3/23/99

Kyara mhmms, concentrating on her work for a few moments. However, she's in much too good an overall mood to stay down for long. Poor Niko. "Has Riley shown up today? Clara seemed a tad chagrined at his being, uh, shnozzed yesterday."

Niko nods absently. "Yeah. He had to take care of something, though, so he's not in right now."

Kyara nods, expressing approval. "That's cool. Maybe he'll get a bit of a rest then."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko mumbles something about Armageddon, but his nod is cheerful enough, if a bit absent. "Yeah, we can hope so."

Kyara chuckles slightly. "Yes, and hell will freeze over too." She blinks, then giggles. "So that's what all the paperwork's for- keeping hell's thermostats on an even keel."

And Armageddon must indeed be nigh, as Riley shows up, still looking bleary, and sets about discussing -days off- with Anya.

Niko waves a form at Riley by way of greeting. Nice guy that he is, he doesn't say 'I told you so' to Kya, though what he overhears of the conversation gets a blink, and a hint of trepidation.

Kyara gives Riley a cheerful wave and a "Hidey-hidey-ho!" though she, too, looks more than a little surprised. "Guess the thermostats are out of order."

From the other end of the room, an anonymous SecOff starts humming "Minnie the Moocher".

Niko shakes his head very slowly back and forth, turning his attention back to the paperwork. "Will wonders never case?"

Riley offers a grin and a wave to the others, but continues his quiet conversation.

Kyara chuckles softly, keeping her voice low. "Maybe Clara's return did more good than we thought."

Niko shakes his head once more. "Something did, that's for sure."

Kyara grins. "Whatever it is, I'm thankful."

Niko nods his agreement to that. "It's a good thing, yeah," he murmurs, getting up for another soda.

Kyara's glance is a trifle concerned as she casts it toward Niko. "You're going to be bouncing off the walls at the rate you're consuming that stuff."

Niko grins as he settles into his seat once more. "Nah, I'll be fine. Done it before. Caffeine is a food group, after all."

Kyara rolls her eyes, snickering. "I daresay the nutritionists would disagree. May I suggest food as well as caffeine? Real food, that is. That might help take the edge off being tired."

Niko mmhmms as he snags his pencil once more. "I ate before I got here, thanks, Mom." His grin is amused, though.

Kyara glances toward her chrono. "Oh, you're welcome," she grins blithely. "And how long have you been here so far today? I just got here a couple hours ago and /I'm/ hungry."

Niko says vaguely, "Since my shift started."

Kyara taps her pen patiently on the desktop. "When'd your shift start?"

Niko considers that for a moment, before turning back to the paperwork. "A while ago." He really is gifted at giving unhelpful answers. Maybe he studied that in school.

Kyara lifts her eyes heavenward, perhaps requesting patience from some unknown god who wants it in triplicate. "In other words, too long."

Niko blinks mildly. "I didn't say that." Likely because it's true.

Kyara's mouth quirks. "You didn't have to."

Niko says patiently, "Kya, this stuff needs to get finished."

Kyara coughs, saying very properly, "Yessir. Of course. My apologies." The words dissolve into a mumble involving the word 'Ela'.

Riley offers another wave and then heads out the door, err no, that's a wall, -that's- the door. He makes it out.

Riley heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Riley has left.

Niko shakes his head. "Ela understands that I need to work." But then Riley leaves, and he calls over to Anya, "Is he -really- taking time off?"

Anya looks a bit confused herself, but nods. "A couple of days even."

Niko shakes his head. "Well, anybody who wants to, we can go ice-skating in Hell after dinner."

Kyara doesn't respond to Nick's remark, as she's likely to point out Ela wouldn't want him neglecting himself to this extent either, but she does giggle at the ice-skating comment. "Did he say what he'd be doing on those days off?"

Anya shakes her head, "Something about a vacation. I tell you, the apocalypse is nigh."

Niko looks over at Anya at that. "Uh. Leaving the Complex, you mean?"

Anya nods to that, "Yeah, that was what he implied at least. Not out of radio range though."

Kyara grins. "Vacation. What a lovely word." She reaches for another paper, only to frown at it, getting to her feet. "Nick, I've got to run this down to the offices. Shouldn't take long."

Niko, after a brief moment in which he looks decidedly unthrilled and a nod to Anya, turns back to his paperwork. "Sure, Kya. Have fun."

Kyara snickers, heading for the door. "Fun. Right."

Kyara heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Kyara has left.

Your ear receiver beeps, followed by Riley's voice, "Hey Nick. You mind if I duck out for a couple days? Anya found schedule room, the folks downstairs have been told to hold stuff. Shouldn't be anything crazy. And I'll be in easy return range if something does hit..."

You communicated "*pause* Uh, no. You need the vacation, have fun." to Riley.

Your ear receiver beeps, followed by Riley's voice, "Y'sure? I can move the days t'another time?"

You communicated "Better go while the schedule's clear." to Riley.

Your ear receiver beeps, followed by Riley's voice, "Thanks Nick. Sorry, s'either this or end up on forced. Lesser of two evils pretty much."

You communicated "No need to apologize, Riley. Have fun." to Riley.

[Time passes.]

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

The sound of the chime apparently reminds Niko that there is life beyond paperwork, and that his shift ended several hours ago. Shaking his head, he polishes off that last form and gets to his feet, tucking away the papers. "Back in a while, folks," he calls, heading for the exit.

[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.

Niko, looking decidedly tired, pads into the room and heads straight for the couch. "Sorry I'm late, hon. It's been a day."

Elasia glances up from the kitchen and her pan. She heads over to the couch behind you, shifting hands to your shoulders. "Bad?"

Niko chuckles very quietly, lifting a hand to cover one of yours. "Uh. Depends on who you are, I guess." He rubs at his eyes with his free hand. "See, Riley's taking a vacation."

Elasia squeezes your shoulders gently, starting to rub carefully. "Certainly a mixed situation." She pauses as if likely to add something, and then brings herself up short.

Niko asks, head tipping backwards so he can squint at you, "What? And... mixed, yeah. I'm glad he's taking the time off, sure, but..." His shoulders lift in a small shrug.

"You're just worried about being nominally in charge so soon?" Elasia suggests as a continued answer to your comment. As to the what, she just shakes her head. "Just rumor and all probably."

Niko nods emphatically at your suggestion. "You're not even kidding. I'm still figuring out things and all... I mean, I've had the job, what, three days? Four? And, well... he and I hadn't had a chance yet to try and figure out some time for us to get married." He pauses a beat. "Uh. You and me, that is. Not me and Riley. That would be illegal." He shakes his head, mumbling something about more caffeine, then inquires, "What rumors, hon?"

Elasia continues rubbing, bringing thumbs up to your neck. "How long's he going to be gone? Relax hon, just relax...No more caffeine."

Niko mumbles something about having to go back downstairs in a bit, but doesn't actually move to get another soda. "Couple days, he said."

"What's so urgent you have to go downstairs again?" Elasia questions, fingers working their way downwards.

Niko says vaguely, "Stuff. Paperwork. There's a -lot- of paperwork." He shifts fractionally, shoulders rotating back and forth. "I just want to do well, that's all."

"Niko, love, you're doing well, promise. If you weren't, would Riley have left you alone?" Elasia's fingers work deep into overtaught muscles. "If you go working too hard, you'd just be compunding the original problem. You need to figure out which parts are really important. Not think they're important, really -are- important."

Niko winces just a bit as a sore spot or two is hit, but doesn't move away from you. "See, that's just it, though, hon--I don't -know- which ones are important. That's kind of what I was trying to figure out."

"Why not ask Anya?" Elasia continues to try and gently work out the sore spots.

Niko shakes his head. "I don't want to," he says quietly. "I know I sound like a two year-old, but I want to do this myself."

Elasia doesn't even bother to answer that, instead rubbing at sore muscles still further. "Hungry?"

Niko nods slowly. "Yeah, somewhat. Actually, that's a huge understatement. The couch cushions are starting to look tasty." He levers himself to his feet, snaking an arm about you. "Rumors," he adds. "You said something about 'em, right?"

Elasia squeezes you in a brief hug before turning to head back to the kitchen. "Nothing you're likely to have any time for. Sit back down love, I'll snag you something to eat."

Niko trails behind you, folding himself into a chair. "Sure, just taunt me with it," he murmurs, leaning down to snag the kitten rubbing against his ankle. Hopefully, it's Scutter. "Food is wonderful, you're wonderful, thanks, love."

Elasia is too diplomatic to respond to that first, instead returning to her attention of the pan she was working with when you entered. The heat is turned back on underneath and she adds carrotage. "Nothing amazing I'm afraid. Still, it's all but done."

Niko, absently petting the kitten, offers you a tired smile. "Anything food is good. Except bananas. They're evil."

Elasia rummages up a couple of plates, scooping rice and veggies and chicken onto them. Bringing the plates over to the table she questions, "Anything to drink?"

Niko murmurs his thanks for the plate. "Maybe a--er, no. Water'd be good, I guess. Thanks, hon."

Elasia brings you a glass of water, snagging milk for herself. She slides into another chair at the table, offering utensilage as well.

Niko murmurs another thankyou, taking the utensil and digging into the food. "Mmm," he observes, articulating once he's swallowed that mouthful, "Very good, hon. Superwonderful. Food."

Elasia seems to be cooling off a bit, no longer -quite- as peeved, as she begins on her own food. "There's microwavable stuff in the freezer you can take down with you, for when things are too busy."

Niko blinks at that. See, he hadn't even realized you were peeved at all. He's a guy, see. "Um. Thanks, hon. 'preciate that. I'd rather come up here, though, if I can." His tone is a bit tentative, and somewhat confused as well.

Elasia is female, she's sneaky about being angry. It's allowed. Paragraph 10 Verse 8. "Still, better you get -something- to eat rather than skipping out."

Niko nods his agreement to that. "Food is good. Eating food is better. 'specially when it's your cooking." He scoops up a bit more with his utensil. "I'll take some with me, though. Just in case I can't get away. Thanks."

Elasia nods thoughtfully to that, still working through her food, and still being remarkably uncommentful. See, she can't say anything evil if she doesn't say anything at all. "Not a problem."

Niko, after a few moments of food-munching, inquires, "Was your day okay?" See, he's noticed the relative lack of comment, even if he's not yet figured out why.

Elasia nods politely, scooping up a bite of broccoli. "Yeah, realtively uneventful as such things go. Some meetings, a lot of time spent in the hallway working and peoplewatching with the rest of the juniors."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko's brows furrow for a moment. "Uh, kay. That sounds like fun." He peers at you for a moment, then inquires, confusion and concern and cluelessness all quite present in his tone, "What's wrong?"

Elasia shakes her head slightly, "Nothing Niko, if you want to drive yourself nuts and everybody along with you, I'm more than game to let you. Easier than trying ton convince you otherwise."

Niko blinks at that. "I'm not... Ela, it's my job." He's really trying to be patient, but he's had a long, rather frustrating day, and his exasperation is poorly hidden. "I need to do my job. I'm not driving anybody nuts."

Niko blinks at that. "I'm not... Ela, it's my job." He's really trying to be patient, but he's had a long, rather frustrating day, and his exasperation is poorly hidden. "I need to do my job. I'm not driving anybody nuts."

Niko carefully puts down his fork. Throwing it, while an entertaining gesture, is a little too immature even for him. "You don't understand. I should be able to handle things on my own. I'll figure it out." He practically snatches the water glass from the table, though he stops the impatient movements short of actually tossing the water in his face. Instead, he drinks.

"Do you honestly think other people in your shoes handled this on their own? Niko, even knights in shining armor have to be squires first. Someone teaches them what to do. They aren't born knowing." Elasia's words are softly pleading. "If you bury yourself in the wrong things you miss the big ones. Stuff going on right under your nose. Like the rumor the only reason the AF let Riley make you XO is that they're intending to force him to take medical retirement."

Niko blinks at that, and then blinks again. He manages not to drop the glass, instead putting it down carefully. "Medical... what?" Yes, that's definitely shock. "No, no, that's -bad-. He's not sick." There's a brief, rather horrified pause. "Is he? He's been working too hard--said something about... ack." Well, you certainly got his attention. He looks stunned, and worried, and more than a little unhappy.

Elasia just lifts her shoulders, "All I know is what the rumors say." She settles her plate aside. "Even if it's just lower level rumor, and there's a lot of that -- the point is if you have yourself buried in papers up to your ears cause you won't ask, who knows what you might miss."

Niko gets to his feet, starting to clear away the plates. It's clearly to give him something to do with his hands. He eyes his comm-unit for a moment, then shakes his head. "Uh. I'll talk to Anya, I guess. I... medical -retirement-? Who was saying that?"

Elasia shakes her head with a sigh, for one moment she's quiet and then replies. "I heard it from three different people. But then they'll say anything down there to try and make up answers for things."

Niko rattles the dishes for a moment, then shakes his head. "Nobody else would take the job," he says quietly. "That's the only reason -I- got it. Nobody else wants it. He's not sick, he -can't- be..."

Elasia just sighs softly, suggesting, "Why don't you ask him?"

Niko shakes his head. "Not while he's on vacation, hon. It can wait til he gets back. It's only a couple of days."

"Not if you're going to worry yourself into a tizzy over it," Elasia does nod however, "Nothing you can do about it right now anywhicha'way. Still, if he's going on vacation, that can only help, right?"

Niko doesn't comment to the possibility of a tizzy. Instead, he just busies himself with the dishes. "Right, yeah, vacations are good. He said," he admits slowly, "That it was either leave or 'end up on forced'. That doesn't sound good." He shakes his head, a hint of frustration lacing his tone. "Even if I ask him, I don't know that he'd tell me."

Elasia isn't going to object to you caring for the plates. "I would think he would be obligated to do so, as your CO if not your brother. Go ahead, ask him, how long can it take?"

Niko finishes off with the plates and pads back to the table. "He didn't tell me in the temple, when he was hurt. But... yeah. Asking can't hurt. Much. He's in radio range, Anya said." He rubs absently at his ear.

"You weren't XO then," Elasia points out calmly, still just watching you.

Niko nods slowly to that, though he can't help but add, "I -was- his brother, though." With a faint grimace, he taps at his comm-unit.

You say "Riley? I hate to bother you, really, but I've got a question." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and announces "Sure, ask away." in Riley's voice.

You say "Are you all right?" There's a pause. "Okay, didn't phrase that properly. There are rumors floating around here, I'm told, that the AF is going to force you to take medical retirement. Do you know anything about that?" into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and says "It was one of the threats that got tossed around this morning, but they couldn't make it stick." in Riley's voice.

You say "*long pause* So you -are- sick?" into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and announces "Sick? No, a bit battered, but not -sick-" There's a muffled snicker, "Unless you mean in the head, at which point I would have to plead guilty." in Riley's voice.

You say "Riley!" Yes, he sounds exasperated, and more than a little angry. It's been a long day, and this is not a happy ending. That, and he's taking himself a little too seriously just now. How sad, all this text for four words of speech. Talk about a weird mutter. "This isn't funny." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and announces "Nick, I'm -not sick-. Promise. Would you like me to have Clara attest to the fact?" in Riley's voice.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

You say "No. No, that's not necessary. Sorry. I'll, uh, let you get back to your vacation, then. Have fun." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and blares "Not a problem Nick, lemme know if there's any problems." in Riley's voice.

You say "Check. Casymed out." into the communit.

Niko lowers his comm-unit with a quiet sigh, then rubs at his eyes with the heels of his hands. "He's not," he says quietly. Communicative, neh?

Elasia simply nods, "I kind of guessed from the various tones."

Niko mutters something about obnoxious, stubborn people who do too much. And, amazingly, he doesn't even see the pot-kettle-ness of his statement. "It's good to know he's not sick, though, at least. 'Only' battered. I swear."

Elasia does however see the pot and kettle calling inherant, "Niiiko, why is it okay fro you to overwork, and wrong for him to?"

Niko considers that, then offers a couple reasons, though something about his expression suggests that he's just waiting for them to be shot down. "Well, for one thing, I'm not recovering from injuries and such. I'm younger than he is. I'm still learning the job, so I -need- the extra time. And, unlike Riley, I don't do this -all- the time."

"All reasons you can work more than he does, sure," Elasia agrees, "But not to the point of overwork. Not when it's things that you don't -have- to run yourself to the ground on. Ask questions, you're not perfect, and not born with the answers. You're only likely to make a big mistake without the answers, and then how will it look, as worried as you seem to be about the appearances of this."

Niko's sigh is rather resigned. "Okay, so how do you define the difference between working more and working too much?"

"You're working too much when you're so uptight about things you're snapping at everybody," Ela suggests amiably.

Niko's brows lift a little. "Was I snapping, hon? I didn't... well, no, I guess I was, and I did. I'm sorry. I was just..." He makes a vague gesture. "I don't know. Overworked, I guess." He sighs.

Elasia nods to the last, "Snapped at me, and Riley, and I'd be willing to bet other folks..."

Niko folds his arms on the table, hunkering down to rest his chin on them. "I'm sorry," he repeats softly. "I can get the nerf bat or something, if you want to smack me around."

Elasia shakes her head, reaching across the table to brush fingers at your curls. "No, I just want you to rest. Relax a bit... There's a lot of work, but you don't have to let it consume you."

Niko offers a smile. "Relaxing sounds good," he admits. "Maybe a stupid holo, or... no, don't have a board. Or even just -talking- would be a relief. That paperwork," he adds, "Really is mindlessly evil. Now I know why nobody else wanted the job."

"Don't have a board?" Elasia questions quietly. "No paperwork, just relaxing. And even when you -do- go back to it, aren't there other duties other than paperwork? Maybe space them with each other?"

Niko supplies, "Chessboard. I don't have one." He gets slowly to his feet. "Yeah. See, the reason I did so much today is that I've got to pretend to be official tomorrow morning, so I won't be able to do it." He gestures vaguely to the closet, before offering a hand. "Dress togs, fun and exciting."

Elasia holds up a finger, as if to beg a pause. She clambers to her feet and rummages in the closet. She returns with a small electronic gadget, barely palm sized. Unhooking it into two pieces she sets what ends up being two tiny keyboards on the table. Tapping in a sequence, a chess board done on holo flares into existance, pieces already arranged mid game. "Yeah, but which of all that's got to be done? I mean if it's being split between two people now, and Riley managed before and all.."

Niko looks absolutely thrilled at the appearance of the chess board. "That's -great-, hon." He peers at the board with interest, then says, attention shifting back to your question, "Uh, I guess that's what I'm going to ask Anya. See, though, Riley knew what he was doing."

Elasia pokes at a few more buttons, clearing the game to the start. "It's not as nice as a real set. You can't pick up the pieces and all, but it has an interface to play by comm. Dad and I still play once and a while." She nods, "Asking Anya's good."

Niko perks up just a bit. "Your father plays chess? That's good. I can let him win," he adds, with a wink. With a gesture towards the board, he inquires, "Want white?"

Elasia sncikers softly at that, "You probably would have to, he's all right, but it's campaign season. His ability to play much of anything crashes during said time periods. We usually stick to Go Fish then." She presses another button, scrolling the Holo unit through backgammon, a deck of cards, various other things before bringing it back to chess. "Useful toy." She grins, "Sure." Pressing a couple of buttons she moves a knight.

Niko looks just a little disappointed as the chess game vanishes, then relaxes as it returns. He's not as good at backgammon, see. "Oh, I didn't mean now," he says, puzzling out how to move the pieces, then advancing the queen's pawn. "Rather play face-to-face."

"We can play another time, sure, whenever or wherever. I'm no chess shark though I'm afraid." Elasia looks a little sheepish. "I just know enough to play for kicks."

Niko shakes his head, with a quick grin. "No, hon, I'd like to play -you-. I was talking about your father. I can wait to play chess with him, see." He peers with interest at the board for a moment, then adds, "As long as you enjoy it, really, that's what matters. Though some of the sharks in the Quarter enjoy it a -lot-."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Elasia brings up the queen's rook's pawn, regarding the board at length before placing it down in a square. "It's a good game, it's relaxing. Nothing else intrudes."

Niko nods his agreement, though his grin is a bit amused as he makes his move. "Relaxing... sometimes, yeah. The speed chess games aren't, but they're -fun-."

Elasia snickers, considering the pieces, "Fun is relaxing too though. Just in a sillier way." She shifts a piece at last. "Real pieces are nice though."

Niko nods firmly at that. "Especially good ones, yeah. There's a store in the Quarter that has some really fantastic ones." His move is made fairly quickly; apparently, he's been playing the speed chess games as well.

Elasia hasn't it seems, as her own move is relatively slow. Although it would easily fit in a standard chess time alottment. "Which part of the Quarter? It sounds like a nice place to go looking. Chess sets are beautiful."

Niko takes a few moments longer to make his move. See, he's thinking more about the moves now. "Um... three or four doors down from the bakery. It's all kinds of games, not just chess." Finally scooting a pawn forward and taking one of yours, he snickers. "Did Mira ever tell you about her preferred method of playing chess, back on Evinast?"

Elasia makes a move of her own, returning the favor and taking a piece. "Near the bakery's good, always a good trip to make." She shakes her head, "Not as I recall."

Niko grins wickedly at you. "Now, before I tell you, I've -never- played chess with her, and she stopped asking after the first semester." Wiggling the captured pawn, he says, "If we were playing by her rules, we'd each be shy a piece of clothing." Yes, ladies and gentlemen. Strip chess. Snickering quietly, Niko shifts a piece forward.

Great, the geek version of strip poker, just what the world needs. Does the pocket protector count as an object? Elasia shakes her head in amusement, "As entertaining as that sounds, I'd have to give it a pass for the moment. How would I ever win? I'd be too busy paying attention to you and not the pieces." Another move is made in return.

Niko murmurs, "Yeah, but think of the incentive." He grins brightly at you for a moment, then uses one finger to push a piece forward. (No, the pocket protector doesn't count.)

Elasia reaches through the holo pieces to attempt to calmly poke you in the nose. She makes another move, expression still quite serious.

Niko acks quietly. "Full-contact chess," he bemoans, with a grin, adding, "That probably would've been Mira's next idea, I swear." Peering at the board for a moment, he moves another piece, then inquires, "You having fun, love? We don't -have- to play."

Elasia laughs at the mention of full-contact chess. "Of course I'm having fun, but you required poking. Little gnomes were waving 'poke me' signs over your head."

Niko peers upwards, expression mock-paranoid. "Flying gnomes, or tall ones?" he quips. "As long as my underwear remains where it is, that's all I ask."

"Little gnomes, but they're on ropes from the ceiling," Elasia supplies as if she were chatting about the weather. She makes her move. "Wait, but I thought you wanted to play strip chess, and now you want to keep your underwear?"

Niko shifts to sit tailor-fashion in his chair, though the chair isn't quite large enough for that. "Hey, it depends on how many pieces I lose, hon," he says, looking decidedly amused as he moves his piece.

Elasia just sighs in mock dismay, "Now where's the fun in -that-." She returns the move, perhaps not as wisely as she might. "I swear, keeping your underwear, where do you -get- these wild and crazy ideas..."

Niko considers for a few moments, then takes the exposed piece. "I thought you said you didn't want to play by Mira's rules," he says innocently.

"No, I don't, but -still-, you shouldn't be allowed to keep your undrwear, I mean -really-..." Elasia makes a move to shore her defense back up now that it's been show to be exposed.

Niko, castling after a thoughtful pause, suggests, "Maybe if you ask me really nicely, I'll let the gnomes have it." He's not laughing, but his lips are twitching upwards.

"Naaah, I'm sure I can think of some method of divesting you of it." Elasia just grins innocently.

Niko's brows lift, and his grin is decidedly pleased. "Y'know, the evening's looking u--er, getting better."

Of course that's a well timed comment, as Elas swipes another piece, a good one this time. "Yes, yes it is." She sounds smug. Piece getting does that.

Niko acks quietly as the piece is taken. "That was mine," he protests, with a laugh. "All right, this means war." But he doesn't take a piece yet, apparently setting up for something else.

"Really?" Elasia's tone is of lost innocence, the blonde fluffy, "I didn't realize it was -yours-..."

Niko snickers quietly. "You're almost as good at that as Kath. I'd be fooled, if I didn't know better."

Elasia sighs a bit, as if in great long sufference. "It would work so much better if I were blonde. Still, comes in handy downstairs. Although I wouldn't mind being jumped up above junior so it was less often so."

Niko looks utterly disturbed at the thought of you as a blonde. "Hon, no, that'd be -awful-. It works on Kath, but not on you, no way. That'd be like me... I don't know, with a buzz cut or something." After a moment of peering at the board--or, maybe, around the board--he inquires, "Jumped up above junior? Think that might happen soon?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Elasia stifles a snicker at the look, "No worries, love, I have no intention of dyeing my hair. Being who I am is complicated enough without trying to be anybody else." She shakes her head, "Not too likely, not unless some kind of windfall hits."

Niko passes a hand across his forehead in a show of relief that is a trifle overdone. "Good. You would look very un-Ela-like if you were blonde." Leaning back in his chair and letting his feet drop to the floor, he adds, "Windfall... well, I guess we can hope, neh?"

Elasia grins wryly, shaking her head. "It'd be nice, but I'm not worried about it. I have plenty of time, and this is a nice place to work, even at the bottom of the totem pole."

Niko nods at that. "Nice place, yeah. Good people, some of 'em. And the vid folks are putting things in perspective, at least," he adds, with a grin. "Some of your colleagues can be, uh, difficult, but at least they're not like -these- nutcases."

Elasia stifles a snicker, "You aren't even kidding. Did you see the ones in the Atrium arguing about the lighting? They were demanding to speak to someone in Maintenance about putting some gels over the skylights so filming would be easier. They were being intensely ignored."

Niko gapes for a moment, then dissolves into snickers of his own. "Why not just paint the skylight? That would just be -festive-."

Niko must not have heard. But he was busy today.

Elasia contines to snicker, but nods. "Orange they wanted it. A very disturbingly cheerful look."

Niko blinks several times. "Orange? Why did they want it -orange-?" Seeing as how orange is the color of seduction... well, for some people that could be okay, but there's the potential for lots of fearsome stuff.

Which is really funny when you recall Nickleodeon's color is orange. Elasia shrugs, "Some children's show, I missed the first part of the argument." She stifles a yawn, looking suddenly sheepish.

Niko shakes his head. "How bizarre," he murmurs. Catching the yawn through the screen, he inquires, "Y'tired, hon?" Nickelodeon is attempting to seduce all children, that's it.

"Kind of sleepy, it snuck up on me. But not that tired yet." Elasia makes her next move. "And bizarre it is, they're all bizarre."

Niko makes another apparently innocuous move--no, no penguins are involved--though he casts a look of vague concern at you through the board. "You've gotten sleepy suddenly a lot lately. Have you been getting enough sleep?"

Elasia makes a move in return, retreating a bit on the board. She seems a bit puzzled as she replies, "Have I? I think I've been sleeping enough. I'll have to pay more attention to it."

Niko, distracted and likely tired as well, makes a somewhat sloppy move. Yup, spilled all over the fake board. "Well... a couple times, that I remember. If you've been feeling okay, I guess it's okay, though, right? I mean, you've been keeping up on checkups and all, yeah?"

"It's been a while since I've had one, but I haven't skipped any." Elasia makes a move to take advantage of the sloppy one. "And I feel fine, it's probably just the schedule weirdness."

Niko makes a wry face at the advantage-taking move. He's probably horrible at poker. "Schedule weirdness is evil," he says amiably, making a better move. "But if you'd like to stop playing," he adds, peering around the board, "It's okay. And I'm not just saying that 'cause you're likely going to beat me." He grins.

Elasia stifles a snicker, "Besides," she points out, "The machine saves games. They can always be rebegun later at the same point. That's okay though. It's relaxing and all."

Niko nods his agreement, though not without a feigned sigh for the possibility of saving this particular game. "It's relaxing, yeah. If you change your mind, though, hon, just poke my nose again or something." With a soft snicker, he shifts another piece.

Elasia must be -really- tired, yeah, that's it, to make a move that opens up her defense that way. "Don't worry," she muses half sleepily, "I will. I'm a firm believer in Niko-poking."

Niko shifts a piece and murmurs, "Check." He folds his arms on the table and rests his chin on them once more, turning his head to peer at you once more. "I've noticed that," he adds, with a faint grin.

Elasia acks softly, bringing the king out of check. She gives you an amused smile. "It's nice to have a Niko to poke. So I poke."

Niko grins crookedly as he takes another piece. "Can't say as I mind that, as long as you're the only one who does it. Other people, now, that's another story."

Elasia continues to have the king run scared, seemingly distracted. "If I can poke you, it means you're there to poke. And I like having you present."

Niko, with another murmured, "Check," moves that piece forward. "I like being present," he says agreeably. "Even if I'm maybe not going to be able to be here quite so much for the next couple days. I'll try to make it up for you after, though."

Elasia once again brings the king out of check, slowly cornering the poor piece. "I'll get caught up on my own work while you're gone. So we can have time when there's a chance."

Niko peers at the board for a long moment, nodding as he does so. "Time is good, most definitely. I'm going to -try- to keep it just to the time that I'm scheduled to be working," he adds. "But if stuff -needs- to be done, hon..." He edges a piece forward almost regretfully, saying, "Mate. I think."

Elasia's brows furrow and she regards the board, "Ack, mate, yes." She offers you a fond grin but then nods, "Work is work, I understand that. Just try not to let it get to you."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko returns the grin, then nods. "I'll try. Really. A lot of it today was the shift switch--working late one night and then starting early the next morning isn't a good thing, then having Riley leave on top of that..." He mumbles something that sounds vaguely like an admission of doing too much.

Elasia tabs a few buttons, powering down the game unit. "You should rest up some. Save the energy for the emergencies."

Niko nods his agreement, getting to his feet with a stretch. "I should listen to you more often. Maybe you can kick me or something, next time I'm being obnoxious."

Elasia's expression is a fondly sad one for a moment as she shakes her head. "I couldn't kick you Niko, I love you." She slides from the chair and to her feet as well.

Niko crosses to your side, brows lifting a bit at the sadness in your expression. "I love you, too, of course--did I say something wrong? I mean... I'm going to -try- not to be obnoxious, but you know me, hon. If I promised I wouldn't do it again... well, I'd break the promise."

Elasia shakes her head, smiling up at you. "No, that's okay." She chuckles, "I think I'm about ready for bed."

Niko looks rather pleased by that particular statement. "Well, gee. I guess I should come to bed, too, then. Y'know, keep you company, that sort of thing."

Elasia smiles quite sunnily at that as she heads to the closet to change into pajamage. "It would be terribly appreciated if you would. Company, pillow, that kind of thing."

"Heater, too," Niko says with a grin, letting you change before he does the same. "Can't forget that, it's very important." Stretching out on the bed with a sigh, he murmurs, "Mmm, good bed."

Elasia curls beneath the blankets and then up against yiu. "Heater's key. Very good bed. Now sit bed, sit. Play dead...See how talented it is?"

Niko takes a moment to call for Scutter, then sighs and reaches over the edge of the bed to grab her. "C'mere, good girl," he murmurs, setting the kitten down near her people, like a good lackey. "Yup, hon," he adds, "We've got a very talented bed. We should charge admission." He pauses a beat. "Okay, I'm really glad Kath didn't hear that."

Elasia doesn't even -try- to stifle laughter at -that-. "No admission. No letting folks in our bed. Scutter's kindenough to share it with us, I don't think she'd share with more people."

Niko nods his agreement, biting back a yawn as he curls an arm around you. "See, that's why we can't marry Riley and Clara. It'd upset the kitten."

"It'd upset the Ela too," Elasia says with a snicker, "Thjough Scutter's in charge." She yawns again as well, taking shelter beneath the safety of your arm. "N'night Niko."

Niko steals a kiss while everybody's awake to enjoy it--well, except Scutter, she's not allowed to do that--then murmurs, "Night, love. Sleep well."

Elasia is too tired to even attempt to return the stolen kiss, instead dropping off.

Niko watches you sleep for a while, then closes his eyes as well, drifting off fairly quickly.


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