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Post by Orca on Nov 29, 2006 6:37:11 GMT -5
Ari was momentarily taken aback by the look in Malcolm's eyes, but just as quickly he got over his surprise. In the back of his mind, he made a mental note to tread lightly around this fellow, in every sense.
"I may've heard your last name somewhere before," he said pointedly to Jenna. He stopped to take in her paint scheme again, trying to remember if he had seen it prior to this. "You here for the pylon races?"
*
"But he said he'd be back by lunchtime," Jack protested, pointing an accusatory blade at one of the digital flight clocks hanging nearby, "It's fourteen-hundred hours already. What's taking him so long?"
Like his parent, the younger, still-slate-gray Pave Hawk was used to things happening on time, and he expected bargains to be kept to the letter. Not to say the typical impatience associated with his age wasn't playing a key factor, though.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 29, 2006 12:28:21 GMT -5
Petra was going to go register for the Barnstorming Event, but decided to stay just a little while longer while Ari introduced himself to Jenna and Malcolm. She noticed that Ari seemed a little intimidated with Malcolm while she herself was just fine being around her two friends.
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Post by elizar on Nov 29, 2006 17:21:51 GMT -5
"And it requires the ability to be smooth and handle things that are fragile." Thompson smiled. "And I don't think I can handle myself perfectly in a dark room."
"Reminds me, shouldn't you get to the registartion if you want the staff to know you actually showed up? You got few more hours to do that before you have to undergo some rather unliked things to get them to realize you were bit late."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 29, 2006 18:53:28 GMT -5
"Yes," Jenna nodded. "The course map is right over there." She pointed over to a sign with a chart by the pre-registered line. In the distance, at least one of the checkered pylons was visible.
Malcolm grinned at Ari. "Hey, I'm not that bad, even though my nieces call me "Uncle B*st*rd." My brother can't take a joke, you see. It's not like an IRS audit is all THAT bad!"
<<< Malcolm is sort of modelled after one of my local friends who has a shaved head, mustache, goatee and a duster, and projects an attitude like the earthly incarnation of the Devil. He is Anglo-Canadian and speaks with a slight British clip in his accent. And he DID get his brother a tax audit for Christmas, in a way of speaking...>>>
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Post by Razor Azura on Nov 29, 2006 20:06:43 GMT -5
Ray looked surprised, "Oh yes! I forgot, thanks for reminding me!" He smiled, "Well thank you for your help Thompson. It was very nice talking to you, perhaps we'll meet up later."
He said his goodbye's and pulled away from the gas stop, taxi-ing his way over to the registration centers.
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Post by Orca on Nov 30, 2006 6:18:50 GMT -5
Ari paused to consider Malcolm's words, deciding he could get used to the Spitfire's attitude. He cracked a small smile in response to the bit about an IRS audit, before he engaged his long-distance vision to study the course map Jenna had indicated.
It took only a few seconds for him to point out a major difference. His next question was directed at both the Mustang and her SO. "If I'm reading this right, its says the pylons aren't as tightly grouped, and ergo they - as a whole - cover a larger area. Is that... typical of courses out here?" There was no mistaking the note of uncertainty.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 30, 2006 12:26:56 GMT -5
Petra decided to let her friends get acquainted with Ari and taxiied over to the registration center. She didn't want to get left out so she thought she might as well get this over with.
It was then she almost ran into Ray.
"Oh, um," Petra apologized, a little nervous, "Sorry about that. I wasn't looking where I was going. I didn't mean to nearly run into you."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 30, 2006 15:11:23 GMT -5
"Yes," Jenna nodded to Ari. "If this is your first time here, you've got to be careful not to miscalculate and not miss pylons, and a racing heat lasts about as long as a fuel load will."
Blanche was supervising the lifts who were assisting in setting up the display for the Air Vets association, while watching for any early visitors. It wasn't always easy. They were kitty-corner from the registration center, giving them a good vantage point to see who was coming in and out. The F-111 cocked her head curiously at the sight of the new Mustang - hadn't seen him around before!
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Post by Orca on Nov 30, 2006 15:19:20 GMT -5
'As long' as a fuel load? More new informational fodder. Suddenly, Ari wasn't feeling AS confident. He was used to races in which contestants had more than enough fuel to spare in the time between the end of the race and landing afterwards. What kind of endurance did western races require?
Accurately passing the pylons didn't worry him as much. A few laps, and he'd probably get the hang of it before a disqualifying mistake.
"Well," he said after a moment, "Thanks for the advice, but I think I'll manage. I'm not here to win, anyway. Just to experience." That much was true. He had been curious of western competitions, and the WRF-I sounded like the first logical one to attend.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 30, 2006 15:29:27 GMT -5
"Ari, it's not as bad as it seems right now. As long as you stay aware of what you're doing, you should be OK." Jenna offered a bit of reassurance.
Blanche edged forward, catching a bit of the conversation before turning back to her own business. So he IS a new boy...
"Your dad will be along soon enough, Jack." Leslie tugged the Pave Hawk boy back from the hangar doors again.
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Post by Orca on Nov 30, 2006 15:38:51 GMT -5
Though he still felt uncertain, Ari had a sense Jenna was speaking from experience. He could trust her word, he decided.
"I'll take your word for it," he replied with a nod. "Now, if you'll please excuse me, there's still a lot of this place I haven't seen yet. Have a nice afternoon." That said, the Old Glory-themed Mustang went on his way.
*
Jack opened his mouth, about to continue protesting, when another adult of the security force, overhearing the conversation, cut in as he made his exit. "Listen to what the lady tells you, boy." Most of those employed with security were former or current enlisted helos. The youngster knew that authoritive rebuke, as he had heard his own father use it before.
He immediately stopped darting around, his whole body slumping in a show of submission.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 30, 2006 16:28:53 GMT -5
"That's better." Leslie smiled as she shepherded the boy to the back.
Blanche smiled as she saw the patriotically painted Mustang come by the association's display, just as everyone was putting the last of it together. "Hello. That's quite the paint job you've got there."
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Post by Orca on Nov 30, 2006 16:44:59 GMT -5
Ari had been looking to his side that was opposite Blanche when she spoke up. Mildly startled, he pivoted sharply on his left right wheel to look up at the F-111. The surprise passed as quickly as it had come, as he registered the comment with a calm smile.
"Thank you, ma'am," he said pleasantly, nodding his own 'hello'. Taking note of the display, he added, "You wouldn't see me wearing it if I didn't have the utmost respect for those of this country's armed forces, past and present. One might say it's one of the ways I pay tribute to that."
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 30, 2006 17:19:56 GMT -5
"Really? I'm relieved," said Petra, "By the way, my name's Petra Bellanca."
She smiled shyly at Ray.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 30, 2006 17:27:53 GMT -5
"Glad to know that." Blanche smiled, being very careful to keep her long nose from poking anyone or knocking something over. "Just retired myself, about a year ago, though I got offers from the Australians to serve a few years with them. I figure I'll just stay in the reserves for now and work on my shrubbery." she laughed.
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