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Post by Orca on Sept 20, 2011 16:09:18 GMT -5
"See you." With those pleasantires exchanged, Nigel turned back to Annie, whose attention had drifted askew once more. "Long as you're there pinin' over that bloke, could you at least enlighten us as to why?"
The smaller ultralight scoffed quietly, but her gaze did not wander. "There's no real reason for it, Nigel. I'm just curious. You don't see many Hunters this far west."
"Wasn't that long ago you hadn't seen much of anything this far west," he retorted, good-naturedly as ever. The Australian, long since accustomed to his life of perpetual travel, could understand the innocent-if-naive way his companion continued to look at the world around her. He had once been like that. "What're we gonna do with her, Vee?"
Camm, meanwhile, paid heed only to the drink in front of him, and tried not to crimp his mouth at the lingering taste. The experimental sip turned out to be richer than he would have preferred, but he wasn't bothered enough by that to order a replacement. Sometimes it was merely the effect many servings the drink could have that was worth the dollar paid to sample it.
*
Birdbrain, never one to leave an expression unquestioned, whistled for the Panther's attention when he noticed the look of great unease that suddenly crossed his face. "Art, what is it? You're looking a little ill now."
"With good reason," Arthur replied, after a moment's delay. "Now I think I just figured out where my former packmates might have disappeared to."
"The High Point?" Freefall filled in the blanks without prompting. "A glitz pit catering largely to the rich and stupid? Why would they go there?"
"Diversification," the Panther spoke bluntly, but hushed enough so that passersby would not catch his words. "Charles and Joyce had talked about branching out from their dealings with Elyse Campanga. Fogelin was their next most likely partner in crime."
*
"Pin'll decide that one way or another," the Warhawk assumed, glancing down the road to where Pienaar conferred with the offroaders. A smirk-like grin crossed his face after another moment's consideration. "Soon as he's done dealing with Eise-boy, probably. Closeted diplomatic type that he is, it would be nice to see if he could go tread-to-tread with Momma Louisa, though. She can be a wily one, but it's no nonsense when it comes to her boys."
*
"And with no word of the upcoming expo being cancelled or re-scheduled, the media pressure will be on that whole time," Anita frowned. "Makes me especially glad we decided to get out of there when we did. Some peoples' issues really don't need publicizing."
*
"Interesting is one word to use," the Skyray remarked, carefully plying another subject if it meant eating up the next ten minutes. "Given how things already are, it can only get more chaotic, right?"
*
Whereas the other Panthers voiced their agreement, Reginald could only duck his face and try not to worry too much. He was probably second to Arthur when it came to airing caution, even if that caution was seldom expressed. For now all he could do was go along with the situation and hope it did not pan out too horribly. Questioning the plan's nittier details would only earn him more flack than was worth putting up with.
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Post by arinthian on Sept 20, 2011 16:14:21 GMT -5
"Thanks Janika, see you on the ground." Arin smirked and put himself into a steep dive, easily reaching 400 mph, he opened his dive breaks at 500 feet and pulled out to land, he then rolled off and runway and waited for Janika, his engine idling.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 23, 2011 20:40:18 GMT -5
<<< Sorry for the delay. Had some stuff to do. >>>
Janika touched down a minute after Arin, and joined him on the apron. "Are you OK?" she asked.
"I dunno." Venus smirked. "You're still a little wet behind the wings, Annie, but everything will start making more sense in time."
Janet paused as she passed by Camm, but did not linger long enough to have words.
"Anything more, sir?" the forklift inquired.
Uli, Iris and Harriet virtually blanched at this speculation. "Arthur." Iris collected herself. "When somebody like Fogelin takes on "help" like that, it's because he's looking for some fall guys."
"So he's already feeling some heat." Alain deduced. His face twisted as he thought through some implications. "If Constanza and and Fogelin and Elyse have connections, however tenuous, Terri is now in a very different world."
"That'll be something to see." Oksana grinned tightly. "Are they gonna let us sell tickets?"
"Ricky! Manny! Get off your brother now!" Louisa's tone was clear and commanding and brooked no resistance. The Lancair woman bustled up, all business as she looked them over with sharp eyes. "Just because we're in a new place is no reason to get rambunctious."
"Sorry, Ma." Ricky, the one with blue stripes on white, dipped his head submissively. Manny, orange and yellow flames on red, put up a defiant front for all of ten seconds until Louisa nailed him with "that look" that only mothers had. She nudged her eldest son. "Brian, I hope we're not putting anybody out of their home tonight."
"We're clearing out some space." Abruzzi answered. "I've got a private hangar, but I haven't used it much 'cause I usually sleep in the back office. You can have that one and the boys can use the cleared-out room, we've got some mats." He paused momentarily. "Ma, this is Pin. He's the pit boss here. If I'm not around, he can answer any question you've got." He also went on to introduce the others who Louisa didn't know.
Josh frowned, and it seemed that his features became a silent, glowering thundercloud. Malcolm raised his 'shades as another side of the Bearcat emerged that he hadn't seen before. He hadn't really seen Josh angry.
Finally, he spit words out. "At least that Raptor kid is safe for now. That Viggie has nobody. You'd think she'd have family, or someone looking for her."
Zoe knit her brow. "It'll get worse before it gets better."
The younger children were listening also, though some of the more complicated concepts were still a little beyond them. Their eyes went back to the game that was playing out before them, and before many other eyes. Finally, it was wrapping up, and the crew would retreat and leave them their privacy again.
Joyce and Tracy glanced to Reginald, and the former's eyes hardened a little. DON'T WIMP OUT ON US LIKE ARTHUR.
Fogelin seemed oblivious. "Now, I have some other matters to deal with, so I'll be moving on. Thank you for coming, enjoy the drinks and one of the ladies will show you out when you're ready. See you later." He pulled back and made his exit, with the Hellcats in tow.
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Post by Orca on Sept 24, 2011 10:15:00 GMT -5
"Nothing, thank you." Camm waved the server's inquiry off as polite consideration. His good eye followed the EE Lightning a second more before shifting focus back to the group of ultralights who had hailed her.
"The least of which is him," Nigel quirked a flap in the Hunter's direction. "Y'can't let wonder of the unknown mystify you too much."
"I didn't think I was," Annie replied, elevators lowering. "It's just odd, I guess. I know the more numerous European lines usually come around the Conelrad, but isn't his kind all but absent in North America anyway?"
*
Arthur's frown only deepened. Misguided concern would still have its validity with him, even if logic said he was better off for having left the rambuncous pack of Panthers.
"She's not a lost cause," Freefall stated unequivicolly, favoring the New England couple with a poignant glance. "At the rate things are happening, the Air Guard's trafficking investigation should be due to turn up new evidence."
"That's a pretty big 'should', Chris," Zigzag remarked. "For as much as we know, we don't know the whole story. The odds are really 50-50."
The fighter hybrid retaliated with an unimpressed snort. "Call it a gut reaction, then. When the stakes have been lifted so high as to include murder, something else is bound to give."
*
"Maybe, if we ask nicely enough."
With the off-roaders dispatched to scour the surrounding forest, Pienaar returned to the door as Abruzzi went around the gathered staff, pointing out names and duties for Louisa's edification. Always reticent in his approach, he quirked an eyeshade at the twins' antics and said nothing as their mother's rebuke effectively stilled them. With the preliminary introductions made, the Kingcobra spoke only to the present matters of business for the moment. "Monsieur, Eisenhof and his team have agreed to patrol the woods for a short time tonight, then they will be departing. In light of recent developments and seeing what customers have already arrived, might we postpone the staff meeting for tomorrow morning? Better to give things a chance to settle?"
Eddie rolled his eyes at the pit boss' ever-neutral tone. In addition to answering almost any question, he's about as fun as a stack of snoozin' bulldozers, too.
*
"If there's anyone on her side, they're probably doing what they can," Anita reasoned, calm despite the emerging hosility in Josh's expression. "And if the A-5 associates had any interest in keeping the issue quiet, they'll be letting the media know in short order. They won't take the chance of being that indifferent to bad press."
*
Ashley nodded mutely in agreement, absently wondering if her little sister and her grandfather had yet learned of this taping session. On a more distant note, she wondered if her parents knew what a hotbed of activity TLM had turned into.
Nevaeh, in the meantime, waited as the other scuffle players each went through their turn before tossing the stone to the flowerpot. Contrary to her last try, the stone skipped once on the cobblestone before landing squarely inside the overturned pot. Clearly pleased with the result, the mottled Raptor squeaked in delight before offering Mitchell and then Mitzi an approving nudge, all ill-will clearly forgotten.
*
"When we're ready..." Reginald muttered under his breath, once the Bonanza and his guards had vacated the room. Only after the door swung shut behind them did he turn on the other Panthers and raise his voice. If nothing else, he wanted to make it clear his apparent caution was not unjustified. "Just so there's no confusion: you guys have no doubts about handling this whatsoever?"
"My only doubt is where all that hostility is suddenly coming from, Redge," Charles replied bluntly. "I thought you were down for whatever."
"I am, but I'm not blind to the potential consequences. We screw this up, and we'd be in for more punishment than any of our previous plans would've doled out."
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Post by arinthian on Sept 24, 2011 20:20:34 GMT -5
Arin smiled at Janika and nodded. "Yeah, I feel better now that I did that." he laughed.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 29, 2011 0:45:18 GMT -5
Janika cocked an eyeshade as she approached, wondering what was going on with him. "That's a funny way to deal with the stress of a death in the family."
"I'd say." Venus concurred. "I've only met one other Hunter, and she was just visiting. That was in Gander."
Janet continued to view the situation discreetly from across the room. Camm's past and current relationships were not unknown to her. Sooner or later, she'd have to bite the bullet and see just what was going on with him.
"And with the little Raptor here, they have to pay closer attention to any potential trouble in the area." Iris agreed. "So Col. Whatshisnuts will have to delegate that to somebody to check around on these leads. Heather's squad needs to back her up, but the Voodoo guy hasn't been doing a lot lately."
"Makes sense." Abruzzi nodded. "We'll break this off 'til tomorrow morning. Eddie, Mandy, why don't you show Ma and the bro's around a little more while we greet the incomers?"
"Sure." the Voodoo girl dipped her nose. She didn't know Louisa as well as Eddie did, but recognized that the woman punched well above her weight. Anyone observing them could definitely see where Brian Abruzzi got it from.
Josh pursed his lips, and let out a long sigh. "You're right, Anita. SOMEONE has to be following up on this. I just hope it's soon."
"They've restored civil traffic access at TLM as of 7PM." Jenna's father announced. "But it wouldn't be wise to be going just yet. They'll be working through a backlog."
The black Spitfire leaned back on his tailwheel, rudder flicking. "I hope Pin remembers to get our message out when he can."
"He will." Jenna nuzzled him. "Nothing that would really stop him."
Mitzi nudged back and blew out. The camera crew, still maintaining a discreet distance, focused tightly on her and Neveah and left the rest of the kids out of it. Anyone watching on TV wouldn't know who else was involved besides the designated liasons. Ellen and Blanche then came forward and whickered to the toddlers, encouraging them to move their way. The session was coming to an end.
Zoe looked back over to Ashley, then above as she noticed approaching traffic picking up. "Looks like they restored access, though the path is still restricted."
"Dontcha think we don't know that?" Joyce snorted. "We've always been good at coverin' our tracks when we needed to. We gotta be careful, but we can't worry so much about it that we're paralyzed. That was Arthur's ****in' problem right there."
"So what's our next move?" Tracy inquired.
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Post by Orca on Sept 29, 2011 17:15:46 GMT -5
Nigel barked a short laugh. "It's almost enough to make you think they got somethin' against the New World."
"What's his reason then?" Annie inquired, eyes narrowing. "This far west, what makes him an exception?"
"I doubt we can just saunter up and ask, Ann. Whatever his excuse, it's not worth meddlin' in if we can help ourselves. If ten years of the transient lifestyle has taught me anythin' it's don't stick your nose in more places than it need be."
The smaller ultralight answered that with a mute back-and-forth glance.
"O'course, the same can be said for those of residential dispositions, too."
*
Birdbrain spared the Delta woman a puzzled look. "So, who backs Captain Douglass up in the field?"
While he did not balk at the thought, Zigzag glanced aside at Uli, posing the question without actual words. You?
*
Eddie smiled. Evidently, familiarizing the rest of the Abruzzi family with the Aerie, and those who managed it, did not trouble him. "Not a problem, boss." He moved aside, beckoning with one aileron as a tour guide might cue their group to follow their lead. "Ma'am, boys, if you'll come this way..."
Pienaar's neutral look faded enough to allow a sliver of exasperation to surface. Persistant optimism had its strengths at a time like this, much as it might have grated the pit boss' level diplomacy. Still, he waited until the newly arrived Lancairs had been ushered to a safe distance away before speaking up again.
"In light of that decision, monsieur, I will pass word to the others to resume their usual duties. For the moment I will be monitoring any new information Kaede passes down as to the results of the off-roaders' search."
*
Except the unexpected. Anita didn't say as much, knowing the negative comment have no use. Pienaar had proved reliable so far. There was no call to discredit that. "Maybe we should wait a spell, perhaps until tomorrow. The incoming flights will probably be mostly of actual necessity. If we give them a night's time to sort that out we'd have better luck getting back in the morning."
*
Ashley also looked skyward, toward the established air corridors that were often designated for unstacked traffic. The air above the old Stearns' homestead remained vacant, save for the black-and-white silhouette of Madison Paige prowling a wide circuit about. "Now it won't be just the press to worry about. The gawkers will come next."
Sensing the change in mood, but not with a feeling of resistance, Nevaeh offered the Schwalbe woman a parting chirrup before following Mitchell back to shelter between Ellen and Blanche. A long afternoon of play between several different individuals had all but erased the Raptor's earlier social misgivings. She did not hesitate to nudge up against the Aardvark's forewheel and squeak in contentment.
*
Reginald growled low in his throat, but did not say anything more. Simply because he was unconsciously deigned the new low man among them did not mean he would accept the position without protest. Excuse me for just making sure.
"Do as the man said: pick up Mr. Sid Camm's trail, and go from there. Check every possible place he could set down. My bet is he'll be sticking to the out-of-the-way places, those who have the right runways for his specs, where he wouldn't stand out. So long as we're 'polite' about it, we may even get an innkeeper or two to cough up a lead."
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Post by arinthian on Sept 29, 2011 20:17:49 GMT -5
Arin smiled slightly. "true, but for a dive bomber like me, its a great to relax as well as hone my skills" he said as he let his engine die.
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 6, 2011 3:05:59 GMT -5
Tristane stopped by the ultralights. "Hey, guys. How you doing tonight?" Her eyes flicked towards Camm for an instant, but didn't linger.
"Usually Lt. Fontaine, but she's busy right now." Uli explained. "That leaves Capt. Niatross' two men if she can spare them. I'm not really authorized to back up the locals, it would require my real superior's approval."
"And he's not here." Iris shrugged.
"Not YET." Harriet breathed in. "The Raptor girl showed up, the Arrows showed up, my cousin is out here somewhere... who else is dropping in?"
"Good." Abruzzi turned his attention fully on Pienaar again. "Anyway, we got customers, let's go make'em welcome."
Mandy turned to follow Eddie and the rest of Abruzzi's family. It was getting quite well-populated here...
"My thoughts exactly." Malcolm concurred. "Not much more we can do about it tonight." He yawned. "I'm looking forward to a nice snooze in the shade, what about you guys?"
"It's been a long night. And day." Josh seconded. "A nice lie-down sounds just right to me."
"At least Madison knows what to do about them." Zoe smirked to the Skyray. "We have two Lynxes working for the family. Once they start a job, they forget what "quit" means."
Blanche nuzzled the child and blew gently onto her back. She could be quite a mother, but close enough would do for now. "C'mon, kiddo, you must be getting hungry by now." A stray thought went back to Oliver, who had been, in effect, stranded here with all the traffic restrictions and chaos. The Norseman had found himself on the outside struggling to look in, along with the rest of the civilians.
Joyce drained the last of her drink. "Might as well get started, then. Time's a-wasting."
"Yeah, let's move." Tracy wouldn't admit it out loud, but the posh surroundings made her just a bit uncomfortable and out-of-place. She was a do-it-take-the-money-and-run type.
Janika shook her head slightly. "Well, are you coming inside again or staying out here?"
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Post by Orca on Oct 6, 2011 14:32:22 GMT -5
Nigel, always one to readily defer to a lighter subject, brightened instantly at recognizing another familiar face. Annie even managed a small smile for the amiable guard. "Well as can be, Tris. Musin' about this mad world we live in over some good drinks. Yourself?"
*
"Let's do ourselves a favor and not make guesses about it tonight," Zigzag declared, with a sort of weary finality. "There's been enough of that today."
Birdbrain gave a cautious grin. "Now we gotcha thinkin' on the right track." He glanced over at the long-faced Panther in their midst. "Sound good to you, Artie?"
While he did not say as much, Arthur turned back to the still-active Internet terminal and closed the open windows with a few deft nudges to its screen before signing out.
Freefall also kept quiet, but a sharp flick of his tailfins betrayed whatever racing thoughts Harriet's open-ended question had stirred in his mind.
Birdbrain rolled his eyes good-naturedly at the tense, reticent reactions around him. "So, a new question: who here is gettin' thirsty?"
*
Priorities now sorted, Pienaar spared the departing group one more mindful glance before returning to business of greeting the regulars waiting in line, while Abruzzi gave the go-ahead to the door staff to open up.
Eddie, meanwhile, wasted no time in disclosing the basics of the Aerie and its people to the newest pending residents. True to form, he took such dictation and put an entertaining spin to what might otherwise be mundane rambling.
"And then there's how this reunion has so far figured into all of that," the Warhawk continued, as they passed by the outdoor fuel bar and moved on to the staffs' quarters. "I was the first one to turn up, rather unspectacularly, around three days back. Having just finished my last small job I decided to stay on to help Brai with whatever assimilation problems came his way. And then when the topic of extra help came up we thought of Mandy and she was gracious enough to come assist us in handling this weekend's rushes. You and the boys are now our latest cause."
*
Anita paid a final look at the shelter's flatscreen. A change in focus appeared to serve in support of the notion. The live feed from TLM had been replaced by a local news anchor reciting the day's other significant events.
"A higher power knows you've both earned it," the silver Mustang agreed, obliging Josh with a brief nuzzle. "With the added bonus of sleeping in as long as you see fit."
*
"A blessing or a curse, depending on who you're referring to," Ashley remarked, watching as Mitzi, her producer, and their camera-toting company withdrew from sight, escorted by Captain Niatross. "I'm not so sure what her reason is, but other Lynxes I've heard of are not nearly as angry and insular."
Nevaeh babbled an affirmative to Blanche's assumption. She needed no encouragement to return to the open hangar doors. There she found Rosa, who had thought ahead to the point of preparing a pallet of drinks for the Raptor tots and their minders.
*
The High Point was widely known as an establishment catering to the upper, well-to-do classes of aircraft society. Anyone who had ever laid eyes on the club also knew its name had been aptly chosen in aesthetic terms. Its small, but efficient airfield sat on a low plain beside the bluff upon which the main hall stood.
Business and civilian types made up the majority. It was no secret that that demographic of customers was comprised of three types: those who knew how to handle money, those who had yet to learn, and those who never would. The casual traveler and the average tourist tended to steer clear, even if their monetary status was on par with that of the regulars. The atmosphere was about as homey and welcoming as a casino on the Las Vegas strip.
Military breeds, outmode or not, specifically those that were not a part of the spartan staff, were looked upon with a kind of curiosity. Upon their arrival earlier in the day, Charles, for his part, had returned every probing glance with a glowering frown. Now, as earliest parties were allowed in, the departing Panthers were favored with more than a few odd stares of bemusement. As the incoming traffic grossly outnumbered their group of four, they were faced with a short wait before the resident controllers halted those landing and allowed them a chance for takeoff.
Reginald went aloft last, taking the trailing position in the loose echelon formation their pack so often flew in. At altitude, he made a cursory check of each's mood and manner. Despite the drinks his wingmates had been served, he knew for their practiced tolerance it took more than a round or two to effectively ground them. And the sooner they got this job done, he reasoned, the sooner they would get the opportunity to enjoy the currency it earned.
"Weather's gonna be clear all four ways for tonight. Only thing worth noting is the little cold front that might blow through." Charles' voice broke the quiet. "Most of the likely points to give a look are east of here. Little 'Nam's the closest, to the sou'east. What d'ya guys think?"
*
From ground level, the neighborhood of Dry Hollow didn't offer much in the way of breathtaking, desert sunsets. There was the option of going airborne and landing on Ysidro's apron where the sight could be better appreciated. She and her husband had done so many times before, when Atlas' fading eyesight hadn't yet made such forays a waste of time. With this in mind, Sandra Lewis declined to do so, and settled for watching from an open doorway as the sun gradually slipped further and further behind valley's western edge. At this lower elevation, the air turned cooler, quicker than it did in other parts of the town. Atlas opted to stay indoors, where the temperatures remained bearable.
They had spoken sparingly since returning from the Air Vets meet. While they agreed on many things amicably in their thirty-plus years of marriage, Sandra knew the subject of Christopher had become something of a wedge between them. Since he had been given his first fleet assignment their son had maintained only a minimum modicum of contact with them, and most of that had been with only his mother. Conferring with Blanche Woodman at the community center had re-kindled the middle-aged F-14's interest in where and what her wayward son had been up to these past two years. She had not so much held him away as abided by his wishes not to burden them with his problems. The idea of a phone call, if only for a short "how are you," was tempting.
The last they had seen or heard of him was after the court martial in Oceana. He had paid them and what other gathered supporters he had known farewell, before taking off for places unknown. But he had left contact information, and at her last check it was not outdated. He was hardly unreachable. The big question was whether or not now was the right time to take that chance. If not now, when?
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Post by arinthian on Oct 6, 2011 17:14:55 GMT -5
Arin grinned "Just kidding, in truth, I have no idea why I did that, and yeah, I'll go back inside, after you" he said.
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 12, 2011 15:29:05 GMT -5
"M'OK." Tristane grinned. "So far, no punks or drunks tonight, though it IS Sunday. She noted Venus. "New kid?"
"Uh, yeah." Venus smiled bashfully.
"We don't bite here." the mix laughed. "Unless you want us to."
"I could go for a drink." Iris looked off in the direction of the fuel bar. "What about the rest of you?" Uli, Harriet and Alain made noises in agreement. It would be nice to talk about something else for a change.
"I hate for us to be a burden on you all, Eddie." Louisa sighed, "But things were getting nasty with the landlord and we'll be lucky if we ever see our deposit money again." She paused to call back the boys. "You two, back here! Don't go nosing in other people's stalls. You know better than that." The chastened boys, heads low, slunk back to their mother's side. Her nose quivered as she picked up lingering traces of the nervous, angry people who had been here last night. "What just happened here, a brawl?"
"Thanks." Josh lay down with a grateful sigh. Malcolm followed, yawning again as he sprawled out across the mats.
In the distance, another prop came in to land as the teens were watching. Todd turned back towards the warbirds. "Oliver's here."
Blanche and Ellen also took up drinks as they watched the toddlers take in their ration. The other kids also received drinks. The Aardvark's eyes lifted and hardened slightly as she watched Mitzi's producer following her and Heather out. She didn't care for the way that Gulfstream was looking over the Thud woman's assets.
Zoe scowled as she looked on. "If that was Mom he was ogling, she'd rip him a few new ones."
"There's some other places." Joyce ventured. "There's a little strip near Nitropolis that has some clubs. Remember that Conelrad place we almost got thrown out of a while back?"
"I remember that mutt of a door b*tch who chewed us out over some pissant thing I don't even recall now." Tracy sniffed and flicked her rudder irritably at the memory. "Don't wanna see her again."
"OK." Janika cast a wondering eye back as Arin followed her back in. The evening was just starting to hit its stride inside the club. The DJ was spinning some mellow tunes and people were hanging out in a pleasant, relaxed fashion. It was not quite the frenetic blur of Friday and Saturday, but hardly dead either. "You want to get a drink now?"
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Post by Orca on Oct 12, 2011 19:30:36 GMT -5
"Not for the time bein'," Nigel replied easily, though a cheeky glint came to his eye. "We're doin' our best to behave, set a good example and all that. Let's not spoil it."
"After a day's work involving half a dozen flights and more than a little eye strain, that should be easy," Annie surmised, though her tone lacked the genuine sarcasm needed for the words to come across as flat. "The powers-to-be thought we deserved a break before tackling the paperwork."
*
"See if we can't find something cheerier to... discuss."
Zigzag rolled his good eye tolerantly. It could be said his younger friend was rarely ever truly talked out. But thankfully, Birdbrain tactfully held his words in reserve until their collective group found its way to a row near the bar. This late in the day, storm's lingering presence had broken up and the humidity was no longer so oppressive, as the air gradually began to cool in the twilight hours. For the time being, the sun-warmed concrete below one's wheels was pleasantly comfortable. As such, the attitudes of those media types around appeared mellowed in comparison to yesterday's fervor. There was little in way of bickering between waiting customers as the servors scurried up and down the asiles, taking and delivering orders.
"Nice to see how everyone's shifted gears since last we were out here," Birdbrain finally remarked. "The wash racks' got their money's worth and then some."
"That live news feed appeased certain appetites, too," Zigzag added. "Let's any who wonder get a handle on this madness."
"Means we won't have to listen to their public bouts of speculation, hopefully," Freefall quipped from his station near the row's end. With full fuel tanks, he wasn't feeling particularly inclined to take a drink.
Birdbrain pulled a face at realizing his wingleader's unconversational mood before glancing back to the other couples. "Well, so long as we're lookin' to speculate about somethin' else, why not trade a few unrelated stories among ourselves?"
Arthur blinked, as if stupified. "Such as?"
The Tiger feigned a dramatic sigh. "Well, let's see. Such as anythin' we have or haven't been up to in the days before all this. Preferably somethin' optimistic in nature."
Zigzag, in an effort to not seem any more like a sourpuss, rifled through his recent memories for a thought. As topics relating to he or his wingmates came up blank, instead he glanced back at Harriet and Alain. "You two mentioned Temple Beach earlier. What area of study was it you were offered to help instruct in, Mr. Dumont?"
*
Eddie didn't try to dance around the issue, but did temper his response to lessen any import it might have. In any case, he could always give a fuller account later when Ricky and Manny were not within earshot. "Day before last, Mrs. A. This gaggle'a Panthers got a little uppity and we had to... 'escort' them from the hall out to a nearby meadow where they couldn't do more damage to themselves or others. They were outta here by the next mornin'."
Wilsen, whose half-open hangar door it was the twins had been edging toward, poked his nose outside at hearing the new voice. Though his eyes widened at the sight of three unfamiliar Lancairs, he did not comment and withdrew a second later.
Looking back at this over his wing root, Eddie snorted lightly. "And that elusive creature was Cecil, another bouncer. Otherwise known as the quietest guard on the Aerie's payroll."
*
Deciding the recently-returned duo were entitled to a few minutes of peace, Anita moved to the shelter's edge and stood to one side of the teens. Even at a distance, the turboprop's coat of older USAF colors were unmistakable. "Strange of him to turn up. You think something happened?"
*
Ashley stole a look after the corporate jet in question. The implications in his not-so-subtle stares and body language, she had been trying to put out of her mind. Word of the manners and the proclivities of those in Mitzi Stauffer's employ were second only to the Schwalbe herself. The Skyray could not help but recall the worst rumors she had come into knowing, thanks to Corey. Their mother's hobby of actively screening gossip columns was not uninfluential even when the family was divided as it was.
"She wouldn't be the first one. My mom says he's been knocked around once or twice, taking advantage of the wrong lawyer's client. In those instances, he discovered the use of hush money. The message of such things just doesn't get through to him."
*
Reginald fumed in silence, as he remembered the encounter with no small measure of fuming indignation.
"Might be a sacrifice you'll have to get ready to make, Trace," Charles huffed, nonpulsed. "The Conelrad's a good bet for finding the odd Euros that venture this far inland. We'll have to give it a passing look."
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Post by Evangeline on Oct 22, 2011 22:54:25 GMT -5
"Paperwork..." Tristane chuckled ruefully. "You guys already know what I t'ink a' dat." She stamped her right gear and flicked an aileron sharply upward. If directed at anyone in particular, it would be like the CV airplane's equivalent of "the finger". But in this context, it merely telegraphed the jet mix's opinion of a boring chore.
"Particle physics." Alain answered. "The physics faculty at Temple Beach is one of a network of research nodes that will be performing experiments on the new massive supercollider that's opening up in Texas. I just got an assistant professorship there and hope to get tenure at some point."
Harriet smiled and nudged the Citation. She was visibly happy for him.
"And I should get my real estate license soon." Iris added. "Market's a bit soft right now, but hey, people gotta live somewhere. And Heather wants to get into computer programming, been doing that since she was a teen."
"For now, I'm just hoping to get my scent training certification out of the way." Uli grinned tightly.
"OK." Louisa's attention was diverted by the sounds of other children's voices and she saw Leroy, Maya and Lisa bounding around. They weren't quite the twins age, but at least there were other children here. "Looks almost like a small town here."
"But getting larger." Mandy rolled her eyes slightly. "Not quite what Bry was expecting, but he's rolling with it."
"I think the crowds might've been a bit much for him." Jenna surmised. "He never did come across as the "urban" type."
The Norseman did a slow taxi off the apron and onto the street. His 'shades raised as he recognized the warbird group. "So that's where you've been hiding. Can't say I blame you."
"Hey, Oliver." Todd called out.
Zoe leaned in, whispering. "I've heard Mom say a man has two "brains", but can only think with one at any time." She giggled at the illicit reference. "And when it's the smaller one, that's trouble."
"So be it." Joyce shrugged. Tracy, outvoted, snorted and twitched her tailplanes. The other Panther woman ignored it. "So let's get movin', then."
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Post by Orca on Oct 24, 2011 2:42:37 GMT -5
"A necessary evil in our line of work," Nigel conceded, though he smirked amusedly at Tristane's subtle use of gesture. "Not the most exciting profession, but at least one we know we're cut out for."
"Until the next big budget cut results in our services becoming of a pro bono nature," Annie pointed out, always one to look to the future with some measure of grimness. "Then it'll be time for a new hobby."
*
Birdbrain glanced over at his wingmates, a mute prompt. Their reactions were what he expected. Zigzag ducked his nose and said nothing, as if embarassed. Freefall's expression remained deceivingly blank. "Well, seein' as how these two aren't sharing yet, Art, what have you been thinking about?"
The blue Panther appeared to momentarily shrink away from the question before collecting his nerve. "Other than find a job, I'm considering trying to reconnect with my family. We've been... out of contact for some time."
"Why's that?"
He looked away after another pause. "Long story. I'm won't trouble you with it."
Faced with this wall, Birdbrain tried another angle. "Where are you from, anyway, man?"
"Southern Illinois. You?"
"Tennessee, originally, and later western New York. Zig came from small holding in Maryland somewheres. Fall's former home was a desert valley in Arizona. We're all... electively estranged from our relatives, too."
"You don't seem bothered with that."
"Raise ya three long stories, buddy. What did you do for a living in south Illy?"
A hint of sheepiness surfaced in Arthur's expression, and he stole a glance at the surrounding media-based crowd. "I was an editor. Local paper. It was the extension of a part-time, fact-finding job in high school that I couldn't seem to leave behind after graduation."
*
"As is his way," Eddie agreed. "Pin's the one I wonder about. I've never known anyone quite so - " The hurried approach of a small, whirring motor interrupted him. Any irritation he felt vanished as he looked back to see a familiar forklift coming toward them, her tines cradling a server's pallet of fuel cans and seedcakes. "Hey, Liesa. Can I guess who that's for?"
The waitress stopped short of the group's collective tail. Eddie was tempted to ask her as to who sent the refreshments this way, but didn't. Some decorum was being observed. Word of the manager's family dropping in had evidently spread throughout the staff already. "Our visitors, Herr Bluth, compliments of the house. If they should so desire."
The Warhawk looked to Louisa. "What do you think, Mrs. A? You or the boys feelin' peckish right now?"
*
"Probably would've left sooner if he could. Never mind the traffic restrictions. With Blanche attending to the Raptor for now, the Air Vets must be handling its own kind of media-related problems. They'll be curious to talk to any other people she's had association with." Anita could only assume as much as Oliver drew up to the edge of the Jaegers' lot. The older turboprop had likely deduced that much and taken his chance to get out before increased media scrunity turned up any matters relating to him that he were rather left alone. His behavior during the mini-drama incited by Malcolm's brother earlier in the week told pages of what he thought of prying eyes peering into his background.
"I see you took your chance to get outta Dodge, sir."
*
Ashley wisely smothered any urge to laugh at the images these words conjured. "Makes sense. Then maybe he can try arguing a case of diminished capacity."
*
Even if he had no vested interest in what method his packmates found completely comfortable, Charles thought it best to clarify one point. "If it's any consolation, Trace, we're not gonna land and take care of him there even if that's where he's hiding out. We're gonna wait and keep an eye out for when he leaves and leads us somewhere quiet."
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