1/9/99

Riley pads away from the Grand Hall, not looking particularly enthusiastic. But dressed like that, would you be enthusiastic either?

The elevator descends.

The elevator moves upward.

Niko, still in uniform but with the collar unbuttoned, steps out of the elevator looking like he's been through some sort of wringer. Twice. In other words, he's tired, and maybe a little grumpy. Spotting Riley on his way to the dining hall, however, he pauses, blinking in a mild doubletake. "Hello, there, Chief. You look..." He searches for an appropriate word, then decides to repeat, "Hello."

"Like a lunatic with particularly bad taste in clothing? I've noticed." Riley tugs absently at the high collar of the starched shirt, "I take it you've not opened the box with your dress togs in it, then? Same horrendous thing, more or less." He echoes the other man's tone, "You look..." He does however finish his own sentence after a pause, "Like you've tried to personally revive the art of roller derby."

Niko rubs at his eyes for a moment. "Roller derby. That's... what, the Kelusians?" No, he's not altogether 'with it' at this particular moment. "Someone. It'll come to me. Whatever it is."

The elevator descends.

From the elevator, With a ping, the doors slide open, soundlessly.

From the elevator, Cora glances towards the .

From the elevator, Cora has left.

Cora has arrived.

Cora heads towards the Massive Open Air Pavilion.

Cora has left.

Riley shakes his head slightly, his own expression of annoyance fading. "It doesn't matter, where were you headed? Maybe I can follow and you can tell me how the first day went?"

From the elevator, The doors slide shut, soundlessly.

Niko gestures towards the dining hall. "Anya chased me out--told me to go eat something. Figured, hey, it sounded like a good idea." He doesn't say anything about telling how his first day went, though. No, siree.

The elevator moves upward.

The elevator moves upward.

The elevator descends.

Riley tucks the handful of folders he has in hand under his arm, nodding amiably. "Anya's always right. I know, she tells me so all the time." He makes as if to follow you to the dining hall.

Niko, with a quiet noise that is probably a laugh, heads off in that direction. "I only heard it once. Today."

You head towards the Dining Facility.

Dining Facility

Though the tan and white linoleum tiles of the dining hall are rather bland, the brightly-colored walls more than make up for that. The wall nearest the entrance holds vending machines for those on a budget, though the aromas of freshly-prepared food are tempting enough to make one forget finances. Cuisine from many of the Alliance's worlds is available, though some races are likely to find the food choices of their neighbors less than appealing. Plasglass windows in the next wall allow a view of the town beyond the complex, and a hint of the scenery beyond. Though the other two walls hold neither food nor windows, they have been painted with vivid colors, abstract murals that are occasionally interpreted by bored diners. Tables of varying shapes and sizes are found scattered throughout the room, with chairs that provide just enough comfort to allow ease of dining, but not so much that idlers are tempted to linger.

With the range of internal clocks of the complex's inhabitants, people of one form or another are generally found in the dining hall at all hours, though a seat at one of the many tables is usually available.

Obvious exits:

Atrium

You arrive from the Central Atrium.

Riley arrives from the Central Atrium.

Riley has arrived.

Evai-Evoi arrives from the Central Atrium.

Evai-Evoi has arrived.

Riley's eyesbrows lift, his expression one of genuine startlement. "Just one? Goodness, Niko, you must have done well then." He pads over to a vending machine, rummaging in the ridiculous pockets of his uniform for his credit chit. He manages to juggle the folders, chit, and eventually the soda and chocolate bar the machine coughs up as he heads to one of the tables with a better view.

Niko, after a small pause to peer at Evai and Evoi, purchases a rather boring-looking bowl of stew and a cup of something steaming and spice-laden, if the aroma is any indication. Following Riley, he says, perhaps a bit dryly, "Mm. That, or I just missed it the other times she said it."

The pair walk in slowly absorbing the scene before them, before walking promptly up and purchasing two glasses of what would appear to be grape juice.

Riley slides into a seat, unbuttoning the cuffs off his absurd dress uniform adter tossing down the folders. Spotting the twins from earlier he offers a polite wave and a called, "Evening." He nods to Niko as he unwraps the candy bar, "Decidedly possible, the way you look. So how'd it go?"

Evai waves to Riley in return

Evoi ignores Riley trying to find a seat

Niko scoops up a spoonful of stew and takes a moment or two to begin his meal--or to stall, depending on one's point of view. "Well," he says finally, "I can honestly say that this has to have been the most... interesting experience I've had in a very long time." Interesting. Again. He really needs to get a thesaurus.

Riley munches idly on the candybar a moment, his eyebrows lifted questioningly. After a moment he prods, "Interesting how?" His grin flashes a moment, "I can always ask -Anya- you know..."

Evoi kicks Evai pulling him towards his seat...from where he was obviously watching a rather un-humanoid alien enter the room "Dont be such a baby, act like you have some brains in your head Evai"

Evai reluctantly takes his seat with a frown on his face

Niko does not look at all thrilled by that suggestion. He sets aside his stew in favor of the drink. "All in all, I guess it went fairly well. Of course, that's a relative term."

Riley takes his soda can, tabbing open the top. It's a red can, it has swooshies on it. He's not an infidel. He glances towards the twins, looking somewhat wary. Turning back to Niko he sighs quietly. "Come on, cough it up Niko. It obviously didn't go well. What happened?"

Evai sits quietly drinking his juice...

Evoi watches the room intently...barely touching her beverage

Niko considers for a long moment. "Well. Let's see." He starts counting the items off on his fingers. "The Wihverian Master of Fire came down -three- times in an hour. I think he was hitting on me. I really hope not. Those tentacles are just disturbing. Something blue had some sort of complaint--I think it was that its translator had disappeared. All thirty-seven of the Sectassian ambassador tried to stuff themselves into the infobooth in the shuttleport. I never knew what Sectassians did when they were startled. Now I do. And a group of the Shriners got here early." He actually looks a bit amused by this last item. "Uh. The Uthani are mortally offended by their hats."

Riley listens to this listing of travesties, as each is added onto the next he's obviously having to restrain himself from snickering. He manages to nod, "Sounds like a day indeed. The Uthani, oh boy. Wait till they get a load of the little cars then." He takes a sip of the soda, "Why didn't you get rif of the Wihverian? Didn't Anya mention the trick of having him file in triplicate? He never stays once anyone mentions 'forms."

Niko mutters, "No wonder. I'd flee, too, if I had to try to fill out forms with those tentacles." He shakes his head, though. "No, Chief, she wasn't there when he came. I think he planned it that way."

Riley hmms thoughtfully, half draining the soda. Returning the can to the table he shakes his head. "I uh, don't guess it helps if I point out it gets easier?"

Evai goes into a sneezing fit, and turns a darker shade of blue

Evoi immediately starts patting his back quite hard...making loud *schwap* sounds as she does so

Niko casts a brief, vaguely concerned look at Evai, then peers at Riley for a moment. Tired enough to be candid, he says, "Not really. The trick about the forms for the Wihverian helps, though. Not having to deal with him will make my life a lot more sane."

Riley finishes off his candybar, regarding the empty wrapper as if mildy confused. Chaking his head to clear the expression, (He's an Etch a Sketch), he regards Niko again, looking thoughtful. "Well, you don't have to do it you know."

Niko considers that for a long moment, with a swallow or two of his drink to assist the thought process. "Do you not want an assistant?" he asks mildly.

"I don't want to make someone miserable doing something they're not suited to." Riley answers simply as he begins to fold the chocolate wrapper.

Kadre arrives from the Central Atrium.

Kadre has arrived.

Evoi looks rRiley over from head to toe...letting her eyes linger a little longer then they really should

Kadre swishes in, looking at the little people and smiling.

Evai recovers from his coughing attack by taking another drink

Niko shakes his head. "I'm not miserable," he says, with a ghost of a smile. "Not yet, at least. And if it does get easier, then I'll be even less miserable."

Kadre finds some food, and elegantly manages to find a table, and then inelegantly plops down in a chair. "Finally, off my feet."

Evai lets his eyes wander over to where Kadre -plopped-

Riley briefly glances up as Kadre enters. Ooh look, a worse fashion disaster than he is at the moment. That cape's even scarier than his dress uniform. His attention is returned to Niko, "Feel free to pawn people off on me. Or ask Anya for advice, she knows most of the tricks by now." He waves a polite greeting to Kadre.

Niko murmurs a pleasant greeting to Kadre, then nods emphatically to Riley, polishing off the rest of his drink. "Anya is a fount of useful information. Wish I'd realized that -before- the fiasco with the Sectassians."

Riley continues folding the foil wrapper into a vague shape, "That's Anya's knack. Being a font and all that. Eidetic memory." He nods to Kadre, "Being off one's feet is a goodness."

Kadre begins to dig into her food. "Um, nummies."

Evai watches Kadre attack her food, and licks his lips ..

Evoi turns to Evai and smacks him on his right hand, and whispers into his ear...

Evai-Evoi mutters to itself, "dont... at... an..."

Ebiannah arrives from the Central Atrium.

Ebiannah has arrived.

Ebiannah eases her way in, saluting and nodding where appropriate.

Niko looks decidedly enlightened by Riley's words.. "Eidedic? So that's what it is. Hah. Well, that restores my faith in the order of the universe. Figured it had to be that, or magic." Whatever the drink is, it's working, as Niko is looking decidedly more chipper--so much so, in fact, that he actually fastened that unbuttoned button, setting his uniform to rights.

While Niko's uniform is being set to rights, Riley's ridiculous one is being forced to suffer further. He tugs the pips from his jacket collar, stuffing them in a pocket. "Yeah. I learned it the hard way. It's very distressing to have someone be able to recite back to you every insanely stupid thing you've ever said." He offers Ebi a polite wave.

Ebiannah nods and finds a place, sort of out of the way, to sit down.

Niko, catching Riley's wave to Ebi, turns to offer her a pleasant smile. Resuming his original position, he nods to Riley, expression suggesting that he's had at least one or two insanely stupid remarks parroted back to him. "It's been a day," he murmurs.

Evai burps softly

Riley resumes his folding process, ending up with a small foil duck. It's probably supposed to be a crane. "A day indeed," he agrees, "Still, better than I did on my first."

The pair immediately start bickering amongst themselves actually causing quite a scene

Evai crosses his arms and closes his eyes tightly ignoring his sister..

Kadre finishes her food and looks over at the Ev pair. "Could you please take that outside? It's interfering with my digestion." She smiles sweetly.

Clara arrives from the Central Atrium.

Clara has arrived.

Evoi looks at Kadre as if she just told her, that she ran over her trazic <kitten>

Evoi turns to Evai clutching him closely as she begins to weep softly

Ebiannah looks at Evoi-Evai a bit startled.

Kadre straightens out her cloak. "Sheesh, do you have to be so loud?"

Evai holds Evoi tightly, looking at Kadre with a 'how could you say that' expression

Riley looks decidedly wary as the twins begin making a fuss. He may still be looking at Niko, but a percentage of his attention is most assuredly aimed at them. Clara's entrance garners a cheerful wave, "Evening Captain Aleron."

Aliana arrives from the Central Atrium.

Aliana has arrived.

Ebiannah salutes the incoming officer.

Clara slips into the room, sketching a return salute automatically at Ebiannah, then rubbing at her eyes and heading for one of the vending units to obtain a mug of something sludgelike and a sandwich. At the greeting, she nearly misses a step. "Uh...Chief," she greets, then stops mid-step to stare. "Ah. Ah-hah. Oooh, Honalee," she breathes.

Aliana saunters in, much like a person without a care in the world. Gaze slips over the various occupants...A nod is given to those she recognizes. At least she has gotten over the blantant staring stage.

Evai releases his gaze from Kadre as he notices Aliana enter, he immediately lets his gaze follow her around the room admiringly

Niko's gaze flicks towards the twins for a moment, then he glances back to Riley, one caterpillar-eyebrows creeping upwards in inquiry. (It's a very eloquent eyebrow.) Aliana gets a pleasant nod, and Clara a quick grin, and then his drink apparently speaks to him, as he takes it up once more.

Riley waves pleasantly to Aliana as well, "Evening Aliana, good to see you didn't get mowed down." He regards Clara with some trepidation, "Honalee?"

Ebiannah waves to Aliana. "Hi, good to see you again."

Aliana peers at the vending machine with some trepidation...before turning to grin at the greetings. "Hello!" SHe calls out before heading towards the 'real' food.

Clara waves her mug dismissively after flashing Aliana a grin of greeting. "Evening, Aliana," she calls, then heads towards an empty table. "Nothing, sir...forget it. Nice uniform," she comments almost blandly. To Niko? To Riley? Hmm...no telling.

Niko peers curiously after Aliana. He mutters to himself, "... like I was... Hellas City." As Clara speaks, he shoots a sidelong look towards Riley's uniform, then shakes his head.

Evai's gaze stays steadily on Aliana no matter where she goes..

Evoi seems to recover from the brutal assault of Kadre's words and goes about drinking her juice, still glance occasionally at Riley as if undressing him with her eyes

Riley is just going to -assume- she means Niko, since he's wearing the ridiculous over-trimmed monstonsity. "Not sir," he says quietly, taking up his soda again. "Hellas City?"

Clara slides into the seat, lifting her brows with a hint of amusement. "Then not Captain," she replies sweetly, and grins at Niko before reaching for a pepper shaker.

Niko, wrapping his hands around his mug, tells Riley, "Capitol city of my homeworld. It was quite a change from my hometown, when I went there for school." He gestures vaguely towards Aliana, as if in explanation of why he's thinking of that particular thing. Clara's grin elicits an answering response, and a, "How was your day, Clara?"

The food is given rather careful study by Ali...until she comes across one particularly loverly dish. She takes a step backwards and settles for a nice cup of tea. She selects a table close to the others to settle down into.

Riley does not object, in fact he looks rather pleased. Okay, so it took over 24 hours to get to call her Clara, and Niko got to do it in ten minutes, it's still -something-. "Fair enough. Being sirred by medics is an evil thing. It means something terrifying is about to happen." He nods to Niko in understanding, "Check."

Kadre stands. "Well, I'm leaving." She says this as if everyone should really care.

Kadre heads towards the Central Atrium.

Kadre has left.

Evoi pays no heed to the leaving Kadre, instead continues to watch Riley closely

Ebiannah looks at her chronometer. "Drats, time for my shift." she mutters.

Ebiannah heads towards the Central Atrium.

Ebiannah has left.

Evai watches Aliana from a distance..

Clara waves at the departing folk and slushes around her sludge a bit, smirking. "Medics are famous for evilness," she agrees cheerfully. "You folk have an amazing amount of minor mishaps, by the way. Honalee and I had a very, very long talk today, and I think we need to put out a shopsign outside med bay. Antidotes for two bits. Stab wounds stiched up, two for a credit."

Aliana stirs her tea carefully, as if such a task requires all of ones concentration. If she has noticed that she is being watched, she gives no sign of it.

Evai takes a strong gulp of his juice and continues to blatantly stare at Aliana

Evoi stops looking at Riley for a moment to wiggle the cord between her brother and herself as if it had a kink in it.

Riley tugs at his collar nervously, despite the fact that it's already unbuttoned. Although whether it's a reaction to Evoi's intent gaze or to the mention of a 'long talk with Honalee' that's bothering him is debatable. "Stab wounds? We had a couple of those last night, eh? The assassination attempt on General Honshu?"

Aliana glances away from her tea to meet Evai's gaze, amusement fills her face as she raises her cup in a mock toast, then a bow of her head before she takes a sip.

Evai looks shocked at first, but then as if playing along raises his cup of juice in turn and sends a 'toast' to her as well

Evoi returns her steady gaze to Riley after shaking the cord for well over 2 min.

Niko polishes off the last of his drink, setting aside the mug next to the by-now-cool stew. He rubs the space between his brows, with a slight shake of his head at the list of injuries. "Hope none of that was from the Sectassian kids," he murmurs.

Clara glances briefly at the twins, shaking her head slightly with a small smile as she starts in on the sandwich, shaking her head. After a moment, she negates, "Mm-mm. Although I did see that report, yeah. A few minor burns from misuse of cooking units, a good deal of antacid to disperse. Oh, and that attack on Denner, from catering? Evidently some ambassador from Ritan didn't like his meal."

Aliana snickers as she overhears the last, her gaze darting over to the food displayed so carefully. "Hope he's prepared to cook all of his own meals from now on'

Riley clambers to his feet, snagging empty drink can and foil bird. Leaving the folders on the table, presumably he trusts Niko protect them, he heads to aquire another candy bar. Returning to his seat he shakes his head, "Have mercy, I swear some of these delagates have their heads up orifices heads aren't designed to go in." He nods to Aliana, "True enough."

Niko flashes a quick grin to Aliana, then squints at Riley. "There are some orifaces for...? no, wait. The Vithalans. Never mind."

Clara smirks at her cup, then takes a long sip of the sludge, sighing with contentment. "If the esteemed ambassador reports to medical for some reason, I'll restrain myself from suggesting just such an arrangement."

Riley unfolds the wrapper from the candybar. Maybe this is why his hair is chocolate colored, if this is what he eats. "Has Lexington been in today? There was a message for me earlier about a plague of ducks in his quarters."

Niko inclines his head to Riley, resting his chin in a cupped hand. "Sure was. He wouldn't talk to me, though. It was quite refreshing."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Clara flickers a glance a the security men almost appreciatively, gaze steeling a bit at the mention of the ambassador she'd heard so cheerfully much of earlier, and turns to Aliana. "Settling in at the Guild then?"

Riley breaks off a square of chocolate, munching on it idly. "I was Underground when he called, sorry you got saddled with the guy. He wouldn't talk to you, Niko?"

Aliana nods her head quickly to Clara, "But then me and Islien don't need too much....a cot and a couch...we're set."

Niko's eyebrows lift, but he doesn't ask, instead saying, "That he wouldn't. He didn't say why."

Clara nods affably, peppering a final bit of sandwhich before downing it. "It's good to just doss down in a nice quiet place, I know what you mean," she agrees. "What is it you'll be doing here with the Guild, if I can ask?"

Riley's brows knit in confusion, "Why am I suddenly worried as to what he's plotting." He snags another square of chocolate. "Ducks, not talking... Huh." He glances at his comm unit, "No, not the first of April..."

Niko lifts his hands in a gesture of futility. "Wish I could tell you more, Chief." He settles his chin in a hand once more, then finally gets to his feet to dispose of the remainder of his meal, loping lightly back to his seat.

Aliana shrugs slightly in answer to Clara's question, 'I was told to report here...and I quote: "Do what needs to be done". What that is exactly, I haven't quite figured out...But we're here."

Riley lifts overly decorated shoulders in a fatalistic shrug. "I'll find out soon enough. In exactly," he pauses to glance at the communit's readout again, "Eight minutes my comm switches back off busy mode, since the Council session I got out of early will be officially dismissed." He blinks at Aliana, "They haven't given you anything to do?"

Casually not watching Niko conspicuously, Clara nods in return at Aliana sympathetically. "It's a pain, isn't it? They did the same to me, although I did get a good long discussion in with my Chief in today about why I'm here," she decides. "But haven't they...? Ah...yeah. That," she adds in agreement with Riley.

Aliana chuckles softly at his question, but there is a slightly bitter edge to her tone, "One person asked why this station needed help from a dragon."

Ah, inconspicuously.

Niko eyes his own communit. "Let me know if I can handle any of the traffic that comes through, Chief." Glancing towards Clara, he offers the medic a quick smile, before his attention turns back to Riley.

Riley finishes off the candybar, nodding. "Anya'll have it classed and sent where it needs to go. If you're not getting anything you're safe." He shakes his head, "Normally don't the Bonded do message and passengar running between the Complex and the embassies?"

Aliana manages to keep from grinding her teeth as she answers, "Supposedly, that is what our purpose here is"

Clara makes a face at the idea of Council session being dismissed. "Cheery. Maybe I oughta go back up and be ready to dispense more antacid," she mutters, then returns Niko's smile with a flash of grin before brightening at Aliana. "A madly elegant way to travel, for sure. I think I'm jealous of the delegates as all get out."

Niko looks decidedly pleased at Riley's words, and perhaps a bit relieved as well. He peers between Riley and Aliana, expressive brows twitching like epileptic caterpillars.

Roland arrives from the Central Atrium.

Roland has arrived.

Aliana relaxes as she turns back to Clara, 'Islien would be delighted to show you how it feels to fly.'

Riley's expression is mildly wistful as he nods at Clara's comment. "Certainly they way to go if it were an option, yes. One of..." At that he breaks off, since his communit takes that moment to squeal into life, giving off an alert tone. Abashedly he thumbs it silent, running through the text messages.

Roland wanders into the room, hands in pockets of his jacket. He's whistling a Terran tune idly as he walks. He heads over to the refreshment counter, looking for the sode fountain, man. Gotta have sode, man.

Niko carefully doesn't look anywhere remotely near Riley's communit, head bobbing in a nod at the conversation. "I've never actually seen a dragon," he offers. "Pictures, sure, but not the real thing."

Clara nods placidly at the newcomer, then beams at Aliana, almost as a child being told she's getting her first trap set. "Oh, that'd be stellar. I'd be honored certainly," she affirms, then glances sidelong at Riley's beeping. "Any medical emergencies?"

Roland looks over his shoulder at the mentions of dragons, but shrugs and continues to peer at the odd labels on the machines. "Qwerkel Grog??" he idly muses outloud.

Riley's eyebrows are not as expressive as Niko's, but they lift anyhow. "Not unless you count...how did he get... with a lightbulb? I don't want to know." He shakes his head, chocolate -colored- curls bobbing. "Anya has no idea what Lexington's up to either. Other than camping out in my office. Which he's welcome to. As long as he doesn't play with my penguin again. I mean talk about -rude-..." He waves a pleasant greeting to Roland.

Niko, after a brief nod to Roland, peers at Riley, then shakes his head, clearly not wanting to know even as much as his boss does about the lightbulb. "If he stays there, at least you know where he is. Easier to avoid him, that way." Ah, he's learning.

Roland, catching the wave in the corner of his eye, finishing pouring the grog into his glass and raises it in Riley's direction. Then blinks as it appears his plastic cup has started to melt. "Holy cow, what's in this stuff?" He quickly moves it over the small drain between machines.

Riley nods his approval, both of Niko

"Watch out for anything called 'grog'" Clara calls over absently. Any Academy grad learns that -quick-. "A light bulb, huh? Well, certainly is a way to brighten up a fella's day, I suppose," she decides mildly. "You have a penguin?"

Riley nods his approval, both of Niko's suggestion and the younger man's learning curve. "Exactly. Although I'll have to go back eventually. It should be amusing. Lexington's always good for a laugh. He's not beaten me yet." He pauses, "Well he has, but he hasn't won." He grins at Roland, "You don't want to know DeMario, promise." He nods to Clara, "Rather a few. My kid sister sends them to me."

Aliana grins broadly at Clara, she can understand the feeling. Gaze slips over to the newcomer...then widen as she watches the fact of the cup...her own cup is eyed warily as if it too may randomly turn somersaults or somehting.

Niko groans very quietly at Clara's pun. "That's one," he murmurs. "Today. Three so far? Or four?" He's talking to himself, apparently, as he's speaking quietly and not really looking at anybody.

Roland yelps as he apperently gets some his hand and starts shaking it furiously. "Agh, get off!" He pauses as he peers at the small green splotch on his hand, and did it just peer back at him? Naaah. Always the quick thinker, Roland grabs a handy towel and wipes it off and then tosses the towel into the refuse collector. The drink machines are visited once again, the Grog pointedly ignored.

A very small, pale green creature moves to collect the towel from the refuse container, admonishing Roland, "Always know where your towel is."

Clara waggles her brows innocently at Niko. "What? What?" she drawls, batting her eyelashes at him after a quick, sympathetic glance at Riley. "Maybe this Lexington fellow needs medical attention?" she suggests smoothely, lacing her fingers and balancing her chin on them with a Chessire cat smile.

Roland ignores the creature, the grog was probably his idea afterall. He finds some kind of sode and pours himself a new cup. The other one went down the drain, almost crying out "Oh what a world!"

"He will if he touches my penguin again," Riley's words may be something of a threat, but his tone is pleasantly amiable, his posture relaxed. "Peesh, I -really- do need to remember to turn the hot water back on to his suite at some point. Keeps slipping my mind." He grins at Clara, "Although if he were to end up in your perview, I certainly wouldn't take it amiss if he required -lots- of tests."

Aliana eyewidens as she sees the green creature...then pushes her own cup away from her with a rather disgusted look. Nothing is safe, not even tea.

Niko's brows twitch just a bit, perhaps in response to Clara's own eyebrow-gesture. (Do they have a mind of their own, hidden in all that hair?) Riley's words get him a broad grin. "Anya told me about that," he murmurs, presumably in response to the hot water remark.

Clara stifles a laugh by downing the remainder of her sludge, nodding. "Gee now...poor fellow might just have to come visit Med Bay after a bit of time with no hot water. How...dreadful," she decides, innocently peering up at the ceiling. "Positively a chilling experience." She skitters away for more sludge before anything can be thrown.

Niko snorts very quietly, but, fortunately, doesn't have anything to throw. "That's definitely four," he informs Clara. "Two today."

Riley groans quietly, shaking his head slightly. "I definately need to write some anti-pun statutes. "That was just -bad-." He leans the plastic backed chair back onto two legs, hooking one polished boot-toe under the lip of the table to hold himself in place. This off course adds a smudge to their mirror-bright shine, but unlike Niko, Riley seems ignorant of the condition of his boots at any given time. "It's been several weeks. And before that I had coolant piped into his shower."

Niko blinks at Riley, but not, fortunately, because of the smudge on his boots. "Coolant? What an... interesting idea. Inventive."

Clara beams at Niko as she returns with whatever direness is in her mug and slips back into the seat. "Keeping count? Why that's positively sweet," she decides before taking a sip, which she promptly splutters, bursting into laughter. "Coolant? Oh, saints..." She sets the mug down, eyes bright over a broad grin. "Honalee mentioned you were good. Teach me, oh master?"

Roland wanders over to the others, and pulls a chair out from the table across from Ali and sits in it backwards. He regards Ali for a bit before saying, "Hello Person. It's always good to see you. I hope you enjoy your night, for by the morning, I will probably have scared you." 20 cookies for the person who can point where he got that line from.

Aliana cocks an eyebrow, amusment flooding through her face, 'You haven't yet...and that is what counts.....and I daresay it shall not be done'

"He wanted to play hardball, I just obliged him." Riley's tone is dry, the expression in his eyes not -quite- as amiable as it was. "Somehow I doubt Honalee mentioned me and 'good' in the same sentence, Clara." He flashes a grin at that, "Although I think she approves of my little feud, so it's possible. And I really don't have a knack for this kind of thing, he just got me -very- angry. It was a wealth of inspiration."

Roland chuckles softly, and leans over to rest his chin on the hands he has on the top of the back of the chair. "Oh ye of little faith! Resistance is futile?" Random CKs (Cute Kids. Well, who cares if they happen to have 3 extra limbs. They're cute, right?) decide to take this time to start pelting the macho looking one with bright neon pink pees.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Clara doesn't quite admit what Honalee -did- mention in the same sentence as Riley's name, but quirks a brow in amusement. "Perhaps not," she murmurs in agreement. "If I can be of any assistance, though," she offers blandly, ducking a pee whizzing by.

Pea. Egads.

Niko, noting the change in Riley, purses his lips. Hearing the chime, he peers at his comm-unit once more, as if to check exactly -which- hour it is. Apparently, the answer doesn't please him too much, but he still remains where he is.

Aliana giggles as she starts gathering stray peas and pelting them back at the CKs...so what if they weren't aimed for her.

Riley clances at his com-unit as well, "Midnight already. Time flies, eh?" He carefully ignores the food hurling. What he doesn't see he doesn't have to object to.

Roland watches Ali throw the peas back, totally ignoring the peas bouncing off his head and back in wild directions.

Roland says "Kids, adorable little things aren't they?"

Aliana looks at Roland as if he too had a cord from the back of his head, her nose wrinkling up in disgust, 'If you say so'

Roland stops gritting his teeth to grin and shake his head.

Clara groans slightly and rubs at her forehead. "Already?" she asks rhetorically. "I'm never going to get used to this time adjustment." She ducks another *pea* absentmindedly. "What time does all the excitement around here usually taper off?"

Niko, miraculously, nods in agreement with Roland. He peers mildly at the kids. "Clean it up, guys," he suggests. "Pease." He pauses, then mutters something about bad puns being contagious. "Please," he clarifies.

Riley blinks a few times, as if attempting to ascertain if Clara is kidding. Then realizing she's new and innocent he explains quietly, "Uh, it doesn't. The Complex has been called the 'Post that Never Sleeps'."

Roland scoots his chair over so he can face Riley. "Okay, Chief Addison. I got my wallet and satchel back, with a small item or two missing. What will it take to get the other two items back?"

Clara peers between her fingers to give Niko a patently bright, approving look before sighing and nodding. "No suprise there, Chief. I should have known...the all night party that never ends. I should've brought chips'n dip."

Aliana manages to look as thought butter wouldn't melt in her mouth...even though she was mid-throw...Pea to is tossed into her mouth without a thought...that's it, swallow the evidence.

Riley turns to regard Roland, shaking his head. "Sorry DeMario, I can't help you. Nobody's allowed to go armed on Complex grounds." He and Niko are wearing obvious weaponry, but hey.

Roland lets his head fall against the back of the chair. *whump* "Oh boy... I've got a bad feeling about this."

Niko chuckles quietly at Clara, then picks up one of the last of the peas, idly rolling it in his palm. "Gigia would be disturbed," he murmurs, finally lifting his gaze from the neon pink legume to Roland.

Riley lifts his shoulders, over decorated as they are in his dress togs, "Sorry, 'them's the rules'. No guns, massive blades, or any of a dozen other things."

Clara shakes a few grains of salt into her hand and peers at Roland with a small smile. "I'd say take two and call me in the morning, but I think that'd defeat the purpose," she murmurs. "Gigia?" she queries back at Niko, a brow quirking in question.

Niko, not at all seeming to mind looking away from Roland to answer Clara's question, supplies, "My grandmother. She's got very firm ideas of how food should be--" His gaze flicks briefly to Riley. (No, it's because of Riley's eating habits, not that Riley is food. Niko doesn't belong to the Church of All Worlds.) "--and pink peas most definitely do not qualify."

Roland lulls his head side to side. "Except for Security forces, yes yes." He looks at Clara's hand, reaches over and carefully picks up two grains and tosses them into his mouth and tilts his head back, peering at the ceiling. "It'll make it harder for me to do my job, y'know," he states to the ceiling.

Riley dusts a pea from a fold of his jacket, "And even ours are um, pea-shooters." He grins at Niko, "You'll note I didn't snag fries, lest I break any of these fundamental rules in your presence."

Yes, only Riley would call a nerve tangler a pea shooter. It's his sense of the absurd.

Aliana hmmms as her gaze once again moves over to the food so pleasantly presented,'Has your mother seen /that/?'

Clara lifts her eyes to Niko, suprise flickering there. "Really now? Just what does she consider proper food?" she asks curiously before flashing a grin at Riley. "Punster, heal thyself."

Niko, eyes holding amusement despite the fact that the effects of his beverage are rather obviously starting to wear off, inclines his head to Riley. "I did notice that, Chief, and it doesn't actually bother -me- for you to eat fries with tziziki. I just can't tell gigia." He chuckles quietly, then shakes his head to Aliana. "Not even remotely possible, ma'am. She'd never be able to get here." At Clara's question, he groans very quietly. "Clara... you know not what you ask. Gigia's rules are many, and they are involved, and I am -far- too tired to list them all."

Rhae arrives from the Central Atrium.

Rhae has arrived.

Riley offers Clara a look of wounded innocence, "Who me?" He shakes his head lightly at the other security officer, "Niko, it's late. Go to bed. Be sane."

Aliana finds a spare pea...and lobs it towards Roland when she thinks noone is looking....a rather innocent look on her face.

Roland blinks blankly, still looking at the ceiling. "Didn't one guy tell those kids to clean up and ship out?"

Aliana nods her head, "Kids are patently troublemakers...get rid of them, and the world is a much saner place." Hopeful gaze is shifted towards the two security officers..perhaps they can ban children.

"Yeah, you," Clara lobs back at Riley, smirking, then nods in fair agreement. "He's right, Niko. It's a late time frame for you folk, and you look like you've had yourself a day, really." She shoots a grin at Aliana, nodding emphatically.

Roland sits up straight as one can sittig in a chair backwards. "Then why did a pea just hit me in on the side of the head?"

How does Ali manange those sweet looks,'It did?' She asks innocently..."Were you injured?'

Niko considers that for a moment, then nods first to Riley and then to Clara. "Sanity is overrated," he murmurs to the former, before agreeing, with the latter, "A day. Good summary. And it would be more sane if you got rid of kids, but far less entertaining. So speaks the man without kids." He winks, then gets to his feet. "Have a nice evening, folks."

Riley glances from the folders on the table to the departing Niko, offering an amiable wave. "Night, Niko. Sleep well, and see you in the morning."

Aliana grins as she offers a seated bow to Niko,'Sleep well, Niko.'

Clara steeples her fingers, smile warming at the conclusion. "Good to know some men are reasonable," she decides. "Sleep well, Niko. Don't let the bedbugs masticate."

Roland scratches his cheek where the pea hit him. "I dunno." He turns to Clara and leans over the table. "What do you think?"

Clara peers over at Roland, brows squeaking up toward her wirespring curls overhead. "I think the price of sheet music is astronomical. Why?"

Niko offers a smile all around, as he heads for the exit, though not without a pause as he is termed 'reasonable'. He calls over one shoulder, "Bedbugs are better than ducks. And that was -not- a request for anybody to give me an opportunity to compare. G'night."

You head towards the Central Atrium.

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