A Chance Encounter

[airborne92]

OOC: This is a closed thread for myself and LadyBlueMoon, and maybe one other person (by invitation only). Please read along and enjoy.

IC: My name is Kevin DeVries. I am 6' tall and weigh about 190 pounds, I have dark brown hair worn in a short military haircut knowan as a high and tight. I have dark bown eyes. I am a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army. I had just gotten to take my first leave in almost two years. I decided to head back home to visit my family. I was travelling in my class A's since my parents hadn't seen me for almost six years, not since I had been promoted to Sergeant. I waited in the line at the ticket counter to check my luggage and noticed this beautiful woman in front of me.

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

"What do you mean 'cancelled'?" I asked the girl behind the counter, "I have a ticket right here. See? Jackson." I couldn't believe my ears. I had not wished to come to Boston in the first place. Cold climate, rude people, at least compared to what I was accustomed to.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. We can rebook you on a flight leaving tomorrow at 10:32 a.m.," the girl offered.

I suppose there is a lesson here. Never book flights on some third-party website. I sighed and ran my fingers through my short red hair. I had no other options.

"Fine, I'll take it," I said, resigning myself to a another night in a yankee town.

In frustration, I turned from the counter and collided with something behind me.

"Excuse me," I apologized. The immovable object into which I had just slammed smiled. I stepped back and took him in. A soldier. God, but there were enough of them in airports these days. But this one appeared to be travelling, not working.

"I really should watch where I'm going," I apologized again, "as if I was going anywhere. Damn airlines."

 

[airborne92]

"Excuse me Ma'am" I say to her in a very pleasant voice as I step out of her way. I hadn't realized that I was in her way until she spun around and stepped right into me. I had heard what was said at the ticket counter, I already knew my flight was cancelled as well, since I ws also heading for Jackson. I went to the ticket counter and let girl tell me that I would be on the flight in the morning as well.

I left the ticket counter and made some phone calls to see if there were any hotel rooms still available. There was one here at the airport, so I reserved it with my credit card. I decided to go get a cup of coffee.

I noticed the same woman who had bumped into me on the phone, probably trying to find a room. I walked towards her and waited as she finished her call.

"Any luck finding a room for the night Ma'am" I asked her. My voice seemed to catch her by surprise.

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

The frustration was building. First, my flight was postponed, and now, the last hotel room in town was reserved while I was on hold. The steam seemed to be pouring out my ears when the voice behind me asked the question.

Turning, I saw the soldierboy again.

"That, sir, besides being none of your business, is the WORST pickup line I've heard in quite some time. Congratulations on your originality."

I spun on my heels and sought the nearest airport pub, knowing the soldier was watching the sway of my hips beneath my tight black skirt. He may be impertinent, but I couldn't resist giving him a little show.

 

[airborne92]

Kevin DeVries

I watched as she watched away towards a bar in the airport, her hips swaying seductively under her tight black skirt. I had definately been spending too much time in the field during the past two years. I didn't give up that easily either, which was one of the reasons I made it throught the Q course at Ft. Bragg five years ago.

I decided to follow her into the bar. My jump boots clicked on the tile floor as I walked down the concourse. I walked right up the bar and set my duffle bag down next to me.

"Let me have a screwdriver," I said to the bartender, "and put whatever the lady over there is having on my bill as well" as I motioned to the woman I had followed in.

She was a beautiful redhead, her age was hard to guess. She was mature, yet youthful looking. I wanted to get to know her better, but she seemed unapproachable because of the flight cancellation, and the fact that I had managed to reserve the last hotel room.

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

The bartender brought me a second Beam&Coke.

"Compliments of G.I. Joe," he smugly said.

Goddess! The man was persistent. I raised my glass to him in a thank-you salute. Would he come sit on the stool next to me?

 

[airborne92]

Kevin DeVries

I took my drink and duffle bag over to where she was sitting after she raised her glass to me. Maybe buying the drink helped to soften her mood a little.

"Mind if I join you Ma'am?" I asked her, motioning at the stool next to hers.

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

What the hell? I thought, Might as well be nice at least

"Go right ahead, Sergeant," I said, noting his stripes, "and thank you for the drink. I apologize for my rudeness earlier. It's been a trying day."

 

[airborne92]

Kevin DeVries

I sat down on the stool next to her. I noted how her skirt had ridden up a little exposing more of her gorgeous legs and there appeared to be a hint of stocking top at the hem of her skirt.

"Thank you Ma'am" I say in a pleasant voice as I sit down taking a look at her facial features, not letting any facial expressions betray how much I wanted her right now.

'Damn, she is beautiful.' I think to myself.

"My name is Kevin, and I wasn't trying to be rude a moment ago" I say to her with a pleasant smile. "I was just curious if you had a place to spend the night other than here in the airport."

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

I could feel his eyes sizing me up. Not anything I wasn't used to, though. Why is it a woman can't be judged in business by what she does, and not how she looks?
Well, I guess I am partly to blame. I do take advantage of being a woman when I need to. Was this one of those times?

"I suppose," I replied in answer to his question, "that this barstool is probably it. And, when they close, I thought I saw a not too uncomfortable seat out there."

Not a bad looking man, rugged. This was no desk jockey. Special Forces? No. Airborne, perhaps. Ah, yes! The patch confirmed it.

"So, does jumping out of airplanes make you bold, or is it the other way around?"

 

[airborne92]

Kevin DeVries

"Well, you have to be a bit bold to want to do it in the first place, and if you make it through training it makes you bolder since you want to do it more and more" I say to her.

'Well at least she has some understanding of how to read a military uniform' I thought to myself. 'But how much does she know about what my uniform says?'

Yes, there was on my right shoulder the patch of the 82nd Airborne Division. I also had 5 service stripes, 1 combat service stripe, jump wings, air assault wings, an expert marksmanship badge, 15 personal award ribbons, 3 unit ribbons, the Greman expert infantry badge in bronze, Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger tab, the French fouregere, the Infantry blue ouilette, and the 1st Infantry Division patch on my left shoulder.

"What brings a lovely southern belle like you up to Beantown, though?" I ask her.

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

"Business, of course," I reply, "placed me in this 'den of Yankees and thieves', I believe that is what Scarlett would have said. I suppose you are expecting me to play the stereotype?"

I smiled at him and noticed his eyes for the first time. What kind eyes for a soldier.

"It's funny to be accused of having an accent by people I could barely understand," I laughed, remembering the street vendor's strange venacular.

"And you, sir? Duty or pleasure?"

 

[airborne92]

Kevin DeVries

"Pleasure. This is the first chance I have had to take leave in the last two years. I'm going to visit my folks in southern Mississippi" I reply to her question. "I just hope you don't mind having a drink and chatting with a thieving Yankee" I add with a slight chuckle.

I could understand her bad mood earlier, New England was known for its strange weather at times.

"I thought my unexpected layover here was going to be boring, but it has definately improved just by chatting with you. Please don't play the stereotypical southern lady unless that is you" I say in respnse to earlier question.

She was definately a southern lady. I hoped that I could ease her frustration about her current situation.

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

"So you don't wish for me to wax poetic on the sweet magnolia trees, the mint juleps, or the bales of cotton? Good, as I fear they now exist solely in romance novels. Your parents are in southern Mississippi? Near the coast?"

Perhaps this lay over isn't so bad. He definitely has nice hands.

 

[airborne92]

"They live about an hour's drive from the Gulf coast" I say. "They moved down there when my father retired a couple of years ago. My family is from Maine originally."

Her smile was starting to show, and it was as beautiful as she was.

"Would you prefer to stay in a hotel room tonight?" I asked her. "I'm not trying to get you to sleep with me, I just wouldn't feel right if I didn't offer you the bed in my hotel room."

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

"Obviously the South does not have a monopoly on gentlemen," I replied. "But I could not turn you out of your own bed. Have you been to your room? Perhaps it has a couch? I do believe that would be a bit more comfortable than one of those seats out there. Plus, it would greatly reduce the number of men I would need to protect myself from."

I hoped my smile would convey the humor in my words. I have been accused of being a bit dry in my wit. Some people have taken such banter seriously, with dire consequences all around.

 

[airborne92]

"Why don't you come with me when I go to the hotel and we will find out together. Regardless you would get the bed, I can always sleep on the floor if necessary. It has to be more comfortable than where I spent the last six months." I say to her in a reassurring voice. "Besides, I will keep you safe and be a complete gentleman the entire time."

I hoped she realized I meant what I said. I was raised not to take advantage of a woman in any situation. I just hoped she realized that as well.

 

[Suzi]

Jasmine Bennett

OOC: I am here on invite from Airborne and LBM...I'm kinda new to this role playing, but it can't be too different from story writing...or can it?

IC:
I'm Jasmine Bennett, a 30 year old paralegal on her way home to Mississippi after vacation up north. I stand 5'5, about 140 lbs, with mousy brown hair. I dress in professional tones of navy, beige, tan...Only my friends get to see me smile, which lights up my face. Only one man got to really look me in the eyes--blue-green eyes, clear, intense, deep...Eyes a man could lose his soul in. That one man ran off to be in the service and I did not hear from him again. I had loved him, deeply and desperately. When he left, a part of me left too. The hurt cut so deep. I was determined not to allow myself to love and be hurt again. I keep my shiny, healthy brown hair in a tight bun, make up next to nothing, even the way I walk shows nothing of the sensual dynamo I hide inside...

I stand at the end of the line, waiting to check on my flight. I overhear the irate lady in front, fuming about a cancelled flight. I have a sinking feeling it is my flight...damn! I am also noticing a man in military dress, but being uneducated in the armed forces, I don't know what branch. I only feel that dull ache I always feel in my heart, whenever I see a military uniform--a constant reminder.
I finally make it up to the desk--sure enough! My flight was cancelled! Now what? I look about me for a place to sit so I can think about my next move....

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

OOC: Suzi, I don't remember if Jasmine knows Melanie or not, so I'll leave the meeting to you to post.

IC: I raised an eyebrow at his avowal of being a complete gentleman.
"Well, I'm just going to have to take your word for that, kind sir. Would you care for another drink first, or should we get a bottle to go?"

 

[airborne92]

She was willing to take me at my word. That was a good sign, it meant she was relaxing a little. I smiled slightly at her her words.

"Thank you for trusting me. The choice on whether to have another drink here or get it to go is at the lady's discretion" I say to her.

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

"Let's have one more, and perhaps something to eat," I replied, "Usually three drinks make me just a little tipsy, especially on an empty stomach. And you wouldn't want a drunk on your hands, now would you."

What was I doing? Flirting like crazy with a handsome man who had offered me his room for the night. I suddenly felt like I might be inviting trouble.

 

[airborne92]

"What would the lady care to have for dinner?" I ask her. "It will be my treat, besides I have dealt with drunks before. I have been one myself on more than one occassion" I say to her with a little chuckle.

I didn't want her to feel pressured, but as a gentleman I could let her pay for dinner or the drinks. I definately wasn't going to let her pay for the room, not even part of the cost.

 

[Suzi]

Jasmine Bennett

With my carry-on tote over one shoulder, purse tucked inside, and carrying my suitcase in the opposite hand, I calmly gaze around. There were no available seats, what with all the people with cancelled flights. I begin walking, still looking about me...I notice a bar, and turn in.

For an airport bar, it seems cozy enough. Dimly lit, intimate, lots of woodwork all around, green shaded swag lamps hanging about. The wooden bar shined; apparently someone took pride in his work. I sat down at one of the comfortable stools nearby, setting down the suitcase. Barkeep asks what I'd like..."do you have Perrier please?" He nods..."Perrier with a twist of lime then, please..." He complies and sets my drink on a coaster in front of me. Meantime I am rummaging around in my carry-on tote for my scheduler/planner, to see if there were any appointments that I would need to re-schedule due to this unexpected course of events.

When I had entered the bar, I had not seen anyone. However, as I rummage through my tote, I hear a man and woman conversing. Thinking maybe they might be a couple of locals that might be able to point me in the direction of accomodations, I seek them out. Then...I see my friend, Mel, talking with a military man! A nice looking one at that! That dull ache grips me again, but as they notice me approach, he looks up at me and smiles in greeting. In spite of myself, I blush. Recovering my composure (though the blush apparently had been noticed) I walk up to Mel...."Why if it isn't Melanie Kirkland!" She looks up and instantly her eyes twinkle and her mouth widens in a smile "Jazz!" She gets up and we give each other a hug, as only friends could do. "Where did you come from?" she asked.
"Oh I vacationed in Maine for a while, visiting some friends of the family...but I'm going home to Jackson now. What are you doing here?" as I glance at the military man, who is still observing me. I try to appear nonchallant when I ask "So who is your friend, Mel?"

 

[airborne92]

As the other woman approaches I smile politely at her. When I realize that these two women know each other, I stand up to greet her. She was as beautiful as the woman I was talking to, but in her own way.

"I'm Sergeant First Class Kevin DeVries Ma'am" I say to the second woman as I offer my hand.

 

[Suzi]

Jasmine Bennett

When the nice-looking man stands up, I find he is a good head taller than me. As he introduces himself, he looks intently at me with deep brown eyes. I can't understand it, but my knees feel weak, and I feel a stirring inside me I have not felt since...
He offered his hand to me. Determined not to appear intimidated or moved by him, I take it in a business-like manner, feminine, but firm. I manage to compose myself enough to speak. "It is nice to meet you, Sergeant DeVries.." I try to smile, but as I look into his eyes, I see him smile that smile again. Again, I blush. Gods! What is wrong with me?

I take a breath and turn back to Mel..."So, are you stranded here too?"