3/24/99

You walk towards the Recreational Facility.

Recreational Facility

You walk here from the Central Atrium.

Kyara is quite intent on her practice though she seems relaxed as she fires off shot after shot.

Niko is still on skates. He's visibly and obviously furious, though he's smart enough to take -off- the skates before he goes over to the punching bag and takes out his agressions on it, muttering in Hellenic as he does so.

Kyara catches the muttering, glances over her shoulder, and definitely pauses. Returning the practice gun to its place, she heads over toward the punching bag area. "Nick? Are you okay?"

Niko nods brusquely. "Will be, at least," he says, his commentary switching into Standard. It's very uncomplimentary. "Met Terrence," he adds. "The--" Ooh, wow, that's -definitely- not possible.

Kyara's eyes widen. She'll have to remember that one. "Oh," she says softly. "I take it the meeting did not go well."

Niko nods sharply. "Good assessment." He pummels at the bag for a moment longer, with additional commentary, complete with annotations. Then he catches sight of his chrono, and shakes his head, with a muffled curse. "Got to get upstairs. Split shifts are just -weird-."'

Kyara glances toward her own chrono, frustration briefly overcoming her expression. "Indeed. I'm due on in a few moments as well." She gives the punching bag a pitying look. "Might I suggest you take a few minutes to cool down a bit before heading up? Paperwork's not going to help your mood any."

Niko nods to that, with a smile that's half a grimace. "Good idea. I was going to snag a shower and a uniform, get rid of the skates, that sort of thing."

Kyara nods her approval, echoing, "Good idea." A faint smile touches her lips. "I'll have chocolate donuts waiting for ya."

Niko's smile is a hair more genuine as he takes up his skates, though it still hints at the anger that he's now stuffed into a tiny box. "Thanks, Kya. You're the best. See you in a few." A skate in each hand, he lopes towards the exit.

Kyara nods, returning to the range to sign out.

[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 strides briskly over to the closet, the better to stow his skates and take out a uniform. "If I snap at everybody," he says, tone rather wry, "It's not because of work. I took a break this time. Somehow, I think working straight through would've been a better idea."

Elasia is not exactly altogether awake, curled as she is into one corner of the couch. Your words hoever stir her from her vaguely aware state enough to look worried. "What happened?"

Niko shakes his head. "Terrence. I met him. He's even worse than I expected, the--" No, that's definitely not complimentary. With another shake of his head, he adds, "That's not helping, sorry. How're you? You okay?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Elasia rubs at her eyes a moment to clear them of sleep, "Yeah, I'm fine, I was just dozing. Worse than you expected?"

Niko shakes his head. "Tell you about it later, okay? I need to get back to work soon." His expression, however, is somewhat concerned. "Did you not sleep well last night?"

"I slept fine," Elasia offers a grin and stretches, looking somewhat more awake. "I've just been up to my eyeballs in things at work. It's tiring, you know the drill I'm sure."

Niko nods his agreement to that, with a wry grin. "Glad you can catch a nap, then," he says, leaning down to claim a kiss. "I'll let you get back to it, eh? Got to go talk to Anya." He starts for the bathroom, however, apparently to get a shower first.

Elasia returns the kiss with as much intensity as she can manage in her rather recently napped state. "Good luck, love."

Niko murmurs a thankyou over his shoulder as he ducks into the bathroom. He returns after a speed-shower--new for the 2804 Olympics?--and steals another kiss before heading for the door. "Have a nice day, hon. I won't be too late, I hope."

Elasia settles back into her nap as you escape, "Love you, have fun, be careful."

Niko calls a farewell over one shoulder as he slips out the door.

You head towards the Security Central.

Security Central

Contents:

Kyara

Tally Board

Obvious exits:

Chief's Office Brig Elevator Lounge

You arrive from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Niko, looking somewhat less like he's going to take out his aggressions on random inanimate objects, comes into the room and moves to claim paperwork from various baskets. "Afternoon, folks."

There's already chocolate frosted chocolate donut awaiting Niko on his desk. Kya looks up with a smile. "Better?"

Niko nods, with a murmured thankyou as he takes a bite of the donut, then carefully wipes the frosting from his fingers before he starts to sort the paperwork. "Better," he agrees. "Hot water is a goodness. Seeing Ela didn't hurt, either."

Kyara chuckles, scratching away with her pen at the paperwork. "I bet. How's she doing these days? I haven't seen her since Kathlyn sent me for the bat."

Niko, still sorting steadily, replies, "She's all right--working too hard, but at least she has the sense to take a break every now and then."

Kyara's mouth quirks slightly. "Perfect match then," she notes, lightly teasing

Niko rolls his eyes. "What, opposites attract, you mean?"

Kyara laughs quietly, shaking her head. "No, just the opposite. You both work too hard."

Niko ahhs at that. "I thought you meant--never mind, not important." He attempts to figure out how to get another bite of that donut without getting frosting on his fingers, and finally--yes, this is kind of odd, he uses a fork to pick up the donut.

Kyara peers at the donut-forking with amusement. "That's one way to keep frosting off the papers, I suppose."

Niko glances over with a faint grin. "It's either this or go through napkins, and have to stop to wipe my fingers. More efficient, this way."

Kyara chuckles. "Whatever works."

Niko murmurs something about eating donuts with chopsticks, puzzling a moment before putting a form in one particular pile.

Kyara chuckles quietly. "That sounds rather difficult."

Niko shakes his head. "Never tried it," he says absently, taking up one of the piles of paperwork and sorting through it. "I'm not very good with chopsticks. It'd be an adventure, though. Maybe if you poked another hole in the donut, with the chopstick..."

Kyara giggles softly, making her way through paperwork at a rapid pace. "I think I'd just stick with the fork. If it isn't broken, don't fix it."

Niko quips, "If it's not broken, leave the regenerator where it is. Forks're good, yeah."

Kyara chuckles, nodding. "Never would've thought of that myself."

Niko murmurs a few numbers, then inquires, "Thought of which?"

Kyara gestures toward your donut. "Using a fork for that."

Niko ahhhhs quietly. "Creativity is fun," he says absently. "Fun and exciting."

Kyara grins faintly. "It can be. Sometimes it backfires."

Niko nods at that, with a muffled snicker. "Uh, sometimes very badly, yeah. But backfiring can still be fun."

Kyara's mouth quirks. "Can it? I'm afraid I've never had /that/ experience."

Niko nods firmly to that, glancing up for a moment with an excessively innocent smile. "It can. It can also demonstrate how creativity does not belong in the pyrotechnics lab."

Kyara laughs, wincing slightly. "Bet that was fun to watch, at least."

Niko nods at that. "More fun from a distance," he says succinctly, turning back to his paper-sorting.

Kyara chuckles. "That happen while you were in school?"

Niko nods at that. "Sophomore year. Professor Riordan had three ducks, a goose, and eight chickens."

Kyara snickers. "Did you at least get high marks for creativity?"

Niko shakes his head. "Got a lecture on proper laboratory procedure, and my own stupidity. And that," he adds, "showed lots of creativity, too. Some of the -words-, I swear..."

Kyara grins. "So that's where you got all those."

Niko murmurs, "Some of them. Some of them are from other places." He pauses a few moments, counting again, then says, "S'not the only time I've been exposed to, uh, creative language, after all."

Kyara glances over curiously. "Really? You don't seem the type to get yelled at much."

Niko nods amiably. "Not any more, yeah. But I wasn't always at the height of perfection, as I am now." His tone is wryly amused.

Kyara snickers softly. "Glad to hear it."

Niko peers over at that. "What, that I used to be, uh, more inclined to hearing creative language?"

Kyara mhmms, turning a page. "These days you never seem to do anything wrong. I'm still trying to figure out /how/."

Niko blinks at that. "Uh, no, see, I do. You just didn't see it, that's all."

Kyara grins. "Just as good."

Niko looks just a bit puzzled as he sets aside one stack and takes up another. "Uh, thanks? I'd offer to screw up a little more publicly, but it'd have to wait til Riley got back, at least."

Kyara chuckles. "You're the one we're going to have to have those documentarieans interview."

Niko acks at that. "Me? Why -me-? I -saw- that Roberto guy the other day, and he's just scary."

Kyara grins. "Because you present the correct image."

Niko mock-shudders. "Why not Kaycen? Or Kath? She can -pretend- to show the correct image, and they won't know she's making fun of them. Or Shan, for that matter? Or Anya? Or..." Yes, he's going to list everybody but himself.

Kyara chuckles. "Camera-shy, Nick?"

Niko shakes his head. "Time-shy. I've got enough to do without babysitting vid people. I'm sorry, it just doesn't sound like my idea of fun."

Kyara chuckles. "Mine neither. In fact, I can't think of anybody who'd actually enjoy it."

Niko murmurs, "Bet Kath would, though I don't know how, uh, realistic the results would be."

Kyara's mouth quirks. "I'm not sure if that'd be a good thing or bad."

Niko shakes his head. "It'd be entertaining, that's for sure. Probably get that Roberto guy jumping on chairs or something."

Kyara snickers. "I'd pull out /my/ camera for that."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko grins over from his work. "Half the vid folks would film it, too, probably."

Kyara chuckles. "Maybe we could charge 'em then."

Niko says absently, "Good for the budget. And it'd look better than a bake sale."

Kyara snickers. "Depends on just how well we bake."

Niko suggests, "Ela's brownies, maybe? I don't bake, not at all, but her -brownies-... well, they'd sell, that's for sure."

Kyara's mouth quirks. "You should bring some in, so we can do a taste test."

Niko nods agreeably. "She offered to make some, but, well, time and all... I'm greedy, I'd rather have her doing things other than baking when we've got some time together. Shut up, Kathlyn." Even though she's not in the room, Niko -knows- that statements like that are likely to make her pop out of the woodwork.

Kyara snickers quietly. "Butterscotch massages perhaps?"

Niko blinks several times. "Butterscotch.... -massages-? Now, I'm not going to say no to a backrub or something, but with -butterscotch-?" He honestly seems surprised. "Kya, that'd be really sticky." He really is lucky that Kathlyn's not in the room.

Kyara grins. "Yeah, but see, afterwards it gives you the excuse to shower together."

Niko shakes his head, really turning the most entertaining colors. He mumbles something about paint, then coughs. "Uh, so. How's that paperwork?"

Kyara giggles. Maybe she's just filling in for Kath, yeah, that's the ticket. "Completely caught up. Just working on today's load. Nothing particularly exciting."

Niko rubs at the back of his neck. "Good. Caught up is good, very good." He shuffles his paperwork. Not thinking about butterscotch or its aftermath at all. Six-minute rule? Right. "Uh. Paperwork."

Kyara nods, glancing over. "You anywhere close?"

Niko shakes his head. "'course not. There's too much for that. Once Anya comes in, I'm going to bug her about what needs to be done first and make sure that gets done. I've got some of it done, though."

Kyara nods approvingly. "That seems like a wise move."

Niko, as he's an honest kind of guy, admits, "It was Ela's.... uh, suggestion."

Kyara chuckles. "Nobody ever implied she's not brainy."

Niko nods his agreement to that. "She's very smart, yeah. Puts up with me very well."

Kyara grins wryly. "Oh, like you give her so much trouble or something. Yeah, right."

Niko says rather dryly, "Ask her. I don't know if she'll admit to it, as she's also very nice, but I do, sometimes."

Kyara chuckles. "She won't then. Is she as stubborn as you are?"

Niko looks up with a faint grin. "More stubborn. And a lot more patient."

Kyara grins. "Is that an unspoken 'luckily' I hear?"

Niko nods firmly to that. "Oh, most definitely. Otherwise... well, let's just say that there are times when she needs the patience."

Kyara shakes her head. "That's hard to believe," she admits.

Niko lifts his shoulders in a small shrug. "It's true, unfortunately. You can ask her. I'm just glad we didn't have the nerf bat while I was getting over the plasma burns and all."

Kyara grins. "I will have to ask her then."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko nods agreeably. "I'd be interested to hear what she has to say," he says, with a grin. "Speaking on that--well, we weren't, but it occurred to me--when did you want to come up to our place?"

Kyara considers that for a moment. "Whenever's good for you. With your shift's and all, I figured I'll let y'all make that call."

Niko mock-sighs, murmuring about decisions and evil. "Well, how late d'you work tonight? I'd have to ask her, of course, make sure she's caught up on naps and all, but it'd be fine for me."

Kyara shakes her head. "I came in early today. Trying to shift toward working the earlier shifts. I'm off at twenty-hundred."

Niko looks over at that a bit amused. "Earlier shifts, huh? Got things to do in the evening, now?" Wink wink. "That'd work for me, sure."

Kyara chuckles, turning a lovely shade of rosy red. "I guess so. I officially have the title 'SO', I have been informed."

Niko quips, "Better than CO or XO or CMO, in my book. Congratulations."

Kyara giggles. "Thank you. It'll be nice while it lasts."

Niko nods to that. See, he's respectful of other folks' beliefs, and doesn't argue his own point about your relationship. "You're quite welcome. It's good to have somebody, huh?"

Kyara smiles somewhat absently. "Yeah, it is. Funny, I never missed it before I had it."

Niko inquires curiously, "You've not had a relationship before?"

Kyara shakes her head. "Not before I came here, no." Her mouth quirks wryly. "People here are a little more open-minded, it seems."

Niko says pragmatically, "If you'd not had a relationship, it's not surprising you didn't miss it, then." There's a puzzled pause, and then he nods. "Well, yeah, I guess so. Depends on the people, and the topic."

Kyara reaches up to tap a horn amiably. "These are a real killer when it comes to relationships among Stilvani. One more reason I prefer to stay here."

Niko looks just a little more confused. "The horns? I... uh, all Stilvani have horns, right?" No, he's not perceptive, why?

Kyara mhmmms, her tone absent as she types. "But not all Stilvani have deformed ones."

Niko squints at the horns for a moment. "Oh," he says, taking up another pile of paperwork to organize. "Huh. Well, sounds like your new SO doesn't have a problem with 'em. It -is- Roland, right? The one who sent the flowers?"

Kyara chuckles, nodding. "Indeed. He didn't want to tell me it was him who sent the flowers either, but he let it slip in an unguarded moment."

Niko inquires absently, "Why didn't he want you to know?"

Kyara lifts her shoulders in a slight shrug. "I'm not quite sure, really. I think he just enjoyed my efforts to get him to admit it."

Niko grins crookedly at that. "Ahhh. Okay, I guess I can understand. But y'know now."

Kyara grins. "Yep! He really shocked me. Said the roses were there, just yelling 'buy me for your SO!'. I had to ask him what the term meant."

Niko's head bobs in a brief nod. "See, men have this special kind of hearing," he says, quite seriously. "Sometimes things need to be bought, and announce this to us."

Kyara snickers softly. "I see. Like skates for Ela?"

Niko grins at that. "No, we bought those together. I was thinking more like the kitten. She really did say, 'You need to buy me and take me home to Ela.'"

Kyara laughs. "I never knew you spoke feline."

Niko snickers at that. "She made a special exception and spoke Standard for me."

Kyara grins. "Sounds like a very talented cat."

Niko nods at that. "Oh, yup, Scutter's definitely that." He grins. "She's in charge, after all. We just do what she wants."

Kyara glances over, amused. "She's training you, rather than the other way around? I'm not sure it's supposed to work that way."

Niko chuckles at that, with an almost-shrug. "I don't know, I've never had cats before. Ela seems to think that it's a natural thing, though."

Kyara hmmms. "Yep, I definitely want a dog then. One small enough to fit comfortably in my quarters."

Niko grins at that. "Just be careful which kind you get, eh? Some of the small ones really need a -lot- of exercise."

Kyara looks up with a blink. "Really? I'd've thought the opposite."

Niko shakes his head. "Professor Riordan has a little terrier--not sure what kind--named Charlie. Talk about energy, yeesh. He's a cute dog, though. The professor brought him to the lab some days, and we'd play catch with him in the hallways." Lab safety, what?

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Kyara glances around, peering under desks. "Dogs do seem to like to play catch a lot. Actually I was thinking along the lines of a miniature Doberman."

Niko considers that. "I've only seen the full-sized versions. Are the little ones yippy?"

Kyara mmms, "Yippy?"

Niko makes a few yipping noises, somewhat to the amusement of some of the other SecOffs. "Y'know... yipyipyip. Shrill, barking, kind of obnoxious?"

Kyara doesn't laugh, but amusement shows in her eyes. "I'm not sure, really. I suppose it would be something I should look into."

Niko nods firmly to that. "Definitely. You don't just randomly get a pet without knowing how the pet's going to act."

Kyara mhmmms. "Or without knowing what effect it'll have on the neighbors."

Niko grins crookedly. "Yeah. Seeing as how I would still be your neighbor if I weren't a floor up, I think that'd be appreciated."

Kyara chuckles. "I'll keep that in mind. Let me guess... small dogs tend to be yippy?"

Pen just gives Kyara another unloved look. She's betraying him. He's the One True Dog! Another dog, harrumph.

Niko grins at that. "Well, Charlie wasn't. I've never had a little dog, though. I prefer 'em bigger--Pen's size, or bigger than that." See? He's loyal. Well, no, he's got a cat. But at least he doesn't have another -dog-.

Kyara gives Pen an amused look. "It's not as if I can take you home with me. Treat?" A shiny box is withdrawn from a drawer, and she looks over at Nick, even more amused. "I'd be smothered by a dog that large sleeping on my bed."

Niko nods, starting to fill out some of a stack of paperwork. "Wasn't suggesting one for you, Kya. Just saying that I don't know much about the little ones."

Kyara nods, tossing a few treats to the floor under Pen's nose. "Maybe a medium-sized one then. A poodle, perhaps. At least they've get spiffy grooming."

Oh yeah, like Pen's affection can be bought with -treats-? Erm, well, yes, but that's beside the point!

Niko nods at that. "And fluffy hair," he quips. "I've heard poodles are okay dogs. Not had those, though. Dad didn't like 'em."

Kyara snickers. "Great. Fluffy does seem to run in the family after all. It'd only be keeping up the tradition." A few more treats make their way to the floor.

Niko, with a snicker and another nod, exchanges a full form for an empty one. "Exactly. Sounds like a good plan."

Kyara chuckles. "Of course it is, even if it did require careful dissection. Why didn't your father like poodles?"

Niko ponders that for a moment. "Too fluffy, I think. Not... manly dogs."

Kyara snickers. "Manly? /Manly/? I did not realize that was an option amongst dogs."

Niko, with a laugh, says, "Some dogs are more macho than others, I guess. I don't know."

Kyara hmmms. "Well, we'll have to avoid those particular pooches." Of course, with her luck, Pen's manly. "I prefer a demure, feminine mystique."

Pen is -very- manly. Woof.

Niko nods to that. "Well, yeay, Kya. You're a woman." Okay, so he's not -totally- blind...

Kyara rolls her eyes. "Yes, but not all women are feminine /or/ demure."

Niko says, with a hint of dry humor, "If you'd met my baby sister, you'd know I didn't think that."

Kyara chuckles. "Once again I'm not sure whether I'm glad or not that I have no siblings."

Niko offers a grin. "You can have one of mine, if you want. Losi. Maybe Aspasia."

Kyara snickers. "Now now, you know you don't mean that. Besides, if you gave them to me, you would miss out on scaring their boyfriends."

Niko shakes his head. "Gonna miss that anyway," he says, with a sigh that's only partly feigned. "Aspasia's already -got- one, and Zoey's pining over some little punk. But I can't intimidate either of them from -here-."

Kyara hmmms. "Perhaps... I suspect your father's already got that covered though."

Niko nods at that. "Well, yeah, for Zoey. Aspasia's at Hellas City most of the time, though."

Kyara ahs softly. "You got any brothers?"

Niko gestures towards Riley's office. "Only Riley, and his brothers."

Kyara chuckles softly. "Pity you can't send Riley. Your sisters wouldn't have any boyfriends for a decade."

Niko blinks at that. "Riley'd scare them off that badly? And I don't want to put off boyfriends for -that- long. I mean, I want more nieces and nephews, so I can buy more fingerpaint."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Kyara mhmmms. "He's /really/ scary when he wants to be, y'know. You probably haven't had to deal with that aspect of him. Just take my word for it. What's stopping you from buying fingerpaint?"

"Stavros," Niko replies. "My brother-in-law." He muffles a snicker. "He's still bent out of shape from the paint I got the twins. Maybe I -will- send the Sectassian rhythm sets."

Kyara laughs. "Oh, that's devilish. You love driving them crazy, don't you?"

Niko casts over a mischievous grin. "I'm an older brother. It's required. I -have- to be evil, especially to the kids."

Kyara snickers. "Fun for the entire range then."

Niko nods his agreement to that. "And there'll be a new baby soon. Have to start looking for a present."

Kyara glances over with a blink. "A new baby?"

Niko glances over with another nod and a smile. "My sister Nacippe. She's due... uh, soon."

Kyara chuckles. "That must be very exciting."

Niko nods yet again. He's good at nodding. "Be more exciting if I were -there-, though."

Kyara mhmmms. "Well... after Riley gets back from vacation, why don't you take one?"

Niko's brows lift at that. "To go to Hellas? I can't. The transit time is too long."

"It is?" Kya seems dubious. "How long is it anyhow?"

Niko considers for a moment. "Depends on the ship. On the one I took to get here, it would've taken maybe a week."

Kyara nods, looking faintly puzzled. "So if you took a month's leave..."

Niko shakes his head. "I haven't even been here a year, Kya. I can't take off for a -month-, not just for a vacation."

Kyara sighs softly. "Gotta be a way you can see 'em."

Niko, with a faint smile, says, "Once Ela and I are married, I'm going to write the folks and see if they'll let the girls visit--the younger ones, at least. Cip'd not be able to come."

Kyara ooohs, "That'd be fun! Then they can find new ways to drive you crazy."

Niko shakes his head, expression rather amused. "On second thought, maybe that's not such a good idea."

Kyara grins. "Of /course/ it is. I could learn so much!" Yes, she's kidding.

Niko nods, not kidding. "From Losi, you likely could. The kid is evil. Zoey's a sweetheart, though. She's the one who studied with the Maestro."

Kyara ahs, "See, now he'd probably enjoy the visit too. How old's Losi?"

Niko supplies, "Thirteen. Poor Mom and Dad. She's not a bad kid, though, for all that I complain."

Kyara mmms, "You'd have to find a babysitter then, wouldn't you? I mean, it's not as if you and Ela'd have time to watch after them."

Niko ponders that for a moment. "I'd rather they not wander around here unsupervised, yeah. Neither of them are very used to... well, anything but Mathraki. Maybe if Aspasia came, too..."

Kyara nods, tapping her pen thoughtfully against her desk. "Cori, maybe?"

Niko considers that. "She's certainly good with kids--saw her with a bunch of the Sectassians, the other day, and she didn't even threaten to strangle them. I guess it depends on how busy she is. But it can't hurt to ask--good suggestion, thanks, Kya."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Kyara beams. "You're welcome, I guess. Just tossing thoughts off the top of my head."

Niko, at the mention of tossing, glances for Pen's ball. Nah. He's busy. He can't throw the ball for the puppy. Oh, well. "Well, we've got a bit to consider it, anyway, since they can't come til after Ela and I are married."

Kyara grimaces. "But that might not be for /months/."

Can't throw the ball for the puppy!? What?! Wait a minute, if Niko is too busy for that, Pen is going to have to have some words with the adminstration around here.

Niko lifts his shoulders in a small shrug. "Well. We'll see. When Riley gets back, I'll try to talk to him about it." He adds, mumbling mostly to himself, "Maybe next week..." Spotting what he assumes is a look from Pen, he grins, and snags the ball, tossing it across the room. Duck, Kaycen.

Pen goes bounding after the ball. Okay, that's -better-.

Kyara grins. "That's more like it." She eyes the bounding Pen. "Dogs require a lot of equipment, don't they."

Niko tips a hand back and forth. "Depends on the dog, I guess."

Kyara mhmmms. "Oh well. Long as it's all fun."

Pen returns to drop down onto Niko's feet, chewing cheerfully on the ball.

Paperwork? What paperwork. "Time for a break," Niko decides, bending down in an attempt to wrestle the ball away from Pen and growling cheerfully. "Lots of fun," he says, when he remembers to speak like a human once more.

Pen is more than content to engage in tug of war, eventually he decides to let Niko win. Maybe this way the ball will be thrown again.

Kyara snickers softly, eyeing her thinning pile of paperwork. "Apparently. I suppose now would be another good time for those vid people to show up."

Niko agreeably tosses the ball once more. "A SecOff And His Dog?" he inquires, with a grin. "Yeah. Real people, doing their part to entertain a puppy."

Pen goes leaping off after the ball, looking exceedingly pleased. See, this is what life is all about. Chasing flying objects.

Kyara chuckles. "That is a good point. Seems like lots of people think SecOffs are, well, inhuman."

Niko blinks at that. "Lots of people?" he echoes, confused. "Like who?"

Kyara hmmms? "Oh..." SHe gestures downward. "Undergrounders, for some."

Niko ahs quietly. "Some of 'em, yeah, I guess. Maybe the ones who have shady dealings don't -want- to think of us as human. Easier for them to rationalize that sort of thing, maybe."

Kyara shrugs slightly, vague discomfort in her expression. "I suppose."

Niko scrambles to his feet once more, apparently as the break ends. "Just a theory. If you want to ignore it, you can. When I blew up the pyro lab, that was because of a theory, too."

Kyara shrugs with a chuckle. "It's a valid theory, with much to support it."

Niko quips, "The pyro one? That's what -I- thought."

Kyara giggles. "No, I meant the other. You weren't injured during the unexpected pyro display, were you?"

Niko tips a hand back and forth. "Not -too- badly. I ducked even less well, at that point."

Kyara shakes her head, vaguely amused. "That's probably a better lesson than getting yelled at, even." She rises ethereally to file the last of her paperwork. "How much you got left for the day?"

Niko mumbles something about preferring the yelling. "Uh... well, none of it -has- to be done -today-."

Kyara smiles. "I only ask because my stuff's done and my shift was over a few minutes ago."

Niko blinks at that. "Oh. Time to go, yeah, I should do that, too. I can bug Ela, if you like?"

Kyara nods slightly. "Please? Best to know now if she's already made plans for the night."

Niko nods at that, lifting his comm-unit.

You say "Hon? You awake?" into the communit. [to Ela.]

Your communit crackles to life and blares "Hwuh, uh, yeah, yeah, awake. Sure, sorry. What's up?" in Elasia's voice.

Kyara leans back against the file cabinet, smiling down at Pen.

You say "I was going to bring Kya up with me, would that be okay with you? Hey... maybe -she- would be interested in group marriage!" into the communit.

Kyara acks softly, snickering. "Never lonely that way," she murmurs.

Niko grins wickedly, though he doesn't say anything.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Your communit crackles to life and announces "*spluttered snicker* Kya coming up is fine. Group marriage is -right- out." in Elasia's voice.

Kyara chuckles at the overheard splutter. "Bet she turns neat shades of red too?"

You say "*snicker* Awww, you never let me do -anything-. Thanks, hon. We'll be up in a few." into the communit.

Niko nods at that, looking up from the comm. "She makes blushing an art form," he says, with a grin.

Your communit crackles to life and announces "Okay, see you then." in Elasia's voice.

Kyara grins. "Verdict?"

Niko pets the puppy, then gets to his feet, dropping various piles of paperwork into the appropriate bins. "Ready to go?" He answers a question with a question, how evil.

Kyara mhmms, straightening up from the lean heerfully. (Yes, there's a missing letter- my keyboard just rebelled and refuses to type that one letter.) "Indeed."

Niko calls a farewell to the remaining SecOffs, then heads towards the door. "We might as well head off, then."

[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.

Kyara enters from the Elevator Lounge.

Kyara has arrived.

Elasia is rummaging about in the kitchen and the smells of cooking food wend their way through the apartment. Scutter is currently engaged in the fine art of attacking a paper ball. The little butterscotch tabby is quite intent on her task. Elasia grins and offers a wave, "Hello love, Kyara, how'd the shift go?"

Niko takes a spare piece of paper from a pocket and crumples it into a ball, dropping it on the kitten. Ambush from above, aiee! "Hiya, hon. Went pretty well, from my end. I didn't get a chance to talk with Anya, but I think I'm starting to get a handle on prioritizing. Tomorrow she can tell me that I'm wrong, but I'm set for today." He pads over to the kitchen, so he can kiss his fiancee. Yes, it's PDA, but he's not overly nauseating about it.

Kyara pauses inside the door to glance around appreciatively. "Ditto that. Pretty well, I mean." She politely finds interest in the rug as the kiss ensues.

Elasia doesn't appear to object to being kissed, public or no. In fact that seems to get her a little closer towards awake, a state she had nearly achieved anyhow. The pan of cooking food objects however demands attention and with an apologetic murmur she turns to it, "Sounds good to me, as long as it was better than yesterday." She can't stifle a grin at Kyara's sudden rug appreciation.

Niko just snickers at Kyara's rug, appreciation, strolling back to the main section of the room. "Much better than yesterday. I'm not being obnoxious, neh? And, honestly, Kya. After what you were saying about butterscotch, then you look away when we -kiss-?"

Kyara glances up, blushes, and her gaze turns to the wall. "It's one thing to say it... when Ela's not around... it's quite another to witness lip loccking. Besides, it's better than some reations I've seen." Her curious eyes light on the kitten. "Scutter?"

"Butterscotch?" Elasia can't help but echo, looking a bit hopeful. She nods to the question, grinning, "Scutterbotch the amazing, yes. Although she will deign to be referred to as Scutter."

Niko coughs softly at the echo. "I'll tell you later, hon," he murmurs. He bends down to ruffle the kitten's fur, then scoops her up, offering her to Kyara. "She won't bite. Much."

Kyara opens her mouth to answer the butterscoth remark, but ends up grinning at Niko's answer to that. She takes the kitten tentatively, expression turning to delight as she cuddles it. "Oooh, she's /warm/."

Elasia adds something else to the pan, letting it cook to itself as she heads into the main room as well. "And she likes being that way. She's taken to sleeping on top of the fridge if nobody's home. Startled me out of a year's growth this afternoon."

Niko grins at Kya. "Well, yeah. She's a kitten, she sucks heat from everybody else in the room." At Ela's words, he muffles a laugh. "Ack, poor Ela. That's a good thing to be warned about, yeah."

Kyara eyes the sofa, gingerly taking a seat. Fingers sritch instinctiviely at the kitten's ear. "How do you know where she sleeps if she does it when you're not home?" Niko's remark gets a blushing shrug. "Felines seem so aloof, I sort of expeccted her to be cold, I guess."

Niko mumbles, as he perches on the arm of the couch, "She's only aloof to body parts that aren't feet, or paper balls, or bits of fluff, or evil towels."

"Because she decided to leap down to greet me when I snagged a soda," Elasia explains in an amused tone. "But when people are here she naps with a lap or whatever. We are but cushions, you see."

Kyara giggles, cradling Scutter as if the kitten were a baby. "Guess she wanted to make absolutely sure you noticed her. Cats do love attention, I've heard?" A curious glance is cast toward Niko. "Evil towels? As opposed to good ones?"

Niko clarifies, after a muffled sound that crosses an ack and a snicker at Ela's explanation, "They're evil if they make her wet. Wet... water. Oh. Yeah, the reason I dragged you up here, other than Scutterbotch the Amazing--the chai. Hon, you want some, too?" He gets to his feet, heading for the kitchen area.

Elasia tugs an ottoman aside and uses it as a seat, "No thank you love, I've a soda. Although if you'd stir the food when you go past I'd be terribly appreciative."

Kyara glances up with a smile. "Yes, the chai. She doesn't like being wet then? How do you bathe her?" A semi-appreciative sniff precedes the question, "What're you cooking?"

Niko nods amiably to Ela. "Stir, check, no problem, hon. Stirring, I can manage." And, in fact, he does stir the food, before getting some water and setting it to boil, then rummaging in a cabinet.

Elasia can't quite not chuckle at Kyara's question, "She dislikes water with a passion, and seems to think we are odd indeed for subjecting ourselves the shower. She bathes herself, with her tongue. It's a nice thing about cats." There's a pause, "Oh, souvlaki with veggies, there'll be plenty if you'd like?"

Kyara gives the cat a doubtful look. "Your /tongue/, Scutter?" She looks back up, obviously tempted. "What's souvlaki?"

Niko calls from the kitchen area, "It's good!" Helpful, isn't he? After a bit more rummaging, something is spooned into the mugs, with the occasional clinking sound.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

"Cubed beef and lamb, marinated and all. I'm cooking it this time with various veggies and all, it's quicker than doing it the right way." Elasia explains with an amused grin cast Niko-wards. "Nothing fancy I'm afraid, it's been a day."

Kyara nods after a moment. "I've never had lamb. It's baby sheep, right? Thank you, I do believe I'll partake. What's the right way?"

Niko quips, as he pours into the mugs and stirs, with more clinking, "Maybe we should try with chopsticks."

"Baby sheep, yeah." Elasia offers something of a sheepish (lambish?) grin, "Although I must admit, I don't like thinking of how something so cute can be so tasty. Roasted on skewers..." She raises brows at Niko, amused but confused, "It'd be an easy thing to eat with them but...."

Kyara laughs quietly. "Easier than donuts, certainly, I'm sure. Skewers are handy though."

Niko explains to Ela, as he returns with a pair of mugs, "I was eating a donut with a fork earlier, see, and we somehow digressed to chopsticks. Here you go, Kya," he adds, offering a mug handle-first. "Careful, it's a bit warm, but it tastes best before it cools too much."

Elasia just -has- to ask, "Niko, I love you very dearly, but why were you using a fork to eat a doughnut?"

Niko replies, with a grin, "It was frosted, see, and I didn't want to get the icing on the paperwork, and I didn't want to have to keep wiping my fingers. That'd use up too many napkins."

Kyara shifts the kitten, despite a feline protest, in order to take the mug, sniffing at its contents. "Frosting avoidance."

"Frosting avoidance," Elasia repeats, obviously liking the phrase. "A laudable goal I suppose. Although to be -honest- -I- happen to be partial to frosted Niko."

Niko takes a sip of his own chai, clearly liking the drink, though he chokes on the sip at Ela's words. "Hon," he protests, amusement warring with embarrassment in his tone.

Kyara coughs, finding a good excuse to drink the chai hot. "Too much information," she snickers.

Elasia just looks innocent. Very innocent indeed. She climbs to her feet to go stir dinner...innocently.

Niko, as he knows that innocence, rubs at the back of his neck and coughs. "Uh. So. How do you like the drink, Kya?"

Kyara hmmms? "Oh! The chai. It's... unique." She contemplates the mug for a moment. "Not bad, mind you. I don't think I've ever had anything like it."

Elasia begins to rummage for plates and utensils. "It's lovely stuff, better than coffee."

Elasia is a diplomat. She can be a heathen.

Niko casts a grin towards Ela, then tells Kya, "I think it originated on Terra. I lived on the stuff during college--literally."

Kyara ahs, "For some reason I was thinking it was Ela who'd made you aware of the stuff."

Elasia shakes her head, scooping food onto the plates and settling each with utensils. She returns, offering you each a plate. "I found it in college as well, although I did not live on it. I never blew anything up either, very dull I'm afraid."

Niko, with a grin to Kyara, says, "Nope, it was my aunt Thalassa, the infidel." Rolling his eyes at Ela, he nods. "Yeah, horribly boring. Anything I can do to help." He likely times that right as there is no more need for helpfulness.

Kyara chuckles. "If your training was anything like mine, ma'am, I sincerely doubt it was boring. Blowing things up might be a bit much though. Aunt Thalassa the Infidel... sounds like a song title."

Elasia shakes her head, ruffling Niko's hair as she passes back to the kitchen. "No, I have it, thank you though." She still hasn't caught on, she thinks Niko's nice and helpful. Silly person. She returns to her ottoman with her own dinner and a soda.

Niko says airily, "Blowing up things is fun, as long as it's planned and doesn't involve annoyed pudding." At the mention of song titles, he snickers. "Ah, Kya, she'd -love- that. She really is a rebel, even has some technology in her house." Ela gets a bright grin. "Thanks, hon, you're wonderful." Well, he's nice, at least.

Elasia scoops up a bite of dinner, just giving Niko an amused look. When she's finished chewing she adds, "You're welcome, dear." She shakes her head, "As lovely as the pudding smelled, no more exploding sounds like a thought."

Kyara's mouth quirks. "I'd offer to write it myself, but you'd be the better author, I think." She looks rather amused at the mushiness.

Niko takes up some of his own food, chewing with gusto. Then, suddenly, he blinks. "Wonder if the shower in my old room was ever switched back from the pudding. Uh, I'll have to see if it was reassigned." Muffling a snicker, he nods at Kyara. "Or maybe she'll visit, and you can meet her yourself. She's the Black Sheep of the family, see, so she'd venture off-planet."

Elasia continues working through her meal. "Well, if it hadn't been, I'd bet you'd've heard by now." She snickers.

Kyara rises to fetch her own plate. "A pudding shower, Nick?"

Niko nods at that. "Yeah, Anya had Arthur switch the shower in my old room to butterscotch pudding, 'cause of a certain letter she received. It was, uh, interesting. Very slimy."

Elasia has the grace to look abashed, chuckling, "I didn't realize she'd do -that-..."

Kyara's eyes widen. "Oh /my/... Anya's certainly original!"

Niko leans over to kiss Ela's cheek. "S'okay, hon. It was, uh, interesting." At Kyara's words, he nods firmly. "You thought pissing off pudding was bad? Don't -ever- annoy Anya."

"I just could wish the timing had been better," Elasia says in quiet amusement.

Kyara shakes her head, chucckling. "I'll make sure I don't." She gives Ela a curious, amused look. "Wish you'd been in there too?"

Niko starts to murmur an agreement to Elasia's words, but, no, he's too busy gaping at Kyara. "I thought you said it was different when she was here," he protests.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Elasia does not -quite- blush, but she stifles a snicker. "No, you see that was when the inspectors came."

Kyara coughs, a bit flustered. "Well, yes, but that was before she offered dinner, see. The inspectors?"

Niko rubs at the back of his neck, looking embarrassed and amused as he takes up his fork once more. Food, food will not say embarrassing things. "Yeah, the inspectors. Remember, the evil folks that came after we kicked out the Fourth Fleet? Why we had to get the place patched up in a hurry?"

Obviously Stilvani will though if you feed them. Like Mogwai. ;) Elasia nods at Niko's explanation, "The butterscotch hit then."

Kyara blinks in comprehension, nodding. "That's right. Sorry, so much stuff goes on around here, I have trouble keeping track." She eyes a furry paw making its way toward her plate.

Kyara peers at Ela, then snickers. "Wish I coulda seen that."

Niko grins wryly at that. "There are pictures somewhere, I'm sure. Stills from the cameras, if nothing else."

Elasia just looks innocent again, oh no, -she- wouldn't have pictures. "My fault I'm afraid, I sent Anya a note about throwing pudding at Niko."

Kyara snickers, shaking her head. "I have to ask- why would you send such a note." She beams delightedly at Niko. "We need some for the bulletin board."

"Because Riley threw pudding at him," Elasia answers. Oh yeah. That explains it.

Niko informs Kyara, with a shake of his head, "I'm afraid I don't have 'em. I'm just sure they exist. Somewhere. If I get covered in some bizarre substance, someone will get a picture. It's required." He grins at Ela's explanation, looking decidedly amused.

Kyara looks decidedly confused. After a swallow of the stuff I can't spell, she inquires, "Riley missed?"

"Nope, he got him. I was pleased." Elasia just grins rather deviously.

Niko coughs and gets to his feet. "Uh, anybody want seconds?"

Elasia shakes her head at Niko, atlhough she offers her plate, trying to look pitiful. "No, but could you toss this in the sink?"

Kyara looks more confused now, though Niko's questin is clear enough, and she hands her plate over. "Yes, please. "So Nick got hit by pudding twice?"

"Three or four times," Elasia says, "The explosion, Riley, the shower...Yes three."

Niko juggles the plates, managing to carry all of them. "Three," he confirms, as he heads into the kitchen area. "Though I nearly got hit again the other day in the diing facility."

Kyara shakes her head. "Do you still /eat/ pudding, Nick? As sort of a sweet revenge, perhaps? What happened the other day?"

Elasia looks rather curious about this one as well, settling in for comfort.

Niko calls over to Ela, "Would it be worthy of a younger brother if I replaced all the soda in his fridge with those cups of butterscotch pudding?" Returning with his plate and Kyara's, and getting them sorted out after a moment, he explains, "One of the Sectasslets tripped. It was a very near miss."

Kyara giggles. "Only if you get a picture of his face when he opens the fridge." She winces, chuckling. "You're just cursed, Nick."

"-That- would be evil, yes." Elasia agrees with decided amusement.

Niko ponders, in response to Kyara's words, "Maybe rig a camera in the fridge or something." With a shrug, he says, "It can wait, though. Let him get back on his feet from his vacation, that sort of thing." Munching on his second helping of the meal, he adds, "And I'm not cursed. I just attract pudding, I guess."

"It could be worse," Elasia suggests, "You could attract bowling balls or something."

Kyara chuckles, stirring the lamb and beef and veggies. "Yes, balls would be bad. You're probably right though. That would be a rather nasty surprise to ome back to."

Niko winces. "Ow. Even the new unbreakable Niko would break if I attracted bowling balls." With a nod at Kya, he murmurs something about appropriate timing.

Elasia curls into a corner of the couch, "You're not unbreakable Niko, just cleverly disguised."

Kyara chuckles, slowly enjoying the food. "Paper balls maybe. I hear they stick to pudding real well."

Niko murmurs towards Elasia, "Clara said something like that, too. -I- still think I'm unbreakable." His brows ripple upwards at Kyara's words. "Please don't rig the ceiling above my desk, okay? That wouldn't be good at all." He polishes off th last of his meal, looking askance at the women.

Elasia's brows lift, although it is as if she is only half following the conversation. "Rig the ceiling?"

Kyara chuckles heartily. "Can't. It's been done already. I'd have to find another method of delivery." She nods to Ela. "I rigged the ceiling over the duty desk one day to drop a zillion paper balls onto whoever was there at the time."

Niko passes a hand across his face in mock-relief, then grins as he gets to his feet to take his plate to the kitchen area. "Good. Then I don't have to worry about getting dyed green, either."

Elasia blinks at Kyara a few times, "Ahh..." The dying green she at least knows the reference to. "Do you get bored then?"

Kyara nods innocently to Niko. "Pink's your color." She shrugs a bit. "Sometimes. Goes with the territory."

Niko acks at Kyara's words. "Okay, I'm -never- putting you and Losi in the same room," he proclaims, as he returns to the room. He rummages in the closet, emerging with a vibrant pink shirt with an airbrushed picture of a kitten on it. The shirt is large enough that it's obviously for Niko. "See, -this- is what she picked out for me, got sent in the last package from home."

Elasia once again cannot help but laugh at the shirt, "It's -cheerful- though, dear."

Kyara glances toward the shirt, and grins. "She's got good taste." She pushes her empty plate away. "So did that."

Elasia brightens at Kyara's praise, "I'm glad you liked it. You'll have to visit some time when work's not being a bear. I can make something a little more fun."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko tucks away the shirt with a roll of his eyes, then takes up Kyara's plate as well, finally getting all the dishes put away. "When work's not being a bear? So... what, two, three years?"

Kyara chuckles wryly. "That estimate is probably accurate. Actually, /I'm/ rarely that busy. It's sole domain of the SecOffs."

Elasia hmphs at Niko, amused, "I meant mine, not yours, I have faith yours will be evil forever. I am truly hoping mine will relax soon though."

Niko settles back on the couch and slides an arm around Ela's shoulders. "Once Riley gets back, mine'll settle down a little, I'd think," he decides. As Ela concludes, he grins brightly. "Good. Relaxing soon is good."

Kyara smiles slightly. "I would think it would have settled by now, what with the eletions being voer and all."

Elasia curls into the arm, zoned enough not to wonder overmuch if it's polite. "Things are a bit chaotic still, all the new orders, the new settling into routine. And the new Chairman's dictates."

Niko doesn't seem to think there's anything impolite about putting an arm around his fiancee. But, then, there are vid people out and about, and you know what kind of morals -they- have. Maybe Niko's been corrupted. "If it settles down soon, though, that'd be good. As long as he stays -out- of shuttles..."

Kyara winces slightly. "I daresay that he's not going to see if the third time's the charm. What's he like anyhow?"

"He's very easygoing, and pleasant. As if he's made a study of saying the right thing," Elasia answers quietly.

Niko rests the back of his head against the couch, though it requires that he tilt his head back somewhat. "Sounds like somebody who's not going to call somebody else a pup," he murmurs. "That's not a bad thing."

Kyara mmms, "It's not necessarily a /good/ thing either. Moderation in all things, neh?"

"Still, after Lexington, he's all but a savior. Very popular, especially with the juniors, although it seems we have as much to do as ever we did." Elasia's words are softly musing.

Kyara hmmms. "Well, as long as he doesn't have a vendetta against everybdoy I know, I'm happy."

Niko gestures vaguely with the hand at the arm around Ela. (How's that for convoluted?) "Yeah, a lack of vendettas is a really good thing. I never thought I'd be glad somebody was dead, but I have to say that I am, where Lexington is concerned."

"As best I can tell he hasn't got anything out for anyone, although there are those he does not favor certainly." Elasia's words are still kind of rambly.

"/If/ he's dead," Kya qualifies quietly. She gives Ela a curious look. "Like who?"

Niko doesn't seem to hear Kyara's qualification, maybe because it's quiet. "Tired, hon?" he inquires of Ela, low-voiced.

"Ambassador Ryuita for example," Elasia answers Kyara, giving Niko an absent nod.

Kyara searches her memory, and finally shakes her head. "Don't remember that one..." She gives Ela a mildly exasperated, amused look, and pushes to her feet. "You should've said something," she scolds, offering a handful of kitten.

Niko gives Ela a gentle squeeze, then grins at Kya. "See? Told you she was patient."

Elasia accepts the proffered kitten, hand going to Scutter's ears to scritch reflexively. "I'm sorry, I am fine really, there's no need for you to go, Kyara."

Kyara looks more than a little torn. "Yes, she is indeed patient. If you're tired, Ela, I've no right to be here making you stay at your best hostess behavior."

Niko offers, "Kya, if you want something to help you decide, -I'm- tired, even though I'm not being a proper host. I don't mean to kick you out, of course, and I'd love to have you visit again, but I was up early and all..."

Elasia would probably elbow Niko at another time for a comment like that, but all he gets is an exasperated look this time as she rests her head against him.

Kyara shakes her head with a smile. "Tis not a problem. Thank you for having me, and dinner /was/ delicious, for cooked food." She bends over to chuck the kitten under the chin. "You take care of 'em, okay?"

Niko gently extracts himself from Elasia to see Kyara to the door, offering his fiancee a rather unrepentant smile. He -is- tired. But at least he's pretending to be nice. He's walking the guest to the door. "Glad you had fun, Kya. We'll have to do this again. See y'tomorrow."

Elasia is in this case not being half so polite, instead curling with the kitten back into the couch corner.

Kyara mhmms. "Y'all get a good night's sleep now, y'hear?" With a warm smile, she slips out.

Kyara leave the room.

Kyara has left.

Niko pads back over to the couch. "That was fun. Thanks, hon. You look like you're ready for bed, hm?"

Elasia simply nods, "Yeah, I think it's bedtime for me at least, yeah."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko offers you a hand. "Me, too, I think. It was kind of a tiring day."

Elasia accepts the hand, climbing to her feet. "Yeah, I think that sums it up pretty well."

Niko squeezes your hand, then releases it to get out of his uniform. Sleeping in the uniform would be bad, after all. "I'm sorry about the lack of notice on that. I honestly don't remember whether she brought it up first, or I did. I -think- it was her, but I'm not sure."

Elasia moves to slip into an oversized t-shirt and then into the bed. "no apologies are needed, Niko. It was pleasant to have her visit."

Niko clambers into bed after you, with a muffled yawn. "Pleasant, yeah. Lots of fun." He curls up against you, murmuring, "Night, love. Night, kitten."

Elasia attempts to curl closer to you, but she's far too out.

Back