Ready for Boarding (closed to Angel)

[wanttobeaplane]

It is 9 am precisely when Martin emerges from the back of Ten Forward where he has already loaded his simulation into one of the holosuites and a Cessna Citation Mustang is awaiting a pilot and his sole passenger at London City Airport

Comments

[zombie_on_call]

I'd been up early and thanks to a heart attack patient last night tanked up on brains. I was wearing jeans, my boots, a tank tee and a brand-new fur-lined 'biker' jacket. It wasn't real leather and it wasn't real fur, but it was real warm.

This winter crap could go back to Alaska, as far as I was concerned. Or I could go back to Nice, Louisiana. Whichever was easiest.

I was out in the bar dallying over a coke when Martin came out. I smiled. "Oooh! Look at you! I'm so excited... is everything ready?"

[wanttobeaplane]

Self-consciously, Martin tugs at his sleeve, at least he doesn't blush. But he smiles as well when he hears Angel's excitement. Finally someone who seems just as excited about flying as himself. Oh, how he missed that, it reminds him of Arthur, the cheerful (but somewhat dimwit) steward of MJN Air.

"Good morning. Yes, everything is ready. We can head to London as soon as you've finished your drink." He tries to make that sound as business-like as he can manage.

[zombie_on_call]

"It's just a coke, I can do without it," I said with a shrug. Nowhere nearly as cool as flying, right? I stood up and headed over.

[wanttobeaplane]

"As you like," Martin says and motions for Angel to move ahead of him.

At the back of the bar, the door to one of the holosuites is open, offering the view to a lounge in a terminal. A British Airways plane can be seen through the window from the entrance, but their smaller Cessna is parked on the opposite side, coming into view once you step into the lounge.

Martin enters behind Angel, clears his throat a little awkwardly, then starts with his introductory words he has prepared.

"Welcome to London. This is one of its six international airports, the central one: London City. Due to its central location, it offers the best view of the inner city when we depart," he explains. "Other airports are bigger, Heathrow being the biggest, followed by Gatwick and Stanstead. Luton and Southend are closer in size to this one."

He's not trying to show off, it's just that aviation is his one great passion and he loves to talk about it!