," he decides. Eyes twinkling, he inquires, "Been a good birthday for you, then?"

Elasia edges in close to you, returning the embrace. "The best, hon. The absolute best. But with you here, how could it be anything but. Definately a better year than the last."

Niko looks rather pleased at your words, bending down somewhat to snag a kiss. "I'm glad, love. I really wanted to make it a special day for you."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Elasia grins at you, "That you most assuredly managed." Her fingers reach up to toy with your curls. Niko, a kitten, fluffy things are nice. "A positively wonderful day. Thank you love."

Niko beams. "You're welcome, hon. I really am glad." He looks for a moment like he's going to say something, then shakes his head, instead kissing you once more.

Elasia seems to think a kiss is an entirely eloquent way of speaking, and returns it in kind and with interest. The kitten is left to climb up Mt. Couch as she continues the discussion.

Niko pulls away for a moment as he catches the scuffling sounds of the climbing kittenling. Looking over with a grin, he offers you a vaguely apologetic look. "We should probably get her settled, before..." Well, no, he's not quite gotten out of his armor enough that he can actually say it.

Elasia leans up to steal one last kiss, not a lingering one, but an intense one. "Probably, true." Giving you a bright grin she turns to go rescue the little animal.

Niko looks after you for a moment, waiting to recover from the intensity of that kiss, before padding over to the closet to get out the various kitten-related supplies. "We can take care of her quickly, though."

Elasia seems to find that vastly ausing, bringing the kitten along after you. "True enough. Shouldn't take -too- long..."

Niko rummages with food and a basket for sleeping--like the kitten won't end up sleeping on the bed--and a litterbox. "Theoretically, she knows how to use this," he says, with the gesture to the box. "Where y'want it? We'll need to get her water, too."

Elasia hmms in quiet thoughtfulness, "The bathroom perhaps?" She glances at the bed as well with an amused grin, obviously thinking the same thing.

Niko nods agreeably, taking said box into the bathroom. The food bowl gets stashed somewhere convenient near the dining unit, and a bowl for water is filled and set next to it. "There y'go, Scutter," he tells the kitten, reaching with one finger, to rub the side of her face. "Home, sweet home."

Elasia lets the purring kitten down to the floor, so she can investigate the new situation. "Now, where were we..."

Niko gestures over his shoulder, towards the kitchen table. "Over there," he says, dark eyes gleaming with humor. "I think we can take it up just as well over here, though."

Elasia can't resist it, she pokes you before reaching up to kiss you once again. "Goof."

Niko muffles a snicker rather quickly, as it seems rather bad form to snicker when one is being kissed. "Your goof," he adds, upon completion of the kiss. "All yours."

Elasia chuckles softly, tugging your hand towards the bed. "All mine. And I'm keeping it."

Niko's hand is more than willing to go towards the bed. And the rest of him, being attached, kind of has to follow. "Good. 'cause I'm not about to go anywhere -else-, so it's convenient that you want to keep me."

Elasia flops down to sit onto the bed, grinning up at you and still holding that hand. "-Efficent-..."

Niko settles onto the bed as well, an arm making its way around your waist. Of course, he's not controlling that arm, it's got a mind of its own. "Efficiency's good," he says cheerfully.

Elasia snuggles into the arm, eyes tracing Scutterbotch's progress through the room as the small critter investigates her new home. "It's certainly appreciated." There's a contented sigh, "A wonderful evening..."

Niko leans closer to you, claiming a kiss. "Wonderful is good. Is there anything I can do to make it better?" Yes, he's asking innocently. Mostly.

Elasia just grins evily, trying to return the innocent look without much luck, "I -think- I can think of -something-." She just grins all the further, leaning in to express just -how- you can manage it.

Niko seems content to make this expression a mutual thing, sliding closer to you. "There's a good thought," he murmurs. "I think I can handle that."

"Good." And fade to black and -cut-. *snicker*

[Snip.]

Niko, much later, reaches over to snag a kitten, settling the little critter on the bed. "You," he informs the animal, "Need to learn when -not- to play with toes."

Elasia laughs softly, stretching over to scritch the kitten gently, "Such a pretty Scutter though, yes you are."

Niko snickers as he runs a finger along the kitten's back. "Pretty," he agrees, "But with horrible timing. I guess that's okay, though. You get a kitten, sometimes she decides that your toes must die."

Elasia rests her chin on crossed arms, watching the kitten's antics. "Maybe she was trying to rescue us."

Niko seems to find that rather amusing. "Yeah, I guess, when you're a baby cat, something like that looks kind of... odd." He pauses a beat, then. "Or were you referring to the time I burst in on Jim and Jen back on Evinast, wanting to, uh, rescue her? I swear, they need to learn to lock doors..."

Elasia stifles a laugh, albeit not quickly enough not to garner a look from the kitten. "The former, she's not a kitten in shining armor after all..."

Niko mumbles something about aluminum foil armor and a very annoyed Scutter. "She was so brave, though," he adds, wiggling a finger for the kitten to pounce. "Killing that horrible evil toe."

"You will not wrap my poor little kitty in foil like a baked potato." Elasia says while laughing. She leans over to poke you in the ribs.

Niko grins, twitching away from the prodding finger, then scooting close to you once more. "Aww, but she'd be so -cute-. Make little noises when she walked..."

Elasia points at you and adressess the kitten. "I'd put him in his place now if I were you. He obviously is in need of it."

Niko tussles gently with the kitten, making little grr-ing noises, then grins at you. "I'm bigger than she is. Heck, my -hand- is about bigger than she is. I think I can--hey." That last is a startled yelp as the kitten pounces him.

Elasia just beams at the kitten, "Smart little girl, Scutter." She offers you an innocent grin. "Small does not mean innocuous."

Niko rolls onto his back, picking up the kitten and settling her on his chest. She peers at him for a moment, then scrambles back to the bed. It's more comfortable. "Rejected," he murmurs, with a grin. "And it surely doesn't, no. Scutter's definitely not innocuous."

Elasia takes her turn at teasing the kitten, trailing the corner of a sheet and letting her attack it. "She's not, but then cats never are. That's why they're so loveable."

Niko watches the kitten with a fond grin. "Better hope she sleeps sometime," he observes, "Or we never will, as we'll be watching her. She really is too much fun, though."

"Kittens play, and play, and play, and then lie down and go to sleep. No pause, no working their way up to it." Elasia speaks with a fond tone, gently rubbing at the kitten's ears as the little critter worries at the sheet edge.

Niko grins at that, turning to lay on his side facing you and the kitty. "I'm glad -you- know these things. We only had dogs, back in Mathraki."

And obligingly, the kitten ambles in between the two people, curling up nose to tail with a yawn. Elasia just smiles, fingers still brushing at butterscotch colored fur. "Beautiful little baby." She mmhmms, "We always had cats. It was better with schedules and all. And living in hotels sometimes, and apartments."

Niko rests his head against his folded arm, looking decidedly fond. "Yeah. And she'll be handier than a dog with -our- schedules, too. Be nice to have her here for company and all, when one or the other of us has to work."

Elasia continues petting the kitten until it sleeps, and then rests her hand against the sleeping animal. "Yeah, it's not a home without a cat to be in charge."

Niko grins cheerfully. "So she'll be ordering me around and such? I guess I can live with that. Such a pretty little thing. Perfect color."

"Hey, she's already got you trained to put her on the bed," Elasia points out in quiet amusement. "Home now."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko grins crookedly at that, then nods. "I'm afraid she's going to have to move, though--though I guess that could wait a little. See, she's -between- us, and we can't let her get in the habit of that."

Elasia grins at that, "It's probably warmer, see." She nods, "You could probably pick her up and move her without her so much as budging at this point."

Niko nods agreeably. He carefully picks up the kitten, grinning at her asleepness. "Doesn't even notice," he murmurs, moving to settle Scutterbotch at the foot of the bed. "There. Just have to remember not to kick her off or anything. That'd be bad."

Elasia watches, half-yawning but grinning. "Yeah, she'd probably find that exceptionally rude. That's a good place for her."

Niko takes advantage of the kitten's location to move next to you, draping an arm lightly over you. "And she'd jump on me with those -claws- or something. Bad."

Elasia laughs softly, turning to curl up against you. "Well then you'll have to refrain from kicking the poor little baby then. As I'm shorter, I doubt this will be a problem for -me-..."

Niko nods his agreement. "I'll not do it -intentionally-, mind," he mumbles around a yawn.

Elasia tugs on a blanket corner, "Shall we take Scutterbotch's example and curl up, get warm, and sleep?"

Niko nods to that, shifting under the blankets in an attempt to get his feet away from the cat. "Sounds good. Sleep, very good. Love you. Happy birthday."

Elasia follows you under the blankets, curling up to you with a pleased murmur. "And I love you too, the best birthday ever, thank you love."

Niko claims a quick kiss. "You're welcome," he murmurs. "Sleep well, love." He's apparently pretty tired, as he drops off fairly quickly. And he doesn't kick the kitty, just moves his foot under her a few times, and thus gets said foot pounced upon on the second or third repetition.

Elasia curls up to sleep as well, although she's not surprised that said kitten decides feet are too treacherous and pads regally up the bed to use the nice
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