TRAVEL ♔ breaking down the walls to the impossible

[everyredcent]

♬ Impossible - Kelly Clarkson

WHO || Thomas, Christos, Francesca, Luthir, Arthur, Merlin, Katniss, Ethan [Closed]
WHAT || The Flight to Russia
WHERE || IN THE AIR.  ON A STEALTH JET
WHEN || Monday evening, Mar 5th
HOW || Actionspam

[This log is for any in-flight interactions on the Knight's SUPER STEALTHY X-JET jet plane ride to the mission site. Feel free to make your own threads/threadjack, etc. The flight time is approx nine and a half hours. Get to know your teammates, talk about the mission, ask questions, etc. etc.]

Comments

[everyredcent]

It requires a finer hand, as well. More dimensions in the equation.

[socialgraces]

[Was that an innuendo? If it was anyone else but him, she might have heard it as such. Alas, she knows he doesn't mean it like that and doesn't waste more than a half-second considering it.]

Like what? [She asks out of genuine curiosity, not doubt.]

[everyredcent]

[wait for it]

Up and down, for starters.

[socialgraces]

[She could be offended, but instead she just laughs. She did walk into that, and it was quite clever.] Fair enough.

Well, what do you push, or pull, or whatever, to make it go up and down? [She's looking around the console for something that looks like it might work for the operation.]

[everyredcent]

[He nods to the hand that's stationed on the lever between them.] Like this.

[It seems to take him a second before he glances back at her and tentatively removes his own hand, nodding again to indicate she should place hers there.]

[socialgraces]

[She looks at him and then the lever and then back at him again, a little surprised. But she smiles as she slowly reaches towards it. She holds her hand very still on it, afraid any movement might affect the whole plane. She looks at him.] Now what? [There's a more excited slant to her voice, and an eager glow on her face.] I'm sure it has to be a fairly sensitive contraption. I don't want to do anything hasty.

[everyredcent]

[He seems to consider what the best way to do this would be, before finally wordlessly hovering his hand over hers again, as if his fingers are twitching to take the controls again. Still, he glances at her momentarily before very gingerly placing his hand over hers, and shifting the lever forward just a fraction. The plane dips ever so slightly. He opens his mouth to say something, then seems to rethink what he planned to say, eyes darting back to her hand on the lever, and then out the window again.] You're correct - an under-adjustment is safer than sending us into a vertical descent.

[socialgraces]

[In her head she's practically hyperventilating but she manages to keep it cool on the outside (with a will save of 30). She's trying really hard to concentrate on his words, but between the warmth of his hand on hers and the exhilaration of actually controlling an airplane she's focusing all her strength on not squirming in her seat.

She lets out a small, breathless gasp in reaction the the elevation dip. She looks back up at him with her mouth slightly parted and her lips curved up.] That's... quite something.

[She looks from him to their hands back to him, and then nods at him encouragingly, to tell him to keep going.]

[everyredcent]

[It's ok, he's totally oblivious to her spaciness and nods at her again] Try tilting it back as well.

[And he feels the need to bluntly add:] Slowly. Just as before.

[socialgraces]

[She's just as cautious as before and slowly tilts it back, reveling in the feeling of the plane climbing higher, her smile instinctively growing wider to express her amazement. She levels it back out again before looking back at him.] I had no idea I would enjoy this so much. It's an incredible feeling. [She's just beaming at him now. It's actually much more fun than she could have ever imagined. This is probably due to many contributing factors, but whatever, she's getting off on the adrenaline rush.]

[everyredcent]

[And, because he gets uncomfortable when any moment seems too happy...] Well, there's much more to it than just pulling a lever, of course.

[socialgraces]

Of course. [She emphasizes, her tone indicting that he's like the smartest person in the whole world to her right now. Really, she's just amazed that he does this all the time. Even he can't ruin this moment (which is a foolish assumption on her part, but she's distracted -- a little too distracted).

You're amazing. [... annnd she catches herself as soon as the words haplessly tumble out of her mouth, but it's too late to take it back, so she'll just stumble around trying to cover it up.] I mean, to know all of this. To be able to do this, at all. It's quite impressive. I knew it took a great deal of talent, but I had never really considered exactly how much. [She's speaking a little too fast, as she /facepalms in her head. Maybe he just won't notice.

She wants to take her hand off the lever now please.]

[everyredcent]

[His eyes drag over to hers, and for a moment he looks almost confused. And then he looks back down at his hand on hers, and once more at her face before... pulling his hand away so that she can let go.]

Yes... well. I've certainly had the time to practice.

[socialgraces]

[Well that wasn't exactly what she wanted, or maybe it was, but damnit, now she just ruined the moment. She instinctively reaches for his hand as he starts to pull it away with a NAT 20 reflex save, and just... holds it, looking at his face.

She opens her mouth but there's a short delay before the words actually come out.] Show me something else. [She sounds almost encouraging, still grasping his hand for a few moments longer in a strange attempt to assure him that's she wasn't awkward because of the contact.]

[everyredcent]

[Her sudden movement seems to surprise the heck out of him, and he looks back at her with his mouth hanging open slightly for just a second (somewhere, future Noah is going AHA :O)

And he doesn't seem in a hurry to release her hand either, but finally he says:] ... Something else. [And lets it go gingerly, turning his attention to the console. His brows knit together as he feigns concentration for a moment] ... I imagine I could explain the instruments.

[socialgraces]

[The cold immediately rushes to her hand when he lets it go and she frowns a little at the discomfort. But she shakes it off, nodding to his suggestion, and giving him a light smile of reassurance.] Alright.

[She scoots to the edge of her, and puts her hands in her lap, looking at him expectantly.] What first?

[everyredcent]

[BLAH BLAH BLAH TECHNICAL EXPLANATION OF HOW A JET PLANE WORKS, I do not feel like googling this now...]

[socialgraces]

[And I don't really care how a plane actually works anyway.

But Francesca does, so she'll just listen intently and make (hopefully) insightful comments. She can't help but find a few small excuses to lean over him, to point to something interesting-looking, or to casually brush his arm, out of amusement at some of his (purposefully) humorous comments. (General Charisma check of 23) So she's quite a good listener/student, actually.]

[everyredcent]

Of course, a real lesson will have to wait until better circumstances.

[socialgraces]

I'm sure we'll have plenty of better opportunities in the future. [She's ecstatic for the offer. On the inside, that is. But she still gives him a beaming smile of gratitude.

She leans back in the seat, relaxing a bit, and just casually observing his movements. Finally, she speaks up again, but this time she's speaking drow.] Do you think Katniss will handle this mission alright?

[everyredcent]

[And he'll respond in their native tongue as well:] I don't think she'll particularly thrive in the web of complicated diplomacy, but luckily for her, we'll be dealing with matters behind the scenes, instead.

[socialgraces]

[Still in drow:] Are you nervous of how her perception of you might change after she witnesses the actions of other drow?

[everyredcent]

[Oh my god don't go thurr ;;] If that's what she thinks of me, she'll learn the difference in time.

[socialgraces]

Obviously, she already knows you're not like them, but I was just wondering if it was something you were concerned about, as she's had no point of reference until now. I just didn't know if you thought it might come as a shock to her.

[everyredcent]

I don't think she'll be too shocked by what anyone is capable of.