[b][h2][center]Joel Nicolosi[/center][/h2][/b]

[i]So is this your Mona Lisa then?[/i]

“Indeed it is,” Joel said. There was palpable reverence in his tone as he leaned against it, looking down and running his hand along the window channel. His fingers glided smoothly over the polished paint. He was glad she got to see it after their conversation from the previous night if nothing other than just to prove he wasn’t completely full of it. “Bought it used when I was in high school, bone stock,” He said. “Took me nearly ten years to get it this far.” He crossed his arms and looked back at her ensemble, “Glad you got your wings back though, that office stuff didn’t suit you.” He looked over at Tommy again who was shaking hands and looking official and narrowed his glance slightly. 

He smirked a little at her offer to race, “Yeah, maybe we can line up them up later,” He said with a shrug, “But I don’t race for free.” It was a line he used since high school, when he first earned a reputation for being fast on streets of Sol City. It weeded out the chaff. Racing cost money and he didn’t waste his time on those who were looking for pride or to simply see who was faster.
 
Tommy approached at a light jog, rubbing his hands together. Joel’s bullshit detector immediately pegged. The man was better at being a salesman than he ever was at being a football player. “You ready?” He said to Joel. He gave Marlin a once-over and grinned.

“Ready for what?” Joel said defensively. He kept his arms crossed.

“We’re going to have a friendly little competition in motorsport” Tommy said slyly.

“Who’s ‘[i]we[/i]’?” Joel shot back. 

“You and Miss Marinalia here,” Being silver-tongued as ever, he pronounced her name perfectly. “If you haven’t noticed these pylons have been set up in a specific pattern,” He said, “She’ll take off and fly the air-race course while you drive our regular road-course, first one across their respective finish line wins.” 

“Well that’s about the stupidest thing I ever heard” Joel said flatly.

“Don’t be difficult, Joel” Tommy replied. He knew Joel’s moods well.

“I’m not being difficult,” Joel said, “I’m just not doing it.” At this point he didn’t care that she was standing right there watching them bicker. It was also evident that the rest of the crew had noticed the conversation growing more heated in tone in spite of the blaring music. Joel looked at the others that arrived on the helicopter and the oddball that showed up late in a rental car and asked the obvious question: “They got any money?”

Tommy attempted to grab Joel by the arm and lead him away to have the rest of the conversation elsewhere, but Joel childishly planted his feet and refused to move. Tommy leaned in to Joel's ear, “[i]What do you think?[/i]” He growled. 

Joel very nonchalantly reached into the car and took out Tommy’s helmet and shoved it firmly into the man’s chest. “I think you’re driving.”

[@PrinceAlexus]