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

Joel drove up and parked under the service tent finding Sio waiting. After discovering the wrecked car, they doubled back and took the parkway more directly to the old mill where the team was based. He was mildly irritated they couldn’t finish their practice stage and was really in the zone when they abruptly stopped. If the car had been empty, then they would have picked back up and kept going and in his own private thoughts, Joel had thought about doing it anyway. He’d been around cars his whole life and was uniquely aware of how stupid people could be behind the wheel. More than a few of his creations had met similar ends as the white Bentley, with many of those endings being decidedly more gruesome for their owners. At any rate, they were nearly done with the stage and would have been headed back anyway, so it wasn’t a total loss and he felt like he’d done his civic duty for the year.

Shutting the engine down, he and Max stepped out as the crew set to work. Joel took his helmet and Hans restraint off running a hand through his matted hair a few times while giving a quick wink and a smirk to Sio. The cold air felt good against the sweat that accumulated over his face and he rubbed his eyes as she spoke. The team boss told them over the radio about the excitement going on in town and he was glad enough to be miles away from it. He’d come to like the mountains more and more in his time with Rebellion and the prospect of making a move was becoming increasingly more appealing: Clean air, quiet and [i]no drama[/i]. All he needed was a south facing cabin and some garage space. However, Sio’s admission that she had nearly been in the midst of the trouble caused his expression to fade some. Empathy wasn’t really one of his strengths and he really didn’t know what to say. She was here with him, distracting the crew with her cooking and looks and that was perfect. There was no need to worry about the rest. 

“Yeah, I called it in.” Joel replied nonchalant. “Looked like someone probably had too much to drink and went over the side.” He said. “It happens.” He leaned back and looked at her for a moment not entirely sure if she was trembling from the cold or from genuine fear. Taking her wrist firmly under his driving glove, he placed her hand firmly on his stomach with a lopsided smirk in time for her to feel and audibly [i]hear[/i] the grumble of emptiness underneath his driving suit. “I’m so hungry, I don’t care what it is,” He said seeing other members of the crew, including his co-driver listening intently at the prospect of a freshly prepared meal like meerkats peeking over the plain on their hind legs. The team headquarters was comfortably furnished and often staffed by a professional chef, though in Joel’s experience, Sio’s cooking was every bit as good as the pros. “Hope you made enough for the whole class.” 

[@Almalthia]