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

Joel paid no mind to Marinalia’s taunts. He’d been in enough of these situations to know there was no bragging until everything was said and done. Losing was bad enough, but losing and having to eat your words afterwards was even worse. He just let her run her mouth, same as he’d done with countless others through the years. What he could not tolerate however, was her pushy aunt inserting herself into the conversation and the fact that she knew things about his pride and joy that Tommy had apparently disclosed. His patience with the entire situation began to boil when she referred to the car as a “machine” like it was some piece of factory equipment. “Let me tell you somethin’ lady,” He said curtly. “I don’t give a flying fu-“

Tommy loudly clapped his hands together to cut Joel off and held them up in an attempt to clear the air visually as much as verbally. “It’s fine, we’re good.” He spoke with finality, “It was my idea, so I’ll drive.” Things were going almost exactly as he planned if he could just keep Joel from shooting his mouth off. At this point, whether or not he won or lost was inconsequential. Unlike his counterpart, his mind was on the bigger picture. He knew his guests weren’t so much concerned with the outcome as much as they could see that their money was going towards a viable candidate to win the race. All he had to do was try to keep up with Marinalia and post a respectable time. Just drive like she wasn’t even there. That was all they needed. If he even managed to pull out a victory that was even better. He knew they already believed she’d win though he wasn’t exactly sure how it was going to go down. In their numerous meetings and correspondence, he’d trusted them to come up with an aircraft that would make for an even match.

Joel caught a whiff of whatever coffee-themed travesty it was that Marinalia was drinking and coughed in disgust at the overly sweet smell. He shook his head and turned to unplug the diagnostic equipment from the car. Before the aunt or anyone else could say anything else he reached up and swiped a command on his phone that jacked the music up several more decibels. He took his helmet, the tablet and its accompanying cords out of the car without a word and proceeded to the top of the hauler where the regular crew-chief seating was set up. He sat down and put on a headset to listen to the ATC and their own crew-radio. From the top of the truck he had an expansive view of the whole course and he watched as Tommy headed out swinging the wheel back and forth to warm up the tires.   

[@PrinceAlexus]