Neliar - Saturday, September 01, 2001, 5:36 PM
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Observatory
Spherical, predictable, much a reflection of the heavens beyond is the temple of this observatory dedicated to the continued survey of the skies. Constructed sturdily and lined with shelves and cabinets necessary for equipment storage, nearly every available space on the smooth plastered walls is hidden by the arrangement of charts, maps and diagrams. A high ceiling arches above, contrived to be fitted with the portals necessary for viewing and carefully fabricated sliding shutters to protect the delicate sky-ward pointed lenses when not in use. On the wall opposite the door, so that all who enter may see it, is a 'mural' of the Rukbat system.
It is an autumn before dawn.
On the cast-iron railings around the great viewer is Tanis.
You see Observatory DistanceViewer and Mural of the Rukbat System here.
Shanel is here.

Espero blinks in from ::between::!

Shanel is sitting on the rail, staring up at the big distance viewer. Longing can be seen in her eyes, but she will go no farther. In her hands is the ribbon that is normally in her hair. Said hair is falling free about her shoulders.

Neliar follows Espero into the Observatory hoping that Shanel will be in here, he's been looking for her for ages. Entering the room quietly he spots her sitting on the rail. He creeps up behind her and pulls her back into his arms....

"Hey!" Shanel's eyes go wide as she gets pulled off the rail and into someones arms. Once the initial shock has faded and smile forms upon her lips. "Hello Li." It's her new nickname for Neliar. She slides her arms up behind her and around his neck.

Neliar grins at the expression on Nel's face as he pulls her off the rails. "Sorry I couldn't help myself." not looking in the least bit sorry, in fact he's looking as if he enjoyed every minute of it. He slides his arms around her and pulls her closer, breathing in the scent of her hair, raising one hand to runs his fingers though it.

Shanel giggles as Neliar makes his excuses that aren't. "Why be sorry?" She's not. And you know she wouldn't be either. Pulling away Shanel climbs back up on the rail and then turns around to Neliar to her. "What have you been up to?"

Neliar looks rather abandoned as Nel pulls away from him, but it gives his the opportunity to study her face, something he'll never get tired of doing. "You know the usual chores, classes. I've got all my basics now so it shouldn't be long before I make Sr." he grins at this thought, then Jman is only around the corner and serious relationships.

Shanel nods with a smile. Serious is only a matter of degree in her opinion. Waving a hand, she beckons him over. "So tell about it. I want details." There is a glint in her eyes, though it's hard to tell why.

Neliar wonders why Shanel has that glint in her eyes, it's making him feel nervous. "what's there to tell, I've been cleaning the appy dorms. I've spent a lot of time with Iyan and he's still chasing about /20/ girls." He moves closer to her still wondering what she's up to.

Shanel sighs, she's going to have to do something now..... Shanel reaches out and grabs Neliar's hand pulling him to her. She takes each of his hands in her and wraps his arms around her waist. She enjoys being held and cuddling. Shaking her head, "Now there's a suprise. I thought he /really/ liked Laurel?"

Neliar walks to Nel offering no resistance as she drags him over to her. He wraps his long arms around her and holds her close. He laughs at Nel's comment about Iyan. "He /likes/ anything that's female, though he says he really like her." Neli is not so sure.

Carise walks in from the Main Hall Balcony.

Neliar looks down from his postion next to the rail as someone enters the room, seeing his Mentor he calls out. "Hi Carise. How are you?"

Carise slips into the observatory, lifting an eyebrow at Neliar and Shanel, shaking her head slightly with a grin. "Hi Neliar... Pretty good actually." Considering how early it is, of course. "What about you two... what are you doing in here?"

Neliar smiles down at Carise, "Erm...Nel as just showing me the DistanceVeiwer." *cough* as he moves slightly further away from Nel.

Carise glances from one to the other, shaking her head slightly. "Uh-huh... I see." Hiding a bit of a grin, she shakes her head. Shifting to move a bit closer to the DV, she focuses her gaze on Neliar to raise an eyebrow. "Have you started on your project, yet?" Afterall, as a mentor, she has a right to ask.

Neliar looks rather startled at Carise. "No not yet, I've been spending time learning the constellations." He keeps meaning to start his project, but he's not got round to it just yet.

Carise nods slowly, shifting to get up on the platform, leaning lightly against the DV. Of course, you wouldn't want Keris or one of the others to see that. They'd flip! "Have you copied down any of the constellations? Story and such?"

Neliar nod at Carise, "yep I find copying them is the best way for me to remember them." grinning slightly at where she's standing.

"I thought you were going to do that today." Shanel frowns at Neliar. The whole point is to advance, as fast humanly possible. Carefully she climbs down from the rail.

Carise glances at Shanel, giggling softly before icy blue gaze is back on Neliar. "You... could just use one of those, then, if its neat and correct and everything." Not like any of the others would have to know.

Neliar hadn't thought of that. "They're all neat, I take pride in my work." he says with a grin. He rummages around to see if he's got one with him. Finding out he hands it to Carise. "Will this do?"

Shanel nearly falls off the rail with laughter. Hmmm, she's going to have to stop sitting on rails or she's going to get hurt one of these times. "You have one with you???" Nel wheezes in disbelief.

Carise moves away from the DV to take the scroll, opening it to look it over carefully. Eyes slipping over the story before she studies the constellation on the page intently, she raises an eyebrow as she looks back at Neliar. "Very good..." Starting to giggle, she shakes her head at Shanel with a grin. "Really..."

Neliar looks offened, why would it be bad, he tries hard! "What's so funny." he demands. well almost.

Shanel giggles harder with every word out of Neliar's mouth. She can't help it, "It's......just......." She manages to gasp out, only to dissolve into helpless laughter once more.

Neliar shrugs his shoulders, he'll /never/ understand women. Laugher is infectious and he finds himself giggling along side them.

Carise shakes her head, quieting somewhat to move over towards the cabinets on the wall. Opening an upper door, she sticks her hand in, rummaging around for something before moving away closing the cupboard behind her to hold out a hand to Neliar, scroll still in her other hand.

Neliar watches what Carise is doing, his laughter dying out. He looks at her hand that seems to be extended out towards him.

Shanel pulls herself back under control. She's curious as to what Carise is doing in a cupboard and what she's holding out at Neliar.

Carise flipping the hand over, she opens it up, a somewhat worn, but new for Neliar, Sr. knot. A grin and she giggles. "Go ahead... take it. It's yours." Grinning she glances down at the scroll in her other hand, offering that back to him as well. "Congratulations."

Neliar's face break into a wide grin as he hears he's been promoted. He reaches out and takes the scroll and knot from carise not caring that's not a new one. "Thank you Carise." he says as he takes his old knot off and hands it to Carise not know what else to do with it. He turns to Shanel and smiles at her.

Shanel looks from the knot to Neliar and to Carise. A hug wouldn't her in trouble right? Right? Well, she'll just have to risk it. Shanel climbs over the rail, nearly falling in her haste. Throwing her arms around Neliar's neck she grins broadly. "Congrats.

Neliar's grin widens even more when Nel comes and gives him a hug. For once in his life he's speechless.

Carise giggles, waving her hand to the pair, turning to move back towards the exit with a giggle. "Enjoy it, Neliar. I'll let you two go back to looking at the DV." Grinning, she moves out without a backwards glance.

Carise walks to the Main Hall Balcony.

Yeah, she didn't get in trouble. And with the Jman gone Shanel decides to do what she really wanted to do in the first place. She grabs the back of Neliar's head and pulls him down for a kiss.

Neliar takes full advantage of the fact that they are alone again and pulls Nel closer to him, giving him the contact with her that he's been craving. His mouth relishing the softness of her lips as they kiss. H could never be happier than he is right now.
Shanel pulls back slowly and reluctantly. "I have a class now." Softly said so as not to break the mood to much. "I have to go."

Neliar sighs as Nel pulls away, his first instinct is to tighten his arms slightly before he lets her go. "When will I see you again?" he almost whispers, hoping it will not be too long.

Shanel nods. "Supper?" Maybe, hopefully. She'll to her best to make it. "Or, we could get food and take it outside?" That'd be a better idea. Then they don't have to so careful. Reluctantly she pulls away completely with one last kiss and heads out the door to her class.

Neliar smiles, glad he'll be able to see her soon. "Bye." he calls as she leaves.