Wingin' It RP

[Evangeline]

If whoever it is is smart, they won't give any trouble." Venus stared towards the exit. "Just go about their business, only not here."

Tristane scanned the small lineup, her eyes narrowing slightly as they came to rest on the Panther woman at the end of it. Panthers seldom traveled alone. Her SOMETHING-IS-UP detector sent a prickle down her spine. But she wasn't going to make a big deal of it now. She was just going to wait until the Panther's turn at the door.

---

Iris smiled sympathetically to Arthur. "Things always look worse on an empty tank. Maybe things'll look a little different with some food in you."

Uli and Harriet raised their heads in alert. "Heather's there." The Thud woman, finally having a break and a few moments to herself, sat slumped on her undercarriage, the length and intensity of the day written in her half-shut eyes and downcast head. A couple of the beefier serving forklifts kept unfamiliar ground-pounders and media types away from the customers, and the slots beside Heather were empty. Isabella was at the far end, ready to back up the forklifts if the camera crews weren't getting the hint; her roof nozzle twitched irritably and a rear tire was cocked. Only a fool would give the crash tender any trouble.

"Don't get too close to Issa right now." Iris warned the others and especially the newcomers. "She kicks if crowded from the rear. That's why she was exiled from all the big places."

---

"OK." Abruzzi nodded. "Ladies and gents, before we open for real, we just need to go over a few things. We're going to be upping security a bit, just for the duration. That means two planes up in the air during business hours, and a watch at all other times, especially scanner and radar. The local off-road club will be letting us know if any trouble is brewing on the ground, and we might take a few on as part-time guards. Raoul is setting up new duty schedules as I speak. Are there any questions?"

---

Rattler was still shifting and jerking his head, but he had stopped his cursing. Oliver's quiet words were starting to have an effect. "It wouldn't be a good idea to go there right now, sir" the Norseman counseled. "Your daughter is doing what she's gotta do, and if you know what's going on with that Gulfie, so do others. And he's not that stupid."

"Didn't meet a one of them who didn't eventually follow his *** into trouble." Rattler reiterated, but his fire was diminishing. "But I'll have to take your word for it. Who else is there? Anyone she knows?"

"She has friends, and her enlisted guys." Oliver assured him. "They'll look out for her. And I know the security bosses at TLM, they run a tight outfit, Murphy in particular. Watching that little Bird Dog break up a brawl is something to see."

"Wait..." Rattler snorted in surprise. "A Bird Dog, name of Murphy?"

"Yeah." Oliver nodded. "What about him."

Rattler's head dipped, his eyes staring ahead in contemplation. "That... rings a bell."

From the Jaegers' front yard gates, Bernadette peered anxiously along with the other teens. Finally she breathed out. "He seems to be settling down."

Todd shrugged. "Well, I'd say anybody who can talk down an angry Thud should get a medal."

Cheryl breathed in sharply. "Careful. You almost let the kit out of the bag."

Jenna pursed her lips, and exchanged glances with Anita.

---

"That's what I hope to do," Joyce growled low, "If that door b*tch lets me through. I don't like the way that mutt's looking at me."

[arinthian]

Arin sighed and rolled back in side the club alone, he went to buy a drink and went to an out of the way corner

[Orca]

"That ought'a tell us somethin' about his line'a work, then," Nigel quipped. "Probably isn't of a too friendly nature."

"It'd explain a few quirks," Annie agreed, watching as Camm, who had been the definition of stillness since settling in, ventured from his station to the open door, making no effort to be sneaky or subtle about it. "He doesn't strike me as easily perturbed, or paranoid."

*

"Looks like at least a few of the vultures know this," Birdbrain commented. A scattering of better-mannered reporters ghosted around the bar's peripheral stations, dutifully avoiding those who appeared the least bit tired or irritated with their profession's presence. While much of the F-22 mystery had abated with the release of Mitzi Stauffer's live video footage, the overall atmosphere had remained somewhere between sated and restless. Anticipation had a way of putting even the mellowest somewhat on their guard.

Zigzag snorted, unimpressed with his model brother's assumption. "Doesn't mean there isn't one out there that might soon need a reminder."

Let's hope they don't. One less aggravation for all in this greater clusterf**k. Freefall kept such sentiment to himself. The sight of Heather brought other concerns to his mind. Rather than hesitate and let nerves get the better of him, the fighter hybrid wordlessly circled around to stand at Heather's unguarded side. Though she was by no means in immediate danger, he had resolved to not let that stand in the way of offering his support, in whatever form it need be.

Birdbrain made his usual stab at good humor as a stand-in greeting for the group. "Hey, Cap'n, mind if we join you for a drink or two?"

*

Eddie, who could always be counted on to speak, lifted an aileron as one might raise their hand. "Just this, boss. Recent events aside, what sort of trouble could we be expecting, exactly?"

"Whatever kind veers our way, Bluth," Pienaar lectured flatly. "You should know that much by now."

Rather than challenge the pit boss' jibe, the young Warhawk caved to the poignant glances of the assorted staff and remained silent.

Malick rolled his eyes. "And we keep word of those said events to ourselves, right? Don't need to confirm nor deny whatever theories the patrons may send our way?"

"Yes. And you may take that to apply to the matter of our newest guests as well. Answer no more questions than you can explain in one breath."

*

"Almost," Anita whispered. Oliver had clearly taken measures to keep his decorations undisclosed. He would more than likely want it to stay that way. "Y'think we might turn in soon? Fatigue has a way of loosening closed lips."

*

"You need any back-up, just holler. This place may be a notch above the Aerie in terms of muscle, but since when do we let something like that stop us?"

[Evangeline]

"The way Janet was looking at him, she knew him alright." Venus commented, narrowing her eyes.

The aforementioned EE Lightning was showing her face once again, moving through the "Sunday Night Chill" crowd in an unruffled but alert fashion. She smiled and nodded to the ultralights in passing, and exchanged greetings with the lively bachelorette party in the east corner.

Jamika returned to her group, rolling her eyes in frustration. What was going on with that warbird guy?

---

"Not at all." Heather managed to gather together a smile. "I'm glad today is over with, and the first thing I want to do after dinner is wash all this gunk off my face. Why in hell do they think a jet needs makeup?"

"TV people, go figure." Iris snorted.

"If my dad saw me like this, he'd at least question my sanity. With VERY colorful language." Heather sighed and dropped her head before shifting her eyes to Freefall. "When he was in 'Nam, the handle they gave him was "Rattler"... and they gave it to him for a reason."

---

"Well put." Abruzzi nodded, "Nothing sounds more suspicious than a too-elaborate explanation."

Maria raised a tine. "Boss, should we have the guns at the bar?"

Abruzzi thought a moment, weighing positives and negatives. "The shotguns, yeah. Keep'em under the bar, with just rubber rounds in'em. Having the pistols in sight will just make peeps nervous. If there's any brawling, Sonya can break it up. She's good at that. But before that..." the Lancair turned towards Eddie, Mandy, Bluth and Malick "Do everything possible to de-escalate and diffuse the tension. The cops and lawyers like it better that way. We don't want another visit from the Air Guard."

Mandy grimaced slightly. This would be a bad time for her father to check up on her. Hopefully, he was still occupied at TLM.

Raoul disappeared into the back rooms. When he returned, he had two tine-mounting riot shotguns which he tucked away beneath the counter of the bar.

"OK, Pin." Abruzzi addressed the pit boss at last, "How are the alarm and security systems? I know they need upgraded at some point, but are they good for the duration?"

---

"Sounds like a plan." Todd nodded. The Caravan then punctuated that last with a yawn.

---

"Of course." Joyce then cut off her radio as the door girl was vetting the small party of cars before her. She then cheesed it, with a genial face for the staff.

[Orca]

Nigel wrinkled his nose, puzzled. "So, say she does. What could that mean? He certainly isn't behavin' as though he knows her in any special context, or as if his presence at her establishment means much. Janet knows trouble when she sees it. She'd nip a problem in bud, no waitin' required."

Camm, bypassing Janika without a backwards glance, took up a near-to position at one side of the hall's open doors. Outside, the last rays of actual sunlight were all but gone. Various lampposts seeded throughout the club's exterior had been lit to cast light over those patrons still waiting their turn for admittance.

Scanning the line, the Hunter growled softly to himself, a small curl of the lip betraying his unease. It was never too early in a case for a potential tail to have singled him out. The frustrating part was putting a face to that tail so one could decide how best to lose it.

Something about that Panther girl in particular, identifiable in her jade green and pink paintjob, grated on his nerves. Despite there already being a fair number of outmode types already among the customers, most knew it to be strange when one of those Grumman jets turned up solo. Strange in that there was always a substantial reason for such a thing to occur...

*

Of all his possible responses to that, Freefall tipped his nose down, peering over the edge of his visor as to make actual eye contact. "Claim you obeyed the order under protest."

Though he recognized the hybrid's gesture for what it was, Birdbrain decided not to read into it. "It's not so silly compared to what they COULD have done, Cap'n. Look at it that way. Considerin' what it was needed for, it was tastefully done."

*

"We have had not problems with them as of late. Routine maintenance this morning included inspecting any components which might have been somehow damaged by the storm. Or tampered with by Maker knows who. I was told those checks came back clean."

Eddie, glancing sideways at Mandy, quirked a brow at her scowling, but decided not to ask. He could already guess as to what factors the young Voodoo was weighing right now.

Malick scoffed at the pit boss' choice of words. "You gettin' paranoid on us, Pin? Who could have found the time or means to tamper with our equipment in the last 36 hours?"

Pienaar set his teeth and paused. Out of annoyance or holding onto patience, Eddie could not tell. "Anyone whose while it was worth to do so, Stephen. You can never be too careful."

*

Malcolm and Josh still lay dozing beneath the shelter tent, making the most of any sleep time they had lost the night before. Waking them to move indoors didn't sound practical. The weather, holding at a bearably warm, humid temperature, would probably prove conducive to another stay outside. While she settled down beside Josh, Anita took a moment mull over the latest developments privately.

We're kinda at a stand-still right now. Pin's supposed to pass the word to Dessauer, broach the idea of a meet with Abruzzi, and contact us when it's done. Fitch said he'll keep an ear out for anything relating to Ari or the others. No telling when or if that feeler will turn up new clues, though. Going back to TLM, we'll have a chance of turning up a new lead. But would those odds it be any different if we to remain here, ask the locals what they know?

[Evangeline]

<<< Uh... I don't think that would be a good fit for this RP. It's supposed to be more down-to-earth. >>>

[arinthian]

( ok, sorry, thought it be the best place. )

[Evangeline]

<<< I'm in a work crunch right now and will be a little delayed responding. But think about your present character's history and such and what he's doing there and what he's doing in the future. That might give you a hook to frame his responses on. >>>

[arinthian]

( yeah, just wish I hadnt made him so silly sounding. Arin does like to stay out of the way though. )

[Evangeline]

Tristane's expression was pleasant but penetrating as she finally came to the Panther woman. It was rare that one showed up unaccompanied by model-kin. "Good evening."

"Evening." Joyce did her best to look natural.

"Meeting someone here, I assume?" the mix asked.

In a way, that was true. "Yeah."

Tristane had not been given any reason to keep the girl out, so she moved aside, but resolved to give the others a heads-up to keep an eye out. Joyce waited another second to be passed for entry, then glided in.

Venus lifted her head to get a better look at the newcomer. So did Janet.

---

"Thank the Maker for small mercies." Heather sighed. She took a deep breath and ordered the special when the server inquired. "And I'll hope Dad wasn't watching just now." Her head angled to meet Freefall's gaze momentarily. "The scary thing about him is that a lot of what was said about him during his time in service is more or less... true."

"No fooling." Iris seconded. "That man could brawl."

---

"No need to be paranoid." Abruzzi spoke up again. "Just sensible."

"They have to know that you're taking measures, Eddie." Mandy surmised. "It might discourage'em a bit, for now." I sure hope it does. [/img]

Abruzzi glanced out the doorway another time. "It'll have to be enough for now." The Sunday night crowd, mostly seniors coming in to play the snaps, were filtering in. "Time to put on a smile and get to work."

---

Jenna yawned as she pulled up beside Anita again. "Reckon we could ask around a bit more tomorrow? The kids could help out some with that."

[Evangeline]

<<< Uh... Arinthian, this is not really in keeping with the plot we've established, we're keeping it "realistic" here, no sci-fi elements please! >>>

[arinthian]

( woops, thought I deleted it after Orkid told me it wasnt the right place, sorry, its gone now )