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

Joel eased down into a large leather sofa that afforded a handsome view of the flight line. Almost immediately a drink was in his hand; a rum and coke offered up by an attractive Asian server who already knew his name, drink and food preferences and delivered it with a smile. [I]I could get used to this[/i]. He thought as a subtle score of [url= https://youtu.be/WGXzWkD6AWM]classical Chinese music[/url] played in the background, though as the server cordially addressed him as [i]Mr. Nicolosi[/i], he was reminded of Sio. Aside from that, everything was peaceful, calm and [i]extremely[/i] organized, which he loved. He felt more like he was in a James Bond movie than an airport and may have even felt a little underdressed in his standard cargo shorts and black Bridgestone hoodie. No one presented anything other than a warm smile and a crisp red uniform. 

Seeing Marlin approach in her Daedalus ensemble, he sat up a little from sinking down in the plush chair. She looked smartly professional, much like when he'd seen her back at the old airport. If nothing else, she was pretty and devastatingly so, if he were being honest with himself, but as he had learned, she carried more baggage than the 777 he was about to board. He was a bit torn in what to think of her. They'd shared some pretty big moments in just a short amount of time and shutting the door completely on her felt wrong in some way. Then there was Sio who had managed to stay on his mind and he couldn't help but think of the lip she would give him for not cutting out Marlin completely after the stunt her sister unapologetically pulled at the party. Japan was going to be good for him, he thought. A get away from these women and their shit for a good couple weeks was what he needed.  

"I told you, we go top shelf around here." He said referring to the airline with a slight wave of his drink laden hand. He'd never flown Cathay Pacific until he and Tommy had gone over before to negotiate for the engines. It was better than 'OK' by quite a bit. He listened to her ramblings go further and the smirk he was wearing faded. She was sorry? But for what? [I]Things got out of hand?[/i]. He wasn't in the mood to bust anyone's chops, but he just couldn't let that go. If she wanted to really get to know him, then she was going to have to do better. "What are you sorry for, Marlin?" He asked frankly, looking back at her. He wasn't going to touch any of that stuff about her attacker or why she wasn't flying again. The fact that the infamous Bob was behind bars he would have thought would make her feel much better. She certainly wasn't feeling too bad about it as her and her family were talking copious trash when they raced out at the cargo airport and Bob was still on the loose. 

An elegantly painted 777 touched down in the distance as she continued and Joel knew it was his flight. He didn't mind picking up her request, odd as it was, the damn things were everywhere over there. He listened as she spoke about the airplane ride and perked up a little waving his hand towards the green and turquoise jumbo jet approaching the gate. "How 'bout one of those big ones?" He said making light of the absurdity of it as he spoke. "Like a 747, one that's got four engines." He seriously doubted they would let him on the flight deck, but being able to scope one out for a while might be entertaining and he was trying to give her a chance to part ways on a positive note.