|
Post by arinthian on Oct 29, 2011 15:17:14 GMT -5
( sorry, guys, I've been busy, and wont be back for another week, feel free to puppet )
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on Nov 1, 2011 23:39:27 GMT -5
"On top of the ones we already have?" Venus smirked. Her favorite hobby was handsome men. In that, she had something in common with Tristane.
"Hobbies are nice, but getting paid is better." Tristane commented wryly.
Janet, in the meantime, continued to discreetly observe Camm. The healed-over wound made her wince inside. She had her suspicions as to who dealt it.
Iris raised a 'shade. It was atypical for a Panther, but with this individual, it wasn't as much of a surprise as would have been assumed. "That sounds like it was interesting work." she remarked. "You get to know your community very well that way."
"And you're still a good researcher." Uli pointed out. "Getting back to what we were saying, I grew up with my host family just outside of Hamburg."
"I came from upstate New York, and lived in New Hampshire while I commuted to grad school in Massachussets." Alain spoke up. "Harriet was the girl next door."
"And I WAS a girl at that time." Harriet snickered. "Then he went away for a while and by the time we met again, I was legal and we realized we were more than just friends."
The boys didn't answer in words, but in action as they descended on the tray of goodies. "Boys, your manners!" Louisa admonished sharply. The twins froze, shamefaced.
"Say please and thank you." she said to them, and the youngsters restrained themselves and asked politely for the treats. Louisa smiled apologetically to Liesa, Pienaar and Eddie. "Boys will be boys, but that doesn't mean they can't be gentlemen. Eddie was always a good boy."
"It was getting a little too "interesting" for me." Oliver smiled sheepishly as he recognized Anita and her companions. "My dear lady, is there anywhere here an old man can find a wee bit to drink?"
Miriam Jaeger came forward. "You can come and have a sip with us, Mr. Clarkson. We were just having lunch but we've lots to go around."
Todd came up by Anita, "What was it like there? It must be getting insane."
"And more so by the minute." the Norseman rolled his eyes as one of the attendants went for additional refreshments. "Too many obnoxious media types for the good of my equilibrium, thanks very much."
"Don't blame you." Jenna knew exactly how that felt.
"Now I know why Granddad smirks when he says that." Zoe giggled. "He says that looking at Grandma still does that to him."
"Fine." Tracy sniffed. "I'm gettin' to hate brawls in front of everybody."
"Should be somewhere close to water." Joyce interjected. "For cleanup. Water's your friend for this kinda stuff."
|
|
|
Post by Orca on Nov 4, 2011 1:45:17 GMT -5
"Young Annie's a bit vague with her choice of words sometimes," Nigel mentioned, though without condescension. "I think she meant there's nothin' that says you can't find a venture dually enjoyable and profitable."
The youngest ultralight glanced away as if to hide her look of exasperation. "Something like that, Nigel."
Conversation, no matter who was or wasn't listening, appeared to be Nigel's pleasure. "It's a nice thought, at any rate. Almost like to forget of all those times I've met someone workin' a job out of necessity versus desirability. Here especially. I've encountered my share of working standards, and this country's set ranks well up there."
*
Arthur glanced askance at Iris, but refrained from disclosing any more of his backstory. The implied message seemed obvious enough. Too well, in my case.
To his relief, Birdbrain spoke only to follow with the shift in topic. "Hey, chemistry is what it is. Only people who knock it are those for whom it's never worked out."
"Or those too bigoted and closed-off to think beyond their narrow parameters," Zigzag added. "Chris can be accused of that from time to time."
Freefall scoffed quietly in recognition. He did not counter the jibe directly, dealt wisely by slight of hand, as he knew he deserved it. At times, this friendship could border on antagonistic. "We all have our flaws."
*
"Most times, but thank you kindly, Mrs. A," Eddie smiled. The group moved on at Liesa's ever-polite beckoning, marshalled onto a small lot between two hangars, where the waitress served each of the Abruzzi family in turn and withdrew.
"Back to what we were saying before, I can think of worse people Brian could be playin' manager to," the young Warhawk mused, as Ricky's and Manny's seemingly-joint attentions turned to their rations. "And by what I've seen they all took to his management plan without much dispute. I doubt they think ill of you and the boys for dropping in like this."
*
"And driving TLM's personnel nuts, though Osmond's probably loving it, given his martial ways," Anita remarked, glancing away to the southeast where said hairball could be found. "They aired a live filming of the Raptor tot about 30 minutes ago. Mitzi Stauffer got the chance to pay respects. It won't be long before people will start asking about how this will effect the oncoming expo. Have you heard anything like a possible relocation?"
*
"I imagine their rapport more than compensates for whatever discrepancies that may occur," Ashley remarked candidly, though she was mindful not to tread further into that subject unless invited. "Not a bad example to go by, it sounds like."
*
"As soon as we get a bead on his favored range, then we make that determination." Charles agreed, forcing a snort to clear his nose and take a fresh sniff at the breeze. "Fog said this guy ghosts around between populated areas. If he's smart he doesn't take the same roundabout way each time. Wherever it gets done, we'll need to make it quick. Dragging things out will give any concerned do-gooder the idea to put a call in to the nearest Guard patrol."
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on Nov 11, 2011 20:44:12 GMT -5
<<< Sorry for the long wait. Craft show season and all that. >>>
"Well, why do you t'ink I'm down here instead of Quebec?" Tristane flicked up her elevators. "It's a great party place, but too many people up there like to lie around on welfare and whine about how hard they have it." Again, her eyes briefly darted towards the Hunter after she spoke.
Venus glanced to Nigel. "You call that kind of people "Bludgers, " right?"
Iris decided that a little bit of distraction was in order, and found it. "There's a shot of Heather on TV now. She was never proud of her looks, but the camera seems to like her."
"Everyone looks OK to me." Louisa nodded with approval. "We all have to earn a living somehow." She turned to the twins. "Now, you two are to behave, and don't bother anyone while they're working. Is that clear?"
"Yes, mama." Ricky and Manny chimed in unison. "But when do we get to see Bri again?"
"When he can." Louisa assured them. "But he has a lot on his mind right now."
"If there's anything else you might need, just let us know." Mandy said to them. "We'll get you a proper meal in a bit."
"Maybe some events might be spread out to other places, but not too far." Oliver replied. "They've already been talking about renting some other venues."
Jenna turned to her father. "Dad, was that what Van called about earlier?"
Tom nodded. "Yeah, they were asking about the event ground here." He turned to Anita. "So we might get some of the diverted traffic. I'm glad that kid isn't old enough to be aware of all the fuss."
"What she needs is a normal upbringing." Oliver commented bluntly. "And I HATE those creches. You can't bring up kids in a barracks, might as well be another sort of gang like Blanche is always bothered about, and she's right on that point. We might ding the Europeans on a lot of things, but at least they got it right about raising up the fighter kits in family units."
"Our family's tight like that." Zoe shrugged, and then felt a rumble inside. "Gotta get something to eat."
"And th' Guard are on alert as it is 'cause of all that nonsense with the Raptor kid." Joyce grumbled. "Once this is done, I wanna get as far away from these parts as possible. Distance is gonna be our friend here."
|
|
|
Post by Orca on Nov 12, 2011 12:43:24 GMT -5
Nigel rolled his eyes good-naturedly. Typically, in the interests of not confusing others, he amended elements of his given mannerisms to a point. "Yeah, but where I come from they don't outnumber the workin' folk ten to one. Isolated like we are, we're more given to help ourselves than the average continentally-raised bloke does, living within spittin' distance of so many assistance deals. No offense meant to present company, o'course."
"The problem is there's no clean-cut line drawn between those who need said assistance and those who just want to pluck the system for all it's worth," Annie remarked. "The standards by which one can qualify for it are either too lax or too full of loopholes. The help doesn't even get to those who need it."
Absorbed in his own thoughts, Camm paid scant attention to the ultralight group, even as Tristane had joined them. Given his trade, to speak to no one was the best way the Hunter knew how to relax. The less that was given, the less he would have to explain. He was not ignorant of the possibility of others knowing him through reputation and gossip. But if he did nothing to confirm or deny their suspicions, the better off all involved would be.
*
"Gussied up or not." Birdbrain saw no cause to disagree with Iris' assessment. At any rate, he knew Freefall wasn't going to speak publically on the matter, even if the hybrid's stolen glance at the nearest flatscreen was as obvious as clue to anyone of what his interest was in. "Something to balance out how critical she can be of herself. Next time it's brought up we should remind her of that."
Zigzag, not as keen to retread the same ground twice, said his piece only to keep the conversation from devolving into awkward silence. "It's not unusual, given her background."
Being less familiar with that overall story, Arthur asked only what he thought polite. "How long do you think they'll keep her as acting liason for the Guard/media relations?"
*
"And a status update as to where and how soon your accomodations might be arranged. Pin's probably had someone workin' on that as we speak."
Jean Pienaar could be called indisposed at that moment. Keeping up public relations with regular customers was as routine an affair as every other facet of the Aerie. Izzie Semeyov and a friendly gathering of related Lavochkin types had convened on the main hall for a nightly card game, and had no compunctions of filling the pit boss' ear with all manner of local chatter. After delegating as many minor tasks as seemed prudent to the lesser ranks, the Kingcobra could only nod and bide time until a lull in the discussion would permit him a timely withdrawal.
"Even if he hasn't yet, it'll get done. Once something's started he doesn't like to see it left half-finished."
*
"At least the F-35s aren't as worse off. Besides the creche, there are a good number of their first-gens with kids that are living in average civilian settings," Anita mused, recalling the group they had laid eyes on a few days ago at Lake Ferris. "The real fuss here is what's the state of security within the clinics and factories. If the Raptors' contract wasn't so exclusive there would be less concern. And that General Mayhew'll be strung up by his tail if it turns out this happened through any fault of his."
*
Noting the time, Ashley had to agree. The other neighborhood kids appeared to have finished their fuel rations Rosa had passed around, and would soon break up to attend dinners with their respective families. After spending the better part of the afternoon here, the Skyray girl vaguely wondered why her grandfather had not come looking or made a call for her.
"I should be doing the same. We'll see what tomorrow brings as it may. Nice talking with you."
Nevaeh, having finished her given meal, watched from the open hangar door as Ashley took her leave.
*
"No arguments there," Charles replied. Even for being on the slow side as small jets went, the Panthers could easily outrange the average prop-driven ranks of air patrollers. "Fog has our contact info. We might take the retreat as far as the northern border just to be sure."
Reginald, dropping back to trail below and behind his packmates, merely glanced back across the sprawling countryside below as late day gradually gave way to early night. "It still sounds like a lot of chance is gonna be involved here."
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on Nov 21, 2011 23:16:29 GMT -5
"Just ask my sister about welfare abusers." Venus looked like she was going to spit from disgust. "She's a social worker and can tell you two dozen stories of people taking the system for all it's got, and not a damn thing done about it!"
"After a while, the purpose of a system is... itself." Tristane snorted. "The abusers are ignored and good people get chewed up and spit out. That's why I never went anywhere near anything resembling a civil service job."
"As long as they need, I suppose." Iris pursed her mouth and shifted her lower jaw. Even she was not sure.
"Like you said, she looks good on screen." Uli commented.
"And if you told her, she'd go, "Oh, everybody says that about fast jets." Iris replied. "She doesn't give herself enough credit. Of course, it isn't easy dealing with Colonel Shiny-Tail being right here instead of at his office."
"I wonder if he's gotten over being embarrassed by a toddler yet?" the Typhoon smirked slightly.
"He seemed like that sort to me." Louisa said. "I know nothing of casinos, but he seems to know his business."
Manny and Ricky were sniffing around again, groaning as their noses failed to reveal the presence of any other boys their own age and species. They were getting a little too close to Kaede's digs for their own good, and Mandy followed them to head them off. "Boys, come back here please. Kaede doesn't like it when people go poking around her place."
"If it is his fault, he's got it coming." Jenna sniffed. "But it's just as likely to be his predecessor's baggage as his own. But it's all happening on HIS watch, so he's damned if he did and damned if he didn't."
"A good reason why I never wanted to be a general." Tom smirked. "By the time the buck stops at your desk, it's a very big one indeed."
"When I was serving, I thanked the Maker every morning that I was only a humble enlisted man." Oliver smiled.
Zoe looked back at her mother and grandparents, just beyond the security line, feeling a little conflicted as she wondered how they felt about her being at the center of this storm. Then her eyes turned back to Nevaeh. "Later, Ashley." she said. The other children had gone to their suppers as well. Only she was left.
Mitchell was already eagerly tearing into his ration, delighting in the novelty of outside food.
The Arrow girl came up to join them.
"So?" Joyce was more sanguine, "Luck's always been with us in the end." She made a gradual banking descent to the lower levels where trace scents were more easily detected. Joyce had always been a good tracker, notwithstanding her personal and character issues. If Camm had been flying recently in this direction, some remnant could be on the headwind if she could sort it out from all the others.
|
|
|
Post by Orca on Nov 25, 2011 13:32:18 GMT -5
"Puts our work in a different light when you compare it to somethin' like that," Nigel concluded, with a thoughtful frown.
Annie, sparing another brief, curious glance at Camm, decided to steer the conversation another way. "Speaking of not-so-good people, Tristane, how have things been here? There's been some talk going around that V.K. is on the brink of finally turning things over to Connie." There was no need to elaborate beyond nicknames. Even casual clubbers had enough sense to be knowledgable the names and thumbnail reputations of the nearest underworld racket runners, for the purposes of avoiding seedier establishments that might feed their greed.
*
"My money says he is, as much as he can be when its his mug the press are using to popularize the murder investigation," Birdbrain commented, grinning unabashedly. Seeing this, Freefall allowed himself a mute, half-smirk of agreement.
"Gives him reason to focus on more pressing things, too," Zigzag remarked. "Even if the Air Force ends up taking jursidiction over the kid, looking into what became of Terri is a far better use of his time and resources."
*
At the expense of everything else, it seems like. Eddie avoided saying as much. If he remembered Louisa right, she would take the time to find more out on her own if there was a reason for it. At any rate, he wasn't about to go preaching the facts of life to someone twice his age.
Mandy's interception of the twins did not go unnoticed. "We'll add some movies and books to that list of TO-DO once the housing gets sorted out. If nothing else, it'll be a nice change of pace for everyone to have more youngsters about. With the exception of Sonya I can't think of anyone else who's taken time for family here."
A few doors down, Lange, who had spent his late lunch break catching up on sleep, woke to the odd sight of three plus Lancairs than he had seen before retiring to his quarters. Though the young Focke-Wulf paid them a passing look, he dutifully refrained from asking anything and proceeded on to the airstrip. Kaede would soon have to land to nap and refuel before reassuming her patrol over the grounds.
"Like Rudolf there. He's probably the youngest of the guards. The story goes that he got roped into the mix right outta high school, worked a few summers in... related business before landin' a job here. From that, he become Kae's understudy. The Il-2, Oksana, was the newest hire before me and Mands came along. How that happened escapes me. We're not so familiar yet."
*
"Someone, somewhere is probably taking bets on when he'll turn up to confirm or deny his involvement," Anita scoffed. "But it's like Jenna said: regardless, there are probably more than a few people out there who are not very happy with him right now. Forget fixing the problem. He'll want to save his skin first."
*
Even if she did not grasp the totality of the young Arrow's thoughts, Nevaeh could sense the somber turn in Zoe's mood, however slight. At this close proximity, it was impossible to not notice, and enough to give the Raptor tot cause for concern. "Zoh-ee?"
Overhead, their airborne guard found herself joined by two smaller Bell 427s. Rather than relay a change of orders over the radio, Robert and Vincent Swain took it upon themselves to give Madison the message in person. After spending the afternoon grounded, both were sufficiently rested and ready to pick up their turn to watch over Section 4. Thankfully, Madison didn't think it was worth the breath to challenge this development. With the exception of herding away a few overly-nosy onlookers, on the ground and in the air, the cordon was holding up well. She doubted the media would attempt any more daring approaches after dark.
Veering away as the Bell brothers split up to begin their patrol, Madison made a preemptive move and called down to Fontaine with the news. "Looks like we've done our part for today, Lieutenant. I've just gotten word that we're to stand down. Murphy's on his way to watch over things on your level."
*
As the others quieted to better focus on the scents and clues that might be found before reaching the Conelrad, twenty minutes out on their present heading, Reginald turned to monitoring the group's collective six. While his three packmates held a straight course, from varying altitudes, their newly-demoted omega hung further back. Whatever they were bound to find, he'd rather that discovery be made as privately as possible, as the resulting fallout would most definately carried out.
Who knew? Even as amicable as he had appeared on the surface, Fogelin couldn't be placing all that much trust in them this early. Appointing someone to keep tabs on their progress would be the smart thing to do. In a radar field of mostly small bush types and the odd warbird, a jet was quite another animal to detect and evade.
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on Dec 10, 2011 1:26:45 GMT -5
"Oh, her." Tristane scowled and flashed her teeth. "We're not takin' no orders from dat b*tch, noway nohow. Janet wants t' cut us loose when dat happen."
"Good." Venus muttered. "I heard about her. Scary ****." The four-letter word she used was a good step above "b*tch" on the "offensive female references" scale, but many would agree that it was fitting. "Didn't we hear about her trying to lure old-line kids away to fight for third-world dumps? And one of the Trine guys was half-blinded by her gang."
"Which means we'll have him off our backs, but at the same time it means Heather will be dealing with this on her own." Iris frowned again. She looked up at the monitor screens which were replaying the procession back from Nevaeh's temporary home. "I think that's Mitzi's producer there. Look where his eyes are going. He just creeps me out."
Alain bristled, just as he had at the obnoxious car. "Good thing he's not right in front of me right now. I'd rip him a new one."
Harriet smirked as she leaned towards Uli and the other men. "Now you see why Alain had to do something else other than bus executives around."
"I never suffered fools gladly." the Citation X admitted. "Our line was outcrossed into fast jet lines to get more speed, and that we have, but the temper came with it."
"Oksana's just working full-time for the summer, as far as I know." Mandy answered. "She's got school in the fall, and all hard science courses at that. Tough stuff. I could never hack it."
Louisa chuckled. "Lots of algebra and calculus. Those were Brian's least favorite subjects in school. He can add and subtract well enough though. Enough for accounting."
Manny and Ricky had discovered the scents of the other children, and were sniffing at the gate to their yard. Leroy and Maya woke up from their nap and peered out the doorway at the new arrivals.
"Which means either passing the buck or resigning to "spend more time with his family." Jenna smirked. "He's damned either way."
"And there'll be some hearings." Tom added. "Washington's already demanding to know how the hell this happened. He'll probably end up explaining himself in front of a congressional committee before the summer's out."
From the direction of the fuel bar, they heard one of the Thuds make an exclamation. "Son of a b*tch!" Rattler was snorting, "That's my daughter! She's all wrapped up in this somehow." He was shifting from side to side in an agitated fashion as his eyes were fixed on the bar's flatscreen.
"I think they just got her on guard duty, Rattler." Snowflake sought to get her companion settled down again.
"Then what's she doing with those media honchos?" Rattler snorted. He had a low opinion of them. "And why is she all made up like one of them?"
"Good, I'm tired and famished." Lt. Fontaine sighed. She relinquished her post to one of Heather's men. "Right now, all I want is a drink and somewhere to flop down." She nodded to the Bird Dog as he joined them. "Hello and good night, sir."
As long as she wasn't hearing any bad news from the back, Tracy was feeling fine. She lined up on the approach path for the commercial air park strip where the Conelrad was located. "I got his scent, guys! He's there all right!"
|
|
|
Post by Orca on Dec 14, 2011 22:24:50 GMT -5
"The former isn't anythin' unusual, save for the fact those kinds of instances usually go without account," Nigel speculated, still with his pensive expression, as though the numbers didn't add up for him. "What I'd wanna know is where and why those fellows subsequently decided to go try and pick a fight with her."
"Anyone who's heard the name Atley could guess why." Annie scoffed. "His history of provocation speaks for itself. Perhaps he had an itch for conflict that needed scratching."
"Left to his own devices for a few years, maybe." The older ultralight shrugged. "I've heard stories of him mixin' it up with blokes on the East Coast, before those Tigers elected to become his behavioral buffers. One's gotta think they're all re-evaluating their gestalt lifestyle in light of this."
*
Zigzag nodded in understanding. "Still, it's reassuring to know at least one of you has the good sense for restraint. You don't fly off the handle at every little turn, like Panthers are so fond of doing. No offense meant to you, Arthur."
"Sad fact of our lives, don't sweat it." The small Panther waved off the sentiment. "I won't make excuses for my former packmates, but they just do what they can with what they have. Sour attitudes are merely one of their features."
"I wouldn't go getting into Mueller's face without a damn good reason."
With Zigzag reacted with a startled blink, Birdbrain smirked, equal parts humored and not, at his wingleader's supposedly-aloof choice of remark. "Are we to... infer something from that, Chris?"
"Infer what you want. If you're going to more original than stand by and marvel at his lecherous tendencies, be smart about it. Common sense says he and Stauffer know common people in the practice of law, and other high places."
*
"And here, when other such excitement doesn't preoccupy him," Eddie commented. "Plus he has the added bonus of you on his side, instead of opposing him, too, Mrs. A."
*
It didn't take long for one to get an impression of Paul Niatross and guess what the thinking for his callsign was. Even at a distance, his words carried all the wrathful import they promised at a closer proximity. Anita could tell as much from those other bar-dwellers nearby the Thud pair. No doubt Rattler's exclamations had provoked some alarm. Wisely, they kept their noses down and their questions to themselves.
"And then there's all the collateral damage this shake-up will be guilty of causing. By comparison, martial and federal standards only impose a set regimen of possible punishments. There's no telling how some irate third-party might take things too far."
*
"Back at'cha, L-T." This late in the day, with his vast reservoir of ill-will mostly spent on visiting reporters and their kin, Murphy did not summon the necessary energy for his customary scowl of greeting. Bypassing the Phantom without a glance, he took a position to one side of the property's front gate. Reassigned to this brace behind the front lines, the old Bird Dog could only look at this as equivalent to an on-duty break.
Madison departed without brokering any more chatter. Like Murphy, she would not publicly admit her fatigue. Unlike Murphy, what she sought was not a reprive from the rigors recently imposed on TLM security. Though it made little sense to put off the inevitable, the return phone call to her ex-husband would be a lesser evil than waiting for the onset of the expo to be confronted with that salvo of mental anguish. Forget the time zone difference. At the moment, that simply boiled down to gathering the nerve to just get it done.
*
"Don't get ahead'a yourself, Trace," Reginald cautioned. Though he did not move to intercept, the pack's omega ascended from his present altitude and banked, intending to take a circular route around the airstrip's peripheral. "I'm getting the idea that if he's got any smarts, he'll want to blend into a crowd of mismatched types like they have here. Let's wait until we get some kind of visual before narrowing it down."
"Fat lotta good that does us if he's indoors, Redge," Charles countered. "Like it or not, one of us has gotta land and rule it out."
|
|
|
Post by arinthian on Dec 17, 2011 20:34:31 GMT -5
( Forgive me for being gone so long, Evangeline, would own characters still be at the club? )
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on Dec 21, 2011 23:32:47 GMT -5
<< I think they're still outside, sorry for slow response but Xmas season is busy >>>
"Well, that one with the eye injury has definitely got to be re-thinking his life." Venus tsk'd. "But they can't have those gangbangers flying around and attacking people. I see a crackdown coming."
"Depends what Ms. Stauffer thinks of his antics." Uli gave a tight smile. "She could always find another producer once her current contract runs out."
"I heard she'll be up for renegotiation soon." Iris seconded. "If Mueller's behavior becomes a liability..."
"She'd be done with him, and have a dozen others begging her attention in a New York minute." Harriet smirked. "If Heather were to document every encounter and keep the records, it would be at least one leash on him."
"When Brian really wants something and applies himself, he eventually gets what he wants." Louisa said. "He didn't have a lot of options, but when he saw an opening, he took it."
the Sunday night customers were starting to filter in. It was mostly the snap and slot crowd, older folks, but the trade was welcome just the same.
The crash truck woman came by. "We've got a space cleared out for you, ma'am."
"Lemme see what I can find out." Oliver slowly shifted around and trundled over to the bar. There was something in his manner that suggested that calming down irate jets was something he'd done before.
Todd and the other teens watched this anxiously. "Berni's gramps sure has a temper."
"He does tend to jump to conclusions." Bernadette shifted awkwardly. "Like you already saw."
Rattler could still be heard grousing, though no longer shouting, "I damn well hope she's aware of how that Gulfie was eying her. Never met a single male of that whole breed who wasn't a lech."
Snowflake and Draco just gritted their teeth to ride it out.
Kaycee watched the Lynx woman move out. What SHE wanted right now was a drink and a lie-down. She'd had her fill of media people. Give me a yard full of kids any day.
"I'll do it." Joyce parted from the group and onto the approach path. "All of us setting down would put the whole place on alert." The alpha female of the group touched down with a skid or two, and joined the line outside.
|
|
|
Post by arinthian on Dec 22, 2011 22:02:29 GMT -5
( crap, I think I might be in over my head, I'm trying to write an Orca comic, and improve my art, as well as plan an RP here, my DA page for the comic is here: orcaorlando.deviantart.com/ and my new DA page for my Car characters, and other ships and planes is here: arinthian.deviantart.com ) Arin shifted on his wheels, he looked at Janica and smiled "Want to go back inside?" he asked, turning to face her.
|
|
|
Post by Orca on Dec 23, 2011 12:10:40 GMT -5
((As always, no hurry here, Eva. Reply as when it's convenient for you. )) "So long as it's left to the people whose job it is to enact said crackdown, the best thing us bystanders can do is steer clear." From his station, Camm's single-minded attention appeared to suddenly waver from the mostly-finished drink in front of him. The indication was nothing overtly dramatic, a slight turn of the head. From the cant of his visor, the Hunter glanced at nearest exit, frowning, as if a peculiar sound from outside, amidst all the background ambiance, had caught his ear. Annie, with her periodic checks on the reticent red jet's behavior, noticed. "What's with him, now?" * "So, see if you can't keep your temper in check for the time bein', okay? You don't need to go taking on that cause." The reticent fighter hybrid frowned. Even if he meant to agree and comply that did not mean he was happy about it, just as he knew that even the smartest course Heather could take right now wouldn't be the easiest for her. Zigzag was sympathetic. "I know. There's not a lot to like about it, Chris. But even if you mean well, inciting the situation doesn't help anyone." "And with Grenfell here, there's little he can do to deflect whatever concerns that the captain can notify him of in person. If needed, he can draw a line in the sand that Mueller would be stupid to cross if he didn't want the upper rungs of the Air Guard to add his name to certain unfriendly lists." "Only somewhat comforting, Bee," Freefall snorted. But that doesn't stop me from feeling uneasy in the meantime. When events of late had escalated to the point of assault and murder, any number of hypothetical worst-case scenarios thought of were enough to give him reason for concern. TLM, for its size and composition, was by no means a haven from potential hazards. If the threat did not come from the people outside, it could come from those within. * "And work waiting for you two." Malick, approaching from the group's opposite side, was quick to single out Eddie and Mandy. The matter-of-fact delivery suggested this assignment from higher up the chain of command. "But first there's the little staff pow-wow we're all due to attend, back by the main hangar. The boss wants to reiterate a few words of caution." "That right?" The younger warbird frowned. "What about Mrs. A and the boys here?" "Nadine will help 'em get settled in. In the meantime, Mandy's to help out with crowd control, and you're going up to escort Kae and Rudy for a spell. Pin thinks a broader aerial recon would be worth our while, make sure absolutely no one's lurking about out here." * "Especially when he thinks he has real reason to, right?" Anita could identify with the source of young Thud's discomfort. "My Dad can be much the same way sometimes. When Ari first went missing he took it to mean the worst, but not through circumstance or coincidence. He assumed it was something willingly Ari got involved himself in, with no thought for how the family would feel." * Though the thought of questioning Joyce's preemptive move automatically crossed his mind, Reginald wordlessly banked north to follow Charles and Tracy to an out-of-the-way patch of sky to wait. Whatever the result of her ground search, curbing unnecessary radio chatter would be the smarter thing for the Panther pack to do now.
|
|
|
Post by Evangeline on Jan 5, 2012 20:54:29 GMT -5
"Expecting somebody?" Venus could only guess from Sid's body language. "If it was whoever just landed, it doesn't look like he's eager to meet them at all."
Tristane went on the alert. She pivoted on her front gear and rolled out. "Duty calls"
Joyce joined the end of the line. Sunday night traffic wasn't really intense, so the door girls would have time to look over the evening's intake of patrons. She kept a quiet poker face as she advanced, foot by foot, towards the doors. It was unusual for a Panther to be on her own, but few outside the Grumman community knew that. Already she scented a Hawker Hunter inside the establishment, but needed visual confirmation.
"I think a little nightcap would do us some good, whaddaya think?" Iris glanced towards the fuel bar. It would get everyone's minds off their worries for a bit.
"Sounds good to me." Alain nodded, along with Harriet.
"OK." Mandy turned towards the hangar. "Let's see what Bri has to say."
The Lancair waited as the staff collected loosely around the doorway. His face was still, but his eyes went over everyone alertly. "Everybody here?"
"I think this is more concern than anything." Jenna observed. "Daddy wanting to protect his little girl.
"What's Oliver gonna do?" Todd came up between Anita and Jenna. The Thud male looked to be in a pretty agitated state to him.
"Trying to talk him out of flying off to TLM right now and having it out with the Gulfie." Bernadette sighed. "I don't think his friends want that either."
"He's brave." Kirk came up beside her. The albino F-16 whistled low as he watched. "That old man has a temper."
Bernadette shrugged. "They called him "Rattler" for a reason."
Finally, a brief transmission of several seconds from Joyce. "Charles? I got scent."
|
|
|
Post by Orca on Jan 11, 2012 12:42:55 GMT -5
Camm was no stranger to the idea of others cottoning onto his trail. In his line of work, that usually meant people of an official capacity. Those investigators tended to be one of two kinds: any number of prop-driven GA types, or ground-pounders. Jets tended to gravitate toward serving in the Air Guard, and the Hunter seriously doubted that agency had the interest or manpower to be sending a feeler his way at this time. So, in his mind, he had reason to be concerned.
"In no position to do anything about it, either." Annie didn't think to refute Venus' theory. The tighter set of Camm's jaw and back said everything, even as he held his ground. "It isn't as though he can slip out as discreetly as we might."
"Hence Tris' thinkin' to take a gander outside," Nigel concluded. "If she thinks she can defuse things in any way, she will."
*
"No objection here," Birdbrain conceded easily. "What about you three? We could use the company."
Rather than pull a face, Zigzag settled for an affirmative head-toss. His present set of bandages would be due a change before turning in for the night. Freefall, deflecting the need to declare his reply, glanced sideways at the Panther beside him. "Three means you, too, Arthur."
"Fine by me." Resigned to pegging this group as his adopted "pack", Arthur was not about to break out of his submissive ways. As they moved out, two by two, he followed in their wake. Better them than going it alone in this hairball.
*
"Everyone who is not otherwise occupied, monsieur."
Pienaar, having managed to excuse himself from the Lavochkins' card game (no easy feat on the best of nights), stood askance from the gathered group, mentally ticking off which names were in attendance and who would need to be brought up to speed at a later time. As Malick returned with Eddie and Mandy in tow, per the instructions the younger warbird had been given, he paid the Corsair a mute nod of thanks.
"There are the last of them."
*
Anita had to agree with Kirk's summation. Few props of any shape or size would dare to try placating an agitated jet, verbally or otherwise. Something innate often cautioned one against it, in the interests of preserving physical health. And in reverse, a jet of any class would hesitate to pit their incisors against an irate prop's bladed nose.
"Even if Oliver manages to keep him from it now, I'd say a phone call would be Rattler's next best idea. After today, he really doesn't strike me as the sort who is easily put off."
*
Reginald, listening in, frowned. He was far from ecstatic that the first bar they had thought to check was the right one. What are the odds?
Charles' reply only echoed his thoughts. "Normally that would suffice, J. Can you do one better and get an actual look at him?"
|
|