Whee! Vacation is fun! I've been away for a while, in Reno, Nevada, visiting my friend (Medieval Wizard, actually...we worked together over the summer), then in New Hampshire, skiing with my father (Tuckerman Ravine, where we had to hike for seven hours with forty pounds of skis, boots, and gear. I'm *not* built to hike. 5'5", 115 lbs, no way. Coming down at the end of the day, I fell thirteen times. With forty pounds on my back. Not good. I can still barely move and my bruises are impressive.). Anyway, my flight out to Reno was...um...quite the adventure. Details on that follow after the fic...a bonus mini-fic if you will. I think it's worth the read. You'll be shocked and amazed, I guarantee it! (Pardon my French, but a fucking tornado in Newark?! And that's just the beginning...)
I finally bought the FFX strategy guide yesterday. I've wanted it for a while, but have never seen or gotten around to looking for it. Not that I haven't finished the game multiple times without it (and I haven't missed *anything*). But I wanted the happy sphere grid pullout (and the mix one, too!). I was mad though...the bios for each of the characters didn't give height and weight and age, and I really wanted to know (I'm weird, ok?!).
________________________________________________________
"Yuna?" Auron called. He thought he had heard her coming down the corridor.
"Auron?" The voice was definitely Yuna's. But as she came into sight, he saw that she was trailed by Lulu, and Kimahri. "You haven't seen Tidus...or Wakka or Rikku, have you?"
'Hmm...wonder who Yuna's really concerned about,' thought Auron. He then spoke aloud, "No, I was hoping you had."
Yuna looked concerned about her wayward guardians. "I hope that they're together." Auron nodded once slowly.
Lulu crossed her arms. She was just glad that Auron and Rikku were apart. She couldn't stand to see Wakka win. "We might as well start looking for them," she said unenthusiastically.
Auron turned his gaze on her. "First we have to find our way out...alive."
"Oh, can it, old man," said Lulu. "It's gotten old. You aren't scaring anyone." She turned and walked away. Auron looked irritated.
"I was scared, Auron," said Yuna, comfortingly while nodding her head vigorously. "And so was Kimahri, right Kimahri?" Kimahri didn't respond.
Somehow, Yuna's earnest concern for Auron's ego didn't help. The man scowled (though behind the collar, he looked expressionless) and stalked away. He was going to pretend he knew where he was going and hope Lulu didn't call him on that one, too.
(AN: MW just asked me to hand her a pair of shoes. The bottoms said skid resistant, but I thought that they said 'Child Resistant'! I'm a sped.)
***
(AN: They can talk underwater, OK?)
"One nasty fishy, two nasty fishies, three nasty fishies," counted Rikku cheerfully. She continued in this vein for quite a while, finally reaching the calamitous proclamation "thirty-five nasty fishies."
"Great Rikku, you can count!" said Tidus. He was not about to mention that he had been stuck on twenty-two. Numbers had been giving him trouble ever since Meconath had thrown him headfirst into the goalpost during a game in the Zanarkand Junior Leagues.
Wakka was staring at his fingers, which he was wiggling stupidly. "Thirty-five's a lot..." he said.
*Chomp chomp chomp,* went the fishies.
"Uh oh," said Rikku, rather unnecessarily, "Wakka turned green." She shook her head sadly. "Where's Yunie when you need her?"
"I hope she doesn't have to deal with this," said Tidus.
"Yeah," said Rikku, "can you imagine her swimming in that dress?"
***
Yuna had never really gotten to spend much time with Auron. She had a few things to ask him, mainly on the subject of her cousin, who seemed to be spending quite a bit of time with him. Yuna was intending to play the part of the concerned relative/matchmaker and come off as being as harmless as possible. She was, after all, 'just trying to help,' or so she would claim. She knew she would have to be careful not to give away any information, while trying to learn as much as she could. In short, she was gonna be the manipulative bitch.
Auron was still sulking after being told off by Lulu, who was also not very talkative today. And Kimahri was, of course, Kimahri, which meant he could be counted upon for continuous silence. So clearly, Yuna
had to be the conversation starter.
She considered openings for several minutes, as they followed Auron's lead through the maze. The completely lame 'Awfully cold down here' was trashed, as was the dopey 'Anyone need some healing?' and the decidedly cheesy and overused 'How 'bout them Aurochs?!' If she used an opening like that, she might as well have started drooling and informed Auron that she was prying. Not that he wouldn't easily figure it out on his own. It was annoying how good he was at that sort of thing, especially when someone was getting in his face.
Finally, she decided on "Where could they have put the others?" addressed to Auron.
His response was rather emotionless. "Via Purifico is large. We are in the Maze of Sorrow, but they could be anywhere, including the underwater sections."
"Oooh," said Yuna. "Will they be ok?"
"Let me consult my crystal ball," he said derisively. He lifted his hands as if doing so, his left arm coming out of the jacket. "Let's see..."
Yuna pursed her eyebrows and wrinkled her nose. "It was a...um...what's the word?"
"Rhetorical, I believe."
"Yes. A rhetorical question."
"No. Really?" Clearly, Auron's present mood was far from optimal for best results to be obtained.
Yuna tried a different tack, in hopes it would appease her temperamental guardian. "I'm worried about them."
"Tidus and Wakka are two of the strongest fighters. They'll be ok."
Yuna sprang to her cousin's defense. "What about Rikku? She fights well too!"
"Yes," admitted Auron, "she is quite competent."
"You've been spending a lot of time with her lately," said Yuna, subtle as only she could manage.
"You're not the only one to notice. What is this fascination with Rikku and me? I've been locked in a room with her, endured large numbers of suggestions, and I feel as if I'm being forced on her."
Yuna realized that damage control was necessary. "Well, you two would be...cute together." She glared at Lulu, who was snickering, out of the corner of her eye.
Auron blinked incredulously. "Cute? She's less than half my age."
"So? Love knows no boundaries!" Yuna declared.
"Easy for you to say. Tidus is the same age you are."
Yuna blushed scarlet, bringing one hand to her mouth in attempts to look modest. "So?" she asked weakly.
Auron smiled. "If you can't figure that one out on your own, then you really shouldn't be playing matchmaker. You are right about age being immaterial, but for the wrong reasons." He shook his head. "Look Yuna, please. You're doing more harm than good."
Yuna looked hurt. She had, after all, just been trying to help (though to help whom, one can't be certain). Nonetheless, she nodded her understanding to Auron. "Of course. I'm so sorry, Sir Auron." She walked up ahead of him, abashed.
"That was excessively brutal," came a new voice from Auron's side. Lulu had wandered over when she'd seen the looks exchanged over the course of the conversation.
"Perhaps."
"You live to scare people, don't you?" asked Lulu.
Auron was suddenly tempted to point out the fact that he was no longer technically living, though that would have only been for show; he didn't want to prove her theory correct. Instead, he opted for the standard, "Humph," and strolled away.
Lulu rolled her eyes. "Figures."
***
"Umm...hand me an antidote." Rikku was playing the medic, and Tidus was her 'assistant'.
"A what? Oh...here."
"Ahhh! Too late! Phoenix down me!" yelled Rikku. Tidus obliged. "Moron! It was a figure of speech! You were supposed to hand me one, not use it on me! I'm not the dead one, Wakka is!" Rikku shrieked. Poor Tidus. He was only trying to help. Things just weren't going very well. Two blondes do not equal a clue. Finally, he handed her a phoenix down, and Wakka came to, coughing and sputtering.
"What happened?"
"You died." Tidus's response was simple and to the point.
Wakka's was similarly eloquent. "Oh."
"Can we get going?" asked Rikku. She could see a dark shadow lurking in the depths beyond.
"Sounds like a plan," said Tidus. Too late. Out came the lurky thing.
"It's worse," said Tidus.
"What's worse?" asked Rikku.
"Uhh...nothing," said Tidus, reminding himself to stop quoting Zanarkand sphere movies, because no one in Spira got the references. (AN: Bonus points to anyone that can tell me what movie that's from...weird little parallel involving lurky things.) There were moments that he really missed Zanarkand - ones like the situation he was presently in, where being ingested was highly probable.
Wakka rolled over so he was looking at Rikku. "Tidus is talking to himself, ya?"
She shook her head sadly and whispered in reply, "I think he's losing it."
"Naw...He lost it a while ago. He signed *Rin* to the Aurochs."
***
"Yuna!" yelled Tidus.
"Tidus!" yelled Yuna. Then she looked at Auron and blushed. She couldn't tell where he was looking because of the glasses. He blew a long breath out his nose, but she couldn't hear it.
The reunion was a short one. "Seymour again?!" asked Rikku. Tidus's voice jumped up an octave. Yuna looked determined. Auron looked pissed. Wakka looked like a man who had lost everything he believed in and was about to commit sacrilege. Lulu looked grumpy. Kimahri looked like Kimahri. Seymour looked strange, and the "Death awaits you," line got old very quickly.
Finally, it was over.
"Is that it?" asked Tidus.
"Probably not," replied Auron, casting a cautious eye at Lulu.
"It could be worse, ya," said Wakka, "at least Rikku doesn't have to be a healer anymore."
"Hey!" pouted Rikku. "I saved you, didn't I?!" The expression on Wakka's face made this seem very doubtful, as if she had saved him from cardiac arrest by dropping a power line into the puddle he had been lying face down in.
"Uh. Ya."
"You don't have to be such a meanie!"
"I thought meanie was the title usually reserved for me," commented Auron.
Rikku's eyes flashed. "You're both meanies, ok?!"
Yuna, always the peacemaker, tried to help. "Guys? I think it's time to go."
And off they went to the Calm Lands. Poor Wakka. He didn't win. Neither did Seymour.
________________________________________________________
Another not so long chapter. I'm just so damn busy! It's not going to be a particularly prolific few weeks for me. I've got two AP tests to prepare for, three major papers to write (including one for gym, because I didn't show up *once* during most of the month of April), a course in Basic Life Support, plus a 20+ hour workweek. Grrr... I really want to write. I've got some great ideas for the next to chapters, just you wait and see. I just need to find time to write them.
You know what's annoying? When people ask for reviews, then when they get one that's less than favorable (but constructive!), they IM you and insult you. This happened to me today. Some favorite quotes from the conversation...
-Mignonne, ur storeys are worse then CRAP (said *twice*)
-AHGHAGEWHAGWHAGWHGW!AAA!!!!! ABAZOO! (the conversation opener)
-u have no good ideas what so ever (umm...ok...you keep thinking that, honey)
-I have more readers that LIKE my storys, unlike u ya slut (Lets look at numbers, honey...)
-Are u trying to sound cool or somthing? ur the biggest fucking dumbass i kno (Does she even realize how stupid her shorthand makes her sound?)
- even a rapest wouldnt rape u (*blinks* Can't say it. It's just too mean, even for this nut job.)
- a peice of shit is cooler then you (However, it would probably spell better than you do.)
The moral of the story, kiddies, is don't fuck with me because of jealousy. Especially if your name is Platabear the Keebat, because your heinous and stupid insults just got you on my bad list. You *don't* want to be on my bad list.
Reviews please! I promise, I can take criticism (as long as it's not just "You suck. Die!" or some variation thereof). I'd actually *like* constructive criticism, because I'm always looking to improve my writing. But I'm not going to complain if you tell me I rock. Either way, tell me what you think!
And now, without further ado (and right at the bottom, just in case you want to skip it and go right to the review box)...
~Mignonne's Grand Adventure, a completely pointless addition to this already pointless fic~
4.19.02
4:00pm eastern: I arrive at Newark International Airport. The sky looks rather ominous. I attempt to check in. My flight has been cancelled. My options are to take a flight the next day at the same time and lose an entire day of vacation, or take a later flight, spend the night in Mineapolis/St. Paul (where my connection originally was), and fly out of there at 9am the next day. Discussion ensues, with the guy at the ticket counter talking to my mother on my cell phone. My mom tells me to come home. I am flipping out. The fact that I am crying does not make the ticket counter guy very happy. I convince my parents that I'll be OK in Minneapolis for the night. I get the last ticket on the later flight. This takes about forty-five minutes.
5:00pm eastern: On my cell phone, talking to MW about the change in plans. The gate my plane leaves from is in a round terminal with plate glass windows. The sky looks *bad*. It all happens at once. The sky turned a nauseating greenish hue. The wind had been blowing, but suddenly, it *slammed* against the windows. The planes outside were rocking on the ground; one's nose was actually lifted and slammed down again. It begins to pour. I was at gate 41, and the jetway for gate 40 was completely destroyed. And as this hits, the fire alarm goes off. And damn is it loud. They announce that a tornado has hit the end of the tarmac and we have to evacuate downstairs. We get to the end of the terminal and get turned around by the police, who say that no such order has been issued. Suddenly, the planes are running again. OK...
7:00pm eastern: Plane finally leaves. I get three seats to myself and sprawl across them. Nice nap!
9:23pm central: Arrive in Minneapolis. My original connection left at 9:13. Yeah, that's me in the airport for the night.
9:45pm central: After collecting my baggage, which the nice ticket counter guy arranged so I could pick up, I go to another ticketing counter to ask about my flight for the next morning. I get handed a hotel slip guaranteeing me the lowest rates and I stutter, "You mean I have to pay?" The ticketing counter lady asks how old I am. Seventeen. Uh oh. I'm an unaccompanied minor. Three months away from my eighteenth birthday, and I get taken to the kiddie room. NO KIDDING.
10:30pm: Down in the kiddie room, I watch as they spray disinfectant on the couch that I am supposed to sleep on. I get two of those mini airplane pillows, and two of the little blankets. And there are cows on the walls. There are also several Nintendo 64s. I long for my PS2. I then have to be *escorted* to the food court to buy dinner by a lady who calls *everyone* she sees "Hon". At least the airline paid for me to eat. And believe me, I milked that one for all it was worth. Who eats $35 dollars worth of airplane food in 12 hours? I do!
11:00pm: My babysitter for the evening arrives and I watch dirty late night television on the tiny TV with the fuzzy antenna reception.
4.20.02
6:00am: Small children begin to be ushered in and out of the room.
8:00am: Good morning Mignonne! I am ushered downstairs again for breakfast. I want Starbucks, but am told I am not allowed to have coffee. Apparently kids had insisted on it before and been nuts, and it annoys the flight attendants. Cause I'm how old?
8:45am: Ushered to my gate for departure (thank god!). The ticketing counter lady asks me if I want to be moved so I can sit next to the twelve-year-old that is talking my ear off. NO, That's OK!
9:26am: The plane leaves for Reno.
11:45am Pacific: The plane arrives in Reno, twenty minutes early. I can't find my friend for another hour. I wander around the airport looking for her. Nevada is scary. They have slot machines as soon as you get off the plane. This could be bad...
I finally bought the FFX strategy guide yesterday. I've wanted it for a while, but have never seen or gotten around to looking for it. Not that I haven't finished the game multiple times without it (and I haven't missed *anything*). But I wanted the happy sphere grid pullout (and the mix one, too!). I was mad though...the bios for each of the characters didn't give height and weight and age, and I really wanted to know (I'm weird, ok?!).
________________________________________________________
"Yuna?" Auron called. He thought he had heard her coming down the corridor.
"Auron?" The voice was definitely Yuna's. But as she came into sight, he saw that she was trailed by Lulu, and Kimahri. "You haven't seen Tidus...or Wakka or Rikku, have you?"
'Hmm...wonder who Yuna's really concerned about,' thought Auron. He then spoke aloud, "No, I was hoping you had."
Yuna looked concerned about her wayward guardians. "I hope that they're together." Auron nodded once slowly.
Lulu crossed her arms. She was just glad that Auron and Rikku were apart. She couldn't stand to see Wakka win. "We might as well start looking for them," she said unenthusiastically.
Auron turned his gaze on her. "First we have to find our way out...alive."
"Oh, can it, old man," said Lulu. "It's gotten old. You aren't scaring anyone." She turned and walked away. Auron looked irritated.
"I was scared, Auron," said Yuna, comfortingly while nodding her head vigorously. "And so was Kimahri, right Kimahri?" Kimahri didn't respond.
Somehow, Yuna's earnest concern for Auron's ego didn't help. The man scowled (though behind the collar, he looked expressionless) and stalked away. He was going to pretend he knew where he was going and hope Lulu didn't call him on that one, too.
(AN: MW just asked me to hand her a pair of shoes. The bottoms said skid resistant, but I thought that they said 'Child Resistant'! I'm a sped.)
***
(AN: They can talk underwater, OK?)
"One nasty fishy, two nasty fishies, three nasty fishies," counted Rikku cheerfully. She continued in this vein for quite a while, finally reaching the calamitous proclamation "thirty-five nasty fishies."
"Great Rikku, you can count!" said Tidus. He was not about to mention that he had been stuck on twenty-two. Numbers had been giving him trouble ever since Meconath had thrown him headfirst into the goalpost during a game in the Zanarkand Junior Leagues.
Wakka was staring at his fingers, which he was wiggling stupidly. "Thirty-five's a lot..." he said.
*Chomp chomp chomp,* went the fishies.
"Uh oh," said Rikku, rather unnecessarily, "Wakka turned green." She shook her head sadly. "Where's Yunie when you need her?"
"I hope she doesn't have to deal with this," said Tidus.
"Yeah," said Rikku, "can you imagine her swimming in that dress?"
***
Yuna had never really gotten to spend much time with Auron. She had a few things to ask him, mainly on the subject of her cousin, who seemed to be spending quite a bit of time with him. Yuna was intending to play the part of the concerned relative/matchmaker and come off as being as harmless as possible. She was, after all, 'just trying to help,' or so she would claim. She knew she would have to be careful not to give away any information, while trying to learn as much as she could. In short, she was gonna be the manipulative bitch.
Auron was still sulking after being told off by Lulu, who was also not very talkative today. And Kimahri was, of course, Kimahri, which meant he could be counted upon for continuous silence. So clearly, Yuna
had to be the conversation starter.
She considered openings for several minutes, as they followed Auron's lead through the maze. The completely lame 'Awfully cold down here' was trashed, as was the dopey 'Anyone need some healing?' and the decidedly cheesy and overused 'How 'bout them Aurochs?!' If she used an opening like that, she might as well have started drooling and informed Auron that she was prying. Not that he wouldn't easily figure it out on his own. It was annoying how good he was at that sort of thing, especially when someone was getting in his face.
Finally, she decided on "Where could they have put the others?" addressed to Auron.
His response was rather emotionless. "Via Purifico is large. We are in the Maze of Sorrow, but they could be anywhere, including the underwater sections."
"Oooh," said Yuna. "Will they be ok?"
"Let me consult my crystal ball," he said derisively. He lifted his hands as if doing so, his left arm coming out of the jacket. "Let's see..."
Yuna pursed her eyebrows and wrinkled her nose. "It was a...um...what's the word?"
"Rhetorical, I believe."
"Yes. A rhetorical question."
"No. Really?" Clearly, Auron's present mood was far from optimal for best results to be obtained.
Yuna tried a different tack, in hopes it would appease her temperamental guardian. "I'm worried about them."
"Tidus and Wakka are two of the strongest fighters. They'll be ok."
Yuna sprang to her cousin's defense. "What about Rikku? She fights well too!"
"Yes," admitted Auron, "she is quite competent."
"You've been spending a lot of time with her lately," said Yuna, subtle as only she could manage.
"You're not the only one to notice. What is this fascination with Rikku and me? I've been locked in a room with her, endured large numbers of suggestions, and I feel as if I'm being forced on her."
Yuna realized that damage control was necessary. "Well, you two would be...cute together." She glared at Lulu, who was snickering, out of the corner of her eye.
Auron blinked incredulously. "Cute? She's less than half my age."
"So? Love knows no boundaries!" Yuna declared.
"Easy for you to say. Tidus is the same age you are."
Yuna blushed scarlet, bringing one hand to her mouth in attempts to look modest. "So?" she asked weakly.
Auron smiled. "If you can't figure that one out on your own, then you really shouldn't be playing matchmaker. You are right about age being immaterial, but for the wrong reasons." He shook his head. "Look Yuna, please. You're doing more harm than good."
Yuna looked hurt. She had, after all, just been trying to help (though to help whom, one can't be certain). Nonetheless, she nodded her understanding to Auron. "Of course. I'm so sorry, Sir Auron." She walked up ahead of him, abashed.
"That was excessively brutal," came a new voice from Auron's side. Lulu had wandered over when she'd seen the looks exchanged over the course of the conversation.
"Perhaps."
"You live to scare people, don't you?" asked Lulu.
Auron was suddenly tempted to point out the fact that he was no longer technically living, though that would have only been for show; he didn't want to prove her theory correct. Instead, he opted for the standard, "Humph," and strolled away.
Lulu rolled her eyes. "Figures."
***
"Umm...hand me an antidote." Rikku was playing the medic, and Tidus was her 'assistant'.
"A what? Oh...here."
"Ahhh! Too late! Phoenix down me!" yelled Rikku. Tidus obliged. "Moron! It was a figure of speech! You were supposed to hand me one, not use it on me! I'm not the dead one, Wakka is!" Rikku shrieked. Poor Tidus. He was only trying to help. Things just weren't going very well. Two blondes do not equal a clue. Finally, he handed her a phoenix down, and Wakka came to, coughing and sputtering.
"What happened?"
"You died." Tidus's response was simple and to the point.
Wakka's was similarly eloquent. "Oh."
"Can we get going?" asked Rikku. She could see a dark shadow lurking in the depths beyond.
"Sounds like a plan," said Tidus. Too late. Out came the lurky thing.
"It's worse," said Tidus.
"What's worse?" asked Rikku.
"Uhh...nothing," said Tidus, reminding himself to stop quoting Zanarkand sphere movies, because no one in Spira got the references. (AN: Bonus points to anyone that can tell me what movie that's from...weird little parallel involving lurky things.) There were moments that he really missed Zanarkand - ones like the situation he was presently in, where being ingested was highly probable.
Wakka rolled over so he was looking at Rikku. "Tidus is talking to himself, ya?"
She shook her head sadly and whispered in reply, "I think he's losing it."
"Naw...He lost it a while ago. He signed *Rin* to the Aurochs."
***
"Yuna!" yelled Tidus.
"Tidus!" yelled Yuna. Then she looked at Auron and blushed. She couldn't tell where he was looking because of the glasses. He blew a long breath out his nose, but she couldn't hear it.
The reunion was a short one. "Seymour again?!" asked Rikku. Tidus's voice jumped up an octave. Yuna looked determined. Auron looked pissed. Wakka looked like a man who had lost everything he believed in and was about to commit sacrilege. Lulu looked grumpy. Kimahri looked like Kimahri. Seymour looked strange, and the "Death awaits you," line got old very quickly.
Finally, it was over.
"Is that it?" asked Tidus.
"Probably not," replied Auron, casting a cautious eye at Lulu.
"It could be worse, ya," said Wakka, "at least Rikku doesn't have to be a healer anymore."
"Hey!" pouted Rikku. "I saved you, didn't I?!" The expression on Wakka's face made this seem very doubtful, as if she had saved him from cardiac arrest by dropping a power line into the puddle he had been lying face down in.
"Uh. Ya."
"You don't have to be such a meanie!"
"I thought meanie was the title usually reserved for me," commented Auron.
Rikku's eyes flashed. "You're both meanies, ok?!"
Yuna, always the peacemaker, tried to help. "Guys? I think it's time to go."
And off they went to the Calm Lands. Poor Wakka. He didn't win. Neither did Seymour.
________________________________________________________
Another not so long chapter. I'm just so damn busy! It's not going to be a particularly prolific few weeks for me. I've got two AP tests to prepare for, three major papers to write (including one for gym, because I didn't show up *once* during most of the month of April), a course in Basic Life Support, plus a 20+ hour workweek. Grrr... I really want to write. I've got some great ideas for the next to chapters, just you wait and see. I just need to find time to write them.
You know what's annoying? When people ask for reviews, then when they get one that's less than favorable (but constructive!), they IM you and insult you. This happened to me today. Some favorite quotes from the conversation...
-Mignonne, ur storeys are worse then CRAP (said *twice*)
-AHGHAGEWHAGWHAGWHGW!AAA!!!!! ABAZOO! (the conversation opener)
-u have no good ideas what so ever (umm...ok...you keep thinking that, honey)
-I have more readers that LIKE my storys, unlike u ya slut (Lets look at numbers, honey...)
-Are u trying to sound cool or somthing? ur the biggest fucking dumbass i kno (Does she even realize how stupid her shorthand makes her sound?)
- even a rapest wouldnt rape u (*blinks* Can't say it. It's just too mean, even for this nut job.)
- a peice of shit is cooler then you (However, it would probably spell better than you do.)
The moral of the story, kiddies, is don't fuck with me because of jealousy. Especially if your name is Platabear the Keebat, because your heinous and stupid insults just got you on my bad list. You *don't* want to be on my bad list.
Reviews please! I promise, I can take criticism (as long as it's not just "You suck. Die!" or some variation thereof). I'd actually *like* constructive criticism, because I'm always looking to improve my writing. But I'm not going to complain if you tell me I rock. Either way, tell me what you think!
And now, without further ado (and right at the bottom, just in case you want to skip it and go right to the review box)...
~Mignonne's Grand Adventure, a completely pointless addition to this already pointless fic~
4.19.02
4:00pm eastern: I arrive at Newark International Airport. The sky looks rather ominous. I attempt to check in. My flight has been cancelled. My options are to take a flight the next day at the same time and lose an entire day of vacation, or take a later flight, spend the night in Mineapolis/St. Paul (where my connection originally was), and fly out of there at 9am the next day. Discussion ensues, with the guy at the ticket counter talking to my mother on my cell phone. My mom tells me to come home. I am flipping out. The fact that I am crying does not make the ticket counter guy very happy. I convince my parents that I'll be OK in Minneapolis for the night. I get the last ticket on the later flight. This takes about forty-five minutes.
5:00pm eastern: On my cell phone, talking to MW about the change in plans. The gate my plane leaves from is in a round terminal with plate glass windows. The sky looks *bad*. It all happens at once. The sky turned a nauseating greenish hue. The wind had been blowing, but suddenly, it *slammed* against the windows. The planes outside were rocking on the ground; one's nose was actually lifted and slammed down again. It begins to pour. I was at gate 41, and the jetway for gate 40 was completely destroyed. And as this hits, the fire alarm goes off. And damn is it loud. They announce that a tornado has hit the end of the tarmac and we have to evacuate downstairs. We get to the end of the terminal and get turned around by the police, who say that no such order has been issued. Suddenly, the planes are running again. OK...
7:00pm eastern: Plane finally leaves. I get three seats to myself and sprawl across them. Nice nap!
9:23pm central: Arrive in Minneapolis. My original connection left at 9:13. Yeah, that's me in the airport for the night.
9:45pm central: After collecting my baggage, which the nice ticket counter guy arranged so I could pick up, I go to another ticketing counter to ask about my flight for the next morning. I get handed a hotel slip guaranteeing me the lowest rates and I stutter, "You mean I have to pay?" The ticketing counter lady asks how old I am. Seventeen. Uh oh. I'm an unaccompanied minor. Three months away from my eighteenth birthday, and I get taken to the kiddie room. NO KIDDING.
10:30pm: Down in the kiddie room, I watch as they spray disinfectant on the couch that I am supposed to sleep on. I get two of those mini airplane pillows, and two of the little blankets. And there are cows on the walls. There are also several Nintendo 64s. I long for my PS2. I then have to be *escorted* to the food court to buy dinner by a lady who calls *everyone* she sees "Hon". At least the airline paid for me to eat. And believe me, I milked that one for all it was worth. Who eats $35 dollars worth of airplane food in 12 hours? I do!
11:00pm: My babysitter for the evening arrives and I watch dirty late night television on the tiny TV with the fuzzy antenna reception.
4.20.02
6:00am: Small children begin to be ushered in and out of the room.
8:00am: Good morning Mignonne! I am ushered downstairs again for breakfast. I want Starbucks, but am told I am not allowed to have coffee. Apparently kids had insisted on it before and been nuts, and it annoys the flight attendants. Cause I'm how old?
8:45am: Ushered to my gate for departure (thank god!). The ticketing counter lady asks me if I want to be moved so I can sit next to the twelve-year-old that is talking my ear off. NO, That's OK!
9:26am: The plane leaves for Reno.
11:45am Pacific: The plane arrives in Reno, twenty minutes early. I can't find my friend for another hour. I wander around the airport looking for her. Nevada is scary. They have slot machines as soon as you get off the plane. This could be bad...