BWI Airport, Portalocity Lounge

[rebelseekspizza]

It was That Time Of Year again. At BWI airport, they knew well that this was not the kind of thing you wanted to be asking questions about. So when a teenage boy showed up wearing a ratty long red-and-black coat, an expression that blazed hell and a large series of bleeding scratches on his face, well, they didn't ask. About anything.

Dante didn't mind. It meant he could walk into the nice warm Portalocity lounge and crash on one of the benches. Had to sleep off the day he'd had... yesterday? Was it yesterday now? Who cared.

By the time he jerked back awake about an hour later, the scratches had vanished and his expression had gone sleepy, though the ratty coat remained. He sat up, rubbing at his eyes. Guess he wasn't alone anymore, huh? Fine, whatever. "Who knew the public still showed up for transport?"

Comments

Re: Wait for the Shuttle

[candycrushlove]

Maria had met some fantastic liars and knew immediately that this guy was not one of them. She wasn't going to say anything, though. He probably had his own reasons for being here.

"I'm Maria," she offered with a smile. "I'm new to this whole thing, too."

Re: Wait for the Shuttle

[rebelseekspizza]

The whole she could get my ass kicked out thing prevented Dante from being an ass, the way he kind of wanted to kneejerk. Like, new to what? What stupid play was this, this time?

"You have any idea what's up with this set-up?" he asked, instead.

Re: Wait for the Shuttle

[candycrushlove]

Maria shook her head before finding somewhere to sit and dropping the dufflebag to rest at her feet.

"Nope. I was told to get off my plane in the main airport and head to this lounge to wait for the shuttle to Fandom."

She rotated her head to ease the straining muscles in her neck. She felt like she had been travelling forever. The humidity here was already making itself known to her.

Re: Wait for the Shuttle

[rebelseekspizza]

Fandom? There was a school called Fandom? Seriously?

She had to be kidding.

"Fandom, huh? And here I thought you could get there just sitting your ass down in front of a computer."

Re: Wait for the Shuttle

[candycrushlove]

"Apparently not or we wouldn't be here waiting for a shuttle to the island." Maria leaned back against her seat. "I'm guessing that you didn't get a lot of information before you were sent here?"

Re: Wait for the Shuttle

[rebelseekspizza]

"Not really a brochure kinda guy," Dante said. "Trying to save a rainforest worth of paper."

Not really.

Re: Wait for the Shuttle

[candycrushlove]

Maria broke into a grin at that explanation. She was so not buying that, but he was at least fun to talk to.

"Do you have a name I can call you because I'm known for making up nicknames for people. You mind end up as Cute Snarky Guy."

Re: Wait for the Shuttle

[rebelseekspizza]

"My name is Dante." And don't ask. "But I'll answer to Cute and Snarky just this once."

It was better than 'asshole', which had been included in about fifty percent of Dante's nicknames.

Re: Wait for the Shuttle

[candycrushlove]

Maria thought he was cute and he sounded snarky so she might call him that in her head a few times.

"It's nice to meet you, Dante."

Re: Wait for the Shuttle

[rebelseekspizza]

Was she actually being nice to him?

Weird.

"Same thing," he said, his attitude mellowing somewhat, "Uh...?"

Re: Wait for the Shuttle

[candycrushlove]

Yes, yes she was.

"Maria."

It didn't seem to bother her that he didn't remember her giving her name earlier.

Re: Wait for the Shuttle

[rebelseekspizza]

He hadn't exactly been paying a lot of attention to the details. He still barely had a reason to, actually.

But that was more of one than five minutes ago. "Right," Dante said. "So why don't you fill me in on the brochure, Maria?"

Maybe he could bluff his way into... something.